The speed will vary from 15-20 mph depending on which country you buy the bike in, but the performance is only part of the equation. They typically dont allow for the same natural maneuverability as todays increasingly more common mid-drive motors because their weight is concentrated at the front or rear of the bike. Either way, youre not in Kansas anymore. It just means that the bikes designers took into consideration where they could include lower-level parts without sacrificing safety while putting the money where it counts mosthydraulic disc brakes, decent tires, and a reliable e-system. In addition, the bike includes other premium components such as hydraulic disc brakes, an oil suspension fork, built in LED lights, included fenders, a strong rear rack and an easy-to-read LCD display. Theres disc brakes (on the 7-speed) or rim brakes (on the singlespeed) and an integrated light. Even when it falls just north of the $1k mark, the Roadster V2 is an awesome deal. I love the bright blue rims, white chain, and slim black frame. To make these reviews as helpful as possible, we focused on lower-priced options from brands like Aventon, Rad Power Bikes, and others that you can purchase directly online. Flying fast at 28 mph (45 km/h) is a blast, and doing it on a smooth-riding e-bike with Pirelli tires is even better.

However, theres also a front suspension version on the XC model that is outfitted for trail-style riding. Theres no throttle and the motor is only moderately powerful, peaking at 500W. But youre not just paying for the H-D name on the side. Unlike the Model X, this one is sleeker, with an integrated battery. The battery is hidden in the bikes frame, a surprising feature compared to the bolt-on vibe of many bikes in this price range. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. Check out our full review of the Tern GSD here. Its a throttle-enabled Class 2 folding electric bike with 20 wheels, a max speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) and a motor rated for 300W continuous and 720W peak. The e-bike features a high-quality mid-drive motor, hydraulic disc brakes, Gates carbon belt drive, and an eight-speed internally geared hub. We use the term cheap electric bikes here to describe their price relative to the more expensive electric bikes you can find in bike shops and some online retailers. This affordable single-speed model from Aventon delivers simplicity and style that is tough to beat. See my full review of the Specialized Turbo Como SL here. When it comes to ultra premium folding electric bikes, theres only one name that comes to my mind: GoCycle. Lastly, VanMoof employs some awesome anti-theft features, such as a built-in kick lock and find my iPhone integration from Apple to help locate the e-bike if it goes missing. I love the $3,299 Priority Current electric bike so much that it has become one of my daily riders. Power: 500W | Weight: 58 lb. Power: 350W | Weight: 46 lb. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. | Top speed: 20 mph. If you want to upgrade to more power and a nicer set of components, the $1,695 700 Series is worth a look. There are multiple versions that can take you up to nearly $10k, but even the lower-tier versions are not low tier, if you know what I mean. The bike also comes as a 7-speed geared option, but we like the easy maintenance and convenience of this one-speeder. The recently-unveiled Lectric XP LITE is likely the latest king of bang-for-your-buck electric bikes. The second seat has a quick release so you can easily pop it on and off the bike whenever you need to swap back and forth between carrying your friends or a basket full of groceries home. You wont find giant tires or suspension or huge motors. Both are balanced nicely to offer good performance while keeping the price and weight low. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. The dot matrix display is considered odd by some, by others prize its minimalism. Technically the Rad Rover 6 Plus is priced at $1,999. These bikes may cost less, but our testing and research shows them to be very reliable for everyday commuting and riding. Its a perfect commuter e-bike for someone that wants high quality parts like that German mid-drive motor, 9-speed Shimano transmission, hydraulic disc brakes, bright LED lights, built in fenders, rear rack, and a very comfortable saddle. How we test gear. Second, many newcomers to the e-bike industry just arent prepared to drop several thousand dollars on a brand new concept, making this price range critical for many first time e-bike shoppers. This may not be a low-cost e-bike, but it definitely offers a ride that makes it worth it. | Top speed: 20 mph. The FREY EX Pro not only features high-end parts like a RockShox Lyric fork and Magura MT5e hydraulic brakes, but it even comes with dual batteries so you can ride farther and stay on the trails longer. The CSC FT1000MD sounds like a motorcycle name because it comes from a company with motorcycle heritage. Basically, theres a lot to like here. The $1,999 Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 is one of my favorite options thanks to the awesome build and wide range of compatible Rad accessories. The Schwalbe Fat Frank tires and steel frame and fork combine to deliver a smooth ride, and the comfortable saddle and retro handlebar beckon you to relax and let the e-assist do most of the work.

