Updated May 30th, 2023
Electric Bikes are a great way to get around these days. They can be fast and exciting to ride. You can take them on public transportation too. Electric bikes are much less expensive than driving a car for your commute and errands. There are many great high performance e-bikes out there for affordable prices these days. Our testers unanimously agreed that the Aventon Level.2 is the best electric bike under $2000 available today. It is just a really fun and friendly e-bike that is almost impossible not to love riding. It is comfortable, lots of range, and plenty of power for hills. It’s advanced torque sensor gives near instant response from the motor.
Keep reading for the rest of our recommendations, a guide to electric bikes, and a FAQ.
Our Pick
Aventon Level.2
The Best Electric Bike Under $2000
The Aventon Level.2 is just plain fun to ride and so easy to like. It has advanced torque sensing, a comfortable ride, and long range making it almost the perfect commuter bike.
- The 9 Best Electric Bikes Under $2000
- 1. Best Overall – Aventon Level.2
- 2. Top Pick – Juiced RipCurrent S
- 3. Best Mountain e-Bike – Ride1Up Prodigy XC
- 4. Best Adventure Bike – AVENTON AVENTURE 2
- 5. Best Value Commuter Bike – Charge City Electric Bike
- 6. Best Value Adventure Bike – Himiway Cruiser
- 7. Best Upgrade – Charge XC
- 8. Best Mid Drive – REI Co-op Cycles CTY e2.1
- 9. Ride1Up 700 series
- 10. AVENTON PACE 500.3
- Electric Bike Guide
- What are the benefits of an electric bike?
- What should I look for when buying an electric bike?
- Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes
- Is it worth getting an electric bike?
- What are the disadvantages of electric bikes?
- How long does an e bike last?
- Electric Bike FAQ
- You Might Also Like:
The 9 Best Electric Bikes Under $2000
- BEST OVERALL – Aventon Level.2
- TOP PICK: Juiced RipCurrent S
- BEST MOUNTAIN e-BIKE: Ride1Up Prodigy XC
- BEST ADVENTURE BIKE: AVENTON AVENTURE.2
- BEST VALUE COMMUTER BIKE: Charge City Electric Bike
- BEST VALUE ADVENTURE BIKE: Himiway Cruiser
- BEST UPGRADE: Charge XC
- BEST MID DRIVE: REI Co-op Cycles CTY e2.1
- Ride1Up 700 Series
- AVENTON PACE 500
1. Best Overall – Aventon Level.2
Specifications
- Max Speed – 28 mph
- Range – Up to 60 miles
- Max Rider Weight – 300 lbs
- Bike Weight – 54 lbs
- Motor Power – 500 watt rear hub
- Speeds – 8 Speed Shimano Altus
- Brakes – Hydraulic Disc – 180mm rotors
- Wheel Size – 27.5 inch x 2.1inch tires
Get Up To $300 Off on select E-Bikes and $200 off extra batteries at AVENTON
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Smooth power from the motor that makes it very friendly to ride
- 500 watt motor gives it a lot of power for climbing hills
- Integrated battery giving the bike a clean look
- Comfortable ride with just the right amount of cush for paved roads and paths
- Included fenders and racks
- Thumb tab throttle control
- Color LCD display
- 300 lb weight capacity
What we didn’t like:
- Gearing needs higher gears for 22-29mph pedal assist
The Aventon Level.2 is the latest update to their popular Level e-bike. The Level.2 is a great fun bike to ride that is comfortable, responsive, easy to use, has lots of power, and has lots of range.
The Aventon Level 2 has several improvements over the Level. The biggest change is the switch to a torque sensor instead of a cadence sensor. This makes the power system much more responsive and efficient. It makes the bike better for riding in the city or on bike paths around people since you have more control of the motor.
The Level 2 has a 500 watt rear hub motor and an 8 speed Shimano Altus driveline. They work well together making climbs easy. The gearing is just about right for speeds up to 20mph.
The bike has a throttle for those times you don’t want to pedal. It can be set for pedal assist speeds up to 28mph. The bike can be configured as a Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike. It comes labeled as a Class 2 from the factory.
The Level 2 comes with lights, fenders, and a rack with a 55 lb capacity making it ready for commutes or running errands.
The Level 2 has a comfortable upright riding position that feels good riding at speeds over 20mph. Cornering feels balanced. The street tires the bike comes with are quiet with good traction. The bike works well on gravel and dirt roads too.
The Aventon Level 2 is a great e-bike with many great features. It is my bike of choice for street riding.
See our full review of the Aventon Level.2 to learn more.
See Best Deals!
Get Up To $300 Off on select E-Bikes and $200 off extra batteries at AVENTON
2. Top Pick – Juiced RipCurrent S
Specifications
- Max Speed – 28 mph
- Range – 70 miles
- Max Rider Weight – 300 lbs
- Bike Weight – 76 lbs
- Motor Power – 1000 watt rear hub
- Speeds – 9 Speed
- Brakes – Hydraulic Disc
- Wheel Size – 26 inch
The Juiced RipCurrent S is one of the best e-bikes out there at any price. It focuses on performance and just gives it more than any other bike close to it.
