Best electric bikes | 15 top-rated ebikes for every type of rider
The best electric bike for you will depend on the type of riding you want to do, so in this guide we’ll cover the whole range of different electric bike types and recommend some of the best we’ve tested.
Electric bikes – or ebikes as they’re commonly known – are bicycles with an electric motor and battery that provides assistance as you pedal. There are many benefits to riding an electric bike. Electric bikes make riding up hills easier and will enable most riders to travel at a higher speed over longer distances without arriving at their destination covered in sweat.
Despite common misconceptions, you can still ride an electric bike for fitness. Electric bike laws limit the power of an ebike’s motor, so you still need to pedal – there’s no twist-and-go throttle here. There is an electric bike for every type of riding. Electric folding bikes and electric hybrid bikes are great choices for cycling to work, the best electric mountain bikes will help you get to the top of the next trail so you can enjoy more descending and the best electric road bikes and electric gravel bikes will enable you to take on longer adventures. Making sense of how an electric bike works and how to choose the right one for you is a daunting task. Luckily for you, BikeRadar’s team of expert testers have put in hundreds of hours riding more than 175 electric bikes across all categories. Our testing is 100 per cent editorially independent, so you can always trust our recommendations. In this in-depth buyer’s guide to choosing the best electric bike for any rider, we’ll talk you through the things you need to consider for each category of ebike. We also highlight the best bikes we have reviewed, as selected by BikeRadar’s expert team of tech editors, for each type of ebike, with links to our detailed buyer’s guide for each category. We also have a general buyer’s guide to electric bike tech at the bottom of this article that answers common questions. For even more information, take a look at our ebike FAQs. There’s a lot to cover here, so use the links below to skip to the section you need, or read on for every detail.
Best electric hybrid bikes
Like a non-assisted hybrid bike, electric hybrid bikes feature an upright riding position, flat bars and stable handling. They’re often the least expensive entry point into ebikes.
With lots of mounting points for accessories such as pannier bags and mudguards, electric hybrids are great if you’re planning to commute to work by bike, ride around town or want to go for leisurely rides on bike trails or through parks.
Electric hybrid bikes can be quite heavy because they tend to use less sophisticated motor systems and the bikes are built for robustness. This is worth bearing in mind if you need to carry them up stairs.
Below is a selection of four of the very best electric hybrid bikes as tested by our senior road technical editor, Warren Rossiter. For more recommendations, check out our full round-up of the best electric hybrid bikes.
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0
- £2,600 / €2,999 / 3,500 as tested
- Pros: Well-tuned power delivery; low weight
- Cons: Lower-torque motor means you have to put in more work
Specialized makes two electric hybrid bike ranges. Whereas the standard Turbo Vado is a heavy-duty ebike, the Vado SL uses a less powerful motor with 35Nm of torque. This reduces the weight to under 15kg, but the flip side is that you have less assistance than with the Turbo Vado, which could be a problem on hills.
The other advantage of the lower output is clean looks, with the concealed battery giving a sporty appearance. Specialized fits lights to all models and includes mudguards and a luggage rack on pricier models.
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Canyon Pathlite:ON 5
- £2,499 / €2,699, as tested
- Pros: Great handling and confident off-road
- Cons: Heavy versus its rivals
The Canyon Pathlite:ON 5 is a powerful electric hybrid bike that handles and rides commendably. Our testing found the Canyon’s 100km claimed range to be true, but there’s no denying the bike is heavy at 23.5kg.
Where the Pathlite:ON 5 truly stands out is off the tarmac, where it rivals electric mountain bikes with confidence-inspiring chunky tyres and a shock-absorbing suspension fork.
Tern Quick Haul P9
- £3,100 / 3,299 / AU4995 as tested
- Pros: Great fun to ride and versatile
- Cons: Official add-ons are fairly pricey
The Tern Quick Haul P9 looks like a cargo bike at first glance, but its compact design means it isn’t much longer than a typical electric hybrid.