Theres something for everyone. Power: 250W | Weight: 55.8 lb. There are many people that use these instead of buying a second car. The bike is also outfitted with fenders, a rear rack capable of carrying 55 pounds (almost the weight of the bike itself), and fully integrated front and rear lights, making this machine a more-than-capable city commuter. For more of a cruiser/city e-bike experience, the $4,800 Specialized Turbo Como SL is a great option. The $2,199 Juiced Scorpion X has all the old-school charm of a vintage moped, but it adds back in a powerful electric drivetrain. Dont expect to ride across the state on these, either.

The bench seat allows riders to scoot forward or backward to find the best seating position, and the tall bars give a fun cruiser/motorcycle feel to the bike. See my full review of the Propella Mini here. It more or less feels like an electric bike based on its ride geometry. Its not going to be the strongest hill climber, but it does get going quickly on flat and modestly hilly terrain. The $999 JackRabbit is in one of these fuzzy areas between e-bikes and other e-rideables. In this case, it straddles the line between an electric bike and an electric scooter. I know several people that keep one in their RV, and Ive even heard of folks traveling with it on their boat or light airplane.

You just couldnt stop, could you? The real treat though is getting to select the custom paint on every surface of the bike, plus your own rim colors, trim colors, and tire options. But they can cost three or four times the models here. And Juiced offers a larger battery than most competitors, letting you ride this moto-styled e-bike even further. Our team of experienced testers spent many hours and miles using most these bikes for their intended purposes. But for anyone that doesnt mind pedaling as long as you get a decent electric boost, the Propella Mini is a great option for you. High quality parts like hydraulic disc brakes complete the package, and the included fenders and rear rack increase the bikes value. One of the most affordable e-bikes right now is Rad Powers RadMission, a city bike with commuter potential. All the other budget e-bikes under $800 use a 36V system and thus suffer from weaker power. Power: 350W | Weight: 35 lb. Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast. So if youre looking for a higher quality e-bike that doesnt cost as much as a fancy bike shop e-bike, this is the one to consider. The two removable batteries built into special cutouts in the frame offer long range riding without looking like a packhorse carrying massive batteries. The biggest benefit of the JackRabbit is that it is so simple that the lack of frills keeps the weight down to just 23 lb (10.5 kg)! The Lectric XPremium packs in so much value at its $1,799 price that it is borderline unbelievable. Here at Electrek, we have spent endless hours undertaking detailed hands-on testing of hundreds of electric bikes. CSC Ebikes was born out of CSC Motorcycles, a company with several decades of two-wheeler experience. And while many non-assist bikes are hard to find due to kinks (or outright breaks) in the global supply-chain, many of the affordable e-bikes sold by consumer-direct brands are still available online and can be shipped to your door in a week or less. It does give up lights, a rack, fenders, gears, and disc brakes to hit both its price point and weight, and the range is shorter than other more expensive options. Check out my detailed first ride experience on the Tern HSD here. The RadRunner is truly one of those do-anything e-bikes because it has so many uses. The 800W motor is paired with a 7-speed drivetrain and offers speeds of up to 28 mph (45 km/h). But taking it one step further, Tern outfitted it with its innovative rack that lets you park the bike on its tail, meaning it takes up barely more space than a coat rack in the corner of a room. In contrast, a mid-drive motors weight is low and centered over the bottom bracket, resulting in better control and a more balanced ride feel, much like a traditional bike. They also brought in the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle engineers to build the custom battery, so its top of the line too. Plus its got double batteries to feed those two power-hungry motors, so youll be able to ride this e-bike pretty darn far too, as long as you arent too demanding from the throttle. (large/extra-large) | Top speed: 20 mph. The only downside is that the bike is quite heavy at 36 kg (79 lb). The small 158 Wh battery only offers around 10-12 miles (approximately 16-20 km) of range, but is also conveniently small enough to easily keep a spare battery in a cargo pocket or even a small purse. See my full review of the JackRabbit here. Check out my full review of the GoCycle G4i+ here. Electric Bike Company is one of the only e-bike manufacturers that actually builds its electric bikes in the US from the ground up. In addition to the awesome bike design, the built-in tech is what really opens peoples eyes. I my opinion, this is the current king of bang-for-your-buck electric bikes right now. Im also a fan of the built-in lights and included fenders, not to mention the integrated high-capacity battery that disappears in the frame. Above $3.5k, youre entering some seriously dedicated e-bike territory. haibike bulls The Class 2 e-bike tops the assistance out at 20 mph, whether you get there by pedal-assist or a throttle. Youre heading down the e-bike rabbit hole. But it makes it so much fun to pedal thanks to a torque sensor-based pedal assist that provides natural feeling assistance up to a fast 28 mph top speed. E-Bikes Are Outpacing Electric Cars in U.S. Denver Launches Best E-Bike Rebate Program, Why Caroline Cooley Loves Her E-Bikes So Much. The quick folding and light, compact design of the e-bike is the real winner here. In the U.S., there are three classes defined by the type of assist and how fast the motor will propel you. In fact, youll find many of these same components on e-bikes with $3,000-$4,000 price tags all over the place. This one has a 250W hub-mounted motor and up to 35-mile range, making it a capable option for commuting, cruising, or exploring. Rare just a year ago, Class 2 models are becoming more popular, especially at lower prices. Aventon, for example, pieced together its own e-bike system for the Pace 350rather than buying a complete one from someone elsein order to keep the price down and allow for higher-quality parts elsewhere. And they better be they were designed by a former McLaren engineer.

