A city-dweller will realize the utmost necessity of a personal commuter vehicle, and e-bikes are a great choice at that for solo travelers.
Starting from $1000, there are e-bikes on the market that cost even more than $9000. And it’s perfectly fine to get confused by this vast price range of products.
Don’t let the shiny ads fool you. To get a durable and comfortable e-bike, you won’t have to spend loads of money. Hell, you can get high quality e-bikes spending less than $1500, and I’m here to help you with that.
To find you the best electric bike under $1500 for casual on and off-road use, I have spent hours and hours researching on the internet for the last couple of days and finally reached a shortlist.
Here are my top 8 e-bike picks under 1500 based on quality parts, battery backup, stopping power, distance covered and other extra features that matter for an ideal e-bike.
From the following list, I believe you’ll find a high performance e-bike that goes with your style, meets your demands, and above all, is affordable for you.
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A reliable name in the e-bike and relevant accessories business, Velowave has been providing e-bikes with quality components and maintaining trustworthy customer service to its consumers.
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I believe this step-through bike from Velowave is the best fat tire electric bike under 1500 for how cozy and smooth it makes the riding experience by absorbing all the jerks and jumps through its 20″ fat tire.
Step-through bikes, in general, are slightly heavy, bulky, and not built for rides that are strenuous for the bike body, like driving steeper mountain trails. Although the bike’s frame is robust, having a double-tube design and constructed with aluminum alloy, I’d still be careful while climbing steep hills.
Even old and short people can effortlessly get on and off the bike because of its step-through design. I found it very convenient and approachable for all sorts of riders.
If you’re on a delivery job with delicate packages or on a trip that has many stops, this bike is perfect for you. This utility bike comes with a geared hub drive 750W powerful motor that is brushless and can reach speeds of up to 28 mph on pedal assist mode.
Don’t worry about draining all the juice while going far, as the bike’s equipped with a rechargeable 15 Ah lithium battery that lasts very long.
The front and rear light and the LCD are all powered by the main battery, so no additional power source is needed.
Its gear shift arrangement felt very versatile and efficient as it gave a good performance with a larger clog while uphill riding and a smaller clog when a high-speed run was necessary.
With 7 different speed freewheels in the gear system, you’ll be able to choose the torque and strength according to different circumstances.
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Foldable e-bikes are getting popular day by day for a reason. Being easy to store in small places makes it easier to keep them safe. This folding e-bike from Turboant comes with a 500W brushless geared hub motor that is very powerful.
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The engine is backed by 5 levels of pedal assistance. By selecting the PAS level, you can set the speed limit as per your choice.
This bike is equipped with a 48V 11.6 Ah rechargeable and removable battery that will give exceptional backup. Per charge, the bike can travel from 50-60 miles.
Although the manufacturer claims the bike is suitable for people of 5’3″- 6’4″ height, in reality, the bike is comparatively tall. Even with the adjustable seat post and handlebar height, the bike will be a little tough to approach for people under 5’8″.
Having a Shimano transmission system, you can have clean transitions between gears. Set your gear depending on the terrain you’re on or the amount of power you want on the wheels.
The bike’s build is sturdy with an aluminum alloy frame. In case of stability and balance, this bike does exceptionally well too. It has a 2.4-inch adjustable suspension that’ll absorb most jerks and shocks from rough terrains keeping your ride comfortable.
With 20″ wheels and 4″ fat tires, this folding e-bike can perform well in most terrains, sand, rugged roads, snow, etc. It’s suitable for moderate uphill climbing as well, but I’ll advise you not to push the limit.
For enjoyable and safe night rides, the bike comes with a bright LED headlight and a brake taillight. A quick and responsive braking system is installed to give you better control and sufficient stopping power to make your rides safer.
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This assisted bicycle from Velowave is definitely eye candy for its stylish build, quality components and high performance. But not only in terms of looks and performance, but this electric mountain bike is also innovative and efficient as well.
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Velowave promises equal comfort and freedom for customers of all sorts, and with their wide range of innovative and versatile products, they really are keeping their promise.
