Until around 2010, choosing an electric bike was relatively easy. You just had to choose your budget, and your brand and go with what you liked best. As time has gone on, people have become overwhelmed with the number of options available.

So, today, I’m going to help you narrow down your options and choose a hub or mid-drive electric bike. Then you’ll be ready to pick the perfect model for you.

A hub electric bike will always be the most cost-effective entry into electric bikes and is perfect for you if you’re on a budget. A mid-drive electric bike is the best option if you are determined to get the best performance, handling, and range and are willing to spend a few hundred dollars more.

For the rest of this article, I’ll show you the key differences between hub motor and mid-drive e-bikes.

Then I’ll help you choose the one that’s right for you by asking you a set of questions and comparing the two, as well as discussing initial costs and maintenance. So, keep reading.

What Is A Hub Electric Bike?

When the first electric bicycles were released, they came with a hub motor. This was revolutionary when it came to commuter bikes. In this section, I want to explain what the hub motor electric bike is briefly. So, let’s get into it.

The hub motor is an electric motor placed on the front or rear wheel. It provides power directly to that specific wheel. Because of this assistance, you can expend a lot less energy when riding than you would with a normal bike.

Another name for the hub motor is direct drive. Keep in mind that the motor has nothing to do with your drive train, gears, or anything else. It simply works with the wheels of your e-bike.

What Is A Mid Drive Electric Bike?

The mid-drive or mid-motor system was released around 2010. It changed the way that electric bikes work. Instead of providing power to one or two of the wheels on the e-bike, it does things a little bit differently.

The mid-drive electrical system provides power to the gears of your bike. This difference has a few effects on the electric bicycle. It primarily acts as a more efficient power delivery system. Instead of helping the bike to move by providing power to the wheels, it assists the rider with pedaling effort (aka pedal assist).

Mid-drive motors are also known as central hub or mid motors. It’s installed by the e-bike’s pedals and is therefore ideally placed to provide power to the bike’s drive train (which includes the pedals, chain, cassette/freewheel, and derailleur).

Mid drive motors generally give better weight distribution as well, since they’re located in the middle of the e-bike.

The Key Differences Between Hub And Mid Drive E-Bikes 

Before discussing the advantages of both hub drive motors and mid drive motors, or before discussing which one you should get, it’s important to discuss a few of the key differences between front of rear hub motors and mid motors.

The main differences have to do with the motor placement, how each type of motor works (pedal assist), and the range. Let’s take a look at these three things.

Placement Of The Motor

Mid-drive motors are placed by your e-bike’s pedals, while hub drive motors are placed on one of your wheels. It could be the front wheel or the rear. This placement affects something called weight distribution, making the bike’s handling significantly better or worse.

In my experience, a mid-drive motor improves the handling of your electric bike because of its placement. With all vehicles, any added weight is less noticeable the closer it is to the center of gravity.

How The Motors Work

Hub motors apply power directly to one of the wheels of the bike. So, for example, a rear hub motor is placed on the rear wheel.

On the other hand, mid-drive motors work with your gears. This makes mid-drive motors a lot more efficient than hub motors. However, you do need to pedal with a mid-drive motor, while with hub motors (that also include pedal assist), you can take short breaks and let the motor power the ebike until it slows down.

The Range Of The Motors

Because mid-drive motors work with your gears, they are generally more efficient than hub motors. When you shift to a lower gear, the motor’s power doesn’t have to provide as much because natural pedaling cadence becomes easier.

At the same time, when you change to a higher gear, the motor has to do more work but the change is less noticeable (the pedal assist feature continues to work smoothly and pedal speed doesn’t change noticeably). Therefore, you’ll get more range out of a mid-drive electric bike motor when in a higher gear because its workload is not constant.

Of course, this is only true as long as there is battery power (find out here what to do if your battery dies)!

Should You Get A Hub Or A Mid Drive Electric Bike?

I’d like to give you the facts and allow you to make your own decisions. So, I’m not going to tell you which type of motor-driven bike you should get.

Instead, I’ll ask five questions and give you a recommendation based on each of those scenarios. Let’s jump into it.

What Is Your Budget?

The misconception that I see a lot is that hub motors come on entry-level bikes, but that’s not always true. A hub motor electric bike can be premium, but it’s still generally more affordable than mid-drive motors.

Potentially, you can save a few hundred dollars or more by choosing a hub motor e-bike. That said, I’ll discuss pricing further down in the article. However, if you are strictly looking to spend as little money as possible, a hub drive bike would be your best option.

Do You Like Taking Breaks?

Because a mid-drive works with your gears instead of applying power directly to your wheels, the motor works when you pedal, so if you want to take a break during a long straight, you’ll have to stop the bike entirely.

But since a hub motor applies power directly to the wheels, you can stop pedaling and still have power delivered to the wheels to keep moving.

