Best electric bikes 2023 for every kind of rider

If you're looking for the best electric bikes, there are a lot to choose from, with electric motors and batteries added to a wide range of bikes to add extra power. 

Electric road bikes will come with dropped handlebars and favour low weight, whilst electric hybrid bikes will come with flat bars, wider tyres and accessories to aid commuters – such as mudguards and lights. Electric folding bikes are useful if part of your journey involves train travel or you're short on space.

Here at Cycling Weekly, we've reviewed bikes from these three categories and there are links to our more detailed reviews for each bike in this guide. Our testing involves a range of routes and ride lengths and our highly experienced team of testers understands what makes a good bike and what to look for in the best electric bikes.

Electric bikes can be expensive, but there are options too if you're looking to keep costs low with prices starting from around $1,000: check out the best budget electric bikes. If you're into tinkering with your bike, you might also want to look at the best electric bike conversion kits as an alternative to buying a completely new electric bike.

Women may benefit from female specific components on the best women's electric bikes, and if you're venturing off-road, check out the best electric gravel bikes.

If you're looking for the best electric mountain bike though, follow this link to head over to our sister publication MBR which specialises in mountain biking.

Top picks

Here's a quick look at our top choices from the best electric bikes, including a folding option...

Our pick of the best electric bikes

Best Electric Hybrid bikes

Electric hybrid bikes are the fastest selling style. Their flat bars, usually wide tyre, and commute friendly fittings - such as mudguard mounts and rack mounts - make them extremely practical machines. 

The motor can be housed in the rear hub, or at the cranks, and the torque will vary - low torque models offer a natural pedalling assistance, but high torque versions will move off the lights more quickly.

The Ribble Hybrid AL e is a road-going hybrid bike that’s equally at home on gravel paths and trails, with a comfortable and confidence-inspiring upright riding position, so great for returning or newbie riders.

For us, we think the bike is one of the best looking hybrids we've ever come across, with the design hiding away the motor incredibly well, although we were a little sad that adjusting the seat post left behind scratch marks. The fully loaded package includes fenders (mudguards), lights and a rear rack making it perfect as a daily commuter or for ditching the car when going to the store, although we did find these a little rattily on test.

The Ebikemotion motor delivers its power smoothly and efficiently and offers long-range in between charges, making the Ribble far more than just an A to B bike. 

Understandably it doesn't perform in the same way as the Canyon Grail:ON in terms of fast and tight torque, but tap along and it will tick over nicely, taking the top off any strenuous rides. 

With all the added extras as standard and classy looks, the Ribble Hybrid AL e is a great electric bike for the money.

Read more: Ribble Hybrid AL e electric bike full review

A fun ride that’s great in urban environments but also provides a confidence-inspiring ride on rougher terrain is what the Specialized Turbo Vado is all about. 

If you're after a bike that is fully integrated with lights, fenders and rack (27kg capacity) as well as security (on the App & removable battery using a key), then this represents a straight forward choice. Only the weight, and to a lesser degree cost, need consideration.

We found the 70Nm/250W custom-tuned motor applies power seamlessly and powerfully as soon as you push down on the pedals. Range is excellent too -  95-130km / 60-80 miles should be easily attainable using the default settings of "Sport' and '50% power'. There is an Eco mode as well as Turbo, so if you're careful you can expect much greater range.

It is a heavy machine at 60lbs/ 27kg, so not easy to lift, so anyone needing to navigate steps in or out of the bike's storage place will need to take this into consideration, but aside from that we found the Specialized Vado Turbo to be a joy to ride.

Read more: Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 electric bike review

We absolutely loved zooming around on the speedy Ride1Up Roadster V2 with its five levels of power assist. If you're anything like us and are more used to training and racing on standard road bikes it can easily become your guilty pleasure - it's fantastic fun to ride. 

