Best electric bikes

Best UK adult electric bikes in Summer 2025

July 08, 2025Richard Beech

From the hundreds of ebikes and escooters our testers have ridden, these are the best electric bikes we recommend in 2025. We also have a specific guide to the best folding ebikes

Each has been assessed and rated for: build quality, safety and security, handling and performance, and comfort and practicality.

Jump to the summaries below, where you'll also find a link to the full review. 

Editor's pick:

Best ebikes under £2000

Best ebikes over £2,000

Best Mountain bikes


Editor's Pick - ADO AIR 20, £1,099


Weight: 18kg | Folding | Range: 40 miles

See the full review of the Ado Air 20

Ado Air 20 being reviewed

Buy the ADO Air 20

The ADO AIR 20 is a lightweight ebike that has 20-inch wheels for a touch more stability (than smaller folding bikes with 16 inch wheels) and is matched with a single speed, carbon belt drive system for minimal maintenance. It’s quick, nimble and weighs in at 18kg.

This has a carbon belt drive, is very easy to maintain, has hydraulic brakes as standard, and is very comfortable and smooth to ride. It’s a 5 out of 5 across all criteria. It’s an excellent bike.

This isn’t just made for folding and carrying - we were REALLY impressed with the ride quality. It gets you up to 15.5mph incredibly quickly and maintains that assist. It’s also got a torque sensor so you can apply more or less power through the pedals as you need, something you often don't get at this price point.

We found it easy to squeeze through tight gaps – like standstill traffic – thanks to the smaller width handlebars, so you can kiss congestion goodbye.

Buy the ADO Air 20

Best bikes under £1,500

ADO Air 20 Pro - £1,299

Weight: 18kg | Folding | Range: 60 miles

ADO Air 20 Pro

The ADO Air 20 Pro is the upgraded version of the Air 20 with front suspension. It also has an upgraded Bafang motor, with a neat trick.

The motor has a dual-speed system with automatic shift. When it detects that you're riding uphill, it gives you more power.

We tested out this feature in our recent review, and we were super impressed.

You can check it out below:

The bike also also comes with a rear pannier rack as standard, which makes it a great option as a commuter bike, or for running errands. 

Other than upgraded motor, pannier rack, and the front suspension, the Air 20 Pro is identical to the Air 20. But the Pro is the better choice if you live in a hilly area, or will be riding on trails and/bumpy terrain.

Buy the ADO Air 20 Pro

 

Engwe M20, £1,049


Weight: 40kg | Range 50-100 miles

(Words by Kol Heydel)

The Engwe M20's motorbike-inspired styling makes it a real head turner, and gives it a rock and roll edge. This is a great option for those who are looking for something a little different to the standard bicycle form factor. The bike gave me so much confidence when riding, mainly because of the fat 20x4 inch tyres coupled with both front and rear suspension.

The beauty of this bike is that it comes in a single-battery or dual battery option - the single pack offers as much punch, just half the range (though it still achieves a range of up to 50 miles).

The suspension felt quite stiff but that wasn't necessarily a problem because of the cushioning from the fat tyres. The seat was very comfortable and is much more like a motorbike saddle than a bike saddle.

The build quality is great. It feels durable and solid, although some of the components are quite basic, such as the entry level mechanical disk brakes - but they still provide enough stopping power at the speeds this bike is capable of.

And a nice bonus is that the battery has a USB slot that will act as a power bank for your phone while on the move.

The monochrome display is super visible, even in direct sunlight. The dual LED headlights are a gorgeous touch that make this e-bike really stand out. Every time I finished my ride I found myself taking a photo of this beauty. It’s hard not to look back at it and admire it. Riding on the streets of London gets a lot of attention, people are curious to know what it is and where they can get one. It’s definitely a conversation starter.

Overall the M20 is a fantastic bike for those that want a stylish and punchy ride and don’t require any cargo space. If you plan on doing long distance riding then the dual battery pack option is the ideal choice.

Buy the Engwe M20

Engwe EP-2 Pro, £949


Weight: 37.8kg | Folding | Range: 40 miles

With five different power modes to choose from, you can have as little or as much support to get you from A-B. In mode 5, the EP-2 Pro does almost all the work for you, accelerating quickly to 15.5mph. The motor feels responsive, with only a small lag throughout the gears and the Shimano 7-speed shifts smoothly up and down.

When test riding the bike the motor and battery feel high quality, everything is responsive and fast, and all the components work well together.

