Bikes in this class offer storage for standard day-to-day errands. With the right cargo electric bike, you can make a run to the grocery store, pick up your laundry, and even take your kid to school. Just like regular bicycles, electric bikes come in a variety of styles, each with a different kind of rider in mind. Every bike is built for an intended application, which in turn dictates its components and design. Some bikes — like the Specialized Turbo Vado SL — cross the boundaries and exist in multiple categories simultaneously.
Just like the Specialized Levo, the AM1000 is a mixed-wheel bike. The similarities continue with the Frey’s 160mm front and rear suspension, slack 65-degree headtube angle, and integrated dropper seatpost. In truth, it’s a bit more like a light-duty electric dirt bike you can pedal. If Tesla or Lucid got into the electric bike game, this would be the bar they were trying to reach. The Ride bike ($7,495) is a unique carbon fiber frame with fully automatic shifting, thanks to the rare Enviolo SP AutomatIQ.
The bike isn’t as comfortable as some of the other models we tested, factoring in tires, budget suspension fork, and seat. If you’re looking for something super high-tech or with more features for commuting, we recommend the Vado SL, ET Cycles F1000, or Ride Radiant Carbon. We found even after a long weekend of touring around the city, including a 10-mile ride down our tester’s city bike path, there was still a charge left. The Coston CE has a 35-mile range, according to Schwinn, but our guess is this would require using one of the lower assist levels and laying off the throttle. Aggressive joyriding would likely see the battery depleted after 25 miles.
Whether a 4′ 10″ or 6′ 4″ rider, the easy-to-adjust telescoping seatpost and quill stem make this bike accessible and enjoyable for people of varying heights. If you’re in the market for an electric mountain bike, you can’t do better than the Turbo Levo Alloy ($5,800). It turns you into a mountain-biking superhero while still demanding you develop mountain-biking skills. It’s both nimble and forgiving, plush and stable, and all-around fun. On the website, it says the Vado SL can go up to 28 mph for 80 miles.
It seems to jump into “full power” as soon as the sensor triggers the motor to start. This bike is tons of fun, but we’d hesitate to let inexperienced folks ride this bike as it can be a bit more intense for beginners than your standard electric bike. The seat stays and frame design offer enough compliance and comfort for all-day riding on a firm, aluminum frame. This Schwinn mountain bike is available in small, medium, and large, all with 27.5-inch wheels.
For context, a 150-pound person can get by with a 500W electric bike equipped with a 36V 15 Ah battery for personal commuting use on moderate terrain. And wow — a 100-mile range and a darkness-banishing light that never (well at least until the bike does) runs out of batteries! Throw some panniers on the rack and a front roll on the handlebars — the Juggernaut Duo is ready.
However, for everyday commutes to the office or grocery store, it’s a bonafide vehicle replacement. For $1,000, the Coston offers the basics as well as a sturdy mongoose bmx ride. It even has frame lighting, which is a nifty feature absent in all our other test bikes and increases your ability to be noticed by motorists at night.