The RipCurrent S has a 1000 watt motor where most others have 500 to 750 watt. It has a 52 volt battery. Most others have 36 or 42 volts. It has an air spring front fork, 9 speed driveline, Kenda offroad tires and a race mode that removes any speed limiters. If you want to go fast or go far, this bike will do it.
The Rip Current S is powered by a Bafang 1000 watt hub motor and 52 volt battery. It has a range of 70 miles in pedal assist mode. If you ride in low level assist you can easily go over 100 miles. If you switch it to race mode and take all the limits off, it still can go a respectable 28 miles.
The 52 volt battery has a built in Air-Tag compartment to help you recover it if the bike is ever stolen. The battery mounts on top of the frame. It isn’t a clean looking integration where the battery goes into the frame which is one of the few complaints we have. It can be charged on or off the bike.
This RipCurrent uses 26″ x 4″ fatbike wheels and tires. It has an air-spring suspension. It can be tuned for a very comfortable smooth ride even over rough surfaces. It has a raised handlebar giving you a very upright riding position for comfort. It has a ton of power for quick acceleration and powering over hills in throttle only mode. If you do choose to pedal, the 9 speed driveline gives good range for hills or going fast on flats.
The bike comes decked out in a nice set of accessories too. It has a 1000 lumen front light that lets you easily see at night. It also has rack and fenders for commuting.
The Juiced RipCurrent S is a great bike for performance and features.
What we liked:
- 1000 watt motor and 52 volt battery give it great power and range
- 9 speed pedal driveline
- 1000 lumen headlight
- Kenda tires for good offroad traction
- Available in a regular and step through style frame
- Available in 3 frame sizes
- Lots of features and performance for the pirce
What we didn’t like:
- Battery isn’t integrated with frame
- Bike is heavy at 76 lbs
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3. Best Mountain e-Bike – Ride1Up Prodigy XC
Specifications
- Max Speed – 28 mph
- Range – 30-50 miles
- Max Rider Weight – 300 lbs
- Bike Weight – 50 lbs
- Motor Power – BROSE 90nm torque mid-drive
- Battery – 36 volt 15 ah Samsung Cells
- Speeds – 9 Speed Advent Microshift
- Brakes – Hydraulic disc – 180mm rotors
- Wheel Size – 27.5 inch x 2.4inch tires
Save up to $200 Off when you buy 2 e-bikes at Ride1Up
Overall Score
What we liked:
- A lot of fun riding on trails
- Lots of power for steep climbs when riding on “boost” setting
- Setup well for offroad and trail use
- Comes with Maxxis trail tires
- Advent Microshift pedal driveline is durable and smooth
- Air sprung front suspension fork
- Chameleon paint that looks green or purple or both
What we didn’t like:
- Gearing needs more range for riding at speeds above 23mph
- Range is a little short for the price
- Headlight can’t be turned off
The Ride1Up Prodigy XC is one of the cheapest mid-drive electric mountain bikes available today. It comes setup ready for trail riding out of the box. It features a 90nm torque Brose mid-drive motor, hydraulic brakes, air sprung front fork, Advent Microshift driveline and Maxxis trail tires. It is a lot of fun to ride offroad on mountain bike trails. It will make any technical climb easy.
The Ride1Up Prodigy is available in 3 versions. It also comes in 2 commuter bike versions that are equipped with fenders, racks, and street tires.
The Brose mid-drive unit provides a lot of power and torque to help with climbing hills or accelerating fast on the flats. The torque sensor is very responsive and gives you almost instant help as soon as you push on the pedals. Power is available in 5 settings from Eco up to Boost.
The Prodigy is setup as a class 3 e-bike with a top speed of 28mph with pedal assist. The bike is really only geared for going up to 20mph. Going 22-23mph requires very little effort on Boost mode. Going faster requires a lot of fast pedaling.
The Prodigy has geometry that feels like a typical cross country mountain bike. It is slack enough to feel stable at high speeds. It handles tight turns in the woods very well. The hydraulic brakes provide plenty of stopping power.
If you want a true electric mountain bike to take on the trails but don’t want to spend $5000 for a Specialized or Trek then the Prodigy XC is the bike for you.
See our full review of the Prodigy XC to learn more.
See Best Deals!
