Best budget electric bikes: Affordable options to give you a boost
The best budget electric bikes add more power to your riding without the hefty price tag
Electric bikes are becoming more popular than ever on the roads and trails across the world – and for good reason. The best electric bikes are making cycling far more accessible to a wide range of cyclists: from those wanting a bit more power to conquer their local trails to those looking to leave the car at home for commuting.
Electric bikes have a bit of a reputation for coming with a hefty price tag, but as more manufacturers lean into their increasing popularity, we’re beginning to see a broader range of budget electric bikes enter the market; many with good quality specs and standard extras such as mudguards, lights, and racks to tempt you. Though electric bikes are still largely more expensive than a standard pedal bike, there are still lots of options for those of you looking for the best electric bikes under £1000 / $1000 or the best electric bikes under £2000 / $2000.
It's perhaps cliché to say, but now really is a great time to consider investing in an electric bike. Battery technology is becoming cheaper and more innovative, and we’re seeing a greater variety in the style of bikes available, even at a lower price point. From sleek single speeds to zippy folding commuter bikes, alongside chunky mountain bikes and hybrids, you are unlikely to have to compromise on your preferred style of riding if you don’t want to break the bank.
Best budget electric bikes in the USA
1. Cannondale Treadwell Neo 2
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The Treadwell Neo adds a rear hub motor to Cannondale's city bike, which is designed for agility and comfort. You have a choice of a step-through frame or a slightly higher crossbar that's still easy to climb on and off.
There are various specs of the Treadwell Neo which get different rear hub motor systems and different drivetrain options. They are nimble handling bikes that are fun to ride, and the EQ models come equipped with mudguards, a kickstand and lights, as well as a front rack/basket so they're ready for all-weather riding and luggage carrying duties.
2. Serial 1 Mosh/CTY
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The Mosh/Cty e-bike is equipped with a motor from Brose which pushes out 90Nm of torque for fast starts and easy hill climbing. Its power is transmitted through a single-speed Gates belt drive that's maintenance and lubricant-free and there's a large capacity battery for plenty of range.
The Mosh/Cty comes with really wide 2.8-inch Schwalbe tyres, integral lights and powerful hydraulic brakes. There's fast charging of the battery both on and off the bike.
3. Aventon Pace 500.3
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Aventon’s Pace 500.3 is the latest iteration of one of their most popular models and continues to offer a great bike for commuting and city cruising at a decent price point.
A zippy, class 3 bike with an impressive range of up to 60 miles, the Pace 500.3 now boasts a torque sensor for a smoother pedalling experience and bright front lights with rear turn signals. It has a hub motor to help you tackle inclines, and a fully integrated fast-charging 48V battery, offering a sleek aesthetic.
There's a large, handlebar-mounted LCD display that works well in bright sunlight to give you status data and it also has throttle control if you don't want to pedal. A bit of a packhorse, the Pace 500.3 has the capacity to load the bike up to 300 lbs, which is extremely impressive if you're looking for a bike capable of replacing your car. However, models don't come with additional racks, so you'll need to purchase these separately which does bump up the price.
4. Co-op Cycles Generation e1.1
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The funky-looking Generation e1.1 from American outdoor store REI's own-brand Co-Op Cycles comes with 20-inch wheels with 2.4-inch tyres and a low standover for zippy handling and easy on/off. There's one frame size, but four colours. It's only available in the USA, and it's powered to a 'Class 1' speed of 20mph by a Bafang rear hub motor. Hydraulic disc brakes take care of stopping.
Nice extras include lighting, a kickstand, a rack, and a suspension fork. The 417Wh battery is removable, and lockable and gives you up to 40 miles of range. It's only available in the USA.
5. Co-op Cycles CTY e2.2
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Another USA-only entry from REI's Co-Op Cycles, the CTY e2.2 has a more powerful Shimano Steps mid-mounted motor than the popular e2.1. Designed for urban riding, there's a low standover, an upright ride position and a walk mode to the motor, making the e-bike easy to move around when you're not riding. Though at almost 24kg, it's not light, so don't expect to carry it upstairs without difficulty.
For comfort, there's a Suntour 75mm travel suspension fork and 1.95-inch Schwalbe tyres. REI gives you mudguards, wired-in lights, a kickstand and a sturdy rack, so you're all set for city riding, but we like it best for its ability to handle rougher terrain.
6. Electra Cruiser Go!
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If you're after laid-back cruiser style from your electric bike, the Cruiser Go! is for you. It's sold by Trek's Electra brand and as the name suggests, it has a 'cruiser' design, popularised on beaches and boardwalks in the USA. It has an integrated battery and although its capacity is limited, it is fully enclosed in the frame and gives you plenty of range if all you want is an easy cruise with family, friends, or alone.
