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 Focus Jarifa Fat is remarkable in how customizable its electric drive system is. Very few mainstream purpose built ebikes like this let you change the top speed, alter how responsive pedal assist is or extend how long the drivetrain carries on as you reduce pedal torque. These are interesting, useful features and they’re all […]
Haibike has always impressed me with their diverse range of high performance electric bike styles… They are a leader in the emountain bike space but also offer touring and road models now like the Urban S RX shown here. The first XDURO Urban model I saw and reviewed was a 2015 model that could only […]
One of the greatest aspects of electric bicycles is that they empower people, some of whom might struggle with manual pedaling, to get back outside and ride. It helps them keep up with friends, go further and carry more gear. Adult tricycles are a natural good fit with motorized technology because in my opinion, they […]
Specialized introduced their first electric bike internationally back in 2012, it was a road-only model that turned heads because it was beautiful looking and super quiet. In 2016 they wowed ebike enthusiasts again with their first mountain models in the US including this hardtail called the Turbo Levo Comp 6Fattie. At $4,000 it isn’t the […]
The Lacuba Evo E8 is like an “everything electric bike” because it comes in five sizes, three different frame styles, has fenders, a rack, suspension fork, integrated lights, a large battery and an efficient mid-drive motor. I guess it’s not well suited to trails and mountain biking… but the motor used here, from Brose, is […]
I’ve been reviewing electric bikes now for several years and I got into it because my knee is a bit sensitive. I wanted to commute to work in Austin, Texas but struggled with pain towards the end of the week as I had several hills along the way. So, with a little Internet searching I […]
PUBLIC is a bicycle company that sells beautiful, classically designed bicycles mostly online. I was lucky enough to visit one of their storefronts in Santa Monica California where the M8 Electric was on display and take a test ride. I’m very familiar with the BionX ebike systems used on this bike and came away impressed […]
The eProdigy Banff is one of the most stylish electric bicycles I’ve ever reviewed… This is the second time I’ve gotten to ride it, the first time was a couple years back and the system wasn’t quite as refined or powerful as it has become. In addition to the colorful paint options, fun wicker baskets […]
The RadMini combines two bicycle concepts that at first seem a bit opposite but ultimately pair well… Namely, a “go anywhere” fat tire bike and the “take anywhere” folding bike. What you end up with is an electric bicycle that shorter riders can enjoy more comfortably, a fat bike that’s truly sand and snow capable […]
Plus sized tires are becoming increasingly popular for electric bikes. That’s because they improve comfort a bit, increase your contact patch size resulting in better traction and they disperse some of the added weight that a motor and battery produce on the frame. I suppose they would have become popular more quickly with traditional pedal-powered […]
