The Best E-Bikes of 2024

The motto “innovate or die” has been guiding Specialized’s ship for the past three decades. So it’s no wonder their e-bikes are some of the best, sleekest, and most inventive in the industry.

Most commuter bikes are clunky, heavy, and cumbersome. The Vado SL 4.0 ($3,500), however, is built to get on and go — and then get off again and carry up and down stairs, get on a subway, and go again. Weighing in at a mere 33 pounds, it’s one of the lightest e-commuters on the market.

The ride experience is smooth, fun, and zippy, seamlessly blending your power with the bike’s custom Specialized SL 1.1 custom motor.​​ Some bikes give you bursts of acceleration that interfere with your pedaling — not so with the Vado. It gives you boosts that keep your cadence smooth and steady. Every ride feels like at least a bit of a workout as the system just amplifies the power the rider is putting in. Proper gear selection on steep climbs is still essential — it just feels like you have stronger legs!

The components consist of Sram and Praxis, which are all high quality. The Tektro brakes stopped us smoothly and effectively. The chain is protected by a minimal chain guard, minimizing the need to oil it. At night we felt safe and seen thanks to the bright front and rear light. The front light was bright enough to let us see on some very dark gravel roads. While the rack is nice and slim, the carrying capacity is only rated for 50 pounds, but it handled a few days of groceries just fine.

At first glance, it’s hard to tell this is an e-bike, as everything is internal and streamlined. With a push of the button on the top tube, the bars light up and tell you how much power you have left. On the left handlebar, there is an up and down button that lets you scroll through the three different power modes: eco, sport, and turbo mode. On the right, you can easily shift through 12 different gears.

On the website, it says the Vado SL can go up to 28 mph for 80 miles. While we didn’t test this specifically, we rode it every day for an average of 8 miles and went between all of the modes depending on how fast we needed to get somewhere or how we were feeling that day. On a single charge, it lasted 5 days. If you need more range, there is an option to get a range extender. To charge it back to full capacity, it only took 2 and a half hours, which is on the faster end.

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. People who live in big cities will love the security measure. 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.

Maintenance-wise, this bike is low-key. Besides oiling the chain and updating the battery through the app, it requires little upkeep. This bike is perfect for running quick errands and commuting to and from work and or school. We think it’s the best e-bike available.

The Schwinn Coston CE step-thru ($1,000) strikes a great balance of quality and affordability. It’s a step-through style electric bike perfect for daily use, casual riding, and commuting. After months of testing, we found it one of the best models in terms of simplicity, user interface, and budget.

There is one computer and display unit mounted to the left handlebar, which allows riders to turn the e-bike on and off, view current and average speed, battery life, and throttle for assist up to 20 mph. With this bike, you can use either the pedal assist or throttle assist.

The battery charges via a standard AC charging cord. 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.

For $1,000, this electric bike offers the basics as well as a sturdy ride. The battery life, range, and integrated lighting are great. 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.

The bike isn’t as comfortable as some of the other e-bikes 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.

If you’re in the market for an e-mtb, 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.

Just like the Vado, it has an incredibly natural ride feel — but with way more power. The 90 Nm of torque makes short work of climbs even our world champion’s legs can’t conquer.

Top-end features include a flip chip and headset spacers that create an adjustable geometry to suit your riding style, a premium dropper post, and the mission control app. The latter allows the rider to tune the power delivery as well as set a ride range, ensuring the bike will manage power for the entire distance and not leave you stranded with a heavy, powerless machine.

Another noteworthy design element is the Turbo Levo’s mixed-wheel design with a 27.5″ wheel in the back and a 29″ up front. This innovative mismatch improves maneuverability and carving ability — though it does take some getting used to.

If you love dirt and want to extend your range but don’t want a gas-guzzling dirtbike, the Specialized Turbo Levo might be the best e-bike for you.

While the ET Cycle F1000 ($1,800) is a major investment, it’s one of the less expensive options and one of the easiest to put together. The time between its arrival (in a reasonably sized box) and riding away on it was less than 2 minutes. The folding design is intuitive — click, click, and away you go. However, at 75 pounds, it’s on the heavy side. You may need a friend to help hoist it into the back of a car.

Note: Make sure you check all the bolts on the stem and headset as ours were loose and made that first ride exciting.

