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We’re in the midst of an electric bike revolution.
No, e-bikes aren’t “lazy” or “cheating”. Electric bikes are making cycling more accessible than ever. Whether you’re young, old, fat or thin. Pretty much anyone can ride an electric bike and enjoy the many benefits of active commuting.
The E-Bike Revolution
Cities belong to the people, not cars. When you visit a city that isn’t dominated by cars (e.g. pretty much any city you visit in the Netherlands or Denmark), you realise that cities aren’t noisy, polluted places. Cars are noise and create pollution, not people.
So if you’re looking for a commuting tool to get around, then an urban-e-bike is a great option.
Urban e-bikes don’t come in a singular shape or size, though. They can be road bikes, they can be commuter bikes or hybrid bikes, they could even be folding bikes. What urban bikes do tend to have in common as that they are built mostly for roads (or bike paths) and therefore don’t need the kind of suspension on offer on a mountain bike.
If you’re looking for a speedy ride, then make sure to check out a stylish commuter bike like Cowboy or TENWAYS. For multi-modal journeys (i.e. using a car or train then biking the rest of the way) a folding e-bike is a great option. But if you’re happy to go along at your own pace with a comfortable upright seating position, an electric city bike will be great for you.
Below, we’re picked out seven of the best e-bikes for urban riders – including some great folding electric bikes, budget e-bikes and a couple of belt-driven bikes which are great for being ultra low maintenance.
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Best Urban Electric Bikes [Top 7]
- Cowboy 4 City E-Bike [REVIEW]
- TENWAYS CGO600 [REVIEW]
- CARBO Model X Folding E-Bike [REVIEW]
- Ampler Curt Belt Driven Bike [REVIEW]
- BTWIN 500E Folding Bike [REVIEW]
- Pure Flux One Electric Hybrid Bike [REVIEW]
- Elops 120E Electric City Bike [REVIEW]
1. Cowboy 4
Weight: 18.9 kg (total weight including battery)
Range: Up to 70 km
Wheel Size: 27.5″
Price:
- 🇬🇧 £2,490
- 🇺🇸 $2,990
- 🇪🇺 €2,790
The Cowboy 4 is another strong contender for anyone wanting a city bike which is practical and reliable, but still looks the part. It’s another bike that’s perfect for any commuters wanting to go electric, as it’s easy and offers a comfortable ride.
This quirky bike is available in a range of three trendy neutral colours, black, sand and khaki. There’s a colour to suit everyone’s taste. This bike also comes with mudguards and a single ring on the front, to keep it low maintenance.
It’s fitted with a 10 Ah, 360 Wh removable Lithium ion battery which is 100% recharged in 3hours and 20min. This bike also benefits from having fitted a custom designed 45 Nm / 250 W motor which is integrated in the rear wheel.
2. TENWAYS CGO600
Weight: 15 kg
Range: Up to 70 km
Wheel Size: 700C
Price:
- 🇬🇧 £1,499
- 🇺🇸 $1,799
- 🇪🇺 €1,599
Offering a smooth and enjoyable ride, the CGO600 from TENWAYS is a solid and well priced option for anyone looking for a belt drive electric bike to ride around on that won’t break the bank.
This bike comes in a range of colours to suit your personal style: Midnight Black, Sky Blue, Light Grey, Lime Green and Arctic Blue. It also comes equipped with hydraulic brakes.
Electronically, the CGO600 has a 36V, 7AH Lithium-ion battery with Samsung/LG/Panasonic cells, that’s paired with a Mivice M070 250W motor, located in the rear hub. This motor allows (in the European market) for speeds of up to 25km/h or 16mph.
3. CARBO – Model X
Weight: 13.3 kg
Range: 30 to 55 KM
Wheel Size: 20”
Gears: Single-Speed (9-Speed also available weighing 15.3kg)
Price:
- 🇬🇧 £2,499
- 🇺🇸 $3,253
- 🇪🇺 €2,991
This is a classy, single-speed electric bike with a carbon belt drive for a quiet, smooth ride. Offering exceptional quality for the price, the Carbo Model X is as powerful as e-bikes twice its weight. And at 13.3 kg, the weight of this bike is a huge advantage.
