
Driving through traffic is one of our biggest daily stresses. Public transportation can waste time unless you live in a city with a great system, and even then it can be a messy, overpacked ordeal. Motorcycles are great, but not all states allow for lane splitting, which means you will just be waiting in traffic, with no AC or a comfy seat.
What to do? Commuters all over the world have found a nicer way to get to work — cycling. There are over 60 million cyclists in the United States, and this number doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
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Electric bikes have increased in popularity as cycling has become more common. They are changing the way we look at commutes. Not only can they become your main form of transportation around the city, but they can also also adapt to work in tandem with other types of vehicles.
The best e-bikes can fold up to fit on the train or in a trunk, so you can leave your car on the edge of town. They slot between cars so you can pick your way through traffic and there’s hardly any real physical exertion.
Looking for a nice electric bike? They are still not as popular as regular bicycles, but demand is growing and options are looking more diverse. Picking the right one can be hard, so we have done the work for you and narrowed down the list of options. Here are 10 of the best electric bicycles you could be using to get through the city.
Editor’s note: Our roundup of the best e-bikes will be updated regularly.
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The best electric bicycles, at a glance
- Monday Motorbikes Presidio
- Delfast ebike Top 3.0
- Charge XC
- Italjet Ascot Sport
- Trefecta URB L1E
- Greyp G12s CORE Carbon
- Tern Vektron S10
- URB-E Pro GT
- Smacircle S1
- Eskute Voyager
Charge XC
The Charge XC is an electric mountain bike, but it’s so versatile that it’s good on gravel, dirt, or city streets. It comes with a 250-watt motor that offers three riding modes. This ebike gives you a range of 50 miles (80 km) a single charge. Take note this bike has no throttle but it can get you to a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) with pedal assist.
The Charge XC weighs around 55 lbs (25 kg), including the battery, and can support riders as heavy as 300 lbs (136 kg). If you live in an apartment or just simply don’t have enough storage space, don’t worry because the Charge X can be easily folded.
Charge XC key specs
- Weight: 154 lb (70 kg)
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h)
- Range: 50 miles (80 km)
Charge XC 3.0 price
- Starts at $2,499
Italjet Ascot Sport
This is not a motorcycle from the early 1900s, but it sure looks like one! Italjet brings modern technology to classic designs, and has one of the coolest electric bikes around, with a look that’ll get motorcycle enthusiasts all revved up. This item is sure to start up a conversation.
The Italjet Ascot Sport is made in Italy (duh), and boy does it look good! The manufacturer made sure the bike lives up to its standards, providing an elegant design with leather grips, a classic frame, a fancy quartz clock, and more.
You must keep in mind this is not exactly a full-on e-bike, though. It is an electric-power-assisted bicycle. You need to pedal to move forward, but the electric system helps make the ride easier with a slight push. It is convenient for those times you would rather not get a full-on workout, or for going up steep hills.
The Ascot Sport may not be the fastest, or the cheapest, but makes up for its downsides in looks!
Italjet Ascot key specs
- Weight: 66 lbs (30 kg)
- Top speed: 15 mph (25 km/h)
- Range: 50 miles (80 km)
Italjet Ascot price
- £3700 (about $5122)
Trefecta URB L1E
If looking cool is your thing, the Trefecta URB L1E would fit in a James Bond movie. Its futuristic aesthetic, powerful motor, and great range will have you zooming by pesky cars in style. This bike is bold and stylish, so don’t get it if you plan to go unnoticed.
Also, don’t buy it if you plan on having money in your bank account. This bike costs more than most cars out there, with a 22,500-euro price tag. That’s over $27,000. Ouch!
It is a marvel, though. The L1E can speed up to 45 km/h in assisted mode. You can also avoid even a drop sweat if you would rather cruise at 40 km/h. You won’t need to be recharging all the time, as this bike can go for 100 km on one charge.
Neat, right? I am sure all of us want one, but I can think of plenty uses for that kind of cash.
Trefecta URB L1E key specs
- Weight: 84 lb (38 kg)
- Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h)
- Range: 62 miles (100 km)
Trefecta URB L1E price
- 22,500 euros (about $27,000 )
Tern Vektron S10
This folding electric bike comes from Taiwan. You can set it up and go in just 10 seconds. It will do up to 75 miles between charges, which is more than enough for any last-mile commute. It weighs in at just 49 lbs and measures just 40.9 x 86.1 x 65 cm when it’s folded up.
The Tern bike blasted through its Kickstarter goal and is now available for sale. It isn’t cheap, but it could be a much better way to get to work than the metro and it’s way cheaper than using Uber over the course of the year. Not to mention the fact many e-bikes are a lot more expensive — this one is actually among the most reasonably priced.
Tern Vektron S10 key specs
- Weight: 49 lb (22 kg)
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h)
- Range: 75 miles (120 km)
Tern Vektron S10 price
- $3,400
URB-E Pro GT
Forget pedals. This entry on our list of best electric bicycles is fully electric and has no need for pedals. Of course, if we are going to list mobility scooters URB-E has to be mentioned. These were among the first of their kind to go mainstream, and these scooters are pretty awesome.
The URB-E vehicles are small and have tiny tires, which makes them a bit weird to ride. Once you get used to them they can be quite fun and convenient. Need to carry (or roll) it around? Just fold it up. Once you are ready to ride, it only takes a few seconds to unfold it and get going.
The top-tier model is the URB-E Pro GT, and it costs $1,999. For nearly two grand you get a vehicle that can go as fast as 18 mph and has a range of 20 miles.
It can also be equipped with carrying baskets, cup holders, mounts, bells, and more.
URB-E Pro GT key specs
- Weight: 35 lb (16 kg)
- Top speed: 18 mph (29 km/h)
- Range: 20 miles (32 km)
URB-E Pro GT price
- $1,999
Smacircle S1
This could be the most interesting little electric scooter around, mostly because of its futuristic aesthetics. It looks like it came straight out of the Tron movie. But instead of being a crazy fast electric bike, it’s a cute little thing that can reach top speeds of 12.4 mph.
Its range is also estimated at 12.4 miles, which means you can only go for 1 hour at full speed ahead. Don’t let the lackluster specs fool you. This could actually become your favorite item in this article, especially if you are on a tight budget. The Smacircle S1 is currently offered through Indiegogo for $699 — a price more of us can swallow.
It’s also a very convenient vehicle. It can fold up to fit into a backpack. Features include integrated lights and the ability to charge your devices on-the-go.
Smacircle S1 key specs
- Weight: 65 lb (29.5 kg)
- Top speed: 20 mph (32 km/h)
- Range: 25 miles (40 km)
Smacircle S1 price
- $699
Eskute Voyager
The Eskute Voyager is another entry-level electric bike that sells for $1,200. It makes use of a 250 W brushless gear hub motor that can give you a cruising speed of 15.5 mph (25 km/h). With a 480 Wh battery capacity, the Voyager gives you a range of more than 62 miles (100 km).
The Voyager’s 27.5-inch tires have anti-puncture feature. The fork also comes with dual mode and you can easily switch from non-suspended to suspended by twisting a knob. The battery pack of the bike is also detachable in case you do not want to carry the whole bike inside your home.
Eskute Voyager key specs
- Weight: 55 lb (25 kg)
- Top speed: 15.5 mph (25 km/h)
- Range: 62 miles (100 km)
Eskute Voyager price
- $699
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That’s our list of best electric bicycles. Which e-bike is your favorite? Did we miss anything? Tell us in the comments!