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Other e-bikes we like
Friday All Day Bike for $5,600: Bike Friday describes the Irresistible All-Day Mini Bike (7/10, WIRED review) as the world’s lightest Bosch-powered e-bike, and that’s true. You can customize all the colors and components of this folding electric bike, and it has a surprisingly powerful motor for its size. The Brompton above is more widely available and easier to use, but I like this little bike a lot.
Radio Flyer Via Pro for $2,900: Editor Julian Choccato couldn’t have had a better experience with this easy-to-use, easy-to-assemble Class 2 electric cargo bike. For more information, check out our guide to the best electric cargo bikes.
Gotrax Mustang $1,799: We loved the Mustang, and it’s a surprisingly solid little bike for the right price. However, it only comes in one size so you should try it on if you can before purchasing it.
Aventon Level 3 for $1899: The Aventon Level 3 is an easy-to-ride e-bike that has a clean, progressive design and every feature you could want in a standard-sized e-bike for around-town riding. There are built-in bumpers and lights, and a large color display that shows you how much you have left of the advertised 70-mile range. I’ve ridden it up to about 25 miles at a time with my heavy 6’2″ frame, and easily finished my rides with 20 percent of battery remaining. The frame feels comfortable and sturdy, thanks to double-walled construction and improved Shimano gears and brakes. The front suspension fork and semi-hidden suspension seatpost add to the comfort compared to other bikes I’ve tested in this price range, and I like that the Aventon app lets you set up things like remote locking and geofencing, so you can keep an eye on your expensive bike from afar. The built-in turn signals, which use the bike’s taillights, are another plus when riding in cities at night. -Parker Hall
Tenways CGO800S for $1799: This is a budget city e-bike. It has a battery life of 50 miles, and I got over 30 miles. The torque sensor is smooth and responds to pedaling at different speeds. However, there is no throttle, and because this bike is designed to fit riders of a wide range of sizes (say 5’1” to 6’3”), the frame wasn’t as comfortable for me to pedal (5’11”) as some larger bikes. —Martin Cizmar
Aventon Ramblas for $2899: Avinton made a mountain bike! It’s a lot of bike at a reasonable price, but it’s too heavy to take out for its intended use case. However, it makes a nice, strong commuter.
Linus eDutchi for $1,799: Need a comfortable cruiser? The Linus eDutchi is a top-class comfortable e-bike with beautiful colors and loads of special accessories.
Electra Loft Go! For $960: I also love the Electra Loft Go! (7/10, WIRED recommends), another comfortable beach cruiser, but the Priority has a slightly more powerful engine for the same price.
Xtracycle Estoker for $4,499: This is probably the bike I see most often in my Portland, Oregon neighborhood. It features a durable and strong chromoly steel frame, larger 24-inch wheels, plus a Shimano mid-drive motor making it ideal for the harshest conditions. Unfortunately, you have to be over 5’6″ tall (which I’m not) to ride it.
Gazelle Eclipse for $6,399: If you want to see how great a Bosch system is, the Eclipse (8/10, WIRED recommends) is the more expensive version of the Radster Road above. It has a nicer transmission, a smarter engine – even a nicer paint job. It is much more expensive.
Gocycle G4I+ for $5,999: Gocycle’s luxury fast-folding bikes were designed by a former McLaren engineer. This quieter, lighter iteration has better torque, a new carbon fiber front fork, and a more painful price.
The Original Bunch Electric Cargo Bike for $6,499: I didn’t care for the set (5/10, WIRED review), but my family did. It’s a standard box bike, albeit a bit expensive, as you might see in Europe. It will work well if you live in a flat area and won’t have to walk very fast.
Bikes we don’t like
Pass on the left.
Retrospec Jax Rev for $1100: We wanted to love this stylish folding bike, but we couldn’t help but worry about its durability.
