Best Electric Bikes 2024 Tested by the Editors of Bicycling

We’ve tested dozens of electric bikes in every category—commuter, cargo, cruiser, folding, mountain, and city. These are the ones worth considering in a range of styles and prices.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

The use of electric bikes continues to grow. And all types and ages of riders are getting e-bikes. Whether you need an e-bike for commuting, riding the bike path, getting around town, or mountain biking, there is an electric bike for you.

Many factors contribute to the rapid expansion of e-bike use—better batteries, more efficient motors, and lower weights—but the biggest reason is electric bikes are a blast to ride. The pedaling assistance provided by e-bike motors makes going up hills easier, allows riding longer distances, and enables riders to carry more cargo. With riding season in full swing—and many brands and dealers offering sales and discounts on popular e-bike models—now is a great time to buy an electric bike.

Shopping for an e-bike can be confusing. There are many e-bike categories, options, and prices; sometimes it’s hard to know which e-bike is right for you. Electric bikes are priced from under $1,000 to well over $10,000, Through ride testing and research, Bicycling’s Test Team found many great e-bikes priced between $1,500 and $3,500. For this roundup, we focused on these lower- and mid-price models—most of which you can purchase online directly from the brands. Many excellent e-bikes are also available through bike shops.

Brands like Aventon, Ride1Up, and Lectric offer affordable models you can buy online that performed well in our ride testing and evaluations. If you want to purchase an electric bike in person, test ride before you buy, or are uncomfortable assembling a bike, a bike shop is a great option. Established players like Specialized and Trek offer many types of e-bikes and have hundreds of dealers nationwide. Additionally, REI has locations nationwide offering its Co-op brand e-bikes and models from popular brands like Cannondale and Tern.

Check out Bicycling’s 2024 Bike Awards for 13 exceptional, high-performing e-bikes rigorously vetted by our editorial team.

Our experienced bike test team evaluates each model included here on its overall quality, safety features, handling, motor, and battery life. We also assess whether the components and features add to the overall quality of the ride. Bicycling editors tested these bikes on local roads, commuting to and from work, using them to stock up on groceries and beer, and running their batteries down to see how long they last on one charge.

Deputy editor Tara Seplavy, the author of this article, also worked in bicycle product development for two decades and led product management for major bike brands. Plus, she commutes to Bicycling’s headquarters daily on an e-bike.

While we rode most of the e-bikes in this story, sometimes we can’t get our hands on a great electric bike. In those cases, we rely on the expertise of our test team, interviews with product managers, and rigorous research to compare the bikes’ value and performance against similar models we’ve tested.

We loved the original Level but its update is an improvement in practically every way. A smoother riding bike than its predecessor, the Level.2 sports a new torque sensor that evenly distributes power, resulting in a more natural ride feel that’s easier to control and manage. Its update also adds visibility with integrated lights. Plus, the bikes uses a full-color, easy-to-read display. The Level.2 isn’t only one of our favorite e-bikes—with its price, comfort level, and premium features, we think it might be the best.

Our only gripe is with its Zoom Aria suspension fork, which can’t handle bigger bumps, though the lockout feature works well. When it hits these large bumps, the fork's rebound is unpredictable and tends to bottom out. Still, if you need an e-bike for doing almost anything, from commuting to work to zipping around pavement on the weekend, the Aventon Level.2 is our top nomination.

READ FULL REVIEW MORE BEST E-BIKES FROM AVENTON

A big reason to consider Lectric’s One, according to Test Editor Dan Chabanov, is its Pinion drivetrain. The German brand manufactures high-end and fully enclosed gearbox units—like internally geared hubs except mounted at the bottom bracket. Pinion products are typically found on pricey and niche bicycles. So, this system on a $2,400 commuter e-bike is exciting, especially since it’s a part usually reserved for bikes triple that price.

We were impressed with the Pinion system’s smooth feel and precision and Lectric’s hub motor in our testing. While the improved cadence sensor was better than others he’s used, Chabanov notes it was still very much a cadence sensor. “Like most cadence sensor-equipped bikes, the One feels disconnected from the motor,” he says. “This feeling is from a combination of lag (though very slight in this case) and because the force put into the pedals does not relate to the motor’s output. Both factors result in a slightly unnatural motor response.”

Still, it didn’t take Chabanov long to get used to how the One delivers its motor assist. The One is an ideal option for riders who seek a dependable, low-maintenance, all-weather commuter bike with the bells and whistles of a bike that usually costs much more.

