Ditch the Car (and Gas Hike) for These Top-Rated E-Bikes Instead
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With expensive gas, scarce parking, and traffic, there are plenty of good reasons to ditch your car for a bike. But bikes have their downsides too — whether as commuters or weekend cruisers — leaving us sweaty, tired, and possibly late to our destination. Thankfully, there’s now a middle-ground: the best electric bikes.
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After tremendous advancements over the past couple years, the best electric bikes (a.k.a. “e-bikes”) are now better than ever. They can travel up to 40 miles on a single charge and hit speeds of 28 miles per hour (all without us breaking a sweat), and their price tags are now more reasonable as well.
In other words, the best electric bikes are now a viable alternative to driving — especially for daily commuters. With the physical exertion of a light walk, e-bike riders are able to zip by traffic, park almost anywhere, and save a fortune on gas. Plus, the best electric bikes provide a lovely weekend activity to boot.
If you’re thinking of investing in an e-bike, read on. We’ve rounded up some of the best electric bikes to buy online, as well as a few key considerations to help you make the right purchase.
In This Article
The Best Electric Bikes to Buy Right Now
Electric Bike Buying Guide
How We Chose the Best Electric Bikes
The Best Electric Bikes to Buy Right Now
Whether you’re commuting, cruising the park, or hitting the trails, electric bikes are now well worth considering. Below are some of the best electric bikes for all terrains and activities.
Best Overall: Ride1Up Prodigy
Best Moped-Style E-Bike: Super73-S2
Best Cruiser: Velotric Nomad 1
Best Budget Pick: Lectric XP 2.0
Best Road Bike: Vela High-Step
Best Mountain E-Bike: Go Power Go Speed
1. Ride1Up Prodigy
Far too many modern electric bikes pack on power and features without considering power delivery, balance, and overall quality. Hence our love for the Ride1Up Prodigy. It’s one of the smoothest, most nimble, and most sturdy-feeling e-bikes we’ve tested, but still brings speed and features to rival any brand.
The riding position is somewhere in between a cruiser and a road bike, lending control for tight turns and enough comfort for longer rides. On straightaways, it’ll quickly blast to more than 25 miles per hour, and the 9-speed Shimano trigger shifter ensures easy peddling at any electric setting or speed.
But the real deciding factor for us was Prodigy’s power delivery. At any speed, electric power feels like a boost to your organic pedaling instead of a jerky surge (which we see a lot). This, plus the Prodigy’s do-anything hybrid build, makes it our favorite e-bike of 2023.
Ride1Up Prodigy
2. Super73-S2
You can tell just by looking at the Super73-S2 that it’s not like other e-bikes. With beefy tires, a rugged, aircraft-grade aluminum alloy frame, and a long seat, the S2 looks closer to a motorcycle than a bicycle. It feels more like a motorbike too, as you sit in a lower, more relaxed position. And once you’ve started up the bike, it moves with more power than others, easily hitting almost 30 miles per hour — even without the use of pedals. Lastly, 40 miles of range means you can enjoy the bike’s smooth, fun power for long rides or commutes.
In our testing, the Super73-S2 stood out just by feeling noticeably more sturdy, rugged, and powerful (although on paper it doesn’t seem too different than others). In other words, the S2 not only brings high-end power, but also the build quality to match that brawn. The bike does command a higher price for this unique sturdiness, but we think it’s worth it.
Super73-S2
3. Velotric Nomad 1
If you’re looking for a comfy cruiser that can tackle dirt and sand just as easily as concrete, check out this Nomad 1 from Velotric. With extra-beefy tires, soft (adjustable) suspension, and a rugged frame, the Nomad 1 delivers an experience that’s somewhat similar to the Super73 — only the Nomad 1 costs half the price. But the bike’s specs are much better than its price would suggest: You get up to 55 miles of range, hydraulic brakes, and a Shimano 8-speed. In our testing, the bike was also very quick: It’ll jump up to around 25 miles per hour effortlessly, and can even breach 30 with some intense pedaling.
