Yuba Spicy Curry
Go big or go home with the Yuba Spicy Curry. This is the largest of the e-bikes we’ve amassed in this collection, and it’s for the serious commuter or the person who does all of his or her shopping by bike. Even Costco runs are possible for the Spicy Curry’s powerful electric motor and the massive cargo-ready space on the bike’s sides and back. It can seat your younger kids, with low rails on the side, and features LED lights so you and your passengers stay safe. Of course, this is a bike that needs an electric boost unless you can push seriously massive watts, but thankfully, it comes with the Currie Centerdrive 500-watt motor that can make the bike go up to 28 miles per hour.
Price: $4,200
Info: yubabikes.com
Do e-bikes still give you a workout? Check out this video and find out:
Yuba Spicy Curry, $4200.00
Faraday Porteur
This is truly the most fashionable of the e-bikes we’ve assembled. For a hipster-stylized, commuter workhorse, the Faraday Porteur is hard to beat. It’s fairly inexpensive—for an e-bike—at $3,499, looks sleek and streamlined, and rides smoothly. Perhaps best of all, it doesn’t look like a traditional e-bike: Instead, it appears to be a singlespeed, although it features an internal eight-speed hub and a Gates belt drive for stealthy shifting. It’s an excellent commuter bike because it’s easy enough to pedal without the e-assist, but with it, you’ll zoom along without breaking a sweat. As a bonus, you can order this bike from the comfort of your own home on Faraday’s site, where you can customize the color and select accessories. If price is an issue, check out some of the more budget-friendly options like the Porteur S, which starts at $2,800.
Price: $3,499
Info: faradaybikes.com
Faraday Porteur, $3499.00
Elby Bike
If you’re sharing an e-bike in one household—for running errands or just for fun—the Elby Bike is a great fit, since it’s the only one-size-fits-all e-bike on the market, and its step-through design is claimed to be great for people from five feet to six-and-a-half feet tall. It’s not the snazziest-looking bike (though it’s available in a few different colors), but the robot-style accoutrements make up for the less-than-exciting exterior. A high intensity Super Nova lighting system provides outstanding visibility from the front and back of the bike, while a built-in rear carrier with an integrated fender handles most panniers or saddle bags and loads up to 40 pounds. And the Elby App is a great bonus; it can be used with iOS devices for additional functionality and control, including navigation and even phone charging.
Price: $3,699
Info: elbybike.com
Elby Bike, $3700.00
At a Glance
- 500-watt BionX power system
- up to 50-mile range, with top speed of 20 mph
- integrated front and rear lights and USB charger
- fits riders from 5-feet to 6-foot-5
Italjet Ascot
Do you love vintage motorcycles? Then we have the e-bike for you! The Italjet Ascot is a gorgeously classy model, with retro-chic styling that includes leather handlebar tape, a built-in storage bag, and brown bubble tires. Still not enough glamour for you? A gold chain completes the package. Naturally, it has a leather Brooks Flyer saddle, too. Even the lights look vintage, but nothing about how this bike handles makes it feel old. It can get up to 15 miles per hour with the help of the battery—the rest is all your leg power. If you always wanted a Vespa but couldn’t justify a full-blown scooter, this is one step cooler.
Price: $5,025
Info: italjet.com
Italjet Ascot, $5025.00
Trek XM700+
This aluminum commuter bike is all business, but it’s one of the most versatile e-bikes available. With a Bosch Performance Speed motor housed around the bottom bracket, the center of balance is lower for stability, comfort, and control, even at speeds up to 28 miles per hour. It makes errands easier and won’t stand out when locked in front of a building, thanks to a low-key, matte black paint scheme. And if you ride at night, Super Nova headlights illuminate your way for safety at high speeds.
