Electric Bikes: A Comprehensive Guide to the Different Types and Models Available

When it comes to electric bikes, there are many different types and models available to suit various needs and preferences. In this article, we will delve into the world of e-bikes and explore some of the most popular options.

One of the most popular types of electric bikes is the Rad E-Bike. The Rad E-Bike is a great option for those who want a reliable and affordable e-bike. It has a larger frame that allows for more storage options, making it ideal for carrying groceries or even a child passenger. The Rad E-Bike also features a suspension seat post, which provides a comfortable riding experience.

Another popular type of electric bike is the Magnum Payload. The Magnum Payload is designed for heavy-duty use and features a rear rack and front basket, making it perfect for commuting or running errands. It also has a suspension seat post, allowing riders to enjoy a smooth ride without feeling any bumps or jolts. One of the best things about the Magnum Payload is that it can be easily adjusted without tools, making it easy to customize to your needs.

For those who want to experience the thrill of an electric motor bike, there are some fantastic options available. These bikes are often designed to resemble motorcycles and feature thick frames and low seats, but they function more like mopeds with their advanced technology and powerful motors. Electric Motor Bikes, as they're known, are becoming increasingly popular due to their comfort, performance, and style.

One of the most popular electric motor bike brands is Super 73. The Super 73 S2 is a top-of-the-line model that features a full suspension system for off-road riding, but is ideal for urban environments. For those on a budget, there's the Super 73 R model, which offers many of the same features at a lower price point. Another great option is the Juice Bike Scrambler, which offers many of the same features as the Super 73 S2 at an affordable price.

For most people, Electric Bikes are the best option. They offer a convenient and comfortable way to get around without having to worry about traffic or parking. Many electric bike brands offer a range of models at different price points, but for those looking for the ultimate e-bike experience, expect to spend at least $2,500.

Mountain E-Bikes: A Niche Category

While mountain bikes are popular among serious cyclists, there's also a growing market for mountain e-bikes. These bikes feature powerful motors and advanced suspension systems, making them perfect for navigating rugged terrain. One of the most affordable options is the EVR Magnum MI6, which costs around $1,800.

However, if you're looking for the best-of-the-best, be prepared to spend a significant amount of money. The Specialized Turbo Levo SL Expert Carbon is an exceptional e-bike that features advanced technology and premium materials. With a price tag of $9,025, it's one of the most expensive e-bikes on the market.

Road Bikes: Designed for Speed

For serious cyclists who want to experience the thrill of riding long distances at high speeds, road bikes are the way to go. These bikes are designed to be light, aerodynamic, and comfortable, making them perfect for racing or commuting. However, they can also be more expensive than other types of e-bikes.

One of the most affordable options is the IGO Electric Aspire Chameleon, which costs around $2,500. This bike features a hub motor that makes it relatively affordable, but still provides an excellent riding experience.

For those who want to experience the ultimate in road biking, consider the Bulls Desert Falcon Evo or the Super 73 R model. Both of these bikes offer exceptional performance and style, but are more expensive than some other options on the market.

Trikes: A Stable Option

If you're looking for a stable and comfortable e-bike that's perfect for commuting or running errands, consider a trike. Trikes come in two different types: delta trikes with two wheels in back and one in front, and tadpole trikes with two front wheels.

Delta trikes are often more maneuverable than tadpole trikes, but can be less stable. Tadpole trikes, on the other hand, offer excellent stability and cornering capabilities. One of the most popular brands for trikes is Electric Bike Technologies, which offers a range of models to suit different needs and preferences.

The EcoTad is a great option for those who want to experience the comfort and stability of a trike without breaking the bank. With a price tag of around $2,000, it's an affordable option that's perfect for commuting or running errands.

Conclusion

With so many options available in the world of electric bikes, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your needs. From Rad E-Bikes to Super 73 motorbikes, there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking for comfort, style, or performance, there's an e-bike out there that's perfect for you.

