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).
The first time I saw the Grace Easy was at Interbike 2012 along with several other Grace electric bikes including the Grace One. They come across as being very engineer-driven because the frames, lights, batteries and drive systems are so well integrated. The Grace Easy for example, uses the BionX system but features a very […]
Outrider recumbent electric trikes are known for being fast, high quality, powerful and expensive. This is not an entry level product at all, it’s trickier to transport due to its size and weight (over 100 pounds) and uses an advanced battery pack that requires a load balancer to maintain. The 422 Alpha is Outrider’s top […]
The Motiv Shadow is designed for pedaling and offers plenty of speed and efficiency with its narrower tires and 700c aero rims. However, it’s not exactly a road bike considering the softer seat, semi-upright seating position and rack and fender mounts. I’d call it a comfort urban commuter electric bike with great style. Like the […]
The Mundo has been a popular cargo bike for many years and Yuba is known for their wide range of accessories. They innovate quickly and get new products and features to market before competitors like Xtracycle but this has caused a few issues. The El Mundo stands for “electric” Mundo and this was the first […]
The Motiv Spark is a classic cruiser style electric bike designed for relaxed, comfortable rides. I’ve always appreciated the more upright position this style of bike offers but pedaling isn’t always a joy. They tend to be heavier and lack gear range for climbing but the Spark only shines in these areas. It’s relatively light […]
The Motiv Sleek is a step-through cruiser with a smaller frame size that’s comfortable to ride and available in a myriad of color choices with custom frame, rim, tire and seat color choices. An ultra-powerful 500 watt geared rear hub motor offers plenty of power with enough torque to climb moderate hills. The battery pack […]
eProdigy is an electric bike company based in Vancouver BC, Canada. It’s a joint venture between a motor and battery manufacturer that began in 2008 under the name EPIK Bikes but changed to eProdigy in 2013. The Logan is their top of the line offering that uses a proprietary mid-drive system to leverage the rear […]
This review is for the 2014 eProdigy Whistler, the company has since improved the motor design and updated components on the bike. The 2016 model offers a 500 watt mid-drive and a 48 volt 11.6 am hour battery! To learn more about this model and read my latest review go here. eProdigy is an electric […]
The Electra Townie Go! is based on the popular Electra Townie frame set and was introduced in 2013 with several updates for the 2014 model. It offers two pedal speeds that automatically shift based on pedal cadence. The gears are built right into the rear hub motor which offers 250 watts of power and the […]
OHM is known for producing high quality bikes that look beautiful and are simple to use. The XU450 leverages the SRAM EMATIC drive system (motor, battery and controller) that do a good job but offer a bit less power than some other kits. While all of the weight from this system is positioned towards the […]
