Honorable Mentions
For bikes, bikes, and more bikes, you can check out our roundups of the Best Electric Mountain Bikes and the Best Electric Cargo Bikes.
Photograph: Michael Venutolo-Mantovani
Retrospec Judd Rev 2 for $1,100: This stylish, affordable electric folding bike is well-priced, maneuverable, and simplicity itself. The Lectric XP is just more powerful and offers slightly better value for the price.
Rad Power Bikes Radrunner Max for $2,299: Rad Power Bikes’ flagship utility bike is fun, gorgeous, and easy to assemble. However, the company was recently acquired after filing for bankruptcy protection, so I am currently keeping it as an honorable mention for now.
Radio Flyer Via Pro for $2,909: Editor Julian Chokkattu could not have had a better experience than this easy-to-use and easy-to-assemble Class 2 electric cargo bike. For more info, check out our guide to the Best Electric Cargo Bikes.
GoTrax Mustang for $2,199: We liked the Mustang, a surprisingly punchy little bike at just the right price. However, it only comes in one size, so you should try it if you can before you buy it.
Aventon Level 3 for $1,899: The Aventon Level 3 is easy to ride, with a clean, step-through design and every feature you could want in a standard-size ebike for going around town. There are built-in fenders and lights, and a big color display shows how much of the advertised range (up to 70 miles) you have remaining. I have ridden it up to about 25 miles at a time with my heavy 6’2″ frame, easily ending my rides with 20 percent of battery left. The frame feels comfortable and sturdy, thanks to a double-walled construction and improved Shimano gears and brakes. The front suspension fork and semi-hidden suspension seatpost add to the comfort compared with other bikes I’ve tested in this price range, and I like that the Aventon app lets you set up features like remote locking and geofencing, so you can keep an eye on your expensive bike from afar. The built-in turn signals, which use the bike’s rear lights, are another bonus when riding in cities at night. —Parker Hall
Tenways CGO800S for $1,799: This is a budget step-through city ebike. It boasts up to 50 miles of battery life, and I got more than 30. The torque sensor is smooth and responsive to pedaling at various speeds. However, there’s no throttle, and because this bike is meant to fit riders of a huge range of sizes (they say 5’1” to 6’3”), the frame was not as comfortable to pedal for me (5’11”) as some large-size bikes. —Martin Cizmar
Bike Friday All-Day for $5,800: Bike Friday bills the irresistibly tiny All-Day (7/10, WIRED Review) as the world’s lightest Bosch-powered ebike, and it’s true. You can customize all the colors and components of this folding electric bike, and it has a surprisingly powerful motor for its size. Bromptons are more widely available and easier to use, but I love this little bike a lot.
Aventon Ramblas for $2,899: Aventon made a mountain bike! It’s a lot of bike for an affordable price, but just a little too heavy to take out for its intended use case. It makes a nice, rugged commuter, however.
Linus eDutchi for $1,799: Need a comfy cruiser? The Linus eDutchi is a Class 1 ebike with beautiful colors and loads of proprietary accessories.
Priority Current Plus for $3,299: This sit-up cruiser is a spendier, more powerful version of the Momentum Vida E+ above, with a low-maintenance carbon belt drive. The Electra Loft Go! (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a cheaper version made by Trek, with a less powerful motor.
Xtracycle Stoker for $4,499: This is probably the bike that I see most often in my Portland, Oregon, neighborhood. It has a durable, sturdy Chromoly steel frame and large 24-inch wheels, along with a Shimano mid-drive motor that makes it perfect for more grueling conditions. Unfortunately, you do have to be over 5’6″ (which I am not) to ride it.
Gazelle Eclipse C380+ for $6,399: If you want to know just how great a high-end bike can be, try the Eclipse (8/10, WIRED Recommends) over a cheaper direct-to-consumer bike. The handlebars are sized to the frame, it has a nicer shifter, a smarter motor—even the paint job is nicer. It’s just much more expensive.
The Gocycle G4I+ for $5,999: Gocycle’s high-end, fast-folding luxury bikes are designed by a former McLaren engineer. This quieter, lighter iteration has better torque, a new carbon-fiber front fork, and an even more painful price.