The Medeo T9 is one of the best commuter e-bikes we have ridden this year. It comes from Gazelle, one of the world’s leading makers of commuter bikes. Based in the Netherlands, the brand manufactures the Medeo in a country renowned for its bicycle commuting culture and infrastructure. And the all-new Medeo T9 City is equipped perfectly for commuting with the smooth-running Bosch Active Line mid-drive motor and dependable Shimano drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes. For less than $2,300, the Medeo T9 City has the features and ride quality of much more expensive e-bikes and a price competitive with consumer-direct brands.

Commuter-ready out of the box, the Medeo has a MIK rear rack, aluminum fenders, and Continental tires. Though not intended for extended unattended periods, the Meteo has a built-in rear wheel lock for quick coffee shop breaks or convenience store stops. Additionally, the Medeo’s low-step frame and four sizes make it a great choice for seniors or riders unable to step over the top tube of traditional frames. For less than $2,300, the Medeo T9 City has the features and ride quality of much more expensive e-bikes and a price competitive with consumer-direct brands.

Compared to the original Aventure, the second-generation model rides more smoothly. Aventon’s new torque sensor allows more control over the acceleration of Aventure’s 750W rear hub motor. Lighter-weight testers found the previous model to have too much torque but the latest Aventure remedied this fault. Additional updates include a new head unit interface, integrated turn signals, a front light, a rear rack, and fenders for keeping clean.

The Aventure.2 is an excellent fat-tire e-bike for commuters—especially on snowy days and gravel pathways. Off-roading, it excels on doubletrack trails, but with this burly bike’s weight and components, it has limited functionality on singletrack and more aggressive mountain trails.

MORE OF THE BEST FAT TIRE E-BIKES

Brawny, big, and bold, the RadRover 6 Plus is powerful at its best and sluggish at its worst. With its 750W rear hub, 4-inch-wide tires, and 60mm travel RST suspension fork, it’s cushy and stable enough to tackle potholes on city streets and the occasional dirt, rocks, and snow.

Compared to its predecessor, an updated display and solid hydraulic disc brakes make the RadRover 6 Plus a more comfortable and relaxed ride. It is reasonably priced at about $1,300, making it a good option for many riders.

If you need a do-it-all bike to help get you to and from work or the grocery store and frequently battle the elements while doing it, or if you have a lot of land you’d like to tear up, the RadRover 6 is your beast. However, with its hefty 74-pound weight (without a rack), we wouldn’t dare to roll this e-bike upstairs into an apartment. Anyone living in a small space might have trouble storing this bike.

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If you want a quality e-bike but are unsure of where you will ride, Cannondale’s Neo Adventure Allroad series is a solid choice. Its 2.6-inch-wide knobby tires are suitable for dirt paths and rail trails. But the bike is also lightweight and nimble enough for commuting and riding around town.

The Allroad’s tires’ extra width helps smooth the ride without needing a heavy suspension fork, although they buzz a little on the pavement. The 250W Bafang hub motor on the Allroad and Allroad EQ models works well for flat roads and gentle hills but lacks power for steeper terrain. If you need an e-bike with more power, check out the Allroad S with a 750W motor and 28 mph top speed.

We tested the Allroad EQ model selling for $1,875. It is the same as the base-level Allroad and adds fenders, a rear rack, and hydraulic disc brakes. If you’re on a tight budget, get the Allroad, but if you can spend more than $2,000 get the Allroad S.

AVAILABLE IN LOW-STEP FRAME

Ride1Up’s new Portola folding bike packs a punch for its tiny size. Folding down to a compact 19- x 29.5- x 33-inch footprint, this bike features a 750W rear hub motor with 65Nm torque, hydraulic disc brakes, a Shimano 8-speed drivetrain, and an integrated rear rack with 130-pound carrying capacity.

For less than $1,000, this is a great deal for bimodal commuters, RVers, vanlifers, or folks living in a small apartment. The standard 10.4Ah battery has a claimed range of 20 to 40 miles. Or bump the range to 45 miles with an optional 13.4Ah battery for an additional $100.

For less than $1,900, the Discover 2 is better equipped and more powerful than some bikes double its price. With its low step-through frame, 440-pound maximum capacity (bike + rider + cargo), and torquey motor, this Velotric is great for around-town use, commutes, and running errands. Additionally, Velotric offers baskets and racks to expand the bike’s cargo-hauling abilities—perfect for those weekend rides to the farmers’ market.