Don’t let that fact make your decision all by itself.

Because of the efficiency of mid-drive motors, you’ll feel less tired when riding and perhaps need fewer breaks on longer rides in general. In my experience, this is more useful than having the ability to stop pedaling, especially on long commutes.

How Often Do You Ride Your Ebike?

The maintenance costs of mid-drive bikes tend to be higher than hub motors because more moving parts need to get looked after. However, what many people don’t tell you is mid-drive motors typically need less maintenance in general.

See, the motor is more efficient even with more moving parts, which means it goes through less wear and tear over the same distance. But, if you’re worried about high maintenance costs, hub electric bikes are your best option.

But, if you’re after convenience, then mid-drive motors are the better choice.

What Distance Do You Typically Ride?

The range you get with mid-drive electric bikes is far greater than that of a hub motor. So if you ride anything more than 15 to 20 miles per day, you should consider getting a bike with a mid-drive.

With a 750W motor on a mid-drive bike, you can cover around 45 miles of road with consistent pedaling. 

And, even though you have to constantly pedal, you won’t feel as fatigued riding a mid-drive motor e-bike the same distance as a hub motor bike, especially over long distances.

What Type Of Roads Do You Ride On?

If you ride on terrain mostly made up of straights or even downhills, hub motors will be perfectly fine. And you’ll be able to take quite a few breaks while cruising down the straights. 

If you have a few hills on your route, a hub motor will not be very efficient. Instead, you want to consider buying a mid-drive motor e-bike because it’ll assist you better with pedaling uphill. The minute you slip into a lower gear, the motor will do a great job of making it feel like you’re still going on a straight even though you are on a steep incline.

Advantages Of A Mid Drive Electric Bike

Most of you are looking for the best option available and don’t mind spending a few hundred dollars extra to get the best option (after all, you’re already shelling out quite a bit of cash for an e-bike).

So, let’s take a look at some of the advantages of mid-drive e-bikes to help you make your decision.

• Performance: Because the motor provides power to the bike’s drive train, it feels like you have more power while riding.
• Higher range: If you take a mid-drive or a hub bike with two similar specs, you’ll get more range out of the mid-drive bike. Remember, it’s not all about the power that a motor has; the efficiency of a mid-drive is what makes it able to go further.
• You feel less tired: You can ride further without feeling fatigued because of the increase in power. This is especially helpful if you ride long distances or commute every day.
• Better handling: A mid-drive motor is placed close to the center of gravity on the bicycle. This placement improves the handling of the bike.

Advantages Of A Hub Electric Bike

Many people prefer using bikes with hub motors because of the variety of models, styles, and brands. Plus, there are still a couple of advantages when it comes to e-bikes with hub motors.

• Lower cost: As mentioned in this article, you can save a few hundred dollars by going for a hub motor e-bike instead of a mid-drive one.
• Ability to take breaks from pedaling: Also, you have the ability to take breaks and still have the electric motor power the wheels and keep you moving.
• New brands and features: As e-bikes grow in popularity, so do the number of brands, models, features, and types…so there’s a never-ending stream of e-bikes to choose from.

Because of the variety of features and models, as well as the lower cost, many recreational cyclists still end up buying a hub motor electric bicycle (I have the Rad Mini step-thru with rear hub motor that you see below).

Hub Motor Electric Bike Cost

You can get cheap hub motor bicycles. Still, these usually come with small motors (such as 250 watts) that don’t get you very far and don’t provide great performance. Therefore, when considering the cost of hub electric bikes, I didn’t include them.

For a 500-watt hub motor electric bike, your entry-level is around $800-$1000. Depending on the brand you go for, you can spend around $1200 for a premium model. A 750-watt motor will typically cost you a couple of hundred dollars more.

It’s important to always look at the wattage of the motor. One of the worst mistakes you can make is to get a bike that doesn’t have enough power for your daily commute. So, try and look for 500 watts or more. Ideally, you should look at a 750-watt hub motor electric bike, like my own RadMini foldable (read a review of it here).

Mid-Drive Electric Bike Cost

The cheapest mid-drive electric bike I’ve seen is around $1500. However, in recent times I haven’t seen one below $2000. This is partially because the mid-drive motor itself is more expensive than a hub motor.

Further, because the motors are better, the more premium the e-bike generally is. Thus, the more it’ll cost. You can even end up spending a lot more than $2000; sometimes they reach $8000-$9000.

For a good 500 Watt or more mid-drive electric bicycle, you can expect to pay around $2500 to $3000. 

It must be said that most mid-drive e-bikes are not low-end. They simply don’t put that type of motor on low-end bikes. Instead, $2000 will get you a mid-range electric bike, while $2500 or more will get you a high-end one.

