The 10 Best Electric Bikes, According to a Former Mechanic and Lifelong Tinkerer

E-bikes look and feel a lot like any other bike. There are two wheels, pedals, a seat, and handlebars for steering. But e-bikes give you motorized assist to help you get up those tough hills, arrive at your destination faster, or get more miles in on your next ride.

One of the biggest benefits of e-bikes is the ability to haul a lot of stuff, often without breaking a sweat. E-cargo bikes feature racks and/or large cargo bins that you can fill with groceries or even the kiddos. The electric assist means you can pedal all that cargo around with less effort than a non-motorized bike.

Of course, e-bikes aren’t just for hauling goods. Just about every category of bicycle now comes in an e-bike offering, from commuter bikes to mountain bikes and everything in between. Whether you’re trying to get to work faster and with less sweat, or just out to enjoy the woods, keep up with friends, and cruise around town, there’s an e-bike out there for you.

When you’re looking to purchase an e-bike, you’ll want to consider the types of rides you’re most likely to do, and the terrain on which you’re most likely to ride. You may like the look and feel of a simple beach cruiser, but if you’re mostly riding on dirt roads or in inclement conditions, a fat bike commuter might be a better option. Consider your use case first and foremost.

From there, you’ll want to consider whether you’ll be hauling cargo or not. If all you need to do is strap on a few pannier bags for the commute to work, a lighter commuter bike might be in your future. But if you want to stock up on groceries or take the kids to daycare, consider a larger cargo bike with a cargo bay in front of the rider.

Finally, consider how much assist you’ll need. Some e-bikes simply complement your pedaling input slightly; others can give you a major boost with a handlebar-mounted throttle. The more weight you’re going to carry, the more assist you’ll likely want.

Whichever e-bike you choose, make sure it fits you properly and is built by a reputable mechanic or bike shop. Many e-bikes can be assembled at home if you’re savvy with tools, but for assured safety and efficiency, it’s perfectly fine to leave it to the pros.

Best E-Bikes

The Expert: I’m a born tinkerer with a garage full of tools to prove it, and I spent 14 years as a bicycle mechanic in various shops across the U.S. So when it comes to riding and repairs, I’ve seen it all. I’m also the editor/publisher of Slowguyonthefastride.com and DawnpatrolMTB.com and the former technical editor of VeloNews Magazine.

My writing and photography have appeared in VeloNews Magazine, Triathlete Magazine, Podium Runner Magazine, Women's Running Magazine, Cycling Weekly, Rouleur Magazine, Road Bike Action Magazine, Mountain Bike Action Magazine, CycleVolta.com, Tomsguide.com, Cycle Sports Japan, CyclingTips.com, Bikerumor.com, Bicycle Retailer, Bicycling, and more. Find me on Instagram: @DawnPatrolMTB @slowguyonthefastride.

What to Look for in an E-bike

The first thing to think about when considering your e-bike purchase is where you’ll ride and how often. The best e-bike for you is the one that makes most sense for the type of riding you’ll do most often. For example, if you just want to get to the coffee shop five blocks away, you won’t need an e-mountain bike. But if you’ll be bringing the kids along with you, an e-cargo bike will be a better choice than a single-speed commuter bike.

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Make a list of what you want to do with your e-bike. Then put that list in priority order. That will help you start your search for the best e-bike. Once you have your list in priority order, consider the various types of e-bikes available. They include, but are not limited to:

Cruiser

Often called beach cruisers, such e-bikes will feature an upright riding position, easy gearing, and fun looks. These are best for fun, casual rides.

Commuter

These e-bikes can vary drastically in features and functionality. The basic purpose of the commuter e-bike is to get you from point A to point B efficiently, so they will often feature wide gearing options and a balance between an upright and more forward (aggressive) riding position. Commuter e-bikes are often designed for higher mileage trips (think 5+ miles). Look for front and rear lights, as well as mounting options for racks and bags intended to carry cargo.

City

A city bike is often simply designed, inexpensive (as e-bikes go), and lithe enough to get around obstacles and through traffic efficiently. Look for lightweight city bikes if you’ll be hauling your bike inside, especially if you’ll be toting it upstairs to an office or apartment.

Cargo

The biggest and bulkiest of all e-bikes, cargo bikes tout the most functionality. Some cargo e-bikes feature front and rear racks for hauling groceries, backpacks, or even kids. Others feature one large cargo area in front of the rider, which can haul even more cargo or kids. Front cargo areas tend to place the added weight lower to the ground, which increases stability. But such bikes tend to be quite long—up to 8 feet.

