Another Great Newbie Ebike
Cowboy 4 ST
VanMoof’s ebikes are often touted as the best for beginners, but we picked the Cowboy 4 ST (8/10, WIRED Recommends) for the simple reason that, if an electric bike relies heavily on an app on your phone, it should come with a charger. Like the VanMoof, the 4 ST is beautiful, low-maintenance, and easy to assemble out of the box. However, the stem has a built-in quad lock system and wireless charging. Just buy a compatible phone case (a negligible, if slightly annoying, extra expense), and using Google Maps to get around town is easy and painless.
You can also use your phone to check the battery level and easily pop it in and out of the frame for charging inside. It’s somewhat rare to see features like a carbon belt drive at this price, as well as lights that turn on automatically when it gets dark. On the minus side, the rear hub motor has a power output of just 250 watts, which might not be enough if you live in a very hilly area. Also, you can only unlock it with the app. The 4 ST is optimized for riders who are 5’6″ and taller, which makes it just slightly too big for me at 5’2″. It also comes in a version with a high-top tube, but we appreciate the ease of a step-through.