Hub vs. Mid Drive Electric Bike Maintenance Costs

I’d advise you to have your electric bike serviced regularly, at least on an annual basis but likely two or three times a year if you ride daily. Maintenance should include checking and cleaning your electric motor. If any problems are found with individual parts, they’d need to be replaced, and that’s where mid-drive bikes tend to be more expensive.

To give you the best estimate of what you can expect to pay to maintain your electric bike based on what type of motor you have, hub vs mid drive, we need to break down the costs into a few sections:

• Batteries: $200 to $400 every three years
• Bike service including motor: $200 to $300 per year
• Miscellaneous parts: $100 per year

When you break those numbers down to a yearly maintenance cost, you can expect to pay around $350 to $500 every year for a hub electric bike.

For a mid-drive bike, expect to pay $600 to $800 per year.

Conclusion: Mid drive vs front or rear wheel hub motors

I’ve just reviewed everything you need to know about hub vs mid drive electric bikes. Choosing between both types of e-bikes is tough. My goal with this article was to try and make it a bit easier, even though that’s a relatively tough job.

The truth is that hub motor e-bikes are a ton of fun, can get you where you need or want to go, and come in a huge selection of styles in a price range that fits many budgets. So, a hub e-bike is a great choice and is what many beginner e-bike riders choose.

However, if you’re serious about riding performance and you can afford to spend a little more on a mid-drive e-bike, then this is what’s right for you. Overall, the performance advantages outweigh the heavier price tag.

I can make a case for both types of motors on e-bikes. But at the end of the day, you’ll be the one riding it! So choose which is right for you based upon the advantages of each I’ve discussed in this article!

You’ve heard about electric bikes with “fat” tires and it sounds like an interesting trend. But what does having fat tires actually mean and is it even something you want or need in an electric bike?

Essentially, if an electric bike has 4″ to 5″ wide tires, it’s a fat tire e-bike. However, tire widths as narrow as 2.8″ and less than 4″ are also sometimes thought of as fat tires because they’re wider than the standard tires on electric road bikes or e-mountain bikes.

When I bought my first electric bike with 3″ tires, I thought I was getting a fat tire e-bike, only to discover later that my tires were not nearly as wide as some bikes with fat tires and that they didn’t perform in quite the same way.

Before you make the same mistake, I’d like to help you understand exactly what is a fat tire e-bike, why you may want (or need) one, how wide your tires should be to meet your needs, and whether buying one is worth it for you.

What is a Fat Tire E-Bike? (Tire Width Explained)

Fat tire e-bikes can come with many different features, tire sizes, and tire widths. Further, the tires can be studded or not, and high-quality or not.

Generally speaking, a fat tire e-bike has wide tires that can be ridden comfortably on a variety of surfaces simply by adjusting the tire pressure.

4.0″-5.0″ Super Fat E-Bike Tires

Any electric bike with tires over 4 inches can be called a fat tire bike. But with the increased variation in tire widths and electric bike styles in general, they’re often considered “super” fat tires.

You might see people riding these bikes on paths or roads, but they’re primarily good for riding on wet surfaces or loose ground. Because these tires are super wide, they contact more surface area on the ground, thus providing better traction on almost any surface.

2.8″-3.8″ Tires (are they fat tires?)

You might not always hear e-bikes with wide tires between 2.8 inches and 3.8 inches being called “fat tires”. However, what’s important is that there is a huge variety of e-bikes with extra-wide tires that get better traction on the ground than standard bike tires which are typically 2.6 inches or less.

Basically, even though the tires may not be as wide as super fat tires, it remains true that the wider the tire, the more it comes into contact with the ground, and the better traction you’ll have.

So, if you buy an e-bike that has tires under 4″, you can expect that they might not have as good of traction as those with tires 4″ and up. However, even a 3″ tire will provide more surface area contact than a standard e-bike tire 2.6″ and under.

After reading all of the details below, you might just decide that you don’t need a 4″ fat tire e-bike but could benefit from a 3″ tire instead. Or check this article if you’re looking for an electric mountain bike with fat tires.

The Most Comfortable PSI for Riding Your Fat Tire E-Bike (how a fat bike is different)

Another important thing to know about a fat tire electric bike is in regards to the fat bike’s air pressure.

Typically, fat bike tire pressure can be as low as a PSI of 5 when riding over ultra-soft or slippery ground up to a high PSI of 30 for riding on the pavement. The most common fat tire air pressure used is between 10 PSI and 20 PSI.

I can’t truthfully describe the purpose of a fat bike without giving you an understanding of how different tire pressures are needed for total comfort in different riding conditions. And although I’ll give you some recommendations on the best pressure for fat tires, there’s still a bit of personal choice involved.

For instance, if you’re a heavy rider, then you’ll probably want to increase your air pressure by a couple of PSI above what is recommended.

