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Electric Bikes

Lightweight Electric Bikes: Top 10 Lightest E-Bikes in 2024

By Charlotte Broughton

Updated Feb 27, 2024

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When considering a new bike purchase, it’s usual to carefully consider a few important factors. One of these factors is likely the weight of the bike, which can often sway our final decision when choosing between a couple of options.

This therefore is still going to be an important aspect when deciding upon an electric bike. So with that in mind, here’s a list of the lightest electric bikes currently available.

Lightest E-Bikes (Top 17)

8.5kg / 18.7lbs

HPS Domestique

10.3kg / 22.7lbs

Hummingbird Flax Folding E-Bike

10.3kg / 22.7 lbs

Wilier Filante Hybrid

10.3 kg / 22.7 lbs

Hummingbird Folding E-Bike

10.5 kg / 23.1 lbs

Ribble Endurance SL E Hero

10.6 kg / 23.3 lbs

Scott Addict RC eRide

11.3 kg / 24.9 lbs

Cannondale SuperSix EVO Neo

11.5kg / 25.5 lbs

Thoemus Swissrider Urban

11.7 kg / 26 lbs

Lemond Prolog

12.2 kg / 26.8 lbs

Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo SL

Orbea GAIN M20 Flat Bar

12.3kg / 27.1 lbs

Bianchi Aria e-Road

13.3 kg / 29.3 lbs

CARBO Model X Folding E-Bike

14 kg / 30.8 lbs

Quella Electric Varsity Collection

14.4 kg / 31.7 lbs

Ampler Curt

15.0 kg / 33.1lbs

Urtopia Carbon E-Bike

16.35 kg / 35.9 lbs

Trek E-Caliber 9.9

Electric Bike Weight

Electric bike weight may be a contributing factor as to why some people have been put off from purchasing or using one in the past. However, as they’ve become a solid option within the market, new technological advances have meant the weight is far more manageable and less overwhelming than before.

The typical weights of an electric bike, across all styles, roughly ranges from around 11kg to 25kg. The latter is still a reasonable weight for a bike with a motor, but the more expensive the e-bike, usually the lighter it will be.

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Therefore, it’s understandable, when comparing electric bikes to normal bikes , that the weight can sometimes seem a little heavy. But doing so has no real value: they’re chalk and cheese, and in all honesty, you can’t compare them.

Why Are E-Bikes So Heavy?

Electric bikes are heavy (at least heavier than their non electric counterparts) due to the batteries and motor that they have fitted. Without these elements the bike would not be an electric bike, therefore removing them to make the bicycle lighter is a non starter.

However, as previously noted, electric bikes of late have been shedding the pounds. Many newer models are lighter, and therefore more manageable to ride.

There’s also the positives of having a pedal assist motor, which for sure outweighs any issues you may face with weight! Especially when you consider the list of lightweight electric bikes we’ve picked out. Many may even be lighter than non electric bikes you’ve previously ridden.

Are Heavier Bikes Harder to Ride?

As a rule of thumb, heavier bikes can sometimes be harder to ride, but it’s not always massively noticeable as long as the bike is a good fit, and you’re comfortable with the controls for the motor.

On the other hand, what you may want to consider when owning a heavier bike is how easy it may be for you to carry, or even mount onto the back of your car if you enjoy going away with your bike.

Therefore, although weight can affect the ride quality, it’s definitely not as big an issue compared to whether the bike may be too heavy for you to carry when walking down stairs, etc. But on the plus side, being heavier, it’s harder for thieves to pick up and walk away with…

Benefits of Lightweight E-Bikes

The benefits of owning and riding a lightweight electric bike are first and foremost, that it will feel a little more manoeuvrable in comparison to a really heavy one. This is of course due to there being less mass to move around underneath you while riding.

Next, a lightweight e-bike will feel faster and more manageable when riding up inclines, which is safe to say the circumstance in which most of us want a little extra help.

And of course following on from the previous point regarding the weight of a bike, a lighter electric bike will be easier to carry, mount onto your car and generally just store – say if you hang your bikes up in your garage, or in a bike store at work if you commute in by bike .

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Best Lightweight Electric Bikes

As everyones needs differ regarding what sort of terrain and use they have for their electric bike, we have a list ranging from different styles of electric bikes .

Therefore we hope that you find the perfect lightweight electric bike for you amongst our pick!

Lightest E-Bikes in the World

Lightest electric road bike, 1. hps domestique.

Prices are approximate

• Weight: 18.7lbs (8.5kg)
• Range: Not Stated
• Wheel Size: 700c
• Gears:  13 speed

The lightest road bike available

Incredibly light, incredibly pricey

Can be taken on a plane

The lightest production electric bike award (currently) goes to the HPS Domestique.

HPS aren’t a hugely well-known brand but for those riders looking for the highest e-road bike to swing their leg over, they’ll probably have come across the Domestique – the only bike HPS currently produce.

The Domestique is, in its essence, a classic carbon race bike but with the addition of a tiny crank-based motor. The motor takes its power from a battery housed in the bike’s bottle.

• Custom, handmade carbon fibre frame
• Motorsport and aeronautical engineering
• Links with popular GPS devices like Garmin
• Bottle based battery is a design concession

Lightest Electric Folding Bike

2. hummingbird flax.

• Weight: 22.7lbs (10.3kg)
• Range: 50+ km
• Wheel Size:  16”
• Gears:  Single Speed

Folding electric bike

Plant fibre construction

Hummingbird is the only bike brand with two bikes on our list of the lightest electric bikes available today – not bad for a small company that operates out of a non-descriptive warehouse in the English midlands.

That puts Hummingbird down somewhat, especially when you consider that their parent company, Prodrive, has an astonishing legacy in motorsport.

The Flax version of the Hummingbird folding electric bike uses plant fibres to create a bike that’s equally as strong (and light) as its sister bike included further down this list.

• Outstandingly light
• Just enough e-power
• Just one colour
• Single speed

3. Wilier Filante Hybrid

• Weight: 22.7 lbs (10.3kg)
• Gears:  Various

Amazing looking e-road bike

Italian flair

Different builds available

The second electric road bike on our list and this time its from a more well-known brand. Wilier is an Italian bike manufacturer with a long and decorated history in road cycling.

Their attention has turned to electric road bikes in recent years and the brand’s eye for detail is evident in this bike, the Filante Hybrid.

The Filante e-bike features an extremely discrete display system mounted in the bike’s stem and the rear wheel (where the motor is housed) is fitted to the frame with a thru-axle. A thru axle delivers a better ride, but it does throw up issues with connecting the motor. A clever design feature from Wilier means that the thru-axle connects the electronics of the bike automatically when added and disconnects it when its removed.

• Different sizes, colours, builds available
• From a brand with a decorated road cycling history
• Rear thru axle provides an excellent ride
• Discrete motor and display
• Too race orientated for most

4. Hummingbird Folding E-Bike

• Range:  40 km to 50+ km
• Gears:  Single-Speed

Lightweight

Impressive range

This highly practical folding electric bike is the perfect option for anyone on the go, as well as those limited with storage. Not to mention it astonishingly only comes in at 10.3kg, which is a crazily light weight. Of course, there’s not as much to the bike in comparison to road bikes etc, but this is seriously impressive stuff.

As well as being impressively lightweight, this folding electric bike from Hummingbird also offers an impressive range of up to 50km, which is definitely more than enough for most commuters needs.

In addition, this bike comes in four different colours to suit a wide range of tastes. However, if non of these standard colours take your fancy, there is also the option to have a custom paint job.

When purchasing this electric bike, there’s also the useful additional option to add any accessories you may need such as a lock, bag, or even a different saddle to the standard one.

• Commuter-friendly
• Option for custom paint job
• Ability to add accessories
• You have to use a smartphone to access the metrics and controls

5. Ribble Endurance SL E Hero

• Weight: 23.1lbs (10.5kg)
• Range:  up to 95km
• Wheel Size:  27.5”
• Gears:  12-Speed

Lightweight carbon wheels

Elite carbon frame

Top of the line Shimano Dura-Ace 2×12 groupset

Ribble are one of the bicycle manufacturing greats, having been founded in Preston, England, back in the lat 1800′.s

But while Ribble’s heritage is unquestioned, they aren’t set in their ways and are one of the most innovative bike brands around – and the Ribble Endurance SL e Hero is a great example of this.

This stunning electric road bike has managed to pack an impressive feature list (including top of the line Shimano Dura-Ace 2×12 groupset) and LEVEL DB35 EBM carbon wheels into a total package of just 10.5kg (23lb).

The Endurance’s success is largely down to the lightweight carbon wheels and elite carbon frame, which has also managed to discreetly contain the battery for this bike.

Obviously, all this tech is accordingly priced and this is certainly not a budget e-bike.

• Discreetly contained battery
• Impressive feature list
• Innovative bike brand

6. Scott Addict RC eRide

• Weight: 23.3 lbs (10.6kg)

Various builds available

Big brand performance

Very similar to brand’s standard road bikes

Of all the different types of electric bikes, e-road bikes are most alike their non-assisted cousins. The Scott Addict RC eRide is a great example of this – stand the two bikes side-by-side and you’ll be hard-pressed to tell the difference.

Like many electric road bikes featured on this list, the Addict RC eRide uses a motor from MAHLE – the X20 to be precise. In short, this is the lightest and best e-bike motor for road bikes.

• Small motor
• Motor provides maximum 55Nm of power
• Great looks
• Wildly expensive

7. Cannondale SuperSix EVO Neo

• Weight: 24.9 lbs (11.3kg)
• Range:  up to 100 km
• Wheel Size:  700c
• Gears:   11-Speed

Lightweight: 11.3kg weight

Designed for performance: speed, efficiency, handling

Top-end Shimano Di2 Dura Ace groupset: 11 speed electronic

This highly impressive road machine comes in at 11.3kg: a weight that puts a lot of non electric road bikes to shame. It’s been designed with performance in mind. In Cannondale’s own words, this bike’s design centres around ‘speed, efficiency and handling’.

Not only is is built to handle like no other, it’s also kitted out with the super light top end 11 speed electronic Shimano Di2 Dura Ace groupset. Therefore it’s fair to say Cannondale are not messing around with this lightweight offering.

This bike comes in three sizes which includes: SM, MD and LG. Therefore if you are particularly short or tall, it may not be a good fit for you. It’s also available in only one colour, which is graphite.

This bike also benefits from being fitted with the very streamlined and light ebikemotion rear-hub drive system, which is known for it’s neat aesthetics and powerful nature. Therefore, it’s a solid option.

• Three size options: SM, MD, LG
• One color option: graphite
• Streamlined ebikemotion rear-hub drive system: powerful and aesthetically pleasing
• Battery life

8. Thoemus Swissrider Urban

• Weight: 25.5lbs (11.5kg)

Sub 12kg electric hybrid bike

Brilliant looks

Swiss-feel and design

There aren’t many electric hybrid bikes on the market that prioritise weight as their most important attribute.

Thomus is a relatively young bicycle brand (it was founded in 1991) but it has set out to prove that electric bikes can and should be ridden by everyone. The Swissrider Urban is the brand’s electric hybrid bike that would suit anyone looking to fly along city streets to and from work. It weighs below 12kg.

Thomus has a neat bike builder on their website which allows you to configure and custom your bike before purchasing. There’s even the option to view the bike in Augmented Reality in your own environment. How cool is that?

• Tasty looking colour options
• Visually unique
• Can be specced as a gravel bike
• Just three frame sizes

9. Lemond Prolog

• Weight:  26 lbs (11.7kg)
• Range: up to 70 miles

Lightweight: 11.7kg

Designed for commuting

Integrated lights

For the uninitiated, Greg Lemond is a famous road cyclist who won the Tour de France back in the 1980s. Today he’s turned his attention to designing a small but mightily fine trio of electric bikes.

The lightest of Lemond’s electric bikes is the Prolog. The bike’s frame is made from carbon fibre which goes some way to explain the bike’s weight, but also uses the popular Mahle motor to leave keep the bike under 12kg.

With plush 38c tyres and top-end 11-speed gearing, the Prolog would make a fine medium-to-long distance commuter bike.

• Eye-catching frame colours
• For fun, fast riding in town
• Just 3 frame sizes

10. Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo SL

• Weight: 26.8 lbs (12.2kg)
• Range:  128 km to 190 km (with
• range extender)
• Wheel Size:  700c Gears:  12-Speed

Carbon fiber

Although another expensive option, this lightweight electric road bike from Specialized is a very respectable 12.2kg. Therefore, it is a solid option for those of you who love road riding, and care about the weight of your bike while flying up hills.

Aesthetically, the lightweight carbon fiber Turbo Creo SL looks just as streamlined and attractive as your average road bike. This is thanks to the neatly integrated 320Wh battery, which is positioned within the down tube. The colour is also utterly stunning: go fast and look cool, what more matters?

The range of this particular bike is a rather impressive 80 miles, or up to 120 miles with the added help of the range extender. This option is therefore a great lightweight as well as practical one for those who love getting in the miles.

Overall, this lightweight pick is a great choice for anyone with a big budget wanting a road bike for leisure riding, serious training or even for particularly swanky commutes. The possibilities are endless.

• Streamlined
• No kickstand

11. Orbea GAIN M20 Flat Bar

• Weight: 26.8lbs (12.2kg) (approx)
• Range:  N/A
• Gears:  11-Speed

Some may see a road bike with a set of flat bars thrown in, and thus cast this bike off as a hybrid. They may be right, however, coming in at very commendable 12.2kg, it was hard to resist.

As mentioned, this Orbea is basically an electric road bike with flat bars, but given many hybrids side towards relaxed geometry road bikes, one could argue this is just a really stylish and lightweight hybrid. Maybe even the perfect jazzy commuter.

Additionally, this bike also benefits from being 11 speed, so even up tough inclines, paired with the motor it shouldn’t be any bother. It also comes with the option to customise to suit your personal vibe.

Don’t be put off, the addition of flat bars will make a huge difference with regards to riding position and comfort. Therefore it would be a great bike for commuters and leisure riders wanting a lightweight yet comfy ride.

• Electric motor
• Customizable
• The battery is sensitive to heat, humidity and cold.

12. Bianchi Aria e-Road

• Weight:  27.1lbs (12.3kg) (approx)
• Range: Not stated

Racey electric road bike

Italian heritage and history

Carbon frame

The final true electric road bike on our list is the Bianchi Aria e-Road. Bianchi is another of the world’s biggest bicycle manufacturers that has gone headlong into producing lightweight e-road bikes that meet the exacting rigours of riding on the road.

The Aria e-Road is available in 7 frame size and can be purchased in various colours and gearing builds too.

• Neat integration
• Various gearing options
• Fit designed for already enthusatic road riders

13. CARBO Model X Folding E-Bike

• Weight: 29.3lbs (13.3kg)
• Range:  30 to 55 KM
• Wheel Size:  20”
• Gears:  Single-Speed ( 9-Speed also available weighing 15.3kg )

Classy design

Carbon belt drive

Removable battery in seat post

This is a classy, single-speed electric bike with a carbon belt drive for a quiet, smooth ride. Offering exceptional quality for the price, the Carbo Model X is as powerful as e-bikes twice its weight. And at 13.3 kg, the weight of this bike is a huge advantage.

The removable battery is integrated unobtrusively in the seat post. The bike as a whole is lovely to look at, with a classic design that is perhaps one of the most universally appealing. The seat post and stem are adjustable, so you can ride in optimum comfort for your height. The larger wheel size of 20” also makes for a more stable and comfortable ride.

The Carbo Folds in as little as ten seconds and it’s compact enough to store easily away in the home, office or on public transport.

There are plenty of practical features, such as the front and rear lights, and a USB port at the rear. The carbon belt also offers a very low-maintenance alternative to a traditional bike chain. No need to spend hours cleaning.

If you prefer gears, you can opt for the 9-speed  Model S  which gives you a lot of flexibility. This one is heavier at 15.3 kg, but s

• Adjustable seat post and stem
• Foldable in 10 seconds
• Front and rear lights, USB port, low maintenance carbon belt.

14. Quella Electric Varsity Collection

• Weight: 30.8 lbs (14kg)
• Range:  up to 60 km

Next up, a great option for those wanting a lightweight bike to cruise around any city or town with the added benefit of a motor – all without breaking the bank.

Coming in at an impressive 14 kg, this simplistic yet stylish electric fixie would be an ideal companion for students or commuters, wanting a light bike that’s not too complex nor expensive to maintain.

Aesthetically, it’s very vintage and cute, with it’s brown leather detailing and beautiful light blue paint job. It’s also available in four different sizes to ensure everyone finds the perfect fit.

Overall, this is a good budget friendly and straight forward lightweight  electric bike that would be more than suited to anyone who enjoys pedaling  around town.

• Vintage design
• Leather detailing
• Multiple size options
• Small Battery

15. Ampler Curt

• Weight: 31.7 lbs (14.4kg)
• Range:  50 to 100 km
• Gears:  Single-Speed (but with the option of 11-Speed)

Super light

Minimalist design

Includes mudguards and accessories

The Curt by Ampler is a ‘super light city e-bike’ that is without a doubt, a minimalists dream. There’s nothing in your face or over the top about this bike whatsoever.

Interestingly, coming in at a very respectable 14.4kg it’s also impressively light given the added extras that come with the bike, such as mudguards and accessories.

Therefore it’s safe to say that no corners have been cut nor compromises made regarding practicality, in the quest to make this lightweight electric city bike.

