Best Electric Bikes

Michael Clark

Trek FX+ 2 Review – 2024

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Summary Trek FX+ 2 Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.6
Check Latest PriceTrek FX+ 2 Electric Bike

Pros

  • At just 40 lbs., this is an unusually light e-bike, which makes it easier for riders to handle, especially smaller riders, and its low weight mean it doesn’t need as big a battery or as powerful a hub motor
  • 250W brushless, geared hub motor produces 40Nm of torque, which seems modest, but delivers great acceleration and top speed in such a light e-bike
  • 250Wh battery can provide up to 35 mi. range for most riders, enough for most riders get get through several days of commuting
  • Comes in four sizes, which will be especially useful to small riders and tall riders
  • 700C x 40mm tires roll quickly and offer a very smooth ride
  • Riders can purchase a range-extending battery

Cons

  • Riders who want a throttle will be disappointed as this is a Class 1 e-bike
  • No display to inform the rider about speed, distance or PAS level; the battery level indicator on the selector needs more detail; 5 LED lights isn’t much info

Intro The Trek FX+2 is an unusual offering among city bikes. It’s priced a bit higher than most of the e-bikes we see and its parts pick is more sophisticated at every turn. It’s also half the weight of some e-bikes. In our Trek FX+2 review we will look at the many benefits buyers are […]

Can Electric Bikes Ride In The Sand?

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Today’s e-bikes come in more flavors than Baskin-Robbins. We’ve got commuters, cruisers, all-terrain, eMTBs, cargo e-bikes and more. But what about loose terrain? Can electric bikes hold up wiell in the sand? That’s the question the Best Electric Bikes team will be looking at today. Some of these e-bikes feature specialized gear to make them […]

How Much Motor Power Is Needed For Your E-Bike?

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E-bikes come in a range of different levels of power. On the low end, many mid-drive motors produce 250W. On the high end, we’ve reviewed e-bikes with hub motors that produce 1000W and there are even e-bikes with unrestricted motors that are more like motorcycles than e-bikes. Considering how broad a range that is, someone […]

Is It Okay To Derestrict An Electric Bike?

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One of the most enjoyable experiences in riding an e-bike is that full-body sense of movement, and for many of us, going faster gives us even more of that feeling. With that said, we can’t blame anyone who wonders about derestricting their Class 1 or 2 e-bike so that it can go Class 3 speeds […]

Cero One Electric Bike Review – 2024

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Summary CERO One Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.4
Check Latest PriceCERO One Electric Bike

Pros

  • A 250W motor that produces 60Nm of torque sounds modest, but because it is a mid-drive motor, it is plenty powerful for this cargo e-bike
  • 504Wh Shimano STEPS battery can provide more than 100 mi. of range on a single charge
  • Drivetrain features a 5-speed Shimano Nexus internally geared hub and Gates belt drive instead of a chain that can leave black marks on anything it touches—goodbye chain lube, too
  • Fitted with a child seat and front basket it can carry a rider, child and a couple of bags of groceries
  • Not having front suspension on this e-bike is a selling point—changes in weight aboard the bike would make the suspension fork’s handling unpredictable
  • The smaller front wheel makes the bike handling quite nimble for a cargo e-bike

Cons

  • It comes in only one size, and while it should be very comfortable for taller riders, anyone under 5 feet 6 may not find the reach from the saddle to the bar to be comfortable
  • We wish there was a way to carry kids who have outgrown the child seat

Intro Practicality is one of the qualities people buying e-bikes often rank at the top or near the top of their priorities. Given the popularity of commuter e-bikes, many riders don’t think much beyond getting to work and home again. In our CERO One review we will take a look at how this e-bike does […]

Xprit Shuttle Review, 2024

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Summary Xprit Shuttle Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

3.8
Check Latest PriceXprit Shuttle Electric Bike

Pros

  • Terrific motorcycle styling with front and rear suspension and a front cowl and large headlight to blend form with function
  • 4-in.-wide tires and cast aluminum wheels can handle off-road use
  • 750W brushless, geared hub motor for great acceleration and a Class 3 top speed of 28 mph
  • 922Wh Samsung/LG battery offers substantial range whether pedaling or throttling
  • The LCD display is large, center-mounted and easy-to-read; we also like that a smartphone mount is included
  • Includes turn signals to alert drivers behind the rider

