Once you've decided which style of electric bicycle accommodates your riding needs best, the next consideration will be the price point.
Like most items, e-bikes come in everything from the ultra-budget level to the ultra-premium level.
Interestingly, one of the biggest differentiators in e-bike quality isn't the electric components yet the rather the bicycle components. Most e-bikes use comparative electrical components until you reach the mid-range price level, so, all things considered the bikes begin to feature nicer quality electrical components. On the lower end of the spectrum, more affordable prices are generally achievable by reducing the nature of the bicycle itself, not the electronics.
Let's check out some examples.
Ultra-budget electric bikes ($300-$500)
On the extreme low-end of the price range are ultra-affordable e-bikes. These can begin as low as $300-$400 and are exclusively Chinese imported bikes.
Xiaomi is a major name that has recently gotten into the e-bike game. They have produced two models that cost $261 and $375 in their domestic market, yet get closer to $400-$500 locally.
Amazon additionally has a number of scooter-style e-bikes that need practical pedals yet retain the shape of a bicycle. These can typically be found for around $399.
Numerous people will refer to this level of e-bike as disposable, as in you simply hurl it out and get a new one when it inevitably breaks. I'm not sure I'd go that far, yet these definitely aren't quality alternatives. They have no-name bike parts and often super cheap battery cells that offer limited range. You pretty much get what you pay for.
On the off chance that you are searching for a decent deal and can spend more, I'd recommend moving to the next category of budget e-bikes.
Budget electric bikes ($500-$1,000)
Once you move into the budget-level e-bike category, you see an increase in component quality and range. One of my favorites in this category is the Swagtron EB-5. At just $499, this e-bike is nearly in the ultra-budget category. However, I've been riding one throughout the previous 8 months and it has held up incredibly well. Hence I'm ordering it in the budget category instead of ultra-budget.
The EB-5 has decent power and range for its ease, however has just one pedaling gear. So in the event that you like to move, this isn't the bike for you. It's geared very low however so you can easily pedal on slopes. Above 10 mph or somewhere in the vicinity, you'll need to use the throttle since the pedaling cadence gets quite high without gears.
Ancheer is another regular brand that sits squarely in the budget-bike category. We've reviewed a few of them and saw them as fundamentally fine. For a $600 or $700 e-bike, you can't expect excessively. Be that as it may, they get you where you need to proceed to perform pretty well for whatever length of time that they hold up. The frames don't inspire a ton of confidence and the bike parts are low-end, however they're pretty useful at the cost.
Try not to expect these bikes to keep going for quite a long time of abuse. Be that as it may, on the off chance that you take care of them and use them inside their cutoff points, budget e-bikes can be a strong method to get your feet wet in the realm of e-bikes.
Mid-range electric bikes ($1,000-$2,500)
This is the sweet spot, where both the electrical and bicycle components improve definitely. Whereas budget-level e-bikes are useful for those that need to experiment with the concept of e-bikes, this mid-range category is for those that are committed and need a decent e-bike without addressing used-vehicle costs.
Once e-bikes outperform $1,000, components like brakes and shifters begin progressing into better models by companies like Shimano and Tektro. Tires begin accompanying recognizable names like Kenda, and frames begin feeling like something you could ride down a set of steps without slowing down into equal parts. On the higher end of the spectrum you'll even begin to see water driven circle brakes and other top of the line components.
Blix Aveny is an affordable Dutch-style bike that we tested
Companies like Rad Power Bikes and Blix Bikes specialize in this category, offering great quality bikes with proper components at prices that remain reasonable.
These bikes can in reality last 3-5 years with great bike maintenance, however the present lithium battery technology is unlikely to last any longer than that.
Premium electric bicycles ($2,500-$5,000)
This is a genuinely wide price range and includes a number of elements. When you reach $2,500, you're unlikely to discover any garbage components anymore. Parts like shifters, brakes, frames, and suspension begin entering the mid-range level for different suppliers, as opposed to the entry-level brand name components found on e-bikes in the previous category.
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Need Embark with its Gates Carbon Belt Drive system
Another differentiator in this category is that you'll begin to see enormous name mid-drive engines like those from Bosch, Shimano, Brose, Yamaha, and Panasonic.
These mid-drives are a step up from center point engines found on most mid-range and lower e-bikes. They offer better performance, especially for those that enjoy utilizing the electric power only for help while really pedaling.
Some notable examples that we've previously reviewed include the Priority Embark, Yamaha Wabash, Raleigh Redux, Trek Super Commuter, and Cero One.
It is essential to call attention to however that because an e-bike is priced in this range, doesn't mean it is necessarily of premium quality. Some companies just charge higher prices than their bikes warrant. Pedego is a genuine example of this. Their bikes can easily cost $4,000-$5,000, yet the quality isn't comparable to other e-bikes in that price range. There's nothing amiss with Pedego's quality, it's simply that the price doesn't just reflect the bike. The organization has a great deal of overhead, between their large dealer network, huge marketing presence, and other expenses, for example, paying William Shatner to discuss the amount he loves Pedego. So what might otherwise be a $2,500 e-bike (hey there Pedego, rack mounted batteries in 2019?!) is currently suddenly more expensive because you're paying for the organization to manage their rambling e-bike empire.
Ultra-premium electric bikes ($5,000-$10,000)
This is where things begin to get somewhat insane. At this level, we're discussing super top of the line bike components. Interestingly however, a ton of the electrical components aren't obviously superior to you'd find on a $3,000 e-bike.
Yet, bikes like the $10,000 Stromer ST5 include expensive electronic shifters and other parts that raise the overall price of the bike. Other e-bikes offer belt drive or $1,000 internally geared Rohloff center points.
Once you enter the ultra-premium realm, you'll see e-bikes that are designed for serious enthusiasts.
Electric downhill bikes fall squarely in this category. A year ago at Interbike we tested a $2,000 Magnum Peak electric trail blazing bike against a $7,000 Haibike downhill electric bike. The difference is night and day. While the $7,000 dedicated downhill bike felt like I was riding on a cloud while dashing down treacherous mountain ways, I thought I was going to die on the $2,000 electric off-road bike. It simply wasn't worked to handle that sort of extreme riding. To perform at these levels, four-figure frames and suspension components are essentially an unquestionable requirement.
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What's more, that is it! To choose your first electric bike, you'll need to determine the type of riding you need to do and the price level that you need to pay.
Like numerous hobbies and sports, e-bikes are a play-to-pay action. In any case, that doesn't mean you have to break the bank. By picking the correct type of bike at the correct price level for you, anyone can have a great time on an e-bike!