In the past several years, massive leaps in battery and motor technology have made electric bikes lighter, more powerful, and longer range than ever before. The electric motors are fully adjustable, allowing you to choose whether the bike gives you a subtle boost or whether it does the brunt of the work on its own. This means that an e-bike gives you unparalleled freedom and power, as you can use your bike for exercise, for effortless travel, or anything in between.
Here’s everything you need to know to pick the very best electric bicycle for adults for any type of riding, whether you’re a serious road biker, a bike commuter, or a casual weekend rider.
We’ll go over the basics of what to look for in an e-bike and give you plenty of standout examples in each category to help guide your search, but here’s a quick summary of the best bikes for adults for various purposes before we get to the meat and potatoes.
| Model | Type | Range on max pedal assist | Weight | Speed | Carry capacity | Price |
| Aventon Level | Hybrid | 25 miles | 60 lbs | 28 mph | 300 lbs | 1799 USD |
| RadRover 6 Plus | Hybrid | 28 miles | 72 lbs | 20 mph | 275 lbs | 1999 USD |
| Ride1Up 700 | Hybrid | 30 miles | 62 lbs | 28 mph | 275 lbs | 1695 USD |
| Himiway Zebra | Hybrid | 25 miles | 79lbs | 25 mph | 400 lbs | 1,999 USD |
| Lectric XPremium | Folding | 60 miles | 75 lbs | 28 mph | 330 lbs | 1799 USD |
| Aventon Soltera | Hybrid/Fitness bike | 22 miles | 41 lbs | 20 mph | 300 lbs | 1199 USD |
| Ride1Up Turris | Hybrid/Fitness bike | 25 miles | 57 lbs | 28 mph | 300 lbs | 1,295 USD |
| RadMission | Single speed | 25 miles | 48 lbs | 20 mph | 275 lbs | 1199 USD |
| Trek Domane+ LT 7 | Road bike | 17 miles (approx) | 32 lbs | 20 mph | 275 lbs | 9249 USD |
| Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser | Cruiser | 30 miles | 65 lbs | 28 mph | 300 lbs | 1595 USD |
| Trek Domane+ ALR | Road/gravel | 17 miles (approx) | 33 lbs | 20 mph | 275 lbs | 5049 USD |
| Trek Domane+ HP | Road/gravel | 30 miles (approx) | 37.5 lbs | 28 mph | 275 lbs | 7499 USD |
| RadExpand 5 | Folding | 25 miles | 62.5 lbs | 20 mph | 300 lbs | 1499 USD |
| Lectric XP 3.0 | Folding | 30 miles | 64 lbs | 28 mph | 330 lbs | 999 USD |
| Brompton Electric | Folding | 20 miles | 32 lbs | 15 mph | N/A | 3850 USD |
| Ride1Up Roadster v2 | Single speed | 18-20 miles | 33 lbs | 24 mph | 275 lbs | 1045 USD |
| RadWagon 4 | Cargo bike | 22 miles | 76.7 lbs | 20 mph | 350 lbs | 1999 USD |
| Bunch | Cargo bike | N/A | 154 lbs | N/A | 350 lbs | 3999 USD |
| Trek Rail 7 | MTB | 20 miles | 53 lbs | 20 mph | 275 lbs | 6649 USD |
| Rambo Megatron | Fat/Hunting Bike | 50-60 miles | 77 lbs | 28 mph | 300 lbs | 7299 USD |
How To Choose An Electric Bike for Adults
No matter what kind of riding you do, there are a number of constant factors that you should look for in your electric bike. These include the bike’s range, power, and weight, how comfortable it is, the quality of the bike’s components, and the reliability of the bike’s brand. Depending on how you ride, you may also want to look for accessories like racks, fenders, and lights to empower you to use your bike for more journeys.
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Battery and range
E-bike range is a tricky factor to judge accurately, but it’s definitely one of the first things you’ll want to consider. No matter what you want to use your bike for, a big, long-lasting battery will give you a lot more flexibility.
If you can, be sure to track down real-world testing for the model of bike you’re considering rather than using the manufacturer’s estimate.
While a handful of manufacturers like Aventon and Ride1Up give incredibly accurate ranges that are backed up by real-world data, others give almost wishful numbers that are difficult to replicate with even the lowest pedal assist setting.
Speed and motor power
Most e-bikes are electronically limited to top speeds of either 20 or 28 miles per hour. In fact, European law requires that electric bikes can have a maximum motor power of 250W and they can only assist the rider when pedaling up to 25 km/h (15.5 mph). This limit is the result of legislation that governs e-bikes, not because of the actual power of the motor.
To judge motor strength, you’ll want to consider things like the wattage of the motor, the wattage of the controller, and any information you can find about the motor’s torque or peak output. Remember that you’re helping the bike with your legs, so the motor doesn’t have to do all of the work by itself.
In a lot of cases, a very small push from the motor can add to your human power output to get you up to high speeds. If you know you like to ride up lots of hills, you don’t want to sweat on your commute, or you’re looking at single gear bikes, be sure to get an e-bike with a powerful motor. If you’re just looking for a little bit of a boost, you can probably get away with something a lot smaller.
Bicycle weight
Batteries and motors are getting lighter, but they’re not weightless. Light e-bikes tend to weigh at least 30 lbs, while the heavier ones can weigh 70 lbs or more.
You’ve got an electric motor that will help you to pedal all of this weight around, so it’s not all bad, but you should consider how you store and move your bike while you’re not riding it.
Heavy e-bikes tend to have great range and are very comfortable to ride, making them great for commuting, running errands, and cruising around town.
Lighter e-bikes can feel a bit more fun to ride, but they tend to have thinner tires, less battery range and life, and no suspension. This means that you’ll feel bumps in the road more and the motor won’t be able to go as far on a single charge.
Bear in mind that you can always pedal an e-bike on your own after it’s out of juice. This means that a very light e-bike can get away with less battery life than a big, heavy one, as it’s not as big of a deal to run out of power mid-ride.
Comfort
There are two big areas to consider when thinking about a bike’s comfort.
First, look at the riding style that the bike is set up to support. A cruiser bike with an upright riding position and high, swept-back handlebars is going to handle one way, while a road bike with a more aggressive riding position and low drop bars will ride totally differently.
