Whizzing down a hill with the wind in your hair is what makes the climb worthwhile. But why tire your thighs when you can ascend with electrical assistance? The best electric bikes offer freewheeling fun with less sweaty pedalling.
And if you’re looking for a two-wheeled steed to get you from A to B with a boost, this is the list you need. From city whizzers to trail blazers, we’ve tested all of the top battery-powered bicycles – enduring the saddle sores and dodgy lycra so you don’t have to.
Whether you want an effortless everyday commute or a wilder ride through the woods, you’ll find your ideal e-bike below. But power doesn’t protect you from heckling, so zoom past a peloton at your own peril.
Looking for something a little more lightweight for zipping around town? Read Stuff’s guide to the best electric scooters.
Our pick of the best electric bikes
VanMoof S6
- Buy the VanMoof S6 here for £3098 (no US sales)
The original poster child for stealthy, tech-centric e-bikes is back with a point to prove. VanMoof’s first all-new model under new ownership keeps what worked – the ultra-minimalist design, the slickly integrated equipment, the handy boost button – but tackles almost everything that didn’t.
This new bike shifts more smoothly, levels up its smart features in useful ways and is easier to service. That makes the S6 the new king of laid-back leisure rides and city commutes.
Estarli E-cargo Longtail L20 2.0
When you think of an electric cargo bike, you might picture those bulky bucket-loaders you quite often see in cities. But the Estarli L20 2.0 is quite the opposite. A longtail by design, so the bulk of the cargo sits behind the rider, it’s actually fairly compact considering its class-leading 250kg maximum carrying weight. This one has a newly designed frame and a price that makes a Nissan Micra look extravagant. You can choose between several ‘packages’ depending on what sort of riding you’ll be doing, and on who or what you want to carry.
I was pleasantly surprised at how easy the bike was to manoeuvre, in terms of both getting it in and out of the house and setting off when carrying loads. The motor is an Estarli-branded mid-drive that offers up to 110Nm of torque, and this is paired with either a 600Wh or820Wh battery to ensure plenty of mileage from a charge. One thing I really like about this model is the Enviolo gear hub. You can change gears easily even when standing still, by using the grip shift. It offers a wide range of gearing too. I found the power delivery smooth and reliable, so there was no lurching forward at traffic lights or unpredictable power surging through the pedals. Installation of the rear and front carrying systems was easy.
This feels like the ultimate electric cargo package for those wanting to ditch the car and take the kids out in a fun and eco-friendly way.
Canyon Grizl:ONfly CF Daily
The Grizl:ONfly is just as much at home as a commuter steed as it is on the rough stuff. It’s got a laid-back riding position and it comes with mudguards, integrated lighting and a rear rack as standard.
Canyon’s adventure and race bike pedigree shines through in the cockpit and way it can carve through gravel tracks, a tough carbon frame that keeps weight impressively low for an electric bike, and a reliable Shimano gearset that lets you be the one putting in the most effort when the terrain isn’t too taxing.
Whyte ELyte 140 Works
As you’d expect from a bike that costs as much as a decent second-hand car, the ELyte 140 Works is jam-packed with top-end components and features. So the carbon fibre frame has been designed around keeping the flagship Bosch Performance Line SX motor, 400Wh battery and drop-in range extender as balanced with the frame’s centre of gravity as possible.
Whyte is a British firm, so this bike is also prepared for unpredictable climates, with various weather-sealed and treated parts to maximise their lifespan – plus a lifetime warranty in case they do need changing.
From the frame geometry to the suspension to the motor, this is the best electric mountain bike I’ve ever ridden. I felt right at home from the very start – no need to faff around with grips or saddles – and at just 16.4kg it’s agile and easy to throw around. The drive system is also fantastic. All the components behave exactly as you’d expect: the wireless shifting never misses a beat, the brakes are ultra-grippy even in the wet, and the Fox suspension offers ace performance with air cartridges that are easy to tune.
Carrera Subway E
Halfords is widely known for more affordable bikes, and its own-brand Carrera range is no different. This particular model has been popular for several years, regularly receiving updates to keep it up to date with e-bike developments – and often dips below the £1000 price point.
The Subway E is designed as an electric hybrid bike. This means it will comfortably tackle light gravel, towpaths and some bridleways as well as road riding. It’s a robust machine that doesn’t come with all the features of a more expensive bike, but what it does include is the important stuff that makes riding it a pleasure. First up is the SR Suntour rear hub motor. While it’s not the most powerful drive system in the world, it offers up to 40Nm of torque and peak power of 400W. For most riders who aren’t tackling really steep inclines, that’s more than enough.
