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 Volton Alation I got to ride and review arrived at my house in a large box in 2012. I was impressed with the purpose-built frame designed to keep battery weight low and centered on the bike and the overall power of the 500 watt motor and 48 volt battery. The components all worked […]
The e-Joe Anggun would be a great rental or fleet electric bike. It’s approachable due to the step-through design but comes in black or red so it can look sleek or a bit more feminine. With only seven gears it’s easy to use and the chain won’t get loose or out of adjustment as easily […]
This review is for the 2013 and 2014 e-Joe Epik SE which had a weaker motor, smaller battery pack and in some cases only one speed. This is still a great ebike and might be sold at a discount through some retailers or used at garage sales. Visit the 2015 e-Joe Epik SE review for […]
The e-Joe Epik Lite is one of my favorite folding electric bikes. That’s because it’s very affordable, light weight (at just 37lbs), well balanced with a low center of gravity (it doesn’t use a rear rack for the battery) and offers both pedal assist and throttle mode! Even the little details are impressive on this […]
While the Easy Motion team may have misspelled the word “extreme” when naming this bike, they got pretty much everything else right. Maybe someone else trademarked the term or maybe that’s how they do things in Spain where the parent company is naming these things. BH has been building bicycles since 1909 and offers a […]
The Xtracycle EdgeRunner 27D is a 27 speed cargo bike with lots of neat options designed for hauling gear or kids. What really sets it apart is the smaller 20″ rear wheel that allows the rack to be mounted lower to the ground (making mounting or loading easier) and allowing the pedaler or motor to […]
The Stealth Bomber is the highest end, most powerful electric bike in the Stealth lineup. And it’s quite possibly the most powerful and rugged commercially available ebike anywhere. Weighing in at 116lbs it’s not the easiest thing to transport (and that includes pedaling if you run the battery all the way down). It offers so […]
The Stealth Fighter is the lighter, more nimble, less powerful model in the Stealth lineup. Weighing in at 75lbs vs. 116lbs it’s easier to transport, maneuver when riding and control in the air. It’s a ton of fun to ride and to me, more comfortable than the Bomber (when in Competition mode) because it has […]
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 […]
