This combination of features and convenience, aesthetics and awesome ride at a very reasonable price make this the best ebike for most folks. How awesome is that? Indeed, the Velotric T1 is exactly the bike I’d want to use to commute around town and go riding for fun on the weekends. This bike has some other charming features as well, like a walking mode that rolls the bike at low speed alongside you when you need to dismount and walk the bike.

That’s a little optimistic based on my testing, but if you use conservative pedal assistance, I am certain the bike can routinely deliver a range of around 50 miles, and that ain’t bad. Despite the modest battery size (352.8 watt-hours), Velotric claims a maximum range of about 70 miles. You can’t remove it for charging, so you’ll need an outlet near wherever the bike ends up living when you aren’t riding it. One way Velotric makes this bike look so streamlined is by building the battery into the downtube. This feature is included at no additional charge, by the way, so you don’t pay a monthly subscription fee like the one VanMoof charges for a similar bike-tracking service. And speaking of being pleasantly surprised, Velotric includes an eight-speed Shimano shifter and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes.īecause I am neurotic about the potential for bike theft, one of my favorite features in the T1 is its GPS tracking: If your bike is moved, you get a theft alert on your phone, and you can locate the bike at any time by tapping the app’s “Find My Bike” button. I rode this bike extensively on flat and hilly terrain, and the 350-watt hub motor was more than up to the task. There’s no throttle here, but this bike does have a smooth-as-butter torque sensor that delivers a very enjoyable pedaling experience, something I would expect to find only in a more expensive bike. This Class 1 bike can go up to 20 mph right out of the box, though you can easily unlock a top speed of 25 mph, which straddles the definition of a Class 3 ebike. The T1 lacks a built-in display, which requires you to mount your phone to view important metrics.

Unlike other ebikes, the handlebars don’t have a display, so you need to put your phone into the built-in mount on the handlebars to see more details. On the other hand, that fingerprint reader/control button is the only display on the bike. The fingerprint reader doubles as a battery indicator and pedal assist level control (which you can also get from the app). Alternatively, you can fire it up using the mobile app, which can automatically sense your phone’s proximity and turn on the bike as you approach. There’s a fingerprint reader on the top tube that can learn a dozen different fingerprints place your finger there for a moment and the bike turns on. To turn the bike on, there’s no need to carry a key around like it’s 1987. And the two-tone color scheme is gorgeous.īut the real appeal here is that the T1 delivers so much for under $2,000. It weighs just 36 pounds, second only to the 25-pound Lemond Prolog, which makes it light enough to carry around, hoist onto a bike rack or carry up stairs. Let’s start with the fact that the T1 barely looks like an electric bike, which is great for folks who don’t like the modern ebike aesthetic. The T1 packs so much into such an affordable frame-and rides so well-that it was an easy choice to call it the best electric bike overall among the bikes I tested. The Velotric T1 proves that you can have your cake and eat it too, at least when it comes to electric bikes. You want a digital display without using your phone.Peace of mind with great security features.Easy portability thanks to super light weight.Read on to see what I loved about each and to choose the right electric bike for your needs. To help you make a more informed decision, I packed nine bikes into my garage and, over a six-week period, put them through their paces to see which were the best of the best. Which bike ends up in your garage depends on your budget and how you intend to use the bike. Others look more utilitarian, with visible batteries mounted to a sci-fi-style frame. Some of the best ebikes, like the LeMond Prolog, are so lightweight and streamlined you can barely tell it’s electric until you feel the “boost” you get while pedaling. No matter which one you get, you can pedal it normally or engage the motor when you need assistance.

Remember that at the end of the day, an electric bike is still just a bike.

But you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a great ebike. The least expensive ebikes start around $800, and there’s almost no upper limit, with some premium models costing well over $10,000. If you’re new to electric bikes, get ready for a little sticker shock.

Rad electric bikes for sale near me