When it comes to picking the best e-bike or e-moto for you, first you must establish your use-case, then you need to weed through countless options. After testing a range of e-bikes and e-motos all summer, we’re here to weigh in on the latter.
The Best E-Motos & E-Bikes For Your Use-Case
The three key metrics every consumer should consider when evaluating an e-bike’s value are build quality, brand legitimacy and appropriateness for the task at hand.
Where peak speed and motocross performance are critical to some, others need a bike more suited for kids, cruising and hauling home groceries. Some seek off-road adventure while others require a street-legal commuter. Some are on a budget while others are prepared to splurge. Similar to pedal bikes and gas-powered motorcycles, it’s a scenario of “different strokes for different folks.”
But options abound even after boiling down a category, and judging a bike’s validity through the lens of the internet is inherently risky. After doing the research, testing a range of bikes and evaluating each relative to its own class, these are the top e-bikes and e-motos we’ve found for all styles of riders.
Best All-Terrain E-Moto: UBCO 2×2
$3,999-$6,999 | ubco.com
The UBCO 2×2 is a uniquely all-wheel-drive e-moto that’s tough and light enough to power through almost any off-road terrain, but practical enough to be registered as street-legal. UBCO offers six distinct models with different batteries and accessories, but they’re all built off of a near-identical frame design that works great for its intended uses.
We tested the Special Edition, UBCO’s newest 2×2 model and arguably the most well-rounded. It’s a relatively small bike in the broad expanse of e-motos, stretching just 72 inches wheel-to-wheel and weighing 156 pounds with a fully charged battery. That gives it the advantages of easily fitting in most pick-ups and being light enough to lift up curbs and over road obstructions.
With a top-speed of 30mph, it’s not the fastest bike in the category, but its maximum range of 75 miles-per-charge, tested and confirmed, is enough to get you anywhere you want to go, within reason. While the 2×2 aspect takes some getting used to, the extra traction ends up being an asset, especially in muddy and rough terrain.
Aside from its classic looks and rugged build quality, what sets the UBCO 2×2 apart most is its hauling capability. The Special Edition comes with two integrated totes that Velcro-strap around the frame for a total of 42 liters of removable storage, and with attachment points designed to mount Molle racks, gun racks or surf racks integrated into the frame. Its adjustable suspension accommodates up to 330 pounds, enough to haul our tester and all the tools, groceries or luggage he needed for most jobs.
Best Off-Road E-Moto: Stark VARG
$13,900 | starkfuture.com
The undisputed champion of electric off-road motorcycles, the Stark VARG is the only full-size e-moto considered viable for racing (and winning) at the highest levels of motocross and enduro. In fact, it’s the most powerful stock dirt bike, let alone e-moto, ever built, topping out at a whopping 80hp where the industry-standard among gas-powered race bikes, a 450cc four-stroke, tops out around 55hp.
But the beauty of the VARG, and the feature that distinguishes it among other dirt bike options, is its adjustable power and ride modes, which are controlled through a phone app that mounts on the dash, and allow riders to easily set power anywhere on a scale between 20 and 80hp. The ability to cap its power output makes the VARG a great option for beginner riders looking to level-up their skill and power over time.
At a base price of $13,900, the VARG is far from the cheapest option on the market, but in the realm of e-motos, it’s true that you get what you pay for. In this case, you’re buying a bike made with world-class engineering, premium components like Brembo brakes and KYB suspension, and a futuristic operating system that’s upgradable as new features roll out. Pair that with the versatility of adjustable power and the price becomes justifiable. The Stark VARG could be the last dirt bike you ever need to buy.
Best Conversion E-Moto: LiveWire S2 Del Mar
$15,499 | livewire.com
LiveWire is Harley Davidson’s spin-off into electric motorcycles, and a brand built on the premise of converting gas-powered motorcyclists to electric. When you stack the performance capabilities of the LiveWire S2 Del Mar up against its gas-powered equivalents, LiveWire’s case for converting becomes distinctively clear.
Weighing in at 436 pounds with a 10.5-kWh-capacity battery, the S2 Del Mar puts out 84 horsepower and 194 lb-ft of torque. Though we didn’t test it, we believe it—the S2 Del Mar reaches a top speed of 103 mph, and goes from 0 to 60mph in three seconds flat. That’s a level of acceleration that’s tough for gas-powered bikes to match, courtesy of the combustion-free drivetrain and lack of throttle delay that serve as a unique advantage of electric motorcycles.
The S2 Del Mar offers a range of 113 city miles and 70 miles on the highway, enough to get from A to B. Unlike some e-motorcycles, it doesn’t come with a fast-charging system, so it may not be the best for long road hauls unless you don’t mind waiting around for a charge.
Best Light E-Moto: E Ride Pro SS
$4,899 | eridepros.com
Light e-motos opened up a new category of riding in recent years, making motocross-style speed and maneuvers more approachable to average riders looking for more versatility than full-size motocross bikes can offer. While Surron is the name most commonly associated with this style of bike, E-Ride is giving them a run for their money with the Pro SS, a model that challenges the best performing off-road e-motos across performance categories.