With the option to fit a huge array of useful add-on accessories both front and back, our tester described the Quick Haul P9 as a “genuinely viable car replacement”.
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Best electric folding bikes
Commuters who travel by public transport or are short on space are catered for too. Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media
If you want to cycle to work or are just pressed for space to store your ride, a compact electric folding bike could be the answer.
Folding ebikes often have the battery hidden in their frames, or they may come with a removable battery to make carrying them on and off public transport a bit easier.
A removable battery also means you can take it somewhere where it’s easier to charge (at your desk, for example, if you use the bike to ride to work).
But the extra weight of the motor and battery means carrying a folding ebike on and off public transport, and up and down stairs, will be harder. The available range can be quite limited in some models too.
For more product recommendations, check out our round-up of the best folding electric bikes.
Brompton Electric
The Brompton Electric adds a front-hub motor to the iconic folder. Russell Burton / Immediate Media
- £2,725 as tested
- Pros: Very compact fold; smooth power delivery
- Cons: Quite heavy; two pieces to carry
A front-hub motor adds electric power to the classic Brompton folding bike, giving you a range of around 40km. The battery sits in a separate pack, which can be removed from the bike for carrying.
Since we tested the Brompton Electric, the standard bike has been redesignated the C Line Explore. It’s been joined by the P Line, which uses lighter frame materials and components to chop almost 2kg off the C Line’s 17.4kg claimed weight.
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GoCycle G4
- £3,999 as tested
- Pros: Larger wheels ride more smoothly; stylish design
- Cons: Expensive; doesn’t fold as small as some ebikes
While pricey, the GoCycle G4 is a folder, commuter and electric bike in one. The ride and handling are far more assured than most folding bikes on- and off-road, thanks to the meaty tyres and larger wheels.
The bike folds in half at its centre, making it easier to roll than to carry and the removable battery in the front of the frame is accessed via the fold. At over 17kg, it’s quite heavy though.
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MiRider One GB3
The GB3 is an upgrade on the original MiRider One, with an accompanying price rise. David Caudery / Our Media
- £2,495 as tested
- Pros: Very compact
- Cons: Price has increased significantly from the original bike
The MiRider One GB3 is an upgrade from the original model we tested a few years ago. Unfortunately, that’s resulted in a significant price hike, but the ebike is still a compact, nippy city commuter.
The belt drive is cleaner and lower-maintenance than a chain, there’s good adjustability, and built-in rear suspension and wide tyres add comfort.
The GB3 design has three speeds, adding flexibility over the singlespeed predecessor, and you can change gear while stationary. We achieved a range of up to 50km.
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Best electric mountain bikes
Electric mountain bikes can be great on the climbs, but handling on the descents can take a bit of getting used to. Ian Linton
An electric mountain bike will get you to the top quicker, particularly on technical, steeper climbs, and with more energy to enjoy the descents. Plus, getting up the ups more easily will give you extra range to explore further.
Recent improvements in eMTB performance mean handling is approaching that of the best mountain bikes without a motor, providing heaps of flat-out riding fun.
But, nevertheless, the extra weight can make handling more tricky on particularly technical sections, so it’s a good idea to ease off a bit until you’ve got the feel of the bike
This is a small selection of the best electric mountain bikes we have tested, as selected by our expert team of mountain bike tech editors, Alex Evans, Robin Weaver and Tom Marvin.
Vitus E-Sommet VRX
For the money, the E-Sommet has to be one of the best electric mountain bikes out there. Ian Linton / Our Media
- £5,499 as tested
- Pros: Quality spec; great geometry and suspension
- Cons: Awkward cable routing and bottle placement
The Vitus E-Sommet adds a powerful Shimano EP8 motor and large-capacity battery to Vitus’ enduro platform. It rolls on a 29in front and 27.5in rear wheel mullet build and is impressively specced for its price, with a 170mm RockShox ZEB Ultimate fork, a Super Deluxe Select RT shock and Shimano’s XT groupset.
The E-Sommet descends and climbs impressively, with both comfort and great grip, making it fun, engaging and highly capable.