Most e-bikes are on the relaxed and comfortable end when it comes to riding position and style, but there are a few exceptions to this. Even within that relaxed style, there’s enough variance that you’ll want to make sure the bike you’re looking at matches your intended use patterns.
Try to find a bike with a style of handlebars and seat that you’re comfortable using for your rides.
Second, look at features like suspension or fork curvature and the size of the bike’s tires. Suspension can help the bike literally absorb the roughness of the road, helping maintain a smooth ride over bumpy pavement, dirt, gravel, or rocks.
On bikes without suspension, a properly designed front fork will have a bit of flex vertically while remaining stable in the other dimensions. This usually looks like a slight bend to the front fork.
Finally, (and perhaps most importantly), the thicker the tires on your bike are, the better they’ll be at smoothing out your ride over rough surfaces.
Big tires tend to be much more flexible in terms of pressure, allowing you to let some air out of your tires for even more shock absorption or pump them up all the way when you want to be more efficient with your power output.
Quality of components
Most e-bikes these days come with very normal midrange components. These include shifters, derailleurs, brakes, and forks. In most cases, the components you’ll find on an e-bike are no different than the components you’d find on a comparable bike without a motor.
Because you’ll be going fast, try to look for a bike with slightly nicer brakes than you’d normally get, as you’ll need the stopping power. Otherwise, look for reliable components from reputable brands like Shimano or SRAM for shifting, Shimano or Tektro for brakes, Kenda, Schwalbe or Continental for tires.
Customer service
There’s a bit of variance when it comes to e-bike brands. The brands on this page (including Aventon, rad power bikes, Ride1Up, Trek, and Brompton) were chosen because they’ve got a great track record of excellent reliability and standout customer service.
Bikes are complicated to ship, so any company that ships bikes to customers will experience issues in transit every now and then. The brands on this page work hard to minimize that risk and will work with you to rectify any issues that occur.
If you’re considering other brands, be sure to do a bit of legwork and make sure that they offer a level of quality and customer support that you’re comfortable with.
Accessories included/available
Finally, depending on how you intend to ride your bike, you’ll want to look at accessories like racks, fenders, and lights.
Racks aren’t necessary for every ride, but they give you the ability to easily carry a few dozen pounds of gear without any hassle or effort. This means you can commute to work with a briefcase, carry groceries back from the store, or carry a case of your favorite beverage to a friend’s house. In other words, having a rear rack will massively multiply the number of things you can use your e-bike to do.
Fenders fulfill a similar role. These curved barriers sit between you and the wheels of your bicycle. When you’re going 28 miles an hour on a wet bike lane, you’ll kick up a lot of dirty road water. With fenders, that dirty road water mostly stays on your fenders. Without fenders, you might find that your pants get wet and dirty as you ride.
Lights are a necessary safety feature for riding in foggy and dark conditions. Some e-bikes have integrated lights that run off the bike’s main battery, ensuring that you don’t need to worry about purchasing AAs for your bike’s accessories. While you can run just about any bike light on an e-bike, having integrated ones can save you a lot of hassle and money over the long run.
Now that you know what to look at, let’s go over some of the very best adult e-bikes on the market in each category.
If you would like to read in more detail on this topic, you can read my ultimate electric bike buying guide.
Best Commuting Ebikes For Adults
These bikes are designed for comfort and range while carrying a bit of cargo in the city.
With options like fenders, racks, and lights included and enough battery to get you to work and back on one charge, they’re a great way to get some exercise in your workday or even replace your car.
Aventon Level
An upgrade to Aventon's flagship commuter ebike, Level.2 is as innovative as it is efficient. A fully integrated battery, four integrated lights, and a front suspension fork provide ultimate comfort and safety no matter the terrain or time of day.
- 8-speed Shimano drivetrain
- 2.2″ wide tires
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 60 lbs
- 25 miles range
- 500W motor
- Great customer service
The Aventon Level is an affordable, fully-kitted out commuter bike from one of the e-bike world’s most dependable brands. It features hydraulic disc brakes, an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain, a front suspension fork, full fenders, and a rear rack. It’s got cushy 2.2″ wide tires to smooth out roads, giving it a great balance of comfort and speed.
The Level weighs 60 lbs. It gets 25-26 miles out of a single charge when you’re cruising on maximum pedal assist. The hub motor delivers 500 watts of nominal output with 750 watts of peak power, meaning it’s more than powerful enough to get you up to the legal limit of 28 miles per hour.
In terms of design and riding style, the Level is a very normal commuter e-bike. It’s got straight handlebars and a very upright design, making it feel a bit like an entry-level mountain bike. The frame features a standard, thick down tube and a slightly curved top tube that makes mounting the bike a bit easier, even if you don’t choose the optional step-through frame.
The Level isn’t revolutionary nowadays. It is, however, a brilliant combination of features and components for the price. This is one of the best value bikes on the market if you’re after something that you can use to zip around the city in comfort.
RadRover 6 Plus
The RadRover 6 Plus is a reliable, understated e-bike. It has an excellent reputation and an ever-expanding customer service. It offers great performance at a reasonable price.
- 7-speed Shimano drivetrain
- 4″ wide tires for great comfort
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 72 lbs
- 28 miles range
- 750W motor
- Excellent customer service
The RadRover 6 Plus is an inexpensive fat-tire e-bike designed to compete with dedicated commuters like the Level. It’s got hydraulic disc brakes for extra stopping power, a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain, front suspension, and full fenders, but no racks are included by default. Instead, this bike has extra-wide 4″ tires that help smooth out even the roughest of roads.
The RadRover 6 Plus weighs about 72 lbs. It gets a bit more range out of a single charge on max pedal assist than the Level, offering around 28 miles. The motor delivers 750 watts of nominal power, although Rad Power Bikes is careful to disclaim that the motor tends to be limited by the controller in order to stay in line with e-bike regulations.
Unlike many other e-bikes, the RadRover 6 Plus is limited to 20 miles per hour, not 28 (although this can be changed in the menu system). There are some legal complications in various states and cities that might make a 28-mile-per-hour Class 3 e-bike illegal. If you live in one of these areas, you might prefer to opt for a Class 2 e-bike like the RadRover 6 Plus instead of having to go through the complication of limiting the top speed of your bike.