The battery is a removable 317Wh job that’s externally mounted. It’s not the prettiest of things but it’s functional, and it is easy to take off for charging away from the bike. The Shimano 9-speed gearing is easy to use, and the e-bike system is intuitive. It doesn’t feel
cluttered with things you don’t really need on an e-bike. For quick trips to the shops or cafe, or even taking the scenic route to work, it’s an option I certainly recommend. Note that the Subway E comes with a rigid fork but wide enough tyres to tackle some light off-road riding.
Fiido Nomads Pro
The Nomads Pro is a wonderfully honest electric bike that’s built to tackle a range of scenarios, from casual commuting to long-distance adventures over mixed terrain.
The frame is aluminium alloy, with welds that are almost seamless at the top. The downtube is so thick that it’s very obviously an e-bike, but it is a sharp-looking one. The chunky tyres cope easily with loose gravel and dusty trails. The air-suspension fork really helps swallow a lot of vibrations and bumps, while having the motor in the middle really helps with weight distribution. The brakes are effective too.
It’s not quite as slick or advanced as the best I’ve ridden recently: it quickly adapts to your choice of nine gears, smoothly selected using mechanical shifters on the flat handlebar, but the way the motor kicks in can make for slightly lurchy progress, particularly in the higher gears. The weight means I’d definitely want to bring an extra battery on a long trek, but the powerful motor ensures you’re never short of assistance.
Gocycle G4i
With a former McLaren designer behind the brand, it’s little wonder that GoCycle’s pricey foldaway looks like nothing else on the road. And if you strip back the fourth iteration, you’ll find two key improvements: carbon-fibre forks and a torquier motor. Stumping up for this ‘i’ version also bags you a bigger battery, glitzy LED dash, front light bar and electronic shifting.
Acceleration from the 250W powertrain is instantaneous. It’s unnervingly silent as well, with no electrical whirring to speak of. Which means you can stealthily speed past fellow pedallers. The ride is incredibly smooth, too. Slicker tyres roll easy without sacrificing asphalt grip, even if they stop for you from tackling surfaces rougher than a well-laid gravel track.
GoCycle reckons you’ll need just 10 seconds to fold the G4i, a number that’s entirely achievable with a bit of practice. Four light modes assist with visibility during the day, with the dash display helpfully indicating which mode you’re in. GoCycle now bundles mudguards and night lights as standard – which is good, given the eye-watering price.
Ribble Hybrid AL e
This Ribble is no riddle. A more affordable alternative to many of the bank-breaking ebikes in this list, it focuses on nailing the basics, without faffing with fancy extras. So there’s no suspension, no integrated computer, no lights and no extra controls: it’s a one-button operator, and all the better for it. Even the partner app isn’t strictly necessary.
This approach is reflected in how fun the Ribble is to ride without assistance. Despite its sporty stance, the AL e is a real easy rider, offering a smooth and stable feel on the road. If the way isn’t steep, you shouldn’t struggle to pedal without power. And it’s even more of a breeze with the assistance gently boosting you.
Switching between power levels takes a little practice with the single button. You’ll also need to familiarise yourself with the LED colour coding of each function to understand remaining battery life. But once you’ve got the hang, this versatile steed proves itself a fantastically accessible all-rounder.
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0
Disguised as a standard hybrid, a slightly tubby down tube is the only hint that this Specialized cycle has an electric secret. Less subtle is the price tag, which requires that the Vado deliver the goods. And while it might not be obvious from a distance, that’s exactly what it does.
Upright and slightly sporty, the Vado SL 5.0 benefits from a streamlined chassis that’s relatively light at less than 15kg. Paired with a 240W motor, those factors make it a speedy steed off the line, allowing you to outgun analogue rivals at every traffic light. Racier riders can also use their thighs to power past the 15.5mph assisted limit.
Simple handlebar controls let you manage power levels, with a shortcut to maximum boost if you hit an unexpected hill. You can further tweak these modes through the Mission Control app, in case you feel the Peak Power percentage isn’t quite delivering. Integrated lights keep you seen if you’re out after dark, while Future Shock suspension reduces buzz from the road, without disconnecting you completely.
Ribble Endurance SL e Pro
Using the same Mahle motor and battery system as the excellent Hybrid AL, Ribble’s Endurance SL e Pro wraps it up with lashings of carbon and a helping of high-end components. The result is an 11.5kg performance package. While serious cyclists will still shudder at that number, it’s seriously light for an ebike – something which you really appreciate when you pick it up.
Carbon weight-saving, aero tech and wire-free shifting give the Endurance a sleek look. It’ll be right at home on the club scene, fooling fellow riders into thinking it’s a standard cycle. Hidden in plain sight, a small control button and marginally enlarged rear hub are the only hints at its electric status. So your peloton pals will be gobsmacked when you drop them on the first climb.
An irregular profile makes it tricky to fit accessories to the handlebars, but at least the motor will make up for any wattage lost due to drag. Sharp lines, deep wheels and stiff carbon add up to a very quick and nimble number that smashes past the 15.5mph limit as easily as the Manx Missile.