Or, if you plan on riding on the pavement as well as dirt or sand during the same ride, you might want to keep your air pressure somewhere in between what’s recommended for each.

As this is often the case for me, I typically keep my 3″ tires at around 15 PSI so that I can go over loose ground safely but easily ride over the hard ground without feeling like I’m dragging.

Another option is to carry a small portable tire pump (Amazon) with you to change the pressure as needed.

Regardless of whether you carry a portable tire pump with you, you’ll want to have a full-size air pump with a pressure gauge to adjust your fat tires appropriately. I use this powerful one from Topeak (Amazon).

I’ll show you some amazing hybrid electric bikes with fat tires that are definitely worth the cost in a moment. But you’ll have a better idea of what you want to get by learning their advantages and disadvantages first.

Read my Haoqi fat E-Bike review!

What Are the Advantages of Fat Tire E-Bikes?

The advantages of fat tire electric bikes are many and include better riding performance on different terrains, comfort, and safety.

Advantages of Riding a Fat Tire E-Bike

• Less physical jarring over tough terrain or uneven ground
  
• Better traction in snow and mud
  
• Better traction through dirt and loose ground such as sand, leaves, twigs, and rocks
  
• Ability to ride through deeper sand but still remain at the surface, such as at the beach or in the desert
  
• Greater e-bike stability and balance (less chance of your tires slipping and falling)
  
• More rear-end comfort over any type of bumpy terrain
  
• Ability to ride on any surface, not just rough terrain

So What is the Point of a Fat Bike?

The point of owning and riding an e-bike with fat tires (also called a fat e-bike), is similar to any hybrid electric bike... being able to ride on the pavement but also riding easily, safely, and comfortably on softer ground.

An electric mountain bike will take you over rough terrain but won’t always provide tires wide enough to stay on the surface of soft ground like snow, mud, or sand, even with the right tire pressure.

If you are never planning to ride on a dirt trail, sand at the beach, or snow, then you’re better off buying an electric road bike!

What Are the Disadvantages of Fat Tire E-Bikes?

Although riding a fat tire bike has so many advantages, there are several reasons why you might choose an electric bike without fat tires, many having to do with the extra weight. Electric fat bikes can weigh as much as 80lbs!

Disadvantages of Riding a Fat Tire Electric Bike

• They are heavier than other electric bikes (60-80 lbs vs 40-60 lbs) due to the massive tires and rims
  
• It will be harder to push or lift into a car, upstairs, or onto a car bike rack (here’s one from Amazon that can accommodate fat bikes with up to 5″ tires)(paid link)
  
• The wide tires may not fit in standard bike racks for carrying on a car, parking or garage storage
  
• May feel more resistance when riding up steep hills, again due to the heavy weight
  
• More likely to sink into mud (but this does depend on using the correct tire pressure)
  
• Some gravel may be harder to ride on than you expect, especially if they are lower quality fat tires
  
• You’ll get noticed… you may love this attention but it also puts your fat tire bike at a greater risk of theft

These cons are most likely to affect a small person or senior who might have trouble with the bulk and weight of a fat bike. Otherwise, it’s really about preference. Do the benefits of having a fat tire e-bike outweigh the cons for your situation?

Hybrid Fat Tire Electric Bikes

Combine a hybrid electric bike with fat tires and you essentially get an e-bike that goes pretty much everywhere you’d want to take it. You can choose a fat bike with all of the features you want, like a foldable step-thru or a massive e-bike with 5″ wide tires.

Additionally, a lot of electric fat bikes are designed with a specific function in mind. For example, specialty bikes are manufactured for winter riding, beach or electric mountain bike riding, hunting, and surfing. They may also be foldable or have a step-thru frame or full suspension system. Many new fat bikes also have handlebars that allow you to sit upright.

And of course, there are different wheel sizes, wide tires, and even wider tires. Foldable fat tire e-bikes generally have smaller 20″ wheels to accommodate folding it up. But other fat e-bikes have 24″ or 26″ wheels. These differences in tire size make it possible for people of all heights and weights to find one that’s perfect.

However, naturally, the larger the wheel and the fatter the tire, the heavier the fat bike will be. Keep in mind that if the tires and rims add 4 lbs of weight to the e-bike, this is in addition to the extra weight of the electronic components (battery, motor, and controller).

How Much Does an Electric Fat Bike Cost?

Electric fat tire bikes with 20″ or 26″ frames typically cost between $900 and $3500. Here’s a list of the cost of good-quality electric fat bikes along with their tire size, width, and weight.

Are Fat Tire Electric Bikes Better?

There are several reasons fat tire e-bikes are better than e-bikes with standard tire sizes. First and foremost, your ride will be more comfortable thanks to increased cushioning and better traction on slick or soft ground.