In this article, we've explored some of the most popular types and models of electric bikes available. From commuter-friendly options like the Magnum Payload to high-performance road bikes like the Bulls Desert Falcon Evo, there's something for everyone in the world of e-bikes.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enbuying an electric bike can be a daunting experience there's a lot to consider and plenty of options at a variety of price points not to mention e-bikes aren't cheap and if you're going to spend your hard-earned money on one you better make sure you get what you need that's where i come in in this video i'm going to help you narrow down your options by going over different kinds of e-bikes and the type of rider they suit best i'll make some recommendations for specific bikes as i go along all of which you can find in the description below all i ask in return is that you give this video a nice thumbs up to let us know that you found it helpful alright we've got a lot to cover so let's get started before you even think about opening your browser to look at e-bikes you have to answer some important questions for yourself let's start with an obvious one how and where will you be riding when i bought my first e-bike i thought i was going to be zipping around town on it all the time to run errands or go grab a bite to eat but that wasn't the reality of my lifestyle and soon after i bought it i realized it was not going to replace my car take some time and think about the reasons you're buying an e-bike and the area you'll be riding in are you going to be using it to commute for fun or both what types of surfaces will you be riding on will you be riding alone or with others and be honest with yourself you might even realize that an e-bike isn't actually what you're looking for in that case you're welcome for saving you some money but please keep watching until the end all right now that i've got you dreaming about your perfect e-bike let's talk about some more specific features you'll want to think about like range and power these two options can make a huge difference in how much money you spend on an e-bike if you only want an e-bike to cruise around your neighborhood perhaps you can save some money here by choosing a bike that can only travel 15 to 20 miles as opposed to 30 to 40 you can save yourself hundreds of dollars i'll warn you though owning an e-bike may alter your idea of what you considered to be far because of how easy and fun they are to ride 15 miles used to seem like a journey to me but now that's just a quick leisurely ride after work most e-bike brands will give you some type of estimate of how many miles the bike can travel on a single charge but it's usually a super high number that you'd only get under the most perfect riding conditions this is where some of those questions you answered earlier come in handy if you live in a hilly area and are planning on using a lot of pedal assist or throttle you might only get half of the range of e-bike claims it has you should also consider the climate you'll be riding in colder weather can impact a battery's performance and range at the very least you should look at the battery's voltage and amp hours to make sure it's powerful enough for you usually manufacturers will list a power rating for the motor like 750 watts but again it's often broad to account for a variety of factors like nominal and peak power here's a fun little trick you can get a better idea of the bike's actual power by multiplying the battery's voltage by its amp hours which gives you its density in watt hours you can then divide that by 20 watt hours or the typical cost of riding a mile which will give you an estimated range but again your specific riding conditions will affect that so i suggest overcompensating by 5 to 10 miles when you're shopping around which brings me to motors there's pretty much two types hub drive and mid-drive hub drive motors are usually located in the center of the rear tire though there are some e-bikes that have front hub drive motors they're most commonly used because they get better range on flatter surfaces and are cheaper than mid-drive motors mid-drive motors are more powerful and efficient making them great for mountain biking or off-road riding they're usually much more expensive though in addition to pedal assist many e-bikes also have gears which give you more control over the resistance you feel when pedaling just like a traditional bicycle they also help with tackling hills the way i look at the difference between your pedal assist and gears is the pedal assist will limit your maximum speed while gears help you dial in how hard you want a pedal to get up to that speed if you're looking for an e-bike you could also use for exercise then definitely consider a bike with gears one of the most overlooked features on an e-bike spec sheet is the type of sensors the motors use to determine how much power to distribute and when this has a huge impact on the way the bike feels when you ride and many manufacturers don't even list it the two types are torque and cadence sensors cadence sensors simply determine whether you're pedaling or not and torque sensors measure the actual force you get by pedaling and outputs power accordingly many e-bikes have both which give a smoother experience when the motor kicks in but some bikes especially cheaper ones only have cadence sensors which can make it feel a bit jerky when starting the pedal i highly recommend you test ride a few different bikes before making a final purchase to get a feel for how they ride both while pedaling constantly and in short bursts you can get a powerful e-bike with great range at a pretty affordable price but comfort is where it's worth some extra investment especially if you plan on racking up a lot of miles first if the e-bike you're buying has a standard bike seat you should just go ahead and plan on replacing that you'll notice very quickly how uncomfortable stock bike seats