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In this article
Electric bikes (also known as e-bikes) are a fantastic way to rediscover a love for cycling, let you go further and extend your enjoyment into your later years.
They don't come cheap, though, and we've found that some will take you much further than others. Make the wrong choice and you could end up with an electric bike that will take you only 30 miles on flat ground, and won’t get you up even the shallowest of hills.
However, the best we've tested will have you climbing hills with ease and power you along a flat road for nearly twice as many miles.
Read on to find our why we test electric bike motors, the best motor/display combinations and some of the top brand models that have them.
The most important part of an e-bike is its motor and display combination. If this performs poorly, there isn't much point in spending the extra money that an e-bike costs over a traditional bike.
While there are many brands, there are only a few manufacturers (such as Bosch, Shimano and Yamaha) that produce e-bike motors. Consequently, many models use the same motor and display combinations.
Therefore, our independent lab tests focus on electric bike motors and displays. Armed with this information, you can narrow your search to just those that have the motor/display combo that you want.
Most retailer sites let you filter your search by the type of motor, but we've also listed a selection of e-bikes with each motor review, chosen from the most popular brands among owners.1
Be aware that some retailers will sell the same e-bike, but with a different motor. If you find one we've listed at a different retailer, we recommend you double check the specifications to ensure it has the motor you're after.
Below is a summary table of all the motors we've tested, so you can compare their scores and pick the one that's right for you.
Click a particular motor click to read our full review, or simply scroll down to browse all our reviews of e-bike motors.
Only logged-in members can view our recommendations in the table below. If you're not yet a member, sign up to Which? today for instant access to this and all our reviews.
Motor & Display | Overall score | Display unit | Acceleration | Flat terrain support | Hill Support | Range on flat terrain |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bosch Active Line with Purion display (400Wh battery) | ||||||
Bosch Active Line Plus with Intuvia display (400Wh battery) | ||||||
Bosch Performance Line with Intuvia display (500Wh battery) | ||||||
Bosch Performance Line with Purion display (500Wh battery) | ||||||
Bosch Performance Line CX with Intuvia display (400Wh battery) | ||||||
Bosch Performance Line CX with Purion display (600Wh battery) | ||||||
Elops KM790 with Decathlon Elops KM790 display (300Wh battery) |
Bosch claims its Active Line e-bike motor is quiet, with smooth power delivery and perfect for an urban commute. It's also the recipient of the Red Dot Design Award 2017. Coupled with the minimalist Purion display, a bike with this combo looks brilliant on paper.
But is this true in practice? We put the motor through our rigorous lab tests and in-field test rides. To find out how the Bosch Active performs, and to see a selection of e-bikes with this motor, log in or join Which? today.
The Active Line Plus offers a higher torque than the Active Line form Bosch. In theory this means the motor should have greater acceleration and be able to support better on more demanding terrain. Bosch claims the Intuvia display can be read under all lighting conditions, and it comes with a separate control unit so you can keep your hands firmly on the handlebars while riding.
But does the motor really deliver? To find out how the Bosch Active Plus performs, and view a selection of e-bikes with this motor, log in or join which? today.
Bosch says the Performance Line motor is its most versatile system, perfect for commuting, a fast countryside ride or traversing hilly terrain. Paired with an Intuvia display, which Bosch says can be read under all lighting conditions, this motor and display combination looks amazing on paper.
But did it deliver when we put it through our rigorous testing? Find out how the Bosch Performance Line motor performed, and see a selection of e-bikes with this motor, by logging in or join Which? today.
Bosch says the Performance Line motor is its most versatile system, perfect for commuting, a fast countryside ride or traversing hilly terrain. Coupled with the minimalist Purion display, a bike with this motor and display should be easy to use, with great hill support.
But did it deliver when we put it through our rigorous testing? Find out how the Bosch Performance Line motor performed, and to see a selection of e-bikes with this motor, by logging in or join Which? today.
The Bosch Performance Line CX motor is designed for electric mountain bikes, with high torque (pulling power) to allow for powerful acceleration even while on a steep hill. Bosch claims the Intuvia display can be read under all lighting conditions, and it comes with a separate control unit so you can keep your hands firmly on the handlebars while riding.
A bike with this motor and display should be easy to use, with great hill support.
But is this true? We put the motor through our rigorous lab tests and in-field test rides. To find out how the Bosch Performance Line CX faired, and to view a selection of e-bikes with this motor, log in or join Which? today.
The Bosch Performance Line CX motor is designed for electric mountain bikes, with high torque (pulling power) to allow for powerful acceleration even while on a steep hill. Coupled with the minimalist Purion display, a bike with this motor and display should be easy to use, with great hill support.
But is this true? We put the motor through our rigorous lab tests and in-field test rides. To find out how the Bosch Performance Line CX faired, as well as see a selection of e-bikes with this motor, log in or join Which? today.
The Elops KM790 rear motor is found on the city bike Elops 120E at Decathlon. It offers three levels of assistance and the display lets you control the bikes lights.