The bike was so quiet, even on level 5, convincing onlookers that our tester had to be some kind of super hero to ride so fast up 15 per cent climbs. The only downside - in common with other e-bikes that only assist when you're pedalling - was where there was a requirement for a hill start, the cranks had to be turned over in order to get the motor to engage, creating a pregnant pause at the lights, before vavavooming off.

The claimed 24mph maximum assisted speed (in the US) needs input from the pedals to reach on the flats, but without a doubt it's noticeable downhill, where other bikes, such as the Wilier Cento1Hy Ultegra Di2 e-bike auto assist would cut out and slow you down. 

This extra speed also puts the bike into a class 3 e-bike, meaning that it doesn't meet EAPC rules in the UK, but that's by the by as US brand Ride1Up doesn't currently ship there. 

If you are in a country lucky enough to be shipped to: the US, Canada and Mexico, then it's a great option and one that has a very high fun-to-dollar ratio. 

Ride1Up is a direct-to-consumer brand - check out the Roadster V2 on its website here.

Read more: Ride1Up Roadster V2 full review

The  Canyon Precede:ON is an efficient automatic transmission city bike that performs well in multi-terrain settings whether for utility or for leisure purposes thanks to a powerful motor and control panel. 

With built-in accessories such as lights, mudguards, rack and kickstand all the trappings are there to make for a comfortable ride with style straight out the box.  All these add ons however do make it one of the heaviest e-bikes on the market, even heavier than the Specialized Turbo Vado. 

We really loved the Canyon Grail: On and it's great to see the Precede:ON also be kitted with the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, although ideally we would love to see a little more juice in the battery to support the other impressive spec. 

With everything you need straight out the box, including navigation system and lights, it's the easiest way to swap driving/ public transport for a bike, but it is at the higher end price tag wise.  There are a couple of models to choose from, which also takes the cost down a touch, but with a six year guarantee, it could be a savvy investment. 

The only other point to note is that Canyon has a direct sales model, so you'll have to buy directly from the brand here. 

Read more: Canyon Precede:ON CF 9 ST electric bike full review

The Giant Fastroad E+ Pro is another road-going hybrid bike with flat handlebars to promote a comfortable ride position for even the rustiest of riders, in fact we enjoyed riding this great electric hybrid road bike so much we gave it a Cycling Weekly Editor's Choice Award. 

The tyres provide plenty of squish and the ability to go lightly off-road. However on test we found the aluminium frame and fork quite stiff, which will suit those used to a traditional road bike’s feel and riders looking for a speedy commute, but worth bearing in mind if you’re used to a softer hybrid feel.

We really liked the bike's integration of the battery, which can often be a design factor forgotten about on hybrid bikes. We were also really impressed to see the spec on the FastRoad, with hydraulic disc brakes and quality Shimano shifting, with a compact chainset and wide range cassette at the rear to provide plenty of gears for the hills all making an appearance. 

A great electric hybrid bike for a fair price that will have a lot of appeal to lots of different riders.  

Read more: Giant FastRoad E+ Pro 2 electric bike full review

With its 36V battery, which should give around 70 miles of juice, hooked up to a mid-drive motor, we found that the Volt Infinity electric bike gave a nice balanced feel to the bike. 

Shimano provides the power in the form of 8-speed Alfine Di2 hub Shimano Steps, the highly regarded motor and e-bike specific groupset.

Three different assistance modes will let you get the most out of that battery and the display mounted on the front will make it easy to keep track and we loved that the torque sensor picked up when we were flagging and gave us a little boost to help us along our way. 

Previously similar to the Carrera Subway E, it's had a bit of a make over and it's now much more visually integrated than the previous model that we tested, although it's still without a quick release rear wheel, making investing in the best puncture-proof tyres or inner tubes a shrewd investment. 

The only real downside is the one size fits all. Great if it does fit you, not so much if it doesn't. 

