Unbiased, In-Depth Analysis of the Best Electric Bikes
Electric bikes or ebikes combine human power from pedaling with electronic power from a hub motor, mid drive, or friction drive powered by a battery pack. They come in all shapes and sizes, including trikes, tandems, folding, cargo, and more. A traditional analog bicycle can usually be converted to electric through the use of kits. Ebikes fall into three classes including Class 1 pedal assist only up to a set speed (usually 25kmh or 32kmh), Class 2 throttle only or throttle with pedal assist up to a set speed (usually 25kmh or 32kmh), and high speed Class 3 up to a set level (usually 45kmh 28mph).
This review is for the 2015 Sahel Compact i8 from Kalkhoff. It’s fairly similar to the 2014 version but offers a more sophisticated LED display panel with multiple readouts and comes in white and black. The Kalkhoff Sahel Compact Impulse 8 is a fun, high quality compact electric bike that fits short and tall alike… […]
The XDURO Trekking line from Haibike offers a sporty but comfortable platform to commute or tour with. Both the Pro and RX models for 2015 come stock with full length fenders, a solid rear rack and integrated LED lights but the Pro offers nicer suspension, an upgraded chain, pedals and brakes. It also foregoes the […]
Blix introduced an improved Komfort+ model in 2016 with fenders, front and rear lights and an LCD display panel stock. It costs the same amount of money but weighs slightly more due to the accessories. To see that model and read the updated review click here. The Blix Komfort+ is an elegant city cruiser that’s […]
Mando is a global automotive parts manufacturer in South Korea which has been making ABS, ESP, ECS and EPS since 1962… I’m not sure what all of those acronyms mean, besides “anti lock braking system” but that’s besides the point here. These guys have experience and are large enough to experiment and enter new fields. […]
The EVO 27.5 is one of my favorite electric bike models from Easy Motion for 2015 because it’s versatile, beautiful and fairly affordable. It’s modest 350 watt hub motor can actually produce 548 watts of peak output for those steep sections of trail but isn’t as heavy as a larger offering and manages to blend […]
Hi-Power Cycles is known for building custom electric bike solutions that push the limits on power and speed. They all ship street-legal with 750 motor watt output and top speed of 20 mph. From here, the user can increase speed and power by increasing the voltage and amp settings using onboard controls. Even the Freedom, […]
The BM-Shadow is the most affordable offering from BMEBIKES, an electric bike company based in North Los Angeles that’s dedicated to off-road electric bikes. Their slogan is “electric mountain bike specialists” but to me, the Shadow is more of a trail bike because it uses the standard (larger) size front chainring that comes stock with […]
The Enterprise was the first electric bike model offered by EG in North America starting in 2008. While production of this model has slowed nearing 2015, it’s still one of the most affordable trail-ready ebikes I’ve seen retailing for ~$900. The suspension fork is very basic, lacking much adjustability or lockout, but the knobby tires […]
For that probably-very limited subset of downhill mountain bike riders that are interested in electric bikes, the Haibike XDURO Nduro RX is a dream come true. This is an electric bike that is quite capable of powering you up mountains and then delivering pro-level performance on the way down. The motor and battery weight are […]
UPDATE! It appears that Polaris is no longer working with the manufacturer who designed and built these electric bikes, but that company is now selling their own line as PIM (Power in Motion) and you can connect with them through their official website at www.pimbicycles.com to possibly get replacement batteries, chargers, and other hardware. The […]