This e-bike would be a really great choice for anyone who spends most of their time riding around the city for leisure or commuting.

• Practical for city riding
• Ideal for leisure or commuting
• Impressive weight of 14.4kg
• Slight drag from the hub motor

16. Urtopia Carbon E-Bike

• Weight: 33.1lbs (15kg)
• Range:  Up to 100 km
• Wheel Size:  27.5″

Smart bike with built-in navigation

AI voice controls

Fingerprint unlock and anti-theft GPS

Now this is a cool looking e-bike. It just looks fast and futuristic.

Indeed, this isn’t just an electric bike. This is a smart bike and has incredible useful features such as a built-in navigation, AI voice controls, indicators, fingerprint unlock and anti-theft GPS.

And the list of impressive features doesn’t end there. It uses a belt-drive to keep maintenance to a minimum and has an outstanding range of up to 100km (62 miles).

Urtopia have done an especially god job on the appearance – or lack thereof – of the battery pack as it is discreetly built into the frame, but it is still removable, so you can take it from the bike to charge inside.

And as you might have guessed from the name of the bike: it’s got a carbon frame. Which explains how it’s managed to pack all these awesome features into a total weight of just 15kg (33lb).

The Urtopia bike is available across mainland Europe and north America, but sadly not the UK as it stands.

• Belt-drive for low maintenance
• Discreetly built-in battery pack
• Carbon frame for lightweight design
• Not available in UK
• Anti-theft GPS can drain battery when parked

17. Trek E-Caliber 9.9

• Weight: 35.9 lbs (16.35kg)
• Range:  3 to 5 hours
• Wheel Size:  29”

Full suspension

Now, I know what you may be thinking, why has an electric cross country mountain bike has been thrown into the mix? Well, it’s an astonishingly light one, that has already won numerous awards.

At only 16.35 kg (lighter than some electric road bikes on the market) for an electric full suspension mountain bike I think it’s without a doubt, a pretty incredible feat of engineering brilliance.

Coming in a choice of four fun and vibrant colours, this bike is definitely not one for the minimalists. It’s quirky, and pretty in your face. But still it’s very streamlined, with no ugly bulky electronics.

Overall this bike is best suited to those who love an off road adventure, but want something super lightweight with the added help from a motor. Additionally, this may also suit those who find gravel bikes a little uncomfortable for riding, as the full suspension helps to absorb any shocks.

• Vibrant colors
• Off road adventure
• Front and rear end offer different performance characteristics.

How Do the Performance and Range of These Lightweight E-bikes Compare to Heavier Models?

The performance and range of lightweight electric bikes compared to heavier models can vary significantly, influenced by factors such as battery capacity, motor efficiency, and design. Lightweight e-bikes, often designed with portability and ease of use in mind, may have smaller batteries and motors to save weight. This can affect their range and power output compared to heavier e-bikes, which may accommodate larger batteries and more powerful motors, offering extended range and greater assistance on steep inclines.

However, advancements in battery technology and motor efficiency have narrowed this gap. Lightweight e-bikes are increasingly capable of delivering competitive performance and range, suitable for most urban commuting and leisure cycling needs. For instance, many lightweight models offer ranges that are ample for daily commutes and casual rides, typically between 20 to 50 miles (32 to 80 kilometers) on a single charge, depending on the battery size, rider weight, terrain, and level of assistance used.

In terms of performance, lightweight e-bikes may accelerate more quickly and handle more responsively than their heavier counterparts, thanks to their reduced mass. This can make them particularly appealing for city riding, where agility and the ability to navigate through traffic are advantageous. On the other hand, heavier e-bikes might provide a more stable ride at higher speeds or on rough terrain, thanks to their additional mass and often wider tires.

In summary, while lightweight e-bikes may have once faced significant compromises in performance and range, modern designs offer a compelling balance that meets the needs of many riders. The choice between a lightweight and a heavier e-bike will depend on individual preferences, riding conditions, and priorities, such as the importance of portability versus the need for longer range or greater power.

What Advancements in Technology Have Enabled These Reductions in Weight?

Advancements in technology have played a pivotal role in reducing the weight of electric bikes, making them more accessible and user-friendly. One of the key developments has been in battery technology, where the shift from older battery types to lithium-ion batteries has significantly decreased weight while improving energy density. Lithium-ion batteries offer a superior power-to-weight ratio, meaning they can store more energy in less space and with less weight, a crucial factor for e-bikes where the battery is one of the heaviest components.

Another technological advancement contributing to lighter e-bikes is the use of high-strength, lightweight materials in the construction of frames and components. Materials such as carbon fiber and advanced aluminum alloys have become more prevalent. Carbon fiber, in particular, is renowned for its high stiffness-to-weight ratio, providing strength and durability without the added weight. This material has been instrumental in reducing overall bike weight, making e-bikes easier to handle and transport.

Motor technology has also seen significant improvements. The development of more efficient and compact electric motors has allowed manufacturers to reduce the size and weight of the motor without sacrificing performance. These newer motors can deliver the same or even better power output than older, larger models, contributing to a lighter overall bike.

Furthermore, the integration of components has been optimized in recent years. Designers and engineers have found innovative ways to incorporate the motor and battery into the bike’s frame in a way that minimizes bulk and reduces weight. This integration not only contributes to a sleeker, more aesthetically pleasing design but also improves the bike’s balance and weight distribution, enhancing the riding experience.

These advancements, combined with ongoing research and development in materials science, battery technology, and motor efficiency, continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, making e-bikes lighter, more efficient, and more appealing to a broader range of cyclists.

Are There Any Trade-Offs in Durability or Ride Comfort with These Lighter Models?

With the reduction in weight of electric bikes through various technological advancements, there are potential trade-offs in terms of durability and ride comfort that riders might experience. Lighter e-bikes often utilize materials like carbon fiber and advanced aluminum alloys for their frames and components to shed weight. While these materials are strong and can offer excellent performance, they may also lead to a different ride feel compared to heavier models made from traditional materials. For instance, carbon fiber is known for its stiffness, which can translate to a more responsive ride but may also result in a harsher feel over rough surfaces, affecting ride comfort.

In terms of durability, the focus on minimizing weight can sometimes result in the use of thinner materials or more minimalist designs, which might not withstand rough handling or heavy loads as well as heavier e-bikes. This doesn’t necessarily mean that lightweight e-bikes are fragile; many are designed with high-quality materials engineered to be both light and durable. However, the balance between weight reduction and durability requires careful design and engineering, and there may be situations where a lighter e-bike could be more susceptible to wear and damage over time, especially when used frequently in challenging conditions.

Additionally, the smaller batteries and motors that contribute to a lighter overall weight may also have implications for the bike’s performance and range. While modern battery technology has made great strides in efficiency, lighter e-bikes with smaller batteries may not offer the same long-range capabilities or power for steep climbs as their heavier counterparts. This could be a trade-off for riders who prioritize extended range or require significant electric assist in hilly terrain.

Ultimately, while lighter electric bikes offer advantages in terms of portability and ease of use, there is a balance to be struck between reducing weight and maintaining durability, ride comfort, and performance. Manufacturers carefully consider these factors to create e-bikes that meet the needs of their intended audience, ensuring that any trade-offs are well justified by the benefits in usability and rider experience.

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Best Lightweight Electric Bikes: 12 Great Options for 2023

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The word lightweight isn’t something that usually springs to mind when thinking about electric bikes. Traditionally, e-bikes have been very heavy, mainly down to the extra weight of the electric motor and, in particular, the battery. The best lightweight electric bikes are barely distinguishable from their unassisted counterparts, thanks to recent technological developments.

The 12 best lightweight electric bikes

Tenways cgo600, raleigh trace, ribble hybrid al e, specialized turbo vado sl 4.0, orbea vibe h30, cannondale treadwell neo 2 eq, vitus mach e urban, kinesis lyfe equipped, ortler speeder, boardman hyb 8.9e, why e-bikes are getting lighter.

About 20 years ago, early e-bikes still used very heavy sealed lead acid batteries; as we moved through the first decade of the 21st century, NiCAD batteries started to be used. However, until this last decade, we saw lithium battery technology become commonplace.

As the technology has evolved, so has the energy density of the lithium cells – put, you can cram more power into a single cell than you could a few years back.  The upshot of this is a more powerful battery that is smaller and considerably lighter.

Another big leap in technology is motor efficiency. When e-bikes first became available, the motors used were typically heavy direct-drive hub motors. The latest generation of electric bike motors, like the Fazua Evation and X35 ebikemotion, are small, lightweight and efficient. Not only that, but they result in an e-bike that is practically indistinguishable from a regular bicycle.

lighter e-bikes generally appeal to people looking to return to regular cycling or cyclists who want to take the edge off a hilly commute.  Either way, all the bikes featured here are well worth considering. At the bottom of this article, I have listed the key benefits of owning a lightweight electric bike.

Benefits of Owning a Lightweight E-Bike

Owning a lightweight e-bike is a particularly good idea if you have trouble lugging heavy items around. One of the first questions many of my customers asked me was, ‘How heavy will my bike be?’ after I fitted a conversion kit.  Another thing to consider is that many bike racks made for cars have a weight limit, and many modern e-bikes exceed this limit. Below, I have listed four key benefits of owning a lightweight electric bike.

Ease of transportation

With the difference in weight being as much as 10kg, owning a sub-15kg electric bike will make life a lot easier, particularly if you want to put your e-bike on a car rack or live in a flat and take your bike upstairs. They’re also much easier to cart around, especially if you occasionally take your bike on a train.

Easy to pedal with the motor switched off

Most regular hybrid e-bikes that weigh more than 20kg can be pedalled with the assist off, but the extra weight quickly becomes a burden, even on the slightest hill – you will feel like you are cycling with a couple of panniers loaded with shopping!

Pedalling with the motor off isn’t an issue when riding a lightweight electric bike. All the lighter e-bikes I have tested feel like regular bikes, and the moderately extra weight doesn’t impact the overall riding feel.

Increased efficiency

Most lightweight e-bikes have lower-capacity batteries by design.  There are a couple of reasons for this – the main one is to keep the weight down, and the second is so the battery can be neatly integrated into the frame.

Lower overall weight will improve the motor’s efficiency, as it will not need to work so hard to produce the assist. 8-10kg can make one hell of a difference to a 250w motor.

Despite the relatively low energy capacity of the batteries fitted to lightweight e-bikes, you can increase your range in many ways without buying a spare battery.

An e-bike that looks like a regular bike

All the bikes featured in this article don’t look like electric bikes. This can have a few benefits – from an aesthetics point of view, these bikes look much neater, and no large battery pack dominates the frame. Also, they are less likely to be targeted by would-be thieves.

Another thing is there is still a bit of isolated snobbery within the cycling community regarding e-bikes, and some riders don’t want to ride a bike that shouts out ‘I’M RIDING AN E-BIKE’. Personally, any cyclist who knocks someone for riding an electric bike is a backwards-thinking idiot and shouldn’t be given the time of day!

Great for commuting

Lightweight electric bikes are perfect for commuters who only want to use the electric assist to help with hills. Because there’s very little weight penalty (compared with regular bikes), you still feel like a normal bike riding without assistance. Several lightweight models in my article feature the best electric bikes for commuting .

On to my list of the 12 best lightweight e-bikes available in 2023. I have included quite a few 2022 models that are still available. I’ll be updating this article as and when newer versions become available. None of the e-bikes featured below are particularly cheap. There are cheaper bikes available, but I have gone with models that, in my opinion, offer the best all-around riding experience, quality and versatility.

Fiido C21 E-Gravel

Best budget lightweight e-bike for 2023

Key Features:

• Mivice M080 Rear Hub Motor
• 208Wh Internal Battery
• Up to 80 km range
• Tektro Hydraulic Brakes
• 17.5 kg Weight
• Approximate Price (UK) £1266 (USD) £1599 (EUR) £1458

I’m currently testing the new Fiido C21 E-Gravel, and I can honestly say it’s one of the best and most affordable lightweight e-bikes currently available. It features a super-smooth and quiet Mivice M080 rear hub motor, which is virtually silent while providing a strong boost to your pedalling efforts. In addition, the 208Wh battery has returned a range of 32 miles on a hilly route, with some left spare at the end of the ride.

The Fiido E-Gravel boasts smartphone and smartwatch connectivity, a smart OLED colour display, Tektro hydraulic brakes and all-terrain gravel tyres. Its smooth weld frame and internal cable routing offer a sporty but comfortable riding position and look incredibly stylish. I can highly recommend the Fiido as it’s both lightweight and affordable.

Watch my YouTube video review .

• Heyena HyDrive 250-watt Rear Hub Motor
• 252Wh Internal Battery
• Up to 56 km range
• Hydraulic Brakes
• Price (UK) £2250

New for 2023, the Trek FX+ 2 looks almost indistinguishable from its unassisted counterpart. Weighing in at 17.5 kg, it’s not too heavy considering the full complement of accessories fitted. The FX+ features the HyDrive motor with a 250Wh internal battery and sophisticated torque-sensing pedal assist.

This will be a great e-bike for commuting and even better for exploring the countryside. With Shimano 9-speed gearing, hydraulic brakes, mudguards, a pannier rack, lights and a kickstand, the Trek FX+ 2 wants for nothing!

• Mivice M070 250W Rear Hub Motor
• Up to 43 Miles / 70 km range (in eco mode)
• Gates Carbon Belt Drive
• 15 kg Weight
• Price (UK) £1399

The Tenways CGO660 is a lightweight single-speed e-bike with low-maintenance Gates Carbon belt drive. The CGO660 offers a really good spec for the price and is available in the US, EU and UK. Weighing in at just 15 kg, it’s nice and light. It has a nice frame geometry, Tektro hydraulic brakes and torque-sensing pedal assist.

The motor is a 250w brushless, geared rear hub motor, and the 252Wh battery is integrated into the frame. The maximum range is 70 km, which should be possible on flat roads in the lowest assist mode. A smartphone app also gives more detailed info, like total distance covered and range remaining.

• Mahle ebikemotion 250-watt Hub Motor
• 30 – 80 Miles Range
• 16.5 kg Weight
• Price (UK) £2199

Iconic UK-based brand Raleigh has all but turned their back on regular bikes. Their range now comprises almost exclusively e-bikes. The Raleigh Trace is the first lightweight electric bike in their lineup, and it looks like a great option.

Featuring the Mahle X35 ebikemotion system wrapped up in a lightweight alloy frame and full carbon fork, the Trace comes in at a respectable 16.5 kg. In addition, there are quality components like Shimano Alivio 9-speed gearing and Tektro flat-mount hydraulic brakes. There are also WTB gravel tyres, mudguards, lights and a pannier rack. The Raleigh Trace is a light and practical e-bike with sporty looks.

Check out 100’s nearly new e-bikes on the Pro’s Closet (USA only)

• Shimano MT200 Hydraulic Brakes
• Price (UK) £2499

The Ribble Hybrid AL e is a popular lightweight e-bike. This ‘fully loaded’ version comes complete with a rack and mudguards. Weighing in at under 15kg, it’s light for a hybrid e-bike. It features quality components like the excellent SRAM NX 1 x 11 gearing and Shimano hydraulic brakes. In addition, there are tough Mavic Allroad rims. The motor is the Mahle ebikemotion with a 252Wh internal battery.

Ribble has produced a practical and versatile electric bike that looks great and is substantially lighter than some of the competition. Here is an e-bike that will be equally comfortable on canal paths and urban streets. Use the assist only when you need it and ride it like a regular bike any other time – the best of both worlds!

Watch my YouTube video review

• Specialized SL 1.1 250-watt Mid-Drive Motor
• 320Wh Internal Battery
• 40 – 80 miles Range
• 16 kg Weight
• Price (UK) £3500

The Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0 uses their SL 1.1 mid-drive motor, which was developed in collaboration with German company Mahle (who also makes the x35 system). Riding the Turbo Vado SL is a whole lot of fun!  What the Specialized offers isn’t a motor that takes over but an assist system that mechanically enhances your abilities in a way that makes you feel superhuman!

Tipping the scales at just 14.9kg, the Vado SL is an easy bike to get along with. Considering the impressive 320Wh internal battery and the 1.96kg motor, you have the perfect combination of e-assist with a potential range of up to 80 miles. The Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0 is one of the best lightweight electric bikes available and well worth considering if your budget allows it.

• Price (UK) £1949

The Orbea Vibe H30 uses the latest version of the tried and tested Mahle X35 ebikemotion system, which is a small and lightweight 250w rear hub motor and 250Wh (watt hour) internal battery. Pedal assist is provided by a magnetic sensor ring installed on the rear freehub. This ensures smooth electric assistance as and when needed.

The Orbea Vibe H30 will fit the bill perfectly if you want a lightweight e-bike. Weighing in at under 14kg, it weighs about the same as a regular hardtail mountain bike. The 42t front chainring combined with an 11-46 10-speed rear cassette gives a good spread of gears, and the excellent Magura MT30 hydraulic brakes do a good job of slowing the rider down.

• 18.5 kg Weight
• Price (UK) £2000

The Cannondale Treadwell Neo 2 EQ is a fun and practical lightweight e-bike designed to be comfortable. Featuring the same torque-sensing Hydrive motor as the Trek, the Cannondale is a practical urban hybrid e-bike that has the added feature of a large front basket for carrying things like shopping bags.

It’s a nice-looking e-bike with relaxed frame geometry, durable 650b wheels, and wide 47c tyres. Perfect for riding on the tarmac or to venture off the beaten track. Other features include powerful Tektro HD-R280 hydraulic disc brakes and Microshift 8-speed gearing. If it’s a comfy urban bike you’re after, the Cannondale Treadwell Neo 2 EQ is worth considering.

