Electric Bike Reviews, News, & Testing

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Sam Gross

Product Reviewer, Content Writer

Sam likes bikes a lot. Probably too much. After a childhood spent racing bikes and learning to work on them in his hometown bike shop, Sam spent his college years skipping classes to chase his dream as an elite mountain bike racer. Injury and a lack of talent sent him back to school and into a career as a journalist, where he covered wildfires, public safety and environmental policy for a major U.S. newspaper chain before working at electricbikereport.com. Sam likes to get lost on his mountain bike in the deserts of the southwest and harass his two cats. He’s a new convert to the e-bike family but firmly believes they will change the world for the better.

Get to Know Sam Gross

Certifications

  • B.A. Communication and Media Studies

Favorite Style of E-Bike

eMTB, Gravel, Road

Favorite E-Bikes Reviewed

Specialized Turbo Vado, BULLS Alpine Hawk EVO

Current Bikes You Ride/Own

VENON EVO-GR FORCE AXS

Hobbies

MTB Races, cat videos

Some links may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these.

Sam Gross

Tern Vektron S10 Review 2024

Tern Vektron S10 Electric Bike Review

It’s not super often that I ride a folding bike and am able to forget it’s a folding bike.

Usually there’s something — a creak, a little wobble in the handlepost or maybe even some flex in the jointed frame — that serves as a constant reminder that the bike I’m riding is technically cut in half.

The Tern Vektron S10 is a rare exception to this rule.

Electric Bike Report got a chance to do a mini review of the Tern Vektron S10 during the Big Gear Show in Park City, Utah this August and, while I had limited time on the Vektron, I was thoroughly impressed by this little bike’s balanced handling, ultra-responsive Bosch drive system and thoughtful features. Despite its small stature, it’s a bonafide form of alternative transportation ready for commutes, grocery runs and can even ferry a small human on the rear rack. It’s a sensible bike for people low on space but unwilling to sacrifice performance for convenience.

Oh, it also folds down easily and stows propped up on its rear end.

[Read more…] about Tern Vektron S10 Review 2024

Tern GSD S00 LX Review 2024

Tern calls its GSD electric cargo bike a “mid-tail” cargo bike, meaning it’s neither the biggest nor the smallest e-cargo bike on the market — it’s somewhere in between.

After spending some time riding the Tern GSD S00 LX — one of four GSD models — during the Big Gear Show in Park City, Utah in early August, that mid-tail designation feels about right. The bike is remarkably compact and easy to handle, even with quite a bit of load added to the rear rack. It’s also definitely not small — Tern loaned Electric Bike Report a GSD S00 LX for a morning and I was able to tote myself, my videographer and all our gear up hills and through tighter residential areas without so much as a blink.

GSD is an acronym for “Get Stuff Done,” a phrase discreetly painted on the downtube of the bike we tested. It’s a very fitting name for this bike that additionally captures Tern’s belief that bikes are tools, not toys. The GSD is a bike designed for jobs; whether that job is carrying your kids to preschool or hauling deliveries to their destinations, there’s likely a configuration of the GSD that’ll meet your needs.

Tern GSD S00 LX Electric Bike Review seat

Want to take a friend? The GSD can do that.

Like all of Tern’s e-bikes, The GSD was designed to be a modular e-bike customizable for your needs. The GSD we rode was configured as a people carrier with an adult-sized captain’s chair mounted on the back<. So we ditched the second e-bike our videographer, Bryce, had been using to film these mini reviews and we set out together on the GSD to see how the mid-sized cargo bike handled under load.

[Read more…] about Tern GSD S00 LX Review 2024

Specialized Turbo Vado Review, 2024

Specialized Turbo Vado Review, 2024 full bike frame

For over three decades, Specialized has had the same mantra: “Innovate or Die.”

That three word slogan represents the ethos of Specialized; a condensed summation of the mindset that’s driven the northern California-based company to become one of the largest and most iconic bike brands on the planet. It’s also the driving force behind why Specialized electric bikes are among the best money can buy.

In this Specialized Turbo Vado review, we take a look at the brand’s flagship electric commuter and parse out what sets it apart from the competition. We test its hill climbing abilities, range and do our best to showcase why the Specialized name has become synonymous with innovation and really good e-bikes.

