If you’re looking to electrify your ride, then investing in one of the best budget electric bikes is a great place to start. As technology has developed, you no longer have to spend a fortune to get something decent. However, as you’ll see below, you may feel you’ll get better value if you spend a little more. If you want a broader perspective and a bit more detail on what to look out for, you may also want to take a look at our overall guide to the best electric bikes.
We’ve included a range of electric bikes in this guide. From folding to hybrids, there’s plenty of bang for your buck to be had, even at lower price brackets. If you’re spending less, the motors are more likely to be hub based than mid-drive, but as a positive these often require less maintenance and can be more durable than the more expensive options.
You’ll also see there can be great value in some of the £2,000-£3,000 bikes with mid-range groupsets, hydraulic disc brakes and top hub-based motors like MAHLE SmartBike Systems’ X35+.
Essentially, no matter your budget, you should be able to find something to suit your needs.
Best budget electric bikes 2022
- Eskute Wayfarer – best under £1,000 |
- Carrera Subway E – best under £1,500 | Buy now for £1,099 from Halfords
- Raleigh Stow-E-Way – best electric folder under £1,500 |
- MiRider One – best electric folder under £2,000 | Buy now for £1,595 from MiRider
- Rad Power RadWagon 4 – best electric cargo bike under £2,000 |
- Ribble Hybrid AL e – best electric commuter under £3,000 | Buy now for £2,299 from Ribble Cycles
- Ribble Endurance AL e 105 – best electric road bike under £3,000 | Buy now for £2,399 from Ribble Cycles
- Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 500 (2021) – best leisure eMTB under £3,000 |
- Gazelle Grenoble C7+ HMB – best electric city bike under £3,000 |
- Marin Sausalito E2 – best electric hybrid bike under £3,000 |
1. Eskute Wayfarer – £949 (best under £1,000)
As our guide to the best e-bikes under £1,000 makes clear, there are always compromises with bikes in this price bracket. However, the Wayfarer has less than most, and reviewer Dave found it to be a “pretty likeable bike and better than the bikes it’s competing against on price. If it fits you, it’s a good choice.”
It is one size fits all unfortunately, but Eskute say the suitable height range is between 165cm – 200cm. The Wayfarer comes with a 360Wh battery and a 250W brushless rear hub motor, which isn’t stellar but provides more oomph than you’d expect from such a cheap bike. Don’t expect miracles, but if you’re on a tight budget it’s certainly a contender – if you’re tall enough.
For more detail, read our review of the Eskute Wayfarer.
2. Carrera Subway E – £1,099 (best under £1,500)
At the time of testing, the Carrera Subway E was under £1,000, but it’s now snuck up to £1,099 – although this still represents great value for the equipment you get on it. A 374Wh battery and Suntour’s HESC rear hub motor pair nicely, and the torque sensing means the motor intelligently applies power as you’re riding.
The 9-speed Shimano Altus groupset is a rung above what you might expect at this price point and provided enough gears for reviewer Dave on all but the steepest of inclines. The only things missing are lights, mudguards and a kickstand, but these are easy enough to source for relatively little. At this price the Carrera Subway E is hard to beat.
For more detail, read our review of the Carrera Subway E.
3. Raleigh Stow-E-Way – £1,399 (best sub £1,500 folder)
Perhaps not the most compact when folded, the Raleigh Stow-E-Way really shines in other ways compared to other folders – like when it’s being ridden. In reviewer Richard’s words, “it doesn’t have the world beating practical fold of the Brompton but it is a little more bike like on the road – and will leave less of a hole in your pocket.“
The 20” wheels go a long way to improve the ride quality, but they’re not so big they make the bike too cumbersome to take on public transport or hide under a desk. The Stow-E-Way uses a TranzX R15 rear hub motor, which is pretty light at 2.5kg, and is paired with a 245Wh battery – big enough to provide some decent commuting miles on a single charge.
For more detail, read our review of the Raleigh Stow-E-Way.
4. MiRider One – £1,595 (best folder under £2,000)
New on the scene in 2020, MiRider as a brand has gone from strength to strength, with its MiRider One model proving popular with both reviewers and consumers. The 2021 version retained its quirky looks and a 252Wh battery providing up to 45 miles of range.
We highlighted it as a standout in our guide to the best electric folding bikes under £2,000 following a rave review from our tester, Richard.
“It’s a really good city bike; its compact size and super manoeuvrability allied with its throttle mean it can snake through congestion then cut onto your favourite traffic-free route with ease.”
It’s quick and easy to fold up, and while not the most compact, the excellent ride quality really makes this bike an excellent value folder with great potential for urban and even leisure rides.
For more detail, read our review of the MiRider 2021.
5. Rad Power RadWagon 4 – £1,649 (best electric cargo bike under £2,000)
Cargo bikes have a reputation for being the price of a semi-decent second hand car. As our guide to the best e-cargo bikes under £3,000 shows, Rad Power’s RadWagon 4 doesn’t have a great deal of competition price-wise.
For under £2,000 you get a decent entry into the world of cargo biking, as tester Dave explains.
“If you’re looking to dip your toe into the waters of cargo biking, then the Rad Power Bikes Radwagon 4 is a brilliant first bike. It’s very usable and easy to ride, and you can get accessories to carry all kinds of things. The motor’s not powerful enough to haul big loads up big hills, and some of the bits won’t survive too much heavy use, but it’s still a bargain.”
