The best electric commuter bikes

Cycling to work is cool, but running out of puff on a hill and having to get off and push is not… so here are six of the best new electric commuters for a smooth ride with assistance when you need it.

BMC 257 Amp AL ST

£4599 / tredz.co.uk

What’s the story?
There’s a myth that a good commuter bike, electric or not, has to be some sort of knackered old lump. That
it should be chosen purely for durability, and not for enjoyment. The BMC 257 Amp turns that idea on its head, putting performance and luxury to the fore.

People drive to work in £60,000 cars, so why can’t cyclists choose something a bit more high-end to get to the office on? With bold mudguards and a high-end mid-drive motor, courtesy of Bosch, it’s got the looks and the power – and it’s also got the high-quality feel.

Is it any good?
The handling is second to none, providing effortless turning through standstill traffic. You feel like you’re almost gliding when the motor kicks in – it’s almost seamless – and even at the top end, riding over the electric speed limiter, it’s smooth and easy.

If you’re after a bit of luxury on your commute, this is a fine option. The mudguards offer excellent splash coverage, and the minimalist rear rack mounts directly onto the mudguard… though this does mean it can be difficult to get some pannier bags to fit, which is worth bearing in mind if you sometimes carry more than just a packed lunch.

This e-bike is made by a performance-orientated bicycle brand so there is a little harshness to the ride, but the seating position is comfortable so it lends itself to longer commutes in and out of the city. Plus the integrated lights offer great ‘be seen’ protection on winter evenings.

If you want to take full advantage of the Bosch Kiox display, you can even connect your phone via the Bosch eBike Connect app and add in navigation and other ride metrics.

Raleigh Modum

£3399 / raleigh.co.uk

What’s the story?
Not everyone wants or needs a full-size e-bike to get to work on, and that’s where smaller models like this one come in. Raleigh has managed to squeeze a decent carrying capacity and overall enjoyable ride into the utility-focused Modum, a 20in-wheeled powerful urban steed.

Although it doesn’t fold away, the Modum is ideal for those who don’t have a great deal of storage space, or perhaps just don’t want to contend with a bigger bike. There’s a built-in rear MIK rack that can hold up to 27kg – that’s a lot of shopping. And the fact that it’s MIK means there are plenty of accessories that work nicely with it, including the Basil dog basket. Woof!

Is it any good?
Despite a short wheelbase and little wheels, this is still a very decent bike. It takes the best of both worlds, mixing the capacity and presence of a larger e-bike with the agility of a smaller one. We also like the idea of low-maintenance hub gears on an e-commuter of this type.

The Modum is another Bosch-powered e-bike, so it’s mid-drive power that will help you conquer the steepest of city inclines without breaking a sweat. And with a 500Wh battery, you’ll get a lot of climbing miles in without having to worry about charging it up. For a more accurate estimate you can use the Bosch range calculator, but a conservative guess of 70 miles from Raleigh is doable from our experience.

There’s only one size, but Raleigh reckons it’s a good fit for anyone between 5ft 2in and 6ft 2in as a guide. So if you’ve got lots to carry to work, or even just want something you can also nip to the shops on, the Modum is worth a look.

Specialized Turbo Tero X 6.0

£5500 / specialized.com

What’s the story?
Car manufacturers haven’t taken over the bike world (yet), but the terminology is slowly but surely creeping in. In the case of the Specialized Turbo Tero X, we mean ‘SUV’. And to be honest, this is probably more of a sports utility vehicle than most cars with that moniker: it’s fast, fun, and capable of handling whatever you want to throw at it.

At first glance the Tero X looks like a somewhat confused mountain bike, with suspension front and rear and a geometry designed to absorb the bumps on rocky descents. For this reason it might seem like overkill for pootling along to the office every day, but it’s hard to deny the fun factor – and the capability of this rugged machine. It’s fitted with all the commuting essentials: mudguards, a rear rack (which can only carry panniers, not a rack bag on the top), a kickstand, lights, and even a dropper post.

The 6.0 model we tested is powered by Specialized’s own 2.2 mid-drive motor, with a 710Wh battery. The stated range of 75 miles is about right, but under the right circumstances 100 miles is doable.

Is it any good?

It might indeed be a bit overkill for a single type of riding. But if you’ve got deep enough pockets, and you want something to have fun on at the weekends as well as getting you to and from work, then it’s well worth considering.

The Specialized 2.2 motor is renowned for its responsiveness and power, and we found it tackled some seriously steep Yorkshire climbs with relative ease. Stick it on the highest assist level and whizz past everyone else – and confuse car drivers about your apparently staggering fitness levels in the process.

Practicality-wise, it can tow a trailer, so you can also use it to ferry the kids or dogs around. You’ve got room for two pannier bags on the rear rack, and plenty of style to make your workmates jealous when you roll in on your beefed-up super e-bike.

If your budget is a little tighter, note that there are two cheaper versions of the Tero X, starting at £3750.