You can add a second range extender battery that sits just behind the head tube and plugs into the charge post at the bottom end of the down tube. It has the same 250Wh capacity which should provide up to 40 miles of extra range.
Best budget electric bikes in the UK
1. Pure Flux One
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As its name suggests, Pure Electric specializes in selling electric bikes. It's also got its own range and the Flux One is a pared back alloy single-speed with a maintenance-free Gates belt drive and a reasonable 17.5kg weight. Pure Electric quotes a 25-mile range from the 252Wh battery and 35Nm torque rear hub motor.
The bike runs on 700c wheels with 35mm Maxxis tyres, with cable-operated disc brakes. It's a neat way to zip around town with low maintenance drivetrain and assistance from the motor to help smooth the way.
2. Ridgeback Electron Plus
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The Ridgeback Electron Plus has a claimed 125km range from its Shimano Steps drivetrain. There's a Shimano Nexus seven-speed hub gear and Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, for a comprehensive, quality Shimano package.
There's the classic upright ride position, with tall handlebars, and the bike comes complete with mudguards, a rack and lights, as well as a kickstand. It might not be the fast-handling nimble bike like others on this list, but it offers a relaxed, comfortable position that helps you see around you, making it ideal for getting about town safely.
3. Pendleton Somerby E
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The Pendleton Somerby E provides an electric boost to the Pendleton women's leisure bike, thanks to a Bafang rear hub motor and a battery under the rear rack.
The step-through alloy frame and upright position offer a similar list of benefits to the Ridgeback above; making it easy to get around town safely.
The eight-speed gearing makes for steady progress, while Tektro V-brakes help you stop. The bike comes complete with metal mudguards and a luggage rack to help you get through the city in comfort.
4. Raleigh Stow-E-Way
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The Raleigh Stow-E-Way gives you all the benefits of a folding bike plus a battery range quoted at 30 miles, with the battery removable for charging. It's not too heavy either and comes with a seven-speed Shimano drivetrain and walk assist mode.
You get a full set of extras in the deal too, including lights, mudguards and a rear rack. The bike's rim brakes are a fairly standard item on folding e-bikes, rather than disc brakes.
5. Raleigh Array
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Another budget entry from Raleigh, the Array has a 63mm travel Suntour suspension fork, mudguards, kickstand, lights and a rack, so you can get out and ride without any additional expenditure.
Suntour provides the motor and battery too, giving you a good range that's claimed at up to 104km. Whilst Tektro mechanical disc brakes provide the stopping power.
6. Fixie Inc. Backspin Zehus
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This single-speed bike has an impressively low 13.3kg weight. Its motor, battery and electronics are all enclosed in the rear hub, allowing regenerative braking to recharge the battery and making for a clean look too.
Another neat feature is the front lighting that's integrated into the handlebar and a rear light array embedded in the seatpost, helping to accentuate the clean lines. The bike rides on 35mm 700c tyres for plenty of grip whatever the road conditions.
How to choose a budget electric bike
When it comes to purchasing an electric bike, it's crucial to consider various factors for an effective comparison to help you narrow down your selection. You'll need to consider elements such as battery range, motor power, torque, weight, and design to help ensure that you select the bike that best suits your needs.
In budget electric bikes, there will likely be some level of compromise across some of these factors, and it is useful for you to understand which are non-negotiable for you. Try different bikes from different retailers where possible to get a feel for the various quirks and nuances in each: you’ll start to get a deeper understanding of your preferred weight, style and torque.
You’ll also need to think about the type of riding you want to do - or would like to do more of. This is particularly crucial if you’re looking for something that can handle off-road or rougher terrain – even occasionally. Electric bikes can be heavy, and you’ll need a high degree of fitness to pedal if it loses battery power. Making sure you’ve selected the right style bike to handle whatever you throw at it will make your ride much more enjoyable.
What’s the difference between a hub and a rear motor?
The motor is a crucial part of the electric bike, delivering consistent power and assistance to the rider by helping them pedal and allowing them to reach higher speeds.
There are two types of motors: hub and crank (or mid mounted) motors. While crank motors are typically more popular on premium or high-end electric bikes, hub motors (particularly front wheel hub motors) are more commonly found on commuter or folding bikes, as they tend to be lighter weight. Crank motors offer a ‘smoother’ acceleration, as they use your pedal strokes and sometimes torque sensors to apply power. Hub motors are less effective on hills but are generally cheaper and have the potential to accelerate wear on your chain or cogs like a crank motor might do.
