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 Specialized Turbo is the most affordable model in the Specialized electric bicycle lineup (as of 2015 when this review was published) which also includes the Turbo X and Turbo S. With the standard Turbo you get a beautiful purpose built frame in one of four sizes, a powerful but silent gearless rear hub motor […]
The Evo Street is part of Easy Motion’s “Urban” lineup offering dynamo powered lights, full length fenders and a rear rack with built in bungee cords. It’s a great platform for commuting and priced at ~$3k you really get a lot of bang for your buck. I see it as an upgrade for the Evo […]
For 2015, Pedego improved its Classic Interceptor model in several key ways. The LCD display panel and button pad were combined into one main interface to create a cleaner cockpit, a second frame size dubbed the “Miniceptor” with smaller 24″ wheels was added and an optional magnesium wheelset was introduced for managing heavier loads (up […]
The EG Barcelona offers a lot for ~$1,000 but you still basically get what you pay for. The aluminum alloy frame comes in two colors (white or brown) but just one size, which I’d call small/medium. It felt a little tight for me (I’m ~5’9″) but I loved the mid-step layout which makes mounting and […]
Energie Cycles launched in the US around 2013, it’s an ebike line created by a battery manufacturer based out of Las Vegas. This company makes batteries for electric fork lifts and other large machines but has been able to leverage this expertise to fit a lot of high quality cells into traditionally sized packs (read […]
The 2015 Pedego Trail Tracker builds on the original Trail Tracker design which was launched in 2013. It was one of the very first electric powered fat bikes that I saw in the US and it offered the same power, quality build and customer support that Pedego has built its reputation on. The downside was […]
The City Commuter has long been a favorite ebike model for me, especially from the Pedego lineup. It’s comfortable but more active than some of the cruisers they sell with a shorter handlebar and lighter frame. In recent years they’ve improved the way the throttle works (letting you override pedal assist) and introduced a smaller […]
The Haibike AMT RX is an “all mountain” full suspension electric bike with Bosch drive systems that are capable of powerful ascents and impressive range. It’s a step up from the Haibike FSRX which also offers full suspension but doesn’t include the CTD (climb, trail, descend) adjust from Fox, opting instead for a simple remote […]
This is the review for the 2015 E3 Sumo, in 2016 an updated model arrived with sturdy thru-axles, an optional $50 boost mode that acts like a throttle and a slightly altered paint job… it also costs a lot less! Check it out in the full review here. The E3 Sumo is one of the […]
The Turbo X is my favorite model so far in the Specialized Electric Bike lineup because it costs less than the original Turbo, rides super smooth thanks to the RockShox Paragon fork (with lockout) and looks mean in all-black matte finish (including the fork). Since late 2012 when Specialized introduced the first mainstream speed-pedelec to […]