Powered by a 250w mid drive motor and a 710Wh internally integrated (but removable) battery, the Turbo Vado 4.0 is a sturdy competitor in the high-end commuter category. The latest edition of the Turbo Vado has been reengineered with new geometry, a retooled motor and a new look. Best of all, that 250W motor is capable of Class 3 speeds — and boy is it quick.

It’s an e-bike we’ve been itching to get our hands on – reputation alone warrants consideration for inclusion on our list of best electric bikes – but let’s get hands on and see how it performs in our tests before deciding that.

[Read more…] about Specialized Turbo Vado Review, 2024

Magnum Scout Review 2024

Magnum Scout Review

Built around a 750W Bafang rear hub motor, the Scout electric fat bike is Magnum’s entry into the ultra-competitive high-powered electric fat bike category.

The Scout, one of Magnum’s most in demand e-bikes, is designed as a do-anything go-anywhere fat bike that’s friendly to all sorts of riders. It sports Shimano components, hydraulic disk brakes and two battery options that are both larger than average for this category of e-bike.

The Utah-based company boasts an international distribution network with more than 200 brick-and-mortar retailers that can help with service, troubleshooting or buying your bike if you prefer to do so in person.

Magnum Scout Review - Handlebars

The Scout, but closer.

This review is one of several micro reviews Electric Bike Report did during the Big Gear Show in Park City, Utah this August, so it’s a little less in-depth than our typical review process. But keep an eye on this space, we hope to get several of Magnum’s bikes (including the Scout) in the near future for a full length review.

[Read more…] about Magnum Scout Review 2024

The Ride Radiant Carbon Review 2024

The Ride Radiant Carbon E-Bike Review

Electric bikes typically aren’t too tough to figure out. Who they’re for, why they’ve been built and how well they’re going to work is usually something I can parse out within a few minutes of my first time on the bike.

But for the first time in a review, I’m having a hard time squarely defining an e-bike. This one just doesn’t neatly fit into any one use category. In this The Ride Radiant Carbon review, we’ll dive into the unique ways this bike blurs the lines between categories in ways we haven’t quite seen before.

Built by a bicycle designer known for pushing the envelope with frame materials and design, The Ride Radiant Carbon uses a unique carbon fiber frame, a mid-drive motor and fully automatic shifting to create an e-bike that’s remarkably capable and fun.

Electric Bike Report put The Ride Radiant Carbon to the test to see how it performs in real-world conditions. We tested it’s handling, battery life, hill climbing ability and even how quickly it comes to a stop with the goal of giving our readers a clearer picture if this is the right e-bike for them.

[Read more…] about The Ride Radiant Carbon Review 2024

MOD City + Electric Bike Review – 2024

Mod City+ Electric Folding Bike Review 2024

Powered by a 500W rear hub motor and built around a frame that folds down into a relatively compact cube, the MOD City+ electric folding bike is designed to be functional and fun no matter where you plan to keep it.

In this MOD City+ review, we test this electric folding bike’s hill climbing ability, battery life and more to get an idea of how it performs in the real world.

Unlike the mid-drive powered MOD Berlin, another MOD electric bike we reviewed earlier this year, the MOD City+ uses a 500W rear hub motor that’s peppy and makes 60Nm of torque. It’s spec’d with a 7-speed drivetrain, hydraulic disk brakes and it’s affordable at less than $2,300 MSRP.

And though it’s a folding bike, it’s not overly small. Like many of the affordable electric folding bikes we review, the MOD City+ has a wheelbase and overall ride feel that’s much more similar to its full-size siblings.

So how does this bike stack up? We put it to the test to find out.

[Read more…] about MOD City + Electric Bike Review – 2024

MOD Bikes Berlin Electric Bike Review – 2024

Mod Bike Berlin Review 2024

Rear hub motors have long reigned king as the drive system of choice for affordable electric bikes, but there are signs that paradigm is beginning to shift.

One of those signs is the MOD Berlin, an electric commuter bike that boasts a 350W Shengyi mid-drive motor and priced at less than $3,000. In this MOD Berlin review, we put the bike to the test to parse out how this reasonably-priced e-bike performs in the real world.

