There are many people that are interested in the world of cycling and e-bikes but don’t know where or how to start. In this section, I’ll list my top picks of best electric bikes under $1000. They are at are high quality yet won’t drain your wallet.
This list is great for beginners who are budget conscious. When comparing these bikes together, I recommend you go for the Ecotric Fat Tire Beach Snow for convenient & durable electric bike for your daily commuting.
If you want to look for an electric mountain bike or electric hybrid bike instead, consider picking Rockrider E-ST or eBike City. For female electric bike model, you can go for Elops 900 E Lown Frame from Decathlon as it’s mostly versatile for casual use.
Here below are reviews of best budget electric bikes that you can own today.
1. Ecotric Fat Tire Beach Snow Electric Bike
Best Overall
This Ecotric electric bike’s main feature is it’s fat tires. I must say, riding this bike on roads was a pleasant experience. You could hardly feel rocks and small potholes as you ride which is a huge deal for me.
It’s equipped with a 500w motor, quite a powerful ebike for being under $1000. Riding to work and back is a great experience as you can easily go 20 MPH without having to pedal. Assembly is very easy.
It took me less than an hour to assemble the bike once it arrived so that’s really good. For the design, the contrast of bright orange and an all-black frame is really striking and pleasing. I dig it quite a lot.
However, after a few days of use, I noticed that the brakes weren’t made to be high quality. Overall, it is a solid e-bike for its price range.
What I Liked:
- Smooth and silent ride due to fat tires
- Solid price to performance ratio
- Easy assembly
What I Disliked:
- The brakes could’ve been made better
2. Ecotric Fat Tire Portable and Folding Electric Bike
Best Folding Electric Bike
This peculiar yet cool looking electric bike is great for anyone looking for a budget friendly e-bike with tons of features. Its frame design is step-thru meaning that all ages and gender can easily ride the bike.
The assembly wasn’t the smoothest, I had to look up instructions on Youtube for some parts. It is smaller in size which is great for people with smaller and shorter builds.
Even so, this e-bike has the same power as the previous larger fat tire e-bike. A 500W motor in such a small bike, you’ll really feel that power. The control panel isn’t the most comprehensive as to be expected.
It has only 3 modes, Low, Medium, and High. Even at the lowest setting, the bike is still quite fast. Even so, the ride is still smooth and quiet thanks to the fat tires.
What I Liked:
- Foldability
- High accessibility
- Excellent power
- Very striking design
What I Disliked:
- Not the smoothest assembly
- Very simple control panel
3. Rockrider EST
Best Electric Mountain Bike
This Rockrider EST one of my favorite cheap electric mountain bikes below $1000. The design of the bike looks stylish and sturdy at the same time. My ride with this bike on both roads and hills was a blast.
You can really feel it when you turn up the power level, steep climbs become a breeze with this e-MTB. The assembly portion went pretty smooth. I can attest to the quality of this bike for its price. If you are interested in trying out e-MTBs, I highly recommend checking this one out.
One gripe that I had was the saddle wasn’t as comfortable as other bikes. This is very subjective though and you can still replace the saddle with a more comfortable one if you want. Other than that, this bike is a very solid and has good value for a starter e-MTB.
What I Liked:
- Stylish design and colors
- Very smooth and enjoyable ride, even outside electric mode
What I Disliked:
- The saddle could’ve been made to be more comfortable
4. Gtech eBike City
Best Electric Hybrid Bike
The quintessential e-bike for city goers and urban dwellers. The eBike City handles amazingly on the road. It is very simple to operate and runs very smoothly on the road. It’s light and durable, perfect for everyday commute to work.
The extra boost it provides is just enough to assist you up a hill but not too much that you don’t have to pedal. This is so that you still get to exercise. The assembly process was fast and easy with no hiccups.
The white with green accents design really suits it well and I like it a lot. It really gives off that eco-friendly vibe that the company is known for.
The e-bike also features an LCD display which provides important information such as the amount of battery you have left.
What I Liked:
- Sleek colors and overall design
- Step-thru frame design which makes it convenient to get on and off
- LCD display which contains important information
What I Disliked:
- Could use an extra gear or two
5. Ecotric Vortex Electric City Bike
Best for Battery Length
Ecotric Vortex is a great e-bike for adults at a very affordable price. It is equipped with a 350W motor which is quite rare at a price range this low. The ride on this e-bike wasn’t as smooth as the previous ones in the list but it was still pleasant.
This was easily assembled, no problem. This bike is great for riding on roads and maybe some light trail riding.
Some things that I found were not as great were the brakes being a little too tough and the super simple control panel with low/medium/high power settings.
Considering the very low price point, it is still a solid starter e-bike for individuals with tight budgets.
