Just buy a compatible phone case (a negligible, if slightly annoying, extra expense) and using Google Maps to get around town is easy and painless. However, the stem has a built-in quad lock system and wireless charging. Like the VanMoof, the 4 ST is beautiful, low-maintenance, and easy to assemble out of the box. VanMoof's ebikes are often touted as the best for beginners, but we picked the Cowboy 4 ST ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends) for the simple reason that, if an electric bike relies heavily on an app on your phone, it should come with a charger.
But its smart shift system may be a little confusing to those new to ebiking, and the base price doesn't include all the commuter extras. Momentum is owned by Giant, and the Voya E+ 3 ($2,000) is equally light and absolutely stunning in person. Specialized makes one that's pricier but with a nicer low-maintenance internal gear hub and belt drive, and we like Cannondale's version as well. ★ Alternatives: We have tried almost all the entry-level cruisers. All in all, it's a shockingly affordable package for everything you need to start your 6-mile city commute. It has Trek's proprietary 250-watt hub motor, a 250-watt-hour battery, standard 9-speed Shimano shifters, fast road bike wheels, and hydraulic disc brakes, as well as a few fun extra built-ins, like integrated lights, a bell, a rear rack, fenders, and a kickstand. (I'm currently riding the step-through.) At 40 pounds, it's pretty light! It rides a lot like the light, versatile hybrid that I rode all through college. It comes in two versions, a step-over and a step-through. If this is your first bike, I strongly suggest going with an established manufacturer that has a large support network of affiliated retailers and shops, so you can test a few and not have to assemble or fix it yourself.Īlmost every major bike manufacturer now makes an entry-level commuter electric bicycle, and right now the most reasonably priced one is the Trek FX+ 2. The prices on direct-to-consumer bikes are very appealing, but if you wouldn't send your kid down a hill on a skateboard with wobbly wheels, I wouldn't recommend doing the same yourself. You may have more options than you think. Your bank might cover ebikes under its vehicle loan program, and some utility companies even offer cash incentives to purchase ebikes. Many bike manufacturers and retailers do offer financing through companies like Affirm or PayPal. Reasonable auto financing options are the only reason a $2,000 electric bike can feel prohibitively expensive while a $6,000 beater gas-powered car has easy monthly payments. When you're carrying kids to school or flying down a hill at 25 mph with only a helmet for protection, you want a ride you can trust. We've done our best to include lower-priced options, but we think of them as vehicles, not toys.
Multiple factors, including the pandemic, have complicated the global supply chain, and exemptions to a 25 percent tariff on all ebike imports have expired. It doesn't help that prices for bikes have shot up in recent years. Whenever I talk to anyone about a possible ebike purchase, the biggest deterrent- by far-is the price. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). Updated October 2022: We added new bikes we like, removed older picks, and edited information about financing. And once you buy an ebike, check out our favorite biking accessories, bike locks, and gear for a “bikepacking” adventure. We're always testing new ones, so if you don't see what you want, check back later (or drop me a note!). Over the past few years, my fellow Gear writers and I have tried almost every kind of electric bike, from the best heavy-duty cargo bikes to high-end mountain bikes. They get you outside, reduce traffic congestion, and shrink your carbon footprint. You don't need to be physically fit to ride one. Ebikes are now lighter, more attractive, and more powerful than ever. And it seems that millions of Americans agree, whether they rented one from a bike-share or bought their own.įor years, electric bicycles were bulky, inconvenient, expensive machines with limited battery life. If you're a grown-up who can't quite think of what to do to make anything better, I have a simple suggestion: Hop on a bike. In a time of multiple global crises-like the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, and the threat of nuclear war-it's hard not to feel helpless.
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