The Bunch Original Electric Cargo Bike for $6,499: I didn’t care much for the Bunch, but my family did. It’s a standard, if slightly expensive, box bike as you might see in Europe. It’ll work well if you live in a flat area and don’t have to go very fast.
Bikes We Dislike
Niu Electric Bike BQi-C3 Pro for $2,499: Commerce director Martin Cizmar tested this bike and had a litany of complaints. The riding position is too aggressive, and the bike frame doesn’t fit common components like a water bottle and his pannier. The disc brakes weren’t suited to stopping it from 28 mph.
FAQs
How Does WIRED Procure Ebikes?
Bike companies reach out to me, and I request testers in my size. Once I have finished testing, I either return the bikes to the manufacturer, the shop that assembled them, or donate them to nonprofit organizations.
How Do You Secure an Ebike?
Many ebikes have removable batteries, displays, or built-in wheel locks that make securing your bike much easier. Other bikes, like the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2, are also compatible with Apple Find My. Check out our Best Ebike Locks guide for more options.
Should I Build My Own Bike?
Many affordable bikes now come direct-to-consumer—meaning that they are pre-tuned or partially assembled in a box. As Peter Flax noted in Bicycling magazine, these bikes do not get nearly the testing or vetting that bikes from a bigger manufacturer get. Unless you’re not riding much or for many miles, or are experienced at modifying your own bike, I recommend working with an established manufacturer with a dealer network.
What Terrain Do You Live On?
If you live in a flat area, you’re probably fine with a 250-watt motor, which is the European speed standard. However, if you live near hills or haul a lot of stuff, you might want to consider a 500-watt or 750-watt motor and a few extras, like hydraulic disc brakes, which will help prevent you from skidding into traffic.
How Do I Prevent Bike Fires?
The idea of your garage suddenly setting alight is terrifying, but don’t worry—the batteries that manufacturers use today are much safer than those of yore. We only write about bikes that have been certified safe by a third-party organization. Also, exercise a bit of common sense. Do not leave your bike battery charging overnight in a boiling hot garage. Don’t use aftermarket accessories to charge your bike. And don’t plug in a battery that’s deformed or smells weird, or try to turn on a bike with a cracked display or computer.
Follow Some Basic Safety Tips
Not sure where to start? The biking advocacy group PeopleForBikes has a safety education program, E-Bike Smart, which it created in collaboration with the League of American Bicyclists and Bicycle Colorado. Do not let your children ride your bike unsupervised. An 80-pound child should not be piloting a 65-pound bike, even if the motor makes it possible for them to do so. And always wear a helmet, but you already know that. Right?
Whenever I talk to anyone about a possible ebike purchase, the biggest deterrent is usually the price. I do want to say here that these are vehicles, not toys. When I’m carrying my kids to school or flying down a hill at 25 mph, I want the safest possible ride, and I think you should too.
Reasonable auto financing options are the only reason a $2,000 electric bike can feel prohibitively expensive while a $6,000 beater gas-powered car has easy monthly payments. Many states now offer incentive programs that provide rebates or tax credits for ebike purchases. Some bike manufacturers and retailers offer financing through companies like Affirm or PayPal. Your bank might cover ebikes under its vehicle loan program, and I also recommend looking at eBay locally, Craigslist, or local Facebook groups. You probably have more options than you think.
Ebike Classifications and Rules
Before you buy your electric bike, make sure you can actually use it! Many cities and states have laws regulating when and where you can ride an ebike. Check out our guide on the three classes of ebikes. At least 22 states now use this three-class system, and they may restrict when and where different classes of ebikes are used, depending on whether they have a throttle or can assist above 20 mph. Cities may also have laws about whether mountain ebikes are allowed on single-track trails. If your state classifies ebikes under the same laws governing motorcycles and mopeds, you may need a license to ride one.
Our team reviews upward of 50 new ebikes a year by riding them on a variety of terrain for at least 50 miles over the course of at least two weeks. First, I test range by biking and checking to see how long each bike battery charges. I test e-assistance and shifters by riding up big hills and by loading panniers and bike baskets with gear. I ride bikes on a variety of errands on regular city streets, locking them up next to my movie theater or grocery store. I also check specs like who manufactures each component and what safety standards each manufacturer has adhered to.
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