The 13 Best Electric Bikes for Every Kind of Ride
For years, electric bikes have been slightly gimmicky—bulky, inconvenient, expensive machines whose usefulness (and battery life) was limited. But that has changed over the past few years. As commutes changed or got shorter, and cities made accommodations for people socializing outside, the way people moved around also changed.
Electric bikes are now lighter, more attractive, and more powerful than ever. 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 over the past year, so stock may fluctuate. You may also notice bike prices are rising. Multiple factors, including the pandemic, have complicated the global supply chain, and exemptions on a 25 percent tariff on all ebike imports have recently expired. We've done our best to include lower-priced options. My fellow Gear writers and I 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 April 2021: We added new models like the Gazelle Ultimate C380 HMB, added a list of honorable mentions, and removed older models.
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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 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 nor 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. This year, I tried the brand's latest Turbo Como SL, but no matter how light you try to make a big cruiser it's still a big cruiser. Stick with the Turbo Vado SL for now.
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 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 notes 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, which is handy if you'd like to avoid a bike shop. Propella updates its bikes every few months, and the 4.0 version is now shipping for July.
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 many strong contenders, and Batch's ebike—the Honda Civic of ebikes—came out on top. 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's not a particularly exciting ride, and it might be boring to look at. You'll also have to buy your own lights. But it's reliable, not too spendy, and will take you there and back for as long as you need it.
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Photograph: VanMoofAnother Good Commuter
VanMoof S3 and X3Riding bikes often means involuntarily becoming your own mechanic. For that reason, it's been hard for me to like the VanMoofs: Every piece is locked down, proprietary, and deliberately hard to fiddle with. But my colleague Matt Jancer really likes them and says they feel great to ride. Both the S3 and X3 come at a very good price point for everything that's included (lights, rack, built-in alarms, the whole shebang), and they're incredibly stylish. The floating rack and sleek button are both pretty cool. The two are different in size, with the S3 accommodating taller riders.
This year, VanMoof announced the inclusion of a removable power bank for the first time. It also recently announced it will be expanding its physical presence from eight cities to more than 50 across the world. That's a huge expansion, even if its presence is still limited to five US cities. Its bikes now also work with Apple's Find My app. If you live in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, or Washington, DC, have an iPhone, and never want to see a bike chain, the VanMoof is starting to look like a great pick.
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 consumers, and rather than working exclusively with companies like Bosch and Shimano, it develops its own custom hub-motor drivetrains with a number of 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 or a stable seat for your 4-year-old, or you just want to ditch your gas-powered Vespa.
Photograph: GazelleBest Cruiser
Gazelle Ultimate C380 HMBI prefer bikes that feel like bikes. However, if you prefer your electric motor to power a beefier ride, my colleague Parker Hall loves Gazelle's Ultimate C380 HMB (WIRED Recommends, 8/10). It has a step-through frame and top-of-the-line specs: Bosch Performance Line mid-drive motor, Enviolo shifter, big wheels, and comfy front suspension. At almost 55 pounds, it's pretty heavy. It's also pricey, and you might end up paying for extras like a rear-wheel lock that neither I nor Hall could figure out how to use. But it's powerful, more reliable, and more nimble than some of the other big cruisers we've tried.
Photograph: TernBest Cargo Bike
Tern GSD S00 LXI'm currently riding this year's Tern GSD S00 LX, and our review is forthcoming. But it does make me wonder why I put my children on any other bike. The top-of-the-line Bosch Cargo Line motor surges forward effortlessly, controlled by an Enviolo shifter that lets me change gears even at a standstill. It can fit riders as short as 4'9", and the rack is low to the ground. It has a weatherproof belt drive, a cushy suspension seat post, an integrated Abus wheel lock, and a new locking kickstand. Why has no one else realized how easy it is to accidentally knock down a kickstand with your kids on board?
Tern's accessories are also the best I've tried. This year, it's debuting the Clubhouse, a passenger system that fits the Storm Shield, its canopy. It works much more like a convenient, durable, windproof tent than the flimsy, plastic-tarp-like rain covers I've tried before. No more children complaining about rain prickling their faces! Unfortunately, it's heinously expensive. Tern does sell GSD models without as many features or upgrades for slightly cheaper.
Photograph: Rad Power BikesBest Affordable Cargo Bike
Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4If the Tern's prices are simply unbearable, I'll note here that the latest version of the RadWagon underwent a tip-to-tail redesign that, er, made it very similar. It's now much lower to the ground and easier to maneuver, with smaller, fatter tires that are designed in-house by Rad Power Bikes (and are, frankly, awesome) and Vee Tire Co. Not only is it affordable, but 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.
But the cheaper price comes with stipulations. 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: 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 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. The Bosch Performance motor is currently out of stock, but the version with the more powerful Bosch Cargo Line motor is available.
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 quiver that can serve as both a daily commuter and for fun dirt rides on the weekend, this is a good pick.
Photograph: TernBest Folding Bike
Tern Vektron S10Folding bikes are a great option if storage space is an issue. This year, we've tried a lot of them, and they're all great for different reasons. But I haven't found anything I like better than the Tern Vektron S10. It's bigger than the Brompton, but the ride is much smoother and more powerful—it still feels like a bike. The built-in display is more convenient than mounting a phone and using an app, as you'd have to do on a Gocycle. And unlike more affordable options, the Vektron also has a high-end Bosch Performance motor and computer that make pedaling smooth and easy, no matter how hard I tried to misalign the gearing and assistance levels. It has a low, built-in rack and integrated lights to boot.
Photograph: LectricA More Affordable Folding Ebike
Lectric Ebikes Lectric XP Step-ThruWIRED Editor Julian Chokkattu likes the Lectric XP (7/10, WIRED Recommends). 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 500-watt 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, that's not a bad deal at all.
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: Brompton ElectricHonorable Mentions
Other Ebikes We Like To BikeWe tried a lot of bikes over the past year. Here are the ones that didn't get their own spot above but deserve a mention:
- The Montague M-E1 ($3,695): My colleague Julian Chokkattu loves this powerful folding ebike (9/10, WIRED Recommends) that rides and looks just like a regular step-through.
- Wing Freedom X ($1,499): My colleague Matt Jancer says the Wing Freedom X (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a light, powerful, and very affordable commuter bike.
- The Gocycle G4 ($3,999): We haven't tried this year's iteration of the Gocycle, the fast-folding bike designed by a former McLaren engineer. However, we like last year's model and the one from the year before that very much.
- The Bunch Original Electric Cargo Bike ($4,499): I didn't like the Bunch much, but my family did. It's a standard, if slightly expensive, box bike you might see in Europe and would work well if you didn't have to go very fast and don't have cambered (sloping) roads.
- Brompton Electric Folding Bike ($3,499): The Brompton is the most compact folding bike on the market, with a clever, detachable, front-mounted battery system that makes it perfect for flying. The drivetrain is designed by a Formula One racing team, but it's not as powerful or comfortable to ride compared to our other picks.
Photograph: Getty ImagesAdvice to Keep in Mind
Understanding Electric Bike SpecsJust like any bike, electric bikes come with a ton of 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 they 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-watt or 750-watt 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 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 and better customer support, and honestly they tend to ride a little better.
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 laws regulating when and where you can ride an ebike. Check out our guide on the three classes of ebikes. 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 whether 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.
