The best electric bike of 2025

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Electric bikes have become super popular in the past few years thanks to their speed and ease of use. But with so many choices on the market, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. Electric bikes can be found in every flavor: mountain bikes, fat bikes, beach cruisers, cargo bikes and folding bikes. You name it, and a motor-powered variant probably exists. To create this list, CNET’s experts focused on work-to-work e-bikes perfect for hassle-free riding on paved roads. We’ve tested e-bikes from leading brands like Rad Power, Aventon, Lectric, Fiido and Ride1Up on daily commutes into midtown Manhattan. Central Park and on West Side Highway Bike Path. For some models, we also tested suburban travel and light off-road use, though not on rough trails. We rate overall handling, engine performance, range, safety features and value.

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What is the best e-bike overall?

CNET editors crowned Aventon Solterra 2 as the best overall e-bike. The Soltera 2 offers an affordable, lightweight (41 lbs) bike frame and seven-speed cassette, along with iOS/Android app compatibility and a hill assist throttle. But there are plenty of other good options for those looking for a folding e-bike, one that can carry a heavy load, or something for kids and teenagers rather than adult commuters – and you’ll find the full package of our favorite e-bike bikes at – down.

The best electric bikes of 2024

The entire Aventon range offers affordability and flexibility. 1799 dollars abound is a cargo bike suitable for carrying passengers or groceries, while $1,799 Adventure 2 is a multi-purpose bike with fat tires, ideal for riding on any terrain in any season. The single 2 is more of an everyday e-bike that’s great for commuting, with a seven-speed cassette and a weight of just 41 pounds. Like other Aventon bikes, the Soltera 2 features a sleek, detailed display, integrated signal lights, iOS/Android app compatibility and hill assist throttle.

Engwe L20 2.0 is the updated version of L20 I reviewed before and loved. The update changed some things that improved it, such as the ability to fold the bike and a more powerful 1000W motor to make acceleration smoother. The downside of the center fold is that the weight limit is reduced, so I wouldn’t recommend riding with a baby seat like I used to in version 1.0. Also, the L20 2.0 is a great fat tire bike that my wife uses every day to ride around the neighborhood. — James Bricknell

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The Lectric XP 3.0 fat tire folding bike is great with its portability, foldability and impressive capabilities. It’s rugged and versatile, with a total payload capacity of 330 pounds, including a rear rack that supports up to 150 pounds. It also offers a range of useful accessories and an ignition key, making it less attractive to thieves. XP 3.0 is also available in a step-through version for easy loading and unloading. The XP was also tested in South Carolina and proved to handle well thanks to its 20-by-3-inch tires and front suspension fork. In addition to being foldable and durable, the XP 3.0 can reach a top speed of 28 mph, powered by a 500-watt motor.

My 6 year old and testing partner really enjoyed the Gotrax V14 balance bike. This helped her learn how to balance properly and she can move at an average speed of about 11 miles per hour. We go down every day to catch her bus to school as well as ride to the local parks. The Gotrax is incredibly sturdy and easy to use with excellent braking and a simple electric on/off which my daughter took to straight away. I would have liked if the bike had two speed settings, low and full, so kids could get a better handle on acceleration when starting out, but I would still recommend this for anyone looking to use their electric bike while his child drives to them. — James Bricknell

For people who need pedal assist without the bulkiness usually associated with electric bikes, the Tenways CGO600 Pro is an ideal choice. It offers a smooth ride, with assist on or off, and weighs about the same as a standard bike, at 37 pounds. The Tenways CGO600 Pro uses carbon belt drive and hydraulic disc brakes requiring minimal maintenance. Its design is so discreet that it’s almost impossible to tell it’s an e-bike from a distance. The bike’s display is minimalistic and the vehicle can be turned on by a password set by the user.

The perfect bike for riding with little ones – so no more travel fatigue. The Woom Up An e-bike sized for kids or teens, it features a premium design and three levels of pedal assist up to 12 mph. The bike features a user-friendly app with easy assembly and provides a smooth and comfortable ride. Despite the initial price, the build quality and components are exceptional and this bike should have some resale value until your little one outgrows it.

The Fido X is a compact folding e-bike, perfect for shorter commutes and for small storage spaces like a regular apartment. Its sleek design makes it one of the most attractive folding bikes available. You can easily store it in a car trunk, a closet or a corner of a bedroom. Whether it was part of my daily commute or on some trails in South Carolina, this bike performed well.

With a futuristic design, the Async A1 Pro looks as fun as it rides. Its cutting-edge features include a 5.5-inch display and Bluetooth LTE connectivity, meaning users can track the bike using the Find My Bike feature. Its off-road mode allows speeds of up to 35 mph, providing an exhilarating driving experience. Although you can use pedal-assist to extend the battery, this is not a bike you buy for exercise, but for full-speed thrills, as it evokes the difference between an e-bike and a motorcycle.

How fast can an electric bike go?

Before we can move on to top speeds, we first need to review the e-bike classifications. There are three classes.

  • Class 1 is an e-bike where the motor only pedals assist while the rider pedals and has a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.
  • Class 2 follows the same maximum pedal-assist speed as Class 1, but also has a throttle that allows the driver to go without pedals.
  • Class 3 has a maximum assist speed of 28 mph and can be either pedal assist only or pedal assist along with throttle assist.

These classes are limited to 1 horsepower (750 watts). However, some (air quotes) e-bikes can reach 50 or even 60 mph. But they are more like pedal bikes. They are not optimized like traditional bicycles for pedaling from point A to point B and do not legally fit into the class 1-3 category. Generally, only class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed, where traditional bikes are allowed.

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Do I need a permit or license to drive an e-bike?

The short answer is no; however, riders must meet the state’s minimum age limit (which may vary). In New York, it’s the 16th.

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Should I buy an electric bike or an electric scooter?

It’s honestly pretty fun to have one of each. But if you need a reason to choose one over the other, an electric bike can also be used as a traditional bike, so riders benefit from the workout along with the fact that you can travel further, even with a dead battery. Also, most people I talk to are more comfortable on bikes because they’ve had more experience riding them.

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