The removable battery is integrated unobtrusively in the seat post. The bike as a whole is lovely to look at, with a classic design that is perhaps one of the most universally appealing. The seat post and stem are adjustable, so you can ride in optimum comfort for your height. The larger wheel size of 20” also makes for a more stable and comfortable ride.
The Carbo Folds in as little as ten seconds and it’s compact enough to store easily away in the home, office or on public transport.
There are plenty of practical features, such as the front and rear lights, and a USB port at the rear. The carbon belt also offers a very low-maintenance alternative to a traditional bike chain. No need to spend hours cleaning.
If you prefer gears, you can opt for the 9-speed Model S which gives you a lot of flexibility. This one is heavier at 15.3 kg, but still one of the lightest folding e-bikes available.
4. Ampler Curt
Weight: from 14.4 kg
Range: 50 to 100 KM
Wheel Size: 700c
Price:
- 🇬🇧 £2,647
- 🇺🇸 $3,473
- 🇪🇺 €3,190
Thinking of style, sophistication, something minimalist yet practical? The Ampler Curt ,complete with hydraulic disc brakes, ticks all of those boxes. It’s an electric belt drive single speed, which is perfect for commuting.
In addition to its chic good looks (coming in all matte black) this bike also benefits from having useful accessories such as a front light and mudguards.
The Curt has an impressive range of up to 100km is thanks to its 336 Wh battery capacity, which takes 2.5 hours to fully charge. The bike is fitted with a 250W hub motor.
5. BTWIN 500E
Weight: 18.6kg
Range: 20km to 35km
Fold-Up Size: 83 x 67 x 45cm
Wheel Size: 20”
Gears: 6-Speed
Price (approximate):
- 🇬🇧 £800
- 🇺🇸 Not available
- 🇪🇺 €900
Decathlon is famous in Europe for its reliable, low-cost sports equipment, and the BTWIN 500E is no exception. £799.99 will buy you a sturdy, no-frills e-bike that you can throw into your car boot with ease. You can relax about any bumps and scratches with the retailer’s lifetime warranty.
Technically, the BTWIN 500E is an accomplished entry-level ride. Its 187Wh battery holds more than enough charge for the average commute, and the simple cadence sensor means the motor kicks in as soon as you start pedalling. No messing around with a fussy control panel.
Its lower-than-average motor torque and 16kg weight will prove an issue for those in hilly towns or cities. Residents of Bristol or San Francisco might just want to steer clear.
Otherwise, the BTWIN nifty appearance makes it obvious choice for the casual cycle commuter. It’s also worth noting that the BTWIN is compatible with Decathlon’s own accessories range, meaning you’re free to customise as needed.
6. Pure Flux One Electric Hybrid Bike
Weight: 17.5kg
Range: 40 KM
Wheel Size: X”
Price:
- 🇬🇧 £1,099
- 🇺🇸 Not Available
- 🇪🇺 Not Available
The hybrid electric single speed by Pure Electric is a perfect all round choice, especially for those working on a budget or looking for an e-bike to get fit on. Coming in at just £1,099.00 it’s hard not to appreciate the value for money.
Moving onto the aesthetics of the bicycle, and although it’s not particularly quirky, it does have a nice understated look to it which is perfect for minimalist-look lovers.
This bike is fitted with a 250W battery as well as a 252Wh battery, with 5 hours needed to fully recharge. Alternatively, 3 hours will charge the battery up to 80%.
Best Cheap Urban E-Bike
7. Elops 120E Electric City Bike
Weight: 25.9 kg
Range: Up to 50 km
Wheel Size: 700c
Price:
- 🇬🇧 £749
- 🇺🇸 Not available
- 🇪🇺 €900
Our penultimate pick is the very budget friendly Electric City Bike from Decathlon which at £749.99 will be an incurably tough one to beat where bargains are concerned. This pick is a brilliant option for anyone not wanting to fork out a big chunk of money on an electric bike to commute on.
Although a pretty basic looking step through bike, it does come fully equipped with pannier racks which (super useful for anyone commuting), mudguards, and built in lights so that you don’t have to worry about charging your usb lights in the office during work hours.
This bike benefits from being fitted with a 36V lithium ion battery (313Wh) which offers up to 50 km on a full charge. A full charge takes 5 hours from 0% to 100%. It’s also fitted with a brushless 36 volt rear wheel motor that offers 250 Watt max power.