In terms of design, the RadRover 6 Plus is again a very standard modern e-bike. The battery nests partially inside a thick down tube, while a slight downward curve in the top tube makes mounting easy. Like the Level, the RadRover 6 Plus is available in a step-through frame as well. Riding-wise, it seems very slightly more upright, with handlebars that curve very slightly back.
The thick tires on the RadRover 6 Plus make it much easier to ride on rough terrain than other commuter e-bikes. The downside to these thick tires would normally be range and efficiency, but the limited top speed and big, heavy battery help offset these drawbacks. If your want a comfortable ride with plenty of range and you’re willing to get a rack separately, the RadRover 6 Plus makes a great commuter.
Ride1Up 700
An excellent electric biking experience. Hydraulic fork, hydraulic brakes, color display, 14 ah Samsung cells, Schwalbe Super Moto X tires, fully integrated aluminum frame.
- 8-speed Shimano drivetrain
- 2.4″ wide tires for great comfort
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 62 lbs
- 30-50 miles range
- 750W motor
- Great customer service
The Ride1Up 700 is an affordable commuter that’s incredibly similar to the Aventon Level. It’s got hydraulic disc brakes, an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain, hydraulic front shocks, full fenders, and a rear rack. The 2.4″ tires are slightly wider than the tires on the Level, giving you a bit more comfort and control at the expense of a small amount of efficiency.
The Ride1Up 700 weighs 62 lbs. It offers a very similar range of about 28 miles on max pedal assist. The motor delivers 750 watts of power and seems tuned for speed and acceleration rather than torque. This means that this bike gets up to 28 miles per hour faster and easier than other bikes in its class, but it’s noticeably worse at climbing hills on throttle alone. As long as you’re willing to add a bit of force with your legs, however, the motor’s high-end power will make climbing hills a breeze.
The Ride1Up 700 is designed for upright riding. It’s got straight handlebars, a battery in the thick down tube, and a slight downward curve in the top tube. It’s honestly hard to tell these bikes apart visually from a distance. An optional step-through frame ensures that getting on the bike can be easy for anyone.
The Ride1Up 700 features a very nice color LCD display that’s somewhat unusual among bikes at this price point. Between this, the slightly wider tires, the faster motor, and the low price, it’s definitely a strong competitor to the Aventon Level.
The prices on these bikes have been shifting recently, so it’s not clear which one will be less expensive when you’re reading this. If the 700 is cheaper, it’s probably the better choice, although not by a huge margin. If the Level is cheaper, you’ll have to weigh the value of the color display, the speedier motor, and the thicker tires relative to the price difference. Depending on how smooth your local roads are, you might still prefer the 700.
Himiway Zebra
The Himiway Zebra is the updated version of the successful Cruiser. It offers better performance, a longer range, and a much more modern design compared to its predecessor.
Excellent for commuting or getting off the beaten path on your weekend rides.
- 7-speed Shimano drivetrain
- 4” wide fat tires
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 79 lbs
- 35+ miles range
- 750W motor
- 400 lbs payload capacity
The Himiway Zebra is a very powerful and also quite heavy (79 lbs) fat tire electric bike that has an impressive payload capacity of 400 lbs. It features hydraulic disc brakes, 7-speed Shimano drivetrain, full fenders, and a rear rack. The 4” fat tires and the suspension fork make all the rides incredibly smooth and comfortable on pavement, gravel, and manicured dirt.
The Zebra uses very standard, easy-to-service bike components. Take this bike to any local bike shop and they’ll be able to help with any issues you experience.
The 750-watt motor will let you cruise along at high speeds with ease and even on hills, too. This bike has no problems doing 20 miles an hour on paved hills. It’s very smooth on dirt, gravel, and city streets, and it feels very stable.
The Zebra has a 35+ miles range on a single charge with no pedaling. You won’t find a super-high-end groupset on the bike. The Zebra comes with a massive 20 amp hour integrated battery. This gigantic battery has more range than many of its closest competitors from Aventon, Rad City Bikes, and Ride1Up.
In terms of design and riding style, the Zebra is a very standard modern e-bike. The bike is available with both a step-over and step-through frame. It’s got straight handlebars and a very upright design.
While it’s great on sand and gravel, it’s definitely not a mountain bike. Sometimes it feel more like a motorcycle than a bike at times. Its range is incredible. It’s perfect for desert and beach trips, it’s a great option for relaxed commuting, and the incredibly powerful motor means you pretty much never have to pedal at all. If you want power, range, and stability, it’s a great choice that won’t let you down.
You can find a detailed hands-on review of the Himiway Zebra here
Lectric XPremium
This is the ultimate long-range, mid-drive, fat tire folding e-bike! It comes with a ton of accessories out of the box and several optional accessories for maximum comfort!
- 7-speed Shimano drivetrain
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 20″x4″ fat tires + 82mm front suspension for comfort
- Dual battery
- Built-in lights
- Built-in rack
- 75 lbs
- Up to 100 miles of range
- 500W mid-drive motor
- Great customer service
The Lectric XPremium is the top-of-the-line offering from Lectric bikes. It stands out from the competition as the only fat tire folding electric bike with a mid-drive motor.
While the motor is only rated at 500W (and peaks at 800W+), this is multiplied by the available gear ratios. This is an undeniable advantage of mid-drive motors over hub motors, which can only deliver power directly to the wheel at a given ratio, regardless of the number of speeds the bicycle has.
The mid-drive motor of the Lectric XPremium also results in a much smoother riding experience than hub motos. It’s like haveing a natural power extension of your legs.
The bicycle has two batteries (second battery to be purchased separately, but at the time of launch available as a freebie), which store sufficient energy to reach a maximum range of 100 miles. This is only available in optimum conditions and at very slow speeds. Still, the Lectric XPremium can assist you up to 60-70 miles on a single charge even on a higher level of pedal-assist if you’re willing to put in some effort. You can also ride it up to 50 miles if you choose to use throttle only.
The XPremium is also very comfortable because of its large frame, and it’s perfectly suitable from short adults to adults as tall as up to 6’5″.
