Best for Most People
Trek FX+ 2
The prices on direct-to-consumer bikes are very appealing, but if you wouldn’t send your kid down a hill on a skateboard with wobbly wheels, I wouldn’t recommend doing the same yourself. If this is your first bike, I strongly suggest going with an established manufacturer that has a large support network of affiliated retailers and shops, so you can test a few and not have to assemble or fix it yourself.
Almost every major bike manufacturer now makes an entry-level commuter electric bicycle, and right now the most reasonably priced one is the Trek FX+ 2. It comes in two versions, a step-over, and a step-through. (I’m currently riding the step-through.) At 40 pounds, it’s pretty light! It rides a lot like the light, versatile hybrid that I rode all through college. It has Trek’s proprietary 250-watt hub motor, a 250-watt-hour battery, standard 9-speed Shimano shifters, fast road bike wheels, and hydraulic disc brakes, as well as a few fun extra built-ins, like integrated lights, a bell, a rear rack, fenders, and a kickstand. All in all, it’s a shockingly affordable package for everything you need to start your 6-mile city commute.
★ Alternatives: We have tried almost all the entry-level cruisers. Specialized makes one that’s pricier but with a nicer low-maintenance internal gear hub and belt drive, and we like Cannondale’s version as well. Momentum is owned by Giant, and the Voya E+ 3 ($2,000) is equally light and absolutely stunning in person. But its smart shift system may be a little confusing to those new to ebiking, and the base price doesn’t include all the commuter extras.