This budget-friendly bike surpassed several more expensive models in our review, earning it a top rating. With a powerful 750W motor, this Class 3 model accelerates quickly up to 20 mph with the throttle and as fast as 28 mph using pedal assist. The sleek and stylish frame includes a 614 Wh battery that provides a respectable range. The 27.5-inch wheels are fast, and the high-volume tires offer a smooth ride with vibration damping. It has a comfortable position, adjustable seat height, and quality seat and grips. Additionally, the bike is available (ST/step-thru and XR/step-over) frame styles.
The tight turning radius allows for good maneuverability, and the bike never felt unsafe. Though it folds into a compact package, it’s quite heavy at 62.5 lbs, so lifting it into a trunk or carrying it up a flight of stairs can be difficult. All that said, this value-oriented foldable model is a great option for anyone short on storage or seeking a compact e-bike. Standover height is essentially the distance between the top tube and the ground at the point where you stand over the bar. This is an important measurement to get right because you’ll want some space between your groin and the bar when you hop off the seat.
They often have quick power output and may operate at higher speeds to keep up with city traffic. Depending on your commute length, you may want to look for a commuter bike with a larger battery to boost the range you can travel. Our testing process varies depending on what style of e-bike we are testing, but some of the most important metrics include ride quality, range, user interface, and power output. We go into huffy mountain bike the finer details for specific categories, evaluating downhill and climbing performance for mountain bikes, carrying capacity for cargo bikes, and folded size for folding e-bikes. In addition to miles of methodical testing on and off the pavement, we load, fold, pop wheelies, and drop into steep lines on these bikes. We ride each one long enough to become familiar with it and find its best and worst attributes.
Fortunately, they also
cool off relatively quickly, but it’s something to keep an eye on during long descents. It may also be worth
mentioning to your burgeoning roadster as he or she is learning the basics of hand braking. Tires were a slight issue due to riding the bike on trails that are littered with debris and sharp objects that may cause frustration when they get lodged into your tire. While tires were a normal wear-and-tear thing (as the bike was ridden nearly daily over the span of time I had it, as long as the weather was good), the bike started having other issues. One of the first issues I had with this bike was a flat tire after my grandfather massively overinflated (and blew) a tire with his air compressor.
They are easier to pump and attach, and will pump your tires up much
quicker than a hand pump will. Some come with gauges, which eliminate 1) the need to switch back and forth
between a pump and standalone gauge, or 2) if you’re really lazy, outright guesswork. These bikes usually come from the factory with all bearings too tight. The end of the Superia came when things were starting to (literally) fall apart. The pedals, which were made of cheap plastic to begin with, finally cracked and broke to pieces while riding. I rode the Superia without pedals (just with the rod that would’ve connected the pedal to the crankshaft) for some time, but I found that wore out my shoes (and feet) in quick succession.
If you’re looking at a road bike and you don’t know what size it is, start by measuring the seat tube, as that will give you a good ballpark idea. We have been testing different styles of bikes since 2017, but our team of bike experts has been riding for much longer. Kyle Smaine is a South Lake Tahoe native and has had access to some of the area’s best bike trails from a young age. Our selection of specialist mountain bikes will have you champing at the bit to get out on two wheels. From adrenaline-inducing hardtail mountain bikes to downhill mountain bikes for gnarly terrain where speed’s the aim of the game, we’ve got you covered. Made for demanding, off-road landscapes, mountain bikes are all about durability and impact and are well-equipped for downhills, forest trails, single tracks and unpaved areas.
As mountain bike design evolved, manufacturers were able to find more capable performance with different tube lengths and angles. With longer, more sloped top tubes and dropper post-ready designs (and more variations across brands), the seat tube is no longer the best way to approximate a bike’s size. Road bikes will often use measurements in centimeters to denote frame sizes.