Don't miss out on your perfect ride!
Used road e-Bikes provide you with an accessible way of experiencing the amazing enjoyment of pedal-assisted cycling on pavement.
A road bike is the perfect bike for going fast and far, for climbing mountains or traveling long distances in newfound places. They're faster than gravel bikes and lighter than mountain bikes. A battery and motor amp up the enjoyment factor to the next level. We stock an amazing range of used high-speed electric bicycles, some that are designed for comfort over long hours in the saddle and others that promise pure performance.
Used long-range road e-Bikes combine comfortable frame geometry and typically a more upright riding position with forgiving components and frame material, not to mention impressive range between charges. If you enjoy cycling most when the road tilts upwards and you’re looking for a small extra boost to help you on those climbs, a used lightweight electric road bike is going to be your perfect partner. Luckily, we have a great range of both, and plenty more beyond.
Do you have questions about our certified pre-owned bikes for e-road cycling? Want to know what you should consider before making a purchase? Finding it difficult to pick your perfect bike? Check out the quick guide below for our key points, or peruse the current bikes for sale.
What is a road e-Bike?
A road e-bike is a bicycle that looks and rides like a road bike, but enhanced with an electric motor and battery system. Road bikes are designed for going fast on smooth surfaces like tarmac and pavement. They’re the bikes used in the Tour de France, so often their designs are focused on aerodynamics and low weight. Road bike tires are narrower than you would find on a mountain or cyclocross bikes, and almost all road bikes have what is known as ‘drop handlebars’, where the bar curls down and below, to provide multiple different positions for the rider’s hands. Gravel bike frames can look very similar to road in terms of their geometries and drop handlebars. The big difference is in tire size, with gravel bikes running much larger clearances.
Because of their focus on weight-reduction and streamlining, road e-bikes frequently have smaller batteries than other types of electric bike. It’s also very common for the battery to be completely integrated into the frame for a sleeker look and improved aerodynamics. More often that not a road e-bike will employ a mid-drive motor, with the engine sitting inside the bottom bracket where your pedals connect to the frame.
How to choose the right used road e-bike?
Road e-bikes follow the broader trends of conventional bikes in the discipline. Some are more about comfort. Others prioritize speed or climbing performance. This former category is typically referred to as ‘endurance bikes’, and is the best bet if you’re hoping to use your used road e-Bike to explore, ride comfortably for multiple hours, but without any great desire to be the fastest up your local climb.
If you’re an experienced competitive road cyclist who is looking for a little extra lift – maybe because of an injury, or a change in your health circumstances – then it may be that the best used performance road e-bike for you is a more race-oriented machine.
Weight is important in road cycling, with a lot of time spent going up and downhill. With that in mind, it can be good to keep an eye on the overall weight of a bike when comparing two or more models that you like the look of. In most cases a lighter bike will climb more effortlessly, and be easier to maneuver, with a few pounds making all the difference over tens (or even hundreds) of miles. Aero bikes are a sub-category of road bikes where the focus of the design has been placed on streamlining the frame's path through the air. If you mainly want to go fast on mostly-flat terrain, this could be your dream bike.
What makes a good used road e-bike?
Road cycling rides tend to be longer than e-MTB or city rides, sometimes taking place over three or four hours. That means you need a good battery life and decent range, or autonomy (the distance you can ride an e-Bike before it runs out of juice).
You’ll want a fairly powerful motor, too, although it’s common for road e-bikes to have slightly weaker motors than their urban or mountain counterparts, as the climbs you encounter on roads tend to be more gradual, and there are fewer stop-start moments requiring a lot of assistance to get you up to speed. So don’t let a lower amount of Nm put you off an otherwise awesome used e-road bike.
Comfort is important too, and often the geometry of the frame is the biggest single factor in how a bike feels to ride. If you’re already a road cyclist, try and find a used e-road bike that makes use of a similar frame geometry to a bike you already own and find comfortable to ride.
What accessories do I need for a used road e-Bike?
We’d always recommend a helmet as the first accessory for any road e-Bike rider. Helmet laws vary across the United States, but in around half it is illegal to ride an e-bike without wearing a helmet. If you’re in any doubt, check your local state laws to ascertain the situation.
E-road bike tires can be more susceptible to punctures than the rugged, knobbly tires you see on other types of e-Bike, so a puncture repair kit or spare inner tube – as well as a set of tire levers and a pump to fit and re-inflate – are important to never leave home without.
Find Your Perfect used road e-Bike at Upway
We’re the experts in refurbished electric bikes. We offer a huge range of road e-Bikes for sale, with new models and sizes being added every week. We also take huge pride in the meticulous 20-point inspection process that all our bikes must go through to check they’re in good working order. After that our skilled mechanics perform all the necessary fixes and part replacements, before the certified pre-owned bikes are ready for you to buy online at prices way less than they would cost to buy new.
With Upway, you’re not just buying an e-bike at an affordable price: you’re investing in a seamless and trustworthy experience.
Not convinced that road cycling is for you? Check out our range of electric commuter bikes for zipping around the city.