Best Electric Bikes

Michael Clark

Wired Freedom Review 2024

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Overall Rating:

4.7
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Pros

  • With its 1500W brushless, geared hub motor producing 138Nm of torque, this is one of the most powerful e-bikes on the market
  • Its 1200Wh battery is one of the biggest e-bike batteries we’ve ever encountered
  • 7-speed Shimano drivetrain features a wide-range cassette (310 percent range) and a high gear that can reach the sort of speeds the motor is capable of assisting a rider to
  • Comes with a full complement of accessories including front and rear lights, fenders, a rear rack and kickstand
  • Front and rear suspension combined with 4-in.-wide tires make for an exceptionally comfortable ride
  • Steel-reinforced gears in the motor will lead to a much longer motor life

Cons

  • We have some concerns about this e-bike in off-road mode; most drivers and pedestrians aren’t used to seeing someone on an e-bike going 35 mph
  • We’d prefer to see more powerful brakes used on an e-bike that can go so fast; 203mm rotors or 4-piston calipers would be smart
  • Comes in only one size

Intro The e-bike market is dominated, if not ruled, by two competing trends. One is to make e-bikes more affordable. Yay! The other is to build ever-more-powerful e-bikes. Wired Ebikes is working both of these angles with their Freedom all-terrain e-bike. They’ve created one of the most powerful e-bikes on the market and it is […]

Blix Ultra Review, 2024

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Overall Rating:

4.3
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Pros

  • Offers the option for one battery or two to extend range up to 80 mi.
  • 750W brushless, geared hub motor produces plenty of power as well as 90Nm of torque to give this e-bike excellent acceleration and plenty of oomph on climbs
  • Wide-range, 8-speed drivetrain offers plenty of gears for Class 3 top speed and climbing steep hills
  • The rear of the Ultra is longer than with most e-bikes due to the space for the second battery, which makes this an ideal e-bike for mounting a child’s seat because it gives them more room to look around
  • The Blix Connect app allows riders to track their riding, interact with other Blix owners, plan routes and choose between Class 2 and Class 3 performance
  • The seat position is lower and farther behind the pedals than with most all-terrain e-bikes, making it feel a bit like a cruiser

Cons

  • Comes in just one size and may not be comfortable for smaller riders
  • Charging both batteries will take 14 hours
  • The display is mounted near the grip and only shows one number; we’d prefer something mounted near the stem so that it’s easier to view

Intro Blix Electric Bikes has introduced a new all-terrain e-bike, the Ultra. E-bikes present a special kind of freedom to explore and all-terrain e-bikes expand a rider’s ability to explore in a way that most other e-bikes can’t match. The Blix Ultra is a fat-tire e-bike with a suspension fork, an easy pedaling position and […]

Yamaha Wabash RT Review 2024

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Overall Rating:

4.9
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Pros

  • 250W Yamaha PWSeries SE mid-drive motor produces a hefty 70Nm of torque, giving it acceleration and climbing ability that’s tough to match
  • 500Wh lithium-ion battery will give range enough for hours and hours of riding
  • 11-speed SRAM Apex drivetrain features an 11-42t cassette for a nearly 400 percent gear range, perfect for getting up steep hills, as well as back down the other side
  • Comes in three sizes to fit a broad range of rider heights, broader than can be accommodated with just one size
  • Flaired handlebar for better handling on natural-surface roads
  • At 42.3 lbs., the Wabash is exceptionally light and with less weight that makes the handling more agile

Cons

  • The 48t chainring makes for a very tall high gear; we’d love to see a smaller chainring to give even more low-end gearing and more choices of gears in the 10-20 mph speed range
  • The 33mm Maxxis tires are nice, but bigger tires offer a more comfortable ride and better traction on natural-surface roads and trails

Intro Yamaha produced its first e-bike in 1993. It was sold only in Japan, so most of us didn’t hear about it at the time. Since then, they’ve refined their designs through many iterations and now supply other e-bike manufacturers—Giant and Haibike are the largest—with their systems. In our review of the Yamaha Wabash RT […]

Specialized Turbo Levo Review, 2024

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Overall Rating:

