Best electric bikes

Best UK adult electric bikes in Summer 2024

28 August 2024Richard Beech

From the hundreds of ebikes and escooters our testers have ridden, these are the best electric bikes we recommend in 2024. 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 (under £1,500)

Best ebikes under £1,500

Best ebikes under £2,000

Best ebikes over £2,000

Best Mountain bikes

Editor's Pick - ADO AIR 20, £1,199


Weight: 18kg | Folding | Range: 40 miles

See the full review of the Ado Air 20

Ado Air 20 being reviewed

Buy directly from ADO

This lightweight ebike 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 - which is why it’s our best seller.

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, someething 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.

Get an extra discount with code "ADOSASETH" at checkout:

Buy directly from ADO

Best bikes under £1,500

ADO Air 20 Pro - £1599

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.

Get an extra discount with code "ADOSASETH" at checkout:

Buy directly from ADO

 

Estarli e20.7, £1,425


Weight: 17.5kg | Folding | Range: 31 miles

Estarli e20 expert verdict

See the full review of the estarli e20 plus all the ratings and spec info.

The Estarli e20 is a perfect entry-level folding ebike, Our reviewer's summary: "I love this bike". It’s just over £1,000 but we think it has a lot to offer for the price bracket it’s in. We found it light and comfy to ride. The larger tyres than most folding bikes (20 inch rather than 16 inch) mean you get power, comfort and good handling. Not only that it looks great, with the battery cleverly hidden in the seat post. 

We found it wasn't the most compact bike when folded. And its other drawback is range - 31 miles from the slightly small battery (the price that had to be paid for concealing it so well). But these are only minor quibbles - this is a great, good value bike and is the one to beat in our tests. 

Buy the Estarli e20

Engwe P275, £1,499


Weight: 25kg | Range 70-100 miles

When we initially heard about this new ebike from Engwe, we thought it sounded too good to be true. Engwe were claiming a range of 250km, and in our experience, it's difficult to eek out a range of even half of that from an electric bike.

So we took the Engwe P275 across the British countryside on a journey from London to Bath to put it through its paces.

Our reviewer Eilis was incredibly impressed by how capable the bike was - on roads, on trails, on towpaths, this bike soaked everything up with ease.

In the end, Eilis got nearly 70 miles (over 100km) of range from the bike - which is the highest figure we've ever managed to get from an ebike.

So it's not quite the 250km claimed by Engwe, but every ebike company exaggerates their bike's range, and 100km+ is impressive for the price.

If you're looking for a bike for weekend adventures then the Engwe P275 is well worth considering.

The only downside is its weight - but that's not a problem if you won't be carrying it up and down stairs.

Get an extra discount with code "influencer50off" at checkout:

Buy the Engwe P275 direct from Engwe

 

ADO Beast, £1,399


Weight: 28.5kg | Folding | Range: 75 miles

See the full review of the ADO Beast plus full specs and ratings

Reviewing the Ado Beast

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 Beast lives up to its name, accelerating quickly to 15.5mph. The motor feels responsive, with almost no 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 the 65 N.m, but never does it feel uncomfortably fast, or uncontrollable, balance is at the heart of the Beast it can be as powerful or subtle, as you want it to be.

Get an extra discount with code "ADOSASETH" at checkout:

Buy the Ado Beast

Best ebikes under £2,000

Estarli e28, £1,624


Weight: 16.5kg | Range: 56 miles

Estarli e28 in motion

See the full review of the estarli e28 plus all ratings and spec info

This is a beautifully designed e-bike in a slender, classic road-bike style frame. The team at Estarli have made a very capable, very sleek and smart looking e-ride. 

One nice feature is the torque sensor system which works out how much assistance to give and this works well - it feels like a bionic extension and a step up from cadence sensors. If you're looking for a non-folding road bike, this is a great choice. 

Buy the Estarli e28

Best ebikes over £2000

Cowboy Cruiser, £2,537


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

  • Vitesse Vigour: all about bang for buck, £1,699.99
  • 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 27 August 2024.

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

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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.