Aug 29, 20229 min read

It's Electric! Must-Have E-Bike Accessories UPDATED FOR 2023!

No matter where you are in the world, you've noticed that E-Bikes are taking towns by storm. Having recently purchased the Lectric XPremium, I am an instant fan. I am opting to use it for local runs to the store instead of my car whenever possible. The thrill of being on a bike with the speed of pedal assist and/or throttle brings you back to that time in your childhood where you first got the freedom of a bicycle. While the XPreimum is loaded with great features and add-ons- for safety, security and comfort, there are a number of must-have E-Bike accessories that you're going to want to check out!

I'm listing here what has worked for me. None of these items have been sent for review. I've spent the past week or so researching, consulting with friends, purchasing and returning many items to find what works best... and I'm sharing it with you. Especially because in many cases, decent reviews or videos were hard to find! In fact when I have a moment, I might add some supporting videos and link them here.

SAFETY

While many of the things below are for safety, anyone who's considering an E-Bike no doubt hears from friends and family how dangerous they can be. So to put their minds at ease- make sure you where a helmet! I own two very similar, regular bike helmets I am using for the Lectric. I've been enjoying this Schwinn Thrasher (for $29.99). I know there are much fancier options out there- but this works for now.

The next most important thing I wanted was a side mirror. I had one on my regular bike that popped apart after hitting a bump, and I decided to upgrade when getting the next one. It was the Hafny bar end mirror, and it may work fine for you- but when considering something for my E-Bike, I wanted something thicker and more substantial. I switched over to this slightly more expensive ($22.99) Hafney handlebar mirror- but made the mistake of getting the version that clamps to the bar instead of inserting into the tube. The end result was a sharp, crystal clear view of my arm and not much else. Lesson learned. This might be a good option for a smaller person (I'm the wrong side of "large"), but the consensus seems to be that in order to really see behind you, the tube insert style works best.

I am really enjoying the Meachow 2022 bar end "automotive grade glass lens" E-Bike mirror. At $14.99, it's definitely on the less expensive side, but is as thick and solid as a car mirror. In fact when I'm riding, I feel the same security as a car! I mounted one on either side for the peace of mind of checking both sides while I ride.

A recent addition to my bike that I absolutely love is the Meilan X5 Us rechargeable smart tail light. It offers a bunch of features- the simplest one being a bright red light to let people know you're there. The included handlebar controller allows you to indicate turns, via a flashing set of led lights points to where you're going to go. There is also a general hazard light to alert passing cars of your presence. They also added a laser guide that shines on the ground at night to increase your visibility! One thing to note as that there is built in ambient light sensor that affects performance during the day. Even their instruction manual indicates that it's best to cover this up with dark tape. I thought the device was defective at first, because it never worked well in daylight (despite the light being PLENTY bright to be seen during the day). But simply covering that sensor with some dark tape fixed it! I also wish there were independent left and right signal controls for a more intuitive experience. But you'll get used to it with some practice. The controller is also a bit too small for operating with gloves on.

Once you've picked your mirrors so you can see who's coming up behind you or around you, it's wise to move on to the items that let people know you're there. While I have a standard bell on my regular bike, the size, weight and speed of the E-Bike made me want something with a lot more presence and audible from a distance. After searching online and chatting with friends, I landed on the Napasa Electric Bike horn. "Horn" is probably not the right term, since it's more of a speaker and a series of rather jarring sounds (you can choose from a few). It. Is. LOUD! There are two components to it: the horn unit that straps under your bar via a rubber strip, and a button connected via a wire that also straps to your bar. The buttons are very small, so they're not taking up too much real estate on your bar (which seems to be at a premium on E-Bikes unless you add extender bars). It also includes a USB charging cable (you supply the pack or port to plug it into). My only knock against it is that while the button part has a permanently attached rubber strap, the horn's strap is a small and separate piece.... which I lost pretty quickly while carrying it to be charged and not paying attention. Be careful!

I live in an area that is not well lit at night. While the XPremium includes Lectric's Premium headlight, it is more of a light that helps people see you and not you seeing the road. In fact it casts a light that is maybe 5 feet in front of the bike, which just isn't enough for me. I combed Amazon for highly rated lights, and they were all sorta the same. They all throw out these ridiculous numbers for lumens, and there are very few worthwhile YouTube reviews. I found it comical how many were just kids unboxing the thing and never actually showing it LIGHT UP! So I took a leap of faith and purchased the Victagen 2022 5,000 lumens 3 LED light for night riding. A friend has owned their products, and liked them. He actually has a whole box of rechargeable bike lights from over the years. While the specs over-sell the item, and the reviews all challenge the brightness and duration, I will say this: the effect of this light is that of my car's high beams. It lights up the entire street in front of me with a wide enough beam to cover everything. I am very happy. I know from reviews that I should expect no longer than about 45 minutes of use at full brightness- but I don't plan on doing THAT much riding at night. And of course I always have the included headlight if nothing else. This light also includes a rear red light/ helmet light with different modes (blinking, flashing, steady). That second light is not rechargeable. It runs on a pair of those dime-sized batteries.

