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).
This review is getting posted a little late because we’re at the end of 2016 (and it’s a 2016 year model) but it was my first chance to see and test ride the Scott electric bikes. I visited Propel Bikes in Brooklyn New York to see it and the owner, Chris, and I rode around […]
The Sun Seeker Eco Delta is one of the more affordable recumbent electric trikes I’ve tested. It doesn’t offer quite as much power as some of the other conversions built by Electric Bike Technologies but their choices were smart… By that I mean, they went with a geared hub motor for more zip given the […]
Honestly, the first time I saw the Cannondale Mavaro Performance electric bike I didn’t feel or think a lot. It just looked like a regular bike with a nice cargo rack on the back… and that’s the beauty here, this is a mainstream electric bicycle from a company that many people in the United States […]
Biria produces some beautiful, mostly city oriented, bicycles with classic styling and fun colors. One of the most unique frames I’ve seen from them is the Easy Boarding deep step-thru. It’s pretty clear just looking at this bike that it’s easy to board… very comfortable to mount, stand over and control at stop signs or […]
The eProdigy Fairweather is a light weight folding electric bike that has been purpose-built for balance, simplicity and efficiency. Many of the other, less expensive, folding e-bikes use hub motors but this one offers a custom mid-drive that balances weight and improves climbing power. The Fairweather can be operated with both pedal assist and throttle […]
Bulls introduced several speed pedelec electric bikes for 2017 and the SIX50 E2 Street is a value priced model that was customized just for the US market. Now I said value there, not cheap… but you get a lot for your money. A very similar ebike model is available in Europe but it’s not capable […]
The Personal Activity Vehicle 3 (PAV3) from Worksman Cycles is a tricycle designed for full sized adults and those looking for comfort and cargo hauling ability. I visited Electric Bike Technologies in Croydon Pennsylvania to check out their electrified version of the Stretch trike which uses a 500 watt gearless hub motor and 48 volt […]
The Stromer ST1 X is really a stripped down ST2… it’s built around the same frame, a very similar motor and uses the exact same battery, albeit lower capacity. For a price, you can upgrade the capacity to match either the ST2 or ST2 S which might be useful for distance commuters or people who […]
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 […]
