At eBikes.org we take product testing very seriously. Our e-bike testing serves as the foundation for the performance ratings featured in this site’s evaluations and guides, which in turn affect our product recommendations for readers.
All hands-on reviews are performed by experienced industry professionals in the manner in which that bike would be ridden, meaning our electric mountain bikes are tested on the trails, and our electric commuter bikes are performed on city streets in commuter-like conditions. To ensure that our reviews are reliable and free of prejudice, each product is evaluated against a set of objective criteria using standardized rating guidelines.
Each member of review team brings years of experience and expertise to our e-bike tests. The team also consists of people who fall into different categories based on body type, fitness level, and preference of activity. This diversity allows us to make product recommendations that are inclusive of all riders.
Our Researchers
Alex Boyce
Bill Roberson
Richard Shrubb
Toby Hill
Tony Donaldson
About Our Reviews
Whenever there’s an e-bike worthy of review, or a new model hits the streets (or trails), we turn our research team loose on the internet and they dive deep in order to get us the best information available. Each member of our research team performs extensive research to find the most accurate and reliable information about each electric bicycle.
Much of the information is sourced direct from the manufacturer, but as we all know, performance claims can vary from real-world use. Using online research, their industry experience, and actual rider feedback, our fact-checkers ensure that what we put out there is what you will experience while riding.
How We Test E-Bikes
Not all e-bikes are intended to be ridden on the same terrain, in the same manner, nor by the same rider. We make sure that we are testing each electric bike where and how it’s intended to be used so that we can provide consumers with the most accurate reviews. In order to deliver honest and unbiased feedback, we apply standardized tests and ratings to each product against a set of objective criteria using standardized tests and rating guidelines.
Hill Climb
The Hill Climb test is a two-part test we perform on a particularly steep section of the road, or trail. This assesses the e-bike’s ability to assist the rider up possible tough hills along their ride. The elevation gain as well as the distance are recorded.
- Attempt 1: Performed with no pedal assist (PAS) or throttle.
- Attempt 2+: A climb is performed at each level of PAS the e-bike offers.
- Last Attempt: Performed with the throttle only – no pedaling. If the bike has no throttle, sub in the lowest pedal-assist level.
Range Test & Battery Performance
The range test is used to discover the real-world range of the bike. It seeks to answer “How far can we ride this bike on a single charge while driving through realistic commutes?”
We charge the battery fully and then ride for a minimum of 10 miles, performing the hill climb test during this ride. At the end of the testing session the we note the miles traveled and the amount of battery used. Multiplying the miles travel by the percentage used gives us an approximate range. Ex: 15 miles x (100*20% used) = ~60 mile range.
Many factors affect the range of any electric bike, including:
- Air tempurature
- Rider’s weight
- Cargo weight
- Tire pressure
- Terrain (hills, pavement, gravel roads)
- Level of PAS or throttle used
Braking Test
The braking test assesses the stopping power of the bike. We measure the average distance it takes to stop the bike while riding at its max speed. We test the brakes several times to get a good idea of how the bike brakes. We look to see how far it takes to safely stop without risking injury to the rider.
An assessment of the brakes answers the following:
- How did the brake levers feel when braking?
- How did the bike handle when braking hard like that?
- Did the bike brake without skidding out?
- Did the rider feel like they were out of control during the braking?
- What upgrade recommendations do we have?
Our Rating Metrics Explained
At eBikes.org, we use universal star-based rating system so that you can quickly compare e-bikes at a glance knowing they were judged on the same criteria. Not all electric bikes are created for the same purpose, but certain attributes are universal. Our ratings ranks each e-bike on a scale from one (lowest) to five (highest).
Comfort
In the comfort category, we take a look at things like rider position, saddle type and style, suspension, and amount of travel. Elements like the typical terrain ridden on this bike, suspension components, as well as the type of e-bike. We wouldn’t expect a rigid electric mountain bike to be compared to a full-suspension eMTB, but each has their own expected level of comfort.
Power
The power of an e-bike is affected by several factors – motor type, size, and manufacturer. We break down each of these factors as well as how the bike’s weight, tire size, tire width, and tire style affect the bike’s power. We also discuss the battery and how that can affect the power output of a bike. Things like cargo load and rider weight are factored into this rating.
Range
Range on an e-bike is impacted by numerous factors like terrain, battery size, rider weight, and the rider’s effort towards pedaling, as well as the average speed sustained during the ride. The bike type is also a factor, because a road bike may have a great chance of traveling farther than a mountain bike based on terrain.
Durability
Durability is not only the material or construction style and quality of the frame but the overall maintenance and servicing requirements of the bike. Belt drives require significantly less maintenance than other chain-driven models, and full suspension bikes will require more cleaning and upkeep of the moving parts.
Style
As we all know, style is one of the most important parts of selecting a bike. Our style rating takes into account the aesthetics of the bike. It’s a total vibe, man. This is completely subjective but uber important.
Pricing
Please check back often as we’ll continue to expand this page to include all of the performance metrics we use for reviewing e-bikes! If you have any questions about our testing process please reach out to us at contact@wovenmediagroup.org.