Read more: VOLT Infinity Electric Bike full review

Best Electric Folding Bikes

Folding electric bikes are practical if you have a train journey forming part of your trip or are low on space. Being small, the battery and motor can represent a large percentage of the weight, so the focus is often on reducing this as much as possible. 

Mileage on folding bikes is often low, since they're typically used to ride to and from train stations, so battery range isn't always a major consideration. 

If you are considering going for a folder, you might find our buying guide page dedicated to helping you find the best folding bikes a useful read. 

We absolutely loved the Brompton Electric bike when we took it out for a spin, finding it to be the perfect bike for commuting in traffic and then stowing well out of the way post-ride. 

The brand is considered by many as the gold standard of folding bikes, and the Brompton Electric is clearly cast from the same mould.

 As typical with any Brompton bike, the brand has taken full control of the engineering, so everything from frame to motor has been designed in house. Brompton however has called upon the experiences of Williams Advanced Engineering when it comes to the motor, developing a bespoke lightweight removable battery and motor. 

As you would expect when a team of Formula One engineers get under the bonnet of the Brompton Electric, the small, but perfectly formed motor has excelled, delivering power smoothly, safely and exactly when you need it. 

The frame is the usual Brompton high standard, and while one size, keeps the ability to choose handlebars, seatpost heights and even saddle widths. There are six speeds, giving you plenty to play with when you hit a hill. 

Whatever your final set up, you can rest assured as to the bike's foldability, which is one of the reasons why Brompton stands out from the folding bike crowd. Its folded footprint is one of the smallest out there: 565mm high x 585mm wide x 270mm long (22.2" x 23" x 10.6"). This means it's highly portable and capable of stowing in the smallest of spaces, although be warned, due to the independent motor and battery pack, you'll find yourself with two hands full, so best to invest in a rucksack for your other belongings. 

On test we felt this was an absolute dream of a bike, in fact, we went as far as calling it a transport gamechanger. If you're worried by the 17kg-plus weight, there's now the Brompton Electric P Line bike, which uses lighter frame materials to drop the claimed weight down to 15.6kg.

The G4i is a solid choice for a commuter, with the option to add many accessories such as mudguards (fenders), a front and rear pannier rack, integrated lights, lock holster and a travel case. 

The design folds in half, so that you can push it on its wheels rather than needing to carry it, or you can fully fold it into a compact package. There's built-in rear suspension, concealed cabling and a fully enclosed drivetrain.

It features a discreetly integrated USB port on the handlebar, enabling owners to charge their phone or other small devices from the bike’s battery when not in use - although we found the quality of the integrated phone mount didn't quite match that of the bike itself. The same goes for the LED display, which we found to be rather basic - although the information it provides is useful.

It's also likely to be pretty low-maintenance given that the drivetrain is completely enclosed. This makes sense, given that commuting year round usually means cycling in the wet at some point. The G4i utilizes a Shimano Nexus 3 speed internally geared hub. With 1” of elastomer suspension and 2.35” wide tyres, it is one of the more comfortable small wheelers. Single-sided wheel attachment means you don’t even have to remove the wheel, should you puncture one of the 20” wheels.

The 500W (250W in the UK/EU) G4 electric motor and 375Wh Lithium-ion battery is claimed to provide a range of up to 80km (50mi), but the most we managed to get out of it was just 44km (27mi). To be fair, that was in one of the more 'assisted' modes and I always had the daytime running lights on - and the city of Bath is well known for its brutally steep hills.

The bike is available from 17.6kg / 38.8lbs. However, as the weight is centred low on the frame, this at least makes the ride more stable. The folding mechanism has been improved since previous versions and can be quickly collapsed into a small package - Gocycle says this can be done in as little as ten seconds; we found it was closer to 20.

Read more: Gocycle G4i electric folding bike full review

Tern has numerous folding bike options, with the electric model options also growing in the fleet. The Tern Vektron S10 features 20-inch wheels and a 400-watt battery that can power you for 40 to 90 miles, depending on how much you use the assist.

