To make an e-bike more comfortable, fit it to your body first: set the saddle to the right height and angle, bring the handlebars within easy reach, and run the tyres at a pressure that soaks up bumps. Then look at grips, suspension and what you wear. Most of these changes take a few minutes with an Allen key and a pump, and they often help more than buying new parts.
This guide is for anyone who finishes a ride on an e-bike feeling achy, cramped or rattled, and for family members setting one up for someone else.
By the Ridewave team, updated October 2026
Where does e-bike discomfort come from?
Mostly from the three places your body touches the e-bike: the saddle, the handlebars and the pedals. Bumps, weather and a heavy bag do the rest.
Use this table to start with the change most likely to help.
| What you notice | Check this first | Then try |
|---|---|---|
| You rock side to side on the saddle, or reach for the pedals | Saddle too high | Lower it a little at a time |
| Your knees come up high and pedalling feels cramped | Saddle too low | Raise it, within the minimum insertion mark |
| You slide forward or feel pressure at the front of the saddle | Saddle tilted nose down | Set it level |
| Your hands, wrists or shoulders take too much weight | Handlebars too far away or too low | Raise or bring the bars closer, bend your elbows |
| Leaning forward is uncomfortable | Reach to the bars | A higher or shorter stem, or riser bars |
| Every bump comes through the bars and saddle | Tyre pressure too high | Drop to the lower half of the sidewall range |
| The ride feels slow and heavy, and the tyres squash on corners | Tyre pressure too low | Pump back up into the sidewall range |
Make one change at a time and ride for a few days before the next one, so you know what helped.
How high should your e-bike saddle be?
High enough that your leg is almost straight at the bottom of each pedal stroke. Victoria's Better Health Channel suggests setting the height so your knee is almost straight with the ball of your foot over the pedal axle at its lowest point (Better Health Channel on cycling posture and comfort).
- Stand the e-bike on level ground, against a wall or with someone holding it.
- Sit on the saddle and put the ball of your foot on the pedal at its lowest point.
- Look at your knee. It should have a slight bend. If your leg is fully straight or your hips dip to reach, the saddle is too high. If your knee is well bent, it's too low.
- Adjust in small steps, then tighten the seat post clamp firmly.
- Check the seat post depth. Never raise it past the minimum insertion mark printed on the post. The NSW Government's quick bike check says the seat post should sit at least 5 cm into the frame (NSW Government guide to maintaining your bicycle or e-bike).
Many new e-bike riders set the saddle low so both feet sit flat on the ground. That feels secure at the lights, but pedalling with bent knees for a whole ride is tiring. Set the height for pedalling instead, and slide forward off the saddle when you stop. A step-through frame makes that easy, because there's no high bar in the way. Our guide to step-through and step-over frames explains the difference.
What angle and position should the saddle sit at?
Level, or very close to it, and centred so your weight sits on your sit bones rather than the soft tissue between them.
- Angle. Start with the saddle level. A nose that points up presses on the front; a nose that points down slides you forward and pushes weight onto your hands. If level doesn't suit you, tilt it by the smallest step the clamp allows.
- Forward and back. Most saddles slide along their rails. Move it so you can reach the bars with a slight bend in your elbows and still pedal smoothly.
- Shape. On an upright e-bike you sit more on your sit bones, so a slightly wider, padded saddle often suits. A very soft or very wide one can rub on longer rides.
- Padding. On long rides, padded shorts or liners usually help more than a thick saddle cover. The Miniwave comes with a memory-foam saddle.
How far should you reach for the handlebars?
Close enough that you sit fairly upright with your elbows slightly bent. Locked straight arms pass every bump into your shoulders; Better Health suggests riding with your elbows slightly flexed so road shock doesn't travel up your arms.
If leaning forward is uncomfortable, or you need to sit more upright, you have a few options:
- Raise the bars, if the stem has room to move up.
- Bring them closer with a shorter or angled stem.
- Swap to riser or swept back bars, which move the grips up and towards you.
- Turn the brake levers so they line up with your forearms when you're seated, which keeps your wrists straight.
The Miniwave comes with a 610 mm comfort handlebar with a 6 degree backsweep, so the grips already sweep slightly back towards you.
On a folding e-bike, check your manual before changing the stem, and have a bike shop fit new parts so the cables and brake lines still reach.
Which grips and gloves help your hands?
Grips with a wider, flatter area for your palm, and padded gloves on longer rides. Better Health suggests holding the bars firmly but relaxed, changing hand position often, keeping your wrists straight, and trying padded gloves or handlebar tape to cut vibration.
Ergonomic grips with a small wing under the palm spread your weight over a bigger area. The Miniwave is fitted with ergonomic rubber grips. If your hands still carry too much weight after new grips, the cause is usually the reach or a saddle tipped nose down, so go back and check those.
What tyre pressure gives the most comfortable ride?