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Marin Rift Zone E2
- £5,895 / 6,299 / €6,899 as tested
- Pros: Lively; great spec
- Cons: Slightly over-geared; less powerful motor than its competitors
The Marin Rift Zone E2 is a classy, comfortable full-suspension electric mountain bike with 140mm travel. It can take you beyond its trail riding mandate, handling more technical descents well.
The Rift Zone ebike is well specced for its price, although the Shimano EP801 motor’s 85Nm torque is a little less than competitors. We’d have preferred a smaller chainring than the 38t fitted for easier climbing.
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Whyte E-160 RSX
- £7,999 as tested
- Pros: Calm and composed handling; hides its weight well
- Cons: Some chain slap; seat tube too slack for optimal climbing
The Whyte E-160 RSX is a well-equipped enduro bike, with its battery mounted below the Bosch motor to lower its centre of gravity.
Whyte says the full down tube this allows improves torsional rigidity as well. Lower-spec E-160s are available in both 29in and ‘mullet’ form, so you can pick your preferred wheel configuration, although this top-spec model is 29in only.
Despite its 26kg-plus weight, we found the low centre of gravity made for impressive downhill performance, although we’d have liked to see a slightly steeper seat tube for better climbing.
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Best electric road bikes
It’s often hard to tell many electric road bikes from their unassisted counterparts. Russell Burton / Immediate Media
If you enjoy road cycling, but want a bit of help to keep your speed up or to get you up hills, an electric road bike could be the right choice for you.
Most e-road bikes use lightweight motor systems that provide less power than the motors used on electric hybrid or mountain bikes. This means they’re typically a bit lighter too, with the very lightest models tipping the scales at around 11kg.
However, with many road riders achieving speeds on the flat of 15mph or above, you may feel you’re carrying dead weight around, with the motor cutting out at that top-assisted speed, although assistance can continue to 20mph, or even in some cases 28mph in much of the USA.
Below are three of the very best electric road bikes senior road technical editor Warren Rossiter has tested to date.
BMC Roadmachine AMP One
- £7,600 / €7,999 as tested
- Pros: Smooth ride; compact motor; impressive range
- Cons: Tyres may need a swap-out for colder, wetter conditions
The BMC Roadmachine AMP One doesn’t look much different from its non-assisted sibling; it’s only the slightly expanded down tube, hiding a 350Wh battery, that shows there’s extra assistance. The Mahle X20 motor is so compact it hides between the largest cassette sprocket and the disc rotor.
The ride feels like the non-assisted Roadmachine as well, despite the 12kg weight. Range is impressive, heading up to 160km, depending on the conditions. We’d swap out the tyres for winter use though.
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Scott Addict eRide Premium
The Scott Addict eRide Premium looks and rides like a racy road bike. Russell Burton / Immediate Media
- £8,349 / 9,299 as tested
- Pros: Great looks; top-spec build; lovely handling
- Cons: Non-removable battery
The Scott Addict eRide Premium has similar geometry to the Scott Addict RC Disc and the same carbon frame. The result is a possible sub-11kg build powered by the consistent ebikemotion rear-hub motor.
Neatly concealed in the down tube, the battery managed 100km and 2,000m elevation in testing. The 2022 version of the bike has been renamed as the Scott Addict eRide Ultimate.
Overall rating:
The Forme Buxton Pro E is a folding electric bike built for anyone, anywhere and with any level of ebike experience. It’s an excellent solution for those looking to revolutionise their commute, keen to experience electric bikes for the first time, or just those who want a great ebike to enjoy on the weekends. Even better, the Buxton Pro E is exceptionally good value-for-money, offering the same if not better comfort than electric folding bikes double the £1399 price.
Pros:
Expert verdict:
The Forme Buxton Pro E is an excellent folding ebike that can definitely be considered a competitor against the more well-known brands like MiRider and GoCycle – but for half the price.
