City and commuter bikes are a great way to get around town for many reasons, but as many have found that in addition to letting you enjoy some fresh air and exercise, you can also get to work quicker and cheaper in a crowded city than you can in a car. This is a collection of some of the best on-road bikes you can buy. There are a wide variety of prices, but something to keep in mind is that unless you’re really on a budget, you’ll likely get more enjoyment out of the bike than you initially thought you would and use it more than you’ll use your car.
YAMAHA CROSSCORE RC
Famous for their motorcycles, Yamaha has been in the e-bike game for years and is now offering up a wide selection of models. Last year Yamaha cleared a high hurdle with the release of their high-end Pro Moro mountain bike. For 2022 they are bringing new designs for their other models, like the CrossCore. In fact, the bike is so new that other than finding out that it’s evolved from a Class 1 to a Class 3 motor and will be available in three new colorways, we don’t know much about it. Stay tuned!
Price: $3099
Frame: Aluminum
Motor: Yamaha PW Series ST
Battery: Yamaha, 500 Wh
Display: Yamaha
Range: Unknown
Drivetrain: Shimano Alivio, 9-speed
IZIP PATH +
Izip is part of Alta Cycles, a group that also offers brands including Diamondback, Raleigh, Redline, Haibike and Ghost for the North American market. Izip is their brand devoted to reliability and value. Although the Izip E3 Path+ has been around for several years, it has evolved with the times by being updated in appearance and geometry and has gone from using a Bafang rear hub drive to a Shimano Steps mid-drive motor to its current configuration using a Bosch Active Line mid-drive.
Price: $2700
Frame: 6061 aluminum
Motor: Bosch Active Line
Battery: Bosch PowerPack, 400 Wh
Display: Bosch Purion
Range: 30-50 miles
Drivetrain: Shimano Altus, 7-speed
Suspension: SR Suntour NEX, 63mm travel
AVENTON SOLTERA
At 41 pounds, the Aventon Soltera not only has great looks to accompany its light weight, but also the best price yet from them in the single-speed model. There is an optional 7-speed drivetrain for $100 more that we’d recommend unless you only ride in flat areas. The integrated lights are an impressive feature at this price point. The Aventon app can pair with your bike to record and share your rides, as well as being able to change display and performance parameters.
Price: $1199
Frame: Aluminum
Motor: 350W rear hub motor
Battery: 350 Wh
Display: Backlit LCD with app
Range: 22-63 miles
Drivetrain: single speed or Shimano 7-speed
LEMOND PROLOG
Developed by three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, this is not just a well thought-out bike, but at just over 26 pounds also one of the lightest bikes we’ve ever tested. It’s powered by a Mahle X35+ rear hub motor, one of the lightest systems out there. Everywhere we went on it, people commented on its looks with integrated lights and modern lines. Available with either mechanical or electronic Shimano shifting and a carbon wheel upgrade.
Price: $4500
Frame: Carbon fiber
Motor: Mahle X35+ rear hub motor, 250W
Battery: Integrated Mahle 36V, 245 Wh
Display: Mahle iWoc
Range: 15-40 miles
Drivetrain: Shimano GRX or optional GRX Di2 Shadow RD+, 11-speed
MAGNUM NAVIGATOR
We reviewed the Navigator in the February 2021 issue. It’s a Class 3 e-bike at a good price, and it also has a throttle to get it to 20 mph as a Class 2. We flattened steep hills at 20-plus mph.
Price: $2349
Frame: Aluminum
Motor: Das-Kit geared rear hub motor, 500W
Battery: 576Wh
Display: Das-Kit
Range: 25-55 miles
Drivetrain: Shimano Acera, 8-speed
Suspension: Suntour XCB-ATB 100mm travel
MONTAGUE M-E1
The Montague M-E1 could be in the folding bike category, as it is a unicorn being a full-sized folding bike, but we think it actually belongs in the city bike category. The 700c wheels make it large enough that it belongs here.
Price: $3699
Frame: 6061 aluminum
Motor: Shimano STEPS E6100
Battery: Shimano 418Wh
Display: Shimano
Range: 20-40 miles (claimed)
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore
STROMER ST2
Swiss company Stromer has been making great e-bikes for years, and they were one of the first brands to offer a battery integrated into the frame. All their bikes are hub-driven There’s even an app that can show you battery level, speed, do over-the-air software updates, and it can even show the location of the bike (anti-theft). The display is integrated into the top tube, and it offers a tremendous amount of information.
Price: $6999
Frame: 6061 aluminum
Motor: SYNO Drive, 500W
Battery: 814 Wh (983Wh option)
Display: Integrated
Range: Up to 75 miles
Drivetrain: Gates carbon belt, 5-speed internal gearing
BIANCHI E-OMNIA T TYPE
Celebrated as the world’s bike brand (founded in 1887), the venerable Italian brand has embraced modernity by jumping into the e-bike market in a big way. The Omnia is a capable commuter with a 120mm-travel fork and voluminous and grippy Schwalbe Supermoto 29×2.4-inch tires that also smooth the bumps. With its integrated lighting and beefy rear rack, the Bianchi is a solid, good-looking commuter.