Velotric offers the Discover 2 in four colors and two sizes. Our 6-foot test rider found the size large fit well for her height. Additional highlights included the suspension fork with lockout, 8-speed Shimano drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and an adjustable cockpit. The Discover has a bright and easy-to-read color display that allows easy customization of the bike’s assistance levels and speed limit.

We found the Discover has plenty of pep on flatter roads but, due to its weight, it can bog down on steep hills if using only throttle assist. The Discover 2’s biggest issue is some front wheel wobble. This is something many step-through e-bikes experience. It is only noticeable with both hands off the bar but is something that may concern some riders

The Aventon Ramblas is a category-defining hardtail e-MTB that impressed us during trail testing. Its trail-forward components include a 1x12 SRAM Eagle drivetrain that can handle most climbs, powerful four-piston SRAM brakes, a solidly stiff 35mm RockShox fork, a comfy dropper seatpost, and cushy 2.4-inch wide tires. These are unmatched by any other hardtail e-MTB, especially given its price.

The Ramblas has no true competitors for comparatively priced, trail-ready e-MTBs. Every so often a bike comes along that entirely shifts the bicycle market—the Ramblas might do that for mountain biking. And once more bike brands see and ride the Ramblas, I expect several will soon follow Aventon’s lead with sharp-priced, trail-capable hardtail e-MTBs.

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Sometimes, you want a classic cruiser to take out on the weekends. If casualness is your style then Ride1Up’s Cafe Cruiser is your best bet. Equipped with a built-in rack, front and rear lights, a 750W motor, hydraulic disc brakes, a decent suspension fork, and 3-inch-wide tires, this upright bike is stable enough for newer e-riders, and with an added passenger kit, a friend, too.

Our testing found that the bike had plenty of oomph to climb short hills despite its weight and laidback geometry. But, like several wide-tire bikes, it has some handling issues. It’s capable of speeds up to 28 mph (and 20 mph using the throttle), which is more than enough power to get you where you need to be.

With its 250W Mahle X35+ rear motor, 250Wh integrated battery, and concealed controller, it is hard to tell that Salsa’s Confluence is an e-bike until you get up close. The Mahle drive system operates smoothly and is quieter than low-cost hub motors. This bike’s 40NM torque provides pedaling assistance up climbs and long gradients. However, as a class 1 e-bike, the Confluence lacks a throttle, so you must pedal to engage the motor.

Salsa’s claimed range of 45 miles is not ideal for long days in the saddle (especially when using the maximum assist level). However, Mahle offers a range extender battery (almost twice the stock battery capacity) for longer or overnight trips.

If you need to carry it all, go with our 2023 Bike of the Year: Specialized’s Globe Haul ST. With a cargo capacity of a whopping 419 pounds, it’s good for a range of riding tasks, from grabbing groceries to dropping Fido off at doggy daycare.

Specialized designed this bike with the average commuter in mind, motivating riders to swap those short- and medium-distance car trips with a bicycle instead. The result is a well-designed short-tail cargo bike with wide 20- x 3.5-inch tires that can eat bumps while keeping you stable and low to the ground. It’s also a blast to ride.

Our test editor Dan Chabanov says it feels much more like a traditional bike than a souped-up e-cargo, which is to say, it’s actually fun. “If you haven’t ridden an e-cargo bike, you might take this for granted,” he says. “But the reality is that even some of the more compact e-cargo bike options out there often don’t ride like a typical bike, or worse, they simply ride poorly. As a cyclist, one of the Haul ST’s most enamoring traits is how much it rides like a ‘normal’ bike. Well, that and the ability to carry a week’s worth of groceries on it.”

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Hybrid bikes combine elements of road bikes (lightweight frame, 700c wheels) and mountain bikes (flat handlebar, wide-range gearing, and sometimes suspension). These bikes offer a compelling combination of traits that can make hybrids the best choice for many riders’ commuting, fitness, or leisure needs.

One of our top choices is Velotric’s T1. Sporty and quick, the bike handles much like some road bikes. Credit that snappy feel, she says, to the T1’s 350W rear hub motor and road bike-like geometry, but also from its weight at 36 pounds.

