The 4 Best Commuter eBikes of 2025

Our Picks of Electric Commuter Bikes

Best Premium Performance

Segway Xafari

E-Bike Class: 2 or 3 | Tested Motor Power: 1300W

The Segway Xafari is a full-suspension electric bike with more features than we're accustomed to discussing. Using a 936Wh battery, the bike traveled further on a single charge than any other electric bike we've tested. That might be expected if the Xafari was low on power, but it's also one of the most powerful bikes we've ever dyno tested. Its 4-amp charger gives it the fastest charging time of all the electric commuters.

Rolling on 26-inch wheels and 3.0" knobby tires, the Xafari can venture beyond the end of the pavement. ABS fenders, built-in lights with a 1300 lumen headlight, and a rear rack ready the bike for commutes in any conditions. The bike has a brilliant interface and excellent app integration, allowing you to lock, track, and even get updates through from your phone. Through the bike's display, you can view navigation, play music, and take phone calls.

The Xafari has a capacity of 352 pounds, including 55 pounds on the cantilevered rear rack. An 8-speed drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, and superb ergonomics make the bike easy to enjoy. Although only one frame size and style are available, making it less ideal for all users, we found it to be suitable for riders from 5'4" to 6' feet tall, offering six inches of adjustability in the seatpost.

While the bike aced our tests, its comfort and tech features add significant weight. At 94 pounds, the bike is hard to muscle onto a bike rack or ride without assistance. If your biking plans involve hauling the bike on a rack, you'd be wise to look for a lighter bike like the Aventon Level 3, below, or a heavy-duty rack. Overall, we're incredibly impressed with the Xafari, and given the bike's performance, it's priced far lower than we expected.

Read more: Segway Xafari review

Best For Most People

Aventon Level 3

E-Bike Class: 2 or 3 | Tested Motor Power: 890W

The Aventon Level 3 is a full-featured commuter ebike with a compelling price tag. The bike is loaded with high-tech features and comfort upgrades. Balancing comfort and efficiency, the Level rolls on 27.5" wheels and 2.2" tires. An 80mm suspension fork and a dampened seatpost isolate the rider from the road, providing extra comfort should you stray from the pavement. The bike comes fully equipped for commuting with a rack, lights, fenders, turn signals, and reflective tires.

Using Bluetooth, you can connect a smartphone to the bike to lock, track, and even geo-fence a perimeter for its operation. The Class 2 bike(with throttle) has a top speed of 20 mph, but through the app, you can adjust the pedal assist top speed to 28 mph. Using a 500W hub motor that registered 890 watts of peak power in our dyno test, the bike accelerated to 20 mph in just 7 seconds.

A Shimano Altus 8-speed drivetrain and Magura hydraulic brakes give the bike adequate gearing and exceptional stopping power, though the Magura brakes lack a motor shut-off switch. The bike is light enough to be transported by most bike racks and robust enough to carry up to 300 pounds. Aventon's 4-amp fast charger can fill the keyless battery in just over five hours. Available in two frame sizes and step-through or step-over styles, the Level is sure to make your commute a breeze.

Read more: Aventon Level 3 review

Best Compact Option

Lectric ONE

E-Bike Class: 2 or 3 | Tested Motor Power: 1090W

The Lectric ONE is a dramatically different type of commuter bike. Using an internal gearbox and Gates belt-drive, your sensitive drivetrain components are sealed from the elements while the weight is centered in the bike. The 6-speed Pinion gearbox is typically found on bikes three times the price of the ONE. We're impressed with Lectric's ability to offer so much impressive technology at such an exceptional price. This compact commuter comes with everything you need for commuting day or night, rain or shine. The short wheelbase and upright position are ideal for urban environments, while its 672Wh battery and powerful motor give it the oomph and range to expand your domain without range anxiety.

