The best of electric bikes by category

Electronic road bikes are a sticky subject among road-riding cyclists. They’re sometimes considered a cheat but are far from it. The best electric road bikes can set you up for a fantastic day in the saddle, conquering climbs you never thought possible and elongating your ride to match your fitness levels. You can work as much or as little as you like. Don’t be fooled, though – you still have to pedal with an electric bike! If an electric road bike isn’t for you, we’ve rounded up the best electric bikes to buy.

If you want a little boost for your rides or to keep up with members of your riding group who are just that bit quicker than you, an electric road bike is a great option. Equally, if you’re returning to road riding after injury or illness, then an electric road bike will be what you need. The best e-road bikes will give you all-day comfort in the saddle, be easy to use, have a motor capable of powering you along, have a battery with a good range and not be overly heavy.

The best electric road bikes shortlist

Lightweight

Trek Domane+ AL5 Electric Road Bike – £3,050 (RRP £3,200)

Ribble Endurance SL e – From £3,299

Scott Addict ERIDE 30 – £4,399 (RRP £5,399)

Versatile

Ribble CGR AL e – From £2,699

Boardman ADV 8.9e Evation – £2,799

Cannondale Topstone Neo SL 1 – £2,999 (RRP £3,250)

Long-range

Orbea Gain D50 Electric Road Bike – £2,499 (RRP £2,899)

Giant Revolt E+ 1 2024 – £4,499

Specialized Creo SL 2 Expert Carbon – £7,500

What makes the best electric road bike?

Similar contributing factors that make up the best road bikes make up the best electric ones. We like e-road bikes, which have an integrated internal battery and a motor which looks discrete. For the sole reason that everything seems sleeker, and we think it looks better.

Considering your riding and the distances you’ll be doing, you may want an electric road bike with extensive range. Some can be bought with a range extender battery – an external battery that sits in your bottle cage and can double your range. This is incredibly handy if you want to ride further or use more powerful modes in the motor for longer. The more you use the motor, the more it drains your battery. So, a higher mode will drain your battery quickly. If you are confused about e-bike motors, Mark Sutton, Cycling Electric Editor, has written an article on e-bike motors and which is best for you.

The best lightweight electric road bikes

Adding lightness is one of the most difficult things to do on an e-bike, mainly because you have more components in batteries and a motor, which are inherently heavy items. However, some manufacturers believe that having a lighter e-bike increases the range – this is true, though it’s generally at the expense of battery power, which decreases range. There is a tipping point, but the beauty of having a light bike is that if the motor is off, you can preserve battery life and put extra pressure on the legs.

If you’re all about lightweight models, we have a buyer’s guide dedicated to the best lightweight e-bikes.

Trek Domane+ AL5

£3,050 | VIEW OFFER

While you might look at this and think, ‘Only up to 55 miles in eco mode?’ in terms of range, an optional extender will give you up to 110 miles, which seems excessive, but you know it’s plenty to get you home again. A nice little feature is the Human Interface (HMI) display integrated into the top tube, giving the rider information on which mode they’re in and battery life. A Shimano 105 groupset makes this sing.

Pros
Shimano 105 groupset
Massive range with the additional extender
Ample tyre clearance for some light gravel

Cons
Heavier than some at 14kg

Spec
Motor – HyDrive rear hub, 250W, 40Nm
Battery – 250Wh integrated battery
Range – Up to 55 miles power mode depending – optional range extender for up to 110 miles of range
Weight – 14.06kg (56cm frame)
Brakes – Shimano 105 R7070 hydraulic disc, Shimano RT66, 6-bolt, 160mm rotor
Gearing – Shimano 105 HG700-11, 11-34t, 11-speed

Ribble Endurance SL e – Sport

From £3,299 | VIEW OFFER

Ribble has been flexing its muscles lately, making quality bikes with equally excellent paint. The Endurance SL e is no different. The clue here is in the Endurance name, which translates to a geometry set for all-day riding, with about 50 miles per charge (depending on how you use the motor). In other words, you’ll feel comfortable on it until it’s time to head home and charge up.

