Geared vs Non-Geared Ebike- [Which one to buy?]

If you’re looking to buy a new Ebike & got confused between Geared vs Non-Geared Ebike then in this article we’ll discuss both so that you can make the best decision about Which one to buy.

Some people think that Ebike is powered by the Motor & battery so gears are not important. But in my experience, they play a vital role in the consolidation that which type of Ebike to buy because they affect the cost as well as the riding experience. So let’s understand everything in detail.

Table of Contents

What is the difference between a geared and a non-geared electric bike?

The gears are basically pretty much the same as you got on a normal bicycle. But if you’re new to gears then here is how they differentiate.

Note:- In this article, we’re only discussing the gear system of Ebike with the Hub drive motor. There is another category which is the Mid-drive motor but every Mid-drive motor comes with its own inbuilt gear system. So we’re not discussing that here.

If you want to know more about that then we all in another article. You can check that here – Which types of motors used in E-Bike [Best one For You]

Geared electric bike

Geared electric bicycles offer you a variety of gear ratios that you can shift during riding. It eases uphill & downhill Ebike riding. During the uphill when you lower the gear ratio then it decreases your effort. And in the downhill when you increase the gear ratio then it’ll prevent you from spinning down your Ebike.

So its just help you maintain cadence (the rate at which you pedal per minute (RPM))

Advantages of a Geared Ebike:

If you’re riding an electric bicycle in a hilly area then sometimes in the extreme hills you can’t keep riding with the power of a motor so geared Ebike comes in handy in such terrains.
You can ride at high speed in normal road conditions too as compared to a Non-Geared electric bike.
In my experience, it increases the efficiency of the Ebike.
Put less stress on your muscle so you can ride for long distances.

Disadvantages of a Geared Ebike:

They bit expensive to maintain as compared to Non-Geared Ebike.
They have lots of components like derailleurs, shifters, and multiple cogs so if someone gives an issue then you have to depend on the Motor of your Ebike.

Non-Geared electric bike

Gearless Ebikes are also called single-speed Ebike. As they don’t have a variety of gear ratios so you can’t maintain the cadence in the uphill & downhill. Now if you have too big or too small a gear ratio then they can create some problems for you while riding uphill & downhill.

Advantages of a Non-Geared Ebike:

They are easy to use as you don’t have to care about their gear combination.
As you’re using an electric bike so in the normal city area where we have mostly flat road roads, Gearless Ebikes are best.
They cost less as compared to Geared electric bicycles.
They are not expensive to maintain because single-speed Ebike has fewer components so less wear and tear problems.

Disadvantages of a Non-Geared Ebike:

Not recommended for the hilly rider.
It can get you to Burnout quickly as compared to the Geared electric bicycles.
With the power of the Motor, you are going to be spinning out downhill.

Which Ebike is better to buy gear or without gear?

As I have explained everything in detail then you must have got the answer for you. Because everyone got different requirements, so you can choose the best for you. But here are some key points that you can take into consideration.

If you want to do Mountain biking then geared Ebike will be your first priority, because with a gearless you will not survive long in steep climbs. In other hilly roads geared Ebike will be best for you. If you have the budget then you should go with this.

If you’re riding on flat roads on a daily basis then Non-Geared Ebike will be the best choice for you. And it’ll also be cost-effective as compared to another one.