• Shimano Steps E6100 Mid-Drive Motor
• 504Wh Removable Battery
• 80-100 Miles Range (in eco mode)

The Vitus Mach E Urban is a well-made e-bike. The 6061 alloy frame has a relaxed geometry and is finished with smooth welds and great paintwork. It also comes with a full-carbon fork and tough 700c wheels with thru-axles. I owned an earlier model for 12 months and covered nearly 2000 trouble-free miles. The Shimano Steps E6100 will get you up almost any hill. And the 504Wh battery will get you 50-70 miles between charges.

The Mach E weighs just over 17 kg, which is very light for a mid-drive e-bike. It’s a great all-rounder and is unbeatable at the current price. Based on my personal experience, I cannot recommend this bike highly enough.

Check out my YouTube video review

• 17 kg Weight
• Price (UK) £1640

Kinesis are a UK brand whose focus has been designing bikes with the British rider in mind. Their range of e-bikes includes the Kinesis Lyfe Equipped, a lightweight e-bike aimed at commuters or weekend leisure riders. The Lyfe features the Mahle X35 motor with a nice alloy frameset and tapered fork.

There are also some quality components, like Shimano Deore 10-speed gearing and hydraulic disc brakes. It has front and rear lights, mudguards, a pannier rack and a kickstand. Its current discounted price of £1640 is an absolute bargain!

• Bafang G20 250-watt Hub Motor
• 30-60 Miles
• 19.2 kg Weight
• Price (UK) £2239

Featuring a Bafang G20 rear hub motor , torque-sensing pedal assist, and a 252Wh internal battery, the Ortler Speeder is reasonably lightweight and very nice to ride. In addition, the Speeder is adorned with some very high-quality components. Gearing is Shimano Deore 10-speed, with hydraulic brakes, Ergon grips, Velo saddle, SKS mudguards, and more.

The motor is smooth and efficient, and it feels like you’re riding a regular bike without the assist activated. It would be a great e-bike for commuting or shorter leisure rides. Read my Ortler Speeder review .

• Fazua Evation 250-watt Mid-Drive
• 40-80 Miles Range
• Price (UK) £2299

The Boardman HYB 8.9e has been around for a few years and remains unchanged. It is, however, still an excellent option in 2023 and has loads of positive customer reviews. It uses the excellent Fazua Evation drive system, and the total bike weighs under 16kg. Better still, if you want to ride without the motor and battery, you can remove it in seconds, fit a blanking plate (optional extra), and go away!

Some nice components are fitted to the Boardman, including a Shimano Deore M6000 1 x 10 drivetrain and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. It’s a well-designed bike that can comfortably handle a mixture of terrain. It’s a bit heavier than the Ribble and lighter than the Trek. But it has the benefit of an easily removable drive system and battery.

Owning a lightweight electric bike isn’t going to be for everyone. There are certain compromises, like motor power and battery range, that will put a lot of people off. But, for me, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. I’ve ridden lots of light e-bikes, and I prefer them. They’re like having a good old-fashioned regular bicycle with the benefit of a helping hand on longer rides. You still get a good workout and can easily pedal beyond the assist cut-off. What these bikes do is help to reduce fatigue and put the fun back into cycling.

Thanks for reading, and if you need any help or advice choosing the right electric bike, please leave a message in the comments below; I will aim to reply within 24hours.

Meet Tony, a passionate e-bike advocate and enthusiast who discovered the life-changing benefits of electric bikes back in 2016. Tony’s technical experience within the e-bike field was gained while running a successful electric bike conversion business for 5 years in his home county of Cornwall, UK.

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68 Comments

Is any available in Turkey?

Bonjour , article intéressant mais que conseillez vous e VAE léger pour femme avec suspension ( suspension pour davantage de confort sur les chemins ) merci de votre repou

Bonjour Florence,

Je suggérerais le Ribble Trail AL e – il est léger, a une suspension avant et la géométrie du cadre convient à une cycliste féminine. J’ai vérifié sur leur site Web et ils expédient en France.

Sincères amitiés, Tony

Ik ben al 2 jaar op zoek naar een lichtgewicht e-bike die er niet duidelijk als e-bike uit ziet. Ik kom steeds uit op sportieve fietsen, maar kan fysiek momenteel niet actief zitten, dus moet in ieder geval de komende periode genoegen nemen met een rechtop houding op een actief bedoelde fiets (alle andere fietsen komen tot nog toe niet in aanmerking). De Merida E-Speeder 400 EQ leek dé perfecte fiets!

Op 1 punt na, helaas kan het stuur niet vervangen worden voor een hoog stuur (vanwege een uitzonderlijke maat, ongeacht wat er -blijkbaar per abuis- op de eigen website is gedeeld) en omdraaien van het stuur brengt nagenoeg geen winst.

Heeft u suggesties voor alternatieven? Ik fiets graag ook zonder ondersteuning, heb de motor nodig bij bepaalde weersomstandigheden en grotere afstanden. Parkeer de fiets buiten en in Amsterdam, hoe minder kabels en e-bike looks, hoe beter. Wel ga ik een tas achterop doen, dus een bagagedrager is gewenst. Mijn wensen (zadel, stuur, bagagedrager) doen veelal geen eer aan de look & feel van het ontwerp van de meeste fietsen, maar wel aan mijn wens meer te fietsen en vaak ook zonder ondersteuning. Ik ben 1,65 en weeg 60 kilo.

Ik zie het probleem met de Merida. Het heeft intern geleide kabels. Meestal zou ik een stuurpen met een hoek van 30 graden en een riser-stuur met een stijging van 25-35 mm voorstellen, maar dit zou nogal wat werk vergen. U zou de lengte van de hydraulische remslangen en versnellingspookkabel moeten vergroten. Ik zou een plaatselijke fietsenmaker zoeken en een prijsopgave krijgen voor de klus. Een stuurpen kost rond de 30 euro en een goed riser-stuur 30-50 euro. Plus de arbeidskosten, versnellingskabel, remslangen en vloeistof.

Hei. Jeg trenger en elsykkel som er så lett som mulig og med avtagbart batteri. Jeg har ikke lader i bod og bor i 2 etg. Jeg er 158 cm høy. Gjerne en sykkel rundt 14 kg tung. Noe forslag? Takker for svar. Mvh

Dag Tony, ik ben op zoek naar een lichte e-bike tot 18 kg om tochten mee te maken. Een toerfiets dus. Kunt u mij daarin adviseren?

Ik denk dat de Rose Bikes Backroad+ een goede keuze is. Hij weegt ongeveer 17 kg en heeft een bagagedrager, spatborden, verlichting en terreinbanden. Het maakt gebruik van de Shimano EP8 middenmotor met een 360Wh batterij. Deze motor levert uitstekende prestaties en efficiëntie – je zou een bereik van 100-120 km kunnen bereiken als je de hulp verstandig gebruikt. Een andere goede e-bike om mee te toeren is de Bergamont E-Grandurance RD Expert . Deze heeft een lagere batterijcapaciteit, maar u kunt desgewenst een range extender-batterij kopen. Ik hoop dat dit helpt. Groeten, Tony

Hi Tony, I live in Plymouth – almost as hilly as Cornwall and enjoy a ride up to the moors and also into the city so need something to cover both. Stats are : fairly fit (ex military) but short 5’2″, and due to a disability (broke my back and my bones are rubbish – awaiting new kneecaps) I now weigh 78kgs. I am getting totally bogged down in all the info about e bikes all over the place and have been in to see some in various stores but would really like to hear from a truthful user, not a seller – of what you may recommend for me. I think a step through would logistically probably be best. I appreciate you are probably not a 5’2″, cuddly female but your advice would be warmly welcomed. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Hi Annette,

If you’re after something that’s going to give you a nice boost on the hills without being too heavy, but at the same time can be ridden as a normal bike on flatter roads, the Ribble AL e step-through would fit the bill perfectly. It doesn’t weigh much more than a regular hybrid bike but has a small rear hub motor and integrated battery. My only criticism of the Ribble is the battery range isn’t so great if you rely on the assist more often than not, and the motor only produces subtle assist.

For something that’s really going to give you a substantial amount of power and great battery range, the Trek Allant +7 step-through is a great bike. My friend brought one of these from the bike Cellar in Plympton and she’s covered over 1000 miles on it this summer. It uses the latest high-performance Bosch CX motor and has an adaptive assist, so it’s always giving you the right amount of power in relation to how much force you’re putting through the pedals. The only downside is it’s quite a heavy bike at around 24kg, but it can be ridden without the motor switched on (it just feels a bit heavy).

Another good lightweight option is the Orbea Vibe H30 , there’s a lowstep version available and Pure Electric have them in stock. It uses the same system as the Ribble, but weighs a little bit more.

The Specialized Como 3.0 lowstep is another popular e-bike, there’s quite a few round my way and everyone I speak to that owns one is very happy. They use a mid-drive Brose motor and are really good for getting up steep hills. They’re sold at Pure Electric and I think Certini in Saltash also have them in stock.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions.

Cheers, Tony

Hi Tony, good article – thanks for posting.

As its now 2022 and things have moved on yet again have you done any more reviews ?

I am looking at a Specialised Vado 5.0 EQ which at time of writing is £4200 which is obscene I know. I like a rack and mudguards on my bikes and I thought this bike ticked all the boxes. My other consideration is Ribble at a lot less money. Thoughts ?

Having ridden the Specialized Vado SL 4.0 a few times now, it’s still my personal favourite. One of my friends has just brought one and he’s been out on it every day since. The 5.0 EQ version has a better spec and if you can afford it, it’s worth the extra. I still really like the Ribble AL e, but the x35 ebikemotion motor just doesn’t feel as refined, intuitive or responsive when compared with the SL 1.1 motor (on the Specialized). If I had to buy a new e-bike tomorrow, I’d get the Vado SL.

Is the frame size important? If so, what frame size do I need at 5’2″.

Is the wheel size important. Why?

1). Can you take folding electric bikes onto cycle routes or touring in the UK? If so, can you recommend one for me please? 62, 5’2″, very unfit, needing a lot of power to help me.

2). How do you know what power to get?

3). Is the Moustache Friday 28.1 suitable for me (5’2″)? A local bike shop recommends it although I think I prefer sitting upright with low step through.

Thanks for your great article.

The Moustache Friday 28.1 (2021 model) looks like a very good bike on paper, but it does have a more sporty riding geometry. A low step frame design like on the Orbea Optima is going to give you a comfortable and upright riding position which should prevent lower back discomfort and also relieve pressure on the wrist area. Orbea recommend a small frame for a rider 4’9 – 5’4. The Optima would be fine to take on cycle routes as would a folding e-bike.

Wheel size is only of particular importance if you’re focusing on certain disciplines like mountain biking or road cycling – for the regular recreational rider any of the common sizes are just fine. Smaller diameter wheels are generally a bit tougher, I’ve always used 700c (28″) on my bikes and I tend to ride on and off-road.

Regarding power, you are unfortunately limited to 250w due to UK e-bike laws. The motor on the Orbea will only provide a moderate level of assist as it’s a small hub motor. Mid-drive motors like the Bosch or Shimano Steps provide much more assistance. I have a friend in her 70’s who recently brought a Trek step through with a Bosch motor and has yet to be troubled by any of the Cornish hills.

The Orbea Katu E is a good bike, although not fully folding it’s a compact design and uses the Bosch mid-drive motor – I tested one of these a while back and I was surprised at how nice it was to ride.

I hope this helps, if you have any more questions please let me know.

Regards, Tony

Hi, Could you please tell me which of these would be best for a small woman 5’2″? And could I take the Orbea Optima on cycle routes around the UK? Thank you for your very helpful article.

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Best lightweight electric bikes 2024: E-bike power without the heft

The best lightweight electric bikes offer an advantage without the added weight of some e-bikes

Best hybrid overall

Best hybrid for commuting.

• Easiest to carry

Best folder for commuters

• Best for gravel
• Best for road
• Best for custom spec
• How to choose

Quick list 1. Best hybrid overall 2. Best hybrid for commuting 3. Best folder for easy carrying 4. Best folder for commuters 5. Best for gravel 6. Best for road 7. Best for custom spec Everything you need to know

The best lightweight electric bikes will give you a ride that's not too dissimilar to a non-assisted bike but with an added electrical power boost. 

You can find lightweight e-bikes across all categories. Although many of the best folding electric bikes and hybrid electric bikes for commuting don't prioritise low weight, there are options available that are easier to carry and give you a more sporty ride.

Turn to electric road bikes and the best, lightweight e-bikes can approach the weight of many of the best road bikes , so they will often look and ride similarly. That's usually achieved by using carbon fibre for the bike frame and fitting compact, lightweight motor and battery systems inside. As you'll read in our buyer's guide at the bottom of this page, this has advantages and disadvantages.

Chief among the minuses is higher prices from the more expensive materials and components used and the more limited assistance offered than some of the best electric bikes .

But in return, you'll get an e-bike that feels more sprightly and climbs and accelerates better, and that's a lot easier to carry if you need to move it around.

That applies particularly to drop-bar road e-bikes , but the same is true of some flat-bar hybrid e-bikes. Options are fewer for lightweight folding electric bikes , as the need for a robust folding mechanism tends to reduce the opportunity to reduce the frame's weight and makes folding e-bikes costly.

We've covered options here for lightweight electric hybrids, lightweight folding e-bikes and lightweight road e-bikes in the guide below. Lower down the page is our buyer's guide with some advice on how to choose. 

Best lightweight electric bikes: Quick list

The LeMond Prolog's carbon frame and fork give it a low weight, making for fast progress through the city.

Read more below

The SL in the name indicates Specialized's lightweight motor, which is paired with a large battery.

The Hummingbird's weight is lower than many road e-bikes, but so is its 50km claimed range.

The Brompton Electric isn't super light, but you can remove the battery pack. The P line drops the weight by a kilo.

The Specialized Future Shock headset provides front end damping for a smoother ride.

In the US, the Trek Domane+ SLR is limited at 28mph, making for speedy rides.

Best lightweight electric bikes

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Recent updates

There are more and more lightweight electric bikes available and older models are superseded. We checked this guide in April 2024, when all the bikes below were still current models.

1. LeMond Prolog

Specifications, reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Top-of-the-line, lightweight, and carbon fibre. Those words commonly refer to the latest, greatest, top-of-the-line race-focused road bike. Instead, they describe a city bike from Tour de France winner Greg Lemond. It's an integrated everything flat bar bike, that is perfect for city living. 

It's easy to carry up a flight of stairs, looks amazing, and rides in a way that might make you think you haven't turned on the electric assist. That is until you turn off the electric assist and realise how much it was actually doing. 

Read more about what we thought of the LeMond Bicycles Prolog e-bike in our review.

2. Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0

Our expert review:

Specialized's e-bikes fall into its 4x You and 2x You categories, with the Turbo Vado SL in the latter. That's because Specialized uses its lighter weight, less powerful SL 1.1 motor in the Turbo Vado SL. There's still a claimed 130km range though thanks to the relatively high battery capacity and you can add a range extender for an extra 64km between charges.

The 5.0 spec comes either without lights, mudguards and a rack or as an EQ version which adds these - and a little extra weight. Both bikes get Specialized's FutureShock 1.5 suspension headset with 20mm of travel to the handlebars.

You can read our first ride impressions of the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0 here.

Best folding e-bike for easy carrying

3. Hummingbird Electric 2.0

For light weight in a folding bike, the Hummingbird Gen 2.0 bike takes the prize. Made of carbon fibre with a trussed rear section and kitted out with lightweight components it undercuts even the best road e-bikes at 10.4kg. The rear hub motor helps with ride quality and handling too. 

Of course, compromises have to be made to hit this weight and the Hummingbird doesn't fold quite as small as the Brompton Electric, it has a more limited range, you only get one gear and it does carry a high retail price. 

4. Brompton Electric C Line Urban

At over 15kg and with a steel frame, the Brompton Electric C Line Urban folder may not really fit the "lightweight" bill, but its iconic folding mechanism makes it a great option for the commuter. The battery pack unclips from the front of the bike, allowing you to carry it over your shoulder as a separate 2.3kg package and dropping the bike weight somewhat.

If you want to reduce the weight, Brompton has also added the Electric P Line to its range, which it reckons shaves around 1kg off the bike's weight by using a titanium rear frame and lighter components.

Our full review of the Brompton Electric C Line Urban folding bike covers all the attributes of ownership.

Best drop-bar e-bike for mixed terrain

5. Specialized Turbo Creo 2

When you think about the category of high-end, lightweight electric bikes you have to include this Specialized entry. The S-Works Turbo Creo SL only launched a few years ago, but that's a long time ago for an e-bike and the Turbo Creo 2 upgrades performance. It's more gravel-oriented than its predecessor, with 47mm tyres on carbon DT Swiss wheels.

The motor system is a custom unit unique to Specialized. It features a 320Wh integrated battery and there's also a 160Wh range extender available. Move over to the traditional bike components and you will find electronic SRAM AXS, plenty of carbon fibre, and the Specialized Future Shock suspension stem system. 

Best drop-bar e-bike for the road

6. Trek Domane+ SLR

The combination of a Trek Domane endurance bike design in Trek's highest spec carbon plus the TQ electric drivetrain makes this bike a two-in-one endurance monster. Every time you ride it you can take advantage of Trek Isospeed at the rear of the bike, which means extra movement in the seatpost for a road-smoothing suspension effect. 