Pros
Hydraulic disc brakes for superior stopping power
Reliable Shimano 105 groupset
Reliable Mahle motor

Cons
iWoc system can be fiddly

Spec
Motor Mahle SmartBike Systems X35 M1, 250W
Battery Panasonic I250 36V/250Wh, 18650GA-10S/2P
Range Up to 50 miles
Weight 11.9kg
Brakes – Shimano R7070 hydraulic flat mount
Gearing – Shimano 105 R7000 11-speed

Scott Addict ERIDE 30 2022

£4,399 (RRP £5,399.00) | VIEW OFFER

The bike is not the only thing which is lightweight – the Mahle X20 Rear hub motor with 50Nm of Torque is too. It’ll be the perfect additional aid to get you up the hills and boost your ride, as it comes in at an acclaimed weight of 10.75kg. There is a 36V 250Wh Panasonic integrated battery and an optional 208Wh booster to help elongate your ride. Scott claims over 74 miles with over 2,000m of climbing with the booster. Without the booster, you’re looking at around 46 miles.

Pros
Huge range with the booster
Lightweight
Looks great

Cons
Not many, but at this price, you wouldn’t expect any

Spec
Motor – Mahle X20 hub drive 50Nm
Battery – Mahle 36V-250Wh
Range – Up to 46 miles
Weight – 10.75kg
Brakes – Shimano BR-R7070 hydraulic disc, 160/F SM-RT800 CL and 160/R SM-RT76 6B rotor
Gearing – Shimano 105 FC-R7000#Hollowtech II 50×34 T

The best versatile electric road bikes

Ribble CGR AL e

From £2,699 | VIEW OFFER

This is an incredibly versatile bike from Ribble, taking their knowledge of Gravel riding and applying it to a road bike, the flared handle bars give you more stability over the rough stuff, yet it’ll road ride pretty comfortably, too. Thanks to the squishier tyres and relaxed geometry. The rear hub Mahle motor gives plenty of punch to help you glide up hills and with two options available you’ll be able to get the bike you want. We love this one.

Pros
Relaxed geometry
Sleek design
Respected rear hubmotor

Cons
iWOC system can be a bit fiddly

Spec
Motor – MAHLE SmartBike Systems X35+, M1, 250W
Battery – Panasonic I250 18650GA-10S/2P, 250Wh
Range – Up to 60 miles of power mode, depending.
Weight – 13.5kg
Brakes – Shimano Tiagra 4770 Flat Mount Hydraulic Disc
Gearing – Shimano GRX HG500 10-Speed Hyperglide

Boardman ADV 8.9e Evation 2023

£2,799 | VIEW OFFER

Adding a Fazua Evation motor to the already brilliant Boardman ADV 8.9 and making it an electric road bike makes perfect sense. As it was, the 8.9 was an excellent all-around bike. With the addition of an electric motor, it opens itself up to a whole load of more fun rides. However, the battery isn’t large. At 250Wh and weighing in at 16kg, it’s not lightweight. The whole battery and motor system weigh 4.6kg, but you’re given help with the SRAM Apex 1x 11 groupset.

Pros
Competent bike
Hydraulic disc brakes for superior stopping power
60Nm of torque is punchy

Cons
Heavy at 16kg

Spec
Motor – Fazua Evation
Battery – 250Wh Fazua removable integrated battery
Range – Up to 56 miles power mode
Weight – 16kg
Brakes – SRAM Apex hydraulic disc
Gearing – SRAM Apex PG1130 – 11-42t

Cannondale Topstone Neo SL 1

£2,999 (RRP £3,250) | VIEW OFFER

You may recognise this as a gravel bike, and you’d be right. However, as it comes with 700c wheels and not 650b, you can get away with fitting some road tyres and enjoying this bike either way. You won’t get as high top speeds as the big ring on the chainset is 46-tooth, but that means it’ll be a bit better on the steeper hills and climbs that gravel riding can throw at you or more hilly road terrain. Using the Mahle X35 motor and internal battery pack, you’ll power yourself an extended no matter what the road throws, so this could be your go-to winter bike, weekend warrior or versatile commuter.

