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Come rain or shine, these power-assisted pedals will get you there quicker
Looking for the best electric bike? Take the weight off your feet once in a while by joining the pedelec revolution. These clever, commuter-friendly machines are becoming a familiar sight on our roads and by-ways, helped in part by the soaring cost of running a car.
There are all sorts of designs out there, from folders to ultra-cool beach cruiser designs. And they’re for fun, family rides too, not just for heading to work.
Don’t let anyone tell you that e-biking is cheating, either. You’re still pedalling, just with a little assistance when you need it. In fact, you're more likely to cover more miles than those people riding 'ordinary' pedal cycles.
E-bikes come in all shapes and sizes, from racers through to huge cargo luggers. For exploring or commuting, most riders will find a hybrid-style machine with flat handlebars and room for mudguards and a rack to be the ideal solution.
European-style step-through frames are also proving very popular, especially among people who like to wear ordinary clothes on their rides. There are even folding e-bikes that are perfect if you have limited storage space at home or wish to take your bike further afield in a car or on the train. Some have the motor mid-mounted – down at the cranks and pedals – while others have it built into either the rear or front wheel.
When buying your bike, bear in mind that some have a removable battery, while others have the power-pack incorporated into the frame. If you’ll be leaving your bike outside or in a garage, you’re better off buying one with a removable battery so you can bring it inside for charging and to protect it from extreme weather.
To stay on the right side of the law, the motor must only kick in while you're pedalling and it must switch off when you hit 15.5mph. You are not legally required to wear a helmet, but e-bike riders must be aged over 14 and lights and reflectors must be used if you're riding in the dark.
Third-party insurance isn’t a requirement, although for peace of mind it’s a great idea to join an organisation such as British Cycling or Cycling UK to take advantage of their legal cover, just in case you are ever involved in an accident.
Our selection of e-bikes were vigorously tested over a variety of surfaces including tarmac, potholed ground, dirt and gravel paths, and up and down hills. We looked at battery-charging time and range, gear changing, manoeuvrability and how responsive we found the brakes. We also considered the comfort offered by the saddle and handlebars on different terrain.
Out of the bikes we tested, here are the five which made the cut, meaning these are the ones worth investing in for a hassle-free ride.
Type of motor: 250w, rear hub
Range on full charge: 65 miles
Inject some fun into your pedalling with this beach cruiser-type bike that’s perfect for holiday fun and laid-back exploring. You’ll get amazing comfort from those big 'balloon' tyres but the downside is there’s a little more drag than with other bikes in our line-up. But that’s not really a problem thanks to the powerful Bosch hub-mounted motor.
Our testers loved the fantastic frame and LED display showing the battery charge level. The twist-grip gear changer wasn’t such a huge hit with them, though. It’s not really a bike for commuting – more for having fun and pottering about.
Type of motor: Bosch mid-mounted
Range on full charge: 32 miles
Frame size: XS, S, M, L
Step-through bikes like this are everywhere in Europe. That frame design makes it really easy to get on or off, while features such as a covered chain and hub gears mean you won’t have to worry about getting oil on your clothes. The addition of suspension forks, hydraulic brakes and fat tyres make for a plush, safe ride, although they do add to the weight.
The built-in display seemed to over-estimate the battery life a little, but we found it surprisingly easy to manoeuvre for such a big bike. Our test model came with a European-type plug and mainly German instructions, but it didn’t take too long to work out how things operated.
Type of motor: 250w, rear hub
Range on full charge: 50 miles
Frame size: S/M, M/L
The Impel, from high street giants Halfords, must be one of the most popular e-bikes on our streets. We loved the combination of a comfortable saddle and plush ride, and it will tackle anything from roads through to smoother bridleways.
You can swap between three levels of motor assistance, depending on how energetic you feel, and there’s a display for data such as speed and remaining charge. The mechanical disc brakes weren’t quite as powerful as hydraulic ones, and it would have been nice to have somewhere to keep a water bottle. You can fit a luggage rack and mudguards for year-round load lugging, though.
Type of motor: Bosch mid-mounted
Range on full charge: 100 miles
Frame size: 46cm, 47cm, 51cm, 53cm, 56cm, 57cm
This is a practical step-through design that features a high-quality, powerful Bosch mid-mounted motor. It was a joy to ride on a range of surfaces including gravel paths. The hub gears are smooth and easy to use and, of course, there’s no derailleur system to knock out of place.
Extra features include a fold-out stand, trouser friendly covered chainset and luggage rack. The motor was very quiet and the hydraulic disc brakes were great. For a relatively heavy bike, its range of up to 100 miles is impressive. We would change the saddle, though – our testers found it a little uncomfortable.
Type of motor: 250w, rear hub
Range on full charge: 60 miles
It’s great to see walk-assist on this fairly weighty machine. It makes it much easier to wheel around when you’re not riding. On request, the motor gives a little bit of input when pushing it on pavements or in pedestrian areas. We sometimes found the Volt a little unwieldy in slow traffic, but it felt sturdy and well-built with amazing brakes.
You can remove the battery for charging, so you won’t need to haul the whole machine inside your home. For extra security there’s a fob to activate the electronics, plus a Dutch-style lock on the rear wheel. The addition of a luggage rack, mudguards and lights make it great value, too.