E-bikes are a great invention of present technology and make our life so simple. But There is a frequently asked question, do electric bikes make noise??
Does it sound loud??
Yes! They produce some noise and they’re not completely silent. But you will be happy to know that the noise is so minimal, not excessively loud. It won’t bother you any more.
Noise mainly comes from its motor, chain, pedal, tires, brakes etc. They’re almost similar to a regular bicycle. However, the most common noise comes from the motor. Nowadays, advanced technology has designed new electric motors. They’re very quiet and produce less noise.
In this article, we’ll explain everything in detail about the important facts of e bike noise!
So Let’s have a look at it!
Are electric bikes loud?
Generally, electric bikes are not much louder. In fact they’re relatively quiet and make less noise than ordinary bikes. Ebikes that are bought from bike shops are pretty quiet. However, the higher quality of the ebike produces less sound than the older one.
There is another important thing you should know about e-bikes. If you attempt to convert your normal bicycle into an e-bike using a converter kit.Then you might find the motor more noisy. But the new electric bike’s motor won’t produce that much noise at all.
Where does electric bike noise come from? Important sources!
E-bike make little noise that mainly comes from two sources- the motor and the tire. Infact, noise also comes from its pedal, brake, chain as we mentioned before.
Below, we will discuss every fact, where the sound comes from.
So stay with us!
Noise from the e bike motor
The motor is the main component of an electric bike. At first, people notice the noise that comes from the motor. Although, the noise is not so bothersome to many of them.
When you turn on your pedal-assist ebike or throttle-assisted e bike, the motor will power up and supply the assistance you need. So you’ll hear noise, as the motor turns on and provides power to your electric bike.
On the other hand, the sound coming from the motor is actually a combination of two different noises. One is mechanical noise that bearings make against the axle. Another is “coil noise” caused by the changes in the magnetic field.
Noise also depends on motor quality. Generally, high quality motors produce a healthy and little amount of noise. But if your ebike is equipped with a very low quality motor that makes noise a little bit louder.
Another important thing is that motors of any quality can become so noisy if they get damaged, dirty or rusty.
It is also noted that, depending on the motor types, you will hear different noises. Actually, there are three types of motor and all are responsible for various levels of noise.
Below, we will explain every type of motor for better understanding!
Noise from the direct drive e-bike motor
Direct drive motors are the fastest motors and are large in size. When you twist the throttle or accelerate on the pedals, direct drive works as an outer shell which spins properly. So you can expect a direct drive motor produces more noise than other motors.
There is another important thing, placing the direct drive motor on the front wheel produces little noise. It’ll also help to vibrate the front fork that creates loudness to the electric bike.
But if you want to reduce the noise try to install a motor in the rear wheel instead of the front. It’ll make less noise.
However, direct drive motors make noise which is negotiable and not much louder than a traditional bike.
Noise from the gear hub e-bike motor
Gearhub motor is another type of motor which is more powerful than a direct drive motor. It is smaller in size and more efficient. The coil inside the motor spins faster than the wheel.
They create more torque as they spin faster and it will help to generate more power. Thus the ebike goes faster than before. It’ll give you the regular bicycle riding experience.
Gear hub motor produces an acceleration sound which is similar to urban trolleys. Even when you ride an electric bike in the city, you might not be able to hear the sound because of the normal city noise.
Noise from the mid drive e-bike motor
The most advanced designs of engineering are mid-drive motors, available in the present day. They’re located in the pedal section and much more difficult to install compared to other motors.
As a matter of noise, they produce almost a similar amount of noise as gear hub.
However, a mid drive motor gives the rider the most natural riding experience. The motor is placed in low, medium and the center of gravity. As a fact, it’ll create a balanced and natural feel when riding.
Noise from the ebike tires
The noise of an electric bike’s tire is similar to any other conventional bicycle. When ebike tires hit the road, the sound comes from the traction of tires.
Generally, noise levels depend mostly on what type of tires you are using and the surface you are riding on. Such as, if you ride an e-MTB (electric mountain bike) that is appropriate for mountain rides, can make sound on a certain level.
On the other hand, you’ll hear a slight healthy pleasant sound from tires while you’re riding in the city area. Infact, different types of tires and thread patterns also create different noises.
But you don’t have to worry about these noises because they’re normal, like regular bicycles.
Noise from the electric bike chain
Just like the traditional bike, chain noise is also present in an electric bike and they’re very common.