If you decide to really stretch out the miles, the lightweight frame and TQ system mean the bike is easy to pedal without any electric assist. If you want more range, you can plug in the optional 150Wh range extender, although you'll lose a water bottle cage. 

The Domane+ SLR is available in road-going 2x and gravel-oriented 1x specs, to tackle whatever terrain you prefer and in the US, it's a Class 3 e-bike and limited at 28mph.

Best drop-bar e-bike for custom spec

7. Ribble Endurance SL e Pro

Ribble offers its Endurance SL e in four starting build levels. Of course, as with all Ribble bikes, you can get in and customise from there but those four starting places represent a wide range of pricing. 

The top-of-the-line gets Dura-Ace and all the components to match that level, while this Pro build includes Ultegra and Mavic carbon wheels. But down at the bottom is where things get really interesting. You get the same top-of-the-line frame and low-weight motor system but it comes with the very dependable Shimano 105 12-speed mechanical shifting. It also comes with an excellent price for a top-calibre bike.

Best lightweight e-bikes: Everything you need to know

How are lightweight e-bikes made lighter.

Many electric bikes have an alloy frame and they'll often have a heavy, high-capacity battery and a high-torque motor system.

In many cases, a lightweight electric bike will start off with a carbon fibre frame, which will be lighter than alloy. It will usually pair with a less powerful motor system. Most electric bike motors will produce 250 watts, but what's important is the torque output. That can vary between around 30Nm up to 60Nm for a lightweight e-bike. 

There may be some overlap with heavier models, but the output range for non-lightweight e-bikes will typically spread from around 50Nm up to 90Nm.

A heavier bike with a higher-powered motor will draw more juice from the e-bike's battery, so that will itself usually need to be heavier. A lightweight e-bike will usually have a smaller-capacity battery. This might limit the range, depending on where and how you ride. 

But if the motor is speed-limited to 25kph, many riders will be exceeding this speed on the flat and the motor will only be called into use to any extent on climbs, extending the available range.

Many lightweight electric bike systems, like those from Specialized, Mahle and TQ allow you to add a range extender battery if you need more range. These usually fit into a bottle cage and plug into the internal battery's charging socket. They can add around 50 per cent to the e-bike's range, although you do lose the option to carry a second water bottle and you are adding extra weight to your lightweight e-bike.

Is there any drawback to a lightweight e-bike?

With most things in life, optimising for one feature means other features get left behind. When it comes to non-electric bikes that usually plays out as a choice between aero optimisation or lightweight. But what about electric bikes? Is there a trade-off for going lightweight?

The answer is both a yes and a no. It all depends on how you look at things. If you are expecting an American-style, Class 3 e-bike with a big battery and huge torque you won't find it. As long as you set expectations that what's possible is light assist and a smaller battery then there's no real drawback to going light.

No performance drawback doesn't completely mean no drawbacks at all though. The one big trade-off when you go lightweight is price. When it comes to bikes, powered or not, if you want a light bike, it's gonna be more expensive. Electric bikes aren't immune from this same equation.

Do lightweight e-bikes ride differently to heavier models?

Lightweight electric bikes are a distinct flavour of electric bikes. They have a unique ride feel to them and as long as you understand what you can expect you won't have any surprises.

There are some electric bikes that speed along at up to 28mph with very little rider input. These types of bikes are common in the American market. European law makes them difficult to own but they also make more sense in expansive American cities. The distances travelled are longer and there's more mixing with auto traffic. It makes sense in this context to travel at higher speeds. 

You won't find anything like that in the ultralight market, with the exception of the Trek Domane+ SLR. Bikes of this style feel more like a traditional bike with the wind constantly at your back. With the Mahle motor system, you can even set it to add assistance based on heart rate. It's a much more sport-focused design that makes it easy to forget you even have electric assist.

How do you charge a lightweight e-bike?

Another thing to consider if you're looking for the best lightweight electric bike for you is how you charge it. Many lightweight e-bikes have batteries built into the frame's down tube. This makes the e-bike look less porky but means that the battery needs to be charged in situ . 

That in turn means that you need somewhere to store the electric bike that's near a power supply, whereas with a removable battery system, you can take your battery to the wall socket. 

There are exceptions to this generalisation. The Fazua system has a removable battery in the down tube, while range extender batteries can be taken elsewhere to charge.

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Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes. Height: 5'9" Weight: 140 lb. Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx

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Best lightweight electric mountain bike: Ride further and faster without losing agility

• Danny Milner
• January 9, 2024

Get the perfect blend of power and agility with one of the best sub-20kg e-bikes.

Pivot Shuttle SL Credit: Roo Fowler

While the best e-bikes are an absolute blast off-road, they are not for everyone. Some riders want do the lion’s share of the work on the climbs, and others don’t want to give up the sheer dynamic handling of their analogue rigs. If you’re one of those people, then a lightweight e-bike could be for you. Here’s our pick of the crop.

The Pivot Shuttle SL 29 XTR was our 2023 MBR Lightweight Electric Mountain Bike of the Year

1. Pivot Shuttle SL 29 Team XTR

The best lightweight electric mountain bike.

Frame: Carbon Hollow Core, 132mm travel | Motor: Fazua Ride 60 60Nm/450W | Battery: Fazua Energy 430Wh integrated | Weight: 18.47kg | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Very dynamic handling
• Low resistance, high power Fazua motor feels great on or off
• Integrated 430Wh battery boosts range
• Shimano XTR drivetrain and brakes reduces weight without compromising performance
• Sag indicator is really useful

Reasons to avoid:

• EXO casing tyres are too thin for a bike this capable
• Can’t remove the battery for charging
• Slight delay in the motor when reengaging after overrun is complete
• Handlebar mounted controller feels fragile

Pivot was one of the first brands to release a lightweight trail bike with the latest Fazua Ride 60 motor, and it set the bar very high. So high we awarded it our 2023 E-Bike of the Year award in the Lightweight category. Key to winning that accolade is the infectious ride quality, that encourages skilled riders to extract the maximum fun from every trail. There’s no slack in the system – with minimal travel you have to be on your best game – but the Shuttle SL amplifies every ride.

Fazua’s Ride 60 system feels punchy in the top Rocket mode, but still delivers the best range of all the lightweight motors we tested. Over 1,000m of climbing in Rocket. So the lack of a range extender isn’t really a problem, even though it’ll be tough turning down one more run when the red light starts blinking.

Read the full review for the Pivot Shuttle SL 29 Team XTR

We loved the silent ride and adjustable geometry of the Trek Fuel EXe

2. Trek Fuel EXe

Quietest lightweight e-bike.

Frame: OCLV Mountain Carbon, 140mm travel  | Motor: TQ 50Nm/300W | Battery: TQ 360Wh removable | Weight: 19.1kg | Rating: 8/10

• Great geometry and sizing
• Handling blurs the line between enduro and trail riding
• TQ motor is easily the quietest to date
• Shock tune is a little too firm in compression
• BITS tool rattles in the steerer tube
• Would benefit from a front tyre with a more pronounced edge knob

When we first rode the Trek Fuel EXe, most riders we passed on the trail thought it was an analogue bike – so quiet the motor, and stealthy the integration. Yes, the TQ HPR 50 is almost silent most of the time, and the compact dimensions mean the Fuel EXe looks as good as the most handsome analogue bikes. Yet you can still slide the 360Wh internal battery out of the bottom of the down tube to charge.

The motor doesn’t have the most power or torque, so the assistance is more of a light touch than a forceful shove, but it all feels very natural on the trail. Like analogue riding, just faster. And Trek’s chassis is cutting-edge, with sharp lines, robust dimensions, and modern geometry with the benefit of various flip-chip adjustments so you can get it just right. Our only reservations are the lack of range from the smaller battery, and the damping on the top end model we tested was over-bearing, so the bike wasn’t as lively as we’d hoped. But that may be different elsewhere in the range.

Read our full test review of the Trek Fuel EXe

The Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL 2 is one of the lightest e-bikes we’ve tested

3. Specialized  S-Works Turbo Levo SL

Best lightweight e-bike for adjustability.

Frame: Fact 11m carbon, carbon shock extension, 150mm travel (152mm measured)  | Motor: Specialized SL 1.2, 50Nm/320W | Battery: Specialized SL 320Wh 48V integrated | Weight: 17.65kg | Rating: N/A

• More sizes, more adjustability, more travel, more support from the suspension, more power and more torque than before
• Same price, same weight
• 160Wh range extender included with S-Works bike
• Rear suspension isn’t as plush as before
• It’s still a ton of money

Specialized was at the forefront of lightweight e-bike development with the first Turbo Levo SL, using the Stumpjumper as a base and adding a compact motor and battery to the mix from its Turbo Creo road bike. This updated version gets the aggressive and adjustable geometry from the acclaimed Stumpjumper Evo along with a modest increase in power and torque to bring it in line with the likes of TQ, Fazua, and Bosch. It’s a really lightweight bike, comfortably under 18kg with a spec that doesn’t play silly games to cheat the weigh-in.

The new geometry really helped us hustle the new Turbo Levo with more confidence on enduro trails, but the suspension is not quite as plush as the old bike. Even if it pedals better. We appreciated the extra power and torque from the motor, but given that the battery size hasn’t changed, the range isn’t quite as good as it used to be. Having said that, there is a useful range extender to fall back on, and the ride quality is right up there with the best lightweight e-bikes.

Read our test review of the Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL

The want factor is high with the luscious Transition Relay

4. Transition Relay

The lightweight emtb gets an upgrade.

Frame: Carbon, 160mm travel | Motor: Fazua Ride 60, 450W/60Nm  | Battery: Fazua Energy InTube 430Wh | Weight: 19.8kg | Rating: N/A

• Hilariously fun to ride
• Lightweight and with a normal bike feel
• Twinned with a powerful and adaptable motor that’s a joy to use
• Available in six sizes
• Tendency to eat its own spider
• Needs a chain guide

Transition hopes the Relay is the bike that convinces diehard analogue riders to make the switch to electric. And given how fun it is to ride, we’d say the US brand has every chance of succeeding. We were certainly smitten when we tested it. In fact, we said riding it is “like being at a rave – senses overwhelmed, you’re carried forward on a rush of emotion, vitalised to try moves like never before”. An intoxicating drug then. And an expensive one, it has to be said.

With the Fazua motor and internal battery we could get over 1,000m of climbing in Rocket mode, and for every inch of it we were a gurning, grinning, whooping mess. Downsides? Well apart from the aforementioned price, the lack of a chainguide and an annoying rattle from inside the frame. At least your whoops of joy will drown out most of the noise!

Read our test review of the Transition Relay

Haibike’s Lyke CF11 is great value and offers an innovative packaging solution for the Fazua motor

5. Haibike Lyke CF11

Great value lightweight e-bike.

Frame: Carbon, 140mm travel (137mm measured)  | Motor: Fazua Ride 60, 450W/60Nm  | Battery: Fazua Energy InTube 430Wh | Weight: 19.17kg | Rating: N/A

• Clever chassis design
• Doesn’t look like an e-bike (or a Haibike)
• Good power and range
• Removable battery
• Fast, rewarding handling
• Firm suspension won’t suit everyone
• Tall seat tube
• Twangy wheels
• Tyres are focussed on speed rather than grip/stability
• Could do with a flip chip to lower the BB

The Haibike Lyke is much more conventional-looking than most bikes from the brand. In fact we think it looks pretty good – like a traditional analogue bike. And Haibike has also done a great job of making the Lyke handle like a regular analogue bike. Maybe better thanks to the centralised mass of the motor and battery. Of which the former is cleverly mounted into the base of the seat tube, while the latter is removable by sliding out the base of the down tube. These changes have created a bike that’s super fast on flowing singletrack, keen to change direction, and easy to manual.

A few of the components could be improved – the Mavic wheels flexed under hard cornering, and the saddle was brutally uncomfortable – but as an overall package for fast trails, there’s a lot to Lyke. And it’s even decent value.

Read our test review of the Haibike Lyke CF11

The Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL has all the composure of an enduro bike on the descents, and lets you fly up the climbs like an XC racer

6. Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL

All the agility of an enduro bike with helping hand on the climbs.

Frame: Carbon, 170mm travel | Motor: Specialized Turbo SL 2.2, 50Nm/320W | Battery: Specialized 320Wh | Weight: 18.79kg | Rating: 8/10

• Can hang with the best enduro bikes on the descents and leave them for dead on the climbs
• Unobtrusive motor accentuates the positives
• Six unique geometry settings
• Battery can’t be removed easily
• Limited seat post insertion
• It’s a decent deposit on a house

Specialized’s highly regarded Enduro gets a lightweight motor and battery and the result is more than the sum of its (not inconsiderable) parts. Agile and powerful, every turn, every jump, every drift, every burst of acceleration – and they come thick and fast – felt natural and familiar on the Kenevo SL, yet also somehow more intense and satisfying than either a pure analogue bike or a full power e-bike could deliver.

It inspired us to give more and it gave me more back in return. Every joule of energy we invested turned to profit – more speed, more control, more engagement, more fun. We really don’t want to be this gushing about a push bike that costs twelve and a half grand, but it’s everything we hoped for and more. And now the 2024 model comes with the upgraded motor with extra power and torque, so you can rally the climbs as well as the descents.

Read our full test review of the Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL

The Forestal Cyon is an innovative design but lacks range

How we test

Like all bikes we test, these lightweight e-bikes were all weighed and measured in our workshop, so all the facts and figures are real world, not off the CAD screen of a brand. We also measure the actual vertical wheel travel to see if that measures up. For comparative group tests, we always fit control tyres, as this creates a level playing field for handling, weight, range, and geometry. Talking of which, we range test our e-bikes on full power until the bike goes into limp mode, then continue riding until the battery completely goes flat. You can see the results for our contenders further down the page.

What to look for in the best lightweight e-bike

A lightweight e-bike has to have a significant weight difference compared to a full fat model to make sense. That usually means a smaller, lighter, less powerful motor and a battery with fewer cells. Less power and less battery capacity means you have to put in more effort to achieve the same range, although less friction in the motor and less mass to move around should offset some of that extra human input.

How much should a lightweight e-bike weigh?

In our view, a full-suspension e-bike should come in under 20kg to be considered lightweight. Anything around 16kg is extremely light, but be careful to check that components, like wheels and tyres, have not been compromised in the quest for a headline weight. Too many times we have ridden bikes built to win the lightweight crown that have not been fit to take anywhere rougher than a dirt road.

Mondraker’s Neat RR is a really agile trail bike with a quiet TQ motor

How much power can I expect from a lightweight e-bike?

It stands to reason that a lightweight e-bike will have less power than a full fat model. Why? Well, a significant chunk of weight on an e-bike comes from the battery, so to make the bike lighter, they usually come with a smaller battery. To extend the range of a smaller battery, you need to drain it more slowly, so the motor needs to draw less power from it. So motors will have less power. Also, less powerful motors can be made lighter and smaller, which helps overall weight and packaging. Some even have less drag, so pedal almost as efficiently as an analogue bike.

In terms of numbers, peak power (the power you feel at higher revs on more gradual gradients) will be between 300-600w. Torque (what you feel at low revs and on steeper gradients) usually sits between 50-60Nm. Compared that to full-fat motors that all have around 85Nm of more torque, and around 600W peak power.

In our experience, 50Nm of torque is enough on a lightweight e-mtb, and while peak power is less important, 300w is also sufficient when combined with a sub-20kg bike and an efficient, low-friction motor.

The Transition Relay just loves to shred the descents

What about range?

For an idea of relative range, we put four popular lightweight e-bikes in max power mode, be that boost, Rocket, level 3 or Nitro. We then rode the same test loop where the bikes were fitted with the same tyres, ridden in the same conditions, by the same rider. The results were surprisingly different though. The loop consisted of one steep technical climb, two fireroad climbs and a few Tarmac climbs, depending on the bike. We recorded time and elevation to limp mode, typically 10% battery life, then rode until the lights went out.

Pivot Shuttle SL V Levo SL V Forestal V Trek Fuel EXe range comparison

Probably the most telling metric of all is the number of trails ridden. On the Pivot shuttle SL we completed 7 descents, which is almost double that of the Forestal. We also used the estimated calorie burn as a proxy for effort, where the calories burned per metre for elevation gives a good indication of rider input on each bike. The Specialized Levo SL required the most rider input, the Forestal Cyon the least.

The Fazua Ride 60 on the Haibike Lyke CF11 has the best range of any lightweight system we’ve tested

What are the pros and cons of a lightweight e-bike?

The best things about lightweight e-bikes are that they closely mirror the handling of their analogue cousins, so you can throw them into corners and pop them over obstacles with much less energy than a full power e-bike. They’re more natural to ride, some would even say more fun to ride. You can’t rely on the strength of the motor to get you up the climbs. So in that way they still require a good level of fitness.

On more mellow trails, it’s much easier to pedal above the 15.5mph speed limiter, so they are still engaging on fast, flowing singletrack. In that sense they work better as trail bikes than full-fat e-bikes, which are biased towards enduro, winch-and-plummet laps. Less weight means less wear and tear on components, and if you’re a smaller, lighter rider who finds a 23kg e-bike too heavy to muscle around, then a lightweight e-bike will be much more manageable.

