Beginner’s Guide to Buying an E-Bike Online

Written by: Rémy Rossi | February 16, 2025 | Time to read 5 min

To get your search started, you’re going to have to decide on what type of bike best matches your needs. If you already know you want a boost from an e-Bike, there are still plenty of options to choose from depending on the riding you plan on doing.

Electric bikes come in various styles for different needs:

• Mountain E-Bikes (e-MTBs): Built for off-road trails with knobby tires, suspension, and powerful pedal assist for climbing. Lightweight versions offer better handling.

• Road & Gravel E-Bikes: Sleek, lightweight models with drop handlebars for pavement or more rugged builds for gravel roads. Some are nearly indistinguishable from regular bikes.

• City E-Bikes: Comfortable, practical bikes for urban commuting, often with racks, fenders, and lights. Some have front suspension or step-thru frames.

• Cargo E-Bikes: Designed for carrying heavy loads or passengers, with extended racks for panniers or child seats— an eco-friendly car alternative.

• Crossover E-Bikes: These models blend features from multiple categories, like compact cargo bikes or foldable fat-tire all-terrain bikes.

Bike fit is super important and Upway recognizes that online shopping can’t provide in-person services like bike fits and test rides at your local bike shop. We have a convenient tool where customers can enter their height and browse bikes that match. You can also check the recommended rider height range on each model page for more information on frame size.

Where can I buy an electric bike? There’s a huge range of options, but not all are created equal. I’ve discussed buying bikes from online listings like eBay and Facebook Marketplace which can provide sweet deals, but may offer less buyer protection. Bike-specific retailers like Buycycle and the Bicycle Blue Book may check the quality of the bike and can offer buyer protection if there's an issue.

E-Bikes differ from standard bicycles due to the motor, battery, and other electronic components— and quality really matters for those techy parts. Even experienced mechanics like me can’t know if there’s an electronics issue just by looking at posted photos of the bike online. Especially if you are buying a used electric bike, you’ll want some sort of certification or warranty to ensure that everything is working as it should.

For example, all Upway models pass through a rigorous 50-point inspection and reconditioning process. Avoid purchase that feels like a shot in the dark— especially with electric bikes— and buy from trusted retailers like Upway!

I’m not normally one for blind brand loyalty— and I’m not advocating for this when buying a bike— but brand names in the bike world are beacons of quality and overall value in different ways than other markets. Trusted names like Bosch and Shimano let you know about the quality of the bike you’re looking at online.

Upway stocks top bike brands like Giant, Specialized, Trek, Gazelle, and many others use high-quality parts and electronic components that are safe and built to last. These brands have stuck around for decades for a reason, offering models at all budgets for recreational riders and professional racers.

Stay away from cheap department store brands or unknown e-Bike manufacturers that often cut corners for the sake of a rock-bottom price. While these bikes are probably fine to ride, proprietary parts and low-quality motors can complicate the repair process when issues arise, which is likely sooner rather than later.

When shopping online, you’re limited to the information on the page describing the bike. Read through all of the provided information and, if it’s a public marketplace, don’t hesitate to ask the seller for additional details or photos of the bike’s condition. Factors such as overall mileage and completed charge cycles are especially important when considering a 2nd hand e-Bike for sale, similar to the mileage of a used car. Batteries are one of the most expensive parts of an e-Bike and gradually lose performance over time.

Upway provides detailed descriptions of each electric bike, including every component and important metrics such as miles ridden and charge cycles. We take high-quality photos and include close-ups on any scratches or blemishes so you know as much as possible about the bike’s current condition. We also include updated information and photos of any included e-Bike accessories like lights, fenders, racks, or battery range extenders.