×
Unbiased Bike Reviews, Guides & How-To's
We are reader-supported. We may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links on our site. Read More...
The advent of e-bikes has truly changed the cycling landscape. In 2023, any cyclist – no matter how tall or small, strong or tired – can climb any mountain in the world, and ride over 50 miles. Electric bikes have changed the game.
Electric bicycles are not motorcycles – they are electric-assist bicycles that help you put more power into the pedals at a given speed, help you climb hills easier than ever, and cut your commuting time in half.
E-bikes are for everyone, from beginner to expert-level riders, and are made for city bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, and more.
You can hardly spot an e-bike just by looking at it, especially the smaller and comparatively mellower Class 1’s. What is a Class, I hear you ask? These are the three delineations of e-bikes, which may vary from state to state or country to country.
But in general, they are speed-governed limits to the electric assistance that an e-bike will give you. Here are the three e-bike classes, in more detail.
Class 1 electric bikes are the tamest of the lot, with no throttles available, you will have pedal-assist instead. These electric motors will assist your pedaling up to 20mph, which is far from supersonic speed. Most governments consider Class 1 e-bikes a “normal bicycle”. You won’t be restricted from using certain trails or bike paths.
Electric mountain bikes fall into the Class 1 category, which means that they are pedal-assist e-bikes up to 20mph, and do not include a throttle.
Next, we have Class 2 e-bikes. These bikes can come with a throttle in addition to pedal-assist and are treated as scooters or mopeds under law.
Finally, there are Class 3 e-bikes. These are confusingly similar to Class 1 e-bikes in that they are only available with pedal-assist. The biggest difference between Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes is that Class 3 e-bikes will have pedal-assist up to 28mph, which means you can go flying down the road or bike path at a relatively easy pace.
Under the rule of law, Class 3 e-bikes are treated in the same way as Class 1 e-bikes or the same as a “normal bicycle.”
Many commuter e-bikes fall under the Class 3 umbrella, as they allow for assistance at higher speeds compared to Class 1 e-bikes which are often mountain bikes.
Read More: How to Choose an Electric Bike
In this article, we’re going to be looking at the best Class 2 Electric bikes, which are bikes with pedal-assist and or throttles, with assistance up to 20mph. Here are our favorite picks.
MSRP: $1,899
The RadRover 6 Plus is one of the most popular e-bikes on the market, and for good reason. This model has so much to offer and at a reasonable price point too. With a range of up to 45 miles and a powerful 750W motor, the RadRover 6 Plus is arguably the best in class.
This model comes with giant 26” x 4” Kenda Juggernaut fat tires, but that doesn’t mean this bike is slow. The 672Wh Lithium NMC Battery will keep the RadRover 6 Plus going for hours, and you can recharge the entire thing in just six hours.
Even at less than $2,000, the RadRover offers front suspension with 60mm of travel, as well as upright geometry and rider-facing handlebars for the most comfortable ride. The overall design of this bike improves its climbing along with 7-speed gearing and reduces rider fatigue on long rides.
Lastly, the RadRover 6 Plus comes with hydraulic disc brakes for plenty of stopping power. Auto-on LED lights will keep you shining and bright during midnight adventures. For so many features and such a wide range of capabilities, there is hardly any bike more valuable.
MSRP: $1,199
Aventon Soltera is made to be practical and can be used for anything from commuting to general rides out with the family. The bike sports relaxed geometry, this is the kind of bike you can spend hours riding without the need to stop.
Aventon has equipped the Soltera with a 350W motor. It has a maximum speed of 20mph and will give you a range of up to 41 miles. You have 5 different levels of assistance and the LCD display on the bike will tell you everything you need to know, from your speed, cadence, remaining power, and much more.
The Soltera comes with pedal assist and throttle, which classify it as a Class 2 e-bike.
Aventon Soltera is available as a single-speed or as a 7-speed option, so it comes down to preference.
At less than $1,500 this bike offers good value and it comes without any serious drawbacks. It comes with either mechanical disc brakes or caliper brakes, depending on which build you choose.
MSRP: from $5,499
The QuietKat Jeep is a full suspension pedal-assist e-bike with a range of 58 miles. The 750W or 1000W rear hub motor is simultaneously powerful and quiet, delivering plenty of watts to the SRAM 9-speed groupset with an excellent range.
Like many e-bikes, the QuietKat Jeep is a very high performing machine. It has a totally upright riding position that is easy on the back and shoulders, allowing you to keep control of the bike while also taking in the sights and sounds of nature.
With such a large power capacity, you may worry about getting the QuietKat Jeep up a hill. The 48V 14.5Ah Samsung lithium battery will leave plenty of life in the motor for hours. It also comes with a customizable display so you can keep track of all your battery and metrics.
Unlike many other e-bikes, it comes in three different sizes and has a load capacity of 300lb. The large rear tires make it incredibly capable off-road and it’s a lot of fun to ride.
MSRP: $1,899.99
The RadCity 5 is stylish, modeled after European city bikes. Rad Power Bikes has designed to get you around the city quickly and comfortably. It is also designed to replace your car, with an integrated aluminum rack for mounting panniers, bags, or even a child’s seat. Despite being a city bike, the RadCity 5 has a pretty powerful motor in the 750W rear hub motor.
At the front of the bike and on top of the rider-oriented handlebars is the twist-grip throttle, which pairs with the pedal assist to create a smooth and fast ride. The RadCity comes with a 672Wh battery with a 50-mile range and is available in both step-over and step-through versions.
Some of the best features of the RadCity 5 are its seamless integrations in the rear rack, lights, kickstand, and fenders. There is even an adjustable front suspension with 50mm of travel, which is quite remarkable for a city e-bike. The RadCity 5 Plus even comes with a backlit LCD display.
