E-bike weight: How much does an e-bike weigh?

How much does an e-bike weigh? And what do the individual components weigh? In this blog article, we answer all your questions about e-bike weight.

Have you ever lifted an e-bike? Then you will have realised that pedelecs are a tad heavier than classic bikes. This is no coincidence: because for an e-bike to become an e-bike, it needs a whole host of electrical components. And that's not all: as e-bikes are usually designed to be slightly bulkier due to the electric drive, battery, and other components, the frame and other parts require more material. These are just some of the reasons why an e-bike is heavier than a purely muscle-powered bike in most cases.

Don't worry: the difference is still minimal. One example is our current Kalkhoff Endeavour L Excite, which even breaks the magic 20-kilo mark with a weight of around 19.9 kilograms. But how does this weight actually come about? And how much do the individual components of an e-bike weigh? We wanted to know more about this and weighed the various components of the Endeavour L Excite - to the nearest gram.

Frame and fork: the basis for every lightweight e-bike

The frame and fork form the basic structure of an e-bike. High-quality materials such as aluminium or carbon are often used to reduce weight. The Kalkhoff Endeavour L Excite has an aluminium frame that is comparatively light but still very robust. The frame weighs 3,350 grams, the aluminium rigid fork 1,300 grams. If we include other components belonging to the chassis, such as the headset and the brake mounts, we reach around 5,300 grams.

Drive & battery: The weight of the electric components

The Endeavour L Excite is a lightweight e-bike that is perfectly suitable for everyday use. That's why we have equipped it with an electric drive that is compact yet powerful. The Bosch Performance Line SX motor delivers a torque of 55 Newton metres, but still only weighs around 2,000 grams. The e-bike battery weight of the 400-watt-hour battery is also around two kilograms. There is also the battery cover, the motor cover, cables, the charging connection, the e-bike display, and other small parts. The total weight of the E-System is therefore around 5,150 grams.

Wheels: Light but robust

Wheels also play a crucial role in the overall weight of an e-bike. Here, too, we rely on lightweight, high-quality aluminium for the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Excite. The rims come from the Swiss quality manufacturer DT Swiss, which we have combined with hubs from the Japanese company Shimano. Tyres, inner tubes, spokes and brake rotors are also part of the e-bike wheel. We therefore add the weight of these individual parts to the wheels. The total for these parts: 3,700 grams.

Cockpit: This is how much the handlebars and stem etc. weigh.

The cockpit of an e-bike comprises the handlebars, stem, grips, and other controls such as the gear levers. We also use high-quality aluminium components for the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Excite. The motto: save weight without compromising stability. The handlebar weighs 300 grams and the stem weighs 400 grams. The ergonomic grips from German specialist manufacturer Ergon weigh around 250 grams. The cockpit weighs a total of 1,050 grams.

Gear shift group: This is what the gear shift weighs

The gears also influence the weight of the e-bike. With the Endeavour L Excite, we rely on the Shimano XT groupset, which is not only reliable but also offers a wide range of gears for every riding situation. The entire drivetrain including front derailleur, rear derailleur, cassette, chain and crankset weighs around 1,900 grams.

Components: saddle, seatpost and other parts

In addition to the main components, smaller parts such as the saddle, seat post and pedals also play a role in e-bike weight. The saddle of the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Excite - the Essenza from the Italian company Selle Royal - weighs 350 grams. The carbon seatpost weighs 250 grams and the pedals around 240 grams. There are also other parts, such as the lighting from Finnish manufacturer Herrmans. Together, these components contribute around 950 grams to the total weight.

Screws and paint: they also contribute to the overall weight

It is the small details that are often overlooked. But they also contribute to the overall weight of an e-bike. All screws, cables and covers add up to around 400 grams. Painting the frame adds a further 200 grams. These components may seem small, but they are essential for the functionality and appearance of the bike.

Accessories and small parts: Small but powerful

Smaller accessories such as the pannier rack and the kickstand also contribute to the overall weight. The sturdy MIK standard aluminium luggage rack weighs around 620 grams, while the mudguards come to 320 grams in total. The kickstand weighs a further 300 grams. Together with the remaining small parts such as screws, cables and covers, we come to a total weight of around 1,250 grams. By the way: Our stylish mini bell from Knog weighs a mere 17 grams.

Table: E-bike weight Kalkhoff Endeavour L Excite

Our overview shows: The weight of an e-bike depends heavily on the components and materials used. However, the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Excite is the best proof that it is possible to build a lightweight yet robust e-bike despite the additional electric components. With a total weight of just under 20 kilograms, it offers a balanced combination of performance and suitability for everyday use. 

For the sake of clarity, we have once again listed all the components of the model and their weight in a table:

How much should my e-bike weigh?

Regardless of our example, the weight of your e-bike will vary depending on how powerful you want your e-bike to be, which motor you choose and what material the frame is made of. When buying, you should pay attention to the permissible total weight for your electric bike. The permissible total weight of an e-bike is often between 120 and 130 kilograms. So if you factor in the weight of the rider and luggage in addition to the weight of your pedelec, the permissible total weight can quickly be exceeded. As a result, Kalkhoff pedelecs have an inherently higher permissible total weight of up to 170 kilograms. This means you can easily transport additional weight such as shopping or a bike trailer on your e-bike.

Even if the e-bike is heavier than a conventional bike, the extra weight is not noticeable when riding thanks to the pedal assistance. If you often have to push your bike up slopes or stairs, an integrated push assist provides a simple solution for everyday use. To find out which e-bike weight is ideal for you, you should arrange a test ride with your specialist dealer to get a feel for the right weight.