get after about 15 to 20 minutes of riding if you can swap the saddle without replacing the seat post you can get a pretty comfortable one for less than 50 dollars otherwise you may need to replace the post as well i'll leave a link to the saddle and seat post i'm currently using down in the description below next you should see if the bike has a rear suspension system there's many affordable models with front suspension which will ease some of the stress on your hands and arms while you ride but you can expect to spend more if you want a bike with a decent rear suspension if you'll be riding on bumpy roads or you get back pains easily a rear suspension system will make a huge difference however if that gets the price out of your budget you could upgrade to a suspension seat post which will add a little extra comfort lastly ergonomics the rider's height and weight will play a big factor here are you able to get proper leg extension when you pedal do you have to hunch over too much to hold on to the handlebars some e-bikes are designed more for style than comfort and some manufacturers offer a variety of sizes for each model next question is one i wish i had thought more about when i bought my first e-bike where am i going to store it it's fun to get lost thinking of the time you're going to spend riding your electric bike that it's easy to overlook the time you won't be riding it however some e-bikes are pretty bulky and heavy ranging from 26 to over 100 pounds which can present some challenges to those of us that live in apartments consider where you're going to keep your bike overnight and how you're going to charge it because e-bikes have electrical systems it's often recommended that you store it inside protected from the elements if you have a garage with space to keep it charged up and ready to go then you're living the dream otherwise you may need to look for an option that's more compact or lighter but it's not just about the bike you also want to make sure you're buying from a good company with great customer service now that buying a bike online is as common as ordering a tv you should feel confident in knowing that if there are any problems like it's damaged in shipping or it's missing parts the company will stand by their product and resolve the issue as quickly as possible i mean it sucks paying that much money for something getting really excited for it to ride and then not getting to use it for weeks because of some issue with so many e-bike brands popping up these days it's also not a bad idea to buy from one you believe will continue to be around for a while or at least until the end of your warranty but if you find the company you bought from isn't as reliable as you'd like it's nice to buy from a brand that has a strong community of writers facebook groups and message boards can be a great resource for getting help finding out about cool accessories and mods or even meeting up for some group rides alright one more pre-shopping consideration we have to be responsible and talk about the law in the u.s there are three classes of electric bikes class one is pedal assist with no throttle and a speed limit of 20 miles per hour class 2 also has the same speed limit but you can have a throttle and class 3 brings that speed limit up to 28 miles per hour with pedal assist every state and even local municipalities have their own e-bike laws so you should look up the ones that apply to you for example here in california anyone 16 years or older can ride a class 2 e-bike on designated bike paths and up to class 3 on the roads but other states may only allow class 1 e-bikes or may even require a driver's license to ride one but in terms of how it can affect which type of e-bike you buy well that depends on the model some e-bikes are class 2 out of the box and unless you modify it they won't go any faster than that however if you get a bike with class 3 capabilities you'll probably want a speedometer so you don't overdo it where you're not supposed to now that you have a better understanding about the various features of an e-bike and what to consider when owning one let's go through the different types i've come up with 10 of them that i've placed in three general categories recreation transportation and niche bikes meant for specific activities or accessibility options each type of e-bike has distinct features that make some better than others for certain riding styles but there are definitely hybrids that allow for more options let's start with fat tire e-bikes fat tire bikes have thicker tires to better handle impacts like bumps or potholes those tires usually are about four to five inches wide which helps give more traction and comfort they're great as an entry level e-bike for casual riders because they can usually handle a variety of surfaces like bike paths streets or even some light off-road riding they're typically on the affordable side too with some starting at less than a thousand dollars however this is an extremely broad category as many other types of e-bikes can also have fat tires in fact the fat tire bikes i'm going to recommend are all hybrids that overlap with another type so let's talk about cruisers cruiser bikes are defined by their curved upright frames and swept back handlebars which provide a more relaxed riding posture typically cruisers will also have a larger more comfortable saddle if you're interested in casually riding e-bikes around your neighborhood or a park on a sunny day then you can't go wrong with a cruiser my favorite fat tire cruiser is easily the rad runner from rad power bikes now i might be biased because it's the only e-bike i purchased with my own money however i've been fortunate enough to review e-bikes that are two or three times as expensive as the rad runner and i've always enjoyed coming back to it because of how comfortable and smooth it is to ride it has a rear rack and lots of mounting points for accessories making it highly customizable i've also had to deal