Better traction and greater cushion are both due to the increased contact of the tire on the ground and the ability of the fat tire to roll over loose leaves, dirt, sand, and snow without slipping. And the truth is, the wider your fat tire, the greater your comfort is likely to be!

And, I may be biased, but the reality is that electric bikes have so many advantages over regular bikes as it is. So, getting an e-bike with fat tires just adds to the flexibility and enjoyment of riding one.

But, given some of the disadvantages of fat bikes mentioned above, you might not need or want 4″ or 5″ wide tires. It’s best that you check out all of the features of electric bikes before deciding what kind to get.

Conclusion

Electric fat tire bikes are totally worth it, especially if you intend to ride on dirt paths, mud, snow, or sand! They don’t necessarily cost more than other hybrid electric bikes and the riding comfort they provide can’t be beaten.

Although the advantages are greater than the disadvantages, you’ll still want to make sure an electric fat bike is for you. Its heavy weight could be a deal-breaker if you aren’t able to lift all 70-80 lbs onto your car bike rack or into your car.

Further, you’ll want to decide what tire width you really need for your intended riding conditions and use the correct tire pressure as well.

No matter how wide your fat tire is (from 2.8″-5″) one thing’s for sure, fat electric bikes are in a class by themselves when it comes to outdoor fun and functionality!

Electric bikes are getting better and better these days, and there are several e-bike brands that stand out from the rest. Two such brands are Focus and Giant. When considering which one is best, these two brands are top contenders. But when compared, who makes the better ride?

In general, Giant e-bikes are more powerful while Focus e-bikes have a better range. Focus electric bikes give more value for money and have more models to choose from. Giant electric bikes are well made and built by an established brand. When compared, both brands have a great selection of high-quality bikes with unique features.

No matter how you look at it, both Focus Bikes and Giant produce world-class electric bikes. But there are many considerations to make when comparing them to determine which one will make the better ride for you.

Keep reading to discover which brand and e-bike is right for you. First, I’ll compare Giant and Focus electric bike brands and models and then look at which one is the best brand of an e-bike for you.

Focus E-Bikes Types and Models (Reviewed)

Focus has a wide range of the best electric bikes available. This brand produces many different types of e-bikes with various features, designed for different roads and environments and sold at various price points.

Although Focus produces some of the best e-bikes in the world, they specialize in e-mountain bikes (e-MTB).

The types of Focus e-bikes include:

• Full-suspension mountain
• Hardtail mountain
• Road
• All-round (hybrids)
• Road and gravel

Here are the types and models you need to know about:

Focus Electric Mountain Bikes

The range of eMTBs produced by Focus is quite extensive. The models are separated into two categories: Full-suspension and hardtail bikes.

The Focus full-suspension electric mountain bike range includes:

Thron2 – a genuine trail and tours bike with optional features. This bike features Focus’ 130mm F.O.L.D full suspension system, 29” wheels, and the 625Wh Bosch Performance CX e-drive system.

Jam2 – an all-mountain electric bike that is equipped with 150mm full Focus F.O.L.D suspension, 29” wheels, and a choice of either the Bosch CX 625Wh or Shimano EP8 756W e-drive systems.

Focus Sam2 – the new e-enduro features 170mm full F.O.L.D suspension, 29” wheels with variable geometry and size settings due to the Focus Flip Chip, and the Bosch Performance CX 625Wh e-drive system.

The Focus hardtail range of e-mountain bikes includes:

Raven2 – an incredibly light bike with a 100mm suspension fork, 29” wheels, removable Fazua motor, and battery unit. This bike holds the course record at the Transalp Route.

Jarifa2 – a hardtail touring bike with a 100mm suspension fork, 29” or 27.5” wheels that come in sizes S and XS, optional rack, mudguards, light, and stand. And it has a Bosch Performance CX e-drive in either 625Wh or 1125Wh and is equipped with an extra battery for a longer cycling range.

Focus Road E-Bikes

There’s only one electric road bike offering from Focus Bikes, but it’s worth taking a look at!

Paraline2

This electric bike is designed for endurance rides. It’s rugged yet designed with a racing geometry. Plus, it has a Fazua motor/battery unit that can be uncoupled from the drive system and comes equipped with the Focus Road-Boost Standard quick-release axles, disc brakes, 35mm tire clearance, and mudguards.

Focus All-Round E-Bikes (Hybrids)

Focus manufactures two all-around e-bikes as well. These hybrid bikes are the Aventura2 and the Planet2.

Aventura2 – this one is designed for e-bike trekking but is as fast as a racing bike. It’s built with endurance bike geometry and is equipped with the same Road-Boost Standard kit as the Paraline2 and a removable Fazua motor/battery unit.

Planet2 – Made to be an everyday e-bike for city use and commuting, it’s equipped with mudguards, a light, a stand, and rails. It’s available in both wave and diamond frame shapes and is equipped with the Bosch Performance CX 625Wh e-drive system.