The compact size simplifies parking, storage, and transporting the bike without sacrificing much in the way of utility. The bike utilizes powerful hydraulic brakes and electronic shifting, giving it a refined feel. The 750W motor produced a peak wattage of 1090 on the dynamometer, giving it the grunt for tackling hills or hauling heavier loads. With a combined weight limit of 330 pounds, the rack holds up to 30 lbs and is pannier compatible. The is a fair amount of adjustability in the cockpit to dial in your fit but the bike only comies in one size. Lectric recommneds it for riders between 5'2" and 6'4", but if you're near the taller end of this range, you may find it less than ideal.

20-inch wheels with 2.5" puncture-resistant, tires feature eflective sidewalls and are best-suited for pavement or hard-packed surfaces. The tires are excellent, but they make up all of the bike's vibration damping. As such, the ONE is less comfortable for longer rides or over rough terrain. Overall, we found the design and implementation very well thought out and the riding experience is quite nice. If a high-tech commuter bike with a small footprint sounds good to you, the ONE is likely to impress.

Read more: Lectric ONE review

Most Enjoyable Commuter bike

Rad Power RadRunner Max

E-Bike Class: 1, 2, or 3 | Tested Motor Power: 1000W

We've always loved the RadRunner, but previous iterations have felt quirky and less refined. The new RadRunner Max, however, is right on the money. With an expanded 420-pound carrying capacity, 28mph top speed, and tracking through Apple Find My, the bike feels more useful than ever. A totally revamped display is clear and intuitive while alerting you to traffic from behind courtesy of the bike's radar. Yes, you read that right, the traffic radar detects cars or cyclists up to 100 meters away and shows you how fast they're approaching.

The ride quality is fantastic thanks to 20" x 3.5" tires and an 80mm suspension fork. Upright BMX-style handlebars give you a neutral posture and a commanding view that we loved for taking in scenery or staying aware of our surroundings. We're posting this bike in our commuter bike review, but it's so much more. You might call it a pleasure/utility bike with the ability to carry a passenger or cruise for hours without pedaling. The large integrated rack can hold 120 pounds and has space for a second battery. The bike has a planted, yet sporty feel that makes hopping on a joy. This step-through model is only available in one style, one color, and one size for riders between 4'11" and 6'2".

You can lock the bike with a passcode or use a clever NFC-enabled card. Rad makes an abundance of accessories for this model, including a locking console box, a range extender, and seats for children or adults (up to 120 lbs). We found this bike to be incredibly user-friendly and ideal for someone's first e-bike. It's also 83 pounds, making it difficult to transport or carry. It's priced higher than some of the other bikes in our review, but given the tech, ride quality, and expansion possibilities, it feels like a solid value.

Read more: Rad Power RadRunner Max review

Why Trust GearLab

Over the last five years, we've tested almost 100 different e-bikes across multiple e-bike categories. This review focuses on our favorite electric bikes for commuting. These 11 models have risen to the top after extensive testing and comparison. Our rigorous e-bike testing process starts with assembling each bike before weighing and measuring them ourselves for consistency. We ride each bike, often for months, while performing standardized tests to assess range, power, and handling. We also test their acceleration, hill-climbing ability, and measure their peak torque and power on a dynamometer. When our testing concludes, we rate each model on several predetermined metrics, including ride quality, range, power output, user interface, and ease of assembly. The cumulative scores helped us determine our best overall and other award winners.

Our e-bike test was led by Joshua Hutchens. Hutchens is GearLab's Senior Bike Review Editor and lover of all things two-wheeled. He is a lifelong bicycle commuter with a storied history in the bicycle industry. He commutes in all weather and appreciates the reliability and durability of commuter bikes. A resident of Lake Tahoe for more than a decade, Hutchens is proud to call the Sierra Nevadas home and enjoys the 400-plus miles of single track accessible from his house. His current commute includes bicycle paths, city roads, single-track, and gravel roads. A former racer, mechanic, shop owner, and bike park founder, Joshua now moonlights as a mountain bike coach. He has tested over 100 bikes for GearLab since 2017 and is meticulous about the details.

