The most common legal definition of a Class 3 electric bike is "pedal assist only with a top speed of 28mph, and power not exceeding one horsepower (750 watts)". That's right, no throttle! However, throttles are becoming more and more popular, especially on e-bikes equipped with a cadence sensor for pedal assistance. Those sensors have a delay when starting and just aren't very responsive, so having a throttle really helps to smooth out the ride experience. Plus... throttles are fun! This is why a lot of manufacturers are including throttles on their Class 3 models, with the caveat that the throttle cuts out at 20mph so you have to use pedal assist only to get up to the top speed of 28mph. These bikes are technically a sort of Class 2/3 hybrid, but it's simpler for everyone involved to just refer to them as Class 3.
A word to the wise: many e-bike manufacturers advertise their products as Class 3, but legally, they are not! Consider these questions about an e-bike you are considering:
- Is the motor power greater than 750 watts nominal?
- Can the e-bike go faster than 28mph?
- Can the throttle be used to go faster than 20mph?
If the answer to any of those questions is "yes", then technically that e-bike is not a Class 3. Unfortunately, it's not really any class, but rather in a legal grey area that's not quite e-bike, not quite moped or scooter. I actually had one of these products, an electric moped with a powerful 2,000 watt motor that could go about 40mph. I tried to register it as a moped or scooter with the Colorado Department of Transportation, and they rejected my registration form with the response "we don't register electric bikes." I wasn't able to find any answers regarding where I could legally ride that EV, and while I never got stopped or hassled by police, I know some areas take enforcement much more seriously.
Note: Many electric bikes are capable of going much faster than Class 3 speeds, but they are locked to 28mph in the display settings. More often than not you can "unlock" these settings to enable faster riding, which is designed for off-road, private property use. Of course, many people just unlock them and use them in their normal riding areas, and honestly I can't blame them. Being able to go 30-35mph can allow you to keep up with traffic and ride in automobile lanes in areas where there is no biking infrastructure... and it obviously means you get where you're going that much faster.
The Turris has a lot of quality components that offer great value for money, especially considering the recent price drop to just $1,095 USD. This Class 3 is dubbed as an "adventure e-bike", making it a great fit for people who do a blend of city riding and off-road adventuring. With a powerful 750-watt rear hub motor and an upgraded Altus pedaling drivetrain, it's easy to reach the max speed of 28mph, and - unlike many similarly priced e-bikes - the Turris feels safe and stable while doing so. It's available in both high-step and step-thru frame styles, but can only be bought online as Ride1Up does not have a dealer network.
Wing usually makes lightweight city bikes but they're branching out with the Freedom Fatty 2, rocking giant 4-inch Kenda Krusader tires on their uniquely shaped frames. These frames have lights integrated into the ends of their long top tubes, which looks cool and also helps protect the lights from accidental snag damage. There's no suspension which means you can't go too crazy in your adventuring, but those big tires provide a surprising amount of comfort!
Dual battery and full suspension for under $2,000 might sound too good to be true... but you can get it on the Cheetah! This fat tire e-bike is designed for adventuring both on and off the pavement, and even includes free rack & fenders which will come in handy for commuters. Integrated lights are also present although they aren't super bright, and there aren't any turn signals... but hey, for $1,899 it's tough to complain about that. Plus, this tanky Class 3 can carry up to 400 pounds of weight, making it a great fit for us larger riders.
Featuring an extra-thick step-through frame style that is very hot these days, the HovAlpha Step-Thru is a beefy and capable fat tire electric bike. Standard accessories include fenders and an integrated headlight, and hydraulic disc brakes which are a nice touch at this price point. Hovsco has a decently large dealer network which helps with access to test rides and maintenance, and they're known for using high quality Samsung battery cells to boot!
Sturdy construction and cast alloy wheels allow this heavy-duty folder to carry up to 400 pounds of rider and cargo weight, but that means the Ranger S is quite a bit heavier than most e-bikes. It has lights, signals, fenders, and a rear rack, so it's fully equipped for a wide variety of use cases - even some light off-road adventuring thanks to the suspension fork!
Denago is all about packing in value at a low price point and they've certainly done that with their Fat Tire model, loading it up with a powerful 750-watt motor, premium LG battery cells, fenders, and an integrated headlight. The cabling is internally routed in the frame for a surprisingly sleek look too! The step-through frame is easy to mount and dismount but also thick enough to provide plenty of strength, which is important since this is capable of class 3 speeds of 28mph. While there isn't a rear rack included by default, there are mount points for adding one yourself.
With an ultra-low step-through frame the Model 1 is very easy to mount and dismount, and quite comfortable to boot thanks to the upright seating position and tool-free adjustable stem. The electronics and drivetrain are fairly basic and it doesn't include any rack or fenders, but at $1,299 it's still a pretty darn good deal, and it does have hydraulic brakes!
Tall humans, rejoice! The Ranger 2.0 looks gigantic next to regular sized bicycles, and it's one of the few electric bikes that my tall frame actually feels comfortable on. It's not the most premium ride out there, sporting an electric system that's pretty dated but honestly still performs pretty well, and it's capable of reaching 28mph with pedal assist. It is fully kitted out with goodies such as fenders, integrated lights, and a sturdy rack, making it a great utility city commuter, especially with these efficient and comfortable fat tire slicks.
EBC is known for their electric cruisers, because for years that's all they've made... but not anymore! With a larger-than-average minibike-style frame, raised BMX-ey handlebars, and 24-inch street tires, the Model J is guaranteed to turn heads anywhere you ride. With dual or even triple battery options you can ride farther than your butt would ever want to, and as with all EBC models you can customize the paint job to your heart's content.
Who needs suspension when you have gigantic 4.8-inch fat tires? Not the Boar Explorer! No suspension means less weight which might explain how this monster e-bike somehow manages to feel quite nimble. If you're looking for a fat tire e-bike that can handle MTB trails, this just might be it!
The first generation of the Element Platinum is designed to be "the ultimate value electric bike". The mixte or mid-step frame is approachable yet sturdy, and you could even upgrade to cast alloy rims for even more sturdiness! With a durable rear hub motor and a battery made with top tier cells, the Element Platinum will keep you adventuring for years to come.
Every manufacturer wants their own 20x4 inch fat-tire step-thru "do everything" e-bike this year, and Hiboy is no exception! Their EX6 stands out from the crowd with a skinny cruiser-esque frame, which is undoubtedly more comfortable if not quite as load bearing. The EX6 is also what most people (myself included) would consider suspiciously cheap, currently priced at just $800... but to be fair they might just be trying to clear out inventory before the end of the year. It's got a decent capacity battery, lights and fenders, a sturdy rack, and the stem has a wide adjustable range for dialing in the fit.
The Freedom ST is just like the regular Freedom, except it's got an approachable step-through frame so you don't have to swing your leg up-and-over to get on. Other than that it's the standard Wing experience, although the frame doesn't look quite as iconic as the regular version. This is a fairly basic e-bike with Shimano Tourney drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and ships as Class 1 by default, but you can add a throttle for no extra charge! Since the Freedom ST only has a cadence sensor for pedal assistance you're probably going to want that throttle, and why not, since it's free?