with rad's customer service a couple of times and they were very helpful and quick to respond but if storage space is an issue you might want to consider a folding e-bike folding e-bikes are exactly what they sound like they're bikes that fold to be more compact most fold right down the middle of the frame making them easier to keep out of the way transport in a car or carry on public transportation because of the compact design many are not as powerful as their non-folding counterparts and in my experience they still take up a good amount of space in your home because they're wider when folded and still bulky there are some on the more expensive end like the brompton electric for 3 800 that folds small enough to fit under a desk but if i were spending that much money i'd prioritize performance over design on the other end of the price spectrum you have the swagtron eb5 pro for just 800 which also folds to be impressively compact but doesn't have great range or a powerful motor for just a couple hundred dollars more you can get the electric xp 2.0 which isn't as compact but has a lot of great features right out of the box like a front suspension system and lcd screen taking a stylish step up from there you have the fido x for sixteen hundred dollars it also doesn't have a very powerful motor for tackling hills and the battery range leaves something to be desired but what stands out most is the torque sensor and keyless security system i still would recommend using a bike lock because a would be thief isn't going to check for that before tossing it in the back of a truck there are even smaller e-bikes than the ones i recommend but at a certain point it makes more sense to get a scooter or electric skateboard than a bike that's larger isn't as powerful and doesn't travel as far all right let's shift gears from casual riders to those that have places to be and discuss e-bikes for transportation prices in this category usually start around 1500 and can get pretty high but if you're looking for a car replacement it could seem like a value when you consider the additional cost of gas and maintenance we have four types of e-bikes to talk about here and again there may be hybrids the first type of transportation e-bike and probably the most practical one is the commuter bike these are known for having a long range fenders to keep from getting wet or dirty when riding through puddles or in the rain and a rack or hangers to hold your belongings a good commuter bike should also be comfortable so i recommend looking for one with a suspension system or fat tires if the rad runner peaked your interest earlier you should check out the rad city for sixteen hundred dollars it has thinner tires but larger wheels for more efficiency in urban environments and it also comes standard with a front suspension system or there's the event in level for 100 more which i rode last year and thought it performed really well all around and is available in three different sizes city bikes are very similar to commuter bikes but share more in common with cruisers with their upright frame this makes them a bit more versatile for both commuting and casual riding but also slightly more expensive if that sounds like the bike for you check out the magnum metro s for nineteen 1900 it has the features of a commuter bike with the fenders and a rear rack but with a more comfortable riding posture and a step through frame which makes it easier to mount you also have a front suspension system or for a high tech upgrade check out the van moof s3 often referred to as the tesla of e-bikes it has a very sleek design with all the electrical components built into the frame so you don't see loose cables sticking out near the handlebars or anything like that there's also some cool anti-theft capabilities like a wheel lock and location tracking most interesting though is it has automatic gear shifting so you don't have to constantly adjust them on the handlebars it will run you about twenty three hundred dollars but if money is no object there's the priority current with a mid-drive motor that provides a smooth riding experience without deadweight or motor resistance there's no throttle but it does have class 3 capabilities and changing gears is effortless and silent thanks to the involio nuvinci system the whole package will cost you a cool 3 300 cargo bikes could be considered the minivan of the bike world they make great car replacements for running errands because the larger frame allows for more storage options for carrying things like groceries or even a child passenger they usually have a larger battery and a more powerful motor to allow for more weight because i've talked enough about rad i'm going to breeze past the rad wagon for 1900 even though it's a great bike for the price and go straight to the magnum payload it has a rear rack and front basket a suspension seat post and you can easily make adjustments to it without tools it starts at 2500 and goes up from there if you upgrade to a larger battery probably the trendiest of electric bikes is the electric motor bike these look like motorcycles with their thick frames and low seats but they function more like mopeds while they have pedals to help with accelerating and climbing hills they're often small and awkward to use instead you'll be riding the throttle much more to cruise around electric motor bikes usually perform well are comfortable and look really cool but can be the least practical for many people because they're heavy they take up a lot of space and they can be difficult to lock up plus if you're a taller rider these might not be the best fit for you many brands offer a variety of models at different price points but to really make the experience worth it you should expect to spend at least twenty five hundred dollars to get something that's comfortable enough to ride the way it's meant to for me super 73 is top of mind when it comes to electric motor bikes for about three thousand dollars you can get the