In a world filled with sharp lines and aerodynamic curves, step-through frames offer a timeless aesthetic that still works today. Howevr, the main benefit is simply that they are easy to mount and dismount, making them more user-friendly than other frame styles. That’s why you’ll see many urban e-bike share schemes employing this frame design.
- What are step-through e-bikes?
- Why choose a step-through e-bike?
- Recommended electric step-through bikes
But beyond bike sharing and hire schemes, step-throughs are also great for people who want a leisurely ride or who perhaps prefer a more upright riding position. There a few peculiarities when we’re specifically talking about e-bikes though, so let’s take a look at the finer points before offering some suggestions based on the findings of our crack team of reviewers.
What are step-through e-bikes?
Essentially – and we probably didn’t need to write a whole header for this explanation – a step-through e-bike is just like any other e-bike but with one key difference: the frame design. The top tube is either lower slung or non-existent.
This means that you don’t need to raise your leg as high to get onto the bike, and makes these types of bikes more accessible to those with reduced mobility, or anyone who might be put off by higher crossbars.
Why choose a step-through e-bike?
Like we said above, the main benefit of a step-through frame is that it’s more accessible than a bike with a taller top tube. This lower slung or non-existent top tube also makes a difference to the overal geometry and tends to result in a more relaxed riding style more suited to urban or leisurely riding. If you’d prefer a faster-paced commute or a bike with drop bars, it may be worth reading our guide to the best electric commuter bikes for inspiration.
There’s a wide price range for step-through electric bikes nowadays – although the best ones tend to cost at least a couple of grand. Just as with any other type of frame, you have a choice between mid-drive and hub-drive motors, with the former generally being more expensive but more powerful at low speeds and the latter cheaper and more efficient in flatter areas.
One thing to watch out for with mid-motors in particular though is weight. Mid-motor bikes tend to be heavier anyway, but step-throughs then also rely on a single, unbraced frame element for all their strength, which obviously needs to be pretty thick. Those two elements, combined with the likely inclusion of front suspension, can result in rather a heavy bike. Quite a few that we’ve tested have been pushing up towards 30kg and even tipping over that mark. It’s worth taking a test ride to see if that might prove an issue for you.
As you’d expect, step throughs may come with accessories like kickstands, mudguards and lights to make them even more useful. Also look out for racks to carry your luggage so you don’t need to wear a rucksack.
And with all that in mind, here are some of our recommendations based on e-bikes we’ve ridden and tested ourselves.
Recommended electric step-through bikes
- Best overall: Moustache Lundi 27 | Buy for £3,999 from Fully Charged
- Best commuter: Estarli E28 | Buy for £1,850 from Estarli
- Best under £2,000: Whyte | Buy for £1,999 from Whyte
- Best urban step-through e-bike: Mako Shark | Buy for £2,300 from Shark E-Bikes
- Best step-through e-cargo: Tern GSD S10 (Gen 3) | Buy for £5,900 from Fully Charged
- Best of the rest
- How we review e-bikes
Best overall: Moustache Lundi 27 – from £2,499
The Moustache Lundi 27 range has had a bit of a revamp since last year when we tested the 27.5. Specifically, that model no longer exists, which means that while the range still starts at 27.1 and goes to 27.6, it somewhat conspicuously skips over that particular number. Regardless, the 27 remains a standout step-through e-bike for several reasons.
Firstly, it’s superbly comfortable. There are also several options and spec levels to choose from to suit your budget and drivetrain preference. The higher specced models offer belt drives and gear hubs, or if you’re not fussed about chain maintenance you can spend a bit less.
It’s also a pretty interesting frame design (if you don’t feel the colour alone will help you stand out). It comes with plenty of commuter-friendly accessories like a rack, kickstand and mudguards, as well as those distinctive moustache-shaped handlebars.
For more detail, read our review of the Moustache Lundi 27.5.
Best commuter: Estarli E28 – from £1,850
Estarli has really taken the British e-bike market by storm over the last few years and we particularly like this city model which is available with either a step-through or diamond frame.
The E28 range offers great value for money, starting at under £2k. There are two options: the chain-driven E28.9 or the belt-driven E28.X. Both come with disc brakes, front suspension, lights and a rear rack. What’s rather impressive about the E28.X is the automatic two-speed gearbox you get, which is pretty unheard of at this price point.
We tested the crossbar frame version, but the components are all the same on the step-through model if that tickles your fancy more.
For more detail, read our review of the Estarli E28.X
Best under £2,000: Whyte RHeO 2 ST – £1,999
Competitively priced, at under £2k with a decent spec, the Whyte RHeO 2 ST is hard to beat in terms of ride quality and hub motor performance. The Kynamic hub system offers up to 45Nm of torque, and we found it to be punchy enough for most urban environments.
The only downside is the battery size, but Whyte has said range extenders will be made available in the future. You get the choice of a diamond or step-through frame with the RHeO, and there are also two other models to choose from depending on your budget.
For more detail, read our review of the Whyte RHeO 2 ST.
Best urban step-through e-bike: Mako Shark – £2,600
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Back when we tested it, we called the Mako Shark a “great value, highly functional mid-drive town bike,” so it would be remiss of us to leave it out of our list of recommendations. Shark e-bikes isn’t the most well-known brand, but based in East Yorkshire, they’re a smaller business gaining in popularity thanks to their well-priced offerings.