However, the RadCity 5 is quite heavy at 64lb. It may be difficult to use for commuting if you need to move it up or down any stairs.
MSRP: $999
It would be difficult to find a city bike as versatile as this Lectric XP 3.0. Built with 20″ x 3″ tires, this bike can get you around town and out on lighter trails. You’ll never have to worry about a puncture, and you’ll have plenty of stopping power in the Tektro mechanical disc brakes.
For a fat tire folding bike, you wouldn’t have to ask for many more features, but the Lectric XP 3.0 has more. Variable front oil suspension helps cushion your ride against the harsh pavement or bumpy dirt, while the frame even comes with a full set of fenders, a rear pannier rack, and integrated LED lights for late-night commutes.
Don’t let the compact frame fool you, this bike is plenty powerful. The Lectric XP comes with a 500W Brushless geared rear hub motor and 460Wh Lithium-Ion battery. The battery offers a range of up to either 45 or 65 miles. The Lectric’s rear hub motor includes five levels of pedal-assistance, as well as electric-only modes.
All of that fits into a foldable and storable bike that costs $1,300.
MSRP: $1,399.99
The second folding electric bike with fat tires on this list is the Engwe EP-2 Pro. This is a 20-inch e-bike ready for city streets and off-road trails. The entire frame of the EP-2 Pro folds into 30” x 32” dimensions, which is one of the smallest footprints we know of in a folding bike. Considering the EP-2 Pro’s fat tires, this is especially impressive.
Despite its small size, the EP-2 Pro has a 750W hub motor and five levels of pedal assistance, as well as a throttle. This is quite powerful for such a small bike, and it can even last for up to 45 miles.
Unsurprisingly, the Engwe EP-2 Pro is one of the cheapest Class 2 fat tire e-bike available. That is because of its compact and folding frame design. The Engwe EP-2 Pro also has mechanical brakes instead of hydraulic discs.
See More: Best Budget Electric Bikes
However, the EP-2 Pro has no shortage of features. That includes the 614Wh battery that takes six hours to charge, putting it on the same level as every other Class 2 e-bike on this list. The EP-2 Pro’s torque of 80Nm is higher than comparable e-bikes. It even comes with 7-speed gearing which you might not find on e-bikes that cost more than the EP-2 Pro.
Finally, the entire folding process takes less than 10 seconds. You’ll have the Engwe EP-2 Pro ready to go onto the train or up the stairs in no time.
A Class 2 electric bike is a bike that includes a throttle and or pedal-assist, with an assistance limit of 20mph. All Class 2 e-bikes have a throttle, while most (but not all), have a pedal-assistance feature.
Class 2 e-bikes are typically treated not as normal bicycles, and may face some restrictions regarding where they are ridden, and whether they will be treated as bicycles, or more often as scooters or mopeds under law.
The RadRover 6 Plus is the most popular Class 2 e-bike because of its impressive value and wide range of capabilities. You can take this bike to work, to the grocery store, or to the single-track trails, and it will be more than ready to handle the challenge. For city riding, the Lectric XP 2.0 may be the better option because it is smaller, cheaper, and much more portable, while also being equally powerful as a Class 2 e-bike.
The cheapest Class 2 e-bikes typically cost around $1,000. The electronic motor is the most expensive part of the bike, and that’s why Class 2 e-bikes start at a certain price. On this list, the Lectric XP 2.0 was the cheapest option, mostly due to the fact that it is a folding bike, and not quite capable of tackling heavier and more technical off-road terrain like the RadRover 6 Plus.
Most Class 2 e-bikes have pedal-assist, but not all. All Class 2 e-bikes have a throttle, which is what makes them a Class 2 e-bike. Though pedal assist is not a requirement for Class 2 e-bikes.
A Class 2 e-bike always includes a throttle and sometimes pedal assist, and is limited to 20mph. On the other hand, a Class 3 e-bike is a pedal-assist only and will not include a throttle. Class 3 e-bikes are limited to 28mph, making them much fast than Class 2 e-bikes in terms of electric assistance.
Bicycle Guider was founded in 2015 as a free resource of firsthand bicycle tests and reviews, guides, how-to’s, and other types of cycling-related topics.
This is a place where you can learn all about cycling and get recommendations from experienced riders passionate about the sport.
Our team consists of life-long riders who enjoy researching and writing about bikes.
We love and ride all kinds of bikes, so you’ll find articles and guides related to road, mountain, hybrid, gravel, electric, and other types of bicycles.
Enjoy reading, learning, and discussing, and see you out there!
Don't get ripped off!
At the moment these are the greatest offers that I've seen anywhere online.
We’d like to hear about your purchase!
Bought a bike we talked about in one of our reviews? Let us know about your thoughts and send us pictures of the bike.
Your feedback is important to make our reviews even more precise!
Write your review on hello@bicycle-guider.com
Bicycle Guider is a registered trademark. It is a free resource page about bicycles, founded in 2015 by Jeff Balton. The main goal of this website is to provide valuable guides, reviews, and articles about different types of bicycles, including mountain, hybrid and road bikes.
– Bicycle Guider on Facebook
– hello(at)bicycle-guider.com
Bicycle Guider has gained more than 10,000,000 readers and has sold more than 500,000 cycling-related items so far, with the support of
Want to get started? Proceed to Step 1.
Twitter
Facebook
Google+
LinkedIn
It would help greatly if you included info on where the motor was located, the rear hub or crank (bottom bracket ) powered. Without this critical info it is difficult to make a wise decision.
Hi Paul,
Will do! Thanks for your feedback 🙂