How big should my motor be?
Motor output is measured in watts and typically the higher the wattage, the more acceleration and power you’ll have. The flip side to this, however, is that you’ll have less battery life – bigger motors need more juice, so there’s a balancing act to be had between the two. It’s difficult to answer exactly what size you’ll need as this is largely dependent on the type of riding you do, the terrain you cover and your fitness.
In the UK, Europe, and Australia, this is less of a consideration as all motors are capped at 250 watts, while maximum speed is limited to 25km/h (15.5mph). In the US, however, e-bike classes are more complicated and nuanced, and you’ll need to understand what is permitted in your state.
What is torque and how much do I need?
Torque is measured in Newton Meters (Nm) and refers to the twisting force or power generated by the motor into forward momentum and is generally what people are referring to when they say an e-bike is ‘powerful’.
Higher torque, in general, allows for quicker acceleration, better hill climbing, higher load capacity and greater performance off-road or in challenging terrain. An average, low-power electric bike suitable for commuting in the city might have a torque of 30Nm – 40Nm, but you might want to look at models with a torque of about 50-65Nm if you live amongst hills or prefer a gravel trail. A good, premium mountain electric bike is likely to have at least 80Nm, and though some models might go up to 120Nm, you'll likely struggle to find that on a budget electric bike.
Although torque is often talked about when comparing e-bikes, it’s important to remember that torque itself doesn’t define the performance of an electric bike. You’ll need to factor in that the motor, battery life and range, gearing and the style of the bike all play a huge part in whether the bike is right for you and able to perform optimally. Equally, while it is tempting to go for the highest torque possible to cover you for any hills you might meet on your travels, a lower torque can help your ride feel more ‘natural’ as there is less of a surge when you accelerate.
What battery range should my budget electric bike have?
The most expensive parts of an e-bike are usually the motor and the battery; a budget electric bike may come with a cheaper motor, but it’s more likely that the manufacturer will sacrifice the battery capacity to reduce costs. You therefore should expect that a budget electric bike will have less range than other premium models, and that might be further depleted by a more powerful motor. In general, electric bikes will have a battery of 300Wh to 700Wh capacity, with 400Wh- 600Wh steadily becoming the standard. This should give a range of between 20 miles and 60 miles, though this is largely dependent on the terrain you are cycling on, the loading of the bike, your reliance on the motor and eventually, the age of the battery. You’ll also need to remember that batteries can be heavy, so if you’re looking for a folding commuter bike, you might want to sacrifice range for a lighter bike.
Batteries are mounted either on the down tube, on the rear rack or integrated into the frame. Each of these will have different advantages and disadvantages: an integrated battery is much more popular as it tends to look sleeker and avoids knocks and damage, but often requires the bike close to a plug socket to charge it. Rear rack batteries tend to be smaller and lighter and are more commonly found on commuter bikes, while down tube-mounted batteries are often removable but prone to dust and dirt damage.
What else might I sacrifice in a budget electric bike?
Besides the battery, a budget electric bike may have standard bicycle components with a lower spec than a more premium model. That usually manifests itself most clearly in the number of gears on offer; whereas a premium electric bike may have 11 or 12 gears, a budget electric bike may only have 7 or 8. That's not necessarily a problem though, as a 7 or 8-speed groupset might cover the same range as a higher-spec option, you just might feel slightly bigger changes when shifting between gears.
Brakes are, of course, crucial and higher-priced electric bikes will usually have hydraulic disc brakes as standard. Budget bikes, on the other hand, are often fitted with mechanical disc brakes, or even in some instances, rim brakes or V-brakes, which are cheaper to manufacture and fit but are generally less powerful. Due to the weight of electric bikes and the capacity for higher speeds and acceleration, mechanical disc brakes, rim brakes and V-brakes may struggle to stop your bike quite as well as the hydraulics. This might be less of an issue for you in cities or for gentler journeys but are perhaps non-negotiable in mountain biking.
You may also find that a budget electric bike isn't kitted out with add-ons like lights, mudguards, or rear racks that a higher-spec bike might have included.
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Paul has been on two wheels since he was in his teens and he's spent much of the time since writing about bikes and the associated tech. He's a road cyclist at heart but his adventurous curiosity means Paul has been riding gravel since well before it was cool, adapting his cyclo-cross bike to ride all-day off-road epics and putting road kit to the ultimate test along the way. Paul has contributed to Cyclingnews' tech coverage for a few years, helping to maintain the freshness of our buying guides and deals content, as well as writing a number of our voucher code pages.
