The 14 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride
Around the country, bars, restaurants, and other public spaces are closed or have limited service. Public transportation is an iffy proposition, and cities are closing streets to give pedestrians more room to move around near their homes.
Enter: the electric bike. You don't need to be physically fit to ride one. It gets you outside, reduces fossil fuels, reduces congestion, and it's fun. Over the past few years, we’ve tried almost every kind of ebike there is, from the best heavy-duty cargo bikes to high-end mountain bikes. Whether you're tooling around your neighborhood buying wood chips from the hardware store or trying to trim a few miles off the ride for a socially distanced visit, we have the best ebike for you.
Many bike manufacturers have had supply issues this year, so stock may fluctuate. Be sure to check your local retailers. We will continue to test and ride bikes, so if you don't see one you like now, check back later. Once you get one, check out our favorite biking accessories, bike locks, and gear for a bikepacking adventure.
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Updated December 2020: We removed older picks and added new bikes like the Batch E-bike.
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Photograph: SpecializedThe Best Bike
Specialized Turbo Vado SL EquippedWhen I had to return this electric bike (9/10, WIRED Recommends), I almost cried. The tiny but powerful custom motor and slim battery are integrated into the frame, so it doesn't even look like an ebike. The small frame weighs 33 pounds, only a few more than a regular steel bike. It's a hybrid bike with flat handlebars that make it easy to maneuver on a variety of surfaces, whether you're scooting along at 28 mph or bumping through trees at your local park.
Specialized's Smart Control system means you don't have to adjust assistance while you're riding, or worry about having enough battery to get home. A hidden shock in the head tube cushions the blow from any unexpected potholes. Even the accessories are top-notch, like long, flexible custom fenders that slice water down and away from you in the rain. I put 40 miles on it in three days. It was so fun that it was hard to hop off.
Photograph: Rad Power BikesBest Utility Bike
Rad Power Bikes RadRunnerNo matter which bike I recommend, most people I know personally buy this one. It has a seemingly magic blend of affordability and usefulness. Seattle-based Rad Power Bikes ships its bikes direct-to-consumer, and rather than working exclusively with companies like Bosch and Shimano, it also develops its own custom hub-motor drivetrains with a number of different vendors. Extras like aluminum pedals and extra gears are stripped off in favor of a burly 120-pound rear rack and big, stable, custom Kenda tires.
Almost anyone can use the RadRunner (7/10, WIRED Review)—whether you want a comfy cruiser for beach rides, a stable seat for your 4-year-old, or you just want to ditch your gas-powered Vespa. I also tried the Aventon Level, which is a fun ride but is more expensive, has a front-leaning seat, and front suspension that I found a little superfluous on a heavy, big-wheeled commuter bike.
Photograph: PropellaThe Best Affordable Bike
Propella 7-Speed (V3.4)Who am I kidding? Unless you're already an ebike enthusiast, you probably want one that's cheaper, and for these, that means as close to $1,000 as possible. That's a hard proposition if you want a reliable motor and a frame that won't buckle at 15 mph.
Propella's direct-to-consumer 7-speed (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best cheap bike we've found. Reviewer Parker Hall noted that it has trustworthy components like a Samsung battery and Shimano disc brakes, and nifty accessories like a cool suspension seat. At 39 pounds, it's also pretty light for an ebike! It ships directly to you too, which is handy if you'd like to avoid a bike shop right now.
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Photograph: TernBest Cargo Bike
Tern GSD S10The Tern GSD S10 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is my favorite cargo bike (of those I've tested). It completely changed the game by making a cargo bike small, fun, and convenient to ride, as well as useful. For example, it has small 20-inch and fat motorcross tires that help keep the bike's length equal to an average road bike. The rear rack is also lower for better stability, and the battery and motor are under the rack, rather than mounted on the downtube. You can also store it standing up on its end.
Tern recently announced the launch of the new GSD G2, which will be even stronger and smaller, with the same customizable Bosch motor that you can upgrade to a double-battery system. There's also a shorter HSD that can accommodate one child seat.
Photograph: Rad Power BikesBest Affordable Cargo Bike
Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4I'm currently riding the latest iteration of the RadWagon, called the RadWagon 4. It's undergone a tip-to-toe redesign to make it lower to the ground and easier to maneuver, with smaller, fatter tires that were designed in-house by Rad Power Bikes (and are, frankly, awesome) and Vee Tire Co. Not only is it affordable, it's also one of the few bikes I tested with a throttle, which comes in handy when you have to haul bike, baby, and gear across a street quickly.