Save up to $200 Off when you buy 2 e-bikes at Ride1Up
4. Best Adventure Bike – AVENTON AVENTURE 2
Specifications
- Max Speed – 28 mph
- Range – 20-40 miles
- Max Rider Weight – 400 lbs
- Bike Weight – 73 lbs
- Motor Power – 750 watt rear hub
- Speeds – 8 speed Shimano Acera
- Brakes – Hydraulic disc
- Wheel Size – 26 inch
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Big offroad friendly wheels
- Beefy frame construction
- Lots of power from 750 watt hub motor
- Torque sensor gives more control and a more natural feeling ride
- Color LCD display that is easy to read in bright light
- Hydraulic brakes give good stopping power
- Available in 2 frame styles and 2 sizes per style to suit most rider sizes
- Long range with pedal assist or throttle only riding
- Ships in sustainable packaging. No plastic or foam to throw away
What we didn’t like:
- Heavy weight
- Pedal driveline is a bit clunky feeling
- Some adjustment needed for the rear derailleur and front tire after assembly
- Control buttons are not as intuitive as older Aventon bikes
The AVENTON AVENTURE 2 is a rugged bike built for backroads and trails. It has heavy duty construction, big fat tires, 750 watts of power and lets of range. It is ready for any adventure you want to go on.
The AVENTURE 2 looks like a fatbike with 26″ x 4″ fatbike tires. The battery is integrated into the downtube while still being removable. It is a clean looking well put together package.
It has a 750 watt rear hub motor capable of dishing out up to 1130 watts of power when you need it. The Aventure 2 incorporates a torque sensor in the pedals in addition to the normal cadence sensor. This gives a much more responsive motor activation when you start pushing on the pedals and is a welcome upgrade.
The pedal drivetrain is Shimano Acera which is a nice upgrade of the Shimano Tourney we see on so many ebikes. They threw in some hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors so you won’t be wishing for more stopping power. They publish a max weight limit of 400 lbs. It should be able to handle almost any rider and condition.
The Aventure 2 has a great LCD display built into the stem that shows all the information you need such as range, speed and remaining battery. You can connect it to your phone and use the AVENTON app to get even more information such as maps and bike location.
The front fork has 80mm travel. The bikes 26″ x 4″ tires will already provide a lot of suspension even with a rigid fork. The ride is very smooth even on rough rocky and rooty surfaces. The bike has plenty of power for acceleration and hill climbing. Overall it is really fun to ride no matter where you take it.
The only real downside to this bike is its weight. It weighs 73 lbs which means it will be heavy lifting it on and off bike racks. That is the price you pay to get 45 miles of range on a trail ready fat tire mountain bike.
See our review of the Aventon Aventure 2 to learn more.
See Best Deals!
Get Up To $300 Off on select E-Bikes and $200 off extra batteries at AVENTON
5. Best Value Commuter Bike – Charge City Electric Bike
Specifications
- Max Speed – 20 mph
- Range – Up to 50 miles
- Max Rider Weight – 300 lbs
- Bike Weight – 45 lbs
- Motor Power – 250 watt rear hub
- Speeds – 7 Speed Shimano Altus
- Brakes – Mechanical disc with 160mm rotors
- Wheel Size – 700c (29 inch)
Overall Score
What we liked:
- Doesn’t take up much storage space
- Easier to carry. Under 35 lbs when the battery is removed.
- Includes a rack, fenders, and lights
- Has enough power for flat terrain and can climb small hills
- Has throttle and pedal assist
- Comes in environmentally friendly packaging
What we didn’t like:
- Ride is not that smooth without a front suspension fork and low profile tires
- Not much difference between pedal assist modes 1-3 and 4-5.
- Not the strongest hill climbing commuter bike out there
- Tool required for adjusting seat height and removing front wheel
Bottom line:
The Charge City Electric Bike is a great, fun to ride, commuter bike that is easy to store thanks to its lightweight design with folding pedals and handlebar
The Charge City Electric Bike is a different approach towards a commuter bike. Most companies give you more power and more capacity but they also give you a heavy to lug around and difficult to store bike. The Charge City Electric Bike is focused on being a light weight e-bike that is easy to transport and store.
The City Electric has a 250 watt motor and 7 speed Shimano Altus driveline. This gives it enough power for most city riding and short hills. Going with this approach brings the bike weight in at 45 lbs with the battery. This is much lighter than most other e-bikes that are 55-75 lbs. That makes it much easier to carry or hang up on a wall or rack.
The City Electric has a rotating handlebar along with folding pedals. This means you can store it up against a wall and it only sticks out a few inches. It needs half the space to store as a big with traditional handlebars and pedals. I wish more bike companies would include these features.
Riding the City Electric is fun and easy. It has enough power to give you some help without being difficult to ride in close spaces and around pedestrians. It has a comfortable upright riding position. It uses 29 inch wheels for a smoother more efficient ride than 27.5 inch wheels.
See our full review of the Charge City Electric Bike to learn more.
See Best Deals!
