5 Of The Best E-bikes From Around The World That Deserve Recognition

We’ve written about a dozen articles on Indian e-cycles, so for a change, we thought of switching it up and looking at offerings across the globe. Admittedly, we consider price as one of the major talking points when buying e-cycles, but we aren't bound by these aspects this time around.

This article purely talks about how good an e-cycle can be, irrespective of the price. So we’ll be looking at design, range, features and performance. We’ve listed down what we think are the top five e-cycles in the global market.

Gocycle G4

The Gocycle G4 is said to be one of the best premium electric bikes for commuters and city-dwellers. It not only looks the part but also gets cool features like mudguards, lights and a chain guard as part of the standard equipment. All cables are internally routed for a clean look. You can even fold the G4 while carrying it on public transport or store it away during winters.

It can offer up to 65km on a single charge. You can even tweak its performance using Gocycle's smartphone app to optimise power assistance and range. Speaking of which, the G4’s power assistance is said to be amongst the best in the world. It’s butter smooth, thanks to a new motor. The brand even managed to shed a kilo from the previous model, thanks to the clever use of materials to keep the weight in check.

Its small wheels may not be ideal for Indian road conditions, but it should do the job on smoother European roads. Besides, the G4 features a rear shock absorber which helps soak up most bumps.

WAU Bike

The WAU Bike could easily be an alternative to an electric scooter/motorcycle. Heck, you could even think of travelling long distances on one of these, thanks to its massive battery pack. The bike is capable of running for well over 300km on a single charge, mitigating range anxiety. 

The longevity of the battery also makes it a solid choice for commuters, meaning it could last you an entire week or more. 

It features a rear hub motor which offers five pedal-assisted modes to choose from, each catering to different terrains. And if you’re in for a good workout, you could switch to pure pedal power using its eight-speed gear train.

The WAU Bike also features an anti-tamper alarm, multi-function rear lights, and geo fencing to prevent it from being ridden outside of certain areas.

• ZigOpinion: Is India Ready For Electric Cycles?

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• Would You Rather Buy An E-cycle Or A Regular Cycle?

Specialized Turbo Creo SL Expert

If you want to make a style statement, the Specialized Turbo Creo SL Expert is one of the most beautifully designed electric bikes out there. It takes its styling cues from a proper road bike and dials it up by 10. 

The components are all top of the line, with a carbon frame, Shimano Ultegra hydraulic disc brakes, 46T chainrings, Shimano Deore XT Di2 Shadow Plus 11-speed rear derailleur, Shimano Ultegra Di2 Disc R8070 shift levers, Praxis Alloy Cranks and a Shimano XT, 11-speed 11-42t cassette. You even get dynamic power assistance from its 240W motor when you need it.

A great electric bike for those who love long weekend rides and don’t want to feel exhausted by the end.

Ride1Up Prodigy XR

The Ride1Up Prodigy e-bike is a good value mid-drive that multiplies pedal power in a bid to make long-distance rides effortless. There’s no throttle here, so you’ll be doing all the work with the assistance of the motor, of course. 

It offers an upright riding position that’s comfortable and a sophisticated torque sensor for seamless inputs from the motor. It offers a respectable range of 41km on a single charge under heavy use in ‘turbo’ mode. This figure is bound to go up if you switch to eco.

When it comes to value for money, the Ride1Up punches well above its weight class despite its 25kg weight.

Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon

There is no doubt that Specialized's Levo SL Expert Carbon is one of the best lightweight eMTBs in the world, boasting some of the best components including a powerful Specialised exclusive mid-drive motor, Fox adjustable suspension and SRAM Eagle X01 drivetrain, as well as great handling characteristics.

Its high-quality wheel and suspension system will withstand anything you throw at it. Also, its battery is powerful enough to offer a full day's worth of riding on a single charge, provided you use it conservatively, with the motor supporting speeds of up to 32kmph – perfect for trails.

This lightweight electric mountain bike weighs in at 18kgs, thanks to its full-carbon frame matted to plenty of quality components.

Yes, just like every other bike on this list, the Specialized Levo SL Expert Carbon doesn’t come cheap. But it’s a feature-packed e-cycle backed by a well-respected brand who’ve developed bikes for a long time. So it demands respect.