Electric bike technology has improved significantly in recent years, to the point that even the cheapest small-battery model should be able to squeak out 15 to 20 miles before dying. For some folks that's just not enough. Work commuters, delivery drivers, and long distance trekkers can put on some serious miles in a single day. Even if you're a more casual rider, range anxiety sucks! It can be really nice to ride for several days without having to worry about plugging in every time you get home.
All the bikes in this category have an estimated minimum range of at least 40 miles. This is your worst case "riding uphill into the wind with a monkey on your back" scenario; Under better conditions and with some brisk pedaling to help out you should be able to at least double that figure.
The AQ177 Pro Max has the biggest battery I've ever seen on an e-bike... was this monster made in Texas?! The downside of all that juice is a Texas-sized curb weight of 116 pounds... no sir, this electrified bicycle is not for the faint of heart. With a full loadout of commuting accessories, hydraulic brakes, and a suspiciously low price tag of just $1,799, this e-bike is tempting indeed... but how will the quality hold up over time? Dive into the full review to get my take.
I never know what to expect when people switch industries to start making electric bikes. E-bikes are hot right now and everyone wants a piece of the pie! However, in the case of motorcycle racer Eric Buell, the resulting e-bikes are simply excellent. I got to test ride a prototype of the 3S in the summer of '23 and even though it was a little rough around the edges I was blown away by the quality. The 2S is the "so long range it's extreme" variant, rocking dual batteries for a whopping 2,000 watt-hours of total capacity. Combine this with the responsive and efficient mid-drive motor from VALEO and you've got an insane amount of range potential. These Class 3 e-bikes can easily cruise at 28mph, and feel safe even on congested city streets thanks to a certified motorcycle-grade loadout of lights, signals, and mirrors - rare in the US but legally required for such a powerful e-bike in Europe. Kudos to the FUELL team for keeping those high standards on both sides of the pond!
I never know what to expect when people switch industries to start making electric bikes. E-bikes are hot right now and everyone wants a piece of the pie! However, in the case of motorcycle racer Eric Buell, the resulting e-bikes are simply excellent. I got to test ride a prototype of the 3S in the summer of '23 and even though it was a little rough around the edges I was blown away by the quality. These bikes have mid-drive motors from VALEO, a French company I hadn't heard of before. I love these motors! They're incredibly powerful and their responsiveness rivals that of high-end Bosch systems; they have an "auto mode" that intelligently adjusts not only the motor power output (which is fairly common) but also automatically shifts the gears of the internal hub. It's an incredibly elegant system; just turn on the bike and ride, and never fiddle with controls. Electronics aside these are kitted out to motorcycle specifications with surprisingly bright lights and a full suite of signaling controls, plus the usual fenders and sturdy rear rack, and even a rearview mirror!
The Fat Tire, Do Anything Adventure Bike! This is a winning style of e-bike that can handle everything from running errands to commuting to off-road adventure riding, and it's quite comfortable thanks to those high volume fat tires and of course the suspension fork. The Gemini has dual batteries totaling an impressive 1,092 watt-hours and a much higher than average weight limit, so it's a perfect fit for both cargo haulers and long range trekkers. While the 1,000 watt motor is certainly fun to ride and allows speeds of 35+ mph while unlocked, this also pushes it into "moped" territory and it won't be legal to ride in some areas.
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.