Get an extra $800 Off at ChargeBikes.com with Coupon Code GEARCRAVERCITY800
6. Best Value Adventure Bike – Himiway Cruiser
Specifications
- Max Speed – 28 mph
- Range – 35-60 miles
- Max Rider Weight – 350 lbs
- Bike Weight – 72 lbs
- Motor Power – 750 watt rear hub
- Speeds – 7 Speed Shimano Altus
- Brakes – Mechanical disc
- Wheel Size – 26 inch
Overall Score
What we liked:
- 350 lb weight capacity
- Gobs and gobs of power from the 750 watt Bafang hub motor
- Long range with 17.5 ah Samsung battery
- Very cushy ride
- Name brand Kenda tires
- Good power for acceleration and climbing hills
- Shimano Altus rear derailleur
- Relaxed upright riding position.
What we didn’t like:
- Gearing needs higher gears for 22-25mph pedal assist
- Battery isn’t integrated inside of the frame
- Derailleur needed adjustment before riding
Bottom line:
The Himiway Cruiser is a powerful, go anywhere, bike with a 750 watt motor and 17.5 ah battery. It offers performance well above it’s price point.
The Himiway Cruiser is a powerful electric fat bike that is at home offroad or in the city. It has a huge 17.5 ah battery and 750 watt Bafang rear hub motor giving it lots of power and range. It has strong acceleration when the motor kicks in making it very fun to ride. The Cruiser is setup with more relaxed geometry and an upright seating position making it comfortable for an all day ride.
The bike uses a Shimano Altus derailleur with 7 speed freewheel and Shimano Tourney shifter. The bike has enough range with 7 speeds to handle the bikes full speed range without spinning out the pedals. A twist throttle is used for no pedal mode.
4.0 inch wide Kenda Juggernaut tires are used giving you a lot of traction and stability. The ride can be fine tuned for pavement or offroad by adjusting the air pressure. A front suspension fork is included to give you some extra cushion in the front end. Most bikes with fat bike wheel and tires don’t really need any extra suspension.
The Cruiser has a lot of power but still manages to get great range. The published range is 35-60 miles. Most riders can achieve those numbers if they go easy on the throttle.
The Himiway Cruiser gives you a lot of bang for the buck with 750 watts of power, a large capacity battery and it’s go anywhere setup.
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7. Best Upgrade – Charge XC
Specifications
- Max Speed – 20 mph
- Range – 55 miles
- Max Rider Weight – not published
- Bike Weight – 55 lbs
- Motor Power – 250 watt mid-drive
- Speeds – 8 Speed Shimano Altus
- Brakes – Hydraulic disc
- Wheel Size – 29 inch
The Charge XC is an off road and commute ready bike built for adventure. The bike has 29 inch wheels with offroad tires, Suntour suspension fork, and a Shimano mid-drive motor. It also packs in a rack, fenders, and lights. This is one of the better all purpose bikes out there.
The XC has mountain bike geometry and would fit in sitting next to any trail oriented 29er hardtail. It has capable mountain bike components such as an Altus derailleur and Suntour branded fork. The Goodyear tires have a nice tread pattern to them. This bike is ready for most single track trails out of the box.
They also set the XC up to work well for a city commuter. It comes with a rear rack along with front and rear fenders. The seat is on the wider side. The mountain bike geometry gives it a nice upright riding position that won’t leave you sore at the end of your commute. It gives it good cornering in case you need to swerve or ride in tight spaces.
This bike is set up as a Class 1 bike only. It has a top speed of 20mph and pedal assist modes only. There is no throttle only mode. When you go faster than 20mph the motor will cut out and the assist is gone.
The Shimano mid-drive motor gives plenty of power for city riding, dirt roads, or most single track trails. The bike has a nimble trail bike feel to it that is at home riding on dirt or pavement. There are 3 boost levels to the pedal assist so you can fine tune how much help you need. There is also a walk mode. The integrated, removable battery can go 50 miles.
For people who don’t have a lot of storage space, the Charge has a few surprises for you to. The pedals and handlebar can fold making the bike much more compact for storage. The handlebar has a quick release lever allowing it to rotate.
The Charge XC is a great do it all bike. It will let you go mountain biking or commuting. It comes as a complete package that is set up well for both.
What we liked:
- Good performance on and off road
- Very complete package including fenders and racks
- Mid-drive motor
- Mountain bike geometry and tires
- Folding handlebar and pedals for easier storage
- Long range up to 50 miles
- Available in 2 frame sizes to fist most riders
What we didn’t like:
- No throttle only mode
- Would like to see an air-spring fork for this price
See Best Deals!
Get an extra $800 Off at ChargeBikes.com with Coupon Code GEARCRAVERCITY800
8. Best Mid Drive – REI Co-op Cycles CTY e2.1
Specifications
- Max Speed – 20 mph
- Range – 50 miles
- Max Rider Weight – 300 lbs
- Bike Weight – 50.5 lbs
- Motor Power – 250 watt mid-drive
- Speeds – 9 speed Shimano Alivio
- Brakes – Hydraulic disc
- Wheel Size – 27.5 inch
The Co-op Cycles CTY e2.1 is the commuter bike offering from REI. It has a more advanced mid-drive motor which is not common in this price range. The bike is very well thought out with good performance.