4.9
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Pros

  • 160mm front and 150mm rear suspension can handle technical terrain with ease, enabling riders to descend aggressively
  • At 42.7 lbs., this eMTB is half the weight of many all-terrain e-bikes, making it very easy to handle
  • The 12-speed SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain is made for riders to ascend exceptionally steep terrain
  • The mid-drive 2.2 motor generates 565W and produces 90Nm of torque, making it one of the most powerful motors found on eMTBs for go-anywhere, ride-anything performance
  • Even in turbo mode, the 700Wh battery will provide at least 20 mi. of range for most riders
  • Comes in six sizes, making it especially attractive for small and tall riders

Cons

  • Carbon fiber frames require a bit more care than aluminum ones
  • Riders who want a throttle will be disappointed by the lack of one

Intro Specialized is one of the biggest bike companies in the world and as one of the market leaders, even though they weren’t the first company to make an eMTB, they were among the first to find a really great formula for motor size (and placement), battery size and suspension travel. And with their development […]

Himiway Rambler Premium Review 2024

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Overall Rating:

4.3
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Pros

  • 500W Bafang mid-drive motor offers double power found in most mid-drive motors and produces a whopping 120Nm of torque, which makes it a muscle-car of a commuter
  • 672Wh lithium-ion battery will offer most riders an estimated 55 mi. of range
  • 9-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain offers a nearly 300 percent gear range, making this a great e-bike for people who live in hilly terrain
  • Tektro hydraulic disc brakes paired with 180mm rotors give great stopping power
  • Includes a commute-ready accessory package of rear rack, front and rear fenders, lights and a kickstand
  • The wide Selle Royal saddle will be a hit with riders looking for a seat with better support

Cons

  • It strikes us as odd that with such a powerful motor that this e-bike would only offer pedal-assist up to 25 mph and even odder that it would allow riders to throttle up to 25 mph, making it illegal in many communities; we would suggest dialing back the throttle max to 20 mph

Intro The commuter category is the single-most-crowded segment of the e-bike market, which means that coming up with a unique design that will catch the eye of shoppers can be like trying to pick out the cutest angel in the Christmas pageant. So we give a tip of the hat to the Himiway Rambler, a […]

Velotric Go 1 Review 2024

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Overall Rating:

4.7
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Pros

  • The Go 1 has a terrific modular design that allows for multiple baskets or a passenger
  • 500W brushless, geared hub motor produces 65Nm of torque to give it the oomph necessary to get up to speed with a passenger or over a hill
  • 691Wh battery is estimated to give riders up to 55 mi. per charge, enough to go several days without recharging
  • 7-speed Shimano drivetrain features a wide-range 13-34 cassette to make hills easier
  • 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes paired with 180mm rotors give the Go 1 the power to stop effectively even with a passenger
  • Equipped with a motorcycle-style, dual-leg kickstand

Cons

  • The suggested sizing range of 5 feet 0 to 6 feet 6 inches is optimistic in our opinion; we would shave 5 in. off of either end of that range
  • When unlocked, the Go 1 may not offer a stable ride at speeds faster than 20 mph

Intro The category of compact cargo/utility e-bikes has exploded this year with a number of new designs. The Velotric Go 1 is a compact cargo, or utility e-bike. This is a category of e-bike that didn’t exist a few years ago, but is quickly rising in acceptance, and for good reason. It answers the question: […]

Super 73 S2 Review 2024

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Overall Rating:

4.2
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Pros

  • Comfortable bench seat for people who don’t like the usual bike seat
  • 750W brushless, geared hub motor that can be unlocked for 1200W of output
  • Massive 960Wh battery to give throttle-only riders plenty of range
  • 5-in.-wide tires for terrific traction and stable handling
  • Very cool retro-motorycle styling; this turns heads wherever it goes

Cons

  • 1200W may not be a good idea for anyone who hasn’t had their driver’s license for a few years
  • Comes with just one gear, making it hard to pedal at speed