I firmly believe that experienced and novice riders alike will get the same enjoyment and employability of the ebike. Emphasised by its versatility, this bike will help you rewrite your daily commute to the office, or help you escape to the countryside at the weekend – the Buxton Pro E can do it all.
And that’s something that even the more well-known names just don’t offer. Often their bikes are built for one purpose, which they excel at, but this really is the ebike for everyone, everywhere.
It’s exceptionally comfortable, however many times I mention this in this review will simply not do this bike justice. Every ebike takes a couple of minutes on the first ride to get a feel for, but I found the Buxton Pro E verging on cosy when I first took to the saddle.
If you’ve got around £1,500 to spend on an ebike, look no further.
Specs:
| Size | One Size (20 wheels) |
| Brakes | Power Hydraulic Disc |
| Stem | 120mm Height Adjustable |
| Saddle | Forme Comfort |
| Weight | 20.5kg |
| Folded dimensions | 470mm (W), 620mm (H), 890mm (L) |
| Rider height | 5′2″. 6′1″ (158. 185cm) |
| Battery | Veken 500WH |
| Motor | Bafang H400B Rear Hub Motor |
| Range | 45 miles |
| Mudguards | 20 Black |
| Rack | 20 Black |
| Kick Stand | Alloy Black |
| Lights | Integrated Front Rear |
| Display | King Meter E5227 LCD |
| Folding pedals | Yes |
In detail:
Performance
The Forme Buxton Pro E has all the exciting and useful capabilities of an ebike, and in this case five power modes (ranging from ECO to SPEED) will have you confidently tackling longer rides, steeper climbs, or simply making every ride that little bit easier.
I really enjoyed switching between modes whilst out on the bike, it really enabled me to happily whoosh around with very little effort – and allowed me to very easily keep up with traffic or not loose speed when faced with an incline.
Factor in that the Pro E also has eight gears to use, I could very easily flick down a couple of gears before stopping at a traffic light to help me get away from a stop, and move up the gear set when whistling along flatter terrain.
The Bafang H400B Rear Hub Motor is extremely confidence inspiring, and its obvious power delivery makes for a really smooth ride once you’re up to speed. I did find that, in comparison to other ebikes like the Estarli E20, that you have to put in more pedal rotation from a standstill for the pedal assist to kick in – so if you’ve forgotten to switch down gears when coming to a stop then the Pro E does need a little more convincing to get going again.
Comfort and Handling
I could make this section of the review long or short. The short version, this is easily the most comfortable folding ebike I have ridden.
In more detail, I shouldn’t be surprised the Forme Buxton Pro E is a cut above the rest in terms of comfort considering the number of features built with ensuring a smile-inducing ride.
The bike has adjustable saddle and handlebar height, which I found allowed me to instantly set up the bike for my personal preferences. That sort of customization means the Pro E will work for riders of almost any height.
Instantly finding a comfortable position, I found, offered immediately more confidence as I started cycling. I prefer a more upright position and the Pro E caters to that, allowing much greater visibility and also more presence. You really feel aware of your surroundings, and crucially that your surroundings are aware of you.
Another big player in just how comfortable I found the Pro E, are the Kendra K1054A 20 tyres – these ‘hybrid’ tyres soak up imperfections in the road, and also provide plenty of grip off-road. I’ve ridden plenty of ebikes in recent months, and really took notice of the difference these tyres made.
That chunkier feel offered so much more stability, something that I believe is a big issue for new riders or those converting to a folding ebike with smaller wheels. If you were coming from a full-sized bike to this, I don’t think you’d notice much difference.
Brakes
The Forme Buxton Pro E has unremarkable brakes, and I say that in the best possible way. There’s no fuss, no difficult action on uncomfortably designed levers on the handlebars. You brake, the hydraulic disc brakes stop you very quickly – what more do you want?
On busy roads I found this particularly useful when trying to deal with stop-start traffic that I was unable to move past. Additionally when on trails or off-road terrain, I had no trouble managing my speed on descents or coming to a stop quickly.
As a safety feature, and as a performance measure, the hydraulic brakes were as good as it gets.