The electric bicycle is equipped with a BAFANG 750W hub drive brushless electric motor that is smooth and powerful. With the immense power generated from the engine, the bike can reach a standard max speed of 28 miles per hour by assisted bicycle mode and up to 20 mph by the throttle.
The Shimano 7-freewheel included drive-train allows responsive and smooth shifting between speeds. From uphill driving to reaching racing pace, you can shift between gears as per your need.
With the very sensitive hydraulic disc brakes, you’ll get exceptional braking performance at key moments of your ride.
Conquer most terrains, sandy, snowy, or others, with the 26″ fat, water-resistant tire that’ll consume all the jerks from the roughness and irregularities from the terrains and give you a smooth and stable riding experience.
To be honest, the bike is pretty big in height and is not really approachable for people under 5’6″. If your height is between 5’6″ to 6’2″, this bike will feel really comfortable for you.
Made of high quality aluminum, the build quality of this bike is robust enough to overcome rough terrains and steeper uphill trails. No matter the weather or path conditions, the bike will strongly support you through all of them for years after years.
A removable and rechargeable 48V/15 Ah lithium battery comes with the bike, which can last long up to 25-40+ miles per charge. The battery powers the bright headlight to make your night rides safer and enjoyable.
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This small wheel e-bike is a gorgeous piece to look at. Manufactured by the renowned brand ENGWE, this bike also comes with a conventional 750W brushless motor. The engine provides enough power to reach the max speed of 28 mph/ 45 kmh with paddle assistance.
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Undoubtedly, this one can be claimed as the best folding e-bike under 1500 because of the e-pas technology it is equipped with. Innovative E-pas technology lets you restore up to 60% energy back to the battery while going downhill.
The 48V, 16 Ah lithium batteries are long-lasting and has a range of 40-50 miles per charge. It provides further backup with regenerated energy making it exceptionally strong in mileage.
The foldable frame and sturdy body let you keep the bike safe in small and convenient places, while the high quality materials gives the bike its robustness.
Having 75% of the bike pre-assembled, you won’t have to face much hassle to put it together.
Another fantastic feature of this bike is the dual suspension. Shock absorber in both front and back wheel, along with a fat tire design, allows the bike to stabilize well even in rugged terrains.
With the 20″ wheel, the bike can face both urban and trail spots if the road is of good to medium condition. Beware that the bike isn’t built to face extreme trail conditions, so I’ll advise you to avoid such paths.
The bike’s thumb shifter enabled Shimano gear system consists of 8-speeds freewheels, allowing more versatility in tuning your torque when necessary. If you need to carry packages, the bike comes with a solid rear cargo rack.
Dual disc brakes in both front and back wheels assure a safe ride every time. Enjoy beautiful and safe night rides, too, with the integrated lights and a stylish LCD control panel.
READ MORE: Best Road Bikes Under $400
This simple but elegant-looking electric mountain bike is a product of the prominent brand Hiboy, which is a pioneer manufacturer of reliable personal transportation vehicles like e-bikes, hoverboards, scooters, etc.
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Equipped with a 750W BAFANG geared hub motor on the rear wheel, the bike can reach a max speed of 21.7 mph with pedal assistance. Although max speed isn’t the strong suit of this bike, it has an exceptional range of up to 60 miles by pedal, making this a great choice as a commuter bike.
Assembling the bike isn’t much of a hassle. The mainframe is pre-assembled; all you’ll have to do is install the accessories like light, display, rack, etc. A 48V 13 Ah, rechargeable and removable battery comes with the bike, which provides great backup.
Manufacturers constructed this e-bike as a conqueror of terrains by adding a great hydraulic suspension, 4″ fat tires, and 24″ robust wheels, which will give you great stability while driving on trails and rugged paths.
Made of aluminum alloy, the bike is lightweight yet robust. The bike comes with a Shimano 9 speed freewheel gear system that allows its rider to be prepared for all sorts of situations.
Use the largest wheel while riding uphill trails and the smallest one to reach the max speed. The gear system provides fine-tuning and a smooth transition between wheels to let you find your sweet spot at any moment.
