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Top 5 EBikes for Seniors with Balance Problems for 2023
If you're a senior citizen with balance problems, you probably thought your best cycling days were behind you. But we disagree. Today, new electric bikes are being designed that have a wide range of rider abilities in mind. Besides, seniors today aren’t looking to go quietly into the sunset. They want to go, bike saddles blazing, off onto the next adventure trail they can find. They want to squeeze every bit of life and adventure out of their golden years, and with that in mind, it’s no wonder that more than half of all electric bikes sold in England are purchased by folks over age 55. Here in the U.S., bike trips have tripled since the 1990s, thanks in part to seniors who are health conscious, environmentally concerned, and fiscally responsible. In fact, recent statistics show that a third of new American bike riders are over 60. So, even if you have balance issues that make it seem like getting on a bike might be difficult, we have good news for you. There are electric bikes especially designed to help seniors with balance problems get out and get on a bike again. And we've listed the best 5 we could find (plus a couple of others) here for your convenience.
So if you're part of the group of seniors who worry about getting back on a bike because of burgeoning balance problems, let's talk. No doubt the memory of taking a tumble from a bike in younger years enhances the hesitation they might have about climbing back on a bike now that they might struggle with their balance for age-related reasons. The good news, however, is that manufacturers are aware of this concern and taking action to create ebikes for seniors with balance problems specifically. These bikes generally have a low center of gravity and extra features that minimize safety dangers and make tipping and falling incidents less likely. This is an important point because biking has a host of great benefits for senior citizens, including:
- Better Physical Health: Regular bike riders reduce their risks of weight gain, type II diabetes, and have the health of someone 10 years younger. In addition to reducing the risks of those conditions, they generally have better cardiovascular health and more energy and add an average of two years to their life expectancy. 80% of riders who previously reported osteoarthritis pain said they experienced pain relief too! As a low-impact exercise, it also causes much less stress and strain on the joints, especially if the ebike in question is designed with ergonomics in mind. Studies have even shown that regular exercise like biking can lower the risk of several types of cancer.
- Better Mental Health: Getting on a bike more often also reduces symptoms of stress, depression, and boredom while contributing to better self-confidence and energy. Exercise helps improve the quality of sleep as well. Exercise generally improves oxygen intake and helps the brain’s ability to process and retain memories. It also gives seniors the opportunity to get outside, have fun, meet friends and enjoy nature, all of which is great for mental health.
- Better Environmental Health: Speaking of nature, regular bike riding also cuts the amount of CO2 emissions. So much so that choosing to cycle instead of taking the car 4 times a week for at least 5 miles will reduce your personal CO2 emissions by about 1653 pounds a year.
- Better Financial Health: Now, we don't need to remind you how high gas prices have climbed in the last few months. Electric bikes can help a lot of seniors avoid the sticker shock they face at the gas pump. Not only does riding an ebike save seniors money on gas, it saves money on parking fees and automobile maintenance, since bike maintenance is considerably less expensive. It can also save on healthcare costs (because seniors who bike regularly are healthier) and the often purchased, but frequently forgotten gym membership.
With all of the benefits of electric bikes for seniors, the one concern remains: “Can I still ride a bike if I have balance problems?” Yes, you can. And we set out to find bikes that make it easy for seniors with balance problems to enjoy a safe, comfortable, healthy bike ride on a regular basis again.
Top 5 Electric Bikes for Seniors with Balance Problems
The fact is, there are so many great new ebikes coming onto the scene that are built with seniors in mind that it can be hard to narrow down your choices. Seniors are busy today, so we have developed a list of excellent ebikes for seniors with balance issues to save you time. We realized that every senior has different biking needs, so we’ve explained some of the benefits and considerations for our list below so that you can make an educated choice when purchasing an electric bike. We’ve considered important factors such as low step-thru bike frames, center of gravity, ergonomic comfort, durability and carrying capacity, just to begin.
We also only include electric bikes on this list. There’s a reason for that. Typically, electric bikes give seniors the option of doing all the pedaling on their own, but they also give you the option of letting the bike do the work if you’re plum tuckered out for the day.
We also wanted to choose bikes appropriate for riders of different experience levels. A lot of seniors today have been biking for years, but on the other hand, many other seniors haven’t been on a bike since they were 12. We wanted to look at bikes in which either type of experience would be fine.
As previously mentioned, an easy step-through frame is also important, especially for seniors with balance problems. Having to mount a high bar to get on a bike is a definite no-no and a risk for those with balance issues, so the bikes on this list have a low step-through frame that requires just a simple little step to mount.
Adjustability is also very important. No two people are built the same, so the bikes on this list needed to be adjustable to height and comfortable for a wide range of riders. The seats needed to be cushy and comfortable. The center of gravity needed to stay low so that balance problems wouldn’t impact the safety or comfort of the bike-riding experience.
