While the market is rife with generic imports that are far from reliable, and perhaps even illegal, a handful of reputed players have chosen to corner the budget-friendly e-bike market. Now, we’ve compiled all those options for you in one place to compare and pick your next e-bike without breaking the bank.
To earn a seat at this table, we figure that each e-bike must have the following:
In the UK and the EU, the motors must be limited to a power output of 250W, and automatic assistance must not cross the 25 kph speed limit.
Fire safety ratings are a must. All the e-bikes we cover must be UL- or EN-certified. These ratings ensure the battery packs are safe from catching fire due to thermal runaway or unpredictable heat release.
With these parameters set out, it’s important to note that we’ve allowed for a 10% higher price, as these bikes are often on sale. By going up to the extra £100, you often get free accessories and move away from generic batteries to LG or Samsung batteries. The extra £100 also ensures torque sensors instead of outdated cadence sensors. With that out of the way, here are our findings.
The Cheapest Find
Priced at £799.99, Decathlon’s Rockrider E-ST 100, a budget e-bike, compromises the most, but in mostly acceptable ways. Crucially, it is UL-compliant, strictly speed-limited at 25 kph, and comes with front suspension and an 8-speed gear system.
Unfortunately, it is not IP-rated for waterproofing, although Decathlon claims it is an “all weather” machine with a sealed motor. Its aluminium frame also significantly reduces corrosion from exposure to the weather.
Its 250W motor can propel you to a maximum speed of 25 kph, in line with regulations. It comes with a cadence sensor instead of the torque sensors, which is a slight minus, but not the biggest loss. A 380 Wh removable battery powers the E-ST 100, and the bike can run an estimated 60 km on a full charge.
This bike is an excellent introduction to e-bikes. It’s relatively cheap and easy to ride and maintain. Users have reported that the cheaper, older disc-brake technology on the bike requires more effort on steep descents, and the stiff suspension makes for a slightly uncomfortable ride off-road. That apart, this is a solid entry in the budget-friendly e-bike category.
The Refined All-Rounder
A Decece Oasis, familiarly known as ADO, launched the ADO Air 28 in July 2023. Three years on, and this bike is still one of the best budget options in the world of e-bikes. This bike is priced at £999 on their website, and packs a punch for its three-figure value.
Its 250W brushless motor can easily bring you up to the 25 kph speed limit, while its 36V 9.6Ah battery can keep you going for 100 km in low- to medium-power mode. The bike is SGS CE certified, which is a huge bonus. Overall, the bike is IPX5-rated, while the display is IPX7-rated, making it safe to use for your daily commutes, even in the dreaded European winter.
Unlike the Decathlon, this bike comes fitted with hydraulic brakes, which are more responsive and take less effort to apply in a hairy situation. Furthermore, this bike comes with an electric taillight rather than a mere reflector, so drivers can see you and move away sooner.
There aren’t any gears on it; it is a single-speed bike, but for flat urban terrains, that should be acceptable. Hilly areas, on the other hand, will be tricky. All in all, users like that this is a cheap, low-maintenance option. Though they aren’t fans of the single-speed belt that comes with it. If you need to commute on a hill with a gradient higher than 10%, look for a different option.
Upgraded City Comfort
Why should you compromise on comfort for budget? Fiido C11 Pro City Edition attempts to solve the comfort-versus-cost paradox by giving you a bit of both. Priced at £1099, this is our priciest pick, but it comes with a phone holder, a pair of rearview mirrors, and a front basket, which would cost a bit more than £100 if bought separately, so we’ll accept it.
The bike runs on a 250 W motor and a generic 48V battery. Fiido claims that a full charge takes about 5 hours and that it will last up to 104 km in medium pedal-assist mode. Fiido has equipped the C11 with a 7-speed Shimano gear system and a front suspension fork that travels up to 100 mm. These features should make the odd uphill climb a cakewalk, and the occasional pothole or off-road adventure comfortable.
The C11 is also UL2849 certified, which means safer electronics. It is also IP54 rated, which isn’t as high as we’d like, but it is resistant enough for European winters. Although it is hydraulic, the C11 still uses disc brakes, which should provide more responsive braking than traditional disc brakes, but not as good as modern fully hydraulic piston brakes.
For its price, users like the set of features it comes with. They appreciate the bike’s performance on hills and its high-quality build, making it sturdy. However, real-world tests have indicated a range of 70-90 km, rather than Fiido’s lofty 100+ km promise, which is still more than acceptable for its price point. Some users have complained about the suspension being too stiff for comfort, while others have complained about tight gear wires. These were not common but one-off problems, as far as we could find.
The Foldable Commuter
Priced at $899, the Lectric XP Lite2, the company’s budget foldable offering, comes either as a standard model or with several upgrades. To maximise features while staying within our £1000 budget, we chose the model with a standard battery but a carbon belt drive instead of the cheaper chain drive.
This bike comes with a 300 W motor that can produce up to 819 W of power and deliver nearly 30 Nm of torque, which is certainly impressive, given its relatively small stature. The bike tops out at 20 mph, though we’re sure Lectric will appropriately modify the motors to comply with regulations in the UK and EU. The battery is a 48V 14Ah generic battery that is both UL 2849 and UL 2271 certified.
The XP Lite2 has front and rear hydraulic disc brakes, which, much like those on the Fiido C11, are sufficiently responsive for daily use but less responsive than fully hydraulic brakes. The motor’s 15-amp controller is IP-65 waterproof-rated, which should allow for stress-free riding in the monsoons or in winter, depending on where you will be using this bike.
The XP Lite 2 has no gears, much like the ADO; it is also an entirely gearless system. But Lectric hopes that the PAS control system will make up for it by delivering power as and when you need it, depending on how much pressure you apply to the pedals. As a bonus, this bike comes with front and rear taillights, instead of reflector strips.
The Daily Driver’s Dream
Don’t want to compromise on size? The Lectric Xpress High Step might be the bike for you. Much like their other offerings, you can choose to upgrade or stick with the standard motor for this bike. We’ve chosen the standard build to stay within our £1000 budget.
At $999, this bike stays well within that limit. Lectric has equipped the High-Step with a 500W motor capable of producing 55 Nm of torque. A semi-integrated, removable 48V 10.4 Ah generic battery powers the whole rig. This battery can keep your e-bike going for up to 45 miles. The battery is also UL 2849- and 2771-certified.
This bike also comes with a rear rack that can carry up to 30 lbs of cargo for shopping trips. Additionally, the bike features dual hydraulic disc brakes, much like the Xpress Lite 2. This bike, however, has front suspension that travels up to 80 mm for your comfort on the occasional gravel path.
To aid uphill and downhill rides, this bike comes with a 7-speed Shimano gear system and a steel chain. The gear system works lock-step with Lectric’s PWR+ system to deliver power based on your pedalling effort. The electrical components on this bike are IP-65-rated, which should suffice for snowy and rainy cities.
Our verdict - an e-bike is an investment. If your budget allows, invest less than £1000 if you need an e-bike immediately; there are plenty of good options. However, if you can spend a few more weeks/ months saving, do it. The results are worth it. The reliability and durability that come with an e-bike costing £250-£300 more are huge.
