The Best E-Bikes for Urban Riders in Need of Public Transportation Alternatives

For the Biker on a Budget

While Rad Power Bikes’ RadRunner 1 is the most affordable bike we tested by about $800, that doesn’t mean you’re compromising function, aesthetics or enjoyability. In fact, we found the RadRunner 1 punchy and flat-out fun for zipping around town.

Small enough to be considered a “minibike,” the RadRunner 1 is only 67 inches long and 45 inches tall, making it easy to fit into a tight carport, or even keep inside your apartment. At 65 lbs., it’s also relatively easy to lift in and out of the car.

The RadRunner 1 gets 25-45+ miles of charge and offers four levels of pedal assist. The twist throttle provides a little extra punch if you need to get up a hill, dodge traffic, or if you don’t feel like pedaling up a sweat. The 672-Wh battery and 750W Bafang gear-hub motor packs plenty of power, and hills are no problem on a bike that can punch above its weight.

For commuting to the office, the Rad Runner 1 is a great choice, thanks to the step-through frame, compact size, dual-leg kickstand, and integrated rear rack for carrying a bag. It just feels comfortable, easy, and light, with all the features you need and none that you don’t. Plus it looks great without begging for too much attention. On the weekends, throw on the passenger seat for date night—the Rad Runner 1 features a proprietary passenger package that allows the driver to still adjust his or her seat height while the passenger seat remains atop of the rear rack.

At only $1,199, the Rad Runner 1 is a great investment in your daily commute. Rad Power Bikes are available online only: They ship for free in the contiguous United States. You can assemble your bike using one of their thorough YouTube tutorials, or take it to a shop for assembly. I used—and strongly recommend—Velofix, a mobile bike shop that serves as Rad’s authorized service provider. Velofix came to my house and assembled the bike in less than 30 minutes.

For the Fitness Fiend

The Yamaha Cross Connect is a great choice for someone who wants the versatility to ride without pedal assist and get a workout, but who also wants the option to turn on the power and get around quickly and easily.

With 18 speeds and four levels of pedal assist, you can truly finetune the exact level of effort you want to exert. Keep in mind, if you do pedal without assistance, you’re moving a 49.8-lb. bike; it will feel more challenging than pedaling a typical hybrid or commuter, but you can get enough assistance from the gears to make it work.

The Cross Connect features an LED display of speed, distance, battery charge, cadence, and odometer reading. The battery range can last anywhere from 20-70 miles, depending on which level you use, how hilly the terrain, plus the weight you’re carrying. The 500Wh battery takes four hours to charge.

An LED headlight and rear rack with integrated tail light come standard on the Cross Connect, so you’re safely lit up and ready to carry some cargo right away. I loaded the bike with about 40 pounds of groceries, cranked the pedal assist to “High” and made it up the steep hill back to my house with no issues. After unloading the groceries, I turned off the power and rode the bike around my neighborhood for a workout, fully maximizing the Cross Connect’s ability to be a fast and strong commuter as well as a fitness tool.

At $2,999, Yamaha includes a three-year warranty on the bike and battery and sells through authorized dealers.

For the Heavy Hauler

It wasn’t until I got on the Yuba Electric Supermarché that I thought, ‘Will I ever need my car again?’ This bike is built for hauling cargo: kids, pets, groceries, home supplies, sporting equipment, you name it. To test that, I took it for a spin to my local nursery and loaded it up with two large bags of potting soil and heavy terracotta pots, then rode it back up the steep hill to my home. The Supermarché handled the load well (it can carry up to 440 pounds), and the front-cargo hold provided peace of mind, allowing me to keep a constant eye on the goods (an even greater comfort when hauling kids or pets).

It comes standard with a bamboo baseboard and 22.6-inch-long open-loader front cargo well, as well as a rear rack. Fit your groceries up front and mount a child seat behind you (just be sure to stay under the 300-lb. payload max). With a step-through frame and two-sided kickstand, it’s easy to mount and get riding, even when fully loaded.

The Supermarché uses Enviolo continuously variable transmission, which means you “shift” gears using a twist-grip handlebar shifter to seamlessly adjust your desired pedal cadence (rather than clicking through gears), even at a complete stop. There are five levels of pedal assist, from eco to turbo. And with the infinite gear ratios, you can keep pace with traffic and ascend steep hills so long as you’re putting in the pedal-assist work. The bike weighs 78 pounds, which requires some effort with a full load, even with the Bosch Performance CX motor and Powerpack 500 battery (which has a range of 15-55 miles, and takes 4.5 hours to charge).

While $5,500 might seem steep, cargo e-bikes can run as high as $8,000+, so the Yuba is priced competitively. And once you get the hang of riding the Yuba for running errands and hauling the family, it might turn into your main mode of transport, which will help offset the cost.

Yuba provides a two-year warranty, sells through dealers as well as online, and offers financing through affirm.

For the Fun Hog

If you want to have the most amount of fun for the least amount of work, the Super73-SI is your bike. Aptly dubbed a “rugged utility urban cruiser,” the SI electric motorbike can go as far as 25-30 miles using only the thumb throttle at 20 mph, and as much as 50 or more miles using Eco pedal assist. There are three levels of pedal assist, but with this bike, it’s more fun to give the legs a break and just use the throttle.

The Super73-SI comes with a 696-Wh battery and an internally geared DC hub motor that can output up to 1000 watts of power. Meaning, you’ll do fine up steep hills, even carrying cargo. A rear rack, LED headlight and brake light all come standard, and you can add a passenger seat to make this ride for two (keep in mind, there’s a 275-lb. weight limit).

The fat all-terrain tires (at 4.25 inches wide) make this bike versatile enough for some light offroading as well. The steel-framed SI is light enough to lift in and out of a truck or move around in the garage.

Super73 offers a one-year warranty and interest-free financing through Klarna. It sells at $1,995 through domestic and international dealers and ships to most of the U.S. and Canada with the bike 90 percent assembled upon delivery (just add the pedals and handlebars).

For the Weekend Warrior

For the rider who wants a bike that can get around town and trail, this fat-tire cruiser is a great option, especially thanks to its relatively approachable price ($1,950).

Use the Murf Fat Pax Step-Thru‘s seven-speed Shimano drivetrain of pedal assist to zip around city streets during the week, then take advantage of the Kenda 4-inch wheels to ride on sand or dirt on the weekends. The Pax can carry up to 275 pounds, which means you can throw a cargo rack and/or a board rack on it and still zip up steep hills, especially with the thumb throttle that can get you to 25 mph without pedaling. The bike itself weighs 70 pounds, so this isn’t the natural choice for someone looking for a workout—you’ll likely want to use at least the lowest mode of pedal assist to haul it, and yourself, around.

An LCD screen displays speed, distance, and battery life. The 1,030 Wh battery has a 25-40 mile range, and when you start to run low, you can charge it in six hours. The Fat Pax is comfortable but powerful and works for both utility and leisure.

Step-up Option: For those willing to spend more and looking for more tech and speed, the Alpha Pax is a single-speed upgrade, still with three modes of pedal assist but wielding a torque mid-drive motor that gets up to 28 miles per hour. The Alpha also features a full-color display with USB port for phone charging.

Murf includes a two-year warranty on bike and battery, sells through its retail store in San Clemente, Calif., and ships to the contiguous United States 70 percent assembled.