When it comes to extreme comfort for the road or extreme handling for the trail, it’s hard to beat the benefits of full-suspension electric bikes. I’ve tested a pile of them for Electrek and now I’m compiling the list of my top 5 full-suspension e-bikes for summer 2020!
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The moped or minibike form factor for e-bikes has become a breakout success this year. A wave of new models has poured out from every corner of the e-bike industry, giving us exciting new options to choose from. I’ve been fortunate enough to test a pile of these types of e-bikes, and now I’m compiling my list of the Top 5 that you need to see!
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Day6 is a bike company on the path to electrify their bike lineup. Although the bike is made for accessibility, the detail that has gone into the geometry and design really shine through in a race-car feeling.
What happens when you mix cruiser bike styling with a mountain bike fork and motorcycle-level hydraulic brakes? Oh, and when you slap on a 1,250 W peak motor for good measure? You get the Model R from the aptly-named Electric Bike Company.
I visited the company’s hometown of Newport Beach, California to see this new e-bike in person and put it through its paces.
The GoTrax XR Elite is the newest budget-minded electric scooter from GoTrax. And at the silly low price of $399, the GoTrax XR Elite is as affordable as it is whelming. Which is to say, quite.
The Ariel Rider D-Class Scrambler electric bike is one of the most powerful, thrilling e-bikes I’ve ridden in a long time. And the fact that it has a fresh mini-bike look only adds to the charm.
Fast electric scooters like the 5,400W Wolf Warrior from FluidFreeRide are serious machines made for serious fun. These are purpose-designed scooters that are built like a tank with the proper suspension, brakes, and other components to (relatively) safely get that power to the ground and still bring you home for dinner.
VanMoof, the Dutch company that specializes in very futuristic Dutch-style electric bikes has a new $2,000 S3 model that we’ve had a few weeks to take for a spin. While we marveled at a lot of the design and technology of this prototype bike, I can conclude that it isn’t for everyone, particularly if you’ve got long steep hills to conquer or want to travel above 20mph.
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Haibike, a worldwide locally sold electric bike brand, carves a place in the middle of the road with the flexible Sduro Trekking 4.0.
In the past, Haibike carried about 50 different models in a variety of sizes, component level, tire size, and frame option. Lately, they’ve reduced their USA offering to less than 20 models, and I think it’s a change for the better. One of the models that made the cut is the quite flexible model called the Sduro Trekking 4.0.
The Fiido D11 folding electric bicycle just launched last week on Indiegogo for pre-order at $799. That’s an awesome price for a slick-looking e-bike, but who really knows in advance if a new product launched on Indiegogo is bang or bust?
So I talked to the company and convinced them to send me one of the only Fiido D11s in existence so that I could put it through its paces to determine if it was worth the price.
[Update: The Fiido D11 Indiegogo campaign has ended and the bike is now on sale here.]
The Apollo Explore electric scooter features a high top speed, big battery, comfortable suspension, and folds for storage. And if that wasn’t good enough, we’ve got a coupon code for you below to get free stuff with the scooter!
But first, let’s check out what makes the Apollo Explore such a great scooter for both work and play.
After spending a month or two locked up during the COVID-19 pandemic, people have turned to e-bikes en masse as a way to get out of the house and engage in social distancing fun. While many of the best electric bikes on Amazon have been sold out for weeks, one of the few remaining good options is still hanging in there: the Ecotric 500W fat tire electric bike.
The UHVO is a dual-suspension electric mountain bike that costs just $1,199 shipped. It’s common in the industry for a dual-suspension model to be priced an additional $700 to $1,200 over the hardtail version with the same equipment. It’s kind of hard for me to fathom that this bike company EUNORAU, is able to profit from selling and shipping this bike after all the costs are considered. Someday I might find out, but for now, this is the lowest price I’ve seen for a full-sized, full-suspension e-bike.
The Spectra X from Walnutt is not your standard electric skateboard. It uses bodyweight shifting instead of a hand remote to control acceleration and braking.
