# Essential eBike accessories: our top four, and why they’re in this order

> A helmet, a phone holder, a lock and a bag: the four eBike accessories to buy first, in order of importance, with what to look for in each.

Canonical human page: [Essential eBike accessories: our top four, and why they’re in this order](https://bestebikes.uk/blog/essential-ebike-accessories-top-four)
Author: Best eBikes UK
Published: 2026-09-29
Last modified: 2026-09-29

The essential eBike accessories, in order, are a helmet, a phone holder, a lock and a bag. Buy the helmet first: it protects the one thing you cannot replace. The phone holder comes second because your phone goes on every ride. The lock is third because every ride ends somewhere, and the bag is fourth because you are going there to do something.

A situation that comes up all the time: somebody has just ordered their first eBike, has a little budget left over, and asks what they should buy to go with it. The honest answer is a short list with a clear order, and the order matters more than the brands. Here is ours, with the reasoning behind each place.

| Rank | Accessory | What it does for you | What to look for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Helmet | Protects your head in a fall or collision | A marked cycling standard such as EN 1078, a proper fit, a rear light if you ride after dark |
| 2 | Phone holder | Keeps navigation and ride data in view with both hands on the bars | A firm clamp, a positive lock on the phone, a mount that suits your bar diameter |
| 3 | Lock | Lets you leave the bike and walk away | An independent security rating such as Sold Secure, and a way to carry it on the frame |
| 4 | Bag | Carries whatever you set out to fetch, deliver or use | Waterproofing, a fitting that suits your rack, enough room for a day's kit |

## Why is a helmet the first eBike accessory to buy?

A helmet is first because it is the only item on the list that protects you rather than your kit or your convenience. If you buy one thing, make it this. UK law does not require a helmet on a bicycle or on a road-legal eBike, but the Highway Code (Rule 59) recommends wearing one that meets current regulations, fits properly and is securely fastened. We would put it more strongly than that: you should not be riding without one.

Pedal assistance changes how a ride feels. An eBike gets you up to speed quickly from a standstill and holds that pace up hills where you would otherwise slow down, so you spend more of every journey moving briskly among traffic. The helmet on our bike pages is the Victgoal LED Helmet, chosen because its buyers report it doing its job in real falls and because it carries a USB-rechargeable rear light, which adds visibility on winter commutes. Whatever you choose, check the standard marking inside the shell and try it on before the first ride.

## Why does a phone holder come before a lock?

A phone holder comes second because the phone goes on every single ride, and a lock only matters once you stop. You are never going to leave the house without your phone, so the question is where it lives while you ride. On a handlebar mount it gives you turn-by-turn navigation, your speed and distance, and the manufacturer's app if your bike has one, without fishing it out of a pocket at a junction.

Plenty of bikes on this site pair with an app, including the [Engwe L20 3.0 Pro](https://bestebikes.uk/engwe-l20-3-0-pro) and the [ADO Air 28 Pro](https://bestebikes.uk/ado-air-28-pro), according to their makers' published specifications. A secure mount turns those features into something you can use mid-ride. We list the Lamicall Bike Mount because its quick-lock clamp holds the phone firmly over rough surfaces. Set your route before you set off, and keep screen time to glances.

## What kind of lock does an eBike need?

An eBike needs a lock with an independent security rating, because it is an expensive thing to leave outside a shop or a station. Every ride ends somewhere, and you cannot leave the bike there without one. The simplest shortcut to a good choice is a Sold Secure rating, which comes from independent attack testing, and Gold is the grade to look for on a bike worth this much.

Our pick is the FoldyLock Elite, which its maker lists as Sold Secure Gold and which folds small enough to ride on the frame. Some eBikes add their own layer: the maker of the [Engwe N1 Pro](https://bestebikes.uk/engwe-n1-pro) lists GPS tracking and an alarm among its features. Treat those as extras that help you find or deter, and keep a proper lock as the thing that holds the bike in place. Our [eBike security guide](https://bestebikes.uk/blog/ebike-security-uk) covers how to lock it well.

