For many years, electric bicycles were large, awkward, and expensive machines with short battery lives. That is gradually changing. It is not necessary to be physically fit to ride one. They bring you outside, reduce traffic, and lessen your carbon footprint. They’re also entertaining! My fellow Gear writers and I have tried practically every electric bike over the last four years, from the greatest heavy-duty cargo bikes to high-end mountain bikes. We’re continuously trying new ones, so if you are still looking for what you’re looking for, come back later.
// Here Are 12 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride
1. Most People’s Choice | Best Electric Bikes
FX+ 2 Trek
The costs on direct-to-consumer bikes are quite enticing, but if you wouldn’t send your child down a hill on a skateboard with unstable wheels, I wouldn’t recommend you do the same. If this is your first bike, I strongly advise you to go with an established manufacturer with a broad support network of linked dealers and stores, so you may test a few without having to build or repair it yourself.
Almost every major bike brand now provides an entry-level commuter electric bicycle, with the Trek FX+ 2 currently being the most reasonably priced. It is available in two versions: step-over and step-through. (I’m currently riding the step-through.) It was only 40 pounds!
2. Another Excellent Newbie Ebike | Best Electric Bikes
4 ST Cowboy
VanMoof’s bikes are frequently lauded as the finest for beginners, but we chose the Cowboy 4 ST (8/10, WIRED Recommends) for the simple reason that if an electric bike is highly reliant on an app on your phone, it should include a charger. The stem, on the other hand, features a built-in quad lock system and wireless charging. Simply purchasing a compatible phone case (a minor, if slightly inconvenient, extra expenditure) and using Google Maps to move around town is simple and painless.
3. Best Ebike Utility | Best Electric Bikes
LoadRunner RadPower Bikes
I’ve tried numerous other Rad Power Bikes models over the years, but it’s really rare to find a bike that provides more value for the money than the RadRunner. For many years, this was the bike that most people I knew bought.
Rad Power Bikes, situated in Seattle, ships directly to customers. Custom hub-motor drivetrains, a 120-pound capacity rack, and big, stable Kenda tires are featured on the bikes. Their motors are also more powerful than many of our other recommendations, at 750 watts. It serves as both a comfortable beach cruiser and a commuter bike for children. However, I must state that the company has been the subject of numerous litigation.
4. Propella 7-Speed Ebike is the most affordable option (V3.4) | Best Electric Bikes
Unless you’re already an e-bike fanatic, you’re definitely looking for something affordable, preferably under $1,000. If you want a dependable motor and a frame that won’t buckle at 15 mph, this is a difficult choice.
The best affordable bike we’ve found is Propella’s 7-speed (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It sends directly to you, which is convenient if you want to avoid going to a bike store. Propella bikes are updated every several months. We’re just alerting you that because it’s a direct-to-consumer bike, your local shop may carry it.
5. LeMond Bikes Prolog is the best choice for road racers.
Greg LeMond’s all-carbon-fiber electric bike series is undoubtedly the most popular among bike enthusiasts. Its everyday commuter is the Prolog. With its amazingly light frame, gorgeous matte paint job, and fancy-schmancy custom-designed fenders, you may mistake this for a luxury bike.
But don’t worry: it’s a functional bike. It contains robust, adaptable, and easy-to-repair components from well-known manufacturers, including a one-button Mahle drive system, a Shimano gravel-specific gearing system, and Panaracer gravel tires.
6. Best Ebike for Cargo | Best Electric Bikes
Stoker Xtracycle
On a tandem cycle, the person in the front who steers is known as the pilot, while the person in the back who merely pedals are known as the stoker. That’s where the Stoker, Xtracycle’s longtail bike, gets its name; not because the person sitting in the rear has to do any work (it’s an e-bike! ), but because the Stoker can easily carry two persons. Of course, the adult pilot can also transport a pair of wriggly youngsters, a week’s worth of groceries, overnight camping gear, or garden shop soil bags.
7. Best Ebike Cargo for Families | Best Electric Bikes
Electric Cargo Bike for the Urban Arrow Family
The R & M Load was formerly my favorite bakfiets or Dutch-style front-box cargo bicycle. However, the Urban Arrow Family (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is far less expensive and delivers many of the same features that drew me to the Load, such as comfort and maneuverability. However, because it lacks suspension, it is better suited for smoother roads.
Instead of wobbling and frightening my children as I hurriedly downshift while pedaling, I can use walk assistance to push the bike to an appropriate location, downshift while standing still, and then pedaling upward at the torque and power level of my choice.
8. Best Micro Electric Bicycle | Best Electric Bikes
Bike for Jackrabbits
I’m currently trying various micro bikes, but the Jackrabbit (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the one I’d recommend right now. It lacks pedals, so you won’t knock yourself in the chin with your knees; instead, you accelerate by adjusting a thumb throttle.
9. The Best Folding Electric Bicycle | Best Electric Bikes
M-E1 Montague
In his review (9/10, WIRED Recommends), reviews editor Julian Chokkattu termed the M-E1 “pretty darn close to perfection.” Folding bikes are ideal for apartment dwellers, although they are typically rather small. Best Electric Bikes
The Shimano mid-drive motor, a comfortable seat, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, and all the bells and whistles—integrated lights, fenders, a replaceable battery, and an easy-to-read display—make the M-E1 full-size and practically indistinguishable from a non-folding bike.
10. The Best Canyon Mountain Ebike Spectral: ON CFR | Best Electric Bikes
Canyon’s Spectral: On CFR was a hit with WIRED reviewer Stephanie Pearson (9/10, WIRED Recommends).
With a larger 29-inch front wheel and a smaller 27.5-inch back wheel on a full-carbon frame with front and rear suspension, the Spectral: On CFR is a fun ride. You can choose between a 720- and 900-watt-hour battery (the tiny frame size is only available with the 720); the 720-Wh battery provides a range of roughly 51 miles. Pearson had quick, powerful, and joyous 15- to 25-mile singletrack rides that depleted the battery. Best Electric Bikes
11. A Less Expensive Folding Electric Ebike Lectric XP 2.0 Ebikes | Best Electric Bikes
Julian Chokkattu, our intrepid Editor, also likes the original Lectric XP (7/10, WIRED Recommends). It’s not the most convenient foldable bike for apartment residents. It weighs 63 pounds and is difficult to transport up and down stairs. He also finds the folding system cumbersome, and it requires you to leave the key in the battery for it to work. However, the 500-watt rear-hub motor provides ample assistance, and the thick tires provide a comfortable ride.
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12. Best for Mobility Issues | Best Electric Bikes
S5i Tern NBD
Electric bikes are available. Even if you’re older or less fit than you used to be, you can ride an electric bike for kilometers. Tern’s newest NBD is specifically developed for persons with mobility difficulties. I’ve never seen a frame with such a low step-through. The top tube is only 15 inches off the ground, so you barely have to lift your leg to ride.
It offers a slew of low-maintenance and ergonomic features, including Tern’s maintenance-free Gates drive and internal hub motor, massive handles, large, flat foot pedals, a suspended seat, and a large, bright Bosch display with touch-sensitive controls.
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