I do have to note that the RadWagon 4 is the only bike I've ever had that has arced on me. A dangerous electrical current jumped the gap between the wires when I tried to plug in the battery. The display was cracked, which Rad cited as the probable cause. I'd recommend storing the bike in an outdoor shed if possible, and also having one of Rad's service partners take a look at it if you choose to assemble it yourself.
Photograph: Batch BicyclesBest Trusty Commuter
Batch E-BikeSeveral of us on the Gear team are on the hunt for the cheapest, most reliable daily commuter. We've tried several strong contenders, and very much like the Wing Freedom X. However, Batch's ebike came out on top for sheer reliability and durability. Rather than spend money on fancy extras like a suspension seat post or integrated light-up display, Batch spent money where it counts—on a high-end Bosch drivetrain, Shimano components, and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. It might be boring to look at, and you will have to buy your own bike lights, but it will take you there and back for as long as you need it.
Photograph: Electra BikeBest Casual Cruiser
Electra Townie Path Go!I spent a few fun, if uneventful, weeks riding the Electra Townie Path Go! this spring. With a high-end Bosch Performance Line drivetrain, an integrated battery, fat Schwalbe tires with a Kevlar casing, and a gorgeous paint job, this is a comfortable, beautiful cruiser that's designed to do mostly nothing, but to do it exceptionally well.
It has Electra's "flat foot" design, with a sit-up frame that has a relaxed seat angle and pedals that are set slightly forward. This lets you fully extend your legs while pedaling, while still keeping you low enough to the ground to put your feet flat when you're stopped. This bike is a great option if creaky knees or a bad lower back has kept you out of the saddle for awhile.
Photograph: CannondaleMost Versatile Bike
Cannondale Quick Neo SLThe Cannondale Quick Neo SL comes at a much better price point than our top pick, the Vado SL, and is almost as fun to ride. It does have a few pain points. It is compatible with multiple apps, only one of which shows battery life, and it's only compatible with a proprietary bike mount, so your clamp mount won't work. Also, operating the motor and turning on lights by toggling through a single button is incredibly confusing.
However, it's light, it's gorgeous, it wears its ebikeness lightly (it doesn't look like a terribly conspicuous, expensive bike when I park it in front of the liquor store), and it's super fun to ride over hill and dale. If you want to have an affordable ebike in your bike quiver that can serve as both a daily commuter and for fun dirt rides on the weekend, this is a good pick.
Photograph: Urban ArrowBest Minivan Substitute
Urban Arrow Family Electric Cargo BikeThe R & M Load used to be my top pick for a bakfiets: A Dutch-style front-box cargo bicycle. However, I recently tested the Urban Arrow Family, which is cheaper—and not by a little—and still offers many of the same features that attracted me to the Load, like comfort and maneuverability. It doesn't have suspension, though, so it's best for smoother streets.
My favorite feature is the Enviolo continuously variable shifters, which allow you to downshift while the bike is at a standstill. Rather than wobbling and terrifying my children as I frantically downshift while pedaling, I can use walk assistance to push the bike to a convenient spot, downshift while standing still, and then pedal upward at the torque and power level of my choice. I've beaten people who weren't riding cargo bikes uphill with this system.
Photograph: TernBest Folding Bike
Tern Vektron S10Folding bikes are a great option if storage space is an issue. Both Senior Associate Reviews Editor Julian Chokkattu and I like the Gocycle folding bikes, which are designed by a former McLaren engineer and let you customize the level of pedal assistance. But the Tern Vektron S10 I'm currently riding just edges it out.
The small, built-in display is more convenient than mounting a phone and using an app. The Vektron also has a high-end Bosch Performance motor and computer that makes pedaling smooth and easy, no matter how hard I tried to misalign the gearing and assistance levels. It also has a low, built-in rack and integrated lights. I also like how it looks—it's really easy to look like a crazy clown on a tiny folding bike, but the Vektron's fat tires and subdued colors counteracted that a bit.