A multi-functional stylish LCD control panel comes with the bike, showing speed, mileage, riding time, and other data. Bright headlight on both the front and rear sides of the bike allows you to conveniently enjoy night riding.
The bike has disc brakes installed on both the wheels, which assure great safety and control for your riding experience.
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Have to admit, this bike is dashing and a real eye-catcher piece of work from Shengmilo. Shengmilo’s sole desire is to be your trustworthy vendor for all your cycling-related needs. They manufacture and sell versatile and quality bikes and cycling accessories.
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Equipped with a 1000W motor, completely integrated, enclosed and waterproof, the Shengmilo MX01 bike can reach a max speed of 25 mph on pure throttle mode. Power/paddle assistance comes in 5 levels so that you can utilize your motor power according to your preference.
The motor also comes with a smart assist option, working with 3 different sensors that will auto adjust your necessary assistance on a flat road by analyzing your pace and movement. So, you won’t have to face the hassle of manually shifting speeds anymore.
A seamlessly integrated battery of 48V/12.8Ah comes with the bike. The battery provides great power to overcome uphill trails and moderately rugged terrains. It also delivers a good backup to get you a decent mileage of up to 40-45 miles on flat roads.
You won’t have to worry much about the battery being damaged in the rain or getting stolen as waterproof protection, and an anti-theft lock is provided beforehand.
Providing full suspension, manufacturers targeted this product exclusively for stability and comfort. With a shock absorber in the back wheel and a fork suspension in the front, this bike can keep you cozy in rugged terrains.
Further stability comes from the huge 26″ wheels, larger than conventional 20″ wheels. Manufacturers believe, and experts agree, that larger wheels and wide tires allow the bike to absorb more shock and overcome obstacles effortlessly, making riding through rugged terrains much easier.
But larger wheels also consume more power to propel, which cuts bike range. 7 freewheel gears provides more options for torque choices according to your need. Hydraulic disc brakes used on both wheels let you enjoy a safe and tension-free ride every time.
This bike kind of holds the vibe of vintage ‘Sons of Anarchy’ biker gang bikes in its design, and it’s awesome. Addmotor, the name, suits the product perfectly because of its stout build and utmost stability.
Using this bike is fun and convenient as it can be operated in 4 different modes. In pedal-assist mode, the motor provides moderate power as you keep pedaling. This pedal assistance also comes in 5 more levels to set the amount of assistance and speed limit you want for yourself.
There is also a full-electric mode to assist you with the increased power level you desire, a pedal mode where the bike runs only on pedals, and a booster mode where the bike runs solely by the motor at 6 km/h.
The bike comes with a 750W brushless hub motor that is powerful yet quiet and smooth. This powerful motor lets the bike reach a max speed of 25 mph. A 48V 17.5Ah high capacity battery provides the necessary power to the motor.
This bike has a very interesting feature. It has a USB port under the meter that allows you to charge your phone. A stylish LCD and bright headlights also come with the bike to bring you an exceptional riding experience, whether it’s day or night.
Stability and sturdiness are the strong suits of this power assisted bicycle. With large 26″ wheels and 4″ fat tires, the bike performs very well in versatile terrains. No matter if it’s snow, sand, gravel, or a rocky mountain road, you’ll get reliable and comfortable performance from your bike.
Comes with a fork suspension to absorb shocks of rugged terrains to give you more stability. 7-speed freewheels Shimano gear system allows smooth transitions according to your necessity.
The bike is equipped with mechanical disc brakes on both wheels for safe and responsive braking.
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Having a great, environment-friendly motto, eAhora is also a pioneer brand that focuses solely on a wide range high quality e-bikes and e-bike accessories. This unit from eAhora does not just look very solid; it actually is very sturdy but lightweight due to its stainless aluminum collapsible frame.
The folding electric bike comes with a 750W powerful, brushless geared hub motor that brings out 25-30 mph max speed from the bike. A 48V 15Ah long-lasting battery also comes with the unit that is equipped with E-pas technology.
The normal range of the bike is 45-55 miles, but the manufacturer claims it can get up to 80 miles, utilizing the E-pas technology. This technology allows the battery to recycle power whenever the bike is going more than 22 mph on a downhill road.