Canyon Commuter:ON 7

£3199 / canyon.com

What’s the story?
There aren’t many electric commuters that look quite as un-electrified as the Commuter:ON. We were lucky enough to borrow the ON 7 model, Canyon’s latest offering, which is agile and very commute-friendly. If you want something a bit more sleek and less urban-looking there’s always the Roadlite:ON; but for carrying laptops and nipping to the shops, this is our choice.

There are two frame options to choose from – mid-step and step-over – so there’s more accessibility here than in most e-bikes. At over 18kg it’s no racer, but we were impressed with how light
it felt compared to some other, more cumbersome e-commuters. Quite aside from the unassisted ride, this means it’s easier to stick on a train if you have a multi-modal commute, or even to carry up some stairs if you need to.

It’s powered by Fazua’s Ride 60 drive system, which is one of the lightest mid-drive motors on the market. Paired with a 430Wh battery, it means you’re good to go for several days of commutes between top-ups. Canyon has kept the cockpit nice and clean on this one, choosing to use handlebar-mounted controls for the motor, with nothing else to clutter up the space.

Is it any good?
We really enjoyed the handling of the Commuter:ON 7, even when two pannier bags were fully loaded on the back. It also comes with some super-slinky integrated lights, so you don’t need to worry about not being seen after dark; and this bike has a Shimano Deore groupset – not top of the range by any means, but that’s not necessarily something you want in a bike that’s going to see a lot of mileage (and potentially a lot of stereotypically hostile British weather).

The Commuter:ON 7 isn’t going to break the bank, and it’s pretty much ready to ride out of the box. It has mudguards, a rear rack, lights and Schwalbe G-One Allround 40mm tyres to keep you out of trouble in winter. For the money, it’s a nippy and rather stylish e-bike to get you from A to B.

Temple Step Through Electric

£3395 / templecycles.co.uk

What’s the story?
British brand Temple Cycles has been making gorgeous bikes in Bristol since 2014, primarily of the steel variety. But now they’ve turned their hand to the world of electric bikes, and they haven’t disappointed. When you’ve ridden a few e-bikes, you can tell when a brand has taken its time and not just rushed into attaching their name to a template and running with it.

The new Temple Electric sub-brand has just two bikes in its repertoire, the Step Through and the Classic. The frames differ, obviously, but they’re the same in terms of components. We tested the Step Through model, which is best suited to smaller riders.

This elegant machine is powered by a Bafang M420 mid-drive motor, which provides up to 80Nm of torque. For most of us that’s likely to be overkill, but for the few who live in hilly cities and really want to make the most of what an e-bike can offer – as an alternative to coming home each night with burning thighs – it looks potentially ideal.

Is it any good?
The motor is the real standout component on this bike. It’s operated by a torque sensor and we did notice it could be almost too eager – so be sure to press the pedal lightly if you’re stood waiting for the light to turn green.

The 504Wh removable battery sits in the downtube, offering plenty of range: we found it very impressive, even dealing with over 100ft of climbing per mile and not seeming to struggle. The ride quality is good and the bars are nice and wide, so provide some stability without being too relaxed.

The Temple Step Through makes an excellent urban companion for sure, with mudguards, integrated lights and a 9-speed drivetrain… but it would be even better if it came with a rear rack. Still, that’s not to say we wouldn’t recommend it for commuting – just that not every e-bike is perfectly equipped right out of the box. This way at least you can choose your own rack and accessories.

Ribble Urban AL e

£2599 / ribblecycles.co.uk

What’s the story?
Ribble Cycles first found fans with its extensive custom build options, and now the longstanding British brand is seeing wider success by embracing electrification. The Urban AL e is a consequence of this investment into e-bikes – and although it hasn’t been updated in a while, it’s still a popular urban all-rounder.

It comes with front and rear racks, so you have plenty of options for carrying shopping or laptops and other work bits. The geometry lends itself to an upright riding style, but for shorter trips through town this is ideal and we found it to be a comfortable ride.

Ribble has equipped the Urban AL e with a 1000-lumen headlight up front and a 50-lumen light on the rear. The powered assistance comes courtesy of a Mahle SmartBike Systems X35+ rear hub motor and a 250Wh battery hidden in the downtube. It’s not removable, so we’d recommend storing this bike somewhere secure to avoid raising the eyebrows of potential thieves.

Is it any good?
Designed to be the ultimate urban riding companion, but with a bit of extra boost, the Urban AL e has a lot to offer for not a great deal of money (by the standards of e-bikes, that is).

We were impressed by the accessibility of this bike, and the ease of use of that Mahle system. The benefit of a hub drive motor is that the overall bike is generally lighter than a mid-drive equivalent, and that’s the case here: at 17.5kg for the medium size, the Ribble is the lightest bike in this group test.

We also like how ready it is to take to the streets: it has mudguards, a kickstand, plenty of carrying space and a workhorse SRAM 11-speed drivetrain to keep you going all year round. That makes most hills doable, though the hub motor works best on inclines below 15% or so.

The tyres aren’t as wide as some, but the Schwalbe Marathon Rigid 35mm rubber offered us plenty of grip and confidence even on wet, slippy terrain.