Extras
One of my favourite features on the Forme Buxton Pro E was the large King Meter LCD screen located in the middle of the handlebars. It’s adjustable, so that you don’t get any annoying glare off the screen, and I really enjoyed its readability. Displays on other ebikes can be quite small or tucked away on the handlebars, but I very much approve of Forme’s choice to put it front and centre.
I’m a bit of a stat-tracking addict, I love following things like my average speed, total mileage, and so on, and this allows you to keep up to date with everything at a glance.
The Forme Buxton Pro E also comes with mudguards and lights as standard, which I think deserves note. There’s no alternate version where you have to pay more for things that, ultimately, we all end up needing to add to our bikes.
The addition of a sturdy and easy-to-use paneer rack is definitely worth highlighting for riders who don’t want to wear a rucksack or might be carrying a picnic basket with them on holiday. I think it’s well-sized, and also completes the look of this bike.
Folding the Pro E was straightforward – two hinges on the handlebar stem and centre frame allow you to collapse the bike into a well-packaged unit, perfect for storing at home or in the office, for putting in the boot of a car or for taking away on holiday.
I did, however, find it a little more difficult to fold than bikes like the Estarli E20, although I would put it on a par with the MiRider GB3. The central hinge I found quite stiff, and with the extra bulk of the centre frame due to the battery housing, it was quite weighty to get the action right and fold the bike in half.
Like with every folding ebike, I’m very sure that this would become second nature after repeated folding attempts.
Not sure if this was an intentional design feature, but the mid-frame gap acts as a perfect handle to hold the frame if carrying the bike up any stairs.
Purely cosmetic, but I would like different colour options; a nice black deep green would look really good on this frame – but that’s not to say the standard grey isn’t a very handsome colour.
Mentioned sparingly but again worth highlighting at the end of this review is just how good this package is for the price. The Forme Buxton Pro E offers the same quality, functionality and crucially fun that electric bikes multiples of the £1399 price tag offer. Did I mention it’s comfortable?
The 10 Best Electric Bikes For Adults in 2023
You can speed up your daily commute, make hills feel slightly less steep, and cover considerable distances without breaking a sweat. Plus, they present an environmentally-friendly alternative to other modes of transportation.
You’ll experience cycling from a whole new perspective – but first, you have to pick the best electric bike.
We tested 2023’s most popular cheap electric bikes and summed up our findings in this round-up. Stick around and find an e-bike that suits you – no matter your budget or needs!
In a hurry, after 42 hours of research we recommend the following bikes for each category:
Rad Power RadRover 6
Rugged aluminum construction, 26-inch wheels with extra-wide tires, and a 750-watt motor to help you power up steep inclines, all available at a reasonable price. There’s no doubt that the RadRover 6 deserves the title of the best fat tire e-bike.
Ride1Up 700
The Ride1Up 700 is a price-friendly and fully loaded commuting e-bike that does not sacrifice on all the good features. Powered by a 48V Geared Hub Bafang Motor with 750W peak power and fitted with a decent capacity 500Wh 48V 13AH Reention Dorado ID Plus battery with Samsung cells.
Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 3 Remixte
Tesoro Neo X 3 Remixte top rated Cannondale e-bike is built for endurance, comfort, and efficiency. The motor is optimized for quiet and smooth engagement, with multiple pedal-assist levels and a 104-miles range and a range extender battery can be used with this bike. It’s the high-performance road e-bike of 2023 with motor that assist up to 28MPH!
Quick Comparison Table
Best Commuting E-bike Ride1Up 700
Built for smooth city commuting
Best Road E-Bike Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon 3
An ultra-quiet and fast motor for a smooth and natural-feeling ride
Best Fat Tire E-Bike Rad Power RadRover 6
The Hummer of fat tire electric bikes
Top 10 Electric Bikes For Adults in 2023
Listed below are some of the best electric bikes – and after putting them to the test, we have the utmost confidence in their capabilities. Dependable motors, sturdy frames, substantial battery capacities; these e bikes have it all.
