An electric bike is one of the most efficient forms of transportation on the planet today.
Despite its efficiency and zero carbon emissions levels, it is not as quick as a vehicle running on fossil fuel.
Fortunately for you, it is possible to increase your bike speed. The best way to increase the speed of your electric bike speed is to use a battery with a higher voltage or purchase a motor with a higher KV rating. You could also strip your bike of unnecessary parts to reduce drag.
There are many other cost-effective solutions to increase bike speed.
But you need to understand the main components of your bike and how they are responsible for making your bike go quick.
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Components For Speed
Your electric bike has three major components that are responsible for how fast it goes.
These are:
- The Motor
- The Battery
- The LCD
The Motor
The motor is simply the engine of your bike. It is the heart of your electric bike and is responsible for providing motion.
Electric bikes have three distinct types of motors. These are the front and rear hubs, as well as the mid-drive. You can observe the amount of electrical power your motor can handle through the wattage.
The Battery
If the motor is the heart of your bike, then the battery is the blood.
Your battery produces the juice, which provides the energy for the motor to convert into motion. An older battery will, therefore, produce lesser power in comparison to a new one.
The LCD
The LCD is the brain of your bike. It also acts as the control panel.
Apart from monitoring bike performance, the LCD is responsible for extracting the appropriate amount of power from the battery to the motor.
Now you know the critical parts responsible for making your bike go quick; its time to learn how to increase the speed.
How to Increase your E-Bike speed
Before you go any further, it is advisable to consult the services of a highly trained professional.
Although some of the tips provided below are simple, a few of them are highly technical.
Do not tamper with electrical components you know nothing about as this could void the warranty of your bike or cause you grave injury. Follow the tips below to increase your bike speed:
Adjust your LCD settings
Most electric bikes come with speed limiters.
These speed limiters restrict the top speed of your bike, so you do not go faster than the legal speed limit. The manufacturer installs it for your safety.
A speed limiter can deduce your speed by calculating the number of revolutions your wheel makes within a set time.
However, you can alter the settings of the limiter to go faster. The first method is to change the settings on your control panel to reduce the wheel size. Assuming your wheel size is 26 inches, you could adjust the limiter and cut the wheels to 18 inches.
Altering it will give the limiter the impression you are using a smaller wheelbase hence traveling at a slower speed. You could also decide to take the speed limiter off your bike. The best way to do this is to search for the limiting wire installed at the controller.
It usually comes as a single wire with a connector. Taking these off unshackles the speed potential of your bike and allows it to travel at a faster pace.
Tuning Devices
Many e-bikers believe 25km/h with their pedelec is slow.
If you share this opinion, you can increase your speed by making use of a tuning device. Although tuning your bike is illegal on many public roads, it is easy to purchase a tuning kit online. Be prepared to spend in the range of $150 – $300 for pedal-assist speeds up to 50km/h and above.
Change your Battery
Most e-bikes come with a battery starting from 24V up to 72V.
72V e-bikes are generally not considered within the range of a typical electric bike due to its power differential. You can increase the speed of your bike by using a battery with a higher voltage. Before you do so, make sure your motor can handle the extra power.
Hire an electrician to help you install the replacement to prevent you from frying the control panel or burning down the motor.
Replace the Motor
When it comes to e-bikes, bigger is faster.
Replacing your motor with a more significant spec engine could improve the top speed of your bike by an extra 10km/h or more. A bigger motor means a higher RPM or KV rating and a quicker bike.
Related post: Where To Buy An Electric Motor For Your Electric Bike Conversion Project?
Replace your tires
Although the tide of opinion is changing, it is not for nothing elite bikers use thin tires.
A slimmer tire allows your bike to go quick with less effort. If you have thick tires, you should consider trading them for thin ones.
However, it is essential to note the tires on a mountain bike are designed to give your bike grip and stability on the road. If you go ahead to replace your thick tires for thinner versions, you would be sacrificing traction on the altar of speed – which may not seem like a good idea.
Install Windshield
Although this may sound counterproductive, it is useful.
Installing a windshield on your e-bike can give you an additional 5km/h for bikes with a higher in-built speed.
The effect is not as significant for bikes with less speed where an improved airflow is hard to notice. The aerodynamic features of a windshield reduce drag, improves efficiency, and allows your bike to travel at a much faster pace.
Adjust your Riding Posture
If you cannot afford a windshield, the cheaper alternative is to change your riding posture.
When you ride with a straight back, the air catches you fully in the face, thus increasing the air resistance, and reducing your overall speed. By bending your body forwards or in a crouching motion, you can cut through the air like a scythe and move at a higher speed.
Reasons not to Increase E-bike Speed
Although you get more thrill when you ‘put the pedal to the metal,’ the points below are good reasons why e-bikers should not cycle at an increased speed.
Higher chance of injury
When you cycle at a faster pace, your probability of getting injured increases significantly.
It is necessary to put on protective gear to reduce the risk of injury in case of an accident.
Breaking the law
There is a reason why electric bikes have speed limiters.
Limiters are put in place to make sure an electric bicycle travels at the legal speed limit. In other words, when you increase the speed of your bike, you could end up breaking the law.
Less cycling distance
The quicker your e-bike pace, the faster your energy consumption.
Your battery will drain at a faster rate, thereby reducing the cycling range.
Faster battery drain
Cycling at an increased speed will reduce the lifespan of your battery and make you replace it on a more regular basis.
The electric motor will also come under a lot of stress and make it wear out faster than as prescribed by the manufacturer.
Related post: Can You Charge Your Electric Bike At Home?
Higher energy consumption
If you have your limiter in place and still want to travel at a faster speed, you will have to power your e-bike like a conventional bike.
Pedaling your bike without pedal-assistance is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you will gas out quickly with muscle fatigue. On the other hand, you will burn more calories, which in the long run, is healthy for you.
Conclusion
There is a greater emphasis on cleaner energy consumption today than in the past decade. The increasing desire for vehicles with a low carbon footprint has made energy-efficient vehicles like the e-bike to be more accessible to the general public. The tips above allow you to extract the best possible performance from your bike. Nonetheless, your ‘need for speed’ should not deter you from following the traffic regulations in your area and riding safely.