Speaking of lights, these Akale rechargeable bike lights are amazing! Not only do they make you more visible during the day, but they also give off a pretty strong amount of light at night! No, they're not headlights- but they will give you some extra visibility. I keep two white onles on my handlebar, and use flash mode during the day. The lights are real bright, and the flashing helps cars recognize you better while also extending battery light. The pack of four lights each have a clip and a stretching rubber mount. I had one clipped onto the bag of my rear bag, but hit a rough patch in the road and it bounced off.. so be sure to always secure them well! They last a really long time on a charge, and can even be attached so your helmet!

If you're using your phone to guide you or measure speed and distance, a solid phone holder is a must. I currently have on my regular bike a Caw Car phone holder. It has a claw that grips to the bar, and 4 rubber bands to secure the phone. It's OK, but tends to shift around whenever things get bumpy. I wanted something stronger for the E-Bike, and what I got is not only sturdier- but cheaper! For $15.95, the Tiakia Bike/ Motorcycle phone holder is the real-deal. Your phone slides into the mount (mine is snug with it's case- but just makes it in!), and then a quick release clamp secures it further. Simply put- it does not budge! The clamp mount also includes a series of rubber grips so you can get a more precise fit to your bar.

SECURITY

With all of the items I've added for safe riding, the equally stressful component is what to do with your bike when you reach your destination. There are so many options: from bulky U-locks to thick and heavy chains- and more. For now, to secure my expensive purchase, I have added a FoldyLock to my bike frame. It's a very clever design! It's case connects to your bike frame where a bottle cage would go, and the lock folds like an old-school folding ruler. It gives the strength and functionality of a U-lock device, but in a lighter and more compact form. So far, I haven't needed to lock my bike up anywhere. I've been doing quick runs to places where the bike is next to me- or I'm running into Starbucks after ordering ahead, etc. For $84.99, I feel like the FoldyLock is secure and solid. I also have a smaller Master Lock cable for $8.99 that I would add to the FoldyLock as a further deterrent.

While the FoldyLock is clever and stores easily, I have since added a Kryptonite 48' Keeper 712 chain lock. While it's bulkier to travel with, it's quicker to lock up and definitely harder to break into! Anyone looking to steal your bike would be very visibly sawing at this lock with power tools and sparks flying to get it. It's currently $45 on Amazon.

Another security option comes in the form of a deterrent that makes the bike unrideable while also sounding an alarm. The Yohoolyo Alarm Disc Lock motorcycle disc brake lock is awesome and easy to use. I slip mine where the metal forks in at the rear of my bike.

It simply slide onto the disc brake and a push of the button locks it in place. Any movement of the bike will cause it to chirp. Any further movement will trigger a piercingly loud alarm! Having this on the brake is like having a tire boot on a car. The bike is rendered unrideable. To help make sure you don't forget it's on there (although the alarm is a loud reminder if you move it), they include a brightly colored reminder cable! They also toss in a carry pouch and a second set of batteries. It takes a little practice to unlock the device. I'm always playing beat the clock from key insertion to the alarm sounding... but I usually get in just under the buzzer.

In case the bike SHOULD get stollen, I have added an Apple Airtag to it. There are lots of places and ways to hide the Airtag. One of the more clever methods was a small case that attaches to the frame as an extension of your bottle cage. However, the unit I purchased didn't quite fit the provided holes and I sent it right back. There are other versions of it that might have been better- but while looking, I stumbled upon something I loved! A seat mounted rear reflector that houses the airtage inside. It's much easier to mount, and adds a second layer of functionality. For me, having shifted from Tile devices to Apple Airtags, the jury is still out as to whether or not they're any better. They seem to do the same thing and cost about the same. It's super sensitive for locating things nearby- but as I type this, it's not showing me that my bike is in the garage. It seems to need to be near other IPhones and Airtags to help zero in on location. But that's for another review.

MUST HAVE E-BIKE ACCESSORIES FOR COMFORT AND CARE

If you're going on long rides, you'll certainly want a bag to hold your belongings, drinks, etc. I have loved my Topeak pannier bag for years. I recently purchased an updated version for my wife's bike. It has all the compartments and pockets you need, plus handles for carrying it with you. What makes the Topeak bags special is their slide and lock rack attachment. On my regular bike, I have "beam" mount, which connects to

the seat post, but this generally requires an attachment for using the foldout panniers. It's actually more affordable to get the traditional rear rack option. Be sure to select the DISC brake option, which seems to accommodate those systems differently (just note the significant price jump for that). Personally, I'm leaving my beam rack on my regular bike,

and keeping the very sturdy rack Lectric provided on the XPremium. The Topeak bag has velcro ties all around it to use in place of the slide and click mechanism.

I've also been loving this bag from Rockbros. It's similar to the Topeak bag above, but can velcro on to any rack. It comes with a rain cover and velcro compartment dividers. The side panels also fold down to panniers, and the solid walls of the bag become protectors.

For added storage, I've also been using this Wild Man rainproof quick release bag for the front of my bike. I treat it as a glove box to hold my wallet, keys, phone charger battery pack, etc. It's currently $24 on Amazon.

Whether you're storing your bike somewhere you want to keep it clean, or protecting it during a sudden storm, a cover is great to have. I've been using Puroma bike cover for mine, even when it's in the garage. It's waterproof, and protects agains sun, dust, wind and UB. It's also got a lock hole to make securing the bike easy while covered. It's only $15.99, and folds into it's own little pouch for easy storage on the go.