Analysis and Test Results

To differentiate between the e-bikes in this test, we use quantifiable testing to make direct performance comparisons between the different models. We focus on these key performance attributes: ease of assembly, power output, range, user interface, and ride quality. In our scoring, we emphasize these metrics differently, with important characteristics like ride quality weighted more heavily than ease of assembly. Our side-by-side testing reveals the performance of each model and how they compare. We spend time talking about their strengths and weaknesses and identifying where each bike excels.

What's the Best Value?

We don't rate products based on their price, but we appreciate a good value. Often, price and performance go hand in hand, but that isn't always the case. Sure, some of the more expensive options rate highly in our performance metrics, but some more affordable models, like the Lectric XP4, get the job done for less. For riders operating on a tighter budget, we've tested a group of lower-priced bike options in our Best Budget Electric Bike review.

Ride

The ride quality of a commuter bike plays a crucial role in determining your comfort and safety, which may influence how frequently you ride it. All bikes in this review are somewhat different, and their comfort, features, components, and handling vary. Various factors, like wheel size and geometry, affect how a bike handles at speed or while turning. Seated body position, saddle shape, grips, and cockpit layout all contribute to rider comfort. Meanwhile, integrated lights, fenders, cargo racks, and suspension can enhance the user-friendliness and rider experience of each model.

If you value ride quality above all else, the Segway Xafari delivers. This bike has a balanced, smooth, stable, and comfortable demeanor. The 26-inch and 3" tires combine with the bike's full suspension to take the edge off of cracks, bumps, and rough surfaces. A quality saddle, ergonomic handlebar shape, and ample cockpit adjustability provide a high level of comfort. While the Xafari isn't lightweight, its exceptionally strong motor hides its mass.

The Lectric ONE also provides an outstanding ride. A high-tech gearbox with electronic shifting and a belt drive makes this compact commuter really impressive. We loved how well-engineered and easy to use this bike is.

The Aventon Level 3 uses 27.5" wheels that feel noticeably more stable than smaller wheels with less feedback from the road. The Level has a refined feeling with hidden cables, suspension, and an excellent user interface. It comes with fenders, lights, built-in electronic locking, and GPS tracking. The Level looks less like an e-bike than most.

Range

Our testing revealed a large spread from the longest, almost 40 miles, to the shortest, 15.4 miles. In most cases, the size of the battery correlates pretty directly with the distance a bike can travel. Given the rider's minimal input, even the poorest-performing bike in this test managed to cover 15.4 miles, which is an impressive distance. Our range test results represent the low end of each bike's range potential, and they could all likely be ridden further on perfectly flat terrain. In most cases, their ranges could easily be doubled or more, with some pedaling effort on the part of the rider.

Boasting a massive 936 Wh battery, the Segway Xafari will alleviate range anxiety. The Xafari cruised 38.2 miles on our test course. This isn't surprising, given its large-capacity battery. The Rad Power RadCity 5 Plus also did well in our range test. It managed to travel an impressive 30 miles with just over 1,600 feet of elevation gain/loss, holding an impressive average speed of 16.7 mph in the process, and that's without even pedaling.

With its 672 Wh battery, the Lectric ONE achieved a range of 27.2 miles. The Aventon Level 3 features a 720Wh battery, larger wheels, and narrower tires, which help it achieve a range of 38.1 miles.

Power

In the US, electric bikes fall into three classes. In all three classes, the motor size is limited to 750W. Class 1 e-bikes have pedal assist only and are limited to a top speed of 20 mph. Class 2 electric bikes have a throttle and pedal assist, both limited to 20 mph. Class 3 ebikes also have a throttle and pedal-assist, but the throttle stays limited to 20 mph while the pedal-assist tops out at 28 mph. The speed limits of many electric bikes can be adjusted to accommodate Class 2 or Class 3 configurations, and often, the throttle can be disconnected to configure it as a Class 1.