Intro What is an e-bike? Better yet, what does an e-bike need to be? Creativity means seeing the world with fresh eyes. The Southern California-based Super73 has done exactly that. In our review of the Super73-S2 we will look at what makes this e-bike different from most that we review, and what sort of rider […]

Aventon Pace 500.3 ST Review 2024

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Overall Rating:

4.8
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Pros

  • 500W brushless, geared hub motor has the power necessary to assist the rider to Class 3 speeds—above 20 mph
  • 614Wh lithium-ion battery offers 60+ mi. of range per charge
  • At just 52 lbs. this is an unusually light commuter e-bike, which makes the handling more nimble and the bike easier to deal with when storing or transporting
  • Comes with a torque sensor rather than a cadence sensor, which gives the rider a more thrilling ride and makes the motor more responsive to the rider’s efforts
  • Hydraulic disc brakes paired with 180mm rotors offer excellent stopping power
  • 8-speed Shimano drivetrain offers a wider gear range and smoother shifting than we often see on e-bikes in this price range

Cons

  • Buyers looking for a full commuter package including fenders and a rear rack will be disappointed
  • Because the tires are 2.1 in. wide and there is no suspension fork, some riders will find the ride to be a little rough for their taste

Intro There are so many commuter e-bikes on the market that we are sometimes surprised when a company comes up with a design that surprises us. The Aventon Pace 500.3 ST is just such an e-bike. It skips many of the features that are often used to sell commuters and instead offers a simpler e-bike […]

Xtracycle Swoop Review, 2024

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Overall Rating:

4.9
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Pros

  • Long-tail design is terrific for parents who want a do-it-all e-bike that will allow them to commute, pick up kids and drop by a store, all while leaving the car parked
  • 250W Shimano STEPS EP8 mid-drive motor produces 85Nm of torque, giving it the kind of muscle to get big loads up to speed and climb any hill
  • 4-piston Tektro hydraulic disc brakes provide impressive braking performance for exceptional rider control
  • 11-speed SRAM NX group features a very wide range in gearing thanks to an 11-42t cassette, perfect for people who live in hilly communities
  • Thanks to a 15-in. reach, smaller riders will have an easier time fitting on the Swoop than with many one-size-fits-all e-bikes, though riders more than 6 feet tall may feel cramped
  • Xtracycle offers an amazing array of accessories to customize the e-bike to the rider’s needs

Cons

  • We prefer displays that are mounted near the stem, not out at the grip where they are harder to glance at and more likely to drift left, in the direction of the grip; where the head points, the body usually follows, even on an e-bike
  • Full running boards, rather than tubular aluminum, would give kids a more secure place to rest their feet
  • Riders looking for a throttle may be disappointed that this is a Class 1 e-bike

Intro For the family with more than one child, most e-bikes offer limited utility. It’s frustrating to commute to work by e-bike, but then need to get the car any time a child needs to be picked up or dropped off at school. The Xtracycle Swoop is a way to conduct most daily errands with […]

Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra Duo 3 Review 2024

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Overall Rating:

4.7
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Pros

  • 1000W Bafang mid-drive motor produces 160Nm of torque, making it an absolute hill-climbing champ and could beat some cars through an intersection when accelerating from a dead stop
  • 910Wh battery is estimated to offer riders 45 mi. of range, which is impressive considering how powerful the motor is
  • A torque sensor is practically mandatory on such a powerful e-bike in order to allow the rider the ability to control acceleration and top speed based on how hard they are pedaling
  • 11-speed SRAM NX drivetrain boasts a nearly 400 percent gear range, giving it the gears necessary for steep trails
  • BikTrix allows a number of upgrades to be ordered including better brakes, an air-spring suspension fork and a suspension seatpost

Cons

  • If ordered in the “unlimited” configuration, there aren’t many places to ride this e-bike legally
  • The 19-in. step-thru frame has a shorter reach than the 17-in. version; ideally, this should be the other way around

Intro One of the most exciting facets of the e-bike world is the sheer diversity consumers are presented with. Not only can consumers choose between commuters, cargo e-bikes and eMTBs, but e-bikes come with a variety of different motors offering riders different levels of power. We’re here to review the BikTrix Juggernaut Ultra Duo 3, […]