The bike is built around a Shimano 250 watt mid-drive motor. Mid-drive motors can use the rearwheel gearing so they don’t have to be as large as a rear hub motor to get good performance. The bike uses a mix of Shimano Alivio, Altus and Acera components. No Shimano Tourney anywhere.
The aluminum frame has a built in rear rack with an integrated rear light. The battery pack is nicely integrated into the frame and easily removed for charging. Once complaint about the light is that it has to be turned on or off in the settings menu. After that it is always on or always off when the bike is powered on. The lights should have a dedicated on/off function of their own.
This bike can only function as a Class 1 e-Bike in pedal assit mode. There is no throttle only mode. Since it’s only a class 1 bike it has a top speed limited at 20mph. It has good power for climbing hills without requiring a ton of rider effort. The 9 speed driveline lets the motor operate efficiently whether you are climbing or going fast on a flat. Most riders can easily get 50 miles out of it.
The bike has 27.5 inch wheels with wider tires to give it a smooth ride. The Suntour fork does a good job of soating up cracks in pavement or pot holes. The standard tires are pavement and road oriented. They will work okay for dirt or gravel roads too.
Overeall the Co-op CTY e2.1 is a really good commuter bike with above average motor and compoentns for it’s price. It’s fun to ride around with good range.
What we liked:
- Mid-mount motor gives allows motor to take advantage of different gears for hills
- Clean design with racks for commuting
- Upgraded Shimano components
- Good power and range up to 50 miles
- Available in 3 frame sizes for different sized riders
What we didn’t like:
- Light have to be turned on and off in the setting menu
- No throttle control. Only has pedal assist
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9. Ride1Up 700 series
Specifications
- Max Speed – 28 mph
- Range – 30-50 miles
- Max Rider Weight – 275 lbs
- Bike Weight – 62 lbs
- Motor Power – 750 watt rear hub
- Speeds – 8 speed Shimano Acera
- Brakes – Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- Wheel Size – 27.5 inch
The Ride1Up 700 Series Electric Bike is a great commuting bike with many great features. It has upgraded components and an integrated battery. It also includes fenders and lights. It is available in a regular frame and also a step through frame version.
The bike has a Shengyi 48volt 750 watt geared rear hub motor. The motor can easily prepare the bike up to its top speed of 28mph. The bike is a Class 3 E-bike with a top speed of 20mph electric only and 28mph with pedal assist.
The battery is 48volt with Samsung 14 ah cells. The bike can give a range up to 50 miles but it depends on riding style, rider weight, and how many hills you have to climb. The battery is integrated into the frame for a nice clean look. The battery is easily removable for charging. Extra batteries are available to extend the range. Only 1 size battery pack is available. There is no longer range pack like the Ride1Up 500 series had. The battery does not have a USB port on it for powering other devices which is a bit of a miss since the 500 series had one.
The bike has upgraded Shimano Acera components. It always burns me to see Shimano Tourney components on a $1000 e-bike. Shimano Tourney components don’t make it past a $300 conventional bike. The bike has an 8 speed drivetrain with 45T chainring. It is enough gearing range to work for commuter work or any road riding. One annoyance is that the Shimano shifter uses a push pull button arrangement. I prefer shifters with dual push buttons.
The 27.5 inch wheels are decked out with Schwalbe Super Moto tires. The bike has a 100mm travel fork with hydraulic lockout. This gives the bike a really comfortable ride on streets or rougher pavement. The tires have enough cushion to be comfortable while having lots of traction.
The brakes are hydraulic disc Tektro brakes. They give plenty of stopping power.
The bike has a trigger throttle on the left handlebar instead of the right. This takes a little getting used to. We would prefer a twist throttle on the right side to go with the shifters. The electronics have a nice color LED display. The cadence sensor has 12 magnets which are as good as you can get before upgrading to a torque sensor. The bike has 9 levels of pedal assist so you can customize the ride and assist as well as throttle only mode.
The bike comes set up for commuting right out of the box. It includes fenders as well as LED lights at the front and back. It is set up with a nice rear rack as well.
Overall the Ride1Up 700 Series is a really good looking bike that comes ready to commute out of the box. It has a great upgraded component setup. The integrated electronics and battery give it a really classy look.
Overall the Ride1Up 700 Series is a really good looking bike that comes ready to commute out of the box. It has a great upgraded component setup. The integrated electronics and battery give it a really classy look.
What we liked:
- Overall component spec and setup
- Very comfortable ride due to tire/wheel/fork and seat setup
- Powerful and fun to ride
What we didn’t like:
- Throttle on the left handlebar
- Push pull button arrangement on the shifter
See Best Deals!
