Electric-assist bikes are gaining in popularity and the e-bike is now an established means of urban transport, even in cities with the most demanding profiles.
Electric motor-assisted pedalling offers numerous advantages in all cycling disciplines but, in particular in urban cycling. The following points are worth highlighting:
There are numerous types of electric bikes for all types or disciplines, with a wide range of prices. But all e-bikes are classified into two groups, according to their performance and performance limitations: Pedelec and Speed Bikes.
Pedelecs, are the only bicycles that, for legal purposes, are on a par with the conventional bicycle. They are exempt from registration, insurance, driving licence and motor vehicle tax if they meet the following requirements:
Speed Bikes or 45 km/h bikes exceed these limitations. In Europe, they are considered as mopeds, not bicycles, and they require registration, insurance and a driving licence and cannot circulate on bicycle lanes. These are an interesting option for urban use, especially for use as Cargo Bikes for eco-friendly delivery in city centres.
Of all the types and price ranges, you can see the best brands of electric bikes in the electric bike section of our website.
You may also want to read this other article, where we explain How to choose an electric bike and look at the different disciplines and components: urban, folding, road, Gravel and MTB.
To help you even more, we have made a comparison of electric bikes from the entire collection of selected brands in our shops. This classification can be used as a reference guide and adapted according to your needs or priorities. It was not easy to select the top quality bikes and the choice could easily have been different if based on a different user profile.
We have taken into account aspects such as the difference or originality of certain designs, the technological innovation, the integration of electric components and the quality of the bicycles. Some appear on the list because they are the best in their class in some or all of the aspects mentioned, others because they provide ingenious and highly functional solutions and, in other cases, because they are among the best urban electric bicycles in terms of value for money.
If you only plan to use your electric bike in the city, we recommend you choose a specifically designed urban bike and first consult our article on How to choose an urban bike. We will dedicate a separate article to folding bikes and here, we will look at the best non-folding, urban electric bikes .
The German brand Riesse & Müller specialises in urban electric bikes and cargo bikes. Their designs are original, with highly functional solutions and a quality that places their bikes at the top of the range. We highlight the Supercharger GT Vario, because in a single bike, it combines the speed and agility to cope with urban traffic, skills to tackle off-road sections and a large carry capacity. It can be customized with various accessories and it carries up to 65 kg in the rear carrier and 15 kg in the front carrier. It has two batteries, integrated in the diagonal and top tubes, adding up to a capacity of 1,000 Wh, the highest in the comparison, offering a range of many kilometres, even with heavy loads.
We continue with Riesse & Müller and their Nevo3 GT Vario bike, that combines lightweight and agility, for cyclists who do not need the load capacity of the Supercharger. It has the same motor, with the same quality of design and construction, the same accessories that cover the needs of urban use, but a single 500 Wh battery, which is enough to guarantee excellent range with its weight and charging capacity.
The Specialized Como SL 4,0 is the classic city bike that's very agile for getting around town, with enough cargo capacity for small purchases and with electric assistance and the unmistakable Specialized style. It comes with the electric components of the SL range, which the brand uses for its lighter electric bikes, and they are perfectly integrated into the frame and provide enough range for the everyday urban rider. Its low bar design makes it suitable for all types of riders and situations.
Orbea bikes always offer good value for money, and, among the urban electric options, the Orbea Optima E40 bike offers the same classic style as the previous Specialized model, but with simpler lines, design and components, which lowers its price considerably, although it has high functionality and charm.
Equipped with the Ebikemotion X35 motor and a 248 Wh battery, it offers features that would be sufficient for many users, with a very attractive entry price.
Among the classic urban bikes, our selection includes the Giant Entour E+ 3 LDS, for its excellent value for money and the simple way Giant has achieved the integration of the motor and battery, while maintaining the aesthetics of a conventional bike. The battery, with a capacity of 400 Wh, is integrated into the rear rack, which leaves a second rack free for transporting luggage. An interesting option, with good value for money.
Cannondale offers a very interesting product with the Tesoro Neo X1 2022. A robust eBike with Bosch motor and an excellent range of up to 175 km, provided by its 750 Wh battery. It is ideal for urban use, but also for cycle touring on secondary roads, as the brand itself defines it.
With the brand's usual good price/performance, the Orbea Kemen 30 2022 is already entering the category of lighter and sportier city bikes.
The compact 250 W Shimano EP8 motor and the battery integrated in the down tube offer the aesthetics of a conventional bike. It is fitted with a Shimano Deore derailleur, eBike-optimised Marzocchi Bomber Z2 suspension fork and Magura hydraulic brakes. An excellent selection of components are above the usual average for this category, and the accessories are suitable for urban and even touring use, as it can achieve a good range with its 540 Wh internal battery and the optional 252 Wh Range Extender. It is also available with the low bar.
A light urban bike would be the recommended electric bike for those who want to be fast and agile in the city. And Specialized's Turbo Vado SL range responds perfectly to this approach. A lightweight motor in a lightweight bike, which doubles the rider's power and manages the assistance to provide the same sensations as natural pedalling on a conventional bike.
We highlight the Turbo Vado SL 4.0, for its balanced selection of components and good value for money, making it a good choice for all types of users. It has a low bar version.
The light urban bike by this Spanish brand, is the BH Atom Cross, a light, agile and minimalist bike, for those who want to move very fast. With its 500 Wh battery, its range can exceed 100 km.
We close our selection with the Giant FastRoad E+ EX Pro D 2023. An interesting model by Giant, that is fast and smooth, but very powerful, with a torque of 80 Nm, close to that of the most powerful mountain eBikes. It's also a departure from previous lightweight, minimalist urban bikes, as it's fully equipped for urban and even touring use, with 27.5" wheels and wide tyres.
We are specialists, at Mammoth stores and at mammothbikes.com/en/, you will find the best urban electric bikes.
If you have decided to buy an electric bike, you can count on the advice of our professionals. They will help choose the right bike for you!
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