What sets the Pro SS apart is simple—with a few modifications, it’s capable of being far and above the most powerful bike in its class. The stock Pro SS comes with a 6kW brushless motor that achieves speeds of 60mph out of the box. Paired with an aftermarket controller (an electronic component that essentially serves as the bikes brain), the Pro SS is said to achieve up to 15kW of peak power, far more than its leading competitors. Now, is the added power necessary? Hardly—the factory bike goes 0 to 30mph in 2.36 seconds, already more torque than most riders need. But when we’re talking “best performance off-road e-moto” on the market, superior power adds serious weight to the scale.
Peak-power aside, the Pro SS’s motor is seamlessly integrated into the bike’s lightweight frame, altogether weighing less than 140 pounds. Pair that with adjustable, extended-travel suspension for extreme off-roading, 19″ tires, an easy-to-use operating system and a price point more than $1,000 cheaper than Surron’s most competitive model, the Ultra Bee, the E-Ride Pro SS takes our vote any day.
Best Moped-style E-Bike: Ride1Up Revv1
$2,245 | ride1up.com
Moped-style e-bikes are like a hybrid between e-moto and e-bike, a popular e-bike variant geared toward people who want motorized power first, pedal second.
Among all moped-style e-bikes (goodness knows, there are plenty) the Ride1Up’s Revv1 carries a strong reputation for reliability, good looks and all-around performance.
It’s not a speed demon—the Revv1’s 52-volt battery powers a 1000-watt geared hub motor for a top-speed just shy of 30mphs—but it’s still a joy to ride, approachable for youth and beginner riders, but aggressive enough to satisfy advanced riders as well. The Revv1’s 4-inch wide tires simulate those of a mini-bike off-road, doing well to gain traction and perform in rough terrain, and it’s available in three frame options—full-suspension, hard tail or off-road—all of which hold up well loaded up to 350 pounds.
Designed to accommodate riders looking for a class-2 e-bike—meaning it has a top-speed of 20mphs, ideal for more casual riders—the Revv1’s advantage is its ability to switch between three power modes. Its standard mode is class-2, but it also has a class-3 mode that reaches 28mph, and an off-road mode tailored to trail riding. The full-suspension and off-road frames also come with a “boost” mode that temporarily unlocks more amperage for scenarios that require a bit more push.
Best E-MTB: Canyon Spectral:ONfly
$5,999-$7,499 | canyon.com
New for 2025, Canyon created the Spectral:ONfly for trail bike riders looking for the feel and performance of a traditional trail bike, but with a bit of added power to aid with the incline. In the rapidly evolving landscape of E-MTB tech, the Spectral:ONfly is at on cutting edge, with features that make it a far cry from earlier model e-bikes in the category.
With 150mm of travel in its top-of-the-line suspension, supporting a 5.8-pound carbon fiber frame, the Spectral:ONfly weighs a mere 43 pounds in full, and it’s capable of high-performance enduro-style riding. For comparison, most motorless trail bikes with suspension that burley range from 25 to 35 pounds, and considering the Spectral:ONfly’s 360Wh battery and compact motor can aid more than 3,000 feet of elevation gain on a single charge, the added power makes up for its weight on the incline.
The best part about the Canyon Spectral:ONfly e-mtb is that it doesn’t feel like an e-mtb—it rides very similar to its motorless counterparts with premium components that elevate it to the top of its class. The key difference being, the added power opens up steeper slopes, longer rides and terrain opportunities where pedal-power simply can’t hang. In an industry where electric power is notoriously controversial, Canyon makes a sound argument with the Spectral:ONfly, even for the diehard traditionalists.
Best All-Terrain E-Bike: HeyBike HERO
$2,599 | heybike.com
The HeyBike HERO fits squarely into one of the most saturated categories in the e-bike space—that is, fat-tire, all-terrain, pedal-assist e-bikes—with a few exceptional qualities that elevate above the rest in our view. First, it comes available in two drivetrain options—a 1000-watt rear hub motor or a 750-watt mid-drive motor—and both offer exceptional power and a top-speed of 35mph, although the mid-drive is said to have more torque.
We tested the rear hub mostly on dirt trails and off-road scenarios and were pleased with its acceleration and top-speed relative to other bikes in its class. Adding to its speed, the HERO is one of few e-bike options with a fully carbon fiber frame, which weighs in just over six pounds. Its sleek-looking frame offers strength aluminum can’t match, enabling HeyBike to equip the HERO with a convenient step through design that makes loading and unloading easy. Tack on a 9-speed Shimano gear system, hydraulic disc brakes and soft, cushy full-suspension, and the HERO is our top pick for morning surf checks, casual trail rides and taking the dog for a run around the neighborhood.
]]> What’s the top electric-powered bike of 2024? It depends how you use it.