We haven't tested this version, but highly rated the non-electric Tern Verge X11 and believe that you won't be disappointed in this electric cargo model. 

To help the rider find the perfect fit, the stem and saddle are adjustable, making it a good interchangeable option for the whole family, from 4'10" to 6'5". Coming with an integrated rack, compatibility with child seats is a breeze as no additional adaptors are required.

Its integrated rack will be fantastically useful, but will add to the already quite large folded down package size, so if it's stowaway capabilities you're after, you might be better off with the Brompton Electric Folding bike option. 

The bike boasts dynamo powered lights, alongside hydraulic disc brakes and highly regarded Shimano Deore groupset. The high spec does push the price up though, and weighing 22.5kg /48.7Ibs makes it a fairly hefty folder, and a limited one at that. 

Best Electric Road Bikes

The best electric road bikes will favour low weight. The expectation is that at times you might exceed the 25kph legal e-bike limit stipulated by many countries, and at that point, you'll want a lightweight bike. The motor will often be low torque, which makes the assistance feel more natural. 

Hub based motors are becoming increasingly common in this category. They keep the weight low, and also allow the chassis to look almost identical to a non-assisted bike. 

With geometry matching that of the Ribble Endurance SL Disc, the Ribble Endurance SL e gains a motor and battery, making it a great option for riders looking for subtle performance enhancement.

As with its non-electric equivalent, the Ribble Endurance SL e was also awarded a Cycling Weekly Editor's Choice award, mostly due to its low overall weight, spec and incredibly subtle integration of the motor and battery. 

On hills the bike was fantastic at giving the rider a much needed boost in a natural and smooth linear delivery, but on the flat the legal e-bike speed limit of 15mph for the UK (where the bike was tested) did hold this otherwise great electronic bike back.

We felt that the location of the charge point on top of the bottom bracket was a little vulnerable, so it's important to double check it's covered up, particularly in wet conditions 

The other slight gripe was the position of the power on button on the top tube. Once it's on it's on, but trying to locate it does mean taking your eyes off the road for a couple of seconds, which isn't ideal. 

With a similar profile to the Wilier Cento1HY Ultegra Di2 e-bike, but kitted out with the lower price point, yet highly respected, Shimano 105 groupset, the Ribble Endurance SL e could save you half the money. 

Read more: Ribble Endurance SL e full review

The Specialized S-works Turbo Creo is the brand's first venture into the world of road e-bikes and it is not a disappointing one. If you're able to look past the eye-watering price tag, you will be getting all the pros of a road bike but with a bit of, as Specialized puts it, 'oomph'.

This beautiful bike gets the same FACT 11r frame as the S-Works Roubaix, which means it already has a naturally racy feel, and thanks to its super lightweight construction, means that it's happy to be ridden without any assistance at all. 

When taking advantage of the power, Specialized's own SL1.1 motor delivers smooth assistance to your ride and doesn't have the surges of acceleration you may find in some other e-bikes. That and its impressive battery life, which we found to be one of the longest on test, means that you do get a truly excellent e-bike. 

It's a bit like the F1 of e-bikes as it comes with a lot of technical integration, such as the ability to connect to its own app and dial in the motor for your style of riding. This is really helpful when using the bike to help with training and ensuring that the motor only kicked in once the tester was at a certain speed/ wattage. 

The good news is that there is a spectrum of the Specialized Turbo Creo with the SL Comp E5 available for nearly a third of the price. You do lose some of the spec of course, but both are still great options. 

Read more: Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo SL full review

The  Cannondale Topstone Neo Lefty 3 is an electric gravel bike - that means it blends drop handlebars with burly tyres and suspension, so it's designed for on and off-road riding. 

When Cannondale's highly regarded Topstone gravel model gained a motor to become the Topstone Neo, it turned one of the most capable gravel bikes into a pedal-assisted monster truck.