Where lightweight e-bikes make less sense is when you’re riding with a crew of full-fat e-bikers. You will have to work very hard, in a low power mode, to match their speed and range. And with smaller batteries, you can’t expect to go quite as far on a single charge, either. A range extender will help, but it will also add weight, bulk, and reduce carrying capacity for water. Finally, in the winter months when the trails are muddy and tough going, a diet e-bike won’t drag you through the mire as well as a full-power option.

• Loft Go! 7D EQ Step-Thru

"Electra Unleashes a Zappy City Rider With Retro Styling"

"The newest addition is the Loft Go! lineup, which includes two new city-ready buggers that seem to stray away from the whole beach cruiser styling. The newest addition is the Loft Go! lineup, which includes two new city-ready buggers that seem to stray away from the whole beach cruiser styling. One of the machines is the 7D EQ Step-Over, an electrified two-wheeler designed to be a lightweight, fast, and even affordable solution to getting around town."

"Electra Bicycle Company Releases the New Loft Go! 7D EQ E-Bike"

"The new model takes inspiration from the brand’s existing Loft collection, which offers users practical bikes for city commuting."

"Review: Electra Loft Go! 7D EQ"

"It helps that the Electra Loft Go! is one of the simplest, nicest cruisers I’ve tested in a while. It’s a class 1 ebike with assist up to 20 mph and a fully integrated 250-watt-hour battery. And because Electra is owned by Trek, it’s part of a wide dealer network, so it’s easy to find in stock and bring in for repairs."

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7 Best Lightweight Electric Bikes of 2024

• April 29, 2024

While electric bikes were heavy and clunky when they first hit the market, today you can find lightweight styles that weigh almost the same as classic road bikes. Plus, there are tons of different styles of electric bikes (also called ebikes) to choose from. Whether you want a commuter ebike that can get you to work faster, a mountain ebike that’s nimble, or a cargo ebike that hauls gear, there’s a lightweight electric bike for you.

Lightweight electric bikes don’t sacrifice on the features either. Manufacturers use top-of-the-line technology—including lightweight battery systems, powerful motors, and materials like carbon fiber—to reduce weight and maximize power and range. That means you can enjoy the ride, go just as far, and ride just as fast without having to lug around a heavy bike.

Looking for the best lightweight ebikes to ride in style? It’s helpful to preview the best ebikes to get an idea of the different types of ebikes and the most common features. When you’re ready to make a purchase, browse the best lightweight electric bikes for sale including cruisers, folding ebikes, and mountain ebikes.

In this post, we’ll help you ride through reviews on the:

• 1. Best Lightweight Ebike & Best Lightweight Hybrid Electric Bike
• 2. Best Lightweight Electric Mountain Bike
• 3. Best Lightweight Class 3 Ebike
• 4. Best Urban Ebike
• 5. Best Lightweight Ebike for Seniors & Lightweight Electric Bike for Ladies
• 6. Best Lightweight Cruiser Bike
• 7. Best Lightweight Foldable Electric Bike & Best Lightweight Fat Tire Ebike
• 8. Best Lightweight Ebike Accessories

1. Best Lightweight Ebike & Best Lightweight Hybrid Electric Bike: Aventon Soltera

Highlighted Specs:

• ✓ Weight: 46 lbs
• ✓ Max Speed: 20 mph
• ✓ Battery range: 46 miles
• ✓ Torque sensor: Yes
• ✓ Payload: 300 lbs
• ✓ Warranty: 2-year warranty
• ✓ Throttle: On demand

The Aventon Soltera is our top pick for the best lightweight ebike and the best lightweight hybrid electric bike. It’s one of the lightest commuter ebikes on our list and the best lightweight ebike with throttle. This class 2 ebike features a top speed of 20 miles per hour and an on-demand throttle for an extra boost of power. At 46 pounds, it’s not the lightest ebike on the market, but it is one of the lightest road ebikes on this list.

A lightweight touring bike, the Soltera features a powerful 350-watt rear hub motor and a 9.6Ah bike battery that’s seamlessly integrated. Four levels of electric assist—including Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo—let you choose how you want to get around and how much assistance you want. Plus, you can add front or rear racks to turn it into a mini cargo bike to haul basic gear.

The bike boasts a Shimano seven-speed derailleur and comes in tow frame sizes to fit cyclist heights from 5’3” to 6’4”. Integrated lights and turn signals keep you safe as you weave through traffic, even after the sun sets or before it comes up. The bike is compatible with several accessories, including mirrors, water bottles holders, cargo carriers..

With a price of $999 MSRP, the Aventon Soltera offers incredible value. It’s packed with features including an on-demand throttle and high battery range while also being lightweight for better maneuverability. Plus, Aventon has more than 1,800 bike shops and retailers, so it’s easy to go for a test ride or get help when you need it.

Find lightweight ebikes near me to test ride | View lightweight ebikes for sale

2. Best Lightweight Electric Mountain Bike (Lightweight eMTB): Aventon Ramblas

• ✓ Weight: 54 lbs
• ✓ Battery range: 80 miles
• ✓ Torque sensor: 100 nm
• ✓ Throttle: No

The Aventon Ramblas is the best lightweight electric mountain bike. The Ramblas does it all and weighs just 54 pounds. This lightweight eMTB offers three pedal assist levels so you can charge up steep trails without breaking a sweat. The 12-speed drivetrain with SRAM rear derailleur allows maximum control of speed and power, making it easy to navigate technical sections and sail through dirt single tracks.

As a class 1 ebike, the Ramblas has a top speed of 20 miles per hour, meaning you can take it on more off-road trails than bikes with throttles (which are restricted in some areas). The powerful mid-drive motor offers peak 750-watt power for a fun riding experience. The SRAM hydraulic disc brakes create a safe ride feel with quick stopping power.

The dropper seat post lets you quickly raise the seat to tackle steep inclines or lower it to have better control when cruising over obstacles or down slick rock trails. Lock-on handlebar grips and alloy platform pedals help you feel secure navigating any terrain.

At a price of $2,699 MSRP, the Aventon Ramblas is one of the more affordable lightweight eMTBs on the market. In fact, it often offers savings of $2,000 or more compared to similar competitor models.

3. Best Lightweight Class 3 Ebike: Canyon Grizl:ON CF

• ✓ Weight: 35.36 lbs
• ✓ Max Speed: 28 mph
• ✓ Payload: 265 lbs
• ✓ Warranty: 6-year warranty

The Canyon Grizl:ON CF is the best lightweight class 3 ebike and weighs just 35.26 pounds. It’s powered by a Bosch Performance Line SX Sprint motor and a 400-watt-hour battery that weigh under nine pounds combined. Designed to be agile and quick, this bike has a top speed of 28 miles per hour

The bike features integrated headlights and rear lights for a safe ride even in the dark. It’s designed to keep the lights running for two additional hours, even when the motor runs out of juice.

The Grizl:ON CF also features a modular accessory system that enables you to add and swap out accessories quickly. Click on a range extender, water bottle, or back to grab your gear and get on your way without hassling with tools.

At a price point of $4,999 MSRP, all of these features come at a high cost. This bike is $4,000 more than the agile Aventon Soltera and $2,300 more than the lightweight Aventon Ramblas electric mountain bike

Find lightweight ebikes near me to test ride | View the best ebikes for sale

4. Best Urban Ebike: Momentum Voya E+1

• ✓ Weight: 39.7 lbs
• ✓ Battery range: 34 miles
• ✓ Payload: Not available
• ✓ Warranty: Register for a lifetime limited warranty

The Momentum Voya E+1 is the best urban ebike and weighs 39.7 pounds, offering agility and maneuverability for city commuting. The slim, integrated Panasonic battery fits seamlessly in the downtube and offers a range of 34 miles. It’s not a removable battery pack, so you’ll need to use an external charger cable to add more juice. On average, it takes 3.4 hours to fully recharge the battery.

This commuter bike features Shimano hydraulic brakes for controlled stopping power and a one-button controller for easy shifting and pedal assist changes. The dropper handlebars and ergonomic seat saddle improve ride quality so you can commute in style and comfort.

At a price of $2,600 MSRP, this lightweight hybrid electric bike costs $1,600 more than the Aventon Soltera. At that added cost, you get fewer features, including less motor power and no integrated lights.

5. Best Lightweight Ebike for Seniors & Lightweight Electric Bike for Ladies: Trek FX+2 Stagger

• ✓ Weight: 40.13 lbs
• ✓ Battery range: 35 miles

The Trek FX+2 Stagger is a great pick for people who are looking for lightweight ebikes for seniors or lightweight electric bikes for ladies. The step-through frame makes it easier to get on and off the bike, whether you’re wearing a dress or are looking for a bike that’s designed to improve mobility. Weighing 40.13 pounds, it’s lightweight and agile so you can speed up hills like a breeze.

Built for versatility and most types of terrain, this ebike model doubles as a gravel bike and cruiser bike. PLus, its front and rear fenders keep you dry and clean, even if you ride muddy or wet trails regularly.

With a price tag of $2,499.99 MSRP, this ride will cost $1,500 more than the Aventon Soltera, which offers improved specs, including a more powerful motor and higher range.

6. Best Lightweight Cruiser Bike: Kona Dew-E DL

• ✓ Weight: 42 lbs
• ✓ Battery range: 43 miles
• ✓ Torque sensor: No
• ✓ Warranty: 1-year limited warranty

The Kona Dew-E DL is a lightweight cruiser bike that tops out the scale at 42 pounds. It boasts a Shimano 540Wh battery and motor plus a 10-speed derailleur that enables you to speed through town faster. With pedal assist and a top speed of 20 miles per hour, you’ll still have gas in the tank to tackle your to-do list when you get to the office

The hydraulic disc brakes offer controlled braking power, even if you get caught in the rain on your ride home. Puncture-resistant tires let you take the scenic route to work or a meet-up with friends, whether the trail is gravel, dirt, or paved. Aluminum fenders are built for durability and keep you looking your best, even when you’re riding in a suit or your Sunday best.

At $3,999 MSRP, this bike is an eye-watering $3,000 more than the Aventon Soltera. For that price tag, you don’t get as much range, and the warranty isn’t as good. Plus, the Dew-E DL doesn’t have a throttle or a torque sensor, so you won’t have the same intuitive ride you get with the Soltera.

7. Best Lightweight Foldable Electric Bike & Best Lightweight Fat Tire Ebike: GoCycle G4i

• ✓ Weight: 37.7 lbs
• ✓ Battery range: 50 miles
• ✓ Payload: 220 lbs
• ✓ Warranty: Two- to three-year warranty

Our top pick for a lightweight fat-tire ebike is the GoCycle G4i. Among the smallest folding electric bikes, it weighs 37.7 pounds and features a 500-watt front-hub motor. The fat tires make it easy to roll over rougher terrain, and a rear suspension fork with 25mm of travel helps absorb bumps in the road.

This small fat-tire electric bike features daytime running lights that are designed to mimic the way they work in cars. That means you won’t have to worry about visibility, even if you’re commuting in heavy traffic.

As a foldable electric bike, G4i offers a fast adjusting frame so you can quickly fold the bike up or put it together to hit the road. Thanks to its small size, you can toss this ebike in the back of your car, in your RV, or on a boat to take your adventures further.

This mini folding electric bike will cost you. With an MSRP of $4,999, it’s pricey, especially when you compare it to the best folding ebikes . These include the foldable Avention Sinch ebike, which costs just $1,499 MSRP and offers an on-demand throttle and better range.

Best Lightweight Ebike Accessories

Once you pick out the best option from our lightweight ebike reviews, you’ll want to grab some gear to make your new wheels even better. From accessories like backpacks, locks, and helmets, there are tons of options to improve your ride and increase functionality. Here are some of our favorite ebike accessories, and be sure to check out Ramblas accessories or browse Soltera accessories if you've chosen one of those models.

Aventon Cargo Net

The Aventon Cargo Net lets you bring gear on your ride and keep it from falling out, without weighing your bike down. Made from durable elastic nylon, it easily clips onto bike racks, baskets, and bags to keep your items secure.

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Aventon Twin Pannier

The Aventon Twin Pannier is another lightweight option when you need to bring gear along for the ride. Made of waterproof material, it’ll keep your things dry, even if you commute in the rain. Plus, the reflective designs improve visibility and safety on your route.

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Aventon Floor Rack

Love minimalism and maximizing your space? The Aventon Floor Rack is the perfect companion to a lightweight electric bike. No lifting or installing heavy, bulky racks. Instead, quickly put this floor rack together for seamless, clean storage in seconds.

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The 10 Best Electric Bikes of 2024

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

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

How We Test E-Bikes

Our full electric bike reviews, things to consider when buying an e-bike, how to buy a used e-bike.

To make these reviews as helpful as possible, we focus on lower and mid-price options from brands you can purchase directly online—though we did include some recommendations for e-bikes available through bike shops and more expensive models that our bike testers loved.

Brands like Aventon , Ride1Up , and Lectric offer affordable models you can buy online that perform well in our ride testing. If you want to purchase an electric bike in person or test ride before you buy, established players like Specialized and Trek offer many types of e-bikes and have hundreds of dealers nationwide. Additionally, REI has many locations across the U.S. offering its Co-op e-bikes and models from other popular brands.

Check out Bicycling ’s 2023 Bike Awards for 12 exceptional, high-performing e-bikes rigorously vetted by our editorial team.

The Best E-Bikes

• Best Overall : Aventon Level.2
• Best Utility: Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1
• Best Fat Tire : Aventon Aventure.2
• Best Fat Tire Commuter : Rad Power RadRover 6 Plus
• Best E-MTB: Aventon Ramblas eMTB

Our experienced bike test team evaluates each model included here on its overall quality, safety features, handling, motor, and battery life. We also assess whether the components and features added to the overall quality of the ride. Bicycling editors tested these bikes on our local roads, commuting to and from work, using them to stock up on groceries and beer, and running their batteries down to see how long they last on one charge. Deputy editor Tara Seplavy , the author of this article, also worked in bicycle product development for two decades and led product management for major bike brands. Plus, she commutes to Bicycling HQ daily on an e-bike.

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

Aventon Level.2 Electric Bike

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

Our only gripe is with its Zoom Aria suspension fork, which can’t handle bigger bumps, though the lockout feature works well. Still, if you need an e-bike for doing just about anything, from commuting to work to zipping around pavement on the weekend, the Aventon Level.2 is our top nomination.

Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 Electric Bike

The Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1 is a reliable workhorse for around-town use, from short grocery trips to quick coffee runs. It has a rack, integrated lights, Schwalbe Super-Moto-X tires with puncture protection, hydraulic disc brakes for improved stopping power, and a suspension fork to smooth out bumpy rides. Oh, and it’s affordable, too.

Through testing, Bicycling contributor Aithne Faey found the Generation e1.1 lacked city-appropriate gearing, but REI’s product team has since resolved this issue after hearing feedback. As for the bike itself: “The aluminum frame may not be light, but it feels stiff and reliable. The Shimano Altus drivetrain is tried-and-true and shifts smoothly, and the Tektro hydraulic brakes inspire safety and confidence with their short stopping distance. The Gen e1.1 even includes a suspension fork from SR Suntour. The only parts of the bike manufactured solely for REI are the frame, wheels, seatpost, and saddle.”

Because Co-op Cycles is an REI in-house brand, its stores offer one year of free adjustments or two years for REI Co-op members (with free flat repair!), including derailleur and brake adjustments, lateral wheel truing, hub and headset bearing adjustments, tire inflation, chain lubrication, and e-bike firmware updates. Its in-store service also makes it great for anyone intimidated by at-home e-bike assembly, too—just buy it online, deliver it to your nearest REI store, and have them do it for you.

The Co-op Cycles Generation e1.2 Electric Bike is also available for more power.

Read Full Review

Aventon Aventure.2 Electric Bike

Aventon has been on a roll, with new models and continuous revisions to existing platforms. The brand’s update to its Aventure fat-tire e-bike is no exception. At first glance, there are few significant visual differences between the original Aventure and this second-generation model. However, once outside, the small changes feel huge.

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

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

More of the Best Fat-Tire E-Bikes

Rad Power Bikes RadRover 6 Plus Electric Bike

Brawny, big, and bold, the RadRover 6 Plus is powerful at its best and sluggish at its worst. With its 750W rear hub, 4-inch-wide tires, and RST spring suspension fork (with 60mm of travel), it’s cushy and stable enough to eat potholes as much as dirt, rocks, and snow. Compared to its predecessor, an updated display and solid hydraulic disc brakes make the RadRover 6 Plus a substantially comfortable and casual ride.

But with its extreme weight of 74 pounds (without a rack!), we wouldn’t dare to roll this thing upstairs. If you need a do-it-all bike to help get you to and from work or the grocery store and frequently battle the elements while doing it, or if you have a lot of land you’d like to tear up, the RadRover 6 is your beast. But anyone living in a small space might have trouble handling this steed.

Aventon Ramblas eMTB

The recently launched Aventon Ramblas is a category-defining hardtail e-MTB that impressed us during trail testing. Its trail-forward components—1x12 SRAM Eagle drivetrain that can handle most climbs, powerful 4-piston SRAM brakes, a solidly stiff 35mm RockShox fork, a comfy dropper seatpost, cushy 2.4-inch wide tires—are unmatched by any other hardtail e-MTB, especially given its price.

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

Ride1Up Portola Electric Bike

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

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

Specialized Globe Haul ST Electric Bike

If you need to haul it all, go with our 2023 Bike of the Year : Specialized’s Globe Haul ST. With a carrying capacity of a whopping 419 pounds, it’s good for a range of riding tasks, from grabbing groceries at your local farmer’s market to dropping Fido off at doggy daycare. Specialized designed this bike with the average commuter in mind, motivating riders to swap those short- and medium-distance car trips with a bicycle instead. The result is a well-designed short-tail cargo bike with wide 20 x 3.5-inch tires that can eat bumps while keeping you stable and low to the ground. It’s also a blast to ride.