What I Liked:
- Relaxing to ride around in full electric mode
- Very ergonomic hand grips
- One of the best price to performance ratio
What I Disliked:
- Brakes could use some adjustments
- Not many options for power levels
6. Elops 900 E Low Frame Electric City Bike
Best Electric Bike For Women
This e-bike from Decathlon is very stylish and designed to be used in urban settings. The step-thru frame designs make it very convenient to ride and get off of. Perfect for smaller builds such as women, teens, and children.
The battery is removable and comes with a lock and key. This makes charging the battery quite convenient. Everything about the Elops e-bike is designed to be as easy and streamlined to use as possible.
From the control panel to riding the bike itself. My whole experience with this e-bike was nothing but pleasant and smooth.
It is a great alternative to public transport in urban areas. At 250W, it’s not equipped with a powerful motor but it still does its job well.
What I Liked:
- Stylish and fashionable design, perfect for city life
- Very easy to use and ride on
- Has many quality of life features
What I Disliked:
- Could use a little more power for those pesky hills
7. Pendleton Somerby Electric Bike
Best for Who Commuting to Work
Another stylish, city life e-bike on the list – Pendleton Somerby Electric Bike. The brown accents really make it pop out and give off an old school vibe. The 317W provides sufficient enough power for a city e-bike. This guarantees effortless riding on roads and some small hils.
Getting on and off the bike is very convenient due to the step-thru frame design. The ride is smooth and quiet as expected, it does its job wonderfully.
It also features a removable battery which makes charging a whole lot more convenient. I really like the ergonomic yet stylish handlebars. Overall, a good rated choice for someone who is living a busy life in the city and wants a reliable e-bike for commuting.
What I Liked:
- Very stylish design choice
- Powerful motor for a city e-bike
- Very convenient to use and maintain
- Company offers free assembly at their shops
What I Disliked:
- None
How to Choose the Right Electric Bike
As the popularity and demand of the electric bike rises, so do the different types and variations of them are made. Choosing the right ebike can be quite overwhelming, especially if you’re new. To get you on the right path, I will outline the information you need so that you can make an informed purchase.
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Choose The Right Frame
A big consideration that you should make is the type of frame you need in an ebike. If you have trouble getting your leg over standard bikes, you may want to opt for an easy-entry or step-thru electric bike.
These types of electric bikes have frames with no top-tube while the bottom-tubed is reinforced and made larger. As the name suggests, Step-thru electric bikes are very easy to get on and off of. This makes the bike very accessible for any age and gender.
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Choose The Right Size
The size and frames of electric bikes can widely vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. This is why getting the right size for you may be quite a challenge. On top of that, different people are built differently.
Some people may have arms longer than their legs or vice versa. The best way that I recommend to do when you don’t know what electric bike size is suitable is to go to a regular bike shop and try out different sizes and get an idea of the right size for you.
Types of Electric Bikes
Now that you know the important factors you should consider when purchasing an electric bike, let’s look at the different types available in the market today.
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Electric Hybrid Bike
The Electric Hybrid Bike is the most popular choice compared to the other types of electric bikes available. This is because it covers a wide spectrum of electric bikes.
From heavy duty bikes with thick tires and beefy forks to urban hybrid bikes that are designed lighter and for road use. There is pretty much an electric hybrid bike for every cyclist.
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Electric Road Bike
Even though they are new to the world of e-bikes, Electric Road Bikes are making a statement in both practicality and design. Easily recognizable with its sleek design and drop handlebars. They are made to be light and easy to ride.
They were designed to assist your average road cyclist every now and then, maybe up a steep road or get to work faster. They can act as a great training tool for individuals looking to get back into cycling.
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Electric Mountain Bike
Electric mountain bikes also known as e-MTB for short are very popular amongst cyclists. It comes in two categories, full-suspension or hardtail. It’s popular because of its high adaptability and versatility.
If you get a decent quality e-MTB, you can pretty much ride anywhere. You can swap to road friendly tires and you’re good to ride on roads. The high-spec electric mountain bikes can handle a lot of abuse and wear.
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Electric Cargo Bike
As the name suggests, the electric cargo bike is specifically designed to carry cargo that normal bikes or e-bikes can’t handle. This makes the e-cargo bike extremely useful for a lot of tasks. You can work as a bicycle courier using one, you can go grocery shopping without having to carry everything, etc. This can be a great alternative for a car if you live in a fairly safe urban area where people welcome cycling.
Conclusion
So those are my top picks for the best electric bikes under $1000. Between all these e-bikes, the eBike City was my favorite. The sleek modern design and its multiple practical features really made it stand out.
Alongside its affordable price, the eBike City felt the best when it came to riding it around city blocks. It is the perfect e-bike for any residents of a city and are in need of a convenient, fast, and reliable mode of transport.
Still, for the best overall electric bike in the list, Ecotric Fat Tire Beach Snow brings about the most value.
