Some were counter-intuitive to use and required a lot of force.Ĭomfort Each electric bike was rode on a variety of surfaces, from smooth tarmac to bumpy woodland paths. Ride qualityĮach of the five testers adjusted the seat and handles of each e-bike to their preferred position, and evaluated the ride quality of each model for:ĭisplay and motor controls The best displays were clear and easy to read while cycling, and the controls to adjust the assistance level were easy to reach and pressīrakes While brakes can be adjusted, some brakes out of the box were less noisy and grating than others, and some felt weaker than others, needing more compression before the brakes engaged.Ĭhanging gears The best electric bikes had gear shifters that were easy to locate and use while cycling. The best electric bikes could still be easily controlled at low speeds, whereas some motors kicked in so strong it was hard to remain within the tight turning circle. If this assistance is too strong, the e-bike feels almost like it is rocking back and forth (like a yo-yo).Ĭornering at low speeds Each tester tried staying within a six-metre turning circle while pedalling at low speeds. If you cycle around 15.5mph the motor will frequently start and stop providing power as you go below and above 15.5mph. Yo-yoing Related to smoothness of cut out. The best electric bikes taper off the amount of power they deliver, so when you reach this speed you don't feel the motor cut out. Smoothness of cut out All e-bikes in the UK stop delivering assistance once you reach 15.5mph. The best delivered the power smoothly, feeling like you're riding a normal bike easily rather than a motorbike. Smoothness of power delivery The worst e-bikes felt like they launched you off at a set speed no matter how hard you pedal or your speed. Motor performanceĪs well as testing up hills, a panel of five testers of various heights (within each bike's specified range) and genders tested each electric bike and evaluated the motor on the following:Īcceleration The best e-bikes don't just accelerate fast, they do it smoothly, cranking up the power delivered so it doesn't feel like you're being launched, and keeping the rider feeling comfortable and in control. We repeated this multiple times to get an accurate and reliable measure of how quickly each e-bike could brake. We measured the stopping distance of each electric bike after our 70kg tester got each bike up to 15.5mph. We repeated this multiple times to get an accurate and reliable measure of each bike's acceleration.įive testers also rode each bike and evaluated how smooth each electric bike's acceleration was. AccelerationĮach electric bike was ridden by the same tester, weighing 70kg, and timed to see how quickly it can travel 30 metres from a standing start. The best electric bikes could get up and hill start on all slopes, while the worst could only just make it up the shallowest gradient. Bikes were put in their highest assistance level and lowest gear to make sure the motor was putting in the work, not the tester.Įach bike was tested to see how well it could climb each gradient with a run up and if they could perform a hill start on each gradient. Assist Hybrid Electric BikeĮach bike was ridden up Brooklands Test Hill, which has fixed and accurate gradients of 12.5% to 25%. Join Which? now to get instant access to our verdicts and Best Buy recommendations below. If you're not yet a member, you'll see an alphabetically ordered list of those we've tested. Only logged-in Which? members can view the electric bike test results below.
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Travel smart - get our free Travel newsletter and start planning better holidays Prices and availability last checked: 4 August 2022. If your budget can stretch a bit further, we've also tested e-bike motors commonly found on pricier bikes to help you narrow down your search. We found big differences between how smoothly each bike accelerates, which can get up steep hills and how comfortable they were to ride. In May 2022, we tested the most popular cheaper models (£2,200 or less) from top brands and retailers, including Giant, Halfords, Trek to find out which is the best if you're on a budget.
They range in price from £500 to more than £5,000. The best electric bikes (e-bikes) help you go further, faster and for longer, provide a smooth ride and make hills easier to climb.
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