Save up to $200 Off when you buy 2 e-bikes at Ride1Up
10. AVENTON PACE 500.3
Specifications
- Max Speed – 28 mph
- Range – Up to 60 miles
- Max Rider Weight – 300 lbs
- Bike Weight – 52 lbs
- Motor Power – 500 watt rear hub
- Speeds – 8 speed Shimano Altus
- Brakes – Hydraulic disc
- Wheel Size – 27.5 inch
The AVENTON PACE 500.3 is the ultimate cruiser bike. AVENTON set out to make the best possible bike for cruising around on bike paths or city streets and did a great job of it. The PACE 500.3 has lots of power, torque sensing, a comfortable relaxed riding position, upgraded components and an LED display. It is available in regular or step-thru frames.
The PACE 500.3 looks like a traditional hybrid bike with a cruiser handlebar and cockpit setup. It has a battery hidden in the downtube. The battery is removable for charging, and storage or for swapping. The overall look is very clean.
It has a 500 watt rear hub motor giving it plenty of power for city riding. The torque sensor means you get almost instant power when you push the pedals. The drivetrain is Shimano Altus which is a nice little upgrade over Shimano Tourney. The bike has hydraulic disc brakes for nice stopping power. The driveline has 8 speeds to help with any hill climbing or for more speed on the flats.
The bike is delivered as a Class II bike with a top speed of 20mph. You can go into the settings and change the max speed to 28mph making it a Class III bike. The throttle can be removed for places that don’t allow throttle operated ebikes.
The PACE 500.3 has a great LCD display built into the stem that shows all the information you need such as range, speed and remaining battery. You can connect it to your phone and use the AVENTON app to get even more information such as maps and bike location.
The bike is fun and comfortable to ride. Acceleration is brisk with the 500 watt rear hub motor. There is enough grear range to get you up steep hills. The riding position is more upright on the comfort side of things. The handlebars are cruiser shaped. It’s a fun bike to just ride around or cruise around the beach or city.
AVENTON offers a nice set of accessories for the PACE 500.3 including fenders and racks. You can customize it to exactly meet the needs of your commute or whatever other adventure you want to take it on.
What we liked:
- Fun bike to ride around
- Comfortable upright riding position
- Torque sensor for more responsive power
- Integrated backlit display and phone app
- Lots of power
- Able to switch between Class 2 and Class 3 ebike top speeds
- Removable battery hidden in the down tube
- Overall clean look of the bike
What we didn’t like:
- The bike is on the heavy side at 53 lbs
See Best Deals!
Get Up To $300 Off on select E-Bikes and $200 off extra batteries at AVENTON
Electric Bike Guide
There is a lot of things to think about when purchasing an electric bike. Where do you plan on riding it? How far do you need to go on it? Do you need to transport it on public transportation or the trunk of your car? How fast do you want to go? Let’s explore all of these electric bike questions below.
What are the benefits of an electric bike?
There are several benefits to an electric bike. Let’s look at a few of them.
- They allow you to ride farther and faster than you could with a conventional bike.
- People who can’t ride a regular bike due to lower body injury can ride e-bikes.
- You can still use an e-bike to lose weight. This is especially true for people with injuries who can’t do other exercises.
- E-bikes make great commuter vehicles. They are much cheaper to own and operate than a car.
- They are fun to ride. Zipping around on a bike has never been boring no matter what kind of bike it is.
What should I look for when buying an electric bike?
Operating modes
There are a few different operating modes for electric bikes. They are motor powered and pedal assist. An electric bike may operate in one or both modes and also as an unpowered bike depending on the bike. Some electric bikes are able to switch modes.
- Powered Bike – The motor can power the bike on its own with no pedaling input. The bike may or may not have pedals.
- Pedal Assist – The motor provides power only when the rider is pedaling. A sensor on the pedal detects when the bike is being pedaled and powers the motor only when it’s being pedaled.
- Unpowered bike – You pedal the bike with no electric assist or power.
Motor power
Most electric bikes in the under $2000 price range have a motor that is between 500 and 750 watts of power. For reference 1 horsepower is equal to 745.7 watts. The more power an e-bike has, the easier it will be to go up hills, and the faster it can go.
Battery size
Most under $2000 electric bikes have 48 volt lithium batteries with between 10 and 15 amp hours of capacity. An electric bike with more battery capacity will have more range and can have more output power. Higher capacity lithium cells can discharge at a higher current without damaging the cells. More capacity is better.
The downside to more battery capacity is that the batteries get bigger and heavier. There is only so much space on a bicycle frame to store batteries. If you need to carry your electric bike, battery weight becomes an important factor.
Bike Type
You can get electric bikes in all of the common bike types these days. The most popular types of bikes are listed below.
- Road bike – These bikes are primarily meant for riding on smooth paved surfaces. They have a crouched down riding position with drop handlebars.
- Mountain bike – These bikes are meant for riding off road on trails. They have flat handlebars and a more upright riding position. Most have front suspension or full suspension.