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

Cannondale Treadwell Neo 2 Electric Bike

We’re fans of the unpowered Treadwell for its clean looks and upright rider position. It’s not quite a hybrid but also not a foot-forward-style cruiser. The line is comprised of unique, practical bikes for city commuting or riding around town.

The Treadwell Neo 2 improves on this by offering electric assistance without a big weight penalty. This makes for a lighter and zippier riding bike at a lower price. A Class 1 rear hub motor moves the Treadwell along smoothly at up to 20 mph with pedal-assisted power. The 7-speed drivetrain and a wide-range cassette help you get up longer hills, and the Maxxis 650b tires roll fast on pavement.

Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 Step-Through Electric Bike

Specialized’s Turbo Vado 4.0 is smart and comfortable, with solid brakes, a terrific fork, a sleek design, and a clean iPhone companion app. We’ve ridden a lot of e-bikes over the years, and the Specialized Turbo models consistently test amongst the best in all categories. The brand puts a ton of development time into its Turbo series e-bikes by refining the motor tune and carefully selecting parts. This work pays off with best-in-class ride quality. If you have hesitated to try an e-bike because you think it won’t feel like your favorite non-assist bike, try a Specialized Turbo. You’ll quickly become a convert.

Specialized offers the bike at several price levels between $3,250 and $5,500. You can purchase Turbo Vados with traditional or step-through frame styles, derailleur or internal hub drivetrain configurations, and several color offerings.

Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser Electric Bike

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

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

A Few E-Bike Terms to Know

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Measured in Newton meters (or Nm), torque is a rotational measurement of force—and the number to pay attention to when you want an idea of an e-bike motor’s output. More torque means more power off the line and more boost to your pedaling. The heavier the bike, the more torque it needs. Lighter road bikes typically have 30 to 40 Nm of torque, and trail and cargo models (generally) have at least 80 Nm. Most commuter bikes fall somewhere in between.

The size of an e-bike’s battery is measured in watt-hours (or Wh). This measurement represents the energy stored in the battery and how many watts it can deliver each hour. The higher the number, the longer the range, but the faster you go, the less range you get. So, if a 504Wh battery paired with a 500W motor gives you one hour of ride time at the highest assist, riding at about half that power will double your range.

Locking Battery

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

Wider Tires

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

Integrated Lights

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

Warranty and Service

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

E-bikes use electronics for their motors, batteries, and displays. These parts are often proprietary to bike brands or even specific e-bike models, making replacement more difficult than parts on non-electric bicycles. Make sure to use the correct electronic replacement parts to avoid damaging your e-bike (or it catching fire). Established brands usually (but not always) have a good supply of these parts for replacement, even for years after a bike goes out of production. Bosch and Shimano are two e-bike motor manufacturers with some of the most compatibility between bikes and stock parts for previous generations of systems.

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

Certification

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

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

We contacted many e-bike brands on this topic. Most companies informed us they are working toward the certification process. So, expect the list of certified e-bikes to grow in the coming months. If owning a UL 2849-certified bike is important to you, ask the brand from which you plan to purchase it for proof of certification. You can cross-reference OSHA ’s Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories if you want to dive deeper into the topic.

Conversion Kits

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

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

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

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

The Three Classes of E-Bikes

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two sites offering high-quality, certified pre-owned e-bikes include Upway and TPC.

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

Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.

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

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Trek has slashed up to 30% off bikes and gear in its sale. I've picked out the best MTB bargains on offer

TrekFest is on now and there are huge discounts on MTBs, e-MTBs and top Trek and Bontrager gear

1. US Bike Deals

2. uk bike deals, 3. us and uk gear deals.

Trek has launched its 'TrekFest' sale, and not to be outdone by its North-American rivals Specialized, who also have a Spring Sale on, TrekFest has some mega-discounts. There are site-wide price-cuts on a wide selection of mountain bikes like its best budget hardtail – the Trek Marlin and some of its highly rated e-MTB models like the Trek Fuel EXe. There are also deals from Trek's in-house brand Bontrager, which manufactures MTB helmets , shoes, and lots more...

I've had a hunt around both the Trek US and Trek UK sites and picked out the best deals on offer and added what I think are some of highlights below. The discounts are currently live but end soon. So I'd suggest if something catches your eye, don't hang around, because they are bound to be snapped up quickly.

Marlin 8 Gen 2: Was $1,329.99, now $999 Trek says the Marlin is its most popular budget hardtail mountain bike. This aluminum framed Gen 2 version has a $330 discount with a build that features a RockShox Judy Silver fork, a SRAM SX Eagle 12-spd drivetrain and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. The Bontrager Kovee wheels are tubeless ready and they roll on Maxxis Ardent Race rubber.

Available in two color choices, sized from XXS-XL.

Fuel EXe 9.9 XTR: Was $12,999 , now $11,999 The Fuel EXe 9.9 XTR is one of Trek's best electric mountain bikes . Built around its OCLV Mountain Carbon frame, the Fuel has a 360Wh battery that powers a TQ motor which puts out 50Nm of torque and 250 watts of maximum continuous power.

You also get 150mm of RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork travel paired with 140mm of RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate rear suspension. A Shimano XTR drivetrain, Bontrager carbon wheels and a Bontrager dropper post make up a very nicely specced e-MTB that currently has a $1,000 discount.

Four colors and all sizes are available S-XL.

Rail 9.8 XT Gen 4: Was $8,999, now $7,999 Another discounted electric mountain bike from the Trek line-up is the Trek Rail 9.8 . The brand's long-travel carbon framed enduro e-MTB comes with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor , a long-range 750Wh battery and 85Nm of trail-shredding power.

Adding to the Rail's spec highlights is a 170mm RockShox ZEB Select+ fork , and RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock with a Shimano XT 1x12 drivetrain. Four colors and all the sizing are available plus a tasty $1,000 discount.

Top Fuel 9.8 XT: Was $7,049, now $5,899 Trek's Top Fuel is one of the best cross-country mountain bikes on the market. Lightweight, carbon-framed and has another brilliant line-up of components that make it a bit of a bargain with its current $1,150 discount.

The Top Fuel has a 120mm RockShox SID Select+ fork , 120mm of rear travel with a RockShox SID Luxe Ultimate shock , and a Shimano XT drivetrain. Bontrager Line Elite 30 carbon wheels and a Bontrager Line Elite Dropper complete the spec.

Roscoe 8: Was $2,399, now $1,999 The Trek Roscoe 8 is another entry-level hardtail with a specification ready for some serious cross-country riding. This Roscoe build features a lightweight aluminum frame, a 140mm RockShox 35 Gold fork , a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain, 4-piston brakes, and a dropper post. 

A $400 discount and sizes XS-XL are available in two size color options.

Slash 9.9 XX1 Gen 5: Was $12,549, now $9,999 Trek say the Slash 9.9 is its best enduro mountain bike in the range. It's also the go-to bike for the Trek Factory Racing Enduro team. This model has a $2,500 discount and you get a bike ready for anything. 

A full carbon frame, hard-hitting suspension with RockShox Flight Attendant , Bontrager carbon wheels, and a SRAM XX1 Eagle drivetrain make this top-of-the-line ride a very attractive buy with the current discount. Available in all sizes and the very stealthy-looking Lithium Gray colorway.

Marlin 8 Gen 3: Was £1,025, now £825 The Trek Marlin Gen 3 is the latest model of its popular budget hardtail mountain bike. The Gen 3 has an updated geometry, and the alloy frame features a RockShox Judy Silver fork, a SRAM SX Eagle 12-spd drivetrain and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. This latest model also gets a TranzX dropper post too.

Available in two color choices, but with limited sizing, grab it while you can.

Top Fuel 9.8 XT: Was £6,100, now £4,270 Trek's Top Fuel is one of the best cross-country mountain bikes on the market. Lightweight, carbon-framed and has another brilliant line-up of components.

Top Fuel has a 120mm RockShox SID Select+ fork , 120mm of rear travel with a RockShox SID Luxe Ultimate shock , and a Shimano XT drivetrain. Bontrager Line Elite 30 carbon wheels and a Bontrager Line Elite Dropper complete the spec.

Roscoe 8: Was £1,675, now £1,394 The Trek Roscoe 8 is another entry-level hardtail with a specification ready for XC riding. This Roscoe build features an aluminum frame, a 140mm RockShox 35 Gold fork , a SRAM NX Eagle drivetrain, 4-piston brakes, and a dropper post. 

A £280 discount and sizes XS-XL are available in two size color options.

Slash 9.8 XT Gen 5: Was £6,000, now £4,500 Trek say the Slash 9.8 is one of its best enduro bike models coming with the brand's OCLV Mountain Carbon frame. It features a massive 160mm of travel from the highly-rated RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock , paired with a RockShox ZEB Select+ fork and 170mm of travel. 

Only available Lithium Gray colorway and sizes M-XL.

Bontrager Foray MTB Shoes: US: Were $159, now $111 UK: Were £159, now £111 Trek says the Foray shoe is a versatile MTB shoe ready for trail riding and even cyclocross. Its versatility makes it one of the best gravel shoes too.

Foray has a Boa L6 dial for a customizable fit, a stiff sole and a durable upper featuring the added protection of GnarGuard – a rubberised coating that protects against abrasions and other damage. Four color choices and a ton of sizing are available.

Trek Line Elite Pedals: US: Were $119, now $94 UK: Were £109, now £76 The Trek Line Elite are SPD-compatible clipless MTB pedals . Dual-sided and made from forged aluminum, which they say makes them durable and lightweight. They have an easy clipping-in platform and a stylish aesthetic look to back up the performance features.

Trek Rally WaveCel Helmet: US: Was $159, now $119 UK: Was £149, £104 The Trek Rally has the Virginia Tech 5 Star safety rating which makes it a great choice as one of the best MTB helmets available. Featuring WaveCel, which is a collapsible cellular safety structure that protects the head during a crash. It also has a Boa fit system and an adjustable visor.

Loads of colors and sizing are available.

Bontrager Rally MTB Shoe: US: Were $149, now $119 UK: Were £149, now £104 The Rally is a clipless mountain shoe and is made from a super durable design with an abrasion-resistant coating and a reinforced, durable toe box for protection.

They also offer a more relaxed fit for comfort on the bike but plenty of support making them a highly practical trail MTB shoe. Five color and plenty of sizes are available.

Based in Edinburgh, Paul Brett is a staff writer for  BikePerfect.com . He has been an avid cyclist for as long as he can remember, initially catching the mountain biking bug in the 1990s, and raced mountain bikes for over a decade before injury cut short a glittering career. He’s since developed an obsession for gravel riding and recently has dabbled in the dark art of cyclocross. A fan of the idea of bikepacking he has occasionally got involved and has ridden routes like the North Coast 500, Scotland and the Via Francigena (Pilgrim Route), Italy.

Current rides: Marin Alpine Trail 2, Ribble 725, Cube Stereo 160

Height: 175cm

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The 12 Best Bikes For Men in 2024

For off-roading, grocery-hauling, head-clearing, and everything in between.

Best Overall

Trek verve 3 disc.

Best City Bike

Cannondale bad boy 3.

Best Bike Under $400

Schwinn discover 2.

Best Overall Fixed Gear Bike

State bicycle co. wulf.

Best Fixed Gear Upgrade

Brooklyn bicycle co. wythe fixie.

Best Cheap Mountain Bike

Mongoose dolomite fat tire mountain bike.

Best Mountain Bike

Specialized stumpjumper comp.

Best Overall E-Bike

Rad power bikes radcity 5 plus.

Best Cruiser E-Bike

Aventon pace 500 e-bike.

Best Cargo E-Bike

Trek fetch+ 2.

There are so many reasons why we support being Bike People. You're healthier . If you're riding your bike to work , you're not staring at your phone on the bus, and you've gained some valuable time back from Big Tech. On the weekends, you're not glued to a laptop or bingeing a new show . You're taking afternoon rides by the beach , weekend off-roading adventures, or more regular trips to downtown areas where cool people hang out. Regardless of where you are, as long as you’re on the saddle, with a slick bike helmet , you’re living the good life.

To get you started on your two-wheeled journey, our experts found the 12 best bikes for men. The list includes e-bikes that’ll that make light work of city streets, mountain bikes, and daily commuters. Grab one of these, a car rack , some bike bags , and accessories . Then, you're good to go. No matter which you choose, these 12 bikes for men will do your life as a cycling enthusiast justice.

If you’re a one-stop-shop kinda biker, this hybrid model that’s fast on the road and also steady on loose terrain will satisfy your needs. Its lightweight, sporty form will transition you smoothly from flat pavement to light off-road surfaces, even holding up after you log miles after miles. Lastly, if the weather isn’t cooperating, the powerful disc braking system will work just fine and let you slow down or stop on a dime.

Type: hybrid bike

Best for: commuting, cruising, light off-road riding

A city bike needs to be fast, easy to store, but most of all, maneuverable through populated streets. Cannondale's Bad Boy 3 is all of those things. It has fast-rolling, grippy tires and nimble handling for taking on tight corners, reckless drivers, and equally reckless pedestrians. It also packs quite a bit of speed, making commuting no problem and allowing you to see even more of your city on recreational rides. There's also its wide gear range, disc brakes, and reliable durability to help you take over the city.

Type: hybrid commuter bike

Best for: commuting, cruising, urban cycling

While this touring bike is the cheapest on this list, it by no means feels, looks, or rides cheap. It's basic, sure—a seven-speed twist shifter for quick gear shifts, a linear pull brake for precise stops, and a rear carrier for easy storage are the only noteworthy features it's got. But it manages to look invaluable in its streamline frame and fork. Whether you cruise it around the neighborhood or zoom it down the city skylines, it'll turn heads.

Type: hybrid cruiser bike

Best for: commuting, cruising

Hey, we'll make fun of fixie guys as much as anyone, but you can't deny that the preferred mode of transportation from the hipster years has its place. When you're in a city, especially on that's not especially hilly, there's few better ways to get around. They're easy to maintain and easy to ride in traffic, so long as you get one that has brakes.

We love this fixed gear from State. It looks good, it has front and rear brakes, and there's a handful of customization options to fool around with.

Type: fixed gear

Best for: city riding

Want a fixed gear bike? Get one from Brooklyn, the capital of the genre—sorry to other hipster locales. Just like the last one, this bike has front and rear brakes. That might hurt your street cred in Greenpoint, but it makes the bike a lot more practical.

Brooklyn Bicycle Co. tends to have the edge on other brands making new fixed gears because of a few key things. First, the bike gets shipped to a pro shop near you, and they do all the assembly. Second, there are nice performance touches like a fancy steel alloy frame, puncture-resistant tires, and a smooth steel drivetrain.

So, you just got into mountain biking? This is where you should start. Instead of getting a lightweight, blazing fast single track bike, get this cheap slow and steady style from Mongoose.

The fat tires will slow you down, and they might even inhibit you on certain tracks. But they will carry you over all sorts of shit. Stray off the trail a little? They'll keep turning. Hit a gnarly rock or root? They'll keep turning. Bump a tree with your front end? They just keep turning. Before you dive into the sport and fuck up a $3,000 bike, buy this beater.

Type: mountain bike

Best for: trail riding

Ok, if you're looking to go in on a true mountain bike, this is one of the best overall mountain bikes on the market. Between its meticulously developed suspension kinematics, a mid-travel ripper to finely carve terrain, and FlipChip adjustability to tune your fit, what more could you ask for? Nothing. If you've gotten the single track bug and want to get serious about it, this is the bike for that.

E-bikes are great but can run large and heavy. That's what makes Rad Power bikes in general , but especially its newest bike, the Mission, so damn special. It feels like a standard city bike—that is, until you ride it. The RadCity 1 is built with strong brakes and is portable like any good city bike, but also has the added bonus of E-bikes: Trekking long distances or up hills without getting sweaty. It's ideal for commuters who don't want to show up to work drenched. Rad does an excellent job at manufacturing accessories too, like electric brake lights and front spots, back crates, and more. The bike blends the best of both worlds, giving you that extra electric boost to compete with traffic.

Type: hybrid e-bike

Best for: commuting, cruising, light terrain riding

A bike is a great way to keep you active on vacation. Typically a cruiser—which allows riders to sit upright, even lean back, and stretch their limbs—is ideal for this kind of riding, on both paved pedestrian lanes and dirty, bumpy paths. Pace 500 is perfect for that billing. It’s an e-bike with a potent motor that’ll take you to destinations faster, all while saving you energy. Once perched on its relaxed frame, you'll be set for a comfortable riding posture for the beach or the city, and if you know there are a few potholes or gentle hills on your route, turn up the pedal assists to help you crush them.

Type: cruiser e-bike

Want to replace a vehicle? Trek's Fetch+ 2 is our favorite bike for it. You can tote two kids or a whole lot of groceries in this thing, and it is ridiculously easy to ride. That comes down to the Bosch drive unit. You can ride it uphill in summer heat, and you're not going to get tired. The bike does all the work for you.

Add to that a lightweight aluminum frame and a surprisingly sleek build, and you've got the ultimate weekday car replacement.

