kckaren21
TUG Member
Here ya go!
Electra Townie Go! 7D!
Price: $1,500
3 Range
5 Braking
4 Acceleration
3 Control Response
4 Hill Climb
4 Unassisted Hill Climb
5 Unassisted Cruising
Throttle: No
Computer speed/distance: No
Assist levels: 3
Gears: 7
Motor: Hub
Seat type: Cruiser saddle
Headlight: No
Battery amp-hours: 8.6
Removable battery: Yes
CR'S TAKE: This cruiser-style, pedal-assist bike has excellent braking, and its rear derailleur makes for smooth, comfortable riding. It has three levels of assistance and a twist-style shifter to change among the seven gears. These features make this bike a very good hill climber, with or without the pedal assist turned on. It doesn’t come with a computer, lights, or fenders—the latter of which may be especially missed by commuters facing wet weather. (A bike shop can generally add fenders and lights for an additional charge.) Though the Electra’s makers say it’s designed to make it easy to hold the bike upright when stopped, shorter riders should definitely try this one before buying, because it has a relatively tall frame.
Buy at: Local bike shops
Jetson Adventure
Price: $1,300
3 Range
4 Braking
5 Acceleration
2 Control Response
4 Hill Climb
5 Unassisted Hill Climb
5 Unassisted Cruising
Throttle: No
Computer speed/distance: Yes
Assist levels: 9
Gears: 21
Motor: Hub
Seat type: Sport
Headlight: Yes
Battery amp-hours: 7.8
Removable battery: No
CR'S TAKE: This off-road style, pedal-assist bike comes with front and rear derailleurs, nine levels of assistance, and 21 gears. Its small battery means the Jetson looks the least like an electric bike among those we tested. Be prepared to ride with a forward-leaning posture on this narrow, sport-style seat. The Jetson Adventure handles well, has very good braking, and comes with a computer as well as powered front and rear lights. The best part? If you run out of power, this is still a great, versatile bike—the only one we tested that we earned Excellent ratings in both unassisted hill climbing and unassisted cruising. At about 40 pounds, it was also the lightest e-bike we tested.
Buy at: Amazon / Walmart / Target / Jetson
Nakto Fashion
Price: $600
3 Range
5 Braking
4 Acceleration
3 Control Response
2 Hill Climb
3 Unassisted Hill Climb
1 Unassisted Cruising
Throttle: Yes
Computer speed/distance: No
Assist levels: 1
Gears: 21
Motor: Hub
Seat type: Comfort saddle
Headlight: Yes
Battery amp-hours: 10
Removable battery: Yes
CR'S TAKE: The least expensive bike we tested by far, the single-gear, foldable Nakto comes with one level of pedal assistance as well as a throttle. While the other bikes we tested can go up to 20 mph, this one tops out at 15.5 mph. You can accelerate quickly using the throttle, but it’s a little shaky at high speeds. It may take a while to get used to the Nakto’s small (20-inch) wheels and upright style, but it handles well. Though it also braked well in our tests, it has a rim brake in the front and a drum brake in the back, so it may not stop as quickly in wet weather. And don’t plan on riding long with a dead battery—unassisted, hills and even simple cruising were difficult (though not impossible). The Nakto comes with a powered headlight and fenders.
Buy at: Amazon / Walmart
RadRunner Electric Utility Bike
Price: $1,300
4 Range
4 Braking
5 Acceleration
3 Control Response
5 Hill Climb
1 Unassisted Hill Climb
4 Unassisted Cruising
Throttle: Yes
Computer speed/distance: No
Assist levels: 4
Gears: 1
Motor: Hub
Seat type: Flat
Headlight: Yes
Battery amp-hours: 14.0
Removable battery: Yes
CR'S TAKE: This low-to-the-ground bike has small (20-inch), knobby tires that are puncture-resistant. While that may be appealing to off-road riders, its lack of suspension could make for a bumpy ride. The RadRunner has only one gear but offers four levels of pedal assistance as well as a throttle that allows for very quick acceleration. It also has very responsive front and rear disc brakes. Its seat is at a fixed angle that might not be comfortable for all riders. The bike comes with a powered light, a brake light, and a kickstand, and it’s easily customizable with add-ons, such as a rear seat for passengers. Its upright position and small wheels take some getting used to, but this bike handles well—as long as the e-assist is on. Without it, this is a very poor single-speed bike. If you run out of power, you may find climbing hills almost impossible.
Buy at: RadPower Bikes
Raleigh Retroglide Royale 2.0 iE Step Over
Price: $2,600
5 Range
5 Braking
4 Acceleration
5 Control Response
4 Hill Climb
4 Unassisted Hill Climb
5 Unassisted Cruising
Throttle: No
Computer speed/distance: Yes
Assist levels: 4
Gears: 8
Motor: Midmount
Seat type: Cruiser saddle
Headlight: No
Battery amp-hours: 10
Removable battery: Yes
CR'S TAKE: This was the only middrive model in our tests, and its large battery lasted for miles longer than any other bike on our hilly course. The performance of this style of bike is contingent on choosing the correct gearing, so be sure to switch to lower gears when accelerating or climbing hills. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on the full power of the assist. The Raleigh was the most expensive bike in our tests, and also the only model that had hydraulic disc brakes, which were more responsive (by a small margin) than any other braking system we evaluated. Its swept-back handlebars, however, felt less supportive to our test riders during hard braking than the flatter handlebars in other models. Overall, this bike offers a comfortable, relaxed ride—even when the battery runs out of juice—and it comes with fenders, a computer, and a cup holder (though no lights). Update: Though the model we tested isn’t available for sale anymore, the Retroglide 2.0 IE is similar—and cheaper at $2,150. It doesn't have fenders (the Royale version does), has a smaller battery, and includes some different hardware, but our testers expect it would perform similarly.
Buy at: Raleigh