The bike is equipped with a large multi-functional LCD screen that shows you important data like speed, riding distance, and many more. Stylish electric taillight and bright headlight allow you to have great riding experiences at night as well.
With large 20″ wheels and 4″ fat snow tires, ride comfortably on snowy fields, hills, sandy beaches, and other complex terrains. But not really built for harsh, rugged terrains, so be careful about that.
The electric bicycle has an aluminum fork above the front wheel that is lockable. A rear hydraulic suspension absorbs shocks from rough terrains and keeps you stable and comfy. Disc brake systems in both wheels keep you safe with responsive and smooth braking.
For smooth gear transition, a Shimano 8 speed freewheels gear system is implemented in the rear wheel. Shift gears according to different terrains to save energy for both you and your bike. The rear rack is there to carry your packages around with you.
Electric bicycles are revolutionary transportation nowadays that trumps normal bike because of their extensive motor assistance, control, and speed and trumps motorcycles in case of price and portability.
But time and distance won’t always be your friend while riding a bicycle. That’s where high quality e-bikes can deliver you with that extra control in your hand whenever you need it. But before buying your e-bike, you got to find out features that will be of extreme necessity in your daily life.
You can’t just buy any e-bike you see out there. There are many e-bikes, with prices ranging from low to high and various pros and cons. Let’s discuss some points and features below that you should definitely look into before buying your e-bike and see if they are suitable for you.
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Motors are the power suppliers of e-bikes. The power assists your pedaling and allows you to reach high speed or overcome rough or steep terrains. So, it is important that you know about the sort of motor you’re getting with your bike.
On an e-bike, the motor can be located in one of two places. If the motor is mounted on the rear wheel, it’s called a hub drive motor. And if the motor is mounted where the pedal is, it’s called a mid-drive motor.
Mid-drive motors are used to establish stability and balance. Being in the middle, they aid pedaling with a natural feel. Also, being at a point of centered weight allows them to deliver power while maintaining balance.
Hub-drive motors are to provide power and high torque. They are mounted on the rear wheel, and when they’re at work, it feels like a push from the back. One painful part of hub-drive motors is that changing a flat tire becomes a convoluted and tiring process.
Torque is a measurement of rotational force the motor provides and is an essential spec to look out for. It is measured by the unit, newton per meter (N/m).
Motor torque will give you an idea of the power output your bike can provide, which you can then easily compare with your requirements. Usually, the torque value of an e-bike motor varies from 40 – 80 N/m.
For heavy-duty errands or if your bike is heavy itself, it’ll need more torque. You can control necessary torque by regulating pedal assistance and gears.
The E-bike draws its necessary power from the battery. The motor converts the electrical power drawn from the battery into mechanical power.
When buying an e-bike, you should always check the battery capacity and backup. Watt-hour (Wh) is the measuring unit of a battery’s supplied energy per hour.
A higher Wh battery means higher mileage, but it also depends on how fast you’re going. The more your speed, the less mileage you’ll get.
Uphill riding and riding through challenging terrains require more power and thus, if you’re buying the bike for strenuous rides, look for larger batteries.
READ MORE: How To Charge Electric Bike Battery, Detail Explanation
Before buying e-bikes, check out their range and the max speed they can achieve, with or without pedal assist level. The miles of range is said to be the distance a fully charged e-bike can travel before completely draining the battery. Usually, higher range sacrifices speed to some extent.
Decide according to your necessity before buying. Although for any e-bike, the faster you’ll travel, the lesser range you’ll get.
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Having a better suspension fork on your bike will provide you with better stability and help you withstand rugged terrain rides smoothly. The suspension consumes most of the jerks and jumps caused by bad, rough roads and rocky terrains and lets you have a cozy ride.
E-bikes come in two different types based on suspension: full suspension and hardtail.
Full suspension mountain bikes have suspension in both wheels, and a suspension seat post. These bikes are a bit pricier but will provide you an utmost jerk-free, smooth ride even on the most rugged paths.
Hardtail mountain bikes have suspension only on the front wheel. These bikes won’t provide as much stability as full-suspension bikes. Hardtail bikes are not really built for rugged terrains, but they perform wonderfully on paved roads.