- Hybrid bike – These are a cross between mountain bikes and road bikes. They have a more upright riding position and flat handlebars similar to a mountain bike. They are lighter weight with tires and wheels that are more pavement oriented.
- Gravel bike – These are another cross between a mountain bike and a road bike. They have droop handlebars and crouched down seating position of a road bike with wheels and tires that are more oriented towards gravel or dirt road surfaces
- Commuter bike – These are an offshoot of a road bike. They tend to have flat handlebars and upright seating position. They have wheels and tires meant for pavement use.
- Folding bike – This is a bike that can fold in half to be more portable. They tend to be road bikes with pavement oriented tires and wheels and flat handlebars.
Driveline
The bike will have some combination of chainrings (front gears) and cogs (rear gears). 3 x 7 drivelines with 3 chainrings and 7 cogs are really common in bikes under $1000. Since e-bikes also have motor assist they don’t always have a need for really low gearing. Some bikes have a 1 x 7 or single chain ring and 7 cogs.
Most e-bikes come with 1 x 7 drivelines until the price goes well over $2000. Occasionally one has a 3 x 7 driveline because the bike it’s based on happened to have a front derailleur. Most common rear hub motors are designed around Shimano 7 speed freewheels.
Higher end drivelines usually mean more range in gear ratios. This means you get better climbing (low gear) and better top speed (high gear).
As you go up in cost bikes transition from a 3 x 7 system to a 3 x 8 or 3 x 9 system. Then to a 2 x 10 and finally to 1 x 11 and 1 x 12 on high end bikes. 1 x 12’s are wonderful and simple to use since they have a lot of range and no front derailleur to worry about.
This may seem counter intuitive since higher end bikes lose the front derailleur and have fewer parts. Low end bikes have 3 chainring drivelines which would seem to be a more complex system.
See our article on 1x Drivelines to learn more about 1 x 12 systems.
Brake type
Bike brakes are either v-brake or u-brakes that clamp on the rim to stop the bike or disc brakes. V-Brakes are the traditional bike brake that are operated by a cable. They work by clamping brake pads against the sidewalls of your bike rims. They work well when setup right. They don’t work when the bike rims get wet. If the bike wheel becomes bent and out of true it effects their clamping effort. They have less stopping power then disc brakes.
Disc brakes work by clamping against a rotor attached to the center of your bike wheel. They can be operated by a cable or hydraulics. They have several advantages over v-brakes. They have much higher braking power. You can screech to a stop with 1 finger effort. They work on wet roads. The rotor is far from the wheels and wet pavement. They work with bent or out of true wheels because they are attached to the hub.
Disc brakes are better performing and preferred for any e-bike. Hydraulic disc brakes are even better.
Frame Material
Most bike frames are made of aluminum. Aluminum offers good lightweight construction for a reasonable price.
Carbon fiber is the next most popular choice but it is much much more expensive. Carbon fiber bikes will weigh several pounds less than an aluminum bike. You will pay a few thousand dollars to save those few pounds.
Some bikes are still made with steel frames. Steel frames are a few pounds heavier than aluminum. Steel has good durability and the frames are more flexible than aluminum so it can provide a softer ride.
With an electric bike, you are carrying around several pounds of batteries. Some have 20 to 30 lbs of batteries which weigh as much as some bikes. It’s not worth spending thousands for a carbon frame when you are going to strap pounds of battery weight to it.
Wheel size
Bigger bicycle wheels give a smoother ride. Bigger wheels roll with less resistance and are more efficient. Common wheel sizes for full size bike wheels are 29 inch or 700C, 27.5inch or 650b, and 26inch. 26 inch is no longer common except on under $500 mountain bikes, cruiser bikes, or fat bikes with 4 inch wide tires.
Foldable bikes or small portable bikes have smaller wheels. These make the bike light enough to carry. They will not ride as smoothly and they will take more effort to climb hills.
Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes
California has developed a system of 3 classifications for electric bikes. Several other states and federal organizations have adopted it as well. The classifications are as follows:
- Class 1 e-bike – pedal assist only with no throttle and a top powered speed of 20mph
- Class 2 e-bike – Bike can be powered by the motor alone with a maximum powered speed of 20mph
- Class 3 e-bike – pedal assist only with no throttle and a top powered speed of 28mph
To learn more about electric bike classifications go here.
Is it worth getting an electric bike?
An electric bicycle may not be for everyone. For those who enjoy riding them, they are absolutely worth the extra cost. An e-bike will always be cheaper to ride and own than a car.
You can save a ton of money on your commute using an e-bike. They can allow people with lower body or back injuries who couldn’t otherwise ride a bike to enjoy biking. If you want to use an e-bike for committing instead of a car. It does not take long to recover the cost of a $2000 ebike in saved gas money, not to mention insurance and maintenance.
