Electric Bike Accessories

    Electric Bike Accessories

    When it comes to buying an electric bike there are a few accessories you may want to consider. The most important electric bike accessories in my opinion relate to safety, but it’s also important to be comfortable while you ride. A majority of these accessories will work on any ebike.

    Ebikes are heavier and faster than regular bicycles, and that changes what gear actually matters. Brake pads wear quicker. Tires carry more load. A mirror stops being a nicety once you’re holding 20 mph in traffic. Below we’ve grouped everything by category, with a note on what to look for in each — and links to our full reviews where we’ve tested something properly.

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    Underrated on an ebike. You’re travelling at speeds where a shoulder-check costs real distance, and often riding in traffic rather than on a path. Bar-end mirrors survive tip-overs better than stalk-mounted ones and give a wider field of view.

    The stock saddle is the first thing most riders replace. On an ebike you sit more upright and carry more weight through the seat, which is why wider, gel-padded or oversized saddles are more popular here than on a road bike. Give any new saddle a few rides before you judge it.

    The best comfort upgrade if your ebike has a rigid frame and no rear suspension. Heavier bikes transmit more road buzz, and a suspension post takes the edge off potholes without the cost or weight of full suspension. Parallel-linkage designs stay level as they compress; simple telescoping posts are cheaper but move you slightly rearward.

    The most important accessory, and one where ebike-specific design matters. Ebikes reach speeds regular bike helmets were never certified for — look for NTA 8776 certification (the Dutch ebike standard, rated to 45 km/h) if you ride Class 3, and MIPS or an equivalent rotational-impact system regardless. Integrated lighting is worth having if you commute.

    Useful for navigation, but ebike vibration is harder on phones than you’d expect — sustained buzz can damage camera stabilisation on some handsets. Look for rubber damping and a secure clamp rather than a stretch strap if you ride rough pavement.

    Ebikes are theft magnets: higher value, and often left outside while you’re in a shop or at work. A rough rule is to spend around 10% of the bike’s value on security. A heavy U-lock or chain deters the casual thief; an alarm or tracker helps with the determined one. Use two different lock types if you park in a city.

    Correct pressure matters more on an ebike — underinflation costs range and raises pinch-flat risk under the extra weight. A floor pump with an accurate gauge is the home essential; a compact frame pump or CO2 inflator covers you on the road.

    This is where ebike-specific matters most. A typical ebike weighs 50–90 lbs, well beyond what many hanging-style racks are rated for. You want a platform hitch rack with a per-bike capacity that clears your actual bike weight, ideally with a ramp so you’re not deadlifting it. Check your hitch class and tongue weight too. More in our guide to the best bike racks for ebikes.

    Also see our list and video of the best bike racks for ebikes.

    Nothing exotic here, but insulated bottles earn their keep on longer summer rides, and a bottle that actually fits your cage matters more than the brand.

    Many ebikes have limited or awkwardly placed bottle mounts because the battery occupies the down tube. Adapters that clamp to the handlebar, seatpost, or accessory rails solve this without drilling anything.

    Ebikes are heavy and awkward to store. Wall-mounted racks need to be rated for the weight and anchored into studs, not drywall. Vertical storage saves the most garage floor space, and a swing-out design lets you park several bikes side by side. See our Steadyrack ProFlex review for one we’ve tested with heavier ebikes.

    Makes every job easier, from chain cleaning to brake bleeds. The one spec that matters: confirm the rated capacity handles your bike’s weight, since plenty of stands are built for 25 lb road bikes.

    Stock pedals are usually the cheapest part on the bike. Wider platform pedals with metal pins give noticeably better grip in the wet, and folding pedals help if storage space is tight.

    Ergonomic grips with a wing or palm shelf make a real difference on longer rides, since upright ebike geometry puts steady pressure on your hands. Lock-on grips are worth the small premium — they won’t twist in the rain.

    A basic kit covers most ebike needs: hex keys, a torque wrench (important for rack bolts and any carbon parts), chain lube, and a chain wear checker. Ebike drivetrains wear faster under motor torque, so checking chain stretch periodically saves you a cassette later.

    Being seen matters more at ebike speeds because drivers misjudge how fast you’re closing. A rechargeable rear light with a daytime flash mode is the highest-value upgrade here — most stock ebike taillights are dim and not brake-actuated.

    Reflective ankle bands work better than you’d expect, since moving light draws the driver’s eye far more effectively than a static reflector. Cheap, light, and they go on over any clothing.

    Stock ebike bells are near-useless in traffic. A proper electric horn gets you noticed by drivers and by pedestrians wearing headphones on a shared path. There’s a real trade-off, though: the loudest options are genuinely startling and can be overkill on a quiet greenway. More in our guide to the best electric bike horns.

    Ebikes make hauling kids genuinely practical — the motor cancels out the added weight on hills. Check your bike’s payload capacity and rack rating before adding a seat, and confirm the mounting system fits your frame. Front-mounted seats keep the child in your sightline; rear seats and trailers carry more weight and last longer.

    Panniers keep weight low and stable, which matters more on a heavy bike than a light one. Front baskets are convenient but affect steering noticeably once loaded. Waterproof roll-tops are worth it if you commute year-round.

    The consumable ebike owners most underestimate. More mass at higher speed means pads wear substantially faster than on an analog bike, and worn pads on a 70 lb bike are a genuine safety issue. Keep a spare set on hand, and know whether your calipers take resin or metallic pads — metallic last longer and handle heat better, at the cost of some noise.