Focus Road and Gravel E-Bikes

Focus manufactures a good selection of road and gravel e-bikes that are designed to be as versatile as possible.

These include:

Izalco Max – this electric bike is designed for racing and is set up to apply all power directly to the road. It’s built with Aero race geometry, lightweight carbon materials, and disc brakes with thru-axles.

Atlas – designed to be a fast gravel bike for adventuring and bike backpacking, this electric bike is built with endurance geometry, has a large tire clearance of up to 47mm, and has disc brakes. It can handle sand and loose particles on the road with ease.

Mares – this e-bike is ideal for cyclocross races and is built with cyclocross geometry. The Mares is tough and designed to handle harsh environments such as snow, mud, and rain. It is also equipped with disc brakes and quick-release axles.

Giant E-Bike Types and Models (Reviewed)

Giant is a manufacturer of regular bikes as well as electric bikes, which means that their range of offerings is not as extensive as the Focus brand.

However, Giant brand bikes are among the best in the industry, and there is still a good selection to choose from, including electric road bikes, gravel bikes, and electric mountain bikes.

Generally, these bikes are of good quality and are quite reliable. This is why Giant is recommended as a trustworthy brand by many ebike riders.

Below is a more in-depth inspection of the range of bikes made by Giant:

Giant Road E-Bikes

There is only one bicycle on the list of electric road bikes made by Giant, as their primary focus is on e-MTB’s (but you’ll also find a hybrid road bike further below).

Roam E+ – the Roam E+ is made for increasing performance. And it’s built with a lightweight aluminum frame, a composite for the current Giant SyncDrive Pro motor system, and a high energy density 400Wh EnergyPak Smart battery.

Electric Mountain Bikes by Giant

There are several models of Giant e-mountain bikes available. Since they’re known for building excellent bikes for mountain biking, let’s take a closer look at the range of models offered, most with full suspension:

Trance X E+ Pro 29 – this intense bike is designed for serious riders who want electric assistance. It features maximum control functionality with variable settings. This bike features 29” wheels, 140mm rear suspension, 150mm front suspension, and an aluminum progressive geometry frame in addition to a 625Wh battery and the Giant SyncDrive Pro e-drive system.

Talon E+ 29 – this e-MTB is very lightweight and features a durable Giant SyncDrive Core motor system that is quieter than other Giant motors. It has a 100mm suspension fork, an aluminum frame, and a 500Wh battery.

Stance E+ Pro – this is the real deal e-Mtb. They’re perfectly designed for technical riding, both climbing and descending. Further, the Stance has a trail-friendly frame geometry, 120mm rear suspension, 130mm front suspension, 29” wheels, electric drive motor power, and a 625Wh battery.

Trance Advanced – this is a full-suspension mountain e-bike with hybrid cycling technology featuring 150mm suspension, a high-performance electric drive motor, an aluminum frame with an integrated battery pack, and advanced suspension forks.

Giant Road and Gravel E-Bikes

This is another of Giant’s categories that only consists of one bike, but it has a dual function and can therefore be considered an electric hybrid (or all-round).

Revolt E+ Pro – this electric road and gravel bike is designed for city streets and gravel roads. It’s equipped with versatile drop-bars, an aluminum frameset, a Yamaha SyncDrive motor, and a 375Wh battery with an optional extender that is integrated into the frame.

This is the best option from Giant for those seeking an all-rounder, or hybrid e-bike.

Are Focus or Giant E-Bikes Better? (Compared)

There really isn’t a straightforward answer to this question. Instead, it’s necessary to compare them.

Neither Focus Bikes nor Giant Bikes are better than the other. But they each provide benefits that some electric bike riders will prefer over others.

When comparing e-bikes, the most important features to consider are:

• Type you need: Road, mountain, or electric hybrid
• Quality of bike frame, motor, and battery
• Electric motor performance
• Battery watt hours, available range, and maximum power
• Rideability
• Reliability
• Features
• Price and value for your money

How the Focus and Giant Brands Measure Up

Giant is a more established, well-renowned brand than Focus. However, Focus Bikes produces electric bikes exclusively, so you could argue that they’re a specialty brand. This means that Focus is able to apply all of their time and effort into making the best electric bike possible.

Regardless, both brands are industry-leading companies and produce high-end bikes of many varieties. But there are a few defining features that set these brands apart, and there are some considerations to make when comparing them.

Overall, Giant just has more experience manufacturing a regular bike in general, whilst Focus Bikes has greater experience building an electric bike.

Noted Features and Quality Comparison

Whether you prefer Giant or a Focus as a brand will depend a lot on your intended use. Are you interested in riding one primarily for commuting, recreation, or for exercise and sport? Are you a casual bike rider or a more serious, athletic one?