You’ll probably notice that we didn’t go too cheap even though we included quite a few solid budget picks.
You get what you pay for – that saying held up for a reason.
We get that not everyone can afford to splurge on a high-end e-bike, and that’s fine. However, don’t go into this expecting to get the same level of performance from a budget pick as you would from a premium one.
Now that we have that settled, keep reading for our complete list of the best electric road, fat-tire, mountain, and folding bikes on the market!
Best Rated E-Bikes
The skinny-tire, pedal-assisted rides entered the scene a few years ago – and there’s been an ever-increasing variety of electric road bike options ever since.
There’s one for everyone – and we rounded up the best road e-bikes for grownups in 2023 for you.
If you’re thinking of adding one to your collection, now’s your chance!
Cannondale Tesoro Neo X 3 Remixte – Our Pick
By now, Cannondale has become a household name in the e-bike world. This company is well known for producing high-quality bikes of just about any variety. from commuters to fitness and mountain bikes.
So, it’s no surprise that Tesoro Neo X Remixte is one of the best adult e-bikes you can pick up.
It’s a dream to ride, looks gorgeous, and has more than enough range to take you quite a few rounds around the town.
The only thing holding it down is its hefty price. Still, you can’t expect to pay pennies for a premium bike.
Cannondale Tesoro Neo X3 Remixte – Our Pick For Best Road E-Bike of 2023
Frame Build
The Tesoro Neo X 3 features what Cannondale calls a Remixte frame. This is just a fancy word for a frame that has a slightly lowered upper tube, so it’s easier to mount.
Another benefit to this frame design is that it combines the sturdiness of a step-over frame with the approachability of a step-through frame.
This is not where cool frame features end. all cable management is done through it. Besides resulting in clean frame lines, hidden cables also mean less potential for them to snap or break.
To make the ride as comfortable as possible, the Tesoro Neo X 3 features a front suspension with 100 millimeters of travel.
Motor Battery
This e-bike is fully decked out with Boch electronics. from the battery to the motor.
The most peculiar thing about this e-bike is that it features a Boch Performance mid-train motor. This means there’s no throttle, but it makes the e-bike lighter and better at climbing steep hills.
Tesoro X 3 Remixte features a Bosch Power Tube battery that can hold 13.4 Ah of charge. You can expect around 50 miles of ride on a full charge. I managed to squeeze out around 45 miles, but I live in a pretty hilly area.
It takes around 5 hours for the battery to recharge, which is almost an industry standard. If you’re planning on using this e-bike for daily commuting, I recommend you get a spare battery to eliminate any downtime for recharging.
Tires Ride
The Tesoro X 3 Remixte handles like a dream. You’ll feel almost no road shock thanks to the generous suspension travel and decent all-terrain tires.
And don’t worry if you snag a pothole; the aluminum fenders feature a durable tubular design. This provides additional stiffness and durability that’s much needed for rough terrain.
Ride 1UP 700 Series
The Ride 1UP 700 series e-bike can be described in one word. value. Not only does it feature a stylish frame, but it also comes with a powerful motor and a beefy battery. All that for a pretty affordable price.
The only thing holding this bike down is a bit more involved assembly, but when you factor in the price-to-performance ratio. this is a pretty reasonable sacrifice.
Ride 1UP 700 Series Electric Bike
Frame Build
The 700 Series features a pretty hefty aluminum alloy frame that comes in two flavors: step-through and step-over. Both versions weigh around 62 lbs. This does make it a bit more cumbersome to lug around, but at least the bike won’t break if you fall or run into a pothole.
Both the cables and the battery are hidden inside the frame to protect them from harm and extra style points.
On top of all that, the 700 Series also features a pretty decent front suspension with up to 100 millimeters of travel. The suspension works in combination with the fat tires to absorb almost all road shock. resulting in an incredibly pleasurable ride experience.
And since this is an all-around commuter e-bike, you also get a rear cargo rack with 50 lbs of carrying capacity for groceries and other knick-knacks.