Cons

  • Taller riders will feel cramped due to the fact that the seat cannot be raised and as a result, most riders are likely to favor the throttle
  • The drivetrain would benefit from a wider range of gears to make climbing hills and hitting top speed easier

Intro E-bike companies include throttles on e-bikes for a very simple reason: Riders like them. Iif consumers didn’t want them, they wouldn’t be there. And while some riders never use the throttle, there are certainly riders who would rather use the throttle than pedal. If a manufacturer wants to design an e-bike for riders who […]

Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 Review – 2024

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Summary Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.6
Check Latest PriceRad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 Electric Bike

Pros

  • Excellent for families who need to transport kids; it’s one of a handful of e-bikes that will allow a rider to carry two children
  • 750W brushless, geared hub motor produces 80Nm of torque, giving it the power necessary to get up to speed with passengers and still have the muscle to climb hills
  • Tektro Aries hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors have the stopping power necessary to control this cargo e-bike when loaded
  • Rad Power Bikes offers an extensive collection of accessories to customize the RadWagon 4 to a degree found almost exclusively in cargo e-bikes
  • Can carry a payload of up to 350 lbs., which means it can carry an adult, two kids and even a load of groceries (in a front basket)

Cons

  • Considering the way payload weight (including rider) can affect an e-bike’s range, we would welcome a battery with more charge than the 672Wh battery included here
  • 22-in. tires are an uncommon size; the smart buyer will buy several of these tires (and tubes) for spares when they order the e-bike

Intro The Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 is a long-tail cargo e-bike, which is to say, it is an errand-runner of substantial ability. Anyone who has tried to load up the rear rack on a commuter knows just how quickly its carrying capacity can be occupied. So what’s a person to do if they want […]

Pedego Avenue Review, 2024

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Summary Pedego Avenue Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.6
Check Latest PricePedego Avenue Electric Bike

Pros

  • 500W brushless, geared hub motor produces 54Nm of torque for solid Class 2 performance and its compact design helps contribute to the e-bike’s overall low weight
  • Buyers get a choice of either a 499Wh battery or upgrading to a 672Wh battery for more range
  • The 7-speed Microshift/Shimano drivetrain offers a wider range of gears than most e-bikes in this price range
  • At just 51 lbs., this is a relatively light e-bike due to Pedego’s proprietary hub motor and slim battery
  • 5-year “no excuses” warranty is arguably the best in the bike industry

Cons

  • We wish the step-thru frame wasn’t just smaller than the traditional frame vertically, but in reach as well; both bikes have the same reach, which could be a problem for smaller riders
  • The display is on the small side and we would prefer to see it mounted near the middle of the handlebar to make viewing easier while rolling

Intro How does an e-bike company create a sense of value? It can be a tough concept to consider. For most e-bike companies, their answer is to try to maximize the number of features and accessories they include in their e-bike. If they include lights, fenders and a rack, it must be a great value, […]

QuietKat Rubicon Review, 2024

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Summary QuietKat Rubicon Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.8
Check Latest PriceQuietKat Rubicon Electric Bike

Pros

  • 1000W mid-drive motor produces 160Nm of torque, making this one of the most powerful e-bikes we have encountered; it can handle Class 3 speeds, and more
  • 1008Wh battery is up to the task of powering this e-bike far into the backcountry and having enough charge to return home again
  • The Tektro 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors are some of the most powerful calipers we see
  • SRAM 9-speed drivetrain offers plenty of gears over a very wide range to ride most any terrain
  • 26 x 4.8-in. CST tires over amazing traction and a very comfortable ride when pumped to appropriately low pressures—tires this fat can be run at 8-10 psi
  • The mid-drive motor means power is immediate and the motor’s output is proportional to the rider’s effort

Cons

  • We would prefer to see more travel in the suspension fork than in the rear shock, in keeping with modern eMTB design
  • The three different sizes would be more helpful to riders if the differences in size were greater

Intro Lots of e-bikes claim they are made for off-road use. In truth, to function capably off-road, an e-bike needs more than just knobby tires. Suspension, a powerful motor and a sizable battery are all necessary. Suspension is important less for comfort than for control. A powerful motor is necessary in order to conquer steep […]