Best Budget E-Bikes 2021

Bicycles are a classic form of cheap and reliable transport. Especially in built-up metropolitan areas they can be a fantastic option for a commute, allowing you to dodge traffic and get some fresh air and exercise at the same time. realistically, bikes have three main issues. The first and second are other road users not showing enough care, and poor weather conditions, neither of which you really have any control over. The other issue is that it can be hard work, especially if you’ve got to cycle up a hill or carry a heavy or awkward bag with you. Thankfully, something can be done about that.

E-bikes, or electric bicycles are not particularly new, but they’ve become more popular relatively recently. They offer the same advantages as riding a bicycle as well as featuring an electric motor that can assist your pedalling or even power the bike on its own. An e-bike can make a commute significantly easier on your legs leaving you more refreshed when you get to work and when you get home. E-bikes can even help out off-road, though they’re not as suited to use on rough terrain.

Before you buy an e-bike though, it’s a really good idea to look up the legality of them in your area. Depending on where you are, you may or may not be allowed to ride e-bikes in bike lanes or on bike trails. Some places also don’t have clear legislation on the matter. Just remember that – even if you’re following the relevant laws in your area – you should always be careful of others around you and be able to stop in good time in case you need to.

To help you get a good deal, we’ve drawn up a list of the best budget e-bikes in 2021.

The Ecotric Vortex is a well-designed bike that offers a standard Class 2 top speed of 20mph and a great range. In optimum conditions, the bike can do 20 miles with just the electric motor and go up to 37 miles when using the pedal-assist mode. Once depleted the 12.5Ah battery can be removed to recharge over 6 to 8 hours.

The 18-month warranty is excellent, though it should be noted that the battery warranty only covers full replacement for 12 months. The front and rear mudguards help to keep you clean and dry when riding on wet or muddy ground. The lack of any suspension will make this a bit of a rough ride, especially on poor quality roads or when off-road. While functional, the display is basic, with just LED lights. The frame is also designed for users up to 6 feet tall, so taller users may feel less comfortable or even purchase a longer seat post.

The Nakto Sunshine has a step-through style frame with a relaxed upright sitting position. It features a front covered basket and a rear rack making it ideal for carrying shopping or work equipment. It has a range of 18 miles on just the battery power but can reach 30 miles when using the pedal-assist mode.

This bike only has a single pedal-assist mode which means you can’t choose the amount of assistance you get based on personal preference. This may suit or frustrate some users depending if it matches their preferences. Once the battery has been depleted it can be removed and recharged over 4 to 5 hours. The inclusion of a front light and an electric horn is a nice touch. The controls and display are both serviceable but minimal. The inclusion of front suspension does help to provide a smooth ride

The Ancheer AN-EB001 is a cheaper electric bike that offers reasonable performance. It has a top speed of 15mph under battery power and a range of 15 miles. With pedal-assist it can reach 21 miles. Once the removable battery has been exhausted it takes four to six hours to recharge.

Front suspension helps to keep the ride smooth, though it isn’t particularly effective. The pedal assist has three different settings for configurable levels of assistance. Much of the cost savings have come from performance with a relatively weak battery a motor. This may be enough to deter those wanting to travel larger distances but should be effective enough for shortish commutes or rides.

The Swagtron Swagcycle EB-5 is an electric folding bike. It’s designed to be particularly lightweight for maximum portability. Unfortunately, this means that battery life and motor power are relatively weak. Nevertheless, if you have a relatively short commute cycle that requires the use of public transport, or you need to bring your bike into the building, this is a very convenient feature.

The battery pack is not removable, which means you need to bring the whole bike near to a power supply to charge it. As with all small folding bikes, the handling is relatively poor and twitchy. This isn’t helped by the single gear system making it hard to pedal. It does ship pre-assembled, however, meaning you only need to unfold and charge it before use.

The Hyper Bicycles E-ride is a cheap e-bike. Unlike every other entry on this list, this is a class 1 e-bike, rather than class 2. This means that the E-ride only offers a pedal assist mode, it does not offer an electric drive with a separate throttle. This may or may not be a downside for you. the battery lasts for 20 miles and can assist speeds up to 20mph.

Once the battery is drained it takes four hours to recharge. Charging the battery can be difficult, however, as the battery is integrated into the frame rather than removable. This means you need to place the entire bike near a suitable power outlet which may be inconvenient. Front suspension does help to provide a smooth ride, while a rear rack helps to carry bags and other items. The display and controls are very basic.

That was our roundup of the best budget e-bikes in 2021. As you might expect, the budget category will always have to make some sacrifices to keep costs down. Nevertheless, you can often find some great deals if cut costs have been in areas that don’t particularly affect you. Have you recently bought a budget e-bike? What sold you on it and what has your experience with it been so far? Let us know down below.