Other Ebikes We Like
Bike Friday All Day for $5,600: Bike Friday is irresistibly billing the tiny All-Day (7/10, Review via WIRED) as the world’s lightest Bosch-powered bike, and it’s true. You can customize all the colors and parts of this folding electric bike, and it has a surprisingly powerful motor for its size. The Brompton above is widely available and easy to use, but I really like this little bike.
Radio Flyer Via Pro for $2,900: Editor Julian Chokkattu couldn’t have had a better idea than this easy-to-use and easy-to-assemble electric cargo bike. For more information, check out our Best Electric Cargo Bikes guide.
The $1,799 GoTrax Mustang: We liked the Mustang, which is a surprisingly powerful little bike at the right price. However, it only comes in one size so you should try it on if you can before you buy it.
Aventon Level 3 for $1,899: The Aventon Level 3 is an easy commuting bike with a clean, step-through design and all the features you’d want in a regular-sized ebike for riding around town. There are built-in fenders and lights, and a large color display shows you how much range you have left up to 70 miles of advertised range. I rode it about 25 miles at a time with my heavy 6’2″ frame, easily finishing my ride with 20 percent of the battery left. The frame feels comfortable and sturdy, thanks to the double-wall construction and the improved Shimano gears and brakes. The front suspension fork and slightly hidden suspension seat add to the comfort compared to other bikes like this Aveton app allows you to set things like locking remote and geofencing, so you can keep an eye on your expensive bike from afar Built-in turn signals, which use the bike’s rear lights, are another bonus when riding in cities at night. – Parker Hall
Tenways CGO800S for $1,799: This is a budget step up from the city ebike. It boasts a battery life of up to 50 miles, and I got over 30. The torque sensor is smooth and responsive to movement at various speeds. However, there is no wobble, and because this bike is designed to fit riders of a large size range (say 5’1” to 6’3”), the frame was not as comfortable for me to pedal (5’11”) as the larger size bikes. – Martin Cizmar
Aventon Ramblas for $2,899: Aventon made a mountain bike! It’s a lot of bike at an affordable price, but it’s too heavy to take out of its intended use. It makes a good rider, though.
Linus in Dutch for $1,799: Need a comfortable cruiser? Linus e Dutchi is a comfortable class 1 ebike with beautiful colors and a lot of proprietary accessories.
Electra Loft Go! for $960: I also love the Electra Loft Go! (7/10, WIRED Recommends), another comfortable sit-up beach cruiser, but the Priority has a slightly more powerful engine for the same price.
Xtracycle Stoker for $4,499: This is probably the bike I see the most in my hometown of Portland, Oregon. It has a strong, Chromoly steel frame and large 24-inch wheels, and a Shimano mid-drive motor that makes it perfect for demanding conditions. Unfortunately, you have to be over 5’6″ (which I’m not) to ride it.
Gazelle Eclipse for $6,399: If you want to know how big a Bosch system can be, the Eclipse (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the more expensive version of the road Radster above. It has a nice shifter, a smart engine – even the paint job is great. It’s just too expensive.
Gocycle G4I+ for $5,999: Gocycle’s state-of-the-art, fast folding bikes are designed by a former McLaren engineer. This quieter, lighter iteration has better torque, a new carbon-fiber front fork, and an even more aggressive price.
Bunch Original Electric Cargo Bike for $6,499: I didn’t care for Bunch (5/10, WIRED Review), but my family did. It’s a standard, if a little expensive, bike like you might see in Europe. It will work well if you live on a flat surface and don’t need to move very fast.
We don’t like bikes
Pass to the left.
Retrospec Jax Rev for $1,100: We wanted to love this compact folding bike, but we couldn’t help but worry about its durability.
Niu Electric Bike BQi-C3 Pro for $999: Commercial director Martin Cizmar tested the bike and had a lot of complaints. The riding position is very aggressive, and the bike frame does not fit common items like a water bottle and his pannier. The disc brakes weren’t supposed to stop it from 28 mph.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Does WIRED Find Ebikes?
Bike companies reach out to me, and I ask them to test my size. Once I’m done testing, I return the bikes to the manufacturer, the shop that assembled them, or donate them to non-profit organizations.
How Do You Protect Your Ebike?
Many ebikes have removable batteries, displays, or built-in wheel locks that make securing your bike much easier. Some bikes, like the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2, are also compatible with Apple Find My. Check out our Ebike Locks guide for more options.
Should I Build My Own Bike?
Most affordable bikes now come direct to the consumer—meaning they’re pre-tuned or lightly assembled out of the box. As Peter Flax recently commented on Cycling these bikes don’t get nearly the testing or testing that bikes from a major manufacturer get. Unless you don’t ride a lot or do a lot of miles, or you have experience fixing your bike, I recommend working with an established manufacturer with a dealer network.
Where Do You Live?
If you live on a flat surface, you are probably fine with a 250-watt motor, which is the European speed limit. However, if you live near hills or tow a lot, you might want to consider a 500-watt or 750-watt motor and a few extras, like hydraulic disc brakes, to help keep you from skidding in traffic.
How Do I Prevent Bike Fires?
The idea of a sudden garage fire is scary, but don’t worry—the batteries used by manufacturers today are much safer than those of the past. We only write about bikes that have been certified safe by a third party organization. Also, use a little common sense. Don’t leave your bike battery charging overnight in a hot, boiling garage. Do not use aftermarket accessories to charge your bike. And don’t plug in a damaged or strange-smelling battery, or try to open the bike with a cracked display or computer.
Follow Some Basic Safety Tips
Not sure where to start? The bicycle advocacy group PeopleForBikes has a safety education program, E-Bike Smart, that it created in partnership with the League of American Bicyclists and Bicycle Colorado. Do not let your children ride your bike unsupervised. An 80-pound child should not be riding a 65-pound bike, even if the engine makes it possible for him to do so. And always wear a hat, but you already know that. OK?
Over the past few years, the WIRED Review team has tried just about every type of electric bike, from lightweight travel bikes to mountain bikes. We review more than 50 new ebikes a year by riding them on varying terrain for at least 40 miles over a minimum of two weeks. We test cargo bikes by hauling kids and groceries, ride mountain bikes and gravel roads, and test commuter bikes while doing some errands on regular urban roads (including going up and down hills). In addition to our actual testing, we also check factors such as weight, tire size, battery life, vehicle power, and availability of key components.
Whenever I talk to anyone about a potential ebike purchase, the biggest deterrent is usually the price. If this is you, check out our guide to the Best Cheap Ebikes. But I want to say here that these are cars, not toys. When I’m carrying my kids to school or flying down a hill at 25 mph, I want a very safe ride, and I think you should too.
Here are some reasonable options for auto financing only the reason a $2,000 electric bike can feel expensive while a $6,000 gas car has easy monthly payments. Many states now introduce incentive programs that offer rebates or tax credits for purchasing ebikes. Some bike manufacturers and retailers offer financing through companies like Affirm or PayPal. Your bank may cover ebikes under their auto loan program, and I also recommend checking your local eBay, Craigslist, or local Facebook groups. You probably have more options than you think.
Ebike Categories and Rules
Before buying your electric bike, make sure you can actually use it! Many cities and states have laws governing when and where you can ride a bike. Check out our guide to the three categories of ebikes. At least 22 states now use this three-tier system, and they can limit when and where different classes of ebikes can be used, depending on whether they have a throttle or can assist above 20 mph. Cities may also have rules about whether mountain ebikes are allowed on single track trails. If your country classifies ebikes under the same laws that govern motorcycles and mopeds, you may need a license to ride one.
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