If you’re looking for an easy-to-store folding bike, this isn’t the right choice for you because this is a very heavy bicycle, weighing in at 75 lbs. However, if you want a reliable folding bike with a built-in rack, lights and fenders for commuting, this may just be one of the best options available.
Best weekend riding bikes for adults
Aventon Soltera
A sleek, single-speed electric bike (also available in a 7 speed) that is nimble and powerful enough to weave through the jungles of the city yet lightweight enough to carry up a flight of stairs after a day’s work.
- Single-speed or 7-speed Shimano drivetrain
- Caliper brakes (single-speed) or hydraulic disc brakes (7-speed)
- 41 lbs
- 22 miles range on max assist
- 350W motor
- Great customer service
Designed to be both a fashion statement and a capable e-bike, the Aventon Soltera is a remarkably affordable ode to old-school time trial bikes. It’s available as both a fixie and a 7-speed, it’s fantastically light, and if you didn’t know any better, you wouldn’t know it was an e-bike. While the Soltera is very much a city road bike and the motor isn’t particularly large, it’s incredibly fun to ride.
The Soltera is a class-2 e-bike, with a top speed of 20 miles per hour. The geared variant has a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain, while the fixie variant does not. The 350W motor is strong enough that you’ll be able to climb steep hills on the fixie version, but it’s not necessarily going to get you up to 20 miles per hour without a fair bit of effort from you and your legs.
The Soltera is one of the lightest e-bikes around. Coming in at 41 lbs, it’s slightly heavier than a standard road bike, but not by much. You can remove the battery, too, which means you’ll be able to shave off a few pounds if you’d like to just ride it around the city without the assist motor.
Given that it’s light weight, the Soltera has a very surprising max range of about 22 miles on maximum pedal assist. The thin, efficient road bike tires and lack of any unnecessary pounds on the bike help you get the most out of every bit of power in the battery. That said, the fixie variant can be difficult to ride uphill without the motor, so you’ll probably want to avoid running out of juice mid-ride.
The brakes on the Soltera vary based on the version you choose. The 7-speed has mechanical disc brakes, giving you a bit of extra stopping power, while the fixie comes with rim caliper brakes. Both are more than adequate at stopping this light road bike, but you definitely stop faster with the 7-speed.
Despite its road-bike looks, the Soltera still rides fairly upright and comes with flat handlebars. It’s got about 15″ of reach, which is about 1″ more than the Aventon Level. Still, it feels very fast and nimble when you ride it.
Between its light weight, its aesthetics, and its incredible fun factor, the Soltera is a fantastic weekend bike. If you’re after an electric road bike that’s a bit faster and more aggressive, however, check out the Trek Domane variants below.
You can find a detailed hands-on review of this awesome bike.
RadMission
The RadMission is a slick, stylish single-speed electric metro bike for city riders craving more excitement and utility than your average fixie -- and at a price of $1,199, it’s available at our lowest price point ever.
- Single-speed
- 2.2″ wide tires for great comfort
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 48 lbs
- 25 miles range on maximum assist
- 500W motor
- Great customer service
The RadMission is a fixie e-bike that’s designed with practicality and power over aesthetics. While it’s not as fancy-looking as the Soltera, it’s incredibly inexpensive and fun to ride.
A nominally larger 500w motor and a slightly bigger battery mean that the RadMission can go a bit farther and can tackle some rides more easily. On max pedal assist, it gets about 25 miles per charge. With a slightly heavier weight of 48 lbs, the increased motor output doesn’t seem to make a big difference in practice. It’ll still help you get up hills when you add a bit of pedal power from you and get you up to 20 miles per hour on flat and downhill sections with some effort.
The RadMission is definitely a function-over-form bike. A big, bulky battery sits on top of the down tube, while the downward-angled top tube lacks the stylish swoop you’ll find in many other e-bikes. It comes in both step-through and hi-step frames, helping it remain accessible to all riders. With 15″ of reach, the riding position is quite upright and relaxed.
The RadMission’s low price and emphasis on simplicity make it an outstanding bike to take out on your weekend rides. The motor isn’t huge, but it’s powerful enough to let you get away with a single gear on both short hills and long flat sections. If you’re after a fun bike that won’t break the bank, choose the RadMission.
Ride1Up Turris
With an upright yet responsive geometry, touring tires, hydraulic brakes, and a powerful class-3 capable motor, the Turris is an all-around comfort ebike equipped to explore and built for adventure.
- 7-speed Shimano
- 2.4” tires
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 57 lbs
- 25 miles range
- 750W motor
- Great customer Service
The Turris is an entry-level e-bike that’s designed to be accessible and affordable. The Turris has fenders for city riding, mountain bike tires and a suspension fork that smoothens our bumpy roads, and a powerful motor that lets you go fast regardless of your fitness or experience. It comes with a Shimano drivetrain, Tektro brakes, and Kenda tires.
The Turris weighs 57 lbs. The battery offers 12.8 amp-hours of power. This is enough to get an industry-standard 25 miles out of a full charge on pedal assist 5, which can be increased to 35+ miles if you’re willing to use the motor less and do more work with your legs.
The motor of the Turris is just like the Ride1Up 700 and seems to be tuned more for speed than for torque. This might be a problem if you are looking for a bike for hilly rides. The Turris’ motor 750W motor feels less torque than the 350W Soltera. It still goes faster on mild hills, but the Soltera is more agile on steeper hills than the Turris.
The wide, cushioned, and quite comfortable saddle and the relaxed upright riding design make the Turris very comfortable, even on longer rides. This ebike is available in both step-over and step-through frames.
The Turris has a very straightforward pedal assist. At higher pedal assist levels, the motor always gives a little bit more added boost, no matter how fast you’re going. Many other cadence-sensor e-bikes have pedal assists that control the speed at which the motor cuts off, not its effort level. This is very nice in comparison to other ebikes we tested.
The Turris is one of the cheapest 750-watt e-bikes I’ve seen, let alone from a US-based company. It is fast, powerful, and reasonably light, meaning that you’ll get to have lots of fun zooming down roads and trails at lightning speed, no matter what your fitness level is. It’s got tires that perform great in off-road conditions while staying skinny enough to go fast on roads without a lot of effort.