The defining features of Giant’s electric motorbikes are the SyncDrive motors that they are equipped with and the EnergyPak batteries that all of their bikes use. 

Since their motors are made by Yamaha, which is notorious for producing excellent electric motors with plenty of torque, Giant brand bikes tend to attract more serious cyclists.

The EnergyPak batteries made by Giant are very good as well. These batteries have a lower capacity than other batteries of the same size, but they are of higher density. This means that the rider gets more power and range from a smaller battery, allowing the batteries to be built into the frame of every bike.

Focus e-bikes feature high-quality Bosch power and drive systems that are known for their quality, range, power, and sophistication. These Bosch motors produce substantial power and efficient battery management, making them high quality and intelligent (in an artificial intelligence sense).

But the battery range is really what makes them stand out… they can get up to 127 miles on one charge!

So, even discerning buyers should be happy with their purchase of a Focus e-bike.

Overall, the design of both bikes is up to industry standards. Plus, there are electric bikes made by both brands to suit every rider and their unique requirements.

Price Comparison

Focus is able to produce motorized bikes that perform at the same level as the biggest brands while costing significantly less. This is the main attraction for Focus Bikes – they offer a big value for the money.

With prices ranging from around $2200 to $7500, Focus gives you a huge range of choices for your money, including bikes in the lower price range.

Giant Bikes, on the other hand, start at a slightly higher price of $2700 and go up to around $6300. So, you’ll have to pay a bit more for their lower-end (but still high-quality) bikes. This might make you a more serious rider if you’re willing to spend more money on the lower-end models than you would on a Focus brand e-bike.

Focus vs. Giant E-Bikes (Who Makes The Best Ride?)

Electric bikes made by Giant are known in the industry for their reliability, motor strength and range capabilities, reliability, and wide range of features.

In comparison, Focus Bikes are well known for having excellent value for the money, unique design features, toughness, and a very good battery range.

These factors make both Giant and Focus tough contenders when directly comparing models.

When these brands are compared and reviewed by professionals, there tends to be a consensus that Giant e-bikes are the better option if you have the budget for them.

The motors and drive systems in Giant’s electric bikes are specifically made for the models produced by the company, rather than using a standard drive that is used by many other manufacturers. This means that the drive systems in a Giant electric bike are the best systems for their models… thus, a recipe to be the best ride.

This is not to say that Focus bikes are bad, but only that the motor drive systems in Giant bikes are a little better.

With that being said, many riders confirm that riding a Focus electric bike is a joy to ride and excellent for the price. These bikes are tough and nimble. And the wide variety of models available from Focus means this company produces an e-bicycle that is perfect for every type of rider.

Conclusion 

At the end of it, you won’t be disappointed if you choose to ride a Focus or Giant electric bike. Both companies make some of the best electric road bikes, electric hybrid bikes, and motorized mountain bikes.

Whether you’re into mountain biking, climbing hills, trail riding, city commuting, or just want to enjoy riding, both brands produce excellent offers.

If you have the budget for it, you’ll get a little more from Giant e-bikes. This is only because they have better electric drive systems than Focus.

Ultimately, the most important comparisons to make are how each e-bike performs, how reliable and sturdy it is, what it’s like to ride, and how much it costs to buy.

In order to really determine which one is best for you, take the time to try both brands and as many different types and models as possible. Then base your decision on your personal preferences, requirements, and budget.

You might also like to compare these brands:

• Ride1Up vs Rad Power
• Aventon vs Lectric
• Rad Power Bikes vs Pedego

Like any helpful technology, parts wear out frequently and need to be replaced. This is no different with an electric bike. So if you need to add a new controller to your electric bike, or are doing a complete e-bike conversion, then you’ll want to find out where a new controller should be located.

The best place for a controller on your electric bike will be where it’s protected from water and weather, doesn’t get too hot, and stays out of the way of pedaling or getting seated on your e-bike.

Read below to find out where your electric bike controller is located and what you need to know about how a controller works before choosing one and installing it.

What Does an Electric Bike Controller Do?

The electric bike controller acts as the brain of a pedal-assisted bike. It coordinates all of the electronic activities of the bike.

So it’s helpful to understand its importance when it comes to how your electric bike works.

How Does the Controller Work?

Generally speaking, the controller takes information from the battery, motor, throttle, and pedal assist system and then returns the correct signal to your system of electronic parts.

For example, if you throttle your e-bike, the controller will collect information from that action and tell the motor how much power to give. Thus, your electric bike moves forward when you twist the throttle.

Here’s what a controller typically looks like. You can see all of the different wires that will attach to various features of a motorized bike.

Controller display

The controller is also connected to the display that shows you the battery level, speed, and level of pedal assistance.

If the controller works correctly, you can simply view the controller display to see the results of your riding output. That’ll help you know when to charge the battery, whether you can shifting your gears for assistance, and how fast you’re going.