The Mako comes with a mid-drive motor and a decent battery alongside the Gates Carbon belt drive and hub gears, making it ideal for urban territory. And at £2,600 it’s also not a bad price, either.
For more detail, read our review of the Mako Shark.
Best cargo: Tern GSD S10 (Gen 3) – £5,900
When it comes to e-cargo bikes, the Tern GSD is one of the most raved about bikes for a reason – and the Gen 3 version is no different. At £5,900 it’s certainly an investment, but if lugging cargo around easily is what you need from an e-bike, then it’s worth considering.
A longtail by design, the larger cargo carrying area is behind the rider, where you can accommodate boxes, luggage or passengers. The Gen 3 version offers improvements over previous bikes, like an increased maximum rear rack load limit to 100kg, while the gross vehicle weight has also gone up a little to 210kg.
For more detail, read our review of the Tern GSD S10 (Gen 3).
Best of the rest
Gazelle Grenoble C7+ HMB – £2,799
Described by our reviewer as “like a luxury sedan”, the Gazelle Grenoble remains a favourite on ebiketips. It’s had a few upgrades since we reviewed it in 2019, like an increase in battery capacity to 500Wh – but the price hasn’t gone up substantially, which only makes us like it even more.
Beyond looking comfortable and stylish, the Gazelle Grenoble offers a casual riding position and plenty of smooth assistance to keep you gliding around. The Bosch Active Line Plus mid-drive offers up to 50Nm of torque, and is almost silent even when under load.
For more detail, read our review of the Gazelle Grenoble C7+ HMB.
MiRiDER 24 GB3 – £2,995
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One of the few e-bikes on this list that uses slightly smaller wheels than average (24in to be precise), the MiRider 24 GB3 features the G3ARED three-speed transmission combined with a hub motor.
It’s an easy e-bike to ride, and requires minimal maintenance thanks to the belt drive and enclosed gears. The motor also worked well enough to power our reviewer Richard up his 10% test hill with ease. All in all, it’s ideal for those wanting a step-through bike that’s a little more compact and easier to store when not in use.
For more detail, read our review of the MiRider 24 GB3.
Ado Air 28 – £1,399
The Ado Air 28 is a decent budget step-through bike, but it certainly doesn’t ride like one. The spec list is pretty good for something under £1,500, including the fact it uses a belt drive rather than a chain, which is excellent for avoiding an oily leg.
It weighs in at 21kg, and comes with a rear hub motor to power you along. Our reviewer found the motor to be quite smooth and it kicks in almost instantly after you start pedalling. A further bonus is the hydraulic disc brakes – there are bikes that cost hundreds more that don’t use these. Overall it’s a comfortable and useful bike at a very handy price.
For more detail, read our review of the Ado Air 28.
Liv Amiti E+ 2 – £2,799
Liv is the women-focused arm of Giant bikes. This particular low-step e-bike is more of a hybrid than an urban beast, thanks to the suspension forks and wider tyres.
The E+2 is just shy of £3k, and sits below the E+1 in the Amiti hierarchy. For that money you get a Shimano 9-speed Altus drivetrain and a SyncDrive Sport2 motor, which is a product of Giant’s partnership with Yamaha. It tops out at 75Nm torque and provided our reviewer with enough confidence to trial the bike on gravel tracks.
For more detail, read our review of the Liv Amiti E+ 2.
Engwe Mapfour N1 Air – £1,499
Another bargain e-bike at under £1,500, the Engwe Mapfour N1 Air is a sub-20kg e-bike with a distinct look about it. It keeps the weight low by using a carbon fibre frame and a Mivice rear hub drive motor.
Engwe only offers one size frame for the Mapfour N1 Air, but there are some adjustments that can be made to suit riders of different heights. The Mapfour N1 Air also comes with a built-in tracker so you can get an idea where your bike’s ended up should it be stolen.
For more detail, read our review of the Engwe Mapfour N1 Air.
Tenways CGO800S – £1,899
The Tenways CGO800S is another single-speed option, and comes with a removable 374Wh battery. There are also nifty features like brake lights and rear indicators which don’t feature on many other e-bikes. The bike is built around a near-silent Mivice rear hub motor, which we found worked best on the flat but can propel you up a steady hill when necessary.
The torque sensing is a big bonus for this bike, but so is its ability to be ridden off-road on easy trails. This opens up a world of towpaths and bridleway networks to riders who don’t want to ride on the tarmac all the time.
For more detail, read our review of the Tenways CGO800S.
Dallingridge Harlow – £1,349
At the budget end of the scale, the Dallingridge Harlow offers great value for city riding and all-round performance. It comes with a range of accessories to make it a functional city or commuting bike, including mudguards, a kickstand, a chainguard and a pannier rack. However, if you want lights, unfortunately you’ll have to provide your own.
There’s also just the one frame size – 16”. There are however some adjustments to be made to ensure it fits a range of riders, including handlebar and seat height. The 475Wh battery is removable – ideal if you want to keep it from thieves when the bike’s parked up, or just simply charge the battery separately.
For more detail, read our review of the Dallingridge Harlow.
