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
Richard Shrubb
Alex Boyce
Bill Roberson
Toby Hill
About Our Reviews
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.
Hands-on Reviews
Every member of our team tests each e-bike based on how it’s intended to be used. This section needs to be expounded upon. I’m not skilled enough to put into words how we test bikes.
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.
Circuit Test
Applies to the power rating of the review
We test the e-bike on a familiar loop, road or trail section. With each pass of the lap, we increase the pedal assist level by one, starting at no pedal assist. This not only gives us an idea of the average speed of each PA level, but it shows the performance the rider can expect at each level.
Hill Climb
Applies to the power rating of the review
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.
The first attempt at this test is performed with the throttle only – no pedaling. Or, if the bike has no throttle, sub in the lowest pedal-assist level. The second attempt is performed while pedaling with the PAS set to max.
Range Test & Battery Performance
Impacts the Range rating of the review
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?” This two-part test will attempt to find the range and performance of the e-bike on terrain appropriate to that model.
The first test starts with the bike’s battery fully charged and the Pedal Assist System (PAS) set to level 2 (or on the lower end of the PAS range). The second test also starts with the battery fully charged on the same course as the first test and the PAS set to the max.
The researcher will look to assess how the bike:
- Maintains speed up steep hills.
- Regains speed after a tough climb.
- Performs as the battery’s charge diminishes.
Braking Test
Braking doesn't impact any of the rating metrics currently
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 two 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
Comfort
This is not the comfort of the rider’s backside on the saddle but more of the position of the rider on the bike and the feel of the bike on along the ride.
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.
- 1: Very stiff riding experience
- 2: Stiff riding experience
- 3: Comfortable
- 4: Very comfortable riding experience
- 5: Extremely comfortable riding experience
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.
- 1: Barely adequate for riding on flat terrain
- 2: Adequate for everyday riding on flat terrain
- 3: Powerful enough for everyday riders
- 4: Powerful enough for medium cargo loads and hilly terrain
- 5: Extremely powerful for heavy loads and steep terrain
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.
- 1: Short distance
- 2: Short to midrange distance
- 3: Midrange distance
- 4: Mid to long range distance
- 5: Long distance
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.
- 1: Requires a great deal of maintenance and upkeep
- 2: Less durable, requires more regular maintenance
- 3: Durable, a standard amount of maintenance
- 4: Very durable, lower-maintenance than most
- 5: Extremely durable, extremely low-maintenance
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.
- 1: All function, less form
- 2: Somewhat stylish
- 3: Stylish
- 4: Very stylish
- 5: Look out! Style on a new level
Pricing
The prices featured on our product pages are the current manufacturer price, before any discounts. We list the lowest price available at the time of the review. Several e-bikes have different model configurations, which might cause the price to fluctuate from the standard setup. Real pricing may vary depending on manufacturer offers and sales.
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 info@ebikes.org.