Honorable Mentions
Photograph: Adrienne So
Radio Flyer Via Pro for $2,599: Editor Julian Chokkattu could not have had a better experience than this easy-to-use and easy-to-assemble class 2 electric cargo bike. For more info, check out our guide to the Best Electric Cargo Bikes.
Aventon Ramblas for $2,899: Aventon made a mountain bike! It’s a lot of bike for an affordable price, but just a little too heavy to take it out for its intended use case.
Linus eDutchi for $1,799: Need a comfy cruiser? The Linus eDutchi is a comfy class 1 ebike with beautiful colors and loads of proprietary accessories.
Photograph: Electra
Electra Loft Go! for $1,400: I also love the Electra Loft Go!, which is another comfy sit-up beach cruiser, but the Priority has a slightly more powerful motor for the same price.
Xtracycle Estoker for $4,499: This is probably the bike that I see most often in my Portland, Oregon, neighborhood. It has a durable, sturdy Chromoly steel frame and larger 24-inch wheels along with a Shimano mid-drive motor that make it perfect for more grueling conditions. Unfortunately, you do have to be over 5’6″ (which I am not) to ride it.
Gazelle Eclipse for $5,999: If you want to know just how great the Bosch system can be, the Eclipse (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the more expensive version of the Radster Road above. It has a nicer shifter, a smarter motor—even the paint job is nicer. It is much more expensive, however.
Heybike Tyson for $1,599: You get a lot of stuff for not very much money with this fat-tire, folding ebike (6/10, WIRED Review), including suspension, blinkers, a throttle, and one of the most obnoxious horns I’ve ever heard. The components are not super-high-quality, but it’s an affordable, comfortable way to dip your toes into ebike waters.
The Gocycle G4I+ for $5,999: Gocycle’s high-end, fast-folding luxury bikes are designed by a former McLaren engineer. This quieter, lighter iteration has better torque, a new carbon-fiber front fork, and an even more painful price.
The Bunch Original Electric Cargo Bike for $5,799: I didn’t care for the Bunch, but my family did. It’s a standard if slightly expensive, box bike as you might see in Europe. It’ll work well if you live in a flat area and don’t have to go very fast.
Bikes We Dislike
Pass on the left.
Photograph: Civilized Cycles
Niu Electric Bike BQi-C3 Pro for $2,199: Commerce director Martin Cizmar tested this bike and had a litany of complaints. The riding position is too aggressive, and the bike frame doesn’t fit common components like a water bottle and his pannier. The disc brakes weren’t suited to stopping it from 28 mph.
The Civilized Cycle ($4,999): This bike can carry a full-grown person on the back and is a good option for people who want a Vespa-like style without having to get a scooter license (7/10, WIRED Review). However, it doesn’t fit anyone shorter than 5′ 10″. Ooohkay.
The Retrospec Jax Rev ($1,000): We wanted to love this sleek, stylish folding bike, but we couldn’t help worrying about its durability.