The power delivery is more aggressive than any other bike we tested, so be ready. It seems to jump into “full power” as soon as the sensor triggers the motor to start. It also stays on longer once you stop pedaling. 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 e-bike.

The German-made Das kit G20 rim motor is ultra-powerful. With a torque rating of 60 Nm and a peak of 750 watts, it got nicknamed the “Motor Bike” in our tester’s household. The ET comes with a throttle, which is nice for accelerating quickly when at a stoplight with cars.

We may have gotten a little too “trigger happy” with it, as we never did make it close to the website claim of 125 miles before having to charge it. However, like most e-bikes, the portable battery is easy to pop off and charge overnight. And the big display in the middle of the handlebars has all the necessary numbers on it, so we were well aware of the battery life before it got too low.

Beyond the ability to fold up and how quick and easy the setup was, we were also impressed with what kind of terrain the 4-inch tires could plow through. We rolled over 2-inch-deep sand, rutted-out gravel roads, and city roads with ease and comfort. It comes stock with a suspension fork and a suspension seat which adds a bit of “bounce” and intensifies the fast and loose feel of the ride. It’s finished with nice leather hand grips and a rack on the rear and the front.

The ET Cycle F1000 is great for beach riding and people who aren’t interested in getting a workout. It’s more of a hybrid between a bike and a moped. However, for those looking for a beefier commuter or beach cruiser that can go over any terrain, this is a great option.

Frugal Hipsters and single-speed bike lovers rejoice — State’s first e-bike is here! The affordable State 6061 eBike Commuter ($1,300) quickly stole our simplicity-loving hearts. From unboxing it to riding it for the first time, our experience has been enjoyable. There are no racks or clunky exterior batteries, no gears, and no throttle. Instead, it looks like a regular bike as both the battery and motor are slim and integrated into the bottom tube/crank area.

While this bike appeals to minimalists, it still has all the important and slick features. The battery is thin and is fully integrated into the down tube, making it hard to tell if it’s an e-bike. However, it does prevent the battery from being removed. This isn’t an issue for riders with an outlet in their garage, but some people may have to get creative with how they recharge it.

There’s no throttle and no gears, but the hub motor can achieve speeds up to 20 mph with the help of pedal power and five different modes. Since this is a single-speed, riding this bike does take some work. It takes a second for the cadence sensor to kick in the motor, and this can be especially hard if you’re starting on an uphill from a standstill. Even as avid bikers, we had more difficulty getting going on this bike than others in the test.

At level one, the lowest mode, State says you can get 100 miles out of it. But the range will be more like 20 miles if using the max assist of level five. The bike has more traditional sizing, so take care to get the best frame size for your measurements.

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.

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 e-bike they can get on with nothing but a backpack and go, this is the bike for them. Single-speeders, simplicity lovers, and people not looking to spend a fortune will love this bike.

The Specialized Globe Haul LT’s ($3,500) most impressive trait is its versatility. When deployed properly, this bike easily replaces a small car. It comfortably transports three passengers alongside cargo with a 441-pound total. During a delightful trip to the local river beach, the LT Global Specialized E-Cargo bike accommodated a full set of towels, sand toys, and a picnic dinner, all while ensuring a safe and enjoyable ride.

We realize there are several Specialized bikes on this list. We don’t have any particular allegiance to the California-based brand — it just continues to crank out stellar products in a variety of categories.

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 bike’s 1,500-lumen light with three different modes provided excellent visibility, ensuring a well-lit journey.

Even with a full passenger load and gear, the bike handles well, making it a reliable choice for daily use. The Globe Haul LT offers a remarkably smooth ride. The user-friendly experience extended to its adjustability, accommodating riders of different heights. 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.

While the Specialized Globe Haul LT occupies a slightly larger garage space than traditional e-bikes, its unparalleled carrying capacity and robust 700W rear hub motor with throttle made up for it. With a top speed of 28 miles per hour, reaching destinations quickly was no problem. The throttle added extra safety and confidence, especially when tackling hills or navigating stop-and-go riding environments.

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). She feels these are all worthy additions to help carry everyone and everything for a full day of family adventure.

When it comes to kids’ bikes, WOOM has it figured out. From the well-thought-out geometry to the weight to the genius of putting a single front brake on their balance bike, its bikes have impressed us and many other parents and kids out there time and time again. It makes sense their new e-bike, the UP ($3,800), is quickly becoming popular.