Being attached to a sub-£1,000 electric bike makes this motor a tempting offer, but will it give you the assistance you’d expect form an electric bike?
To find out how the Elops KM790 motor performs, and see some e-bikes equipped with this motor, log in or join Which? today.
The Fazua Evation motor system is designed to blend into the bike's frame, unlike on others where the motor look somewhat tacked on.
The motor claims to provide up to 60 Nm (Neuton metres) of torque (pulling power), which is the maximum force an e-bike motor can deliver. In theory, a high torque such as this will make it easier to get the bike going, even up steep hills.
But does the theory pan out in practice? To find out how the Fazua Evation motor performs, and some of the e-bikes with this motor, log in or join Which? today.
Giant’s SyncDrive Core may be a Yamaha e-bike motor, but it's paired with Giant sensors and firmware, so in practice operates completely differently.
The motor has a smart assist mode which uses six sensors, including an accelerometer and slope detector, to deliver the power you want, so there's no need to change to a different assistance level. The RideControl Charge has a micro-USB port for charging your phone and offers five support modes.
But will this motor/display combo give you the smooth ride you’re hoping for? To find out how the SyncDrive Core motor performs, and view a selection of e-bikes with this motor, log in or join Which? today.
Giant’s SyncDrive Pro may be a Yamaha e-bike motor, but it's paired with Giant sensors and firmware, so in practice operates completely differently.
The motor has a smart assist mode to deliver the power you want – no need to change to a different assistance level. The RideControl Ergo also has a waterproof switch to change assistance level.
The Pro is often found on pricier e-bikes, but is it worth the money? To find out how the SyncDrive Pro motor performs, and see a range of Giant e-bikes with this motor, log in or join Which? today.
The Mahle Ebikemotion X35+ is typically found on mid-range electric bikes and can be deliver 40 Nm (Neuton metres) torque Pulling power) to, in theory, give good acceleration. Mahle claims the motor works optimally between 9.3 and 15.5mph.
It's paired with the iWoc One display, which is controlled by a single button and has a sleek LED ring around the button (this lights up different colours to indicate assistance levels and battery life).
Is this motor and display a winning combination? Find out how the X35+ performs, and view some bikes that come with this motor, by logging in or joining Which? today.
The Shimano Steps E-5000 is a centre-motor and received a software update in 2021. It's Shimano’s lightest motor, which it claims is virtually silent when operating.
The SC-E6100 display is large and offers wireless Bluetooth communication, so you can use a third-party display or smartphone app.
But can this motor offer the support on flat and steep terrain, and provide the range you need?
To find out how the Steps E5000 performed, and to see a selection of e-bikes equipped with this motor, log in or join Which? today.
The Steps E6100 is a premium e-bike system from Shimano. It claims it's the most versatile system, saving 20% more energy compared with its E6000 motor. The SC-E6100 display is large and offers wireless Bluetooth communication, so you can use a third-party display or smartphone app.
But did this motor system go all the way in our lab testing? To find out how the Steps E6100 performed, and see a selection of e-bikes with this motor, log in or join Which? today.
Designed for mountain biking, this motor claims to tackle steep trails, with a stable and smooth power delivery. The SC-E8000 display is compact with dynamic visuals.
But is the display all style and no substance? Does the motor actually deliver when put to the test?
To find out how the Steps E8000 performed log in or join Which? today.
This rear hub motor from Suntour offers 60 Nm (Neuton metres) torque Pulling power). In theory, this means it should offer good acceleration. Plus, the ATS display offers four levels of assistance and allows you to view data such as speed, mileage and battery level while riding.
This motor is often found on more affordable e-bikes, but does that mean the motor is up to standard? Find out how the Suntour motor performs, and to see a selection of e-bikes with this motor, log in or join Which? today.
Folding Electric Bike Reviews - find a great e-bike for commuting
All of the e-bike motor systems we test are set up on a rolling road in a lab and put through an array of tough tests designed to simulate real-life use. We use the same setup to test all the different systems, so that you can easily see how they compare.
Manufacturers may give a mileage figure on their electric bikes, but they often won't publish the weight of the rider or the conditions they're riding in. Trying to compare range with another bike is therefore almost impossible.
For our range tests we keep the following constant:
You won't find range figures for e-bikes that are truly comparable anywhere else.
We conduct our range and incline tests on three separate power-assistance settings:
Each e-bike system is tested on a flat road, a shallow hill (1.5% gradient) and a steeper hill (6% gradient).
Many of the motor systems we've tested can't provide all of the levels of assistance described above on even a shallow hill, making them unsuitable for hilly areas.
Each e-bike motor system is assessed for the following criteria:
The display unit is rated for how easy it is to use, for example switching between assistance levels, and the visibility of the data it displays in various light conditions.
Prices last updated on 14 February 2022.
1 March 2021, Which? survey of 697 electric bike owners.