In addition, we wanted to choose bikes that are ready for daily use. These bikes are all durable and ready to take you to your yoga class downtown, to work, shopping, to the park to play with the grandkids or whatever your day has in mind. After all, the more you ride a bike, the more you enjoy the health, environmental and financial benefits of regular cycling. So, durability is a must.
We also looked at the braking and gears. A lot of seniors will remember the pedal-backwards style of braking from childhood, but most of the bikes on this list have disc brakes controlled on the handlebars. It can take some getting used to, but it does provide a more responsive braking experience. And 3-7 gears also give you options for how hard you want to work when pedaling on your own. The gears, which are all accessible via the handlebars in these bikes, also allow you to choose between full pedal power, pedal-assist (where the electric motor does some of the work) and full motor power.
And, of course, we looked at the batteries. It’s important that you can get a good ride without worrying whether or not the motor is going to conk out just when you’re tired and want to go home. The best motor batteries last between 20-40 miles between charges (about 20 miles when going at full power, and 40 when using pedal-assist mode).
With all of that in mind, here is our list of the 5 best e-bikes for seniors with balance problems:
4. VoltBike Elegant Electric Bike for Seniors
The reason we suggest the Elegant Electric Bike for Seniors is how lightweight it is, even while still being quite durable and easy to handle. The 500-watt motor is on the frame, which is still a low-slung step through frame that is pretty easy to mount, but maybe less so than the previous models on the list. Still, the motor is great for going about 20 miles per hour, even on hills. You can travel about 40 miles between charges too, which is a definite advantage. This is a no-assembly required bike and it even comes with a matching helmet, which is an absolute safety-must for seniors. The saddle isn’t as instantly cushioned as the EVRYjourney or BodyEase bikes, but it does start to fit to your form and soften the more you ride it. It’s a good, adjustable bike that has thumb-controlled disc brakes (hydraulic) as well. So it’s easy to get on and go. Again, it’s a good option for seniors with balance problems, but who have a little more in the way of biking experience and confidence already.
5. Cannondale Adventure Neo 4
The reason we like this bike for seniors is it’s long-range 50Nm Bosch Active Line motor with a 400-watt battery. And the reason we really like that is that you can go up to 63 miles between charging sessions, depending on how you ride. It also has more than one level of pedal-assist mode, which is fun for seniors to experiment with. The charge time is about 3.5 hours. Another great feature is the 2.2-inch wide tires and it’s deep step-through frame, both of which help seniors stay balanced, mount and dismount easily without tipping. It’s a very enjoyable bike to ride that goes smoothly over a wide range of hard-packed trails and roadways.
Honorable Mentions in EBikes for Seniors
All that said, there are still some other ebikes for seniors that we really like. As always, stability is paramount, but also performance and a low center of gravity still make the list of important factors in our honorable-mention choices. We could say a lot of words about these too, and we will, because these honorable mentions are really worth a look at if your needs run in these directions:
What Electric Bikes are Good for Seniors with Balance Problems?
Regardless of your bike experience level, the EVRYjourney electric tricycle and EVRYjourney electric bicycles are the very top level for seniors who are experiencing balance issues. They are built for riders of every experience level, including absolute beginners or seniors who haven’t been on a bike since they were kids. Naturally, the e-trike is the most stable of all because of its three-wheel construction, so that is the top level for any senior who really wants to ride but is very worried about balance concerns. The ergonomic construction of both bikes is top notch and hard to beat. They’re both built for daily use, so they can save you money on gas, save the environment and help you get the exercise you want while you enjoy getting outside.
Choosing Ebikes for Seniors with Balance Issues
Getting the right ebike for your needs is based on finding the one that fits your body type, your experience level, your comfort level, your physical conditioning and your style. Whatever electric bike you choose should feel right from head to toe. It should also be safe, stable and easy to mount and dismount. To choose the right bike for your individual needs, look to the right side of this web page and click the “FIT” panel. There, you can enter the details that pertain to what you’re looking for to get bike suggestions that suit your needs. You’ll want to pick a bike that is versatile enough to fit your lifestyle and needs with a commuter bike as well, especially as it pertains to getting extra cargo-carrying power, which is a practical concern that many seniors have mentioned. They want an ebike that is stable and safe, but that also looks good and can carry their scuba gear, books, groceries, work supplies, etc. without any trouble.
Trust Sixthreezero for the Best EBikes for Seniors
Our team of ebike engineers spends a lot of time and energy designing bikes that real people can ride effortlessly. We are passionate about getting more people on bikes to help protect the environment, boost the health and wellness of our communities and help people save money. We also strive to make our bikes tough, light and ergonomic for everyone. We’d love nothing more than to see grandparents out riding with their teenage grandchildren to the park, to the library, to the beach… you name it. We build bikes for everybody, and for every body. So if you have balance problems and still want to make biking a priority in your life, send us an email at theteam@sixthreezero with any questions you might have. We look forward to working with you!