There is an expectation that the level of noise depends on the size of a chain. But the truth is, there is no difference in the size of the chain. Any kind of chain can make noise.
Another Important fact is, the quality of the chain has a great impact on the noise. Poor quality chains produce more noise because they have more attachment to the gear.
During the loading and unloading of the gear, the attachment will not be so smooth. In those cases, it’ll make noise.
However, they also make noise if it gets dirty, rusty or dry. So if you want to reduce noise, you’ll have to clean the chain by applying some lube to it.
After That, An electric bike’s chain may also make noise when it becomes too loose. It causes the chain to bounce up and down and touch the chain stay. This abnormal situation is called- chain slap, which is very common in mountain bikes. But sometimes, it can also happen on regular bicycles.
You have to install a chainstay protector or tighten the chain if you want to reduce the chain slap.
Noise from the ebike pedals
There is a noise like clicking or cracking coming from ebike pedals when your electric bike becomes older. Even, when pedals become so dry or rusty, they produce noise.
To reduce the noise, you need to clean the pedals by using lubricants. Use a little amount of lube on your ebike pedal spring and join in the spindle. Remove the extra lube left on the pedals.
If pedals are still grinding or stiff, you need to take service from the local bike shop.
Noise from the electric bike brakes
If the noise comes from the ebike brake, you have to check out the problem first. Any issue in the braking system can cause the noise.
Contaminated brake pads, worn-out pads or damaged rotor of the brake caliper are the main issues. These issues can cause squeaking in a braking system.
To avoid noise or squeaking, you should clean contaminated brakes and pads as well instead of buying new ones.
But if the pads are worn out, you have to replace them as soon as possible. If you use worn-out pads continuously, it’ll damage other elements of the braking system. So handle it carefully!
Now, if you think the noise is coming from the rotor, you should check immediately what’s the reason. If the rotor is damaged, you need to fix it. However, It’s better to contact a professional mechanic to solve this problem.
Should I worry about electric bike noise?
Yeah, it’s true that electric bikes produce some noise due to the function of their mechanical components. But the noise is so minimal and not even harmful or bothering to you. If at any time, electric bikes produce extra noise which is really not natural. But no worries! There is also a nice solution to every problem about ebikes noise
This is the most frequently asked question about electric bike.This question comes to almost every person’s mind.
So the answer is, honestly speaking – a big no!
Another good news is, advanced technologies have invented a new designed electric bike which is quieter than before. You’ll just have to choose the good quality electric bike carefully.
How to make an ebike quieter?
If you find any discomfort or abnormalities because of the noise of your electric bike, you might need to test every part of your ebike.There’re a lot of things that you can do to fix the problems and make the ebike quieter.
Every level of noise has many different ways to reduce the annoying sounds that you hear from your ebike.
There are several things you can do to reduce the noise of your ebike. We have listed out some important points among them.
Let’s get some tips!
- If you use a converter kit, try to install the motor on the rear wheel, instead of the front wheel. Because the front hub motor can produce extra noise during cycling.
- Tighten any loose parts and nuts on your electric bike. If there are any loose parts on the ebike, it’ll vibrate more. Thus the electric bike became more noisey.
- Clean the bike timely and properly. When the bike becomes dirty, rusty or dry it can cause twiggs to stick to the electric bike. As a result, it produces a lot of vibration during pedaling and makes extra noise.
- Choose the tires with the best quality. Poor quality tires can create more traction on the road and it becomes so noisey!
- Always lubricate your bike chain when it is needed. Make sure you use the right amount of lubricants. For example- if you ride in wet conditions, try to use a wet lube.
- Make sure your electric bike pedals are not loose. Pedals need to be fit perfectly but not tight enough.
- Check the ebikes brake properly. Change out the brake pad quickly if it is needed.
Conclusion
We have described in detail about e bike noise. Overall, electric bikes produce a little amount of noise which is not noticeable at all during riding.
How an electric bike creates noise, from where it comes, how to reduce noise etc, we tried to figure out everything.
Besides, we also write about the problem and its solutions about ebike noise. Hope, you will have no more confusion about electric bikes noise.
Author Bio:
Rudy Johnson is the owner and main author of this site, BikeGlossary. Basically, he’s an engineer and researcher. He has Electrical and Electronics Engineering(EEE) degree in his bachelor’s and master’s. Besides, he also does product research on different electronics and electric products to share different findings with people. Rudy has a team consisting of 3 members who are also closely working with him.