Type: cargo e-bike

Best for: commuting and cruising, especially with families

Rad Power Bikes RadRunner 2 Electric Utility Bike

We love Rad Power Bikes, if you can't tell. They make simply the coolest E-bikes we’ve seen, with one of the best ecosystems of any bike company out there. While the RadMission is a great city bike, the RadRunner is practically a motorcycle (but far less dangerous because, well, it's still an E-bike). This thing has huge terrain tires, a sturdy frame, and so much room for crates and accessories. If you're someone who lives miles away from work, this guy will get you there without you needing to break a sweat. Couple its long battery life with its accessories, and it has no problem with late-night riding. Even if you're a guy who'd drive to a neighbor's house, you'll find yourself riding it to get to work every day, rain, snow, or whatever. It's also ideal for delivery drivers. The bike gives you the freedom of short-distance driving, a perfect beast for anyone who'd rather not Uber three to seven miles.

Swagtron Swagcycle EB-7 Elite Electric Bike

We love well-designed things, especially when that design saves space. A lot of folks have jumped on the folding bike bandwagon, but the good people over at Swagtron have mastered it with the Swagcycle EB-7 that we had to endorse . It's an e-bike with a seven-speed gear shift that'll thrust you from peddle-only to full-throttle. And the ride is simply smooth, courtesy of its enhanced rear suspension. Even on the hills, its motor and electric pedal assist will get you up. Then, simply fold and sling it on your shoulder—yes—or tuck it away.

Type: folding e-bike

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Canyon launches its lightest ever e-MTB, Saracen's downhill bike is a budget-friendly ripper, Mondraker reinvents its Dusty e-gravel bike, and big MTB brands drop huge Spring sales. It's been a busy week of MTB and off-road news!

There is plenty of excitement to bring in what's been another hectic week in the bike world, with lots of new MTB and off-road products dropping. This week's edition has some exciting 'shock' news, with two big brands launching all-new affordable bikes – which includes this week's news highlight, the first lightweight e-MTB from Canyon.

There's been a fair bit landing in our in-boxes and we've rounded up all the newest bikes and products into one handy single article, so read on for all the must-know details and the Bike Perfect team's top picks from this week's mountain bike and off-road news...

Canyon launched its first lightweight e-MTB and it could be set to dominate the category as the Neuron:ONfly has a very affordable price point and weighs just 19.1kg

Canyon's latest e-MTB, the Neuron:ONfly dropped this week, and was the stand-out story for the round-up. Not only because it's Canyon's first ever lightweight e-MTB, but its price point makes it significantly cheaper than most of its competition.

The Canyon Neuron:ONfly comes in four carbon-framed builds – the CF LTD, CF 9, CF 8 and CF 7. All four will be available worldwide except for the US, which only gets the CF 7 model. The competitive pricing starts at $5,499 / £4,649 / €4,849 for the CF 7 model and tops out at £7,649 / €7,900 for the CF LTD.

Canyon claims the lightest model of the new Neuron:ONfly – the CF LTD, weighs in at 19.1kg and costs £7,649 / €7,900, and as an example of weight and pricing the similar Whyte E-Lyte 140 Works weighs less at 17.4kg, but is priced at £10,999. The Cube AMS Hybrid ONE44 weighs 17.7kg and costs £7,999.

Canyon's 'ON' electric mountain bikes are already a popular choice in the best electric mountain bike market with models like the Spectral:ON CF and the original full-powered  Neuron:ON , so with an established e-MTB pedigree it looks as though the German direct-to-consumer brand's first-ever lightweight e-MTB might just be set to dominate.

If you're looking to hit the uplifts this summer, then the Saracen Myst is a downhill bike packed with 10 years of race development with a budget-friendly price tag

Saracen launched an all-new Myst downhill bike which gets a brand-new aluminum frame, and a reworked suspension system. Saracen says the new Myst benefits from the brand's 10 years of downhill race development alongside the Madison Saracen Factory Race Team and makes it the fastest downhill bike it has ever made.

So does the  best downhill bike  it has ever made come with a whopping price tag? The answer is no. This nicely specced downhill bike comes in two complete builds and starts at just £3,599 / €4,499 for the Myst Pro and £5,499 / €6,299 for the Myst Team Edition. There is also a Frameset plus a Fox DHX2 Factory option at £2,199 / €2499. However, the bikes are currently not available in the US.

Mondraker ups its game in the e-gravel market by adding two new additions to its Dusty range – a 40mm suspension model and a flat-bar urban commuter too

The original Mondraker Dusty XR was the Spanish MTB giant's first delve into the best gravel bike market. It has now launched two new versions of its Dusty e-gravel bike – the Dusty R and the Dusty X.

The Dusty R now gets a 40mm lock-out RockShox Rudy suspension fork and an exclusive new and very attractive looking paint job in Midnight Blue, Tonic Gold and Teal Green. The rest of the build matches up with its rigid forked sibling and uses the same Mahle X20 Drive Unit and e-Gravel Stealth Air Carbon frame. The Dusty R is priced at $5,499 / £TBC.

The X version is a flat bar version of the Dusty aimed at urban commuters but also claimed to be capable on longer weekend gravel rides. Dusty X comes with integrated lights which are a bar-mounted 150-lumen headlight and a Supernova seatpost with built-in LED rear light. The rigid forked Dusty X shares the same motor and frame as the other models. Pricing for the X is $5,199 / £TBC.

Half-price Epic Evo anyone? Specialized's massive Spring Sale drops 50% off deals across a huge range of MTB and off-road cycling gear including the brilliant Epic XC bike

The Specialized Spring Sale launched this week and is one of the biggest ever from the US bicycling brand. There are whopping discounts of up to 50 percent on off-road cycling products that include its  best mountain bikes , gravel bikes and e-MTBs.

One of the stand-out MTB discounts is on various models in the Specialized Epic Evo range, which is the brand's highly-rated World Cup XC bike. The sale ends on the 30th of April, so we'd suggest if something catches your eye, especially on bikes, don't hang around because they are bound to be snapped up quickly.

Another highlight that caught the eye was the Specialized Gambit Full-Face helmet – our best overall helmet in our  full-face helmet  buyers guide. Check out the  Specialized US  and  Specialized UK  websites as deals differ in each territory.

Trek also has a massive Spring sale going with hefty across site price drops up to 30%

Not to be outdone on the big spring deal offers – Trek launched its own April MTB and off-road cycling sale with up to 30 percent off bikes, helmets and parts.

Trek have deals across its site and includes its ever-popular Trek Marlin – one of the best budget mountain bikes around, but unfortunately not the recently launched budget e-MTB version, the Trek Marlin+ .

However, one of the stand-out e-MTB discounts is on the Trek Fuel EXe 9.9 XX1 discounted to $12,999 / £9,499.95, from the usual $13,999 / £13,500 which is a very nice deal on this carbon framed and TQ-motor-powered full-suspension e-MTB. The analog version Fuel EX 9.9 XX1 also has a sweet discount currently discounted from $10,749 / £11,800, to $9,749 / £7,994.

The Trek sale is live now and ends on the 30th of April. Check out the  Trek US  and  Trek UK  websites as deals vary depending on location.

Restrap launched its all-new Race Hydration Vest aimed at gravel bike racers, but it looks like a good option for any cyclist looking for a lightweight hydration pack

In last week's news round-up , UK brand Restrap added the Race Top Tube Bag Short to its Race Range of bikepacking bags . This week, the bikepacking and adventure gear brand has launched its all-new Race Hydration Vest. It's designed for the best gravel bike racers to carry all the food, water and other essentials. It also looks like a pretty cool lightweight addition to any rider's kit who fancies trying out the best hydration packs instead of the humble water bottle.

Restrap’s new Race Hydration Vest design looks to tick all the boxes and has a capacity of 5.5 liters of storage, plus the included 2-liter hydration bladder. There is front chest storage and more storage on your back too, which "will be held securely by the highly adjustable retention system to customize a perfect fit."

Available now, the unisex design comes in two sizes, S/M and L/XL. The Restrap Race Hydration Vest is priced at $190 / £140 / €168.

Café du Cycliste launches another stunningly stylish gravel shoe adding to its Outlands collection with brand new colorway but they don't come cheap

Café du Cycliste revealed it's brand new 'Scots Pine' version of its gorgeous looking hiking-boot-inspired gravel shoe. The Café du Cycliste Outlands was a shoe I loved straight away, especially for looks, but was backed up with top performance too. Although the color has taken a hammering in Scottish gravel riding conditions.

This new colorway looks like it'll cope better with filthy conditions and the new dark green shoe has all the same features as most of the best gravel shoes and its original sibling.

Outlands has a SUPtraction custom-designed rubber tread and a carbon footbed for rigidity and maximum power transfer. The upper is made from flexible leather with laser-cut holes for ventilation surrounded by abrasion protection rubber.

The Café du Cycliste Outlands 'Scots Pine' is available now priced at $390 / £295 / €300.

YT Industries collaborates with footwear legends Vans and drops the BMX-influenced 114 flat pedal shoes

YT Industries partnered with cult street footwear giant Vans to drop an all-new MTB footwear collaboration. The Vans x YT Industries 114 shoes are influenced by the requirements of the Vans BMX team but are designed to deliver the best MTB flat shoe performance too.

Sporting a very casual look, the 114s come packed with plenty of performance features to back up the cool vibe, including the Vans Wafflecup outsole, Popcush cushioning, and Duracap underlays. These are all designed to deliver support, protection, and durability for the most demanding riders.

Available now in three color options White, Red and Black, the collection also includes a set of Vans x YT Industries 'Live Uncaged' La Costa sliders.

The 114 shoes are priced at $99.99 / £99.90 / €99.90. The 'Live Uncaged' sliders are priced at $44.99 / £44.90 / €49.90.

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Is an Electric Bike Right for You?

What you need to know about choosing an e-bike

By Benjamin Preston

Electric bikes have great versatility and appeal, as evidenced by their swelling popularity. Pedal-powered bicycles and electric bikes have been in high demand since the pandemic, when sales surged due to more people working from home. Despite sales tapering off slightly in 2023, compared with the previous year, electric bicycle sales for 2023 were still up 238 percent over 2019 levels, according to Circana, a market research company. They can be a great way to help riders who might otherwise feel discouraged about riding, extending the capability to travel distance and ascend hills. Plus, they are great fun. If you’re considering an e-bike, we can help you determine if one is right for you and find the best bikes from our tests .

Getting Started

If you’re thinking about buying an electric bike, commonly known as an e-bike, first consider how you intend to use it. Eleven percent of Americans have ridden an e-bike over the past year, according to a recent  nationally representative survey  conducted by CR of 2,035 U.S. adults (February 2024). The survey also found that, among those who had ridden an e-bike or an e-scooter in the past year, fun and leisure activities were one of the reasons 71 percent chose to ride an e-bike or e-scooter.

There are almost as many types of electric bikes as there are pedal-powered bicycles, and many of them do specific things very well. A big factor in your decision will be where you live , because climate, the presence (or lack) of bike lanes, how far you want to ride on a regular basis, and how your locale classifies and regulates e-bikes will affect how you can use one.

More than half of U.S. states recognize e-bikes as a type of bicycle, depending on how fast they go and how power is applied (for example, through the pedals or a hand control). But a few states treat electric bikes like other motorized vehicles and require riders to have an operator’s license to use one on public roads, depending on the type.

Currently, there are three general electric bike classifications (PDF), and some gray areas.

Class 1 covers pedal-assist bikes, which power the electric motor as your foot applies pressure to the pedal. There’s no throttle to get the bike going; the electric part works only when the rider is pedaling, and the e-assist cuts off at speeds above 20 mph. (It’s possible to get even conventional bicycles moving faster than that on a steep hill.)

Class 2 bikes also have an electric motor that works up to 20 mph, either while the rider is pedaling (pedal assist) or with electric propulsion alone via throttle control.

Class 3 limits an electric bike’s pedal assist to 28 mph and requires a speedometer.

Where you can ride an e-bike varies based on location, so it’s best to check local regulations before using one on a bike-only trail. (Powered bicycles could be prohibited.) It’s also strongly recommended that electric bike riders wear helmets even if the locale doesn’t require it.

There are also more powerful electric bikes that are supposed to be ridden only in designated off-road areas. These electric bikes can look like bicycles but functionally are more like motorcycles. For the purposes of this guide, we’ll focus on the three classes that most resemble a conventional bicycle.

Why Buy an Electric Bike?

There are many reasons people buy an e-bike, but we found after talking to experts and riders that the main ones are for commuting, recreation, and hauling light cargo. For many during the pandemic, bicycles were a transportation alternative for urban and suburban commuters wishing to avoid using public transportation. Beyond social distancing, they can also be great for exercise and recreation, even with help from the electric motor.

Performance road bikes prioritize speed, aerodynamics, and lightweight construction. They're the type used in pro races, although electrified versions aren't allowed in conventional bicycle races.

Photo: Trek

“There’s no one demographic that rides an e-bike,” says Sarah Johnson, a cycling expert and advocate who used to own a bicycle shop in Omaha, Neb., that sold electric bikes. “It’s young people who don’t want a car; it’s older people who want a little help so they can still ride a bike; it’s commuters who don’t want to get all sweaty on the way to work.”

According to the Department of Transportation, nationwide survey data show that more than half of the trips people take are three miles or less . And 72 percent of those are made by car; less than 2 percent are made on a bicycle. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) says that distance is feasible for bicycles, particularly e-bikes.

Electric Bike Pricing

Prices for e-bikes range from less than $500 to thousands of dollars. For most consumers, the higher end of the scale will be about $6,000 to $7,000. According to the NCSL, the average price for an electric commuter bike is $2,000 to $3,000, compared with $1,000 for a conventional midrange commuter bicycle.

Electric bicycles come in a variety of styles to serve different needs.

Photo: Rad Power Bikes

Micah Toll, who digs into the particulars of electric bikes and other battery-powered personal transportation for Electrek , a website focused on everything electric, says budget is an important consideration for e-bike shoppers.

He advises consumers to avoid the extreme low end of the electric bike range, where cheaper components can affect the overall quality. He also says first-time buyers might not want to get the most expensive models, to give themselves time to figure out whether or not they like riding one. He says that although there are so many options for every price range as the number and types of e-bike models continue to proliferate, $1,500 is generally a sweet spot in terms of price. You may find cheaper alternatives from no-name manufacturers that pop up on Amazon and other online sales venues, but quality e-bikes tend to start in the $1,000 to $2,000 range.

“There are more players than ever in the industry, and the options have really expanded on both the low and high ends of the market,” Toll says. “Manufacturers are making good-quality bikes but aren’t using top-shelf components. It’s a good balance for people who don’t want to spend a fortune but also don’t want the bike to fall apart after a year or two.”

Commuter Electric Bikes

Commuter bikes come in a variety of styles but are meant to serve as practical transportation. For many consumers, e-bikes represent a much more cost-effective alternative to expensive, fossil-fuel-dependent automobiles, or, at the very least, a way to cut down on the number of cars in the driveway. Many people like the fact that they can commute on an electric bike without getting too sweaty on the way to work and that they aren’t as likely to get stuck in grinding car traffic.

Commuter bikes provide easy, trouble-free service as daily transportation.

Steve Volkers, who lives in suburban Maryland and commutes several miles over rolling hills, says he actually gets to work a little faster on his electric bike because he doesn’t have to sit in the Washington, D.C., area’s notorious car traffic.

Glen Mayenschein, who works several miles from his home in northern New Jersey, has been commuting exclusively by bicycle for 20 years, and, at age 62, decided to buy an electric bike.

“I have a bad knee, so I figured I’d make it easier on myself and get an electric bike,” Mayenschein says, noting that he rides a hilly route to and from work. “I like riding a bike, and I still ride regular ones from time to time, but now I mostly ride the electric one.”

Commuter bikes vary from the type with narrow tires and straight handlebars that city dwellers are used to seeing in conventional form to beefier models with fat tires and thicker frames.

Experts say fat-tire bikes—which can be difficult to get going on pedal power alone—are gaining in popularity as electric versions have become more widely available. There are also folding electric bikes that are easier to stow in a tight storage area or aboard a train or bus.

Recreational Electric Bikes

The bulk of the pandemic bicycle sales boom has been for enthusiast bicycles like road and mountain bikes, according to NPD. Road and mountain biking were already popular recreational activities, and the addition of electric motors has expanded their appeal.

Multiple studies show that e-bikes, while a less intense form of exercise than conventional bikes, still provide exercise benefits. A study conducted in 2021 and published in  Translational Journal  concluded that compared with a regular bicycle, riding an e-bike for a simulated three-mile commute resulted in lower metabolic, cardiovascular, and perceived effort that nevertheless met the intensity level associated with healthy physical activity recommended by the World Health Organization and the American College of Sports Medicine. (The ACSM recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate cardiovascular exercise.)

Cruiser bikes are designed for comfort.

Photo: Trek Bicycle

As with conventional bicycles, there are several types of e-bikes, each with a special purpose, whether it’s riding mountain or forest trails, taking long rides on the open road, or cruising around at a leisurely pace near home. Some conventional cycling purists knock electric bikes because of the greater ease of pedaling, but some converts have told us they love them.

The extra boost from a battery and an electric motor has also opened up cycling to people who might not otherwise have been able to ride. Sarah Johnson, the Omaha cycling advocate, says she faced having to give up cycling when medical problems made it difficult for her to pedal a conventional bicycle.

“I used to be an e-bike hater, but when I realized that it was e-bike or no riding, I realized how great they are,” she says. “I’m feeling better, but I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of my e-bike.”

