Electric bike types include tour, commuter and mountain bikes. Some are also folding bikes.

Full frame means the bike has a cross bar you have to lift your leg over, while step through means the bike has no cross bar and it's easier to get on.

We recommend e-bikes that score over 75% and also meet the current e-bike regulations for use on public roads.

The CHOICE Expert Rating, our overall score, is a combination of the comfort, ease of use and accuracy scores. The scores are weighted as follows: Pedal assistance score (15%), braking score (15%), turning and low speed score (10%), ride comfort score (10%), handling score (10%), controls score (10%), battery use (on-bike) score (10%), battery use (off-bike) score (10%) and display score (10%).

How well does the motor assist when pedaling?

How quickly does the e-bike respond to the cyclist's braking action.

How well does the bike perform in uphill and slow riding?

How well does the bike perform on bumpy and rough surfaces?

This includes ease of mounting, dismounting, off-bike handling (walking the bike), safety and comfort.

How easy is the controller and display to use?

How well does the battery perform for access and charging when on the bike.

How well does the battery perform for access and charging when removed from the bike.

Our tester looks at the quality of the screen and menu items.

'Tested model' means the bike was tested most recently in our labs, whereas 'Discontinued model' means these models were most likely tested by Consumer NZ in 2022 with the performance information provided for interest but can't be directly compared to our latest test. Note, NZ also has different speed and power regulations for e-bike use.

Recommended retail price as of the publication date.

Most bikes come in a variety of sizes, so make sure you choose one suitable for your height and build.

Configurations vary considerably, so while we give the weight on some of the bikes, they'll vary based on how you order the bike with regards to size, frame option and battery size. 

Model choices include Bosch, Shimano and Bafang.

Usually the motor is located either where you peddle (mid) or at the rear of the bike.

How much power (Watts) is delivered to the bike. This can be limited generally to 250 watts. 

The higher the amount of torque generally means the more acceleration when assistance is needed.

This is a restricted setting to meet current Australian laws such as a continuous motor power of 200 watts (and 500 watts in NSW) with power assistance cutting out when a speed of 25km/h is reached. Any e-bike on test not meeting these restrictions can not earn a recommendation, regardless of it's performance in the test.

Assist settings or modes are the level of settings, generally from 1 (the least amount of assistance) to 6 or above.

How many Watt hours does the battery have? This directly correlates with how long it will last in a constant stream of assist. The larger the battery, the more expensive it is to replace.

Batteries are usually in the seat tube, rear or down tube.

What the mudguard is made from.

Where is the kickstand located on the bike?

Does the bike have a rear rack?

Does the bike come with lights?

How many gears can you cycle through and how are they changed? This is usually through a trigger or twist mechanism.

Is there much fork suspension and how much can it travel? This is useful for smoothing out bumpy roads.

Is there suspension built into the seat post? This is also good for bumpy roads.

What kind of brakes are on the bike? Hydraulic and cable both have their pros and cons, though most bike professionals prefer hydraulic.

The frame warranty is usually longer than the battery or motor.

Some companies offer more than one year but don't expect more than 2 years warranty for either battery or motor.

The battery is sometimes made in a different country to the motor and frame.

The frame is sometimes manufactured in a different country to the motor and battery.

Country where the motor was made.

Some bikes have a walk mode where if you have to push the bike for whatever reason, it will still give some assist.

This is very handy to have if you're starting the bike from a hill or slope, as it allows you to trigger the assist, though it should be at a low acceleration as it's purpose is different to a throttle on a motorbike.

A quick release seatpost allows quick adjustment for different riders.

This feature allows you to either fix a puncture or also take a wheel with you to help discourage theft.