Other eBikes we like
Biking all day on Friday for $5,600: Bike Friday bills the 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. The Brompton above is more widely available and easier to use, but I love this little bike.
GoTrax Mustang for $1,799: We liked the Mustang, which is a surprisingly powerful little bike at just the right price. However, it only comes in one size so you should try it on if possible before purchasing it.
Aventon Level 3 for $1,899: The Aventon Level 3 is an easy-to-ride ebike, with a clean, step-through design and every feature you’d want in a standard-sized ebike for riding around town. It has built-in fenders and lights, and a large color display shows you how much of the advertised range of up to 70 miles you have left. I’ve ridden it for about 25 miles at a time with its heavy 6’2″ frame, allowing me to easily finish my rides even with 20 percent battery remaining. The frame feels comfortable and sturdy, thanks to the double-walled structure and superior Shimo gears and brakes. The front suspension fork and semi-hidden suspension seat post increase comfort compared to other bikes I’ve tested in this price range, and I like that the Aventon app lets you use the remote Features like locking and setting up geofencing so you can keep an eye on your expensive bike from afar, built-in turn signals that 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 claims battery life of up to 50 miles, 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 fits riders of different sizes (they say 5’1” to 6’3”), its frame wasn’t as comfortable for me (5’11”) to pedal as some larger-sized bikes. -Martin Szymar
Aventon Ramblas for $2,899: Aventon made mountain bike! It’s a great bike at an affordable price, but it’s a little heavy to take out for its intended use. However, it makes a good, sturdy traveler.
Linus eDutchi for $1,799: Need a comfortable cruiser? The Linus Idchi is a comfortable Class 1 ebike with beautiful colors and lots of proprietary accessories.
Go Electra Loft! For $960: I also love the Electra Loft Go! (7/10, Wired Recommends), which is another comfortable sit-up beach cruiser, but the Priority has a slightly more powerful motor for the same price.
Xtracycle Estocar for $4,499: This is probably the bike I see most often in my Portland, Oregon, neighborhood. It has a durable, strong chromoly steel frame and large 24-inch wheels, as well as a SHIMANO mid-drive motor that makes it perfect for more grueling conditions. Unfortunately, you have to be over 5’6” tall (which I’m not) to play it.
Gazelle Eclipse for $6,399: If you want to know how great the Bosch system can be, the Eclipse (8/10, Wired recommends) is a more expensive version of the Roadster Roadster above. It has a better shifter, a better motor—even the paint job is better. It is much more expensive.
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 for the bunch (5/10, Wired review), but my family did. This is a standard, if a little expensive, box bike as you might see in Europe. This will work well if you live in a flat area and you won’t have to go very fast.
Bikes We Dislike
Pass on the left.
Niu Electric Bike BQi-C3 Pro for $999: Commercial Director Martin Szymar tested the bike and found a lot of complaints. The riding position is very aggressive, and the bike’s frame doesn’t fit the usual components like a water bottle and its panniers. The disc brakes were not suitable for stopping it from 28 mph.
questions to ask
How to buy a wired ebike?
Bike companies contact me, and I request testers in my size. Once I’m done testing, I either return the bikes to the manufacturer, the shop that assembled them, or donate them to non-profit organizations.
How do you protect 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 Vedo SL2, 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 they come pre-tuned or partially assembled in a box. As Peter Flax recently noted bicycling Magazine, these bikes don’t get nearly the testing or scrutiny that bikes from a major manufacturer do. Unless you’re covering a lot or many miles, or are experienced in modifying your own bikes, I recommend working with an established manufacturer that has a dealer network.
What land area do you live on?
If you live in a flat area, you probably don’t mind the 250-watt motor, which is the European speed standard. However, if you live near hills or haul a lot of stuff, you may want to consider some extra features like a 500-watt or 750-watt motor and hydraulic disc brakes to help keep you from skidding into traffic.
How do I prevent a bike from catching fire?
The idea of your garage suddenly catching fire is terrifying, but don’t worry – the batteries manufacturers use today are safer than those of yesteryear. We only write about bikes that have been certified safe by a third-party organization. Also, use a little common sense. Don’t leave your bike battery charging in a boiling hot garage overnight. Do not use aftermarket accessories to charge your bike. And don’t plug in a battery that’s dead or has a strange smell, or try to start a bike with a broken 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, that it created in collaboration with the League of American Bicyclists and Cycle Colorado. Don’t let your children ride your bike unsupervised. An 80 pound child should not ride 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. Correct?
Over the past few years, WIRED’s review team has tried just about every kind of electric bike, from the best heavy-duty cargo bikes to high-end mountain bikes. We review 50 new ebikes a year by riding them over a variety of terrain for at least 40 miles over the course of at least two weeks. We test cargo bikes by hauling kids and groceries, we ride mountain and gravel bikes on trails, and we test commuter bikes while commuting on regular city streets (including up and down steep hills). In addition to our real-life testing, we also evaluate specifications such as weight, tire size, battery life, motor power and sourcing of key components.
Whenever I talk to anyone about a potential eBike purchase, the biggest hurdle is usually the price. If this is you, check out our guide to the best affordable ebikes. But I definitely want to say here that these are vehicles, not toys. When I’m driving my kids to school or flying down a hill at 25 mph, I want the safest ride possible, and I think you should too.
There are reasonable auto financing options Only The reason a $2,000 electric bike may seem prohibitively expensive is that a $6,000 beater gas-powered car has an easier monthly payment. Many states now offer incentive programs that offer rebates or tax credits for ebike purchases. Some bike manufacturers and retailers offer financing through companies like Affirm or PayPal. Your bank may cover eBikes under their vehicle loan program, and I also recommend looking locally at eBay, Craigslist, or local Facebook groups. You probably have more options than you think.
ebike classification 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 categories of ebikes. At least 22 states now use this three-class system, and they can place restrictions on when and where different classes of ebikes can be used, depending on whether they have a throttle or assist above 20 mph. Cities may also have laws regarding whether mountain ebikes are allowed on single-track trails. If your state classifies an ebike under the same laws that govern motorcycles and mopeds, you may need a license to ride it.
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