While most fall under the $5,000 mark, Im going to recommend their top of the line model: The $5,599 Serial 1 RUSH/CTY SPEED. The color screen and leather accents on the seat and bar ends add to the classy look too! Even with just one battery, the high capacity of 1,008 Wh makes these some of the biggest batteries in the e-bike industry.

Power: 500W | Weight: 49.4 lb. The HSD uses small 20 wheels and includes a folding stem, making it nice and compact. Then add in the ultra-bright lights, built in fenders and rear rack, the suspension seat post, color LCD screen and other niceties, and now youre left with a high-end e-bike that could serve you for years as a daily commuter e-bike designed for nearly maintenance-free high mileage riding. Its purely designed for the city, though that hasnt stopped me from abusing it off road either, testing its impressive ruggedness. Shedding almost 5 pounds and sporting a 750-watt motor, the RadExpand seeks the road less traveled with plush 4-inch tires wrapped around nimble 20-inch rims. Its hard to find a better combination of low cost and high performance anywhere in the e-bike market right now. builds its electric bikes in the US from the ground up. Plus, the Lectric XP 2.0s folding frame means you can bring this high-value e-bike with you in a car or truck. These accessories can quickly turn this $1,200 e-bike into a $1,500 or $1,700 e-bike, but they allow you to retrofit the bike to haul kids or pizzas or fresh fish (as Rad flaunts in targeted YouTube ads). The integrated downtube battery is uncommon at this price and makes the bike look sleeker than exposed battery packs, despite the fact that it packs 672 watt-hours of juice. Plus that long rear bench has tons of room for boxes, bags, or kiddos. The bike uses a step-through moped style frame to create a short utility bike or mini cargo e-bike. Youll find 18 exceptional, award-winning bikes rigorously vetted by our editorial team. Serial 1 scored top e-bike designers from companies like Trek, so they know how to build an awesome bike with killer geometry. Below youll find some of the top e-bikes weve hand-tested for every price range, current as of July 2022. It uses Greyps own in-house developed 700 Wh battery combined with a mid-drive motor to offer a hardtail trekking e-bike. The Fuell Flluids smooth mid-drive motor, internally geared rear hub and Gates carbon belt drive setup combine to make an ultra-responsive and polished electric powertrain. The 300W motor gets the little runabout up to 20 mph (32 km/h).

You can check out my full, in-depth review of the Ride1Up Roadster V2 here. Bicycling participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Tern is renowned for building high-quality electric bikes that double down on utility features. The Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser is Ride1Ups first non-purely commuter electric bike, and boy did they knock it out of the park on this one. Serial 1 even goes above and beyond with their own custom weight bearing fenders that also happen to be functional racks (both in the front and rear), their own custom designed lights that throw serious illumination up front and give you great rear visibility from dropout-mounted lights, and theres even a glovebox in the bike! Most have theirs stuck to the top or integrated into the down tube, save for Rad Power Bikes RadRunner 1, which stows its battery behind the seat tube. Theres a reason why Porsche bought this e-bike company its simply one of the best. Its enough to destroy chains if you arent careful. These e-bikes either feature top-shelf components like drivetrain and brake parts, or pack in so much power that they couldnt possibly be priced any lower. At $1,399, the Aventon Pace 350 gets close, but our test revealed its not too cheap to be high quality. The bike comes with two removable batteries totaling up to 1,000 Wh of capacity. Best for smoother roads and bike paths, the Soltera delivers the most essential features a city rider needs in a strikingly light 41-pound package. Class 1 bikes have a motor (max 750w) that assists while youre pedaling, up to 20 mph. But like that one, its fully customizable and built to order with your options. It also has awesome-looking cast wheels that remove the issue of spoke maintenance, plus add to the cool stance. While the company has many models in the $1,000 to $2,000 range, the $1,095 Ride1Up Core-5 is one of the best bang-for-your-buck options. Just buy lights, panniers, and a lock, and youre ready to commute by e-bike. All Electric Bike Company models are assembled in the U.S., and the attention to detail is immediately evident. Check out my full review of this incredibly powerful e-bike here. The battery is removable and backup batteries are available from Rad Power if you want to have a spare at work or at home. But you just haaaaad to keep going. Single-speed drivetrain means significantly less maintenance, Slightly narrower, stiffer tires than other commuter options, Mechanical disc brakes arent as powerful as hydraulic brakes, Bulkier than some competitors' folding bikes. Check out our review of the VanMoof S3 here. widest arrays of e-bike accessories on the planet, Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos. Integrated cameras at the front and rear of the bike can serve as dash cams or livestream your rides. | Top speed: 24 mph. Fine, here they are.