The lower half of the pressure range printed on your tyre sidewall. The NSW Government's bike check notes the correct pressure is written on the sidewall of each tyre. Running toward the lower end lets the tyre soak up small bumps; going below the minimum risks pinch punctures, rim damage and a heavy, squashy ride.
- Check with a gauge before rides, because tyres lose air slowly.
- Heavier rider or a loaded rack? Stay nearer the middle of the range.
- Rough paths or gravel? Sit lower in the range. Smooth roads? A little higher rolls more easily.
Wider tyres carry more air at lower pressure, so they cushion better than narrow ones. The Miniwave folding e-bike runs 20 x 3.0 inch puncture-resistant tyres. For the full method, see our e-bike tyre pressure guide.
Does suspension make an e-bike more comfortable?
Yes, on rough roads, kerbs and broken paths. A front suspension fork takes the sharp edge off bumps before they reach your hands and shoulders.
- Use the lockout. Many forks can be locked firm for smooth roads and hills, then opened for rough ground. Leave it open if your usual ride is bumpy.
- Set it for your weight, if the fork is adjustable. Your manual or a bike shop can show you how.
- Consider a suspension seat post. It cushions the saddle directly. Check it fits your frame's seat tube and still leaves room for the right saddle height.
The Miniwave has a front suspension fork with 80 mm of travel and a hydraulic lockout.
What should you wear on an e-bike?
Clothes that keep you at the right temperature and don't bunch or flap while you pedal. Because an e-bike helps with hills and headwinds, you often work less hard than on a regular bike, so you may need a layer more than you expect in winter.
- Layers you can take off, with a breathable top and a wind or rain shell.
- Padded shorts or liners for rides longer than a quick errand.
- Gloves for grip, padding and cold mornings.
- Sunglasses to keep wind and grit out of your eyes.
- Bright or reflective clothing. Better Health suggests brightly coloured clothing so drivers can see you.
- Sunscreen and a drink on warm days, also on Better Health's list.
Carry heavy things on the bike, not on your back. A rack bag or panniers keep weight off your shoulders. The Miniwave's rear rack is welded into the frame and rated to 68 kg, within its 155 kg max total load.
How do you stay comfortable on longer rides?
Use the gears and the assist levels to keep pedalling light, and take short breaks.
- Pick a lower gear. Better Health suggests switching to lower gears rather than pushing a high gear for long stretches.
- Use the assist. A higher assist level on hills and into headwinds keeps the effort steady.
- Stand up briefly over big bumps, with your knees and elbows soft.
- Build up your distance over a few weeks if you're new to riding.
If a ride still leaves you uncomfortable after these changes, a professional bike fitter can measure you and set up the e-bike, which Better Health also recommends for saddle height.
Which e-bike is set up for a comfortable ride?
Any e-bike can be made comfortable if it fits you. The things that help most are a frame that's easy to get on and off, a saddle that adjusts across your height, a front suspension fork and wide tyres.
The Miniwave folding e-bike has all four. It has a step-through folding frame, a front suspension fork with 80 mm of travel and a hydraulic lockout, and 20 x 3.0 inch puncture-resistant tyres. Its seat height adjusts from 76.6 to 96.8 cm, and its published rider height guide is about 147 to 193 cm, though it's worth confirming the fit in person.
If you'd rather ride on three wheels, see the electric trike collection.
What a set-up can't fix
Adjustments can't make a frame that's the wrong size fit you. If you're at the very edge of an e-bike's rider height range, or the reach still feels wrong with the saddle and bars set, try a different frame before buying more parts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I swap the saddle on my e-bike?
Usually, yes. Most e-bikes take a standard saddle that clamps to the seat post rails, so you can fit one that suits you. Take the old one along to a bike shop, or have them fit the new one.
Is a step-through e-bike more comfortable?
For getting on and off, often yes, because you don't lift your leg over a high bar. Once you're riding, comfort depends more on the saddle, reach and tyres than on the frame shape.
Do clip-in pedals make an e-bike more comfortable?
Not for most everyday riders. Wide flat pedals with grippy shoes let you move your feet and put a foot down quickly. Clip-in pedals take practice to use with confidence.
Feel the difference in person
The easiest way to find out how a saddle height, a riding position or a suspension fork feels is to sit on an e-bike and ride it.
Test rides run at our showrooms in Vermont (Melbourne), Girraween and Marrickville (Sydney). Most visits take 30 minutes to an hour, and you're welcome to bring someone along. Call ahead so we can have the right model ready for you: book a showroom test ride, or call us on +61 468 095 888.
Sources
- Cycling: preventing injury, Better Health Channel, Victorian Government, checked October 2026
- Bicycle maintenance, NSW Government, checked October 2026
Related articles
- Step-through vs step-over: which bike frame suits you?: how frame shape changes getting on and off.
- E-bike tyre pressure: how to check and set the pressure for your ride.
- Is a fat tyre e-bike right for you?: what wide tyres change on everyday roads and paths.