Velotric packs plenty of tech features into the T1, too. There’s a torque sensor for a smooth and natural pedaling feel and a light-sensing headlamp that turns on when it gets dark. For security, there is a fingerprint lock on the bike; plus GPS tracking and theft alert via Velotric’s app.

READ FULL REVIEW

Measured in Newton meters (or Nm), torque is a rotational measurement of force—and the number to pay attention to when you want an idea of an e-bike motor’s output. More torque means more power off the line and more boost to your pedaling.

The heavier the bike, the more torque it needs. Lighter road bikes typically have 30 to 40 Nm of torque, and trail and cargo models (generally) have at least 80 Nm. Most commuter bikes fall somewhere in between.

The size of an e-bike’s battery is measured in watt-hours (or Wh). This measurement represents the energy stored in the battery and how many watts it can deliver each hour. The higher the number, the longer the range, but the faster you go, the faster you drain the battery.

So, if a 504Wh battery paired with a 500W motor gives you one hour of ride time at the highest assist, riding at about half that power will double your range.

Many e-bike brands seamlessly integrate batteries to make the bike look sleeker (and more like a traditional non-assist bike). Most batteries lock to the bike and come with a key that lets you unlock and remove it, which serves multiple purposes: You can remove the battery and charge it off the bike, plus a locked battery deters (and hopefully prevents) a thief from stealing it. An e-bike with the battery removed is safer for hauling on a bike rack and lighter for carrying up steps.

Since e-bikes can maintain higher speeds for longer than standard bikes, you want extra control when riding. Wider tires provide better traction and the freedom to leave the pavement with little penalty, and a suspension fork will help tame some of the rougher roads you might explore. Good disc brakes are a must, too, for slowing a heavy bike at high speed. This is not a place to skimp.

Some e-bikes have an integrated lighting system that turns on when you power up the bike. While this is a great feature, it’s not a deal-breaker if your bike doesn’t come equipped this way. It’s just as easy to attach your own since so many great bike lights are available.

E-bikes need regular maintenance and repair to stay in good working condition. Because they’re heavier and go faster than non-assist bicycles, e-bikes often require more regular service on parts like brakes, tires, and drivetrain components. We recommend having a good relationship with a local bike shop experienced in e-bike repair to keep your equipment running smoothly.

E-bikes use electronics for their motors, batteries, and displays. These parts are often proprietary to bike brands or even specific e-bike models, making replacement more difficult than parts on non-electric bicycles. Make sure to use the correct electronic replacement parts to avoid damaging your e-bike (or it catching fire).

Established brands usually (but not always) have a good supply of these parts for replacement, even for years after a bike goes out of production. Bosch and Shimano are two e-bike motor manufacturers with some of the most compatibility between bikes and stock parts for previous generations of systems.

Look for e-bikes from brands that offer at least a one-year warranty on electronic components (many brands’ warranties are longer) and make items like replacement batteries for your bike. These parts are usually not cheap (sometimes up to half the cost of a new bike), but it’s the difference between having an e-bike that can be repaired or becomes a bicycle-shaped paperweight if something goes wrong.

Several manufacturers offer kits to add pedal assistance to a non-electric bike. We purchased a few popular conversion kits, fitted them to bikes, and rode them. We do not recommend most of these kits for use. While converting an old bike to an electric assist sounds good in theory, it rarely makes practical sense. Plus, it can lead to rider injury or failure of the bike.

Manufacturers do not design non-electric bikes to accommodate the extra weight and forces incurred when adding an e-bike motor, battery, and control equipment. This puts more stress on the bicycle frame and other components and can lead to breakage or failure of the bike.

A particular conversion device we like is the Clip friction-drive motor. This sub-10-pound motor mounts to the front wheel of most commuter, city, road, or gravel bikes (basically, bikes without suspension forks) and provides up to 15 mph pedaling assistance. The Clip attaches (and removes) quickly from your bike and is ideal for urban commuters who lock their bike outdoors. It doesn’t have a super long range (up to 12 miles claimed on the $600 Explore version) but features regenerative braking that helps enhance the range (especially if your commute includes bridges, overpasses, or small hills).

Bicycling Senior Motion and Graphics Editor David Monk tested the Clip on his singlespeed and gravel bike for several months commuting to our office in New York City and around his neighborhood in Queens, New York. Monk said, “The Clip is more intuitive to use than expected.” He also noted it is “great for my commutes” and “the Clip fits under my desk, which makes charging easy.”