Photograph: LectricA More Affordable Folding Ebike
Lectric Ebikes Lectric XP Step-ThruChokkattu is also currently testing the Lectric XP. For a folding bike, it's not super-convenient for apartment dwellers. It weighs 63 pounds and is heavy to carry up and down stairs. He also finds the folding system to be much more awkward than the Gocycle's, and you have to leave the key in the battery for it to work. But the 500W rear hub motor offers plenty of assistance and the fat tires are a smooth ride. It also comes with a lot of accessories, like a rear rack, fenders, an integrated display, and integrated front and rear lights. At this price point, that's not a bad deal at all.
Photograph: VanMoofGreat If You're in NYC, SF, or Seattle
VanMoof S3 and X3I'm sorry; I just don't like the VanMoofs. Every piece of it is locked down and proprietary and no locally-owned bike shop will help you out in a pinch if you're out riding and get a flat. I disabled all the alarms in the app because the bike was starting to creep out my 5-year-old every time she walked past it ("Mama, is that bike talking again?"). Also, I hate having to unlock a bike with an app. The Bluetooth has dropped out a couple of times on me and it's annoying, even if you can painstakingly unlock it with a backup code.
But my colleague Matt Jancer really likes it. And it is indeed stylish, feels great to ride, and comes at a very good price point for everything that's included (lights, rack, built-in alarms, the whole shebang). In particular, the sleek button shifters and floating front rack are pretty cool. They've also raised $40 million to expand their service options and open pop-ups in cities besides New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle, so this might be a more reasonable or convenient pick in the very near future.
Photograph: SpecializedBest Electric Mountain Bike
Specialized Men's Turbo Levo CompWhile many towns have restrictions on whether electric bikes are even allowed on single-track (thin) trails, reviewer Stephanie Pearson had a blast on Specialized's first pedal-assisted mountain bike (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It has a stiff, asymmetric frame that's longer in the front to make pounding the downhills feel smooth and safe, as well as a 500-watt motor with Smart Control, which means you don't have to adjust assistance when riding. It feels just as fun as a non-electric bike.
Photograph: Richard Le/Vintage ElectricA Fantastic, Stylish Ebike
Vintage Electric RoadsterI had the good fortune of seeing the Vintage Electric Roadster while my colleague Parker Hall was testing it. It's a beautiful bike in the flesh. While most ebikes that look like motorcycles try to mimic big-wheeled, laid-back cruisers, the roadster is a small, light, and elegant-looking cafe racer with premium steel and leather components, a nearly-silent motor, and a hidden race "key" you can pull to let 'er rip well over 20 mph.
This bike is tremendously expensive, conspicuous, and a little fickle—Hall did have to call the company for repairs during the testing period, although they were very easy to work with (as companies tend to be with gear reviewers). However, it is gorgeous and an absolute joy to ride, especially while blasting past your colleague who is begging you to do burnouts in the middle of the street.
Photograph: Getty ImagesAdvice to Keep in Mind
Understanding Electric Bike SpecsJust like any bike, electric bikes come with a ton of different technical specs that you may or may not care about. One that I do care about: What kind of drive does your bike have? More affordable ebikes use hub motor drives, where the motor is in the hub of the bike's wheel. Mid-drive motors, like Bosch or Shimano systems, are in the center of the bike and transfer the power to the wheel via the chain. Mid-drive motors feel more natural as you pedal and balance the bike's weight better.
If you live in an area that's wet or hilly, it's worth shelling out for a more powerful 500-W or 750-W motor and a few extras, like hydraulic or mechanical disc brakes, which will help prevent you and your cargo from skidding into traffic. If you have a longer commute, you may also want to look for a double-battery system, as the range on most ebike batteries is within 30 to 50 miles.
Direct-to-consumer brands are becoming more popular, but many local bike shops won't work on them. I prefer bikes with bigger dealer networks that have more widely available parts, better customer support, and honestly, they tend to ride a little better too.
Photograph: Patarapol Tularak/Getty ImagesEbike Classifications and Rules
Check Your Local LawsBefore you buy your electric bike, make sure you can actually use it! Many cities and states have local laws regulating when and where you can use an ebike. Check out our guide on the three different types of ebike classes. At least 22 states now use this three-class system, and they may restrict when and where different classes of ebikes are used depending on if they have a throttle or can assist above 20 mph. Cities may also have laws about whether mountain ebikes are allowed on single-track trails.
If your state classifies ebikes under the same laws governing motorcycles and mopeds, you may need a license to ride one. And no matter what, always wear a helmet.