4. Lectric XP 2.0
Although e-bikes can get pricey, you don’t need to empty the piggy bank to get a fun e-bike. Case in point is Lectric’s line of affordable, folding e-bikes, such as this XP 2.0. For less than $1,000, the XP brings an 850-watt motor joined to a reliable battery that can run for up to 45 miles. On the road, fat tires and adjustable front fork suspension provide plenty of comfort, whether you’re commuting or getting in a pleasure cruise.
But one of the best features of the Lectric XP is its folding design. This lets you break down the bike to fit in just about any trunk or medium-sized cabinet, making storage and transportation extremely easy. This is also great for safety purposes: Just fold up the bike and bring it into the office, restaurant, or store instead of locking it outside.
Lectric XP 2.0
5. Vela High-Step
This Vela High-Step is more than its good looks (and it has plenty of those). Thanks to its light frame and central, vertically-mounted battery, the Vela is the most nimble e-bike we’ve tested, making it an excellent choice for weaving through busy city streets. This agility is complemented by an incredibly smooth power delivery system — a very welcome upgrade over the jolting torque we’ve seen on some e-bikes. In short, the Vela delivers a familiar yet effortless experience: you feel like you’re riding a non-electric bike — just faster.
The Vela’s range is solid too (40 miles), though top speed is somewhat limited, compared to competitors, at 20 miles-per-hour. But, when you’re zipping through urban areas, 20mph feels plenty fast, making the Vela our top choice for any city commuter.
Vela High-Step
6. Go Power Go Speed
Most mountain bikers have those rides when we just want to reach the top and enjoy a downhill run. This Go Speed from Go Power lets you do that better than any non-electric mountain bike. It features a 750-watt motor and a light aluminum frame for smooth climbs up steep trails. All in all, this can transform tough uphill slogs into breezy jaunts. When you’re ready to head back downhill, the bike is prepared with an 80-millimeter front suspension fork, 180-millimeter Tektro brakes, and knobby puncture-resistant tires.
Go Power Go Speed
Electric Bike Buying Guide
Shopping for electric bikes isn’t quite the same as finding a regular bicycle. Below are some specs we looked at while choosing the best electric bikes for you.
Power: E-bike power is measured in watts, with motors ranging anywhere from 250 to 750 watts. Higher power is great (especially for heavier riders) and will provide more boost as you pedal.
If you already bike and just want minor help from a motor, a lower-wattage electric bike should be fine. Also, note that e-bikes cap their reported electric-powered speed at 28 miles per hour by law — any faster and they’d have to be classified as a moped or motorcycle. If you’re just riding a regular e-bike, you don’t need a special drivers license.
Battery: Longer battery life equals a longer range, which is always a plus. This is usually listed as a range because speed, rider weight, and terrain (i.e. uphill or downhill and street or trail) can affect a battery’s range. Typically, good e-bike batteries will get you 20 to 40 miles of range.
Style: Most customers purchase e-bikes for commuting — these kinds of bikes are described as hybrid or city models. But there are also some excellent sporty road bikes with motors, as well as electric mountain bikes. Those are bikes that take you from riding on the road to off-road adventures with ease.
Another term to keep in mind when it comes to style is “step-thru.” These kinds of bikes feature a top tube (the upper bar in the frame) that’s been lowered or removed completely for easy mounting and dismounting.
Brakes: Stopping power becomes more important with electric bikes. Look for high-quality brake systems, ideally using hydraulic technology instead of mechanical.
Size: Proper bike sizing is always key for power transfer and comfort. Be sure to check a bike’s size before buying (many bike listings will display the rider height range).
How We Chose the Best Electric Bikes
Although specs can give you an idea of an e-bikes prowess, getting time in the seat is the only way to find out if a bike is worth your money. We spent as long as a few weeks testing out certain e-bikes, and at least a couple of hours for others, looking for balanced handling, smooth power transfer, and overall ease of use with the bike’s electrical and mechanical systems. We also did our best to use the bikes in a variety of environments, including dense traffic, wide-open bike paths, and even dirt trails in a few instances.
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