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What is the fastest e-bike?
This is a great question when youâre considering which e-bike to buy for your commute. Whatâs important to know is that there are three classes of e-bikes, and the classes relate to the top speed and the amount of pedal assist. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes have a maximum speed of 20mph, and Class 3 e-bikes have a maximum speed of 28mph. In this article we focus on Class 3 e-bikes. Note: there are also âe-bikesâ that go faster than 28 mph, but letâs be honest those are just mopeds. đ Our top pick for the fastest e-bike is Ride1Upâs 700 Series, and weâve outlined our runner up as well as pros and cons of several other e-bikes in this article.
One callout: in some U.S. states, you are not allowed to have a Class 3 e-bike with a throttle. You should check for any local restrictions before purchasing a Class 3 e-bike. Weâd hate to see you get a ticket on your commute!
Table of contents
Our Pick
Ride1Up 700
What we like about it
The 700 series from Ride1Up is our top pick for fastest e-bike. Its top speed is 28mph, which is as fast as we think is reasonable for an e-bike. Most of the e-bikes on this list also have the same max speed but the Ride1Up 700 is our top pick because it also strikes the right balance between its quality and its price.
The bike parts are from trusted manufacturers, such as Shimano, which is especially impressive given the price of the e-bike (mid-range). Ride1Up will also have sales on its e-bikes occasionally as well (for example, on Black Friday and around the holidays).
Its brakes are hydraulic disc brakes, which is higher quality than mechanical brakes because when you press on the brake you will experience them being applied much faster. This makes for a very smooth ride. It also helps that the wheels are a nice, sturdy thickness, and 2.4â wide.
This is a direct to consumer company, meaning you will need to purchase it direct through their website. Weâve heard great thinks about their customer service and that they are helpful when it comes to a technical assistance after purchase.
Finally, we love the steel blue color thatâs offered for the frame. It also comes in black.
Where it falls short
Since weâre writing to you from the pacific northwest, rain is always top of mind for us. This e-bike comes with built-in rain and mud guards, but they donât come as far down as weâd generally like to see. This isnât a dealbreaker for us because itâs not difficult to add your own extender flap.
If youâll be commuting with kids then youâll have slightly less cargo space than with other e-bikes. When you add the Thule seat to the back, the only storage space left (besides adding panniers), is a rack that attaches to the front fork (versus the frame), which means itâs smaller than what you might see in other bikes.
What we’ve heard around town
âgreat price for what you getâ
âinsanely fastâ
âprompt customer serviceâ
âloud motorâ
Runner Up
Cannondale Topstone Neo 5
What we like about it
The Cannondale Topstone Neo 5 is our runner up choice for fastest e-bikes. Itâs actually our top pick for the best e-bikes for long distance commutes as well. Honestly, you can never go wrong with a Cannondale, e-bike or otherwise. This e-bike has a max speed of 28mph as well, and you know youâre getting a super high quality bike, given Cannondale is the manufacturer.
It has a high-quality mid-drive motor made by Bosch which will make tackling any hills breeze. It has responsive braking (hydraulic). And one other key differentiator is that itâs not heavy as far as e-bikes go, coming in at 40 lbs. This is great if youâre a smaller rider (or will be carrying up stairs for storage!).
Where it falls short
You might ask why this isnât our top pick, but just our runner up. Mainly itâs the price point. Ride1Up 700 is our top pick because itâs an amazing bang for your buck. The Cannondale Topstone Neo 5 is a great e-bike, but itâs expensive given itâs made by Cannondale, which is a high-end company.
What we’ve heard around town
âLight and responsiveâ
âUncomfortable saddleâ
âSturdyâ
All the Rest
Juiced CrossCurrent S2
What we like about it
The Juiced CrossCurrent S2 has a max speed of 28 mph as well. One of the great things about this e-bike (especially for our family where Iâm 5â3ââ and Tyler is 6â2ââ) is that it comes in several different sizes, making it feasible to ride for different sized riders.
Another differentiator is its smoothness. Most e-bikes use one type of sensor to tell the motor how much power to output, either torque or cadence sensor technology. This ultimately impacts how smooth or jerky the e-bike feels. The S2 is different because it actually uses both types. This makes for a smooth ride, with a very responsive acceleration.
