Beginner's Guide to Buying a Hunting eBike That Will Save Money and Time

A buting eBike will take you more places, eliminate the frustration of overcoming rugged terrain and keep you in the woods longer. 

You likely already know all about how an eBike will improve your hunting experience, though. You're here to find out how to nail down the perfect eBike for your situation. 

As wonderful and useful as all hunting eBikes are, you can get it wrong. Even the biggest and best models on the market may be worth nothing for you in your given situation. 

That's why you'll want to keep the key points highlighted in this discussion in mind as you shop around.

First - know the electric bicycle laws.

Perhaps the biggest determining factor for which eBikes you should be considering is the laws in the states you hunt in. While eBikes may be less of an environmental risk than ATVs and other Powersports equipment, laws still restrict or prohibit their use in certain areas. 

Your safest bet is to read into what's permitted and what's not in each specific trail you intend to hunt. However, a full-length discussion oneBike laws by state is just a click away and will give you a general idea of what to expect. 

But what makes an eBike acceptable in some areas and not others? It really comes down to the class of eBikes that it fits into. 

eBikes fall into a three-tier classification system: 

• Class 1 eBikes are equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and assistance is provided only until the eBike reaches 20 miles per hour. 

• Class 2 eBikes feature a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle but is again limited to a max speed of 20 miles per hour. 

• Class 3 eBikes are equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling but can reach a max speed of 28 miles per hour and features a speedometer. 

There are many eBikes that don't fall under any of these classifications and are therefore regulated as a regular bicycle. 

Your job is to determine what's acceptable in the areas you intend to hunt and abide by the laws and regulations set forth by the local jurisdiction. 

Which electric bicycle motor is best?

Let's get right down to it. eBikes will have either a hub-drive or mid-drive motor. While there are many excellent things about hub-drive systems, hunters want to stick to a mid-drive motor. 

There are a few reasons for that. Yes, mid-drive motors are a little more costly and harder to maintain. However, they have the advantage of utilizing the bike's gearing, which brings several performance advantages to the table. 

They're quieter, offer better responsiveness, and improved range, all of which are important to hunters traversing the wilderness.

In any case, Bafang is one of the best eBike motor manufacturers out there, and you’ll want to keep an eye out for its name on any bike you’re considering. 

That said, some platforms feature hub-drive motors on both the front and rear wheel, such as theRambo Megatron. 

These are known as AWD bikes, which offer superior climbing abilities, and are certainly the premier choice for those particularly rocky parts of the country. 

Weight capacity is a factor.

All hunting eBikes have a max weight capacity, and you should respect that. Overloading the bike can cause excessive wear on the parts, bog down the motor, and kill the range of the battery. 

The good news is that most eBikes have a max weight capacity of 250-300 lbs. Which is best for you depends on your weight in full dress and the weight of your gear. 

What about the take, though? Well, unless you plan to sling a buck over your shoulders for the trip out, you're going to want to look at the towing capacity. 

Many eBikes can be fitted with a trailer or dolly and can pull somewhere in the range of 300 lbs. However, this and the weight capacity are specific to each platform and are details you want to sort out before making your purchasing decision. 

Which tires are best?

For most, fat tires. End of discussion. If an eBike has skinny city tires, you don't want to take it on the trail. 

The reason is the same as why street tires don't work as well as a set of wide all terrains on your hunting truck.

The widened contact patch of fat tires offers improved stability, better traction, and a more comfortable ride. They also feature specialized tread patterns that are designed for the trails you're riding over. 

Which brand is best? While there are many great options, many of the top hunting eBikes, such as theRungu Dualie, feature Maxxis Minions on the higher-trim variants. These are excellent tires that offer superior performance on a mix of terrain hunters are bound to encounter. 

Keep frame size in mind. 

Remember when you were a kid, and you had to ride on a bigger or smaller bike? Whether it was too big or too small, your riding experience was bound to suffer.

Imagine reliving that experience, only you've got all of your expensive hunting gear going along for the ride. 

That's not something you need to struggle with on a hunting eBike, so long as you get the height. Again, this is where it's your responsibility to do a little homework on bike size. 

However, many models come with multiple-size offerings. This means you can often get the model of your dreams without compromising comfort. 

Different strokes 

Finally, it's time to get out of standard options, and you can start having a little fun with your selection.

Below you'll find a few miscellaneous features that you may want to be included on your eBike. 

Folding frames 

Folding frames aren't prevalent, but this is a feature many hunters will want to consider. This frame design is great for limited storage and ease of transportation. Because the bike folds into itself, you can fit in tighter spaces and even carry it on your back with ease.

Step-through frames

Stepping over an eBike frame can be something hunters struggle with. This is especially true if their joints don't work as well as they should or their hunting gear limits their range of motion.

Step-through frames rethink the frame design to make it possible to step through the frame as opposed to over it, making mounting and dismounting that much easier. 

Racks and Bags 

Would you rather ride with all of your gear on your back or stored on the bike? Most hunters would prefer the latter for obvious reasons.

Not all eBikes come with racks and saddlebags as a standard feature, though. Therefore, you want to read into the models you're considering to ensure these features are present, or at least an option, if you deem them necessary. 

Walk-assist mode 

You will come across trails that prohibit or make it impossible to ride an eBike. In other words, you will need to get off and push it from time to time.

Walk-assist modes are a worthwhile feature as they can apply power from the motor to make pushing the eBike easier for you. Keep in mind that many eBikes can weigh anywhere from 50 to 100 pounds, which will take some effort to get moving. 

Many different variations and configurations are available for hunting eBikes. Different manufacturers and platforms will have different features and accessories available to them. That means you want to spend a reasonable amount of time shopping around. 

For example, some eBikes can come with packages that include improved weight capacities, towing necessities, and forth. 

The best thing you can do is check out all of the different topics that eBike Generation covers so you can decide which platform best fits into your life. 

Thetop eBikes for hunters in 2022 is a great place to start, as it highlights all of the best features that the most respected models bring to the table.