Niu BQi-C3 Pro electric bike for $999: Trade Manager Martin Cizmar tested this bike and had a litany of complaints. The riding position is very aggressive, and the bike frame doesn’t fit common components like the water bottle and basket. The disc brakes were not adequate to stop it from 28 mph.
Frequently asked questions
How does WIRED purchase e-bikes?
Bike companies contact me, and I ask for tests in my size. Once the testing is complete, I either return the bikes to the manufacturer, the shop that assembled them, or donate them to a non-profit.
How do you secure an Ebike?
Many e-bikes have batteries, removable screens, or built-in wheel locks that make securing your bike much easier. Other bikes, like the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2, are also compatible with Apple Find My. Check out our guide to the best Ebike locks for more options.
Should I build my own bike?
Many affordable bikes are now available direct to consumer, meaning they are pre-tuned or partially assembled in a box. As Peter Flax recently noted in Cycling Magazine, these bikes don’t come close to the testing or inspection that bikes get from a larger manufacturer. Unless you don’t ride often or many miles, or you don’t have experience modifying your own bike, I recommend working with an established manufacturer that has a dealer network.
What terrain do you live on?
If you live in a flat area, you may be fine with a 250-watt motor, which is the European speed standard. However, if you live near hills or move a lot of stuff, you may want to consider a 500-watt or 750-watt motor and some extras, like hydraulic disc brakes, which will help keep you from sliding in traffic.
How can I prevent bike fires?
The thought of your garage suddenly catching fire is a terrifying thought, but don’t worry – the batteries manufacturers use 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, exercise a little common sense. Don’t leave your bike battery charged overnight in a very hot garage. Do not use aftermarket accessories to charge your bike. And don’t plug in a warped or strange-smelling battery, or try to start a bike with a cracked screen or computer.
Follow some basic safety tips
Not sure where to start? The cycling advocacy group PeopleForBikes has a safety education program, E-Bike Smart, which it created in collaboration with the League of American Bicyclists and Bike Colorado. Don’t let your children ride your bike unsupervised. An 80-pound child should not ride a 65-pound bike, even if the engine allows him to do so. And always wear a helmet, but you already know that. right?
Over the past few years, WIRED’s review team has tried almost every type of electric bike, from the best heavy-duty cargo bikes to high-end mountain bikes. We review up to 50 new e-bikes per year by riding them on a variety of terrain for at least 40 miles over at least two weeks. We test cargo bikes by hauling kids and groceries, ride mountain and gravel bikes on trails, and test commuter bikes while running errands on regular city streets (including up and down hills). In addition to our real-world tests, we also evaluate specifications such as weight, frame size, battery life, motor power, and sourcing of key components.
When I talk to anyone about the possibility of purchasing an e-bike, the biggest deterrent is usually the price. If that’s you, check out our guide to the best cheap e-bikes. But I want to say here that these are vehicles, not toys. When I’m carrying my kids to school or flying down a hill at 25 mph, I want the safest ride, and I think you should too.
Affordable car financing options are only The reason why a $2,000 electric bike can seem expensive while a $6,000 gas-powered car has easy monthly payments. Many states now feature incentive programs that offer rebates or tax credits for e-bike purchases. Some bike manufacturers and retailers offer financing through companies like Affirm or PayPal. Your bank may cover e-bikes under their car loan program, and I also recommend checking out a local eBay, Craigslist, or local Facebook groups. You probably have more options than you think.
Ebike ratings and rules
Before you buy your electric bike, make sure you can actually use it! Many cities and states have laws regulating when and where you can ride an e-bike. Check out our guide on the three categories of e-bikes. At least 22 states now use this three-class system, and may restrict when and where different classes of e-bikes are used, depending on whether they have a throttle or can assist at speeds greater than 20 mph. Cities may also have laws about whether mountain e-bikes are allowed on single-lane trails. If your state classifies e-bikes under the same laws that govern motorcycles and mopeds, you may need a license to ride one.
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