Sure. Getting caught in the rain isn’t a problem (unless you are wearing your fancy new wool sweater, right?).

As with any bicycle make sure you take the time to wipe down your eBike before storing to prevent premature aging of the frame. If the battery has become wet remove it from the frame, wipe off any excessive water and place in a non humid area so it can dry naturally. The battery, motor, controller and all electrical components of Quest eBikes are quite capable of dealing with everyday riding conditions with nothing more than the normal care and attention you would expect to shown any good quality bicycle.

With all the love and attention such a beautiful piece of equipment deserves! 

Hand washing any bicycle will help prolong its life and an electric bicycle is no different. Eliminating the build up of mud and dirt will ensure a smoother riding experience. Occasional cleaning and lubrication of the mechanical components will keep them looking sparkly and running at optimal performance for many years.

Electric components on a Quest eBike require no special attention but care should be taken not to submerge them in water during cleaning (i.e. a pressure hose should never be used on the eBike - cycling into a swimming pool or taking a bath with your eBike should be avoided).

Remove the battery before cleaning. A rub down with a lightly soapy damp sponge and brushes to remove dirt followed by towel drying is more than sufficient to keep your Quest eBike looking beautiful and in tip top condition.

How long is a piece of string… OK, not a very useful answer. If you want the quick answer approximately 70 - 90km. Now, if you want to know how we got this value read on.

There is no standardized test to validate distance per charge of an electric bicycle so any time you see a range value stated you must remember it is the company selling the bike that determined how to test their own product… you see how this could lead to some conflict of interests?

range will change considerably from ride to ride due to so many variables that giving a one number answer without explanation is of little help to anyone (except the marketing department, and no-one wants to make their job easy, right?). So, how do we help make things easy for you? Well, looking at the battery capacity is a good starting point. The Watt Hour (Wh) value of an eBikes battery will give a good idea of the battery’s capability and is a value that can be directly compared - the higher Wh value the greater the battery capacity. Determining what the bike can achieve with this capacity is where the fun starts.

A well made bike with industry standard components will produce less mechanical resistance and be more efficient than one built with cheap components. Better components and build provide greater range if all else is equal. But, no two journeys or riders are exactly the same. Simple variables such as the weight of bike + rider + cargo will effect the attainable range (don’t even get me started on the aerodynamic position of the rider and the wind resistance of their clothing!). Likewise riding into a strong wind will require you or the bike to work much harder than when the the wind is behind you, and pushing full throttle up a mountain will use up considerably more power than coasting down the other side.

At Quest we like to bring our bikes to real Canadian locations and research performance in a diverse range of real life conditions. OK… we like to take the bikes out period, and would look for any excuse to spend all day riding. But this isn’t just for our enjoyment. Our fun translates directly into a bunch of real time data to work from when we evaluate our eBike’s distance per charge.

With a Mid Motor eBike it is also worth considering that the mechanical gearing available on the bike, when used efficiently, can also help extend the range attainable from a single charge. Being in the most appropriate gear for the terrain, conditions of the road, and speed of travel can drastically lighten the workload required from the motor and is a very simple - and sometimes overlooked - way to get even more from a Mid Motor eBike.

With appropriate care we estimate the battery to last 750 charges before noticeable degradation to a stage where replacing might start to be a consideration. For an average rider this would translate into at least 5 years of use. To ensure the battery has a long and happy life it should be put on charge as soon as possible should it become fully depleted. During long periods of storage the battery should be lightly charged once a month. The full guide to best practice for better battery care is included in every Quest eBike user manual.

There are many good reasons why both Mid Motor and Hub Motor drive systems are popular eBike options. Knowing the differences and advantages of each drive system will help ensure you ride the eBike that is most enjoyable for your specific use.

A Hub Motor with cadence sensors…

…will accelerate the eBike to a constant speed (determined by the PAS level selected) and sustain that speed for as long as the pedals are in rotation. This is an ideal setup to attain a controlled, regulated and consistent ride. How much or how little effort to exert during this ride can be changed with a tap of the finger (e.g. cruise into work without breaking a sweat, change settings for more of a workout on the way home).

… is less reliant on the use of the bicycle gears for best performance, so a casual rider may prefer the freedom and simplicity of a more forgiving system. The gears can be used to adjust the required cadence (speed of rotation) of the riders legs to the most comfortable level at any given time.

…is a less complex technology that has been around for longer than Mid Motor technology and due to this is generally less expensive.

… excels as a cost effective eBike option for every day use - a true car replacement vehicle.

A Mid Motor with torque sensors…

… will constantly assess and respond to the force applied by the rider during each pedal stroke and provide proportionate extra ‘leg power’ directly at the crank for an experience that feels natural and instantly intuitive even with the amplified results. The amount of effort put in by the rider directly effects the eBikes assistance. 

… works best when the rider is prepared to ‘read the road’ and ride appropriately. Understand good riding practice and correct gear use will maximise the efficiency and take full advantage of this system’s benefits.

… Is a newer technically advanced system with more complexity making it generally more expensive.

… can provide a genuinely natural ride quality that will seem familiar and comfortable to any dedicated cyclist.

So, what is right for me?

Riders who use an eBike primarily as a form of transport, to commute, performing local errands or for general fun with friends may prefer the lower cost, practicality and ease of use a Hub Motor system has to offer. For the rider who wants to fully appreciate the journey, values their ride as a break in their daily routine or already has experience on a bike and wants to feel superhuman, the Mid Motor system may be preferential as it amplifies the exhilarating personal experience that can be attained from riding a bicycle.

NO - Quest eBikes come with all electrical components fully assembled and calibrated. All mechanical assembly has also been completed with the exception of the 3 final steps.

Put simply this means the only assembly required after taking your new eBike out of the box is aligning the handlebar, placing the front wheel on the fork and attaching the pedals. If you have ever owned any bicycle (electric assist or fully mechanical) these steps will be simple to complete.

A full assembly video at https://vimeo.com/ridequest/assembly-mid is available for visual reference, while a user manual and the tools required to complete assembly are provided with the eBike.

(If you feel the need for professional assistance any local bicycle store should be capable of completing the assembly regardless of prior experience with electric bicycles. The mechanical elements of the Quest eBike function in exactly the same way as any fully mechanical bicycle so these final assembly steps will have been repeated hundreds of times by any good bicycle mechanic.)

There are general regulations that any eBike must conform to when ridden on public roads in Canada. The Quest Mid Motor eBike meets all the requirements under section 2(1) of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations for power assisted bicycles and falls into the ‘Class 2’ category for electric bicycles - pedal assist motor and throttle with maximum assisted speed of 32km/h (20mph). Maximum motor power for any street legal eBike in Canada is 500W. The Quest Mid Motor eBike has a motor that complies with this requirement.

Provincial regulations may vary regarding minimum age of rider, speed, power, etc. Please check your provincial requirements before riding any eBike on public roads.

Quest support is available to answer any other questions you may have and can be contacted through email at support@ridequest.ca or on the toll free line 1.866.996.6686 from 9am to 5pm Monday - Friday.

Always wear a helmet when riding an eBike.