An e-bike’s wheel must be comparatively small but robust. Small wheels require less energy to propel, which makes the motor draw less power from the battery without sacrificing wheel torque.
E-bike wheels come in different sizes, 16″, 20″ and 26″. 16″ and 20″ wheels are mostly seen in folding e-bikes built for speed. They don’t function well in rough terrains. 26″ wheels are built for versatile uses. Take them on and off-road without any worry in the world.
E-bikes come with fat or regular tires. Fat tires can give you exceptionally stable and cozy rides by giving up a little bit of control and speed. Choose your e-bike according to your preference, and don’t hesitate to test it out first.
Some additional features are provided with high quality e-bikes that are not really life and death issues, but matching them according to your preference will bring you great comfort.
Look out for extra features like foldability, better display, pedal assistance levels, better gear system, rear rack, etc., in your e-bike.
A folding bike will save your space and will let you store your bike someplace safely and easily.
If you often need to carry packages, look for a rear rack in your bike.
Better gear system and pedal assisting level lets you have better control and smooth transitions between gears and torque changes.
Also, look for a bike with a superior braking system. Braking is an important safety feature, and it needs to be as smooth and fast as possible. A good braking system can save you from grave accidents.
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It really depends on your needs and preferences. Under $1700, you’ll get all sorts of urban comfort e-bikes. With 5 level pedal-assistance, these city bikes are basically built for casual use in daily lives. Most of these won’t really survive long in rough terrains.
From $1700 to $3000, e-bikes enter the rough terrain domain. These bikes are mostly built suitable for rugged paths, sand, and uphill trails. Full suspension is an important feature of these bikes that help you get a stable riding experience.
E-bike prices can even get up to $9000. Expensive e-bikes are luxury rides to provide you utmost balance and comfort.
Class-1 E-Bikes: Class 1 e-bikes are very popular and are focused on stability and heavy-duty performance rather than speed. These bikes often have a 750W motor that can put the bike up to a 20 mph speed with pedal assistance.
Class-3 E-Bikes: Class 3 bikes are focused on speed and power and often sacrifice stability to an extent. These bikes can get up to 28 mph with pedal assistance.
Class-2 E-Bikes: Class 2 bikes are the new uprising genre in the market, which are sort of the combo of class 1 and 2 and again sort of not. They’re getting really popular recently and are also coming at lower prices.
These bikes can get up to 28 mph with pedal assistance from the motor and can maintain 20 mph by motor throttle alone and with no pedaling. A lot of bikes blur the lines with their features, but it is still necessary basic knowledge to have before choosing e-bikes.
We have previously discussed motor types based on their locations, but which one of those two is the best? A question remained.
Well, it depends. Both have their pros and cons. Mid-drive motors are located at the middle point where the crank arms of the pedals are attached. They are usually lighter than hub-drive motors. Mid-drive motors are used for excellent balance and stability and their natural feel.
One disadvantage mid-drive motors have is the repetitive maintenance it requires. Hub motors are implemented either in the front or rear wheel. They provide exceptional speed and push but not stability and comfort.
Also, changing a flat tire where a hub motor is installed in the wheel can be very complex. So actually, the answer might be annoying and not satisfactory, but really, it depends!
Of course! E-bikes have the best of both worlds, bicycles and motorbikes. They are convenient, healthy, and good for the environment with a very low carbon footprint. They’re definitely worth it.
You’ll simply need to be cautious to keep your e-bike safe from both theft and damage. Always double lock your bike with something unmovable. Lock both wheels along with the frame and try to remove the detachable parts, and keep them inside the house.
To avoid damage, use the bike cautiously and don’t overstress its performance.
I believe that the knowledge I’ve passed to you will help you find the best electric bike under $1500. So, why wait any longer? Go grab your e-bike from the bike shop and go for a ride asap. It will provide you with a great commuting or casual experience.
Remember, e-bikes under $1500 price range are built for casual use, both on and off roads. If you wish to do extreme sports or need to run on extreme terrains, you might need to go for pricier options.