We have various test bikes that encompass all three e-bike classes, featuring different motor sizes and power ratings. The power output of a bike is determined mainly by the size or wattage of its motor. Larger motors produce more torque and power. Additionally, the battery's voltage determines the amount of power the motor can generate. Our assessment of power is based on several tests that we conduct to analyze the throttle and pedal assistance. We compare the acceleration, range of pedal assistance, quality of output, and uphill speed and retention over time of each bike, in addition to their top speed. We also tested the power and torque on a dynamometer to get exact figures for each bike.

The Lectric ONE has a powerful 750W motor. This bike was quick off the line, whether using the throttle or pedal assist, and it held power impressively well while climbing gradual hills during our throttle-only range testing. This fast-moving bike comes in Class 3 settings, and it had no problem ripping along at 28 mph while using pedal assist. The Lectric ONE also boasts a strong 750W geared hub motor. The ONE quickly accelerates using the throttle and maintains its impressive speed. It's generally quite easy to achieve the top pedal-assisted speed of 28 miles per hour. These bikes are fast, but you also don't have to ride them or any of the Class 3 models at top speed all the time. Multiple levels of pedal assistance allow you to choose how much help you want to get to the top speed. Too fast? You can decrease the top speed through the display or connected app.

The Class 3 Aventon Level 3 also impressed us with its power and a top speed of 28 mph. While not quite as quick to accelerate using the throttle as the models mentioned above, its 500W (890W peak) motor felt robust, and it had no problem hitting and holding 28 mph on flat ground in its highest pedal assist level. Likewise, the small but mighty RadRunner Max surprised us with its power. This bike quickly accelerates using the throttle, and the 750W (996W peak) motor assists in reaching speeds of up to 28 mph.

The most power came from the Xafari, which pushed out 1,300 watts on the dyno machine. We found that its powerful motor could effortlessly push us up hills without requiring any additional pedaling assistance.

Interface

Most modern bikes have advanced control and display systems, but several models stand out. The newest Rad Power, Aventon, and Lectric models particularly impressed us with their large digital display screens placed in the center of the handlebars for easy visibility. These screens provide a plethora of information, including your current speed, pedal assist level, distance traveled, time, and more. These bikes also have user-friendly control buttons next to the left grip, making them easily accessible while riding. Additionally, Aventon has taken an extra step with their Level 3 model, which is compatible with the Aventon companion app and ACU. This app allows you to synchronize with your bike's display, change settings, record rides, and share your cycling experiences with the Aventon community. Using the ACU, you can track the bike's location, establish a geo-fence that the bike won't operate outside of, and electronically lock the bike.

The Ride1Up Prodigy and the Roadster V3 models feature all-in-one units that combine button controls and displays in a single unit, mounted to the handlebar by the left grip. The displays show a vast array of data and are easy to read, although their smaller screen size and location make them a little less user-friendly than models that feature larger screens in the center of the handlebars.

Assembly

Most of the bikes in our test are sold directly to the consumer, so they arrive partially assembled in a shipping box. How easy they are to assemble varies greatly, with some models taking just minutes and others requiring some mechanical know-how. The Trek FX+7S and Segway Xafari have an advantage here as they are sold through a dealer network, and we picked them up from the bicycle shop fully assembled. Many Aventon and Rad bikes can be shipped to partner bike shops, where you can pay for assembly. However, most people who are willing to follow a few directions can complete the assembly themselves.

The Charge City received high marks for its slick packaging and straightforward assembly process. This bike comes with the handlebars and pedals already attached, requiring only the front wheel to be installed. Assembling the Ride1Up Prodigy was also straightforward, a major highlight being the lack of styrofoam or plastic packaging. The bike was ready to ride once we installed the handlebars and pedals and set the saddle height. The RadRunner MAX comes in a clever box with a lift-off top, revealing a mostly assembled bike that can be rolled out of its packaging.

Conclusion

Whether for commuting, running errands, or simply riding for fun or fitness, a quality e-bike is a great way to get you there. With so many options on the market, we know there can be much to consider when choosing a new electric bike. Our rigorous testing process goes past the specifications and jargon and into the nitty-gritty details of how these bikes perform in the real world. We hope our detailed comparative analysis helps you find the right e-bike to suit your needs and meet your budget.