Price: $6200
Frame: Aluminum
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX
Battery: Bosch PowerTube, 625 Wh
Display: Bosch
Range: 25-65 miles
Drivetrain: Shimano XT RD-M8100-SGS, 12-speed
Suspension: Suntour XCM34-Boost, 29”, 120mm travel
SURFACE 604 WERK
Surface 604’s entry into the commuter category is appropriately called Werk. It comes stock with a 672Wh battery, but there’s an option to get a larger 960Wh battery.
Price: $2599
Frame: Aluminum
Motor: Bafang 500W rear hub motor
Battery: 672 Wh
Display: Surface 604 color display with USB charge port
Range: Up to 65 miles (claimed, with larger battery)
Drivetrain: Shimano Alivio, 9-speed
BULLS ICONIC EVO TR 1 SPEED
Bulls has a truly unique commuter in that the Iconic offers full suspension. It’s a fairly short-travel (120mm) bike compared to most of today’s full-suspension mountain bike offerings, but the ride is very plush if you need to cut across some trails to shorten your commute or just to enjoy the scenery.
Price: $5599
Frame: 6061 aluminum
Motor: Bosch Gen 4 Performance Line Speed
Battery: Bosch PowerTube 625 Wh
Display: Bosch Purion
Range: 30-65 miles
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore, 10-speed
Suspension: SR Suntour
THE RIDE RADIANT CARBON
Tony Ellsworth decided to make an e-bike, and he did it with style. The carbon fiber frame is very unique in that the rear triangle has a chainstay on one side and a seatstay on the other, but not both. The drivetrain is a completely automatic Enviolo CVP (continuously variable planetary transmission) that you set to your preferred cadence via an app. We reviewed this bike in the February 2022 issue.
Price: $5295
Frame: Asymmetrical carbon fiber
Motor: Shimano STEPS E6100
Battery: Shimano 630Wh
Display: Shimano
Range: Up to 100 miles (claimed)
Drivetrain: Enviolo CVP with automatic
FUELL FLLUID-1E
While the name Erik Buell might not be familiar to cyclists, he’s been a decades-long designer of unique, performance motorcycles, and now he’s jumped into the e-bike world with his own brand of bikes. The Flluid features an Enviolo CVT and a carbon belt drive, making it virtually silent. Bofeili made a bespoke motor for Fuell, a 500-watt mid-drive with a massive 100 N/m of torque. It has dual 500Wh batteries for a claimed range of 125 miles.
Price: $5495
Frame: Aluminum
Motor: Bofieli 500W mid-drive
Battery: Dual 504Wh
Display: 3.2” IPS color screen with USB charging
Range: 125 miles
Drivetrain: Gates carbon belt, Enviolo CVT
Suspension: Suntour XCR34, 120mm, air adjustable
MERCEDES-EQ FORMULA E TEAM
The famed German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has jumped into the e-bike market with some truly beautiful e-bikes. The bikes were developed in partnership with a company that worked with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team and Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E team. There are three models, all featuring a 6061 aluminum frame and fork.
Price: $3200
Frame: 6061 aluminum
Motor: 250W mid-drive
Battery: 252 Wh
Display: LCD
Range: 37 miles
Drivetrain: Enviolo CVT
PEDEGO CITY COMMUTER: LITE EDITION
Pedego’s popular City Commuter is a fairly straightforward, simple commuter e-bike. The battery is in the sturdy rear rack and can be removed, there’s a rear hub motor, and 26- or 28-inch wheels. The Lite Edition comes in either a diamond shape or a low step-through version. All versions are Class 2.
Price: $2295
Frame: Aluminum
Motor: 350W Dapu rear hub drive
Battery: 360Wh (630Wh optional)
Display: 2.5” backlit LCD
Range: Up to 45 miles
Drivetrain: Shimano Acera, 7-speed
MOUSTACHE LUNDI 27
The latest Lundi 27 is a low step-through commuter with 27.5×2.4-inch tires, a classic look and the famous Moustache handlebar. The cables, as well as the battery, are integrated, and the rear rack has compatible panniers and baby carriers. There’s also integrated lighting and a cafe lock for convenience. Three versions offer different options on drivetrain, battery capacity and other components. They are all equipped with suspension seatposts.
Price: $3929
Frame: Aluminum
Motor: Bosch Active Line Plus
Battery: Bosch Power Tube, 400Wh
Display: Bosch Intuvia
Range: 25-65 miles
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore, 10-speed
VAAST E/1
Vaast’s first e-bike is a step-through commuter that features a Bosch Performance Line motor and three different component levels. It features their Naild R3act suspension, which is to say a suspension fork and a seatpost tube that dips into the bottom bracket area to lessen the bumps in the road. The battery is integrated into the seat tube and is part of the suspension components. It comes stock with front and rear racks and integrated lighting. Choose between a Shimano XT derailleur, Enviolo CVT or a Rohloff rear hub, each at a different price.
Price: $7499
Frame: Aluminum
Motor: Bosch Performance line mid-drive
Battery: Bosch PowerTube, 500Wh
Display: Bosch Kiox
Range: 30-60 miles
Drivetrain: Shimano XT, 12-speed
Suspension: 110mm (front), 100mm (rear)
FOLLOW US on…
Facebook at /YourBestLifeGoods
Instagram at @YourBestLifeGoods
Twitter at @YBLGoods
Pinterest at YBLGoods
LinkedIn at YBLGoods