Running on 650b wheels keeps the rear end tight and nimble for almost any terrain, although this is an area where you might consider a future upgrade as the WTB ST i23 rims don't quite match the capability of the rest of the bike. It'll still shock you with its power delivery (hold on to your hats), but the looks are best described as an acquired taste.

It'll leave you in a similar giggly mess as the Canyon Grail:On CF 8 eTap does, just pure grin inducing fun on any ride. In fact, on test it proved to be a bit of a handful, and possibly provides too wild a ride for a lot of riders. If you can learn to love the looks, and tame the beast of the torque you honestly will struggle for more fun on two wheels.  

This bike is unrivalled in its class in terms of motor performance and the grin-inducing ride. The suspension adds another layer of capability to the package and blurs the gravel/MTB divide even further.

There are a few bikes in the range to choose from, both up and down price brackets, so worth checking out to find the exact model to meet your needs. 

For more options like this one, check out our best electric gravel bike page.

Read more: Cannondale Topstone Neo Lefty 3 full review

Gaining a much-deserved Editor's Choice award, the Wilier Cento1 Hybrid  is the e-bike for the road riders who still want the feel of a race bike. The Cento1 Hybrid is a good looking lightweight machine, which will assist you up those tough climbs, with plenty of power on tap.

On test, we found the supporting ebikemotion system, which is smartphone and PC app friendly, a doddle to use, with automatic syncing to Strava. 

Some riders will love the automatic assistance, as it will immediately kick in when the going gets tough. However, this can be a Pro or a Con, depending on your ride assistance preference. If you would rather be the master of your own electrical deployment, then you might find the auto-assist a tad frustrating and just a little over torqued. 

It's not the cheapest of bikes by any stretch, and the Ribble SL e could almost go toe to toe, but the Wilier is the no compromise option, which is reflected in the price tag.

Read more: Wilier Cento1 Hybrid Ultegra Di2 e-bike full review

Electric bike buying advice

Bosch has really embraced the electric bike market and its range of eleven different motors offers a variety of power assistance depending on how much you're willing to spend and the type of riding you're doing. Its models have motors geared to more leisurely riding, more performance-oriented cycling or cargo moving applications.

Other brands such as Fazua, TQ and Mahle ebikemotion are common on lightweight e-road bikes, and these systems have done well when reviewed, so come recommended. Budget electric bikes often use Bafang motors.

The best electric bikes are likely to come specced with some form of hydraulic disc brakes. The added speed and weight of an e-bike will definitely warrant the extra stopping power.

Other areas that can differ are tyres, which tend to be fatter, even on the road bike options, anywhere between 32mm and 40mm of rubber is most common on the hybrid options. The extra wide tyres will help absorb the impacts of the heavier frame as well as providing more grip and stopping power to balance the extra weight and speed.

The more expensive, lightweight carbon road electric bikes do now come with leaner 28m tyres, perfect for keeping up on the club run.

Meet the testers

Paul Norman

Paul started writing for Cycling Weekly in 2015 and since then he’s reviewed hundreds of bikes and thousands of other pieces of cycling equipment. He’s been cycling for a lot longer than that though and his travels by bike have taken him all around Europe and to California. He’s been riding gravel since before gravel bikes existed too, riding a cyclocross bike through the Chilterns and along the South Downs.

How we test

Where we've been able to link to a review, it means that we've put the bike through its paces. This means that we've ridden it over varying terrain and distances to assess it's performance across a range of factors. For e-bikes this typically means that we'll have considered the quality of the motor and battery, from ease of use to charging time and range, while with regards to folding e-bikes we'll have also tested the folding mechanism for ease of use as well as the general suitability of the bike for commuting purposes. 

Like regular bikes, we'll also consider the ride quality and the choice of components and how they impact key areas such as comfort, gear range and braking.

Where we haven't yet had the chance to review an item, we're still confident in recommending it as one of the best, because we either know the brand really well, and have probably tested another product or the previous version and can still happily recommend it as one of the best.