As electric bikes gain popularity and new brands enter the market, choosing the best model for you can seem daunting. Shopping for a standard human-powered bike is already a complex process of sifting through specs and comparing components. Electric bikes — with their batteries, motors, and throttles — give potential buyers with a lot to consider. At a price tag of $3,500, the Globe Haul LT comes with a rear rack, a durable and easy-to-use double kickstand, and integrated lights. The options our tester enjoyed on our test model were the passenger seat ($60), the rear wheel cover ($40), the adjustable cargo rail ($275), and the Cool Cave Pannier ($60).
All Specialized bikes come with a handy and easy-to-use app called Mission Control. The app tells you all the usual information (range, power, and total trip miles), but what we loved the most was it told us how efficiently we were using the motor. Through this, you can activate an alarm if the bike is moved that only the owner can disable and you can also disable the motor so that it does not function at all.
All of the nonessentials are cut away to decrease weight and maximize in-motion mechanics. Also known as PAS (pedal assist system) pedal assist combines the active engagement of traditional cycling with the commuting efficiency of an electric scooter. Ultimately, a bike’s range entirely depends on how much the rider pedals.
Front or dual suspension lets you ride over rough terrain while mountain tires provide the grip and stability you’re looking for. It has the usual seven-position height adjustment as well as the 3-in-1 functionality to mulch, rear bag, or side discharge clippings. Then there is the RadRunner Plus Utility e-bike for $1,599 shipped, down from $1,799 and coming with the same free extra battery deal. Equipped with the same 750W motor and 672Wh battery, it can match the RadExpand 5’s speed and mileage (doubled with the extra battery too). Its five levels of normal pedal assistance are joined by a bonus zero level for manual pedaling (if you want to get in some cardio).
To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear. In 1990, Schwinn committed to importing a line of complete bikes under the Paramount name for the 1991 model year.
However, after seeing the way it transformed family rides for friends, we’re excited to try them out. Safety is paramount, especially during late rides with precious cargo. Our tester often rode in the dark with her kids, especially during the fall months.
The Hub Duo ($2,250) is a bike that can go just about anywhere (and can keep going just about anywhere for a long time). We reviewed the option with 4-inch fat bike tires (also available with narrower MTB tires) and were blown away by the versatility. Input the easy-to-engage and easy-to-reach hydraulic disc brakes. Our friends say their kids can schwinn mountain bicycles stop on any hill, no matter the steepness or wetness. We envision the State 6061 being right at home in a big city like San Francisco or Portland with fitted jeans and messenger bags as its only accessories. For those looking for a well-made but simple electric bike they can get on with nothing but a backpack and go, this is the bike for them.
It has a carbon belt drive, integrated pedal kickstand, asymmetrical single-sided front fork (easiest flat tire change ever) integrated lights, and beautiful detailing throughout. The bike is big, though, and saddling up feels a bit more like getting onto a light-duty motorcycle than any other electric bike in our test. Biktrix does make a step-through model for those who are smaller, but even the step-through is a “big” bike not suited to smaller riders under 5’6” or so. The tires are good for pavement or moderate dirt and gravel and absorbed the occasional bumps in the road, but the rigid fork means the ride gets a bit harsh on rougher paths and pothole-ridden streets. With the bike weighing in at less than 40 pounds, it’s easy to bring it upstairs or put it on a bike rack. The small LED screen is equipped with all of the important information and nothing more, adding another non-descriptive yet slick feature to its list.