r model which has a full suspension system for off-road riding but for most urban environments i actually recommend the s2 for 300 less you'll miss out on the rear suspension but the fat tires and comfortable seat help make up for it but if those are out of your budget take a look at juice bikes scrambler for eighteen hundred dollars it may not be as pretty as the super 73 s2 but has many of the same features at a more appealing price so that covers the variety of e-bikes for most people but now let's talk about some of the niche categories granted i have the least amount of experience with these types of bikes so i'm going to keep this brief and i'll be leaning on my friends at electricbikereview.com for help with recommendations shout out to court rye who helped me buy my first e-bike last year not much to say about mountain e-bikes there are mountain bikes with very powerful motors and solid suspension systems for dirty rocky hills and just like regular mountain bikes these get really expensive evr has a lot of great mountain bike recommendations both full suspension and hard tow no rear suspension just to give you an idea of the price range though the cheapest bike it recommends is the magnum mi6 for seventeen hundred dollars which might almost qualify as a cruiser bike however if you want the best of the best with all the bells and whistles you actually don't want those on a mountain bike they would be extremely annoying the specialized turbo levo sl expert carbon is a whopping 9025 dollars you can actually buy a car for that road bikes are what serious cyclists wearing tight clothes ride long distances at high speeds they need to be light aerodynamic and comfortable i ride fat tire bikes in jeans and a t-shirt so let's go back to the experts at ebr for some recommendations it's most affordable is the igo electric aspire chameleon it's 2500 and the hub motor has a lot to do with that relatively low price but for a premium road bike you'll find the bulls desert falcon evo for 6 300 or a little more than two super 73rs but maybe you're not a weekend warrior and just looking for more stability and additional storage well then a trike might just be for you there's two different types delta with two wheels in back and one in front probably similar to something you rode when you were a child then there's tadpole with two front wheels these are usually more stable and can corner at high speeds there's also two different postures upright trikes like the sun from electric bike technologies which are great for cargo storage or recumbent trikes like the eco tad they have a more laid back seat for comfort or those that get sore backs in an upright position and that's about all the general types of e-bikes that i can think of there was a lot of info in this video but i'm sure i didn't cover it all so please leave any buying advice you have in the comments below if we helped you out in any way we'd appreciate a nice thumbs up to let us know you can find all the great e-bike videos we've done right here and make sure you're subscribed to cnet so you don't miss even more thank you so much for watching and don't forget to wear a helmetbuying an electric bike can be a daunting experience there's a lot to consider and plenty of options at a variety of price points not to mention e-bikes aren't cheap and if you're going to spend your hard-earned money on one you better make sure you get what you need that's where i come in in this video i'm going to help you narrow down your options by going over different kinds of e-bikes and the type of rider they suit best i'll make some recommendations for specific bikes as i go along all of which you can find in the description below all i ask in return is that you give this video a nice thumbs up to let us know that you found it helpful alright we've got a lot to cover so let's get started before you even think about opening your browser to look at e-bikes you have to answer some important questions for yourself let's start with an obvious one how and where will you be riding when i bought my first e-bike i thought i was going to be zipping around town on it all the time to run errands or go grab a bite to eat but that wasn't the reality of my lifestyle and soon after i bought it i realized it was not going to replace my car take some time and think about the reasons you're buying an e-bike and the area you'll be riding in are you going to be using it to commute for fun or both what types of surfaces will you be riding on will you be riding alone or with others and be honest with yourself you might even realize that an e-bike isn't actually what you're looking for in that case you're welcome for saving you some money but please keep watching until the end all right now that i've got you dreaming about your perfect e-bike let's talk about some more specific features you'll want to think about like range and power these two options can make a huge difference in how much money you spend on an e-bike if you only want an e-bike to cruise around your neighborhood perhaps you can save some money here by choosing a bike that can only travel 15 to 20 miles as opposed to 30 to 40 you can save yourself hundreds of dollars i'll warn you though owning an e-bike may alter your idea of what you considered to be far because of how easy and fun they are to ride 15 miles used to seem like a journey to me but now that's just a quick leisurely ride after work most e-bike brands will give you some type of estimate of how many miles the bike can travel on a single charge but it's usually a super high number that you'd only get under the most perfect riding conditions this is where some of those questions you answered earlier come in handy if you live in a hilly area and are planning on using a lot of pedal assist or throttle you might only get half of the range of e-bike claims it has you should also consider the climate you'll be riding in colder weather can impact a battery's performance and range at the very least