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eBike Reviews

QuietKat Rubicon Review, 2024

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Summary QuietKat Rubicon Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.8
Check Latest PriceQuietKat Rubicon Electric Bike

Pros

  • 1000W mid-drive motor produces 160Nm of torque, making this one of the most powerful e-bikes we have encountered; it can handle Class 3 speeds, and more
  • 1008Wh battery is up to the task of powering this e-bike far into the backcountry and having enough charge to return home again
  • The Tektro 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors are some of the most powerful calipers we see
  • SRAM 9-speed drivetrain offers plenty of gears over a very wide range to ride most any terrain
  • 26 x 4.8-in. CST tires over amazing traction and a very comfortable ride when pumped to appropriately low pressures—tires this fat can be run at 8-10 psi
  • The mid-drive motor means power is immediate and the motor’s output is proportional to the rider’s effort

Cons

  • We would prefer to see more travel in the suspension fork than in the rear shock, in keeping with modern eMTB design
  • The three different sizes would be more helpful to riders if the differences in size were greater

Intro Lots of e-bikes claim they are made for off-road use. In truth, to function capably off-road, an e-bike needs more than just knobby tires. Suspension, a powerful motor and a sizable battery are all necessary. Suspension is important less for comfort than for control. A powerful motor is necessary in order to conquer steep […]

Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus Review, 2024

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Summary Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.8
Check Latest PriceRad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus Electric Bike

Pros

  • Rear rack is integrated into the frame and is strong enough to carry a passenger, unlike most e-bikes
  • 750W brushless hub motor produces 80Nm of watts to give it plenty of acceleration and hill-climbing ability when loaded
  • Claimed range of up to 48 mi. on a single charge thanks to a 672Wh battery
  • The LCD display is now mounted on the handlebar, making if much easier to view than when it was integrated into the PAS selector
  • Includes a number of attachment points for accessories, making it easy to customize the RadRunner Plus to a specific rider’s needs
  • 7-speed Shimano drivetrain has a wide range of gears

Cons

  • The step-thru frames are actually larger in size (longer reach) than the traditional frames; we would prefer to see the step-thru frames have less reach and a shorter seat tube to better fit smaller riders
  • We would prefer a more traditional saddle, rather than the small one that is included; it’s small enough to be uncomfortable for some riders

Intro The promise of buying an e-bike—often, but not always—is the idea that we will be able to leave our car at home and go places (like work) and do things (like grocery shopping) and get home with ease afterward. And in our experience, e-bikes are terrific at exactly that. They serve up a trio […]

Mokwheel Basalt Review, 2024

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Summary Mokwheel Basalt Electric Bike

In this Mokwheel Basalt review we take a look at the value, build quality, features, performance and more on this popular electric bike.

Overall Rating:

4.6
Check Latest PriceMokwheel Basalt Electric Bike

Pros

  • 925Wh Samsung battery can do more than power the e-bike, it can also be used to power other things like a laptop computer or lights with the optional inverter
  • 750W brushless, geared hub motor produces 90Nm of torque for powerful acceleration and determined climbing whether on road or off
  • Color LCD display is large and very easy to read, even on bumpy roads
  • Capable of a Class 3 top speed of 28 mph and includes a half-twist throttle to let tired legs rest
  • Comes with a good selection of accessories, including front and rear LED lights, front and rear fenders and a rear rack
  • Is great for bigger riders thanks to its 400-lb. weight limit

Cons

  • Comes in just one size and may not be comfortable for smaller riders
  • 7-speed Shimano drivetrain has a gear range that is rather narrow for the kind of riding the e-bike is meant to do; also, while they mention an internally geared hub on the web site, those gears are part of the motor and not ones that can be shifted with the shifter

Intro All-terrain e-bikes carry the promise of exploring places that can’t be reached by car and are too far to consider on a hike. They have fat tires for a cushy ride, big knobs for traction, plenty of gears for getting up and down hills, hydraulic disc brakes for confident control and very often a […]

Himiway Big Dog Review – 2024

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Summary Himiway Big Dog Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.5
Check Latest PriceHimiway Big Dog Electric Bike

Pros

  • 750W brushless, geared hub motor produces 86Nm of torque for terrific acceleration and plenty of power on the hills
  • 960Wh battery gives the Big Dog more range than would be found with similar e-bikes
  • Can handle up to 400 lbs., making it ideal for bigger riders
  • 16.5-in. standover height is terrific for people with range of motion or mobility issues
  • Suspension fork and 4-in. tires add up to a very comfortable ride whether on-road or off

Cons

  • Should the Big Dog be loaded with more than 300 lbs. of rider and/or stuff, we would prefer to see hydraulic disc brakes, or at least the 180mm rotors swapped for 203mm ones
  • Because of the sizable motor and battery, this is a fairly heavy bike for a step-thru design at 79 lbs.

