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 E-Lux Tahoe is a really cool electric bike in my opinion, it’s unique in that it blends the cruiser and fat tire frame styles to create a comfortable, powerful and “go anywhere” platform. With its powerful 500 watt internally geared hub motor (that peaks out around 750 watts and offers ~40 Nm of torque) […]
The XM700+ is Trek’s speed pedelec offering, capable of reaching 28 mph top speeds. It’s perfect for commuting, touring or trekking but you’ll need to add a rear rack for the later two unless you’re a super minimalist or okay wearing a backpack. I enjoyed riding this model more than the less expensive Trek Conduit+ […]
The Conduit+ is my favorite electric bike model from Trek at the time of this review because you get lots of quality accessories, four frame size options and a solid mid-drive system working with a 10 speed Shimano Deore drivetrain all for ~$3k. Not only does it include things like fenders, a pannier rack and […]
The Lift+ is Trek’s most affordable electric bike (unless you count the Townie Go! from Electra which is also owned by Trek). The Lift Plus is significantly lighter at just ~45 pounds and I’m a huge fan of the quick release seat tube clamp, quick release wheels and adjustable angle stem! You can dial this […]
The 2016 Electra Townie Go! switched from using a SRAM hub motor and rear mounted battery pack to the Bosch Centerdrive which is better in pretty much every way. Now, it is more expensive than the 2014 and 2015 models at $2,727 and it does weigh more at ~58 lbs but you get an eight […]
The ElectroBike Seal is my least favorite model in the Electro Bike family because it’s the most expensive but doesn’t deliver the performance it could. It offers a gearless direct drive motor that’s louder than I expected (given that there are no moving parts inside) and the battery powering it is average in terms of […]
The Cross is my second favorite e-bike model from ElectroBike (at least at the time of this review) because it looks beautiful, almost like a regular bicycle, and it’s relatively cheap… like most of their products. Cheap means you aren’t breaking the bank but you also aren’t getting the same premium or even mid-grade parts. […]
While the Gama Cruise isn’t exactly a beach cruiser with cantilever frame design and a large cushy saddle, it does offer the same relaxed upright body position and comfort thanks to swept back handle bars, a suspension fork and seat post shock. The frame is available in one small/medium build that’s easy to step over […]
The ElectroBike Light is a streamlined city bike with a basic geared hub motor and average sized bottle style battery pack. At first glance it appears similar to a kit you could install yourself like the EBO Commuter Kit but there are actually a handful of great upgrades here including a two speed Kick Back […]
The Magnos State of the Art Folding Electric Bike (or just Magnos) is truly impressive and probably my favorite model in the ElectroBike line. That’s because it delivers above average performance, includes great accessories like fenders, racks and integrated lights and is built around cast wheels vs. using spokes. All this for ~$1,300 and you […]