Another plus: this is also just a good looking e-bike! It has an incredibly sleek design. Itâs in the mid-price range and, as a direct to consumer company, comes with free shipping.
Where it falls short
Weâd like this e-bike even better if its tires were wider, making it sturdier for commuting. The tires are only 1.75â wide. Wider tires would make it easier to tackle bumps and just maneuver the bike for a broader range of terrain. Related to this, the Juiced sells the rain/mud guards separately. So, if you have a muddy/rainy commute, the narrower tires and the lack of rain/mud guards mean this e-bike likely isnât the right one for you.
What we’ve heard around town
âEasy to slow downâ
âI weigh 220 lbs and it gets me up all the hillsâ
âLong lasting batteryâ
Wing Freedom 2
What we like about it
The Wing Freedom 2 has a max speed of 25 mph, making it the lowest max speed for any e-bike on this list, but still plenty fast. Itâs similar (nearly a copy-cat) to the Vanmoof s3, but does have a higher max speed than the s3, which is why the s3 is not on this list. Weâve written a detailed comparison of these two bikes separately.
One of the unique things about the Wing Freedom 2 is that it comes with several different options for the battery size and range, which is helpful if you know you will be using it for long distances, or only ever for short distances, and want to tailor your battery range.
It is also light for an e-bike, coming in at 39 lbs. This is useful if youâre going to be carrying it up stairs for storage. It also comes with anti-theft and location tracking features.
Where it falls short
The Wing Freedom 2 is not our favorite e-bike in general because itâs really just a less-nice copycat of the VanMoof s3, and weâd like to see more innovation from Wing.
It has mechanical brakes, instead of hydraulic, making it slightly less responsive when you pull the brake to when it actually stops.
This isnât a great e-bike if youâll be commuting with kids and want to attach a Thule seat to the rear rack. This is because the rear rack is not built-in but has to be attached separately, making it unable to hold as much weight as a built-in rack.
What we’ve heard around town
âThe detachable battery with a key is a good featureâ
âDied with little warningâ
âThe components (derailleur, brakes, etc) are all very averageâ
Common Questions
What is the fastest folding electric bike?
The Lecrtic XP 3.0 ($1,099) is an affordable folding e-bike that can go 28mph. It folds for easy storage. Itâs on the heavier side at 64 lbs making it difficult to carry around. The handlebars height is adjustable making it easy to find a decent riding position. It also doesnât require any assembly since itâs shipped folded up in the box. Unfold and you are ready to go. In general we donât recommend folding e-bikes because we find the geometry and small wheelbase make them feel twitchy and wobbly, and thus not that enjoyable to ride. But if you have storage constraints and need something on the smaller side that is also fast, then the Lectric XP 3.0 is a good option.
What is the fastest electric bike on Amazon?
The Auloor EUY foldable e-bike with throttle can go 30mph and is available on Amazon. It has a lot of torque and watts (aka acceleration and speed) for its low price of $1,099. Itâs foldable, but on the heavier side (69.5 lbs) making it difficult to lug up the stairs. The Hiboy P7 is a Class 3 e-bike sold on Amazon for $1,599 that can go 28 mph (45 km/h). It also includes a throttle, which provides power up to 21 mph (34 km/h). It has a classic mountain bike frame. Both of these are okay e-bikes, but customer service and quality complaints abound.
What is the fastest an electric bike can go?
E-bikes have a range of speeds that they can travel, with some reaching top speeds of 50 mph. But we only recommend using a Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike for commuting. These range in speed from 20 mph to 28 mph. Anything faster than this is essentially a motorcycle.
The speed the e-bike can travel will depend on the class of the e-bike. Class 1 and 2 have a 20 mph maximum speed, and Class 3 has a 28 mph maximum speed.
In some countries, e-bikes are also classified based on their maximum power output. For example, in the European Union, e-bikes are classified as “L1e-A” (low-speed electric bikes with a maximum power output of 250 watts), “L1e-B” (low-speed electric bikes with a maximum power output of 750 watts), and “L3e” (high-speed electric bikes with a maximum power output of 4,000 watts).
It’s important to note in some U.S. states, you are not allowed to have a Class 3 e-bike with a throttle. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with your local laws and regulations before purchasing your e-bike.
