A good-quality electric bike usually costs between $2,000 and $4,000 at retail, though premium models can run much higher. At Upway, you can find both new and pre-owned e-Bikes from leading brands—often at discounts of up to 60%!
How to Buy an E-Bike for Someone Else: A Gift-Giving Guide
Written by: Rémy Rossi | June 6, 2025 | Time to read 5 min
Think outside the gift box—what’s better than giving someone the joy of freedom and speed on two wheels? Here’s how to find that perfect e-Bike for that special someone!
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
Giving the gift of two wheels is a perfect present— if you need proof, it seems like every Christmas movie ever made has a moment where a bike exchanges hands. But it’s not just kids’ bikes under the tree anymore— adult bikes and electric bikes make amazing gifts for any occasion. Here’s how to buy an e-Bike for someone else and make sure you decide on the right one!
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Try e-Bike shopping together
I’ll preface this article this way: Gift-giving can be fun when kept a secret, but it doesn’t have to be a surprise. In fact, it may be a much better idea to loop your special someone in on the e-Bike hunt to ensure you buy the right one.
For example, I’m super picky with clothes and know it’s hard for other people to pick out something I would love. This is why I very infrequently buy clothes for friends and family as a gift. I think e-Bikes are similar— they have to fit right and include features that suit the rider.
The surprise factor is wonderful, but consider spoiling the surprise by searching for e-Bikes together, whether that’s online or in-store. It’s a fun process to share and settling on an e-Bike they absolutely love means they’ll ride it much more, and that’s the end goal after all!
Consider how they’ll ride
Take a breath. Stop clicking and browsing. Think for a second. Take some time to really reflect on what an e-Bike will mean for the person you are giving the gift to. Are they currently riding a bicycle or e-Bike? Have they expressed interest in e-Bikes before? Are you trying to motivate them to ride with you?
Think about how this person will use the e-Bike and where they’ll ride most often. City e-Bikes are great for cruising around town or your local network of bike paths while electric mountain bikes are built for hitting technical trails. Are they a commuter? Or a road cyclist? Really get into their frame of mind and avoid simply getting them the bike you would like to ride or the same type of e-Bike you have.
Sure— some couples ride the same model of e-Bike and that can work out great, but it isn’t necessarily the only way to go. To get you started, I recently wrote a fun analysis of e-Bike rider archetypes for some inspiration.
There are several main categories to choose from:
- City/hybrid/commuter e-Bikes
- Electric mountain bikes
- Road & gravel e-Bikes
- Cargo e-Bikes
- Folding e-Bikes
Get the frame size right
Getting down to brass tacks, you’ll need to select the correct frame size, of course. Test riding is an easy way to ensure you’ve got the calculation right, but there are accurate online tools pretty much everywhere you look these days. The most trustworthy size recommendations come directly from the bike manufacturer, as size charts differ from model to model. There’ll be a link to a size chart on the specific model’s webpage on the brand’s website. Plug the rider height in, and there you go.
Upway makes it super easy to find the right frame size based on rider height. Each of the e-Bike’s in our fleet comes with a suggested rider height range listed right alongside the rest of the bike’s specifications. You can even search for electric bikes according to rider height— so easy!
Think about e-Bike features they’ll love
You’ll want to dive deeper than just deciding on the general e-Bike type that suits the person you’re buying for. E-Bikes come in all flavors with specific features that can make a huge difference to comfort, performance, and fun.
Maybe the person will want a Class 2 e-Bike with a throttle, or a Class 3 e-Bike that can reach fast speeds up to 28 mph. Or they can have a long daily commute that’s helped by a long-range battery, fenders, and a rear rack for carrying essential items. A suspension seat post and other e-Bike accessories can pimp the ride even more, too.
For a deeper look at all the factors to consider when purchasing a bike, I’ve written a beginner’s guide to buying an e-Bike online.
Return policy, just in case
When purchasing an electric bike for someone else, it’s also a good idea to make sure there’s some sort of return policy. Maybe the bike is the wrong size, they absolutely hate it (very unlikely, but hey, it happens), or simply prefer a different style. Upway has a 14-day return policy on all of its electric bikes, so you can buy with confidence, whether it's a gift for yourself or someone else.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electric bikes cost?
Do I need to check my e-Bike every time I ride?
It’s a good idea to check the tire pressure before every ride to see if the tires need to be inflated. Other maintenance tasks, like looking over the gears and brakes, are recommended after every several rides. Bigger projects like suspension can happen as needed.
What happens if my e-Bike battery runs out of charge?
If your e-Bike runs out of juice, you’ll have to pedal the old-fashioned way to make it back home. You’ll notice it takes slightly more effort to pedal due to the added weight and slight motor resistance. There are long-range electric bikes with higher capacity batteries, so there’s less of a chance you’ll run out of charge.
Key Takeaways
- Involve them in the process: Shopping together ensures you pick the right e-Bike size, style, and features they’ll actually use and love.
- Match the bike to their lifestyle: Whether they commute, explore trails, or need utility, tailoring the e-Bike type to their routine makes all the difference.
- Plan for flexibility: Prioritize brands like Upway with easy return policies and clear sizing tools to remove the stress from gift-giving.