At first, we were a little hesitant and not so sure about an e-bike for kids. Won’t it make them lazy? After having an e-bike, won’t they then always want an e-bike? However, after seeing the way it transformed family rides for friends, we’re excited to try them out.

Before getting the UP, our friends would split up their family riding times. One parent would spend the day riding with the kids on the lower trails, while the other parent would ride high up into the mountain trails. They would all meet at the bottom when everyone was done. While this is fun in its own way, with their kids on the UPs, the whole family is able to ride much longer as a whole unit.

It’s also changed the way they commute around town. Now the kids are able to ride longer distances to go to their different activities and actually prefer it over getting a ride in the car. And they still do reach for their traditional bikes for shorter rides and rides with friends.

The Fazua drive system is super slick and offers three different levels of pedal assist as well as an option to ride without it. Thanks to the lightness of the combined motor and battery unit integrated into the downtube, it’s possible to ride without any assist and requires no maintenance (our favorite part).

Another plus is at speeds upwards of 12 mph, the motor assist switches off and allows the rider to take over with their own power. For safety reasons, we like having the top end lower than other e-bikes because, well, it’s a kid’s bike. No parent wants their 7-year-old being able to go up or down any trail at 20 mph! The Sram NX drivetrain and trigger shifter make shifting between the 11 gears smooth, natural, and efficient-feeling, even for the smallest 7-year-old thumbs.

The WOOM UP is made of forged aluminum, making it both lightweight and durable. The creative flip-flop design of the stem (which is our favorite feature) lets the bike grow with your kids. Simply flip the stem over, which raises the handlebars, making it more comfortable and giving your kid another year or two with their awesome bike!

With more power comes the need for stronger stopping power. Input the easy-to-engage and easy-to-reach hydraulic disc brakes. Our friends say their kids can stop on any hill, no matter the steepness or wetness.

Of course, not every kid or family needs one of these. However, if you’re a biking family that wants to get out and ride some big trails together, or if your kid has a long commute to school, this bike may be your ticket to ride. And while $3,800 is very expensive for a kid’s bike, it’s able to grow with your child (to a certain extent). Non-electric WOOM bikes are well known for holding their resale value, so we’re hopeful this will be true for the UP as well.

The Engwe L20 is a step-through cargo bike with a ton of utility and an approachable price tag. At $1,000, the L20 is among the most capable cargo bikes in its price range. We’ve been riding it regularly for several months, and it continues to impress and perform without issue.

With fat tires and a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain, the L20 is ideal for mostly flat to moderately hilly terrain. It’s a heavy bike, and it’s not exactly built for steep climbs. However, for everyday commutes to the office or grocery store, it’s a bonafide vehicle replacement.

During testing, most of our rides on the L20 were 15 miles or less. In this range, the bike’s battery never came close to full depletion. On a few occasions, we did push the bike in an attempt to verify Engwe’s claimed range of 90 miles. Using midrange pedal assist modes, we managed around 40 miles of maximum range during our testing. Most e-bikes don’t live up to their manufacturer’s range claims in practice, and the L20 is no different.

Still, 40 miles is a decent stat for a hefty fat-tired cargo bike. The L20’s rear hub motor feels peppy and strong, and the simple display makes it easy to switch between pedal assist modes. We frequently rode over rolling hills, and we never had to overexert ourselves to get to our destination.

Uniquely, the L20’s removable battery is stored under the seat. It locks into place with ease, though it’s a bit difficult to remove and reinstall should you choose to charge the battery indoors. In our experience, the battery takes about seven hours to fully charge. We like that starting the bike requires a key — an added security feature for city dwellers.

All in all, the L20 is the perfect ride for casual cyclists looking for an affordable grocery-getter or a joy rider. It comes with two well-built racks, which provide tons of storage space. Some of the drivetrain and gearing components are a little on the cheap side, but the overall build quality is reasonable relative to the bike’s purpose and price tag. This bike would make a great gift for a short-distance commuter or retired family member.

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.

Beaches, moderate winter snow, gravel, singletrack — the Juggernaut handles it all. The heavy weight is matched by the thumb throttle which helps with standing starts when the bike is loaded. The Hub Duo is the lowest price tier of the Juggernaut line, with the main difference between them being the motor. And while sometimes hub motors get a bad rap, we found the 80 Nm of torque delivered by the Bafang 750W to be totally adequate for all the riding we did.