While the Clip is not an e-bike, it’s perfect for riders needing something lightweight and portable or who only occasionally require pedal assistance. And as Monk noted, “The Clip sure beats lugging a 65-pound e-bike up a few flights of stairs.”

Selecting most conversion kits requires knowing the fitment details of your bike and might require specialized tools for installation. Many do not have a straightforward installation process, and it can be a challenging project for novice mechanics. If you want a shop to install a conversion kit, check with the shop before purchasing it. Since most non-electric bikes are not engineered to accommodate electric conversions, many shops will not install these kits.

Many economical e-bikes do not cost much more than the total price of a conversion kit plus the installation cost. We recommend buying a purpose-built e-bike for the best and safest experience.

Following a dramatic increase in fires caused by the lithium-ion batteries used in electric bikes, there is a push from local officials, regulatory agencies, and advocacy groups across the U.S. for improved safety certification of e-bikes, batteries, and motor units. On September 16, 2023, a New York City law took effect requiring that any e-bike sold in the city “has been certified by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standard 2849”. In November 2023, Amazon announced it ceased illegal battery sales to New Yorkers.

However, just because something is marketed as UL 2849 compliant, tested to UL 2849, or even “certified to UL 2849” does not mean it is UL Safety Certified. Ibrahim Jilani, UL’s Global Director of Consumer Technology, notes: “Certification is always earned by a manufacturer and not a given when they undergo a product submittal. The UL Mark, or any authorized certification mark, can only be issued upon successful demonstration of meeting the requirements of the safety standard.” You can find UL’s updated list of products Certified to UL 2849 here. You can cross-reference OSHA’s Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories for a deep dive into the topic.

After determining which style of bike is right for you, the next consideration is which class of e-bike best fits your needs. In the U.S., there are three e-bike classifications. These are defined by the type of assist and how fast the motor will propel you. Most electric bikes are class 1 or 3. Class 1 bikes have a motor (max 750W) that assists while pedaling up to 20 mph. Class 3 (sometimes known as “speed pedelec”) can have up to a 750W (aka 1-horsepower) motor but can assist you up to 28 mph. Both are allowed in most states and cities without needing a license.

Class 2 models have become more popular with riders, especially at lower prices. These models have a throttle that can propel a bike up to 20 mph without needing continuous pedaling.

Some bikes blur the lines. Aventon’s popular Pace 500, for example, is technically a Class 3 e-bike in that it reaches speeds up to 28 mph, but it also has a throttle that tops out at 20 mph (the maximum legal speed for a throttle).

Good quality e-bikes can cost a lot of money; purchasing a pre-owned bike is one way to save some cash and get a better model. If you want to shop for a used e-bike in person, some bicycle stores offer refurbished units. Shopping in person allows you to check the integrity and condition of the bike before you buy it. When purchasing from a shop, make sure that the retailer is experienced with e-bike service and that the bike includes the proper charger and battery.

If purchasing a used e-bike directly from another owner on a third-party site, it’s wise to get the bike inspected by an experienced e-bike shop or mechanic before handing over your money. E-bikes experience higher wear-and-tear than non-assist bicycles, and many e-bikes use proprietary parts or require special tools to service or update software.

With the boom in e-bike sales, a few websites—like Upway—have sprung up selling reconditioned and certified e-bikes. Often, these e-bikes have low mileage or were sales floor samples at shops—some are even brand new or are new old stock of a previous model year. While it costs more than purchasing from an individual seller, buying a used bike from these sites usually means you have some warranty on your e-bike and ensures that it was inspected properly.

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.

Bill Strickland is the Rider-in-Chief of Bicycling. His equal passions for cycling and writing have led to the books Ten Points: A Memoir; Tour de Lance: The Extraordinary Story of Cycling’s Most Controversial Champion; Mountain Biking: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Ride; and The Quotable Cyclist. His Bicycling story, “100 Pedal Strokes” won a National Magazine Award for Interactive Feature in 2008. In 2009, he assigned and edited the story “Broken,” which won the National Magazine Award for Public Interest. “The Escape,” the December, 2011, edition of his Bicycling magazine column The Pursuit, was named a Notable story by The Best American Sports Writing. Various editions of his books have been translated into Dutch, German, Hebrew, and Japanese. He uses commas by rhythm and sound, which is a terrible way to do it but makes him happy.

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