The Berlin is a retro-styled electric commuter designed to be sporty, comfortable and fast. It’s a Class 3 e-bike with no throttle, so its mid-drive motor will assist your pedaling to 28 mph, and it sports hydraulic disk brakes and a solid drivetrain that balances affordability and function.

It also features an unconventional front fork (that we found to work very nicely) and it comes stock with a suspension seatpost. But the real star of the show is that mid-drive motor, which performed incredibly well in all our tests.

With its relatively low price point and powerful mid-drive motor, can the MOD Berlin compete with the more expensive mid-drive powered e-bikes? We put it to the test in the real world to find out.

[Read more…] about MOD Bikes Berlin Electric Bike Review – 2024

Honbike HF01 Review 2024

Honbike HF01 Review

After spending some time riding and reviewing the Honbike HF01 it became apparent what problems exist within the world of e-bikes that Honbike was aiming to solve. When it comes to durability, ease of maintenance and cleanliness, most modern electric bikes are lacking in some — if not all — departments.

Unlike most transportation built for the masses, such as automobiles and motorcycles, e-bikes are a Christmas tree of components hung from a frame; fragile parts exposed to the elements, threatening wayward pant legs with greasy mastication. Many of those components are also wear parts that stretch or degrade with normal use, with maintenance or replacement intervals in terms of hundreds or the low thousands of miles — comparably short to similar components on cars or motorcycles.

But slowly, e-bike manufacturers are catching on and lessons from the automotive industry are being applied to make bikes that are cleaner, simpler and much longer lasting.

In this Honbike HF01 review, we take a look at one e-bike attempting to apply several of those lessons. Built on a folding frame, a 250W front hub motor and cast magnesium wheels, the Honbike HF01 uses an innovative drive shaft in place of a traditional chain and sprocket drivetrain to make a ride that’s clean, simple and, allegedly, far more durable than your average e-bike.

Mixed in with all that innovation is also some of the quirkiest bike design we’ve ever seen at Electric Bike Report, including a golf club-shaped seat and brake levers that attach on the outside of the handlebars.

[Read more…] about Honbike HF01 Review 2024

Surface604 Boar Explorer Review 2024

Surface 604 Boar Explorer Electric Fat Bike Review

An adventure-ready electric fat bike that takes a refreshing less-is-more approach, the Surface604 Boar Explorer is the Canadian company’s more trail oriented fat tire e-bike.

In this Surface604 Boar Explorer review, we put the bike through a series of challenges designed to push the Boar to its limits. We found it’s a nimble, lightweight and capable e-bike that’s purpose built for more challenging terrain.

The Boar Explorer is the more pared down version of Surface604’s electric fat bike. If you’re looking for a fat tire e-bike with accountremants like racks and some other extras, take a look at this bike’s sibling, the Boar Hunter. The Explorer, which lacks racks and weighs in at just 50 lbs, is designed for lightweight (but not light-duty) trail riding and adventuring. It feels functional in more technical terrain, and Surface604 made some smart decisions with the drivetrain and rigid suspension that help contribute to its capable vibe.

The Boar Explorer, like all of Surface604’s e-bikes we’ve reviewed, is powered by a 500W rear hub motor engaged via an ultra-sensitive torque sensor, giving the rider greater control over the power simply by adjusting how hard they’re pedaling.

[Read more…] about Surface604 Boar Explorer Review 2024

Espin Sport Review 2024

Espin Sport Ebike Review 2024

An electric bike designed to strike a balance between affordability and capable commuting, the Espin Sport is an electric commuter bike with good looks, a peppy 500W motor and an MSRP that won’t break the bank.

In this Espin Sport review, we dive into this bike’s specs and its performance in a series of tests designed to demonstrate how it performs in the real world.

Started by a couple inspired by European and Asian extensive public transportation networks, Espin is a California-based e-bike brand trying to change the status quo that good e-bikes have to be expensive. The result is a growing line of e-bikes designed as tailored solutions to different commuting needs, ranging from a lightweight single speed commuter to a folding utility-style bike.

The Sport model we review here is a commuter aimed at style, speed and light off-pavement capability. With a high-step frame that loosely resembles a mountain bike and more aggressive tires, it’s the type of bike that’s equally at home in a city center or on a rural rails-to-trails bike path.

[Read more…] about Espin Sport Review 2024