Furthermore, the power delivery is driven by a torque sensor (instead of a cadence sensor like the other two models) which makes the riding experience a more natural feeling in our opinion. Even our biggest riders (230 pounds) didn’t feel the motor was underpowered for our adventures.

The bike is finished with a basic 80mm suspension fork (with lockout), a large rear rack, and an integrated display interface that’s user-friendly and displays relevant information such as speed, distance, range, power level, etc.

The cornerstone of the Juggernaut “Duo” name is the ease of adding range through a second battery. During the bike purchase, there are several add-on options designed to turn the bike into a long-range adventure vehicle. We opted for the second battery and the 2,000-lumen integrated front light.

And wow — a 100-mile range and a darkness-banishing light that never (well at least until the bike does) runs out of batteries! Bikepacking anyone? Throw some panniers on the rack and a front roll on the handlebars — the Juggernaut Duo is ready.

The bike is big, though, and saddling up feels a bit more like getting onto a light-duty motorcycle than any other e-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.

Xtra Cycle’s Mission is “to use bikes as everyday transport and to ride together.” The Swoop ($5,000) embodies all of this and more. Our tester’s whole family fell in love with this bike for its comfortability (for both the riders and the passengers) and for all of the little things XtraCycle thought of to make it the perfect everyday grocery getter, kid hauler, and library book messenger.

On their first trip with this bike, our tester’s family rode it down to the outdoor climbing and splash park with a full picnic, a bag of climbing gear, towels, sun hats, and sunscreen. It handled the gear and the passengers with ease, making the whole experience enjoyable.

After a few weeks of having it, not a day went by when they didn’t ride it. It makes even a mundane trip to the grocery store a super fun journey. They opted for the Swoop to come fully assembled and ready to ride which added a bit to the shipping cost ($350), but being able to ride it within 5 minutes of getting it (with three squealing happy boys on board) was well worth it.

It comes with integrated lights, footrests for the passengers, and the brilliant Freeloader Too sling bags — some of the best cargo-carrying accessories we’ve ever tried! For speed-hungry folks, a faster 28 mph version is also available.

If Tesla or Lucid got into the e-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. 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 geometry is somewhat of a cross between a beach cruiser and a fitness bike and comfortably fits a range of testers from 5’2” up to 6’2”.

Ride-wise, the Ride is incredibly stable and smooth. It has three pedal-assist modes. The user chooses their preferred pedal cadence, and the bike shifts on its own to maintain that cadence. It sounds a bit counterintuitive, but in reality, it works well. Unlike a lot of bikes in our test, the eco mode does not feel underpowered and it is a pretty great experience to cruise around all day letting the “smart motor” work for you. There was no better bike we tested for riding in eco!

The Ride Radiant comes with all the best components: Magura hydraulic brakes/ Enviolo Stepless internal transmission (instead of external gears), Shimano Class 1 mid-drive motor, and premium 2.8-inch Moto X tires. The integrated battery and greaseless carbon belt help keep things clean and tidy and often had us viewing the bike as a work of art rather than the capable commuter/beach/fitness hybrid e-bike that it is.

The company exclaims “Welcome to Freydom” when you purchase one of their bikes — and after testing countless bikes with speed limiters, our tester’s first ride on the AM1000 ($5,180) did feel like freedom. She thumbed the throttle and reached 30 mph within 10 seconds before getting scared. The bike actually tops out near 35 mph — nearly double that of most bikes in this test.

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. But then the similarities end. Everything about the Frey AM1000 is bigger. It’s heavier, more powerful, noisier, and faster. In truth, it’s a bit more like a light-duty electric dirt bike you can pedal.

The motor peaks at 1500W and 160 Nm of torque, which is nearly twice that of even the most powerful of the other bikes we tested. Basically, this “bike” is so powerful it sits in a bit of a gray area as far as what U.S. law considers an e-bike. But damn, is it fun!

It feels way more at home on mixed-use ATV, motorcycle, and enduro trails than any other bike here. Bonus: the 1008 wH battery gives a rider a huge range, assuming you’re riding it more like a class I or class II e-bike. Rip it for an hour at 35 mph, though, and you’ll be working hard as you pedal that 75-pound empty battery home!

The FREY AM1000 is a perfect bike for those looking for a way to tackle gnarly downhill terrain and self-shuttle the uphills — especially those who live close enough to the local steep laps that they can ride straight from their door.