Does it work? Definitely. Is it odd feeling? Also definitely.
The Fiido L2 doesn’t look like a standard e-bike, at least not the kinds that we are used to in the West. Instead, it adopts a design that has become immensely popular in East Asia by sporting smaller wheels, moped-style suspension, a huge battery, and seating for two.
After testing out the e-bike myself, I can see why the design is so popular over there, and why it just might work well here in the West as well.
The FREY AM1000 electric mountain bike is something of an enigma. You might not know it by looking at it, but the unassuming electric mountain bike is packing more power than almost any other e-bike and has the suspension required to elegantly navigate even the most technical terrain.
If the AM1000 was an olympic athlete, it’d be both a powerlifter and a figure skater. And it’d medal in both.
Amazon is great for so many things. But can you get a decent electric bicycle for an ultra-budget price? That’s exactly what I set out to discover when I ordered the Nakto 26″ Cargo Electric Bike.
It’s not really a cargo bike, at least not in the stretched out utility way you’re probably used to. But hey, it includes a front basket and rear rack, plus lights and fenders, all for the cool price of $599. How bad could it be?
The UNI MK Classic from UrbanDrivestyle is a frontrunner in the electric mini-bike market. Despite the hard classic motorcycle look and rugged features, the bike has a soft side that was the focus of my attention. Electric mini-bikes are pouring onto the public at a very fast rate. Without even getting into the actual electric motorcycles that sometimes blur the lines, just the bicycle flavor is already becoming a neighborhood favorite.
I have frequently written about the benefits of electric motorcycles and how they can play a large role in saving our cities from pollution and congestion. But as beneficial as they are, there are two major factors holding back large scale electric motorcycle adoption: high sticker prices and a general fear/skittishness of motorcycles. That’s why I believe that smaller, urban electric motorcycles like the CSC City Slicker are such an interesting part of the market. They offer the approachability of an electric bicycle or scooter but with high enough speed and power to actually serve as a true city/suburban commuter vehicle.
Oh yea, and they’re ridiculously affordable.
Electra, a US nationwide brand with representation in local bike stores, specializes in cruiser bikes and the laid-back lifestyle. The Cafe Moto Go! model is their foray into a high-end cafe racer, and it expectedly hits the mark right on. While it’s not the fastest bike out there, it certainly delivers with comfort, quality, and style. With the added benefit of local support and reliable resale value, the bike has a secure place in the local markets, for those willing to spend the extra money for a high-end cruiser.
Unlike the legions of interesting but questionably vaporware concept electric motorcycles floating around the internet these days, the Zero SR/F is a powerful, sporty bike that you can actually find in dealerships. It combines high power with an aggressive ride that is sure to turn a boring commute into an ear-to-ear grinning experience.
Super73 is all about the laid-back, Southern California style. These electric bikes place an emphasis on the mini-bike styling and give the feel of zooming around town on an electric moped or motorbike. But with many of the full-featured Super73 e-bikes starting at $2k or more, I wanted to see if you could get the same kind of experience on the $1,150 Super73-Z1, which is the company’s entry level model.
It seems Rad Power Bikes has an e-bike for just about everything. Need to haul a ton of cargo? They have a bike for that. Need a fat tire e-bike for crushing trails? They’ve got that, too. Need an efficient, powerful commuter e-bike? Then you’re also in luck, because that’s what we’re reviewing today. The RadCity 4 electric bike is the ultimate commuter e-bike from Rad Power Bikes.
Let’s dive in and see if this e-bike is right for you. Oh, and stick around, because we’ll also share with you an exclusive deal to get a free $100 accessory with the bike.
The M2S All Terrain R750 sits in the sweet spot of off-road, comfort, and commuting. The price is great, too, starting at $1,499 (early adopter pricing has concluded).
M2S has made great choices on components and price, making a down-to-business bike without adding frills that often bulk up the price. The R750 has a plentiful amount of electric power, which is paired especially well with the size.