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 Electric Bike Company has been around in one form or another since 2012 when they launched as Madiba Electric Bikes (that’s Nelson Mandella’s nickname btw) then updated to Newport Electric Bikes (since they’re based in Newport California) and finally settled on the Electric Bike Company. The models I reviewed here were originally called the […]
The Riese & Müller Packster combines comfort with utility so you can haul large loads (or children) without the vibration and discomfort that some other e-cargo bikes are known for. It comes stock with an alloy frame only, no wooden deck planks or front box. There are several options to customize the front area but […]
Yuba is a leader in the two-wheeled cargo bike space, and one of the first mainstream companies in the US that I saw experimenting with electric drive systems. It makes perfect sense because a fully loaded cargo bike can be quite heavy with groceries, lumber, children or even a second passenger! The Spicy Curry was […]
The 2017 IZIP E3 Sumo is a complete upgrade from prior year models. Instead of using the mid-tier TranzX motor system, IZIP has opted for the top-tier Bosch Performance Line CX motor system. This thing offers 75 Newton meters of peak torque output, shift-sensing and shift recommendation, as well as a compact design. Electric bike […]
The D8 is a diamond frame (high-step), eight-speed, European-inspired city ebike made by Public. I got to study and test ride it at an exclusive retail outlet in Santa Monica California for this review… and in the process, learned a little bit about the founder. Rob Forbes launched and sold a furniture company called Design […]
On May 18, 2017 I was invited to a Specialized press event in Palo Alto California where the new Turbo Vado 6.0 was shown off. Before this event, I had created a placeholder review here as a way to study because Specialized had posted details about the new models on their website. Unfortunately, many of […]
On May 18, 2017 I was invited to a Specialized press event in Palo Alto California where the new Turbo Vado 6.0 was shown off. Before this event, I had created a placeholder review here as a way to study because Specialized had posted details about the new models on their website. Unfortunately, many of […]
The Raleigh Superbe iE is a bicycle first, with just a dash of electric. And that’s not to say it isn’t powerful or effective… just that the drive system doesn’t get in your way or change the appearance much. This is a beautiful, vintage-styled electric bicycle harkening back to Raleigh’s long, rich history of bicycle […]
The Bulls SIX50+ E FS 3 is a fun all-mountain ebike with Bosch CX drive system. It’s fun, because it can go almost anywhere with longer travel 150 mm suspension from RockShox and plus sized 2.8″ tires from Schwalbe. As a Class 1 electric bike with 20 mph top assisted speed, it would be allowed […]
If you’re looking for an electric bicycle that’s outfitted for urban commuting but tough enough to ride on packed trails occasionally, that can be optimized for high-torque to move heavy loads and climb or high-speed to get you to the office quicker, the Riese & Müller Charger Mixte models might be just the thing. It’s […]
