Rather than dust off your indoor exercise bike, electric bikes and scooters are a great way to get around — especially while the weather is warm.
Electric bikes put less pressure on you to pedal, allowing you to carry heavier reusable grocery bags, take farther trips and arrive at your destination in less sweaty conditions.
Similar to electric bikes, electric scooters make zipping through town a breeze.
With scooters, the only thing you need is a bit of balance, as there’s no pushing or pedaling required.
Since there are so many models to sift through, we spoke with Ben Foster an e-bike expert at the family owned and operated electric bike store Strictly Ebikes. He gave us the low-down on the different options out there and how to choose the right one for you.
Be it bike or scooter, make sure they have a full charge, grab a helmet and then hit the road.
See below for a wide range of options for both, including electric scooters and bikes for adults, fat tire electric bikes, electric folding bikes, folding electric scooters and more.
Click below to shop a specific category:
Click below to jump to our FAQ with the e-bike expert:
Electric bikes for adults
1. Cutest electric bike: sixthreezero EVRYjourney NEW 500W, $1,400, original price: $2,000
Take a ride around the block and then some, with this adorable electric bike perfect for warmer weather trips.
From sixthreezero, the new model of the EVRYjourney is decked out in spring colors and ready for you to ride. Our favorite is the sage green bike above, but it also comes in brown, blue and yellow. The bike and its accessories can be customized to your liking as well, using the widgets on the site.
2. Best electric commuter bike: Rad Power Bikes RadCity Step-Thru 3 Commuter Bike, $1,999
Welcome to Rad City, population: you.
This slick electric bike is from Rad Power Bikes and it sure is rad. The white version is decked out with a low-step frame and a rear rack on the back, perfect for city riding and errands when you don’t want to take the car.
3. Easiest electric bike to ride: Trek Verve+ 2 Lowstep, $2,850
Ride safe and smooth this summer with an e-bike from Trek.
The Verve+2 Lowstep is a perfect electric bike for those who want to enjoy riding more, but value a smooth and comfortable ride over all else. The pedal assist will help you ride longer and more confidently, while the suspension seat post and low step will make getting on and off a breeze. The bike comes in the blue color above, as well as in a metallic silver and a bright magenta.
4. The original electric bike: Bluejay Bikes, $3,295
Get on your pastel Bluejay Bikes, to kick off the summer in style.
There are 12 colors to choose from, including mint green, blue, white and black, all of which can be ordered in two different sizes — one for those 5-foot-5-inches and below and one for 5-foot-6-inches and above.
5. Best electric mountain bike: Schwinn Marshall Adult Electric Hybrid Bike, $1,400, original price: $1,600
Mountain biking is a lot of work, so why not make it a bit easier?
Amazon carries this Schwinn brand electric mountain bike, coming in four colors and two sizes to accommodate all riders. The bike has seven speeds and a pedal assist motor as well, can get up to 20mph with the throttle and can last up to 35 miles on a single charge.
6. Budget-friendly electric bike: Priority Ace, $599
The Priority Ace electric bicycle is a belt drive e-bike that eliminates the hassle of a fixing a traditional bike chain. You’ll be pedaling in the sunshine in no time — without the lecture from your wallet. With an under $100 price tag it comes with a single speed, two sizes and two styles to customize it to your comfort.
7. Electric fat tire bike: Wing Freedom Fatty 2, $1,299, original price: $1,999
Simply pedal to kick start the electric benefits of this fat tire bike. The Wing e-bike features a speed of up to 25 mph, built-in headlights and taillights, a battery range up to 60 miles and anti-theft tamper detection and alarm.
8. Folding electric bike: Ancheer 16-inch Folding Electric City Bike, $510
Made to be lightweight and easily collapsible, this is the ideal electric bike for city-goers. Simply store it in any corner, any vehicle and any space. Further details pedals for riding when the battery dies, a removable battery, ability to ride on the road or trail and more.
Electric scooters for adults
1. Fast charging electric scooter: Yadea KS5 Electric Scooter, $500, original price: $700
Let your electric scooter take you everywhere, and you can take it everywhere in return.
The new Yadea KS5 electric scooter is super easy to use and even easier to fold and store away when not in use, that it may just become your go-to mode of transportation this summer. Charge up quickly with 5H Fast Charging and then ride up to 25 miles, going about 18mph at max speed. The scooter also has Bluetooth capabilities, paring to any enabled device, as well as its own LED screen to show battery life, headlight status, a speedometer and more.
2. Longer range electric scooter: Hiboy S2 Pro Electric Scooter, $533, original price: $900
Oh boy!
