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).
Please note, this review is for the older 2013 version of the IZIP E3 Metro that had a downtube mounted battery pack. The newest version of this bike has a removable battery pack that is located just behind the seat post tube. This is still a wonderful ebike and you may have the opportunity to […]
The ElectroGlide 1000 picks up where the earlier ElectroGlide 500 left off, adding several useful features and enhancing the quality of the frame and components. The most notable upgrades are the 500 watt motor (up from 350), upgraded 14 amp hour battery (up from 10) and the addition of pedal assist. Frame upgrades include improved […]
The ElectroGlide 500 was one of the earlier models that Hebb produced and has since been replaced by the ElectroGlide 1000. If you see this bike at your local shop, you may be able to get a lower price and for the most part it’s the same design as the new bike only with less […]
The EZ Pedaler T350 offers a great feature set at a reasonable price and manages to balance weight evenly across its frame so riding feels natural even though it weighs nearly 60lbs. It’s got three internal gears to pedal with, front and rear lights for safety, optional fenders to keep you dry, a good sized […]
The EZ Pedaler C350 delivers good performance and includes a broad range of features. It’s got three gears for pedaling, an decent sized motor, front and rear lights, optional fenders and a unique pedal assist on/off switch that lets you use the throttle power in conjunction with pedal assist. The price is in line with […]
Currie Technologies is a leader in the electric bike space with years of experience and multiple lines of varying quality ranging from eZip to IZIP and now eFlow. For the IZIP E3 Compact electric bike they chose to team with Dahon for the frame and added on their stock motor, battery pack and throttle system. […]
The iGo Urban electric bike offers a mid-mounted electric motor designed to leverage the same gears the rider does to overcome hills or reach higher speeds more efficiently. In practice, the bike meets these goals… but only just. I found that it struggled to reach higher speeds and wasn’t as satisfying to ride as a […]
The International Ecologic Systems (IES) Centaur electric bike is a classic beauty. It was state of the art in 2004 and featured a purpose built frame with Lead Acid battery pack designed right into the topbar. It features front and rear headlights, a backlight power display, fenders, shocks and a beautiful clean aesthetic that tucks […]
When comparing the VeloMini 3 Speed to it’s less expensive little brother, the 1 Speed, what do you really get? Well, for an extra $250 you get to choose from three additional colors: black, blue and red. You get three more amp hours (50% more) in the battery pack (this lets you go further), six […]
The 1 Speed VeloMini is the lightest weight folding electric bicycle I’m aware of. It’s light by any standard, even when compared with high end carbon fiber road style ebikes! This is hugely important when transporting the bike. At just 31 pounds it’s easy to lift with one hand and carry on the subway, bus […]
