10 Best Electric Bikes of 2023 Tested by GearLab

Sometimes folding bikes have fewer gears than regular bikes as well, and that can make hills more challenging. That’s why it’s important to take gear ratio into consideration when selecting the best folding bike for your area. Folding bikes often have a more upright riding position due to their unique frame geometry. This can be more comfortable for some riders, but for others it may feel different compared to a regular bike and require some adjustment. What stands out with the popular C Line Explore model is its six-speed drivetrain and U-shaped handlebar, which puts the rider in a comfortable, upright position.

With 3-inch wide knobby tires and a suspension fork, it provides a relatively smooth ride and can be ridden on a range of surfaces. It comes almost completely assembled and takes little time and effort to set up and start riding. The Ride1Up 700-Series is a quality bike with sleek looks and performance that exceeds the asking price. This bike rides smoothly on high-volume tires and 100mm of front suspension. We frequently used this bike for longer-distance commutes and found it quite comfortable.

The massive 720Wh battery means it has the juice to power through longer rides, while the powerful 750W motor easily supports 20 mph using the throttle or up to 28 mph with pedal assist. Ride1Up huffy cruiser bike gives you options, and you can choose between a step-over or step-through style and two frame sizes. It features highly adjustable components, allowing the perfect fit for most riders.

Bike testers at GearLab started with mountain bikes in 2017 and have since branched out to include over ten bike categories. In that time, we’ve purchased and extensively tested more than 80 e-bike models across various categories, and we’re constantly on the lookout for the latest and greatest e-bikes to test and compare. With more than 1,000 bikes and bike-related products, we’ve had a little taste of it all. Striking a delicate balance in the cargo bike market, the Specialized Haul ST manages to be useful without being overly imposing. Its small footprint makes for easy storage and agile handling, while its burly frame and solid spec ready it for heavy-duty service.

It has a respectable range, but it was bested slightly in that metric by bikes with bigger, heavier batteries. Those concerns aside, the Vika+ Flex proved to offer a high level of performance in a convenient folding package, making it the best folding model we tested. Class 2 e-bikes also have a top motor speed of 20mph (although it is possible to ride them faster if your legs are strong enough). Like class 1, they also have a pedal assist option with different levels of power, depending on your preference. E-bikes that fall into the class 2 category are usually allowed in bike lanes and multi-use paths, but there are exceptions in certain states. Additionally, some of the folding bikes we’ve selected are designed to be one-size-fits-all, and that may result in a less-tailored fit compared to a regular bike.