Intro Buying an e-bike is a bit like buying a newfound freedom. It’s a way to escape the car, an excuse to enjoy the outdoors and a chance to exercise that doesn’t feel like, well, work. But e-bikes come in an incredible variety of styles and they all have different features that ultimate add up […]

Denago Commute Model 1 Step-Through Review – 2024

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Summary Denago Commute Model 1 Step-Thru Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.4
Check Latest PriceDenago Commute Model 1 Step-Thru Electric Bike

Pros

  • 500W brushless hub motor produces 50Nm of torque and easily accelerates a rider up to a Class 3 maximum assist speed of 28 mph
  • Zoom hydraulic brakes paired with 180mm rotors provide excellent control and quick stopping for speedy riders
  • The 8-speed Microshift drivetrain provides one more gear and a wider gear range than found on many comparable e-bikes to make it easier for riders to ascend hills and pedal at top speed
  • Comes in two frame styles—traditional and step-thru—as well as two sizes for each frame type—S/M and L/XL—to provide an excellent fit and comfort to a broad variety of riders
  • With a suspension fork, suspension seatpost and 27.5 x 2.6-in.-wide tires, this is made to be an comfortable e-bike that doesn’t sacrifice efficiency
  • The 653Wh battery provided 27 mi. of range in PAS 5—speeds above 20 mph

Cons

  • We aren’t big fans of the the layout and design of the Denago display, though we love the PIN security feature that will prevent unauthorized use
  • To be truly effective, fenders really need to be longer, both front and rear
  • We would love to see a rear light included

Intro Commuters dominate the e-bike market in the $1500 to $2000 range. The great majority of these come from manufacturers like Denago—direct-to-consumer and with few or no independent dealers—and a Class 2 rating; that is, they have a maximum speed of 20 mph and are equipped with a throttle. The Denago Commute Model 1 bucks […]

Lectric XPremium Review, 2024

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Summary Lectric Bikes XPremium Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.7
Check Latest PriceLectric Bikes XPremium Electric Bike

Pros

  • 500W mid-drive motor makes for a more seamless riding experience by tailoring the motor’s output to the rider’s effort
  • Double batteries means 998Wh of charge for range claimed to be upwards of 100 mi.
  • Hydraulic disc brakes paired with 180mm rotors gives the XPremium powerful braking and excellent control
  • 4-in.-wide tires give a very comfortable ride and excellent traction, even on unpaved surfaces
  • 80mm suspension fork provides a very smooth ride and improves control on bumpy roads, and because it’s an air/oil design rather than coil spring, it is much more supple over the small stuff

Cons

  • Wish there was an easy way to carry both batteries in one hand and the e-bike in the other when moving it
  • It would be nice to be able to remove the key when the bike is in use

Intro There is something risky about offering a premium version of a popular product. The notion of shopping for value usually looking for the product that has 80 percent of the features but goes for 50 percent of the cost. Premium and value are rarely bedfellows. Which is why we are reviewing the Lectric Bikes […]

Electric Bike Co. Model S Review, 2024

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Summary Electric Bike Co. Model S Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.2
Check Latest PriceElectric Bike Co. Model S Electric Bike

Pros

  • Incredible number of options for customization to make the model S unique to the rider
  • 500W brushless, geared hub motor produces 60Nm of torque for good acceleration and hill climbing
  • Comes standard with a 556Wh Samsung battery, but buyers can choose from three more upgrades depending on the total range they want
  • Tektro Dorado 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes are very powerful and offer the rider excellent control
  • Thanks to two different wheel sizes (26-in. And 24-in.) the Model S effectively comes in two different sizes
  • Very wide array of accessories to choose from as well as most replacement parts a rider might need, making upgrades and repairs easy

Cons

  • Given the price point of this e-bike and the other component selections, we would like to see the 7-speed drivetrain be standard equipment, not an option
  • We would like to see the display give more detailed info on battery charge, like a percentage, rather than the oversimplified battery icon

Intro If a brand wants the public to love their product and see it as their own, something that is truly theirs and not just a thing they bought, one of the best ways to do that is to allow the buyer to customize the project. That’s why we have different trim levels on cars […]

Blix Aveny Skyline Review – 2024

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Summary Blix Aveny Skyline Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.7
Check Latest PriceBlix Aveny Skyline Electric Bike

Pros

  • 500W brushless hub motor provides smooth acceleration to a top speed of 20 mph
  • 27.5 x 2.25-in. tires offer a very comfortable ride, even on rough roads
  • Commute-ready: fenders, lights and a rear rack are all included
  • Has fun, but relaxed handling thanks to a long-ish wheelbase and well-positioned battery
  • 7-speed Shimano drivetrain makes climbing hills easy

Cons

  • We wish the hydraulic disc brakes should be standard, not an upgrade
  • One size does not really fit all; while it is great for smaller riders, it is unlikely to be ideally comfortable to anyone 6 feet or taller

Blix Aveny Skyline Review: Intro For many of us, the first commuter bikes we ever saw were those English 3-speeds. The rider sat as upright as if they were in a dining room chair. They had fenders that rattled like an aluminum can rolling in the gutter. And most had either a basket or a […]

Blix Aveny Spec Review – 2022

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Hello and welcome to our spec review of the Blix Aveny city commuter electric bike! The Best Electric Bikes crew hasn’t ridden the Aveny yet, but we already have readers wanting to know what we think of Blix’s entry-level commuter. By carefully studying the components and features of the latest Aveny model and comparing it […]

Ride1UP Core-5 Review 2024

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Summary Ride1UP Core-5 Electric Bike

Overall Rating:

4.3
Check Latest PriceRide1UP Core-5 Electric Bike

Pros

  • Comes in two frame styles, both traditional and step-thru
  • One of the least-expensive Class 3 e-bikes we’ve encountered at $1145
  • 27.5 x 2.2-in. Kenda Kwick Seven tires roll quickly and offer terrific traction and comfort
  • 750W motor offers smooth acceleration up to its max speed, without the jerky takeoff of some e-bikes

Cons

  • Mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors are a bit underpowered for how quick this e-bike is.
  • One of the noisier hub motors we have encountered, especially above 20 mph

Ride1up Core-5 Review: Intro Something we noted off the bat in our Ride1UP Core-5 review, and true for nearly every e-bike on the market is an expression of a particular set of priorities. Some give all the features and a super-sophisticated motor and run upwards of $4000. Some present the features that most people think […]