E-Bikes: Older Models Present Great Value

E-Bikes: Finding Cycling Bargains with Older Models

We all love shiny new things, don’t we? Air fryers and EVs are good examples. At Christmas, we’ll get flooded with ads for TVs and perfume; in the new year, it’ll be exercise equipment, gym memberships, and food supplements. But when it comes to cycling, sometimes the best deals are on last year’s e-bikes.

The Nature Of The Cycling Industry

In the spring, most years, the bike industry releases its new models for that year. Mountain bikes for the summer and autumn get released about now, so they are in full retail distribution towards the end of the summer. There’s a fairly steady stream of ‘new’ products so that reviewers have something to write about in their magazines and blogs throughout the year.

Yet, the e-bike you could have bought last year is probably just as good for your cycling needs compared to the new one that becomes available this year. In fact, e-bikes from 2-3 years ago often hold up remarkably well for a variety of riders—whether you’re commuting, leisurely exploring, or tackling moderate trails. While the latest models might boast incremental improvements in cycling technology, the core features in slightly older e-bikes are often more than sufficient for most consumers’ needs, making them affordable e-bikes worth considering.

A Brief History of E-Bike Battery Range

In 2020, around the COVID lockdown, Bosch had recently increased the maximum e-bike battery range from 400Wh to 500Wh—an impressive increase of 25%. Naturally, everybody wanted a 500Wh battery as a result.

Five years later, I have never had anyone tell me that they ran out of power on a ride, regardless of the battery size on their e-bike. Sure, if you can go further, you might, but I’m prepared to bet that most e-bike riders, including those cycling for beginners, will not get close to the maximum e-bike battery range on their regular rides.

This doesn’t negate the value of the power. Without a motor, many riders simply wouldn’t be cycling, so the value of e-bikes is not in question. Today, you can buy e-bikes with 800Wh of Bosch power that could give you a whole day in the saddle—a great option for those who want the latest cycling technology.

Why Do You Want an E-Bike for Cycling?

Our first question to every customer who comes to Silverstone is, “What does the bike have to do for you?” In response, we’ll show you the range of products that will do the job, from the minimum viable product (MVP) to the best we stock. We’ll also show you e-bikes that are bang up to date and some that were bang up to date last year or even a couple of years ago.

Often, e-bikes that were new to market a couple of years ago, but are still in production, will be perfectly adequate and a joy to ride now. For many cyclists, these older e-bike models offer all the performance they need without the premium price tag of the latest releases. They may even be discounted, making them some of the best e-bike deals available. While newer e-bikes might have refined features, the differences aren’t always game-changing, meaning older models can still deliver a fantastic cycling experience for most users, from daily commuters to weekend adventurers.

If you aren’t an eMTBer (who are notorious for over-specifying their bikes), you might be able to find a great deal by talking to us and looking at affordable e-bikes that do the job rather than being the very latest shiny thing in stock.