you should look at the battery's voltage and amp hours to make sure it's powerful enough for you usually manufacturers will list a power rating for the motor like 750 watts but again it's often broad to account for a variety of factors like nominal and peak power here's a fun little trick you can get a better idea of the bike's actual power by multiplying the battery's voltage by its amp hours which gives you its density in watt hours you can then divide that by 20 watt hours or the typical cost of riding a mile which will give you an estimated range but again your specific riding conditions will affect that so i suggest overcompensating by 5 to 10 miles when you're shopping around which brings me to motors there's pretty much two types hub drive and mid-drive hub drive motors are usually located in the center of the rear tire though there are some e-bikes that have front hub drive motors they're most commonly used because they get better range on flatter surfaces and are cheaper than mid-drive motors mid-drive motors are more powerful and efficient making them great for mountain biking or off-road riding they're usually much more expensive though in addition to pedal assist many e-bikes also have gears which give you more control over the resistance you feel when pedaling just like a traditional bicycle they also help with tackling hills the way i look at the difference between your pedal assist and gears is the pedal assist will limit your maximum speed while gears help you dial in how hard you want a pedal to get up to that speed if you're looking for an e-bike you could also use for exercise then definitely consider a bike with gears one of the most overlooked features on an e-bike spec sheet is the type of sensors the motors use to determine how much power to distribute and when this has a huge impact on the way the bike feels when you ride and many manufacturers don't even list it the two types are torque and cadence sensors cadence sensors simply determine whether you're pedaling or not and torque sensors measure the actual force you get by pedaling and outputs power accordingly many e-bikes have both which give a smoother experience when the motor kicks in but some bikes especially cheaper ones only have cadence sensors which can make it feel a bit jerky when starting the pedal i highly recommend you test ride a few different bikes before making a final purchase to get a feel for how they ride both while pedaling constantly and in short bursts you can get a powerful e-bike with great range at a pretty affordable price but comfort is where it's worth some extra investment especially if you plan on racking up a lot of miles first if the e-bike you're buying has a standard bike seat you should just go ahead and plan on replacing that you'll notice very quickly how uncomfortable stock bike seats get after about 15 to 20 minutes of riding if you can swap the saddle without replacing the seat post you can get a pretty comfortable one for less than 50 dollars otherwise you may need to replace the post as well i'll leave a link to the saddle and seat post i'm currently using down in the description below next you should see if the bike has a rear suspension system there's many affordable models with front suspension which will ease some of the stress on your hands and arms while you ride but you can expect to spend more if you want a bike with a decent rear suspension if you'll be riding on bumpy roads or you get back pains easily a rear suspension system will make a huge difference however if that gets the price out of your budget you could upgrade to a suspension seat post which will add a little extra comfort lastly ergonomics the rider's height and weight will play a big factor here are you able to get proper leg extension when you pedal do you have to hunch over too much to hold on to the handlebars some e-bikes are designed more for style than comfort and some manufacturers offer a variety of sizes for each model next question is one i wish i had thought more about when i bought my first e-bike where am i going to store it it's fun to get lost thinking of the time you're going to spend riding your electric bike that it's easy to overlook the time you won't be riding it however some e-bikes are pretty bulky and heavy ranging from 26 to over 100 pounds which can present some challenges to those of us that live in apartments consider where you're going to keep your bike overnight and how you're going to charge it because e-bikes have electrical systems it's often recommended that you store it inside protected from the elements if you have a garage with space to keep it charged up and ready to go then you're living the dream otherwise you may need to look for an option that's more compact or lighter but it's not just about the bike you also want to make sure you're buying from a good company with great customer service now that buying a bike online is as common as ordering a tv you should feel confident in knowing that if there are any problems like it's damaged in shipping or it's missing parts the company will stand by their product and resolve the issue as quickly as possible i mean it sucks paying that much money for something getting really excited for it to ride and then not getting to use it for weeks because of some issue with so many e-bike brands popping up these days it's also not a bad idea to buy from one you believe will continue to be around for a while or at least until the end of your warranty but if you find the company you bought from isn't as reliable as you'd like it's nice to buy from a brand that has a strong community of writers facebook groups and message boards can be a great resource for getting help finding out about cool accessories and mods or even meeting up for some group rides alright one more pre-shopping consideration we have to be responsible and talk about the law in the u.s there are three classes of electric bikes class one is pedal assist with no throttle and a speed limit of 20 