Motor Battery
The 700 Series comes with a pretty beefy 750W motor that can churn out 62 Nm of torque. This makes it perfect for just about any type of terrain. You’ll have more than enough power to conquer even the steepest of hills with very little effort.
Another benefit to having a high-torque motor is that you can accelerate pretty fast. It will take you just a couple of seconds on the highest pedal assist level to reach the max speed of 28 MPH.
The motor is pretty responsive, so you’ll have no trouble adjusting to the pedal assist. And if you ever get tired of pedaling, you can always use the throttle system. But that will only get you to 20 MPH.
The battery is just as impressive as the motor. It is rated at 16 Ah and provides you with around 50 miles of range. This is incredible for an e-bike in this price range. Most other models struggle to provide you with even 35 miles of range.
Tires Ride
The 700 Series e-bike features 27.5-inch wheels with 2.4-inch high-volume tires.
Thanks to their heft, the tires are capable of absorbing quite a lot of road shock. Add to that the front suspension, and you get some of the best riding experiences ever.
If you’re looking for a decently priced, high-performing daily commuter, I recommend you give this e-bike a try.
What Makes an Electric Bike Comfortable?
Bike handlebars and their positioning are unfortunately a commonly overlooked feature on bikes, and their role in providing a safe comfortable ride cannot be overstated. Handlebars offer support and stability to the rider, but also provide a mounting structure for various controls and toggles such as the brake levers, lights, and throttle.
The positioning of a handlebar is crucial to the riding experience. In this article, we will discuss the importance of finding a handlebar configuration that matches your needs and provides the most comfort for you.
A lot of times, consumers consider aesthetics of a bike; whether a bike looks great for them or which bike runs really fast. However, there are a lot of other features you should pay attention to. You don’t want to spend your precious cash on an ebike only to find that you are uncomfortable every time you ride it. One of the most important things you should consider is your ride position and body posture on an ebike.
Below we will detail a few of the common handlebar configurations we see on ebikes nowadays. We highly suggest test riding a bike before purchasing to ensure the bike offers a comfortable ride.
Cruiser Handlebars
A handlebar style we highly recommend and have found to be the most universlaly comfortable for all riders is a curved set up. This cruiser styled handlebar can be seen on our Beach Babe womens electric bike. The Tower Beach Babe is a classic beach cruiser bike equipped with curved handlebars. The handlebars slick back towards the rider which helps keep the riders body position further back on the bicycle. Instead of being tucked forward and aggressively, the rider can put his weight on the back and have a more relaxed, straightened back, and comfortable ride.
Straight Handlebars
Folding electric bikes tend to have straighter and flat handlebars in an attempt to save space when the bike is folded. Folding ebikes tend to FOCUS more on being compact and easily stowed away and seldom will compromise some form of comfort. As such, the typical riding position on a folding ebike is a little more in the middle. It is not very far back like a cruiser bike, but it is not as aggressive as being so much in the front as well. The rider will be semi-upright and will seldom be a little leaned forward or have an arch on the back.
Aggressive Handlebars
The last category we will discuss are the aggressive handlebars. These are the ones commonly found on Super 73 and moto styled ebikes. This handlebar configuration is harder for the rider to reach, thus pushes the rider’s frame forward like a motorcycle. While the ride may look cool with these types of handlebars they leave the rider in a vulnerable, often uncomfortable position.
Final Thoughts
When you are getting an ebike, you will definitely have to factor in your use case for it. If you’re looking for a nice and comfortable ebike to ride on, you might want to avoid some bikes with aggressive handlebars which will lead to more strain to your body and back due to your tucked forward and arched positioning.
At the end of the day its important to do your research on what each ebike provides. Don’t just research battery capabilities and motor torque, also look at important aspects and components on bikes that will lead to more comfort and easier pedaling. Pay attention to the handlebars and the positions you are going to ride in. A lot of times, brands will have pictures of people riding their bikes, so you can pay attention to the body position. When applicable, test ride a bike before purchasing!