How much should you pay for a good electric bike?

The price of a good e-bike varies widely on several factors, the biggest of which are the type of e-bike and its range. Reputable commuter e-bikes range from $2,000 to $5,500. Mountain e-bikes are usually more expensive, typically between $3,500 and $10,000 (but can go well beyond this point), due to their more robust construction and advanced features. 

High-performance e-bikes, designed for speed and longer ranges, can exceed $5,000. Higher-quality batteries and motors make a difference in prices as well. A bike with a high-capacity battery (over 500 Wh) and a powerful motor (250W or more) would cost more. So a ‘good’ or reputable electric bike for general use ranges from $2,000 to $8,000 (from Benno, Serial 1, Specialized, etc), while E-MTBs and more specialized models (Giant, Trek, Orbea) can be significantly more expensive, on average between $3,500 and $10,000.

What Makes For The Best E-Bike?

The best E-bike is the one that suits your needs and budget. For commuters and city riders, a simple hybrid/commuter is all you need, but if you need to carry a lot of extras like children or groceries, then a cargo E-bike with racks and bags will be more useful. For road, gravel, and mountain bikers, the choice will be between lightweight E-bikes that have less power but look and feel more like regular bikes, or full-power E-bikes that are heavier but provide more pedal assistance and have bigger batteries. 

E-bikes are also divided into classes, which refer to the level of motor assistance and the bike’s top speed:

• Class 1: Pedal-assist only. The motor provides assistance up to 20mph.
• Class 2: Pedal-assist mode up to 20mph and a throttle-powered mode.
• Class 3: Pedal-assist only. The motor provides assistance up to 28mph.

Most cyclists will be looking for Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes that are pedal-assist only. Many bike trails in the U.S. only allow pedal-assist e-bikes (check your local e-bike laws!). The main difference between Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes is the “top speed” of 20mph vs. 28mph. After hitting that top speed, the motor will stop helping you. Most riders will only need a Class 1 E-bike but if you’re regularly riding among car traffic or you just like going faster, then a Class 3 will give you an extra boost.

Why are e-bikes not allowed on trails?

While there is no overall restriction on e-bikes across all trails and countries, there are some restrictions based on individual trail systems, counties, and parks, as well as by the class of e-bike. Restrictions on trail riding with e-bikes are not the norm, but where they do occur, they’re in place to ensure rider safety (the e-bike rider and others) and preservation of trails. 

Most commonly, these restrictions are for mountain bike trails where hikers and busy traffic are common occurrences. They’re also almost exclusively about either class 2 (throttle-assisted) or class 3 e-bikes (higher speed). Be sure to check local regulations and sign postings to ensure you’re clear to ride your e-bike.

Trek Electric Bikes

Trek is one of our most popular E-bike brands and its E-bikes models cover a wide range of from commuting to road to gravel to cross-country, trail, and enduro mountain biking. Trek uses industry-leading Bosch motors in its full-power E-bikes and TQ motors in its lightweight E-bikes.  

Specialized Electric Bikes

Specialized is the other major superpower in the E-bike space and it’s carved out its own space in the category with its own Specialized branded motors and batteries. Nearly every commuter, road, gravel, cross-country, trail, and enduro mountain bike option comes in a standard full-power variant and a lightweight “SL” variant. Read our complete Specialized Bikes Buyer's Guide.

Budget E-MTBs: Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy vs. Trek Rail 5 - From TPC's Magazine

Electric mountain bikes (E-MTBs) have revolutionized the way we approach trail riding. With motorized assistance for tough climbs and impressive descending capabilities, E-MTBs equipped with burly components and ample travel are super popular among trail and enduro riders looking to maximize the amount of laps or fun they can get in on a single ride. Read the full article here.

The Best E-Bikes For Beginners - For Commuter, Road & Mountain Applications - From TPC's Magazine

E-bikes make you feel like a cycling superhero. They allow you to go faster and use less energy, and they are perfect for tackling everything from a daily commute to big adventure rides. Best of all, they’re just plain fun. Read the full article here.

View our related product listing pages: e-bikes on sale

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