The fourth generation of the RadWagon comes with a high capacity 672Wh battery and a rear hub motor. It’s a third of the price of the acclaimed Tern GSD – so while compromises are made, it still offers incredible value for an e-cargo bike.
For more detail, read our review of the Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4.
6. Ribble Hybrid AL e – £2,299 (best electric commuter under £3,000)
One of the best electric commuter bikes, the Ribble Hybrid AL e is an excellent offering with an even better price. It comes with the MAHLE Smartbike Systems X35+ rear hub motor and battery, with the iWoc control button on the top tube.
For an extra £100 you can buy the ‘fully loaded’ edition which comes with a paint matched rear rack, making it ideal for commuters who use pannier bags. Even without the electric assist, this bike impresses with its sleek aesthetics and urban appeal.
For more detail, read our review of the Ribble Hybrid AL e.
7. Ribble Endurance AL e 105 – £2,399 (best electric road bike under £3,000)
If you’re a fan of the unassisted Ribble bike range, then you’re likely to love this. The Endurance AL e takes the best bits of the unassisted version but adds a sleek power system that delivers enough assistance for riders who want some help on the inclines.
Not only this, but it’s a decent specification for under £2,500, with a full Shimano 105 groupset – although there is the option of a Tiagra groupset for £200 less. With it’s subtle looks and well-designed alloy frame, there’s a lot to like about this bike, and if you want some assistance on the hills you’ll like it even more.
For more detail, read our review of the Ribble Endurance AL e 105.
8. Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 500 (2021) – £2,499 (best electric leisure mountain bike under £3,000)
The best electric mountain bikes don’t come cheap, but the Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance is one of the more affordable. It’s a high performing trail bike meets commuter with a mid-drive motor and provides a lot of value for the money. Our reviewer Richard tested it on smooth seaside cliff paths and also harsher Pennine bridleways which the bike handled with ease.
Even taking into account the frequent use of Turbo mode, a 40-50 mile range was still well within the remit of the battery. So if you’re looking for something you can ride to work on and play on at the weekend on the bridleways, this bike is a great option.
For more detail, read our review of the Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 500 (2021).
9. Gazelle Grenoble C7+ HMB – £2,459 (best city e-bike under £3,000)
A classy bike at an attractive price, the Gazelle Grenoble C7+ HMB offers a little bit of luxury for your trip around town. It has a sit up and beg design almost forcing you to relax a little bit on your bike – it isn’t for those who want to go fast and furiously through a city.
It’s also a relatively rare sub-£3,000 bike to feature a mid-drive motor. It uses the Bosch Active Line Plus which provides up to 50Nm of torque to help get you up to speed quickly. It’s not meant to be ridden with urgency, but offers a great way to get about for not too much money considering the components on board.
For more detail, read our review of the Gazelle Grenoble C7+ HMB.
10. Marin Sausalito E2 – £2,595 (best electric hybrid bike under £3,000)
Using a Shimano STEPS E6100 mid-drive motor and a Shimano Deore 11-speed groupset, the Marin Sausalito E2 provides a great option for commuters and leisure riders who don’t want to be limited to asphalt. Our reviewer George was seriously impressed by the natural feel of the motor.
“Marin has opted for the Shimano STEPS E6100 system, which is the most ‘natural’ feeling motor I have used. On most e-bikes the pedals tend to act less like pedals and more like an accelerator, but with Shimano’s system, it just makes you feel like you’re on a really good day without much effort. Although you don’t get the instant acceleration, it feels natural and more like you’re cycling rather than just travelling.”
If you want a bike that feels like a bike, comes with front suspension forks and wider tyres for off-road excursions, and comes in at under £3,000, then the Sausalito is certainly worth consideration.
For more detail, read our review of the Marin Sausalito E2.
How to choose from the best budget electric bikes
How much should I spend on an electric bike?
How much you should spend depends on a couple of factors. How much you can afford to spend, what sort of electric bike you’re looking for and what you want out of it. If you’re after an electric mountain bike, for example, then ideally you’ll be looking at spending enough to get a mid-drive motor. This isn’t us being snobby. Mid-drive motors are just far better for mountain biking. (More detail on this in our hub motor v mid motor article.)
Conversely, if you’re after something for commuting on, then you can most likely get away with a hub-drive and spend a couple of grand less. There’s no denying that bikes under a certain threshold are unlikely to be the best in the world, but if they get you from A to B reliably and they are capable on the terrain you ride, then there’s certainly nothing wrong with spending £1,000 compared to £3,000.
What sort of motors do budget electric bikes use?
Most bikes under about £2,500 will have a hub drive motor. This may not be just because of price, however, as a hub drive motor is often lighter and easier to maintain than a mid-drive one. This makes them more suitable for a folding bike, for example, over a chunky mid-drive.
What are the common compromises on cheaper electric bikes?
Cheaper electric bikes have to compromise on some things to hit their price point. In most cases you’ll find the brakes are cheaper – think mechanical disc brakes compared to hydraulic, or even rim brakes on some bikes.
Elsewhere, if the bike comes with suspension forks they might be lesser known brands or cheaper variations of branded forks. Furthermore, accessories like saddles and grips might feel cheap, but these are things that shouldn’t stop you buying a bike as you can change them relatively cheaply.
Explore the complete archive of reviews of electric bikes on Ebiketips.
