The 10 best electric bikes: Rad, Electra, Norco and more

To their credit, QuietKat offers the Apex in three sizes to fit a broad range of rider heights. QuietKat offers buyers a number of choices, including a motor upgrade and extended warranties, not to mention a vast selection of different accessories. We don’t often see Class 3 e-bikes that are unquestionably affordable, and even with the powerful Shengyi motor, the bike is spec’d with quality parts. When looking for the best blend of light weight and affordability, the XP Lite is tough to beat.

The Class 2 e-bike tops the assistance out at 20 mph, whether you get there by pedal-assist or a throttle. There’s a 7-speed Shimano Tourney drivetrain and five levels of e-assist, giving you various pedaling options. Of the e-bikes we put through our handling circuit, the Pace 350 felt the most balanced and planted on pavement and dirt. You don’t get lights or fenders, but the Pace 350 felt viable for daily commuting. With a 360Wh Schwinn eBike battery, you can expect ranges up to 45 miles on one charge.

The Schwinn Marshall is a step-through and standover hybrid designed for commuting and light adventuring. Putting the Marshall together takes about 30 minutes and isn’t difficult. It might take you a bit longer if you aren’t familiar with ebikes. A small, easy to use console is on the left side of the handlebar. It’s got 3 buttons, up down and a power/enter button in the middle.

At this point, a company called Pacific Cycle purchased Schwinn. Pacific Cycle was then purchased in 2004 by Dorel Industries, a leading investor in the bicycle industry. Dorel Industries houses all of its production plants in Taiwan or China to lower costs.

If you would be doing city riding and commutes, I don’t see why you need to go past that speed range anyway. To keep the speed at this level, the rear hub 250W motor will cut out once the top speed is reached . When commuting on even land and tarred roads, you would barely notice the vibration though.

Lectric eliminated the suspension fork, rack, fenders and multi-gear drivetrain to achieve a price anyone in the market for an e-bike can afford. You don’t have to be a bigger or taller rider to appreciate what the Himway Cruiser can do, but it definitely checks that particular box schwinn beach cruiser on our list of the best electric bikes. This is a very full-featured commuter with great lines, a powerful motor, front suspension and includes a commute-ready package with fenders, lights and rear rack. Its overall performance and utility has so far stood the test of time.

The throttle kept the bike moving, but as I neared the summit, the speed became so slow that I would have fallen over had I not started pedaling. That struck me as about right, for as I said before, I wasn’t looking for a free ride. I live in Southeastern Ohio, amid the Appalachian foothills, so most of the bike rides in my area are hilly. Thus, for my next ride, schwinn dealers I first headed for a local cemetery that sprawls over the top of a high hill and is accessed by a steep road. In fact, the graveyard provides a favorite vantage point for photographers wanting a shot of our town. The Kettle Valley includes full wrap front and rear fenders and a rear rack to keep you riding no matter the weather or tasks you need to accomplish.

Rad’s bikes have a distinct power profile that starts gentle and grows stronger as you pick up speed. Never once does it feel like it’ll jump out from under you. Add a dual battery setup and one of their basket options.

schwinn ebike

This design along with shock-absorbent tires and mechanical disc brakes make the Mendocino a very comfortable and controlled ride. In 2019, the company finally entered the electric bike market with a line of Schwinn eBikes for every type of rider. Now they are producing electric bikes with all of the quality and value for which the brand has come to be known. In real-world usage, this bike can reliably get up to 35 miles range with each charge as long as you don’t put too much load on the motor and you are not at the highest pedal assist level.

So with a small amount of assist, delivered beautifully from the Fazua motor I might add, you actually see modest speed increases that offset the weight of the bike and then some. Smaller riders, particularly those riders less than 5 feet 5 inches tall face a real challenge when shopping for an e-bike. Most e-bikes are built in a size well-suited to someone 5 feet 10 inches, but the quality of that fit drops the more someone deviates from that height. A cargo e-bike is really only as useful as its accessories allow it to do all the things we might do by car. The Cero One comes equipped with lights, fenders and—most important—a rear rack and a front platform.