I love electric bicycles. Riding a bicycle is a great form of low-impact exercise, but it can be a challenge to use a bicycle for commuting or transportation unless you have very short, flat distances to cover. An electric bicycle can be the tool that solves many problems. For instance, I love riding 10 miles or more on my bicycle, but my wife doesn’t get much enjoyment out of it. Adding an electric bike to the mix has proved to be the key to unlocking our two-wheeled togetherness. I ride a conventional bike, and she rides an electric bike. That means that she puts in substantially less effort to keep up with me, and can enjoy riding farther than ever before. It has been a great equalizer.
Luckily, I have had the opportunity to ride a wide variety of electric bicycles over the past few years. Like conventional bicycles, they are available in a wide price range, depending on intended use, electric range, and overall quality. I have discovered that most of the electric bike companies rely heavily on the aftermarket for standard equipment, like gearsets, brakes, seats and handlebars. Some companies expend their engineering prowess on the battery and assist motors, while some source those pieces from established manufacturers as well. This could be an advantage to you as the bike ages, because you’ll be able to maintain the mechanical and electrical parts of the bike without relying on the bike brand manufacturer. Look for quality components that you recognize, and for light weight and quality construction on the proprietary pieces from your chosen bike brand.
Here are three of the best electric bicycles for the road and commuting.
Manufactured in California and shipped fully assembled, the Electric Bike Company Classic is an affordable, stylish cruiser with some really great features. Perhaps best of all is the integrated charging system with a retractable cord – just plug in to a standard 120-volt household circuit with no special charger required. The Classic’s sturdy frame is hydroformed from aluminum, so it is light and very rigid. The maintenance-free electric motor carries a 10-year unlimited warranty, and is expected to last over 18 years. The bike is fitted with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, Jetset aluminum rims, Maxxis puncture-resistant tires, a Neco headset, a SunTour suspension seat post, leather grips and seat, and all of the hardware is stainless steel. Pedal assist is built in, and the bike has a thumb throttle. The Classic doesn’t use a mechanical gearing system, defaulting to a five-level pedal assist function. Range for the base model (11.6Ah/48-volt battery) is 20 miles without pedaling, and up to 50 miles with pedaling at Pedal Assist mode level 2.
The Rad Power Bikes RadCity commuter bike takes a slightly different approach than the Electric Bike Company Classic. Instead of a suspension seat post, it features a front suspension fork with 80 mm of travel and rebound adjustment, and it comes with a seven-speed Shimano Acera drivetrain and Tektro mechanical disc brakes. The RadCity uses a half-twist throttle and five-level pedal assist, and comes with an external charging unit. It is capable of an estimated range of 25 – 45 miles, depending on how much you pedal, how much you use the assist, payload and environmental conditions. Some assembly is required – it took me about 45 minutes to set up the RadCity for riding, using the included tool kit. RadCity is available with a step-through frame, which makes it a little easier for shorter riders to mount and dismount.
Trek is one of the giants of the bicycle world, and the Super Commuter+ 8S is an impressive luxury bike with a beautiful design and great function. The big differentiator, though, is the Bosch Performance Speed motor and 350-watt Bosch PowerPack 500 battery that helps propel the 8S up to 28 mph. The battery is removable for charging, yet locks into the frame for security. The bike uses an 11-speed Shimano SLX drivetrain with Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, and comes with a rear rack, lights that run off of the battery, and fenders installed from the factory. The motor is protected by a lightweight aluminum shield to prevent stone damage. The front fork is made of rigid carbon fiber, and Bontrager makes the saddle, seatpost, handlebar, grips, stem and hubs. Unlike the Classic and the RadCity, there’s nothing retro about the 8S, which is a thoroughly modern-looking, cutting-edge commuter.