Do Electric Bikes Make Noise? (How Loud Are eBikes Really)
I’ve been an e-bike rider for a few years now, and people often ask me if the noise my electric bike makes bothers me. My relatives and friends regularly reach out to me when they have questions about electric bikes. One of the common questions I hear is, “Do electric bikes make noise?”
As a whole, electric bikes make noise. There are noisy electric bikes, and there are relatively quiet electric bikes. eBikes, especially new and higher quality ones, tend not to be as loud as older eBikes, but they are frequently noisier than traditional bikes.
A noisy e-bike can be pretty irritating. As e-bike owners, we want our electric bikes to be as quiet as possible. In this article, we’ll dive into
- How quiet eBikes can be
- Where eBike noise comes from
- The quietest electric bikes you can buy
- The reasons why your e-bike squeaks
- How you can stop and fix electric bike squeaking
- How to silence your eBike
Are Electric Bikes Quiet?
As a whole, electric bikes are not quiet. eBikes are not excessively loud, but they aren’t silent either. Electric bikes produce some noise and are a little louder than regular bicycles. The noise that an electric bike makes is commonly from your electric bike’s motor, chain, and tires.
Electric bikes are similar to regular bikes. You can hear noise generated from the chain, pedals, brakes, and tires. So, the noises you can hear in a typical bicycle can also be heard in an electric bike.
However, since e-bikes have electric motors, the most common noise you hear from your e-bike is from the motor itself. But here’s a good thing: as technology advances, e-bike manufacturers have designed electric motors that are very quiet or produce less noise.
Nowadays, electric bikes are equipped with excellent, quiet motors and chains to provide a fantastic and quiet ride.
Where Does eBike Noise Come from?
As a general rule, e-bike noises come mainly from the motor and the tires. Additionally, the noises you hear from your electric bike may come from the chain, pedals, and brakes especially if these components are damaged or contaminated.
In most cases, the light noise you hear on your electric bike is from the motor or the tires. However, suppose you hear a noise coming from neither of those two places. There might be an issue in any of the following components: your e-bike chain, pedals, or brakes.
Electric Bike Noise from the Motor
Suppose you turn on your pedal-assist (for pedal-assisted e-bike) or throttle (for throttle-assisted e-bike). Your electric bike’s motor will power up and supply you with the assistance you need. When the motor turns on, noise is created and will continue to be generated as your motor provides power to your electric bike.
The noise your e-bike motor creates depends on the motor’s quality. Unfortunately, there are high-quality motors that still make a considerable amount of noise. However, this noise comes naturally and does not significantly affect the motor’s performance and efficiency.
Suppose your e-bike is equipped with a very low-quality motor. In that case, it is more likely that your motor will be on the louder side of the electric bike motor noise spectrum. In most cases, you get what you pay for.
It is important to note: a motor of any quality level can become noisy if it gets rusty, dirty, or damaged. To clean your e-bike motor and your entire e-bike, we recommend using the Muck-off Bike Wash, which can be found on Amazon.
Noise from the eBike Tires
Like on regular bikes, the tires of electric bikes also produce noise. Of course, as you ride your e-bike, the tires are touching the road, which creates noise. However, this is not something you have to worry about, except if the tires generate strange or abnormal sounds such as squeaks and creaks.
Noise from the Electric Bike Chain
The chain of an e-bike creates noise, especially if it gets rusty, dirty, or dry. However, you can minimize or resolve this noise by cleaning your e-bike chain and applying some lube to it.
A chain may make noise when it becomes too loose, causing it to bounce up and down and touch the chainstay. This phenomenon is typically known as chain slap. Chain slap is very common on mountain bikes and EMTBs, but it can also happen on regular e-bikes. Chain slap can be resolved by installing a chainstay protector or tightening the chain.
“If you get the bike wet, lubricate the chain immediately.”
–Doug James
Noise from the eBike Pedals
As your electric bike becomes older, you may hear a clicking or creaking noise coming from your e-bike pedals. This noise may appear when your pedals become too dry or rusty. To fix this situation, you have to clean and lubricate your pedals which will help minimize the noise.
Noise from the Electric Bike Brakes
The brakes of your electric bikes can also create noise. This may happen if the brakes are contaminated or there is a misalignment of the brake caliper. Sometimes, noise is also generated if the pads are rubbing against the rotor.