You can find a detailed hands-on review of the Ride1Up Turris here
Best electric road bikes for adults
Domane+ LT
Domane+ LT is a carbon drop-bar electric bike designed for roadies who want an authentic road bike experience with an extra boost.
- Carbon fiber frame
- 2×11 Shimano Ultegra drivetrain
- Removable battery and motor (can be used as a regular road bike)
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 32 lbs including motor and battery
- Fauza motor
- Great customer service
The Trek Domane+ LT is a fair bit more expensive than the other bikes on this page. It’s also much, much nicer in a lot of important ways. This isn’t just a simple aluminum bike with run-of-the-mill components. Instead, it’s a carbon fiber road bike with a fully-removable electronics suite, allowing you to pull both the battery and the motor out when you want to just ride around on a fairly nice road bike.
First, let’s talk weight. The Domane+ LT is 32 lbs with the battery and motor on the bike. If you replace them with a cover that Trek sells separately, it comes down to 26 lbs. This is very low for an e-bike and surprisingly low for a road bike, especially given how approachable and fully featured this bike is.
The Domane+ LT is available in a number of packages. The base version comes with a Shimano Ultegra groupset, complete with hydraulic disc brakes, a 2×11 drivetrain, and integrated shifters. Between these components and the frame, you’re getting a very solid road bike that’s more than capable of keeping up with the most serious riders in your local cycling club. If you ask any serious cyclist about the Domane frame or these components, they’ll tell you that they’re a great mid-range starting point for someone who’s somewhat dedicated to road biking.
The frame itself has a couple of neat quirks. Not only is it made with carbon fiber to reduce the weight, but it’s also got a design system called IsoSpeed that adds a bit of flex to the back of the frame near the seat post and the front of the frame near the fork. The amount of flex is easily adjustable with a couple of alan wrenches, enabling you to tune your bike for a stiffer, more efficient ride or allowing you to maximize the flex for bumpy gravel riding.
The Domane line is designed to be very approachable, for a road bike. While it’s got drop handlebars and a longer reach than the more relaxed commuters above, it’s also much more adjustable in terms of seat position, handlebar angle, and other key measurements that can influence your riding style.
With a plethora of frame sizes available, you should be able to find a Domane that fits your body and riding preferences. Expect it to feel aggressive if you’re not used to road bikes at all, but if you’re an experienced road rider, expect this to be a somewhat upright, comfortable, endurance-focused frame.
Measuring the range and speed on the Domane+ bikes is tricky. The LT is limited to 20 miles an hour, but it’s a very different class of bike than the commuters above. This bike is designed to go faster than 20 miles per hour without the motor at all. As you gain experience with the bike, you’ll probably find that you go faster than the motor will go quite frequently.
You’ll definitely notice the help of the motor when you go up hills, especially on group rides. Expect to go slightly slower than others in your group downhill due to this bike’s comparatively conservative gearing and the added weight of the motor, but expect to rocket up hills faster than your group when the ride slows down as you go uphill.
The torque-activated Fazua motor on the LT is controlled differently than the other bikes on this page. Think of it as a force multiplier, not as an assist motor. In other words, you’ll need to put in work with your legs in order to get the motor to do anything at all. You’ll go faster and farther per unit of effort with the motor than you would without it, and you’ll definitely notice it, but you’re not going to be able to push down the throttle or spin the pedals casually and rocket along. Instead, you’ll need to break a sweat to go fast.
The combination of these two factors (you need to work, and the bike will frequently go faster than the speed at which the motor is allowed to help) mean that experienced riders will have massive variance in terms of practical range. The manufacturer’s suggestion of 65 miles might be slightly on the high end when you’re starting out on your road biking journey and you use the maximum pedal-assist mode at lower speeds a lot, but as you gain experience, you’ll likely find that you can go even farther than that while still preserving a bit of juice in the tank.
Overall, if you want a serious road bike with a well-integrated electric motor, the Domane+ series is definitely a great call. The LT model offers a carbon fiber frame and a removable Fazua motor, the HP model gives you a non-removable Bosch motor with more torque, and the ALR gives you an aluminum frame with the removable Fazua motor. All three options are great, but the lighter frame and removable motor help make the LT model an exceptionally stellar choice for the road cyclist who wants options.
Best electric bike for comfort for adults
Cafe Cruiser
The Cafe Cruiser lets you ride in comfort and style, even if you have a lot of cargo to carry.
- 8-speed Shimano drivetrain
- 26″x3″ wide tires for comfort
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 65 lbs
- 30 miles range
- 750W motor
- Great customer service
The Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser is quite similar to the Ride1Up 700 series in terms of specs, power, and even price. It’s a 65 lb e-bike with an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain, 26″x3″ thick tires, included rear rack and fenders, and plenty of power.
The big difference between the Cafe Cruiser and the commuter-style 700 series above is the riding style. This bike has tall, swept-back handlebars and a thick, cushy seat. It’s designed to be extremely comfortable to ride, whether you’re cruising along the boardwalk next to the beach or riding down the road to visit a friend. The thick tires, coupled with a front suspension fork ensure that you will be riding in royal comfort.
You can absolutely commute on this bike, especially when you consider the included fenders and rear rack, powerful 750w motor, and nearly 30-mile range on max pedal assist. In fact, for some commuters, the more relaxed riding style and thicker tires will make it a better option than the commuter bikes above. For others, however, the swept handlebars and more upright ride will make it feel a bit too comfortable, making it harder to add power with your legs and more awkward to make sharp turns at high speeds.
If comfort is the name of your game, the Cafe Cruiser is the best ride in town. It’s fast, powerful, and will let you ride in both style and comfort over pavement, gravel, and smooth trails. If you prefer sharper handling at the high speeds this class-3 e-bike offers, however, you might be better off with the 700 series above.
Best electric gravel bike for adults
Domane+ ALR
A lightweight aluminum bike with drop bars. This is for roadies who also want to tackle some gravel segments.