Pros
Good spec
Incredibly versatile
A good weight at 13kg

Cons
iWoc system is fiddly

Spec
Motor – Mahle ebikemotion X35 250W
Battery – Mahle ebikemotion X35 250Wh
Range – Up to 56 miles power mode
Weight – 13kg
Brakes – Shimano grx 400 hydraulic disc, 160mm rt56 rotors
Gearing – Shimano grx 600, 40t

The best long-range electric road bikes

Orbea Gain D50 2023

£2,899 | VIEW OFFER

The D50 is the entry point in the Orbea lineup and is perfect for casual cyclists who want to extend their rides, keep up with their more experienced friends or as a way back into cycling after injury or illness. The use of an electric motor is also great for older riders, too. With a comfort-focussed geometry, it’s undoubtedly a bike which will keep you riding further for longer.

Pros
Internal cabling keeps the design sleek
Reliable Mahle motor
Shimano Claris groupset is simple but reliable

Cons
The iWOC ONE system doesn’t indicate battery life without the app

Spec
Motor – Mahle SmartBike Systems X35 M1, 250W
Battery – Mahle 36V/6.9A 248Wh ANT+
Range – Not given
Weight – 15kg
Brakes – Shimano BR-RS305, mechanical disc
Gearing – Shimano HG50, 11-32t, 8-speed

Giant Revolt E+ 1 2024

£4,499 | VIEW OFFER

The down tube is a lot bulkier on this bike, as is the bottom bracket. That’s because both house bigger components. The down tube houses a 500Wh battery pack, and a Shimano ep600, 85nm crank motor is mounted to the bottom bracket with a massive 85Nm of Torque. This big motor will help you flatten hills and power your way around your route. What makes this bike a long-range electric road bike, though, is the optional range extender. But without the additional battery pack, you can still get up to 99 miles on a single charge. Hidden controllers on the hood of the bars allow you to seamlessly and effortlessly change between power modes.

Pros
Easy to change between power modes
Huge battery life
Powerful Shimano EP600 motor

Cons
Not exactly light at 18kg

Spec
Motor – Shimano EP600, 85Nm
Battery – EnergyPak Compact 500Wh EnergyPak Plus range extender compatible
Range – Up to 99 miles
Weight – 18.17kg
Brakes – Shimano br-r8170, hydraulic disc, 160mm
Gearing – Shimano CS-LG700-11, 11-50t

Specialized Creo SL 2 Expert Carbon

£7,500 | VIEW OFFER

Now in it’s second iteration the Creo 2 completely replaces the original Creo and with some deign features which make is completely worthwhile. This model gives you the Future Shock 3.3 which is 20mm of travel on the handlebars to smoothen gravel rides and tarmac. The wider squishier tyres show this bike is made for gravel riding but with a longer wheel base and 700c carbon rims. It’s more than capable of road riding with comfort, too. The new Specialized 1.2 SL Custom Rx Trail Tuned Motor plus a 320Wh internal battery will keep you riding all day long.

Pros
Impressive range-to-weight ratio
Powerful Specialized 1.2 SL custom rx trail tuned motor
Impressive range

Cons
None – you’d expect that at this price

Spec
Motor – New Specialized 1.2 SL custom rx trail tuned motor
Battery – Specialized sl1-320, fully integrated, 320wh
Range – Up to 120 miles
Weight – 12kg
Brakes – Sram rival etap axs, hydraulic disc
Gearing – Sram nx eagle, 12-speed, 11-50t

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