## Which bag works best on an eBike?

A pannier that clips to a rear rack works best for most riders, because the bike carries the weight and your back stays dry and free. You are probably riding somewhere to do something: shopping, work, the gym, a game of tennis. That means carrying things, and a bag is what turns an eBike from a ride into a way of getting jobs done.

Check whether your bike has a rack before you buy. The [Fiido M1 Pro](https://bestebikes.uk/fiido-m1-pro) lists a rear rack in its manufacturer specification, for example. The bag on our bike pages is the VAUDE Aqua Back, a fully waterproof pannier with room for a day's kit. It sits fourth because you can manage a short trip with a rucksack. You cannot manage one safely without a helmet.

## Where can you see all four together?

Every UK bike page on [Best eBikes UK](https://bestebikes.uk/) has a Recommended gear section showing these four in exactly this order, followed by four more items you can open if you want them: a helmet headset, a drink holder, an eBike cleaning kit and a sling bag for keys. The order on the page is the advice. Start at the left and stop when the budget runs out.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is it a legal requirement to wear a helmet on an eBike in the UK?

A helmet is not a legal requirement on a road-legal eBike in Great Britain. An electrically assisted pedal cycle, with a motor of up to 250 watts that cuts out at 15.5mph, is treated as a bicycle, and there is no helmet law for bicycles. The Highway Code (Rule 59) does recommend wearing a cycle helmet that conforms to current regulations, is the correct size and is securely fastened. Best eBikes UK ranks the helmet as the first accessory to buy regardless of the law, because it is the one item that protects the rider. A faster, higher-powered machine that falls outside the eBike rules is a different vehicle with different requirements.

### What should I buy first if I can only afford one eBike accessory?

Buy a helmet first if you can only afford one eBike accessory. The other three items on the essentials list make riding more convenient or protect your property, but the helmet is the only one that protects you. Choose one marked with a recognised cycling standard such as EN 1078, make sure it fits snugly with the straps fastened, and consider one with an integrated rear light if you ride after dark. Once the helmet is sorted, add the phone holder, the lock and the bag in that order as your budget allows.

### Is it safe to use a phone mounted on eBike handlebars?

A phone mounted on the handlebars is far easier to use safely than one held in a hand or pulled out of a pocket, because both hands stay on the bars. The safest habit is to set your route before you set off and only glance at the screen while moving, the same way you would check a speedometer. Pull over somewhere safe before typing, changing settings or answering a message. A firm mount with a positive lock matters here, because a phone that shifts over bumps pulls your eyes down for longer.

### What does Sold Secure Gold mean on a bike lock?

Sold Secure is an independent UK testing body that attacks locks with tools for a set time and awards a grade based on how long the lock resists. Bicycle locks are graded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond, with Gold and Diamond at the top end. Many insurers name a minimum Sold Secure grade in their policy terms for eBikes, so check your own policy before you buy. A Gold rating is a sensible target for an eBike given what the bike is worth. Always check the rating on the maker's listing or on Sold Secure's own site.

### Do I need a lock if my eBike has GPS tracking and an alarm?

Yes, an eBike with GPS tracking and an alarm still needs a physical lock. An alarm draws attention and a GPS tracker can help you find the bike afterwards, but neither physically stops someone lifting the bike into a van. A proper lock through the frame to something fixed is what holds the bike in place while you are away from it. Built-in security features are worth having as an extra layer on top of a good lock, and a bike page on Best eBikes UK shows which of them each model's maker lists.

### Why is the bag last on the list of essential eBike accessories?

The bag is last because you can make a short trip without one, and you cannot make any trip safely or conveniently without the three items above it. A rucksack will do for the first few weeks. A pannier becomes worth it once you start using the eBike for errands, commuting or shopping, because it moves the weight onto the bike and keeps your back cool and dry. Check that your bike has a rear rack, or can take one, before buying a pannier, and choose a waterproof one for UK weather.

## Reliability note

This is the clean Markdown alternate of the published article. Product specifications and prices can change; use the linked catalogue record and its visible check date for current stored data, and confirm purchase details with the retailer.