The belt-drive setup, low-weight design, and fast speed of up to 24 mph make this an incredible deal. These models have a throttle that can propel a bike up to, and maintain, 20 mph without having to continuously pedal.

Fortunately, weve found some excellent options for cheap electric bikes that can still save you some serious dough. Rated as our top value pick among the best folding e-bikes on the market, Rad Power's RadExpand 5 succeeds the RadMini 4, the brand's previous folding model, in stellar fashion. But you cant expect all these great parts and dual batteries on a featherweight bike! The $5,495 Fuell Flluid is a great example of what happens when a motorcycle designer applies his tradecraft to a smaller platform, creating an e-bike built to a higher standard. Plus, its priced very competitively. Ive personally taken this e-bike back UP a downhill mountain bike course thats how powerful it is. One of the coolest features though is the passenger package that adds a rear bench seat, wheel skirt and foot pegs so you can carry a second rider on back. Power: 750W | Weight: 62.5 lb. First, its pretty hard to produce a quality e-bike and sell it for under $1k. The fat tires and short wheelbase make the RadRunner 2 a capable off-roader and maneuverable urban bike, although the steering is too sharp as youre moving fast. The bikes 750W motor and large capacity battery make it easy to hit the top speed of 20 mph and ride farther than your errands will require.

Plus you can capture all of your ride footage on the bike instead of bringing along a Go-Pro camera. The bike is truly a high-end offering by itself, but the embedded tech makes it a rarity in any category. The RadRunner from Rad Power Bikes has been an industry favorite ever since it was first announced back in 2019. The cruiser bars, suspension fork, comfortable seat and pedal-forward geometry make it a pleasure to ride. And its also a pedal-assist e-bike, meaning you dont have a throttle for the days when you feel lazy. The $1,949 Model Y is a step-through cruiser e-bike with a hidden battery in the front basket. If you are looking for a higher-performance e-bike, or specifically want the help and service you can get from a specialty retailer, be sure to check out recommendations for our Best High Performance E-Bikes. The FT1000MD is the companys highest power option. Theres also an app that allows you to take full advantage of the built-in eSIM card, giving you connectivity to the bike and letting you check all your vital stats, find its location, and more right from your phone. Odds are that youve either seen this bike or one that looks a lot like it.

Plus, I love that double center kickstand for creating an ultra-stable parking platform. There are $3,000+ e-bikes that compete at a similar level to this affordable ride. A 500-watt motor propels the bike up to 28 mph, and a thumb throttle takes you up to 20 mph without pedaling. Id definitely recommend spending an extra $60 for the rack and fender option if you live in an area that is prone to rain or even sprinkler puddles, plus that $50 optional rack is always useful. Rad also sells a step through version that makes it easier to get on and off, and to put a foot down at stop signs or when traffic gets sketchy. Because of that, the Roadster is ideal for short commutes on mostly flat roads and paths. Yes, its expensive. The $1,199 Aventon Soltera is a beautiful city bike that offers some of the best quality fabrication that Ive seen in this price range or even in higher price ranges. But this doesnt necessarily mean youll be riding around on a rattling tin can. Theres even an awesome companion app that lets your phone track your bikes important stats. Join Bicycling All Access for more in-depth bike reviews. Myself and the Bicycling Test Team evaluated every model on performance, price, comfort, handling, value, reliability, fun, and overall e-factor to come up with these recommendations that we believe will best serve the needs of anyone looking to add a little pedal assist to their ride. Drop below the $1,000 price level and e-bikes start to get sketchy. Which EVs still qualify for US federal tax credit? Hub motors (the original industry standard and more affordable of the two) can be located on either the front or, more commonly, the rear wheel. The e-bike is nearly maintenance free thanks to the belt drive and hydraulic disc brakes.