Performance Road Bikes The defining characteristics of a road bike are usually a lightweight frame, skinny tires, and drop-down handlebars that help the rider maintain an aerodynamic riding position. It’s not unusual to see a cluster of bright-shirted cyclists pedaling furiously down a bike trail or along the side of the road on lightweight speed machines.

Like their pedal-powered counterparts, electric road bikes feature slimmer, lighter components and require an aerodynamic riding position, both meant to increase efficiency over long distances. The assistance offered by an electric motor makes it possible to cover longer distances and handle steep grades with less of the fatigue associated with conventional bicycles.

Even though they’re fast and relatively light, performance bikes still aren’t for everyone, because the aggressive riding position can be uncomfortable for some riders.

Mountain Bikes With beefier frames, bigger tires, and sometimes long-travel suspension components, mountain bikes are built to handle trails, large rocks, logs, and other rough terrain and obstacles. A spin through mountain bike racing videos on the internet reveals that their riders sometimes expect the bikes to handle much more than that—big air jumps and rough terrain, among other demands.

Of course, the fun part is the faster, more effortless downhill portion. Getting there usually involves a demanding pedal up steep grades on loose terrain. Adding an electric motor to a mountain bike makes a lot of sense for someone who wants to experience the thrill of downhill riding but may not have the fitness to handle the grueling uphill slog.

The e-bike segment makes bikes with larger tires—which are more difficult to pedal using leg power alone because of the increased weight and rolling resistance that comes with their beefy wheels and tires—more appealing, and also makes it possible to do more riding in a day because of reduced fatigue. Electric mountain bikes aren’t permitted on some trails, so be sure to check state and local regulations. Also, as CR’s testers found, it’s important to buy an electric mountain bike with brakes that can handle the extra weight of the battery and electric motor.

Hybrids and Cruisers Hybrids offer a combination of road bike efficiency and the more upright riding position preferred by mountain bikers and commuters. They usually have straight handlebars. This type of bicycle can be a good all-around setup for those who seek the best of both worlds.

Cruisers offer a relaxed, comfortable upright seating position and often a softer ride because of bigger tires and cushier seats. Look for swooping handlebars that keep a rider’s arms a relaxed distance from the body. The addition of an electric motor to either of these configurations makes it possible to use a thicker frame and wider tires to soak up bumps in the road. Volkers, the Maryland commuter, bought this type of e-bike because he can ride it on light off-road trails and paved roads with ease.

Cargo Electric Bikes

Cargo bikes are built to haul cargo and extra passengers. With strong frames, fatter tires, and robust components, they’re the industrial beasts of the two-wheeled world. Pedal-powered cargo bikes have been around for a while. They can be configured with rear-mounted seats or cargo racks, or front-end cargo boxes supported by one or two wheels. Bicycle taxis can also be included in this group; those two-wheeled models are popular for urban delivery services and for ferrying children.

Adding electric power to a frame designed to haul heavier loads offers an obvious advantage, and electric propulsion can be a game-changer for anyone who wants to use a bicycle as an alternative to a car, such as to run errands and carry large loads of groceries, packages, or passengers. E-bikes—although not necessarily the heavy-duty cargo variety—are also popular among food delivery riders who want to avoid car traffic and double-parking.

Folding Electric Bikes

Think of the folding bike as a more portable version of the commuter bike. Folding bikes typically have smaller wheels and long handlebar stems and seat posts, as well as hinged frames and other parts that allow the bike to be folded into a more compact shape. This type of bike might be appealing to someone who needs a bicycle but has to pack it into a car’s trunk, take it on a bus or train, or has limited storage space at home. There are several folding electric models on the market, but it’s worth noting that the ones with the most powerful motors tend to be heavier and, therefore, more difficult to fold, carry, and stow. That said, CR tested one model that offered a bit of e-assist in a lightweight package that folded very small for easy packing or storage. (See CR’s roundup of the best folding bikes .)

Electric Bike Safety Considerations

E-bikes can travel at speeds similar to conventional bicycles and carry the same safety risks. However, models that can travel at 20 mph or more add another level of risk to the equation.

Higher speeds mean the rider has less time to slow down or stop. Whether riding a bicycle or a motorcycle, the results of even low-speed crashes—especially when cars and trucks are involved—can be painful and even fatal. A 2019 study in the journal Injury Prevention found—based on an examination of emergency room records—that electric bike riders were more likely to suffer internal injuries than those riding conventional bicycles.

The easiest and most obvious way to avoid a serious head injury is to wear a bicycle helmet. A review of bicycle helmet research published in the journal Injury Prevention in 2007 says that wearing a helmet can reduce the chance of serious head injury by 63 to 88 percent. Wearing bright clothing and adhering to traffic laws can also help.

Another important safety factor for cycling is the availability of dedicated—and specially protected—bicycle lanes. If you must ride in the road with cars, take into account the prevailing speed and flow of traffic. Motorists may be distracted or driving too fast to see cyclists.

There are aftermarket devices that can be added to any bicycle with features similar to those in the active driver assistance systems (ADAS) found on cars and trucks . They include blind spot warning and crash detection.

There hasn’t been much academic study yet about the injury risks to children posed by the newest electric bikes, but it’s best to exercise extreme caution when addressing the needs of new or inexperienced cyclists. As anyone who fell off a bicycle when they were young can recall, even low-speed crashes and tip-overs can result in injury.

Because most e-bikes use lithium-ion batteries, there’s also fire risk to consider. It’s important to use the correct charger and charging cord, supplied by the manufacturer that built the bike you own.

If you end up having to replace the battery for some reason, use only a UL-listed battery approved by the bike’s manufacturer. Don’t leave the bike unattended while it’s charging, and don’t charge e-bikes in sleeping areas, or where they can block entry or egress to a room or building. Lithium-ion battery fires are rare, but they can be violent. They are often related to improper charging or storage.

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2024, Consumer Reports, Inc.

The New Devinci E-Troy Lite

Bosch sx-powered all mountain ripper.

Words by Robert Johnston Photos & Video by Cole Gregg

Devinci is launching their brand new E-Troy Lite, a lightweight Electric All Mountain Bike designed to offer an agile ride with solid assistance to extend your rides. With a Made-In-Canada aluminum frame fitted with Bosch’s Performance Line SX system, the E-Troy Lite hopes to offer the best of all worlds in the SL eBike category. We’ve had a very fun time out on the trails so far as we created this Tech Check feature on Devinci’s new light-assist eMTB.

Editor’s Note: Tech Check Features are made with the help of partnering brands to share the latest news and technology about products. These are not our official reviews as we don’t have enough time in the products to have thoroughly vetted them for recommendation. We look forward to putting a lot more miles in these products and will be reporting back with our honest and objective input in the near future.

DETAILS OF THE DEVINCI E-TROY LITE

MADE-IN-CANADA ALUMINUM FRAME | Devinci manufactures the frame of the E-Troy Lite in Canada. They claim a “knockout strength-to-weight ratio” from their 6061-T6 aluminum tubing, and achieve very reasonable weights for an alloy bike in this category. The E-Troy Lite is built for a mixed-wheel setup exclusively, with no provisions to run a 29” rear wheel. With 150mm in the rear and 160mm fork, it’s designed to be a well-rounded lightweight eBike to handle a variety of terrain well.

Devinci packs the E-Troy with premium, well-considered features to make their price points feel very reasonable. Cables are routed internally through the headtube, avoiding the contentious headset routing. A sleek upper guide keeps the chain in place; and there’s a Universal Derailleur Hanger for easier replacements and T-Type compatibility.

The suspension pivots are fitted with high quality Enduro double-lip sealed bearings, helping to keep the elements out and the suspension moving smoothly. Generous protection is added to the chainstays to keep the E-Troy Lite quiet and free from damage. Surrounding the motor is a vented plastic skid plate, fending off impact damage without insulating the drive unit and causing heat issues. To satisfy hydration needs or fit a range extender with room to spare, all sizes of frame will fit at least a 500ml water bottle inside the front triangle.

BOSCH SX SYSTEM | Devinci opted to equip the E-Troy Lite with Bosch’s lightweight, mid-power Performance Line SX drive unit. This drive unit will produce 55Nm Torque and an impressive 600W Peak Power for its 2kg weight. The system is controlled with the wireless Bosch Mini Remote on the handlebar. Battery life and power mode are displayed on the LED display neatly integrated into the top tube.

Powering the Bosch SX drive unit is the CompactTube 400Wh internal battery. This utilizes 21700 cells to pack 30% more energy over the typical battery cells. By opting to make the battery fixed inside the frame, Devinci was able to optimize the frame structure to shave an impressive 400g (0.88lbs) from its weight compared with a removable system.

Charging the Bosch system is their 4A Smart Charger. Providing a 50% charge in 90 minutes and full charge in three and a half hours, riders can get charged up and ready to hit the trails fast. For riders looking to cover more ground, Bosch offers the PowerMore 250Wh range extender, which can boost total capacity to 650Wh.

Bosch’s eBike Flow app allows full customization of the power modes of the Bosch SX system, letting riders tailor their preference of speed and range. It can also be used to access a vast array of information; check battery life to the nearest percent; and update the system’s software.

E-MTB OPTIMIZED SPLIT PIVOT SUSPENSION | Devinci equips the E-Troy Lite with an eMTB-optimized configuration of their Split Pivot suspension design. This design takes the form of a single pivot with a rocker link driving the shock, and has a concentric pivot around the rear axle to tune braking characteristics.

Devinci claims the eMTB-optimized suspension of the E-Troy Lite is very sensitive for small bump compliance, and so far this is proving to be true. The eMTB tune aims to keep the suspension active during acceleration to retain traction on the rear tire under high torque, letting riders put the power down effectively.

MODERN TRAIL GEOMETRY | Devinci selected the geometry of the E-Troy Lite to provide a well-balanced, all-round trail performance. A Slack 63.6° Head Tube Angle gives good steering stability and confidence. A 77.6° Seat Tube Angle gives a seating position that balances steep terrain ability with rear tire traction.

Reach lengths grow by just 20mm per size, letting most riders between 160cm and 198cm (5’3” to 6’6”) get close to their sweet spot of fit. A size Large has a Reach of 481mm, which is paired with a 626mm Stack height. Chainstays are consistent across the size range, measuring in at a middling 438mm. The bottom bracket sits at a relatively low 346mm.

With a Wheelbase of 1264mm for the size Large we tested, it’s safe to say the E-Troy Lite has some purposeful and well-rounded geometry numbers.

E-TROY LITE BUILD SPECS | Devinci is offering the new E-Troy Lite in a choice of three build specs initially. These begin with the $5,499 USD NX build and top out at the $7,399 GX AXS T-Type build. We were provided with the $6,399 GX mechanical build, which feels to offer very solid value and dependable performance.

Suspension duties are handled by Fox’s Performance Elite level 36 fork and Float X shock combination, offering solid adjustability and performance. The fork has adjustable High and Low Speed Compression and Rebound, and the shock has Low Speed Compression and Rebound adjustments with a climb switch.

SRAM provides a GX Eagle 12-speed mechanical drivetrain, with the single-click eMTB shifter that’s a welcome sight. SRAM’s CODE Bronze brakeset provides dependable stopping power with its 220mm front and 200mm rear rotors.

Raceface’s Turbine alloy handlebar and Aeffect R30 wheelset should offer dependable performance. The wheels are wrapped in an excellent Maxxis Assegai EXO and Minion DHR2 EXO+ tire combo. While we would have liked to see burlier tire casings, so far this Maxxis pairing has held up amicably.

An SDG Tellis dropper post topped with a Bel-Air V3 MAX eMTB saddle rounds out a solid overall build spec.

THE WOLF’S FIRST IMPRESSION

As with all of our Tech Check features, this is not intended to be a long-term review of the new Devinci E-Troy Lite. So far we’ve logged two solid rides to get an initial impression, but you’ll have to wait a couple of months before we get enough saddle time on this new SL eMTB to give a final verdict as to its performance.

From the get-go, the E-Troy lite has been an easy machine to get along with, though we’re still working on getting the suspension setup dialed in perfectly. Even so, preliminary testing has yielded an energetic and fun ride both up and down the hill. We’ve been encouraged to push the boundaries of our abilities on the local trails, as you may notice in the riding footage.

The Bosch SX system is one of our favorite lightweight eBike systems on the market currently. It does have a unique feeling though, which demands a different approach to pedaling in order to unlock its full potential. Where most systems are optimized to give power in the 80-100 rpm cadence range, the Bosch SX system comes alive above 100 rpm and up to around 120 rpm. This typically means gearing down and spinning the legs faster than you might be used to. If you’re able to do so, you get an impressive 600W peak power. This makes the E-Troy Lite feel just as fast as a full-power eMTB, if not faster. The Devinci’s geometry and suspension platform let you harness the Bosch SX motor’s power effectively, making for a spritely climbing E-machine.

On the way down the hill, the E-Troy Lite is proving to be a riot thus far. The geometry strikes a good blend between agility and stability. The fairly compact rear end lets you get onto the back wheel easily and whip around tighter sections of trail. This is countered by the slack Head Angle, which adds stability to the steering and inspires attacking the trail. There were a few occasions where we struggled to weight the front wheel aggressively enough in the loose sand of the High Desert, but otherwise the geometry was comfortable and well suited to Devinci’s intentions with the bike.

Value is an area where the E-Troy Lite ranks well in our books. With Lifetime Warranty on the Made-In-Canada frame and a well-selected build, the $6,399 price tag feels reasonable. The finish quality leaves little to be desired, too, with the details all covered well.

We’re excited to keep this bike in our test fleet for its long-term review, as so far it’s feeling like a solid all-round SL eMTB.

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Why there’s literally never been a better time to buy an electric bike

It’s right there in the title. Having followed the electric bicycle industry for 15 years and running, I can pretty much guarantee you that there has never been a better time than right now to buy an e-bike. Here are the top three reasons why.

E-bike prices are at all-time lows

It’s true, essentially every single electric bike brand in North America (and many in Europe) have some amazing deals right now. Companies are slashing prices right and left , creating some incredible opportunities for riders.

There are several underlying reasons for the drop in prices, but most of them relate to overstock situations caused by pandemic ordering sprees. When e-bikes turned into one of the surprise winners of the COVID-19 pandemic, all of the major e-bike companies rushed to build more bikes. At the same time, new e-bike brands sprung up to sink their own shovel into the gold rush. It took a while for that manufacturing to spool up, but it resulted in record amounts of new e-bikes heading our way.

Sales are still decently strong but certainly have dipped from the e-bike rush in the year or two following the pandemic. Now, those companies’ warehouses are all overstocked as they compete with each other and all of the new little import companies to get those existing e-bikes into customers’ hands. That’s resulted in some killer deals floating around right now.

For example, you can still get a Brose-powered mid-drive e-bike for just $1,995 with the Ride1Up Prodigy. That’s a German-made mid-drive motor with other quality parts sprinkled around the bike for good measure, wrapped up in a package that costs the same as what many basic hub motor e-bikes used to cost just a few years ago (and at a fraction of what the other Brose-powered e-bikes used to cost). For a more minimalist ride, the company’s lightweight, single-speed Roadster V2 e-bike is now priced  at just $895 , while its Gates belt drive and gravel-focused cousin, the Roadster V2 Gravel, comes in  at an incredibly reasonable $1,295 .

Other companies have some impressive deals as well. Aventon is giving out a free second battery with most of its models, including its $1,799 abound electric cargo bike . Speaking of cargo e-bikes, Lectric’s XPedition is still an amazing deal at just $1,475 for an unbelievable amount of utility and value – plus that price includes a pile of free accessories. Rad has lowered its folding RadExpand 5 down to just $1,299 , which matches the new sale price of another fun minimalist e-bike, the $1,299 Juiced RipRacer .

Basically, everyone’s prices are as low or lower than they’ve nearly ever been, and it’s a great time to take advantage of those deals.

More incentives are stacking up

Another great reason to buy an e-bike now is that there’s never been more local and state-level incentives. Cities, counties, and state governments around the US are rolling out new incentive programs that can take hundreds or even thousands of dollars off the price of a new electric bike.

As more of the US awakens to the benefits of electric bikes, from reducing city traffic to reducing healthcare costs and improving quality of life, cities have been creating evermore incentives to make these e-bikes more affordable.

Famous programs like Denver’s e-bike rebate have gotten a lot of press, but hundreds of smaller programs are spread around the US. With a little luck, your city or state might have its own e-bike rebate program you can take advantage of to combine with current sale prices to snag an absolutely killer deal.

E-bikes are increasingly common commuter tools

E-bikes were once the travel choice of early adopters, eschewing their cars for a quirky new alternative. But that was years ago, and these days they’ve become so normal that many cities have begun investing much more heavily in cycling infrastructure to keep up with the booming number of e-bike riders.

This isn’t true across the board (please spare me the “not in my city!” comments below this article), but on average, more bike lanes are being added than ever before.

North America isn’t going to mimic the Netherlands anytime soon, and cars will still likely be the dominant form of transportation in the US for decades to come. But the ratio is shifting as the United States slowly moves towards the standards of developed countries in regards to cycling infrastructure and safety.

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Micah Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery nerd, and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling books DIY Lithium Batteries , DIY Solar Power,   The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide  and The Electric Bike Manifesto .

The e-bikes that make up Micah’s current daily drivers are the $999 Lectric XP 2.0 , the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2 , the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission , and the $3,299 Priority Current . But it’s a pretty evolving list these days.

You can send Micah tips at [email protected], or find him on Twitter , Instagram , or TikTok .

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