miles per hour class 2 also has the same speed limit but you can have a throttle and class 3 brings that speed limit up to 28 miles per hour with pedal assist every state and even local municipalities have their own e-bike laws so you should look up the ones that apply to you for example here in california anyone 16 years or older can ride a class 2 e-bike on designated bike paths and up to class 3 on the roads but other states may only allow class 1 e-bikes or may even require a driver's license to ride one but in terms of how it can affect which type of e-bike you buy well that depends on the model some e-bikes are class 2 out of the box and unless you modify it they won't go any faster than that however if you get a bike with class 3 capabilities you'll probably want a speedometer so you don't overdo it where you're not supposed to now that you have a better understanding about the various features of an e-bike and what to consider when owning one let's go through the different types i've come up with 10 of them that i've placed in three general categories recreation transportation and niche bikes meant for specific activities or accessibility options each type of e-bike has distinct features that make some better than others for certain riding styles but there are definitely hybrids that allow for more options let's start with fat tire e-bikes fat tire bikes have thicker tires to better handle impacts like bumps or potholes those tires usually are about four to five inches wide which helps give more traction and comfort they're great as an entry level e-bike for casual riders because they can usually handle a variety of surfaces like bike paths streets or even some light off-road riding they're typically on the affordable side too with some starting at less than a thousand dollars however this is an extremely broad category as many other types of e-bikes can also have fat tires in fact the fat tire bikes i'm going to recommend are all hybrids that overlap with another type so let's talk about cruisers cruiser bikes are defined by their curved upright frames and swept back handlebars which provide a more relaxed riding posture typically cruisers will also have a larger more comfortable saddle if you're interested in casually riding e-bikes around your neighborhood or a park on a sunny day then you can't go wrong with a cruiser my favorite fat tire cruiser is easily the rad runner from rad power bikes now i might be biased because it's the only e-bike i purchased with my own money however i've been fortunate enough to review e-bikes that are two or three times as expensive as the rad runner and i've always enjoyed coming back to it because of how comfortable and smooth it is to ride it has a rear rack and lots of mounting points for accessories making it highly customizable i've also had to deal with rad's customer service a couple of times and they were very helpful and quick to respond but if storage space is an issue you might want to consider a folding e-bike folding e-bikes are exactly what they sound like they're bikes that fold to be more compact most fold right down the middle of the frame making them easier to keep out of the way transport in a car or carry on public transportation because of the compact design many are not as powerful as their non-folding counterparts and in my experience they still take up a good amount of space in your home because they're wider when folded and still bulky there are some on the more expensive end like the brompton electric for 3 800 that folds small enough to fit under a desk but if i were spending that much money i'd prioritize performance over design on the other end of the price spectrum you have the swagtron eb5 pro for just 800 which also folds to be impressively compact but doesn't have great range or a powerful motor for just a couple hundred dollars more you can get the electric xp 2.0 which isn't as compact but has a lot of great features right out of the box like a front suspension system and lcd screen taking a stylish step up from there you have the fido x for sixteen hundred dollars it also doesn't have a very powerful motor for tackling hills and the battery range leaves something to be desired but what stands out most is the torque sensor and keyless security system i still would recommend using a bike lock because a would be thief isn't going to check for that before tossing it in the back of a truck there are even smaller e-bikes than the ones i recommend but at a certain point it makes more sense to get a scooter or electric skateboard than a bike that's larger isn't as powerful and doesn't travel as far all right let's shift gears from casual riders to those that have places to be and discuss e-bikes for transportation prices in this category usually start around 1500 and can get pretty high but if you're looking for a car replacement it could seem like a value when you consider the additional cost of gas and maintenance we have four types of e-bikes to talk about here and again there may be hybrids the first type of transportation e-bike and probably the most practical one is the commuter bike these are known for having a long range fenders to keep from getting wet or dirty when riding through puddles or in the rain and a rack or hangers to hold your belongings a good commuter bike should also be comfortable so i recommend looking for one with a suspension system or fat tires if the rad runner peaked your interest earlier you should check out the rad city for sixteen hundred dollars it has thinner tires but larger wheels for more efficiency in urban environments and it also comes standard with a front suspension system or there's the event in level for 100 more which i rode last year and thought it performed really well all around and is available in three different sizes city bikes are very similar to commuter bikes but share more in common with cruisers with their upright frame this makes them a bit more versatile for both commuting and casual riding but