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).
Bulls offers an extensive line of electric mountain bikes and the E-Stream EVO FS 2 27.5 Plus is their cross country model with 120 mm air suspension from SR Suntour. Actually, to me this is something of a cross country / trail hybrid because I’m used to seeing 80 to 100 mm travel for pure […]
The CX E8D is Oyama’s first folding electric bike to reach America and it gets several important things right. The bike feels sturdy with a firm folding stem, thick 13 gauge spokes, and rigid Steel fork. It’s efficient and compliant, zipping forward energetically as you pedal in of three assist levels. And even without assist, […]
KTM is an Austrian motorcycle and sports car manufacturer with roots dating back to the 1930’s and a more formal partnership forming in 1954 between Ernst Kronreif and Trunkenpolz Mattighofen. What began as a car repair shop eventually transitioned into a motorcycle manufacturing operation after some struggle post WWII. The company gained widespread recognition with […]
The original 2013 Easy Motion Neo Cross was one of the first purpose-built electric bicycles I ever reviewed… and in 2017, the Easy Motion Evo Cross+ has maintained a lot of what made that bike unique and desirable, it was one of the best selling ebikes of the time. Notice how the battery pack is […]
The ProTour is one of IZIP’s most exciting electric bikes, at least to me. It offers high-speed 28 mph pedal assisted rides, feature-complete accessories like fenders, a rear rack, and integrated lights, and now it runs off of your Android or iOS smartphone device because it comes stock with the Cobi system. If you don’t […]
The Orbea Katu-E 10 is an urban compact electric bike with some unique and well-designed cargo hauling capabilities. Just like many other compact models out there, you get improved strength, lower standover height, and low-stable weight distribution from the small 20″ wheels. A bit of comfort is traded for stiffness because it doesn’t have a […]
When you want the steady feel of a non-folding bicycle but don’t have a lot of space for storage, compact bikes offer a good compromise. The Tinker is an electric assist compact bike from the famed German brand Riese & Müller with some unique folding properties that set it apart in the space. It offers […]
In the world of electric bicycles, most models are full sized high-step or step-thru. They tend to be stiff, smooth-rolling, and affordable because they’re the standard and production volume is high (creating economies of scale). In recent years, some companies have introduced folding models to target boaters, RVers, and even private plane owners… but these […]
It seems like 2017 is the year for Bosch powered electric bikes with neatly integrated downtube batteries… Prior to this year, most models from Felt, Haibike, Bulls, and others had the Powerpack 400 positioned on top of the downtube. This didn’t look great, took up the open triangle space for accessory mounts and lifting, limited […]
Trek is following in the footsteps of other premium high-speed electric assist manufacturers like Stromer and Specialized with their new Super Commuter+ 8S. It’s a well balanced, stiff, and stable e-bike available in eye-catching Viper Red with black accents… including the Bosch battery and motor hardware. It just looks great, and the attention to detail […]