See our article “Why do e-bikes so expensive?” if you are wondering why they cost so much.
What are the disadvantages of electric bikes?
There are a lot of advantages and only a few disadvantages to an electric bike.
- An electric bike will cost more than a regular bike. The battery will need to be replaced after a few years adding more cost.
- Some cities and states only allow certain classes of e-bikes on public roads. You need to check the laws where you live to see what you can and can’t ride there.
- Many mountain bike trails do not allow electric bikes of any kind. More and more are opening up to class 1 pedal assist bikes. They will probably be legal on all trails within the next few years due to their benefits to older and injured bikers.
How long does an e bike last?
An e-bike can last as long as a conventional bike. The battery will lose capacity and wear out from charging and discharging. The average e-bike battery lasts between 10,000 and 30,000 miles. Depending on how much you ride that could be a long time. If you keep the bike indoors and out of the weather it will last much longer.
Electric Bike FAQ
Q: How fast do electric bikes go?
Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are limited to 20mph. Class 3 e-bikes are limited to 28mph. You can pedal an electric bike faster but the motor will not power you above those speeds. For electric bikes not following the classification standards you can get higher speeds. Above 28mph it becomes a moped in most states requiring you to have a driver’s license and registration.
Q: Do I need to wear a helmet when riding an ebike?
Helmet laws vary from place to place. I always wear a helmet when biking. I have had a few scary moments including going head first into a tree while mountain biking. I recommend one whether the law requires one or not.
See our guide to the best under $100 mountain bike helmets for good helmet choices.
Q: How often should I charge my ebike?
To ensure a long life for your e-bike battery you should never leave it completely discharged. When you are done riding your e-bike you should let the battery cool down a little if it’s hot and then recharge it. You should always keep your e-bike battery charged at 50% or a little above for storage.
Lithium batteries are sensitive and require some care. The 2 worse things you can do to them are overcharging and completely discharging them. Overcharging can lead to fires. Most lithium battery chargers have circuits to prevent overcharging. You should always read the owner’s manual for your battery and charger for any safety precautions.
Discharging a lithium battery completely can damage the cells. If this happens they may not hold a charge and can’t be fixed. All batteries have a slow self discharge over time. It’s very slow with lithium batteries but still occurs. As long as you don’t store the battery completely discharged for a long time this problem won’t occur. Most e-bike controllers have circuits to monitor battery voltage. They will cut off the e-bike before damage can occur.
Q: What is the best way to store an ebike
Ebikes take up much more space than electric scooters. Storing them can be a challenge. A good wall rack is an excellent solution. It keeps your bike off the ground and holds it so it won’t fall over on anything. We like the Koova Bike rack a lot.
Koova Bike Rack
See our review of the Koova Bike Rack to learn more.
Q: What’s the best electric bike for the money?
The DJ Bike Mountain Bike and City Bike are both great values. They have similar Bafang 750 watt motors with 48 volt batteries for great power and range. They are both really good. What matters is where you intend to ride your bike and which style is more comfortable to you.
Q: What is the best electric bike for hills?
To get good performance on hills you need more power. A 1000 watt e-bike will have much better climbing ability than a 250 watt e-bike. Look for an e-bike with higher power such as the DJ Mountain and City Bike or the eAhora electric mountain bikes. These are all good hill climbing bikes.
Q: Can you ride electric bikes in the rain?
From a biking perspective, you can ride an e-bike in the rain just like any other bike. Some electric bikes have water resistant controllers, motors, and batteries. Some do not and will be damaged. You should consult your e-bikes manual to learn whether it can be used in the rain or not.
Q: How fast is a 500w ebike?
Most e-bikes will be limited to a top speed under power of 20mph or 28mph to comply with class 1, 2, and 3 e-bike laws. 500 watts is enough power to propel you faster than 28mph on flat land, but the controller will limit it to 28mph.
Q: How fast is a 1000w ebike?
Most e-bikes will be limited to a top speed under power of 20mph or 28mph to comply with class 1, 2, and 3 e-bike laws. 1000 watts is enough power to propel you faster than 28mph on flat land, but the controller will limit it to 28mph. If the electric bike is classified as a moped with registration and a drivers license it may be able to go faster.
You Might Also Like:
- The Best Electric Bikes Under $1000 Helpful Guide
- The Best Ebikes For Big Guys Helpful Guide
- Electric Bike Voltage And Watts. Helpful Guide To E-bike Power
- What Is The Best Mountain Bike For Ebike Conversion?
- The Best Electric Bikes Under $500 And Helpful Guide
Doug Ryan
Co-Founder & Biking Editor
I have been riding bikes and messing with them my entire life. I have always loved the thrill of riding whether it’s down the street or in the woods on a trail. I have a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Reliability and am a complete gear nerd. I have 20+ years of product development engineering experience and a lot more years of biking. I currently reside in Michigan but grew up in Pennsylvania.
doug@odysseyebike.com