You feel the pulling power of this fat tyre beast, but never does it feel uncomfortably fast, or uncontrollable, balance is at the heart of the bike, and it can be as powerful or subtle, as you want it to be, based on which speed mode you're in.

The main feature is its comfort though. This is one incredibly comfortable bike to ride. If you're going to racking up lots of miles and you want to do it in comfort, then this is a good bike to choose.

For a sub-£1000 price point, you can't go too far wrong with the Engwe EP-2 Pro as an entry level fat tyre ebike.

Buy the Engwe EP-2 Pro

 

Best ebikes over £2000

Cowboy Cruiser, £2,274


Weight: 19.3kg | Range: 30-50 miles 

Cowboy Cruiser

We've reviewed the Cowboy Classic and the Cowboy Cruiser, and we're huge fans of both. 

Cowboy's USP is their connectivity - they have the best companion app in the business, and they can run over the air software updates to your bike in order to improve performance and keep it up to date.

The Cowboy Cruiser is our favourite out of the Cowboy line up, with an incredibly smooth ride feel that leads to a relaxed and responsive experience on the bike.

The easily removable battery is a useful addition that, in our opinion, gives Cowboy the edge over their main competitor - Vanmoof. 

The carbon belt drive is the smoothest we've experienced, and the bike is full of top quality components throughout, and if anything does go wrong - Cowboy offer impressive aftercare.

When conducting our review, our reviewer crashed the bike (it happens!) on a trail, and immediately received a phone call from Cowboy's emergency team to say they'd detected a crash and did she need an ambulance. Now that's impressive.

Get a £250/€250 discount on any Cowboy with code: ELECTROHEADS250

Buy direct from Cowboy with discount

 


Volt Lite, £2,899: "The best folder I've ridden so far"

Weight: 18kg | Range: Up to 50 miles 

(Words by Eilis Barrett)

Eilis with the Volt Lite

The mid-drive Bafang M820 motor delivers smooth power through the carbon belt drive, with an impressive 75Nm of torque—higher than you'd expect for a bike this size.

For heavier riders or those with hilly commutes, this could be a solid choice. I rode the Volt Lite around Crystal Palace’s hills, and it handled them with ease. The 3-speed hub gears are a rare but welcome feature on a carbon belt bike, making climbs smoother.

The battery is neatly integrated into the seat post, making it easy to remove for charging or security.

The saddle deserves a mention too—one of the most comfortable I've experienced, and suitable for both men and women.

Pros: Great specs and performance
Cons: Not cheap, but worth the price

Verdict: It’s an expensive option, but the Volt Lite delivers what you pay for.

Check out the Volt website for more info.

 

 



Best ebikes - the specs


Best electric mountain bikes

We have a full guide to the best electric mountain bikes. They are:

Five star mountain bikes - full suspension (front and rear)

  • Cyrusher Trax: heavy but so comfy, £2,799.00
  • Techtron Ultra 8000: excellent spec for the price,  £2,399.00

Five star mountain bikes - front suspension

  • Wisper M9: premium, mid-drive model, £2,499.99
  • Wisper Tailwind Trail Crossbar: lightweight but effective, £2,249.99
  • Beameo Unbound: stands out on hills, £2,099.99

Four-star mountain bikes - front suspension

  • Ampere X-Trail: solid and enjoyable, £1,599.00
  • Dallingridge Coniston Hardtail: good for its price, £1,349.99
  • Engwe P26: great value, £999.00

How we test

Our expert testers ride all the electric bikes we review, and we assess them against a range of criteria on road, off-road and in our testing rooms. We check the components' quality and ride the bikes on a range of different terrains and distances. We've ridden hundreds of bikes in total (and an equal number of electric scooters). 

For more commuter bikes, see our full list of best electric folding bikes. If you want off-road, see our guide to the best electric mountain bikes. We also cater for those just looking for cheap electric bikes. If you want a bike that's lighter or easier to get on and off in dresses or skirts, see our guide to the best electric bikes for women. Not sure about a whole new bike - try an electric-bike conversion it.

Fact check: Prices and specs for this guide were last checked and updated on January 2025.

Testing on streets
Reviewer on road
Testing on sand
Testing ebikes in the woodsRiding back to the office

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Cycle to Work scheme - save £££

The Cycle to Work scheme is a government incentive that cuts the cost of buying a new electric bike and accessories by paying through tax-free salary sacrifice.

The price of the bike and accessories are deducted from your salary before tax and national insurance is applied - so depending on your tax rate you can save between 32% and 42% on the cost of the bike. Higher rate tax payers save the most.