In addition, the noise in your braking system may also come from your brake pads. If your brake pads are worn-out, you will probably hear a screeching sound when using your brake. If you want to learn more about why your electric bike breaks squeak and how to fix it, make sure to check out our full article covering it.
What Is the Quietest eBike?
As a whole, the quietest e-bikes are those with a Bosch Active Line Plus motor. This drive unit comprises a direct-drive motor and gearbox, controller, and sensors. It is significantly quiet since there is less resistance.
Here are five electric bikes that have Bosch Active Line Plus motors. Aside from their motors, we also outlined the batteries and chains they are equipped with.
| Electric Bikes | Motor | Torque | Chain | Battery |
| Raleigh Felix Plus | Bosch Active Line Plus | 50 NM | KMC X8 | 400 Wh |
| Scott Sub Tour eRide 30 | Bosch Active Line Plus | 50 NM | KMC E9s NPBK | 500 Wh |
| Sparta A-Shine Energy M8B High | Bosch Active Line Plus | 50 NM | — | 300 Wh |
| Priority Embark eBike | Bosch Active Line Plus | 50 NM | Gates Carbon Drive Belt | 400 Wh |
| Trek District+ 7 | Bosch Active Line Plus | 50 NM | Gates Carbon Drive Belt | 400 Wh |
Raleigh Felix Plus
The Raleigh Felix Plus e-bike uses a Bosch Active Line Plus motor. As a result, you can have a comfortable and quiet ride on the Raleigh Felix Plus e-bike. Furthermore, the motor on this e-bike provides a power output of up to 270%. Therefore, riding your e-bike using this motor will be effortless, even on long rides.
The Raleigh Felix Plus provides you with a quiet ride and helps you reach a range of up to 75 miles with its 400 Wh battery.
Scott Sub Tour eRide 30
The Scott Sub Tour eRide 30 is another electric bike that uses the Bosch Active Line Plus motor. Since it is equipped with this Bosch motor and a 500 wh battery, you can expect to ride around efficiently, quietly, and quickly for an extended period of time.
Sparta A-Shine Energy M8B High
The Sparta A-Shine Energy M8B High is yet another e-bike that uses the Bosch Active Line Plus motor. This motor provides 50 newton-meter torque, so you can ride your e-bike up high inclines and expect to hear little to no noise.
In addition, this e-bike is equipped with a chain guard. So, you won’t have to worry about noise due to chain slapping.
Aside from a quiet ride, the Sparta A-Shine Energy M8B will also help you reach up to 80 miles of travel distance on a single charge.
Priority Embark eBike
The Priority Embark eBike uses the Bosch Active Line Plus motor. As a result, this e-bike will deliver you a very quiet and smooth ride.
One of the great features of this e-bike is its Gates carbon drive belt. Since it has a carbon drive belt, you will not have to apply lube on this belt like you would on a traditional chain. This belt will also last longer than a regular chain.
Trek District+ 7
The Trek District+ 7 is another e-bike that uses a Bosch Active Line Plus motor.
This e-bike is also equipped with a Gates carbon drive belt. Hence, you won’t worry about noise, lubrication, and maintenance.
Why Does My Electric Bike Squeak?
As a general rule, your electric bike squeaks due to contaminated brakes. Another reason for squeaking could be the misalignment of the brake caliper or worn-out or dirty brake pads.
When your e-bike brakes become rusty or have been contaminated by oil, grease, or dirt, you may hear a squeaking sound as you ride your e-bike or when you try using the brakes. However, you may also observe less efficient braking aside from the squeaking sound. If this is the case, it is best to get your brakes fixed immediately.
Misalignment of your e-bike brake caliper or a bent rotor can cause squeaking or a rubbing sound in the rotor. You can resolve the squeaking by re-aligning your brake caliper. However, if your rotor is bent, re-aligning might be impossible unless you have your rotor fixed or replaced.
Another component on your e-bike that can cause a squeaking noise is your brake pads. A squeaking sound can be heard when your brake pads are contaminated by oil, grease, or dirt. Therefore, it is always best practice to clean your brake pads. Always make sure that you are using suitable cleaning materials. If your brake pads are already worn out, it is best to replace them.
