What size electric bike do you need? How to choose the right size for your height

Choosing an electric bike size is slightly different from sizing a conventional bike. There are often fewer sizes to choose from, the bike weighs more, and the battery’s position affects the frame design. This guide explains how to find the right frame size, what to do if you’re between sizes, and how to adjust the bike once you’ve made your choice.

An electric bike weighs more than a conventional bike. EcoRide’s city, hybrid and folding models weigh between 25 and 27 kg, and you’ll notice that weight most when you’re stationary. At a red light, in a queue or when getting off with a full basket, you need to be able to hold the bike steady with your feet on the ground. If the frame is too large, these moments can feel unsteady. If it’s too small, your riding position will feel cramped and your pedalling will be less efficient.

The battery also plays a part. On many electric bikes, it sits inside or along the frame, which makes the frame tubes bulkier and affects how low the step-through opening can be. That’s why frame shape matters alongside frame size.

Conventional bikes often come in a wide range of frame sizes, measured in centimetres or inches. Electric bikes tend to offer fewer sizes, and some models come in just one size with an adjustable saddle and handlebars. This means each size accommodates a wider range of rider heights, and those ranges sometimes overlap. Checking the recommended height range is therefore more useful than focusing on a single size measurement.

EcoRide offers electric bikes in several frame sizes, with the recommended rider height listed in each model’s specifications.

Measure your height without shoes and compare it with the recommended rider height for the model. Here are the height ranges for EcoRide’s city and hybrid bikes:

• 150–165 cm: size S. Applies to the step-through Ambassador 4 and Tripper 4.

• 160–190 cm: size M/L. Applies to the step-through Ambassador 4 and Tripper 4. The Ambassador 3 comes in one frame size covering the same height range.

• 175–200 cm: the step-over Tripper 4, available in one frame size.

• 190–205 cm: the Ambassador 4 in size XL.

The folding Flexer 3 has 20-inch wheels and height-adjustable saddle and handlebars, making it suitable for a wide range of rider heights. No specific height range is listed for this model, so a test ride before buying is particularly worthwhile.

Your height is the starting point, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Two people of the same height can have different leg lengths. Your inside leg measurement affects both the correct saddle height and how easily you can reach the ground.

If you’re between 160 and 165 cm tall, you fall within the recommended height ranges for both S and M/L. Your choice then depends on how you’ll use the bike.

Choose the smaller frame size if you:

• mainly ride in town and stop frequently

• want to place your whole foot on the ground when stationary

• have relatively short legs for your height

• plan to carry a child seat or heavy luggage on the rear rack.

Choose the larger frame size if you:

• ride longer distances and prefer a more stretched-out riding position

• have relatively long legs for your height

• find the smaller frame cramped, with the handlebars too close.

If you’re still unsure, the smaller frame size is often the more reassuring choice on an electric bike. You can raise the saddle and handlebars within their permitted adjustment limits, but you can’t make an oversized frame smaller.

The frame’s step-over height determines how you get on and off the bike. A step-through frame has no high top tube, so you can step through the frame rather than swing your leg over the saddle. This is the traditional distinction between women’s and men’s bikes. A women’s bike isn’t necessarily smaller; it simply has a lower step-through frame. You still choose the frame size based on your height.

A step-through frame is convenient if you get on and off frequently, cycle in a skirt or long coat, have limited hip mobility or want to stop and dismount quickly and confidently. That’s why several of EcoRide’s step-through models are available in both S and M/L. You’ll find these models together in our women’s electric bike range.

A step-over frame offers greater stiffness and suits taller riders who stop less frequently. The step-over Tripper 4 is designed for riders between 175 and 200 cm tall.

Frame size and wheel size are two different things. Most electric bikes for adults have 28-inch wheels, which roll smoothly and feel stable at higher speeds. All EcoRide models in the Ambassador and Tripper ranges have 28-inch wheels.

Smaller wheels make the bike shorter and easier to handle. The Flexer 3 has 20-inch wheels, which contribute to its compact design, allowing it to be folded up and taken on a train or into a lift.

Even with the right frame size, your bike needs adjusting to fit you. Incorrect saddle height is common. A small study of London cyclists commissioned by Transport for London in 2008 found that just one in five participants had their saddle set correctly. The most common mistake was having it too low.

Here’s a simple way to find a good starting position:

• Sit on the saddle and place your heel on the pedal at its lowest point. Your leg should be almost straight.

• When you then place the ball of your foot on the pedal, your knee should remain slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. This is the position you’re aiming for.

• When stationary, you should be able to reach the ground with your toes or the balls of your feet. On a step-through electric bike, you can also slide forwards off the saddle and stand with both feet on the ground.

• Adjust the handlebars so you can sit with a straight back and relaxed arms. If you need to reach too far forwards or bend down towards them, they’re too far away or too low.

Transport for London also describes a measurement method: measure your inside leg without shoes and subtract 10 cm. This gives the approximate distance from the top of the saddle to the centre of the bottom bracket axle, where the cranks attach to the frame. Use this as a starting point, then fine-tune the adjustment based on how the bike feels when you ride.

Recommended height ranges and measurements are a good starting point, but the most reliable way to find out whether an electric bike fits is to take a test ride. Practise getting on and off, stopping and holding the bike steady with your feet on the ground. Ride a short distance with the pedal assistance switched on, too. Check that you can reach the handlebars without overstretching and hold the bike steady when stationary.

What size electric bike should I choose if I’m 165 cm tall?
At 165 cm, you fall within the recommended height ranges for both S and M/L. EcoRide’s size S suits riders between 150 and 165 cm tall, while M/L suits those between 160 and 190 cm. If you mainly ride in town and stop frequently, S is often the more reassuring choice. If you ride longer distances and have relatively long legs, M/L may fit better. Test ride both sizes if possible.

How do I know if an electric bike is too big?
An electric bike may be too big if you can’t reach the ground with the balls of your feet when seated on a correctly adjusted saddle, have to overstretch to reach the handlebars or feel unsteady when stopping. Since an electric bike often weighs around 25 kg or more, an oversized frame is especially noticeable when you’re stationary.

What’s the difference between a women’s and a men’s electric bike?
The traditional difference is the frame design. A women’s electric bike has a step-through frame, allowing you to step through rather than over it. A men’s electric bike usually has a higher top tube and a stiffer frame. In both cases, choose the frame size based on your height. A step-through frame suits anyone who wants to get on and off easily.

Can I adjust an electric bike that isn’t quite the right size?
Yes, within certain limits. You can raise or lower the saddle, and many models also have adjustable handlebars. This is often enough if you’re between two sizes. However, adjustments can’t make a clearly oversized or undersized frame fit properly, so it’s best to choose the right size from the start.

Does wheel size affect which frame size I should choose?
Wheel size and frame size are two different things. Most electric bikes for adults have 28-inch wheels regardless of frame size. Smaller wheels, such as the 20-inch wheels on a folding electric bike, make the bike shorter and easier to handle. With an adjustable saddle and handlebars, this type of bike often accommodates a wide range of rider heights.