Hiboy is a great brand for electric scooters, and we found one on Amazon for a pretty good price. It can reach speeds up to 19 mph and can travel up to 25 miles when charged up, one of the longer ranges on the market.
3. Best electric scooter for commuting: TurboAnt M10 Commuting Electric Scooter, $360, original price: $450
Save some extra cash and consider trading in your car or metro card for one of these. This electric scooter from TurboAnt is designed with the commuter in mind, with a lightweight design for easy storage once in the office and an 18-mile range on a single charge. Plus, the under $500 price tag is hard to beat.
4. Best folding electric scooter: Hover-1 Rally Electric Folding Scooter, $250
Scoot into summer, and with savings no less.
The Hover-1 electric scooter is now on Amazon, sold for just under $400. The scooter is both electric and foldable, making it easy to ride and even easier to store in your garage or home when done. It can go as fast at 12mph and about seven miles on a single charge.
5. Best electric scooter design: Segway Ninebot KickScooter Air T15, $762
If you thought Segway was only for tours and mall cops, think again.
This Segway brand electric scooter is a game-changer, winning multiple awards for innovation. The Ninebot KickScooter Air can go as fast at 12.4 mph and about nine miles on a single charge. The whole scooter weighs only 23 pounds and folds up to be 8.7 inches, making it a portable and easy option for both riding and storing when done for the day.
6. Electric scooter with shock abosorbent tires: Gotrax GXL V2 Commuting Electric Scooter, $390
Featuring an improved console, longer battery life and folding mechanism, this Gotrax electric scooter is a popular choice. It also features a hand brake, shock absorbent air-filled tires and holds up to 220 lbs.
FAQ with the e-bike expert
The different types of electric bike models
Among electronic bikes, Foster says there are two main types you can choose from: step-over and step-through.
“Step-over is the diamond-shaped frame you probably remember from childhood,” he told The Post. “Step-through is missing that top bar, making it a more relaxed style — one that’s also better for shorter people.”
You’ll also want to consider what you plan on mainly using it for as Foster explained models with “fat or knobby tires are better for riding on trails or gravel” whereas “smoother and narrower tires provide a better ride on the street and give you more battery range.”
There’s also the power output to consider, which, according to Foster, will tell you how quick “but not necessarily faster” the bike is. These power levels can range anywhere from 350W to 750W, but it’s also important to remember “a higher power draw means you run down the battery more quickly.”
You’ll also want to determine the speed and whether you’d like a pedal-assist or throttle-assist. This is categorized by “class” as Foster describes with class one e-bikes being “pedal-assist only” with no throttle and “a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph,” a class two e-bike is throttle-assisted with a max assisted speed of 20 mph and a class three e-bike comes with pedal-assist only, no throttle and a max assisted speed of 28 mph.
Other characteristics to consider
For adventure seekers, Foster usually points people to a knobby-tire model with more power to handle both hills and off-road environments. Commuters should lean more towards “an easy-to-live-with model with a solid range,” while “if they’re an urban dweller, they may want a foldable model that can fit into an apartment,” he said.
What he thinks is the most important characteristic though, is “buying from a reputable brand or shop that will support you after the sale.” Make sure you look into the warranty policies of the electric bike you’re looking as as a new e-bike should have one for at least one year.
After narrowing down your selection, Foster suggests reading professional reviews and opinions from real people using sources like eBikes Forum or Electric Bike Review to “get an authentic sense of how different models perform.”
If you still find yourself with unanswered questions, he encourages visiting a shop to ask them.
“Ebikes are new to most people, so it’s totally okay to have questions!” he said.
Beginner e-bikes v. models for more experienced riders
For beginners, Foster says to look for “an e-bike with a lighter chassis, which means a smaller battery, and a less powerful motor.” Step-through frames are usually more popular among new riders, he points out the frame “really comes down to personal preference.”
Cost is also a consideration to take into account as newer riders may prefer to “get their feet wet with a lower-cost model that has fewer bells and whistles.”
Most experienced e-bike users Foster has assisted tend to have a “need for speed” so they are typically interested in models with a higher output level. These are also “often people who are avid bikers and like traveling long distances” that means a bigger battery may be a priority, which will also increase the weight of the bike.
What to avoid in an electronic bike or scooter
Custom or home-built e-bikes and e-scooters should be avoided as some repair shops won’t even service them. Foster says this is due to the fact that “they tend to be jerry-rigged together, and can even be unsafe.”
The emphasis should be on comfort over needs, too. Make sure your try out different models to find the most comfortable design to ensure you’ll ride it.
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