If you want to know how to determine if your brake pads are worn out, you can visit our article “How To Know If My Brake Pads Are Worn Out?”
How Do I Silence My Electric Bike?
- Check where the noise is coming from
- Unmount contaminated parts
- Clean contaminated parts
- Apply suitable lubricant
- If the noise comes from brakes, check if the brake caliper is appropriately aligned.
To silence your e-bike, the first thing that you need to do is to determine what component is causing the noise. Check for contaminated parts. Then you have to unmount the affected components and clean them thoroughly and properly.
The parts of your e-bike that are prone to contamination are your e-bike chain and bearings, pedals, and brake pads.
Next, apply a suitable lubricant to those parts that are dry or making noise. However, if the noise comes from the brake pads, lube is not required.
Applying a suitable lubricant is recommended if the squeak is from the chain, bearings, pedals. In addition, there are lubricants for wet conditions and dry conditions. So, it is best to use a lube appropriate for your climate and riding conditions. We recommend using this Finish Line Dry Bike Lubricant for your ebike chains. You can pick it up on Amazon. On the other hand, we recommend using this Finish Line Wet Lubricant if you participate in more extreme riding conditions.
If the noise is coming from your brakes, check if the brake caliper is correctly aligned or if the rotor is damaged. If the caliper is not aligned, re-aligning it will stop the squeaking. On the other hand, if the rotor is bent or damaged, you have to get it fixed immediately.
How Do You Fix Squeaky Brakes on an Electric Bike?
As a general rule, you can fix squeaky brakes on an electric bike by checking your braking system. If your e-bike braking system shows any sign of contamination, damage, wear, or misalignment, fixing or replacing the affected components should stop the squeaking.
Any issue in your braking system can cause squeaking. The possible issues can be contaminated brakes or brake pads, damaged or bent rotor, worn-out pads, or misalignment of the brake caliper.
If the reason for the squeaking is the brake pads on your e-bike, remove them and check for any sign of contamination or wear and tear. You can clean contaminated brakes and pads to avoid the need to buy new ones.
On the other hand, if the pads are worn out, you need to replace them immediately. If you continue using worn-out pads, you may damage other components of your braking system. Additionally, you might not be able to stop your e-bike on time and an unexpected accident could happen. If your brake pads need to be replaced, we recommend checking out these two pairs of Shimano Resin Disc Brake Pads on Amazon.
Another scenario that can cause your brakes to squeak is using new brake pads. New brake pads require “bedding-in” time to create a uniform surface and provide you with smooth braking power. So, if your brake pads are new, make sure to give them enough “bedding-in” time.
If you think the squeaking is coming from your rotor, you should check it for contamination or damage. If your rotor is damaged or bent, you can opt to fix it yourself, but in most cases, it may be better to contact a professional mechanic.
Suppose you observe rubbing and misalignment of your brake caliper. Re-aligning it may fix the squeaking. If you have hydraulic brakes, you can check our article “Best Ebike Hydraulic Brakes (We Tested the Top 9)” to learn more about hydraulic brakes and the steps to take when adjusting and re-aligning hydraulic brakes.
However, if you have mechanical disc brakes, Park Tool made a video about the steps you should take when adjusting your mechanical disc brakes. You can watch the video below.
A quiet electric bike can provide you with a fantastic, comfortable, and smooth ride. It will allow you to enjoy your electric bike ride and the beautiful scenery that comes along with it without all the noise.
Are Bosch eBike Motors Noisy?
As a whole, Bosch e-bike motors are not very noisy. Bosch motors produce noise but are not too loud. Bosch has manufactured Active Line Plus, a direct-drive motor that creates little to no noise.
Like other motor manufacturers, most motors that Bosch manufactures produce noise when turned on. However, Bosch has also manufactured a motors product line that creates very little noise.
Though some of the motors manufactured by Bosch create noise, the noise does not significantly affect the riding experience on your electric bike.
One of the most widely known motors designed by Bosch is the Active Line Plus, which is said to be very quiet. Therefore, you may want to consider if you are looking to replace your current eBike motor with a more silent motor.
Suppose you plan to buy an electric bike and are interested in learning more about the associated costs with the best options in the market. Then, you can check our published article “How Much do Electric Bikes Cost? (Your Bottom Line).”