- Aluminum frame
- Shimano 105 groupset
- Removable battery and motor (can be used as a regular road bike)
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 33 lbs including motor and battery
- Fauza motor
- Great customer service
The Trek Domane+ series handles incredibly well on gravel. These bikes don’t have the widest tires (they’re about 1.25″ wide), but the flexible frames and incredibly well-designed front forks can smooth out the bumps you get from gravel surfaces with ease. While the Domane+ are primarily billed as road bikes, Trek sells similarly kitted non-electric Domane bikes as gravel bikes, where they serve as the same sort of reasonable upper-midrange entry point for riders looking to upgrade to a modern Trek.
As mentioned earlier, the ALR has an aluminum frame and a removable Fazua motor as well as a mid-range Shimano 105 groupset. It’s otherwise very similar to the Domane+ LT reviewed above, albeit about a pound heavier. The lower specs on the ALR make the bike a bit less expensive than the LT, but the LT’s base components are definitely a bit nicer. If you can afford it, the Ultegra groupset is probably worth the cost increase.
Domane+ HP
Domane+ HP is a drop-bar electric road bike that makes longer, faster road rides possible. It has additional tire clearance for gravel riding.
- Aluminum frame
- Shimano 105 groupset
- Removable battery (not the motor)
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- 37 lbs
- Bosch motor with 85nm of torque
- Great customer service
The Domane+ HP adds Bosch motor that delivers an incredible 85 nm of torque. Unlike the Fazua motor on the LT and the ALR, this motor is rated for Class 3 e-bike use, meaning it won’t cut out until 28 miles per hour. The HP also comes with the gravel-oriented GRX groupset, although it’s worth noting that these bikes might be available with other options if you talk to your local Trek dealer.
The HP weighs 37 lbs. While the battery is removable, the motor is not.
If a more powerful motor and a higher assist top speed alongside a great gravel-oriented groupset, the Domane+ HP is a great option. For many riders, however, the added cost compared to a Domane+ LT might not be worth it. Be sure to consider all three Domane+ options before making your final purchase.
Folding Bike
RadExpand 5
This is the 5th iteration of Rad's folding fat tire e-bike. It's fully equipped with everything you need for a comfortable, leisure ride. The low-step frame means that it's great for shorter riders as well as those with mobility issues.
- 7-speed Microshift drivetrain
- 20″x4″ wide tires for comfort
- Mechanical disc brakes
- 62.5 lbs
- 25 miles range
- 750W motor
- Great customer service
The RadExpand 5 is a folding bike that’s designed for comfort, range, and speed over compactness. With a rear rack, fenders, 4″-wide fat tires, and a big 750w motor, it’s surprisingly comparable to the RadRover 6 Plus above.
It’s worth noting that folding bikes get compact, not light. The RadExpand 5 is a 62.5 lb e-bike that folds to 29″ by 25″ by 41″, which is definitely not tiny. It is, however, quite easy to store in a vehicle or garage.
Folding bikes almost universally have a very relaxed upright riding position and the RadExpand is no different. The small wheels tend to make the ride bumpy, but the RadExpand compensates by having thick tires that you can underinflate for added smoothness.
Component-wise, this is a very impressive folding bike. You get a 7-speed MicroShift drivetrain, mechanical brakes, and the aforementioned 750w motor. Expect about 25 miles per charge on max pedal assist.
The RadExpand 5 makes a great commuting option if storage space is a concern at any point along the way. It’s easy to fit into the trunk of an Uber, a bus, or a train, giving you more options for transportation along your route. While it’s not the cheapest electric folding bike, it’s priced quite comparably to the commuters above.
Lectric XP 3.0
This bike is an excellent entry-level ebike with a solid motor and some features found only on its more expensive competitors.
- 7-speed Shimano drivetrain
- 3” wide fat tires
- Mechanical disc brakes
- 71 lbs
- 20 miles range
- 500W motor
- Great customer service
The Lectric XP 3.0 is a great entry-level fat tire electric folding bike. It comes with a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain and a Shimano Tourney derailleur in the rear. The bike weighs 71 lbs and comes with full fenders and a rear rack that has a carrying capacity of 150 lbs. The cushy and also knobby 3” tires offer excellent traction and, together with the suspension fork can smooth out even the rougher roads.
The battery you get with the bike by default has a 10 Ah capacity. For an extra $200, you can upgrade the battery to 14 Ah and thus increase by 10 miles its range to 30 miles. For a couple of extra hundred dollars, you can get upgrades like a cargo pack, a suspension seatpost, and a passenger package that includes a passenger seat and foot pegs.
The new upgraded 500W nominal output rear hub motor with its 1000W peak output and its 55 nm of torque can quickly move the rider even if it carries a lot of cargo or needs to go uphill. Its new motor is super quiet, leaving behind that old familiar noise generated by electric motors in the past.
This bike is a great choice for anyone looking for a quality ebike on a budget.
You can find our detailed hand-on review of the Lectric XP 3.0 here
Brompton Electric
- 250W motor
- Range: approximately 20 miles on high assist level
- Tri-fold mechanism for compact storage
- Only 32lbs
- Best for multi-modal commutes
Brompton is the gold standard in folding bicycles. Their unique three-way fold helps get their bikes smaller than the competitors, while innovative engineering allows the folding mechanism itself to act as a shock absorber. Brompton is legendary in the bike world for selling parts for bikes that haven’t been available new for decades, ensuring that their customers remain supported for the multi-decade lifespan of their bikes.
Bromptons are quite expensive, however, and their electric models are no different. You’re essentially getting a Brompton with a small motor, which means you get the full package, planetary gearbox, and all. Bromptons are durable, surprisingly light for folding bikes, and very innovative, meaning they’re a favorite among folding bike enthusiasts all around the world.
The motors on electric Bromptons are quite small, offering 250w of nominal power, and they’re limited to a very small top speed of 25 kmp/h, which is 15 miles an hour to comply with European regulations. Range-wise, you’re looking at around 20 miles per charge.
The big advantages of the Brompton Electric stem from its size and weight. At 32 lbs, these bikes are incredibly light. Two Bromptons weigh the same as one Lectric, and the bikes fold to 25.3″ by 23″ by 10.6″. This means that a box that barely fits the RadExpand 5 when folded will fit four Bromptons.
