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 Giant Full-E+ 1 really impressed me. This is a full suspension electric bike from one of the “Big Three” including Giant, Trek and Specialized. They’ve got dealers all across the USA and have actually been producing electric bikes in Europe for a while so the technology is refined. At $5,300 this product is outfitted […]
One of my first mountain bikes was a Scott and it appealed to me due to style and use of the latest suspension technology. In recent years, the company has entered the ebike space and has an impressive line of products in Europe with a few making their way to the US in 2016. I […]
The Corratec LIFEBIKE presents itself almost like a medical device… a product that can improve heart rate, flexibility and even address obesity in a safe and fun way. And in my opinion, yes, it and other electric bicycle products do offer these benefits if used properly. You still get a workout with pedal-assist (you have […]
Riese & Müller is a special company… germinated in the late 80’s by a pair of mechanical engineering students in Germany studying at Darmstadt, these guys just wanted to keep their ears warm (inventing a pair of helmet-compatible ear muffs called Hot Ears). Soon after, in 1992 they developed a full suspension folding bicycle called […]
EG builds electric bicycles that tend to be lower priced while maintaining a comfortable, solid experience. The Oahu 500 EX is their high-step cruiser model and I saw a number of improvements over the prior build including a more compact battery with slightly higher capacity battery and repositioned kickstand for improved stability. It’s a heavy […]
The Magnum Classic is one of my favorite folding electric bikes because it delivers so many features at such a reasonable price. Not all of those features are perfect, the independent lights for example, require you to swap AA batteries out occasionally and can be accidentally left-on to drain while you’re in class or at […]
Electric trikes make a lot of sense… here’s a platform that is stable and approachable (for riders with limited strength or mobility) but heavy and usually limited in terms of pedal ergonomics and gear options. Getting a little boost from an electric motor means that tricycles become more approachable and fun, hills are less daunting […]
Royal Dutch Gazelle is a practically legendary, highly trusted, bicycle company from the Netherlands dating back to 1892. They design, test and build their bikes with passion and attention to detail. There’s a lot of fun history that I’m learning about the company with each of these visits to shops and their US headquarters in […]
The Walleräng M.01 is a “modular” electric bike platform that combines sport with transport. It’s capable of acting as a light-weight cargo ebike with the dual rack system and I appreciate the way the front rack does not turn as you steer the bike. It starts out as a small out of the way platform […]
While traveling through Southern California I visited Fullerton Bicycles and met Trevor, the owner of the Quick-E+ electric bike you see here. He’s a 128 lb road biker who loves distance rides on the weekend but also commutes ~35 miles daily to his job. Trevor bought this bike to use as a recovery tool and […]