Price: $3,500
Info: trekbikes.com
Trek XM700+, $3500.00
Cannondale Contro-E
This all-black e-bike looks futuristic in design, from the handlebars to the Shimano Alfine drivetrain, and its tech is pretty far ahead, too. This Contro-E has Cannondale’s classic Lefty fork (a rigid one) and 2.35-inch Schwalbe tires hefty enough to do urban battle with potholes and the occasional shards of glass. Full front and rear fenders make it a rainy day machine, and a Bosch engine gives you a bit of boost when your morning coffee hasn’t yet kicked in during your commute.
Price: $3,730
Info: cannondale.com
Cannondale Contro-E, $3730.00
Haibike XDURO FatSix RC
Fat e-bikes might seem excessive to some, but we sort of love the concept—especially for riding in deep sand or powder. In addition to being over-the-top and on-trend, the bike has some awesome features, and the fact that Haibike has been on the market with its sporty electronic assist mountain bike line since 2009 (and has been constantly refining it) speaks to the demand for e-bikes. The FatSix is just one of the ultra-niche e-bikes which Haibike offers. (There’s even a dual suspension mountain e-bike in the line.) The bikes are designed and built specially to be e-bikes, not just mountain bikes with motors slapped on. The FatSix features a Bosch motor and an Xduro crankset.
Price: $4,145
Info: haibikeusa.com
Haibike XDURO FatSix RC, $4145.00
Kalkhoff Sahel Compact Impulse 8R HS
If you live in an apartment or small house that's short on space, consider the Kalkhoff, which is one of the lightest and most compact e-bikes on the market, thanks to folding pedals and swiveling handlebars. That makes it easy to store it flush with the wall in a hallway or on the train, and an internally-geared eight-speed hub makes it cleaner than your average bike. It’s also easily adjustable and one-size-fits-all thanks to handlebars and an extra long seat post that both adjust in a snap. It comes with a two-year warranty, which helps justify the expense of a new bike. Motor speeds top out at 20 miles per hour, and it lasts for a long time—up to 85 miles! At 50 pounds, it’s one of the lightest models available; making it more reasonable to pedal on its own if the battery wears out mid-ride.
Price: $3,499
Info: kalkhoff-bikes.com
Kalkhoff Sahel Compact Impulse 8R HS, $3499.00
Riide E-bike Rental Program
If you’re e-bike-curious and want to see how one will fit into your life or just don’t have the up-front capital to buy an e-bike, Riide has a solution: rent an e-bike by the month. The company only one eponymous model. It's lighter than most at around 40 pounds, can go up to 20 miles per hour, and has a battery charge that lasts 25 miles, while taking only two hours to re-charge. It also comes in badass black. Renting the Riide gives you your own Riide electric bike, theft insurance, a charger and lock, unlimited maintenance (in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA only, sadly), but it does involve a 12-month commitment. After two years, you can upgrade to the latest model and keep renting, or stop paying rent and own the Riide.
Price: $79/month or $1,999 to buy
Info: riide.com
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Riide E-bike Rental Program, $1999.00
Stromer ST1 Platinum
The Stromer ST1 Platinum may look less decked out than the other models, but this e-bike is pretty high-tech. It looks like something a Storm Trooper might pilot and has a futuristic computer readout to go with it—showing speed, odometer, trip time, and battery level, among other things. The battery is built into the down tube, and the speed tops out at 28 miles per hour. It also has fender and rack mounts if you want to make it a great commuter bike in the winter and can go up to 55 miles on a single charge.
Price: $4,399
Info: stromerbike.com
Stromer ST1 Platinum, $4399.00
Raleigh Detour iE Step Through
Raleigh’s gone electronic with the Detour iE, which is designed to make urban riding ultra-easy. Toodle around town or blast to work at up to 20 miles per hour with the 250-watt electronic assist motor. The niftiest feature on this machine is the way the battery for the motor is positioned: sitting in a rear rack, so it blends into the classic step-through frame style. It’s admittedly not the sexiest of the e-bikes out there, but at under $2,700, it’s one of the cheaper, well-made options available on the market.
Price: $2,699
More: raleighusa.com
Raleigh Detour iE Step Through, $2699.00