If reliability, size, and weight are more important to you than range and speed, the Brompton Electric handily beats out the competition. While it’s pricey, its innovative design gives it a leg up in many important categories and the brand’s legendary dedication to customer service and quality engineering ensures that you’ll have the bike for a long time.
Single-Speed
Ride1Up Roadster v2
Simple, fast, and fun, this electric bike is as clean as it gets. With a completely concealed battery and quiet motor, onlookers aren’t going to understand how you pedal so fast.
- Lightweight at only 33 lbs
- Looks like a traditional bike
- Single speed drivetrain
- Carbon belt drive for ultra low maintenance
- 18-20 miles of range
Light, stylish, and fantastically fun, the Roadster is quite comparable to the Aventon Soltera above. While the Soltera is more colorful and has more range, the Roadster is lighter, harder to identify as an e-bike, and surprisingly fast considering the smaller motor. It’s a wonderful choice for anyone who values fun and simplicity over range and complexity.
The Roadster is a 33lb fixie with a belt-drive, helping you keep grease off of your pants while ensuring your chain doesn’t wear out. It’s got narrow handlebars and a very long reach, meaning you’ll feel very nimble and small in the aggressive, aerodynamic riding position that this bike demands. Other than the belt drive, the components are minimalist and simple, including pivot brakes and simple, narrow tires.
The motor on the Roadster has 350w of nominal output, which is a bit lower than most of the other bikes on this page. With a single gear, you’ll have to put in some power from your legs to get up hills and hit this bike’s top speed of 24 mph. That said, the bike definitely feels fast, and cruising along at 16 to 20 miles an hour requires fairly little effort.
Unlike basically every other bike on this page, the Roadster does not have a battery that’s easy to remove. This means that if you’re bumping up against the 18-20 miles of practical range this bike offers, you can’t pop the battery out and charge it after reaching your destination. Given the single gear, this bike requires a bit more planning than many of the other options here.
Overall, the aggressive geometry, simple design, and great looks make the Roadster a fantastically fun fixie. While it’s not for everyone, it’s definitely a bike you’ll want to consider.
RadMission
The RadMission is a slick, stylish single-speed electric metro bike for city riders craving more excitement and utility than your average fixie -- and at a price of $1,199, it’s available at our lowest price point ever.
Featured above under “Weekend Riding,” the RadMission is nevertheless a brilliantly fun fixie. Compared to the Roadster, expect a more traditional, upright ride, more range, and a removable battery. For more details, check the review above.
Cargo bike
RadWagon 4
This bike has a beefy 750W hub motor and a vast range of options when it comes to carrying cargo. It can take up to 350 lbs of weight, which is more than most of us will ever need. This can truly be a car replacement!
- 7-speed Shimano drivetrain
- 750W hub motor
- 350 lbs of cargo capacity
- 22 miles of range of maximum pedal assist
- Wide range of accessories available
- Comfortable riding position
- Excellent customer service!
Engineered to haul up to 350 lbs of cargo, the RadWagon 4 has a low center of gravity, a low step-over height, and thick tires for comfort and traction. It’s designed to be especially adjustable, ensuring that it’s an ideal bike for every combination of rider and cargo.
The RadWagon 4 has a 750w motor that’s paired with a 750-watt controller and a big 672-watt-hour battery. The bike comes with a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain that’s set up for maximum torque, mechanical disc brakes, and included racks and fenders to keep your cargo clean.
The RadWagon 4 has slightly curved handlebars that lend themselves to a very upright riding style. Its incredibly long chainstays give you plenty of rack space to carry more cargo. The bike is set up with a simple rear rack out of the box, but Rad Power Bikes also seels a variety of rear accessories, allowing you to take passengers, carry more freight, or even hook up a trailer with ease. Other options include a front basket and a whole complement of bags for carrying various items.
The range on the RadWagon will vary a fair bit based on the amount of cargo you’re carrying. Expect to get about 22 miles out of a single charge on max pedal assist with no cargo, and expect the numbers to go down as you add more weight.
Bunch Cargo bike
- Huge storage capacity
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Box fits up to 4 children
- 350 lbs carry capacity
- 500W motor
The Bunch is a three-wheeled cargo bike with a reverse-tricycle configuration. A big box in the front is set up for carrying small passengers, while a steering bar allows you to easily rotate the front two wheels to control the bike. Designed with safety and reliability in mind, the Bunch’s integrated cargo box and extra wheel make it a very different beast than the RadWagon in terms of balance, hauling cargo, and riding style.
In addition to the spacious child and cargo box in the front, the Bunch comes with a standard rear rack. The bike’s wheels are covered by fenders, keeping you and your passengers clean. An 8-speed Shimano drivetrain ensures that you get the torque you need to carry your cargo up hills. Importantly, three sets of hydraulic disc brakes allow you to stop quickly when you want to, regardless of how much stuff you’re carrying.
The Bunch has a somewhat small 500w motor that delivers 45 nm of torque, which is not more than most of the other bikes on this page. Its battery delivers ranges of about 25 miles without cargo. Adding children, groceries, or heavier gear will eat into that quite quickly.
While the Bunch’s unique design makes it excellent at hauling cargo, it’s somewhat lackluster in terms of electronics. Expect this to be a three-wheeled cargo bike with a bit of an electric assist, not a bike that can haul hundreds of pounds of cargo on throttle alone. Still, if you want a bike that can balance a kid or two while giving your legs a bit of a break, the Bunch is an excellent choice.
Mountain Bike for Adults
Trek Rail 7
Rail 7 is a long-travel electric mountain bike built for ripping the big stuff. It features the same high-end trail tech as our analog trail bikes, an upgraded fork, drivetrain, battery, and more, plus a powerful Bosch drive system.
- Aluminum frame
- Shimano 105 groupset
- Mid-drive motor
- 203 mm rotors
- Hydraulic disc brakes with 4 pistons
- Bosch motor
- Great customer service
The Trek Rail 7 is an absolute monster of a bike that can crush the most technical trails while giving you a plethora of extra motor power. While its wide 2.5″ tires and front suspension might seem superficially similar to bikes like the RadRover 6 Plus, the Rail 7 handles and rides completely differently.
