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 OHM Sport XS750 Plus is one of the first electric bikes I’ve tried with the new 27.5″ x 3.25″ fat tires. They strike a balance between increased cushion and surface area (great for soft terrain like sand and snow) and narrow, nimble handling. To me, they look sleek and clean compared with the chunky […]
The XU700 is one of OHM’s most popular electric bikes, it’s an urban model designed for speed, efficiency and utility. Compared to older versions, the 16 model offers a rigid stem and customized saddle… I see a lot of entry-level ebikes that are priced lower than the XU700 but don’t deliver the same ride quality […]
OHM is a Canadian electric bike company that started out around 2005. They’ve got two lines emphasizing Urban and Sport or “off road” riding. The XU700 LS is an urban series model that’s perfect for neighborhood or city riding. It’s extremely quiet, easy to operate and efficient. Compared with some of the other urban models […]
Leisger is a german electric bike company that is expanding to the US with a few models for 2015/2016 including the CD5. This is a “cruiser” style ebike with “downtube” mounted battery that’s a “5th generation” build. That’s what the CD5 stands for and it’s a fairly good overview of the bike. You get a […]
Leisger is a german electric bike company that is expanding to the US with a few models for 2015/2016 including the MD5. This is a “mountain” style ebike with “downtube” mounted battery that’s a “5th generation” build. That’s what the MD5 stands for and it’s a fairly good overview of the bike. You get a […]
The e-Trolley is a compact folding electric bike that offers great accessories, a decent drivetrain and two variations for those who are price sensitive. I reviewed the Pro model here which is ~$300 more but was also able to test the Standard and found it to be slightly less powerful, much more difficult to fold […]
Magnum electric bikes are relatively new to the US but they’ve been successful in Israel and parts of Europe for several years. The Ui5 is an “urban” model with “integrated battery” offering “5th generation” technology… It’s one of my favorite ebikes from their line because it looks great, is well suited to city riding or […]
Magnum electric bikes are relatively new to the US but they’ve been successful in Israel and parts of Europe for several years. The Mi5 is an “mountain” model with “integrated battery” offering “5th generation” technology… to call it a true mountain bike is a bit of a stretch in my mind because many of the […]
The Vela Model 1 is a crowdfunded electric bicycle that began its life in Brazil and then expanded North into America with an Indiegogo campaign. As of this review, it has not yet reached its US goal of $35k but it’s nearly half way there in only five days time. I’m told that actual production […]
Haibike offers a wide range of performance oriented electric bikes including the Fullseven RX here which is a full suspension 27.5″ model… see where they got that name from? It used to be called the FS RX or FS 27.5″ in 2014 and aside from the name, most of the bike remains unchanged (which isn’t […]