Fat Tire

Best for commuting or riding for fun in adverse conditions or off-road, fat tire bikes are exactly what they sound like: bikes with big, fat, aggressive tires. Such tires often measure between 4- and 5-inches wide. You can run the tires at low pressures for added traction in snow or mud. Fat tire e-bikes are a lot of fun off-road, but more importantly, the fat tires make them stable and comfortable.

Folding

The best option for short commutes to places with limited storage options, folding bikes often feature small wheels and tires and compact frames with pivot points. These points allow you to fold the bike up when you reach your destination and tote it upstairs to stow in your office or behind an apartment couch.

eMTB

Short for electric mountain bikes, eMTBs are designed specifically for use on trails. They most often feature front and rear suspension (shocks) to help mitigate impacts with rocks, roots, and other obstacles. eMTBs are best for riders who will spend most of their time riding off-road on trails and dirt roads, but they are an inefficient (though fun!) choice for commuting.

eRoad

Sometimes called Performance Road, eRoad bikes look and feel a lot like ‘racing’ bikes. They feature an aggressive riding position for aerodynamics, and drop bars (curved handlebars). It’s important for eRoad bikes to be lightweight, so that often means smaller batteries and motors, which can limit range or power. eRoad bikes are best for riders who want to ride fast, go further, climb higher, or just generally keep up with friends on the group ride.

eGravel

A relative newcomer to the market, eGravel bikes are yet another niche offering. Gravel bikes are designed to go fast on non-paved surfaces like dirt roads and very light singletrack trails. If you’re looking for a fun off-pavement experience but aren’t interested in challenging trails that would require an eMTB, an eGravel bike might be right for you. Alternatively, if your commute features a lot of dirt roads, eGravel may be right up your alley.

Controls

Most e-bikes come with some sort of visual display mounted on the bike’s handlebars or somewhere on the frame. This helps the rider see at a quick glance whether the motor is turned on, what assist level the bike is set to, and other vital information like current speed and trip distance. Some bikes opt for simpler controls with just LED lights to indicate Power On and assist level.

Look for controls that suit your needs best. Commuters may want information like trip distance and speed available to them at a quick glance. But more performance-oriented riders may want to save weight and opt for integrated LEDs that show just the bare necessities.

Motors

All e-bikes feature a motor for propulsion. These can live either in the rear hub or in the bottom bracket area (the lowest part of the frame between your pedals).

There are three electronic assist classes. Class 1 motors kick in only when you pedal and will stop helping at 20 mph. Class 2 also offers pedal-assist up to 20 mph, but also has a throttle-powered mode. Class 3 is pedal-assist like Class 1, but assistance continues until you hit 28 mph.

• Class 1: 20 MPH max assist speed; throttle not standard equipment
• Class 2: 20 MPH max assist speed; throttle comes standard equipment
• Class 3: 28 MPH max assist speed; throttle does not come standard equipment

A rear hub motor tends to keep the price of the bike lower and offers a lot of assist power. Mid-drive motors tend to cost more, but its position on the bike is also advantageous because it puts the added weight in the center of the bike, and low to the ground. This generally means it will have less negative effect on handling.

Battery and Range

On top of that, you’ll want to consider the battery size and range, versus its weight. As you add weight to the electronic mountain bike, the bike’s handling will change. Heavier bikes tend to be more difficult to handle, especially at higher speeds. A lighter bike will offer better handling, but if you sacrifice too much battery capacity to cut weight, you may find yourself pedaling home with no assist at all if your ride runs long.

Cargo Capacity and Functionality

While some e-bikes are made to haul cargo, others are simply designed to get you from point A to point B. If you’ll be hauling anything that you don’t want on your back in a backpack, you’ll want to make sure the e-bike you buy features mounts for racks or other cargo-hauling accessories. Many e-bikes even come standard with racks. And cargo bikes are designed specifically to haul stuff — which can include kids. Keep in mind, however, that adding such accessories, or opting for an e-cargo bike, adds significant weight.

Suspension Travel

Some commuter and city bikes feature front suspension. eMTBs often feature front and rear suspension. These components help absorb impacts. Travel — or, how much the suspension moves — is measured in millimeters. More millimeters mean the suspension will move more, therefore offering more impact absorption. Most commuter-style bikes feature around 80 mm of travel in the front of the bike and none in the rear. eMTBs can range anywhere from 80 mm front and rear up to 200 mm or more.

Drivetrains

These refer to the gear shifting mechanisms. In addition to motor assist, most bikes will come with additional gears that you can shift to adjust resistance and pedaling cadence. Some simpler bikes only feature one gear — known as a single speed. Others will have anywhere from six gears up to 12 in the rear, and one or two gears up front. More gears mean more versatility for varied terrain like hills. But they also mean more weight and complexity.