also slightly more expensive if that sounds like the bike for you check out the magnum metro s for nineteen 1900 it has the features of a commuter bike with the fenders and a rear rack but with a more comfortable riding posture and a step through frame which makes it easier to mount you also have a front suspension system or for a high tech upgrade check out the van moof s3 often referred to as the tesla of e-bikes it has a very sleek design with all the electrical components built into the frame so you don't see loose cables sticking out near the handlebars or anything like that there's also some cool anti-theft capabilities like a wheel lock and location tracking most interesting though is it has automatic gear shifting so you don't have to constantly adjust them on the handlebars it will run you about twenty three hundred dollars but if money is no object there's the priority current with a mid-drive motor that provides a smooth riding experience without deadweight or motor resistance there's no throttle but it does have class 3 capabilities and changing gears is effortless and silent thanks to the involio nuvinci system the whole package will cost you a cool 3 300 cargo bikes could be considered the minivan of the bike world they make great car replacements for running errands because the larger frame allows for more storage options for carrying things like groceries or even a child passenger they usually have a larger battery and a more powerful motor to allow for more weight because i've talked enough about rad i'm going to breeze past the rad wagon for 1900 even though it's a great bike for the price and go straight to the magnum payload it has a rear rack and front basket a suspension seat post and you can easily make adjustments to it without tools it starts at 2500 and goes up from there if you upgrade to a larger battery probably the trendiest of electric bikes is the electric motor bike these look like motorcycles with their thick frames and low seats but they function more like mopeds while they have pedals to help with accelerating and climbing hills they're often small and awkward to use instead you'll be riding the throttle much more to cruise around electric motor bikes usually perform well are comfortable and look really cool but can be the least practical for many people because they're heavy they take up a lot of space and they can be difficult to lock up plus if you're a taller rider these might not be the best fit for you many brands offer a variety of models at different price points but to really make the experience worth it you should expect to spend at least twenty five hundred dollars to get something that's comfortable enough to ride the way it's meant to for me super 73 is top of mind when it comes to electric motor bikes for about three thousand dollars you can get the r model which has a full suspension system for off-road riding but for most urban environments i actually recommend the s2 for 300 less you'll miss out on the rear suspension but the fat tires and comfortable seat help make up for it but if those are out of your budget take a look at juice bikes scrambler for eighteen hundred dollars it may not be as pretty as the super 73 s2 but has many of the same features at a more appealing price so that covers the variety of e-bikes for most people but now let's talk about some of the niche categories granted i have the least amount of experience with these types of bikes so i'm going to keep this brief and i'll be leaning on my friends at electricbikereview.com for help with recommendations shout out to court rye who helped me buy my first e-bike last year not much to say about mountain e-bikes there are mountain bikes with very powerful motors and solid suspension systems for dirty rocky hills and just like regular mountain bikes these get really expensive evr has a lot of great mountain bike recommendations both full suspension and hard tow no rear suspension just to give you an idea of the price range though the cheapest bike it recommends is the magnum mi6 for seventeen hundred dollars which might almost qualify as a cruiser bike however if you want the best of the best with all the bells and whistles you actually don't want those on a mountain bike they would be extremely annoying the specialized turbo levo sl expert carbon is a whopping 9025 dollars you can actually buy a car for that road bikes are what serious cyclists wearing tight clothes ride long distances at high speeds they need to be light aerodynamic and comfortable i ride fat tire bikes in jeans and a t-shirt so let's go back to the experts at ebr for some recommendations it's most affordable is the igo electric aspire chameleon it's 2500 and the hub motor has a lot to do with that relatively low price but for a premium road bike you'll find the bulls desert falcon evo for 6 300 or a little more than two super 73rs but maybe you're not a weekend warrior and just looking for more stability and additional storage well then a trike might just be for you there's two different types delta with two wheels in back and one in front probably similar to something you rode when you were a child then there's tadpole with two front wheels these are usually more stable and can corner at high speeds there's also two different postures upright trikes like the sun from electric bike technologies which are great for cargo storage or recumbent trikes like the eco tad they have a more laid back seat for comfort or those that get sore backs in an upright position and that's about all the general types of e-bikes that i can think of there was a lot of info in this video but i'm sure i didn't cover it all so please leave any buying advice you have in the comments below if we helped you out in any way we'd appreciate a nice thumbs up to let us know you can find all the great e-bike videos we've done right here and make sure you're subscribed to cnet so you don't miss even more thank you so much for watching and don't forget to wear a helmet\n"