    Different from the car racks above — these bolt to the bike for panniers, baskets, or a passenger. Check the rack’s own weight rating, which is almost always well below the bike’s total payload, and confirm the mounting points match your frame.

    Worth more on an ebike than a regular bike, because roadside wheel removal on a heavy bike with a hub motor is a genuinely miserable job. Tire liners, sealant, or puncture-resistant tires all work; sealant is the least hassle for most riders.

    Ebike tires carry more weight at higher speed, so look for a load rating suited to your bike and an ebike-rated casing if you ride hard or haul cargo. Tread choice matters more than most people think — knobby tires cost real range on pavement.

    Cheap insurance. Helicopter tape or frame guards at the chainstay and cable-rub points prevent the scuffs that hurt resale value, and a chainstay protector quiets chain slap on rough ground.

    More Accessory Guides

    We publish accessory roundups for specific bikes and use cases. A few worth bookmarking:

    38 Comments

    1. Great site. We have 2 Rads. I bought Hollywood two bike rack per your suggestion. Now I need to assemble. ARRRGH!

      Reply

        1. Ryan,
          I have the R1up cafe cruiser. Your brother changed the handlebar neck (gooseneck ?) so he was able to raise it. What did he use?
          Thank You
          Brad Davis

          Reply

      2. Hi Ryan,

        Would the Roswell 3 in 1 rear bags fit on a rad step through mini? I haven’t been able to find any bags that fit the rear rack and RAD doesn’t have their panniers in stock.
        Thanks
        Shamira

        Reply

        1. Hello. That Roswheel Setup looks to be pretty universal. So I would imagine it would. However, without having actually tried it, we can’t be 100% sure. Feel free to ask this same question over on the Radowners.com forum. There is a large knowledgable group of people over there, which I think can help you find what you need.

          Reply

    2. We currently own 2 rads and are looking into getting the rad wagon, can u tell me what the 2 seats on the back are called (in the beginning of your video your have a boy sitting in one of the seats – I live that it has a seat back) and where you purchased them? I am not finding them on rads site.

      Reply

    3. do you know the threading dimensions of the passenger foot peg holes? would they accept a standard 9/16 x 20 tpi bolt on both sides or is one a left hand threading?

      Reply

    4. i have aquestion, i am surging for almost a half year for a frond axel to reniew in my frontwiel.When i drive on my rad i hear the the ball bearings crunch .
      Do you know where i can find a new and straight front axel to fix my rad.
      im a little worried to drive now.
      i hope you can help me.

      Reply

    5. I recently purchased a Zebra step-over, it was pulling hard to the right so I took it to our local bike shop. Diagnosis (Front Bent Fork) I have zero miles on the odometer. Do you know where I can purchase a replacement fork? Himiway doesn’t seem to be able to provide an approximate delivery date? so sad in Michigan

      Reply

      1. We unfortunately do not know what front fork would replace it. With the current supply chain issues and such, Himiway not knowing a exact delivery date doesn’t surprise me.

        Check out Himiway owners Facebook pages, might be able to find someone that has also replaced a front fork. Or unfortunately the other option might be to see if your Local Bike Shop can measure and find you a replacement. Sorry this happened. The main draw back to Direct to Consumer bikes is the shipping damage.

        Reply

    7. Please do a video review of detachable pedals. These offer two great advantages: narrows the overall bike width for storage and simply removing one pedal while going into the store discourages pedaling away on the bike ( which should be locked of course).

      Reply

      1. These are on our short list of accessories to try out. They appear to have some really cool uses. The security side is not something I would have thought about. Thank you for that.

        Reply

    8. As weird as it sounds, are there any indoor trainers designed for e bikes? I’m recovering from ankle surgery and won’t be able to ride outdoors for quite a while. However, if I can use it for rehabbing, that’d be great!

      Reply

      1. Unless you have a mid-drive motor, the options are extremely limited. Most trainers either replace the rear axle (skewer) or the entire rear wheel. Neither of which is possible on a hub-drive ebike. You could look into a roller style trainer that mounts the front wheel solid like this: https://amzn.to/3d5XlUD (affiliate link). I would shy away from a front and rear roller setups, I fear falling off one of those on an ebike would be dangerous.

        Reply

    9. Very very helpful suggestions. I was wondering what you use in your videos that show mph on your phone in big numbers? Any apps that you would recommend, maybe that is non paid subscription based.

      Reply

      1. We prefer to stick with what ever charger Ride1up (or any ebike manufacturer) provides with the ebike. The life of a battery is rate upon recharge cycles. So sticking with that is the safest option.

        Reply

        1. Hey JT I have a 2021 Radmission where can I get the upgraded controller and I need a new wiring harness.
          Appreciate any advice
          Tom
          South Florida

          Reply

          1. Unfortunately we are not going to be much help, as I would simply be googling things for you.

            I recommend asking this same question over on the Radowners.com forum. There are a bunch of people with a lot more information and hands on experience then us.

            Reply

    13. FYI, the GPS tracking sticker link is broken.

      P.S. Your videos are excellent. Thank you! I will be sure to use your links when purchasing.

      Reply

    15. I really need a replacement battery for my aventon aventure.2. Where or how can I get one please. Nathaniel Sehwah

      Reply

      1. The Aventure.1 Battery is the same. We know if you reach out the Aventon they can get you setup with a replacement.

        Reply

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