Its modern mountain bike geometry gives you a long wheelbase, big 29″ wheels, and a slack head tube, giving you the stability you need to tackle tough trails. At just 53 lbs, the bike is perfectly rideable without power, especially with the wide selection of gears afforded by the 1×12 Shimano drivetrain.
The geometry and components on this bike are designed for rough rides and added weight. Both the front and rear suspension have been tuned with the added weight of the motor in mind, while the other components were carefully chosen to remain affordable while supporting the bumps, jostles, and drops that your bike has to withstand on a difficult trail.
The hydraulic disc brakes use 203mm rotors and leverage 4 pistons, not the usual 2, giving you the most stopping power of any bike on this page. You’ll need it, too, as this bike’s motor makes going up hills a lot easier. When ascending becomes easy, you get to spend a LOT more time zooming down mountain trails, often at speeds well over the motor cutoff of 20 miles per hour.
While we’re talking about geometry, it’s worth mentioning that the Rail 7 is a beautiful blend of accessibility and aggression. While it’s got a long frame that’ll keep you stable on drops and technical sections, it’s not a very demanding frame to ride. In fact, this is one of the more comfortable modern-style mountain bikes on the market, period, especially for inexperienced riders.
This is likely a very deliberate design decision, as the sort of folks who are looking at electric bikes tend to be less serious mountain bikers who want to keep up with their friends. Even if you’re a mountain biking expert, however, you’ll probably find the Rail 7’s slightly less aggressive geometry helps make riding incredibly fun and stress-free.
The Rail 7 features a mid-drive Bosch motor with 250 watts of nominal power output. This isn’t a lot in terms of raw motor power, especially when compared to the 1000-watt hub motors you’ll see on other bikes on this page, but bear in mind that this motor adds power before the 1×12 drivetrain, not after. In other words, your gear selection multiplies the power of this motor.
Mid-drive bikes are especially good at tackling tough hills. This makes the Rail 7 one of the best bikes for exploring the countryside, as you’ll be able to pop up sections of natural trail with ridiculously steep grades without much of a problem. There’s an added benefit that the wheels and tires are totally normal, making tire changes and other maintenance a breeze.
lbs-wise, the Rail 7 does something like 20 miles on a single charge on max pedal assist. It’s similar to the Domane + bikes in that you’re likely to get a lot further than that in practice. This is a bike first and an e-bike second, and you’ll often find that your legs and gravity will work together to push the bike well over its max assist of 20 miles per hour.
The Rail 7 is Trek’s midrange electric bike. The Rail 5 is a bit less expensive (although not by much), with slightly worse components and a smaller battery. Given the small price difference, the Rail 7 is probably the better option for most riders.
The Rail 9 series offers a slew of upgraded options, including a carbon frame, nicer components, more powerful motors, and battery upgrades. With a plethora of packages to choose from, the Rail 9 series is perfect for anyone who wants to spend a bit more money on an electric mountain bike while getting a set of options that’s perfect for them.
Overall, the Rail 7 is a fantastic bike. It’s great as an introduction to serious mountain biking, a way to keep up with friends who take the hobby more seriously than you, or as a convenience feature to help get you to the top of trails.
More than that, however, the boost given by an extra motor can take mountain biking to a whole new level, even for experienced, athletic riders. You’ll be able to ride all day, tackle steep hills, and generally go faster, allowing you to push the sport to a new limit. The Rail 7 is carefully designed, well-built, and fully kitted to shred the toughest trails. You’ll love the doors it opens up in your outdoor exploration.
The Best Electric Bike for Hunting
Rambo Megatron
The Megatron is featuring components never offered before. Dual batteries technology totaling 34AH of battery, Dual 1000w hub motors with on-demand all-wheel drive.
- Aluminum frame
- Single-speed
- all-wheel drive (2 motors)
- 203 and 180 mm rotors
- Hydraulic disc brakes with 4 pistons
- Bafang motor
The Rambo Megatron is an incredibly unique bike. It’s a single-speed behemoth with a standard e-bike frame that houses not one but two massive batteries. The extra juice is helpful for the bike’s giant 1000w hub motors, one on each wheel.
With a setting that allows you to control which wheel gets power, the extra motor enables you to zoom along on tough outdoor terrain in all-wheel-drive mode or conserve battery by running the bike on your choice of hub drive.
The Megatron is a 77 lb bike, which is a bit on the heavy end. This weight is quite reasonable considering the two motors, 4.5″ wide tires, and 34 amp hours of combined battery power, which is insane.
These batteries give you a huge amount of range to play with, even with the power-hungry 1000w motors. You’ll need it, of course, with the single speed, fat tires, and heavy frame, but it’s still not unreasonable to get 50 or 60 miles out of a single charge without a lot of work from your legs.
When you’re out in the field on a long excursion, this added range is a blessing.
As far as components go, the Megatron isn’t playing around. 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes work with a 203mm front rotor and a 180mm rear rotor, ensuring that you’ve got the power to bring this massive bike to a stop. When coupled with the 4.5″ fat tires, this bike has some seriously short stopping distances, even on loose dirt.
The front air fork offers plenty of travel (100mm) and hydraulic lockout, enabling you to stiffen the bike if you’d like slightly more efficient power output. A full-color display helps you keep track of the massive battery stock, while the intuitive controls enable you to switch between front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive with ease.
The big thing that the Megatron offers that the other bikes don’t is stability and control on loose dirt. The Megatron doesn’t handle anywhere near as well as the Rail 7 on technical mountain bike trails, but it’ll absolutely zoom along on mud, silt, dust, gravel, or just about anything else you find yourself riding over.
Unlike the Rail 7, the 1000w motors don’t expect you to be doing any work at all on your own. If you’re willing to pretend to pedal, the bike will do 28 miles an hour with zero effort from you, while the twin motors ensure you never lose grip on outdoor surfaces. This is basically a motorbike with pedals in terms of your personal power output requirements. Hills, terrain, and weather will pose no obstacle.
The Megatron 7 is a perfect choice for anyone who wants to go on long outdoor excursions, especially those with the slippery natural terrain. The big batteries, big motors, and big tires will keep you in control at high speeds, enabling you to go back and forth between base camp at 28 miles per hour in comfort. If you want a powerful outdoor e-bike with amazing range and traction, there’s no better choice.
