E-bikes have exploded in popularity over the past few years. Once available in only a few models, e-bikes are now available in almost every type and style. There are e-bikes for seniors, kids, and road and gravel riders alike; there are even fat tire and mountain e-bikes on the market these days. What’s assured is no matter what type of e-bike you’re looking for, you can find one—and it's easy to get them delivered to your house fast, thanks to the wide variety available on Amazon.
Best E-Bikes on Amazon
Best Fat Tire e-bike: Velowave Ranger FMTB3
Best Full Suspension Mountain Bike: Paselec GS-9 E-MTB
Best for Seniors: Nakto City Stroller
Best Step Through: Schwinn Coston
Best Folding e-bike: Swagtron Swagcycle EB-5
Best Women’s Cruiser: sixthreezero Around The Block Women's e-bike
Best for Kids: Hiboy BK1 Electric Bike
What to Consider
First, consider who is going to ride the e-bike you're eyeing and how they're going to ride it. If you’re buying an e-bike for a kid or a senior, they probably won’t need—or want—an e-bike that tops out at 30 miles an hour on trails (nor would we really encourage that). However, if you’re looking for a powerful e-bike for your own needs, they do exist.
Second, when buying an e-bike, consider where you’re going to ride it and be considerate of others around you who don’t ride e-bikes. Some places, including certain trails and bike paths, don’t allow e-bikes, so it’s wise to familiarize yourself with local regulations. With regards to other riders, many don’t appreciate being zoomed by on the road or trail, so make sure that you’re being considerate of those around you, regardless of where your ride takes you.
E-Bike Type
There are two main types of e-bikes: pedal-assist and throttle systems. With a pedal assist, the motor is only active when you’re pedaling. With a throttle system, the bike essentially can operate as a lightweight motorcycle and you don’t have to pedal to make the motor propel the bike. Some e-bikes allow you to control how much pedal assist they offer or if you want to operate them in a throttle-mode.
Motor Class
E-bikes are offered with three different motor classes.
Class 1: These are e-bikes that are only pedal-assisted and have a top speed of 20 mph. These bikes may have a motor with as little as 250-watts.
Class 2: These e-bikes allow for throttle-only use and top out at 20 mph.
Class 3: Class 3 can mean a couple different things depending on where you are. These e-bikes have a speedometer and top out at 28 mph. In some states, they are pedal-assist only with no throttle. In others, they can throttle up to 20 mph but require pedal assist after that. These bikes can have a motor of up to 750 watts.
Motor Mount
Motors for bikes are located in either of the wheel hubs or by the bottom bracket. Where the motor is mounted affects how the bike rides. Most of the higher-end e-bikes have a motor mounted by the bottom bracket as it helps keep the center of gravity low and it can push power directly to the gears.
Batteries
E-bike batteries are either integrated or mounted to the frame, or removable. Both types have their merits. A removable battery is ideal for someone who has to lock their bike outside and wants to charge it while at work or overnight. Integrated or mounted batteries are non-removable and can give the bike a sleeker look.
Batteries are rated in terms of watt-hours (Wh) and most are meant to have a range of about 40 miles, under ideal conditions. It generally takes a few hours to recharge the batteries to at least 80 percent. If you’re going for rides longer than 40 miles, you can bring an extra removable battery.
Weight
While great road bikes typically weigh under 20 pounds, most e-bikes are much heavier. They generally range from 35-70 pounds because of their motors and batteries. This extra weight can make them more difficult to stop, so look for a bike with good disc brakes. Also, the weight can be more cumbersome for kids and seniors when trying to handle the bike. It may also require a beefier bike rack, since many are only rated to 40 pounds per bike or less.
How We Selected
Currently, bikes and e-bike supplies are constrained. We’ve evaluated many e-bikes over the years and there are many we love. These are the best that are currently available on Amazon, based on our evaluations as well as evaluations by customers and other professional reviewers.
Key Specs
Wheel Size: 26 inches
Motor Type: Class 3: 750W rear hub
Battery: Internal, 720Wh
Weight: 75 pounds
Claimed Range: 25-40 miles
Snow and sand riders know that fat tire bikes are the best for those sometimes tricky surfaces. The Ranger from Velowave is an ideal fat tire e-bike that has enough power to conquer the trail throughout the year, but can also easily plow through snow and sand.
Key Specs
Wheel Size: 27.5 inches
Motor Type: Class 3: 500W, rear hub
Battery: Internal, replaceable 624Wh
Weight: 59.5 pounds
Claimed Range: 30-50 miles
With 500 watts of power and the capability to go into full electric-power mode, the Paselec GS-9 E-MTB should be able to get you over almost every obstacle on the trail. The internal battery in the down tube helps keep the center of gravity low, making the bike maneuverable—and its nine gears offer great range for all your mountain biking activities.
Key Specs
Wheel Size: 26 inches
Motor Type: Class 2: 350W rear hub
Battery: Removable 450Wh
Weight: 53 pounds
Claimed Range: 25-45 miles
E-bikes are great for seniors, since they can still get some exercise in but can also use the motor to aid them as they peddle. With smaller 26-inch wheels, the Nakto City Stroller is a little lower to the ground than some other models. That and the step-through design make it easier for senior to get on and off the bike.
Still, it has plenty of power, it throttles up to 20 mph and can peddle assist up to 25 mph. The removable battery can charge in-house or while you’re at work or shopping.
Key Specs
Wheel Size: 27.5 inches
Motor Type: Class 2: 250W rear hub
Battery: Internal, replaceable 288Wh
Weight: 56.76 pounds (L/XL)
Claimed Range: 35 miles
The Coston electric bike from Schwinn is an excellent choice for a step-through bicycle. It’s an easy-to-ride comfort cruiser bike with a front shock to increase comfort and a top throttle speed of 20 mph. It has a step-through frame, which makes it easy to get on and off the bike. It has up to 35 miles of range and it can fully charge in as little as 4 hours, faster than some of the other options here.
Key Specs
Wheel Size: 14 inches
Motor Type: Class 1: 250W rear hub
Battery: Internal, 280.8 Wh
Weight: 37 pounds
Claimed Range: 15.5 miles
If you’re looking for an e-bike for the last mile of your commute, or have minimal space in your office or home for a bike, the Swagcycle EB-5 is a great choice. This inexpensive e-bike folds up quickly for traveling on the subway, in elevators, and on buses. It has a top speed of 15 mph and a range of just over 15, miles making it an ideal bike for daily commuting.
Key Specs
Wheel Size: 26 inches
Motor Type: Class 2 or Class 3: 250W or 500W rear hub
Battery: On frame, 250Wh or 500Wh
Weight: 66 pounds
Claimed Range: 20 to 60 miles
The Around the Block women’s cruiser is an ideal bike for riding around town with some extra zip. Designed for comfort, the bike has wide handlebars and a soft seat, with reviewers giving it a 4.4-star average rating.
Key Specs
Wheel Size: 12 inches
Motor Type: 100W rear hub
Battery: Internal, 43.2 Wh
Weight: 17.6 pounds
Claimed Range: 6.2 miles
If you have a little one learning to ride, the Hiboy BK1 is definitely worth considering. This bike will help them learn to ride they way they would on a balance bike while getting them used to balancing without their feet on the ground. With a top speed of 9 mph, they can feel like they’re going fast without zooming too far ahead.