Where does the controller go on an E-Bike?

In many newer electric bikes, the controller is located on the frame near the battery.

However, if you’re doing an electric bike conversion, the controller can go in a few different places. However, the controller display is typically located in the middle of the handlebars for easy viewing.

Places to install a new controller

Battery bag

Buy a bag to cover your battery and include the controller inside the bag. Uses a piece of foam in between both to keep the controller from overheating because of the battery.

Sitting on top of the battery

I’d suggest still using a foam separator even if it’s not in a battery bag.

In a controller box

This keeps wires safely contained and looks nicer than the silver metal controller. You can mount the box directly to the frame. Attach it either below the seat on the seat post or on the lower part of the frame in front of or behind the battery.

Mount directly to the frame

If you don’t feel the need to use a controller box, then you can mount it directly onto the frame, in the same locations as mentioned above. Basically, you can install the controller anywhere on the frame that stays out of the way while you’re riding.

Watch the video to see where and how to connect the controller:

How to Choose an E-Bike Controller (tips to follow):

The first thing you need to know before purchasing a controller is what type you want, a Sine wave or a Square wave.

A sine wave controller will be quieter, smoother, and have greater motor efficiency.

A square wave controller will work with multiple motors, use power voltage more efficiently, and be better at braking and accelerating suddenly.

Although a square wave controller will be noisier, it will also be less expensive than a sine wave controller.

Here are some other important tips to keep in mind when choosing one.

For an electric bike conversion:

1. First, get a controller with a voltage that matches your bike’s battery and motor (24V, 36V, or 48V are typical).
   
2. Buy a battery and controller that match amps and volts at the same time, so you don’t get stuck in the middle of your conversion.
   
3. Make sure the controller you choose is compatible with your motor’s wattage.
   
4. Your battery maximum output current needs to be higher than than the controller (typically 18A, 25A, or 35A).
   
5. Find out whether your motor has hall sensors. If so, then your controller will need to manage hall sensors, typically either by being hall sensor or dual mode compatible.
   

Replacing a controller on an older e-bike

1. Get a new controller that matches the voltage of the controller that was installed on your elecric bike by the manufacturers.
   
2. Compare the price and quality of replacing the controller with the same brand… you’ll be assured it meets the right specifications.
   
3. Get one with an LCD display… it’s worth the extra cost to be able to clearly see the battery level and find out how fast you’re riding, especially if you intend to use it for exercise and fitness.

Best Electric Bike Controllers to Buy (and their cost!)

If you need to purchase a new controller, take a look at the one’s other electric biker’s like:

How to Connect an Electric Bike Controller

In general, you should follow the diagram provided with the controller. However, the wire types, colors, and numbers may be different than currently included on your electric bike, especially if you have an advanced controller with a display.

If you’re replacing a controller, your electric bike will dictate how many wires are needed based on the features of your bike. For example, if you have additional features such as a LED headlight (this one from Amazon) or Reverse function, then you’ll need more wires in order to connect them.

Location of controller

To determine the best location to attach your controller to your electric bike, test a variety of spots that could work (as listed previously in this article). Make sure you can get on and off your e-bike and pedal freely without hitting the controller.

You can test each placement by putting the controller in a test spot and wrapping it with a tie or piece of velcro.

You can easily make sure the controller is waterproof by enclosing it in a controller box. Then just mount the box onto the bike’s frame.

Advanced controllers with display

Often, there are more wires found in controllers that come with quality LCD displays.

And, if you buy a controller with an LCD display, you can put the display on the handlebars, right in the middle where you can easily see your speed and battery power remaining.

Again, keep in mind that you may have extra wires that won’t attach to anything if you don’t have as many electronic features on your e-bike or with your conversion kit.

Using a Conversion Kit

Certainly, if you’re considering an electric bike conversion, you can just buy an entire kit. Then you’ll know that your controller will match your motor perfectly.

Conversion kit options

You can get a complete conversion kit but you’ll want to make sure you know what you want (and that you can do it yourself)!

Make sure you do your research on the different types of conversion kits and know what’s involved first.

There are two main types of conversion kits:

1. Standard: Mid-Drive motor kits and Concealed conversion kits
   
   These attach low and centered on your frame which will give you a balanced ride and smooth ride. And, if it’s a concealed kit, you’ll hardly notice it’s there, which makes your electric bike look pretty sleek.
   
   You may wish to choose this type of electric bike kit if you’re a semi-professional rider or place high value in the quality of each bike ride.
   
2. All-in-One Electric Wheel Kit
   
   These are popular, easy-to-install kits that simply replace the bike’s wheel with one that contains a hub motor and electric gears.
   
   This is likely the type of conversion kit you’ll want to install if you’re a recreational or beginning rider.