FIVE OF THE BEST:
ELECTRIC BIKES
Battery and leg power combine to propel these five bikes. James Witts jumps in the saddle
Brompton Electric C Line Explore
As Hoover is to vacuum cleaners, so Brompton is to folding bikes. It’s the name. Brompton forged its reputation on a superb folding mechanism that collapses the bike down into a compact package. The C Line Explore makes great use of this to fold and unfold in fewer than 30 seconds.
With the 300Wh battery mounted on the front, the bike weighs 17.4kg. On the top of the battery is a small LED display to show its charge and which of the four power assistance modes you’ve selected. That assistance comes via the motor built into the front wheel. In theory, reaching over bars to change modes on the battery while you’re riding is hazardous; in practice, it’s fine. Range is 30-70km (20-45 miles) depending on which mode you’re in, the temperature and terrain. You still have to pedal, but you get six gears to help with that. The ride is great fun and there’s also a Brompton app should you want to use your phone as a dashboard as you ride.
£2,995, brompton.com
Riese & Müller UBN Five singlespeed
The UBN Five has just one gear, signalling its urban-commuting intentions and ensuring it’ll be easier to maintain than a geared bike. The motor provides a smooth, natural-feeling assistance with a maximum power of 450 Watts. You can shift through its three assistance modes via a thumb lever, while the LED on the top tube tells you which one you’re in.
The UBN Five weighs 18kg, has a battery that slots into the tube behind the front wheel, a 65-160km (40-100 mile) range and a svelte rack (panniers not included). The built-in headlight is plenty for urban riding and, rather neatly, the LED mode panel lifts up to reveal a USB-C port for charging your phone (although the mount to attach the phone to the bars is sold separately).
£4,719, r-m.de/en-gb
Volt Connect
The Volt Connect is a utilitarian bike with mudguards, a sturdy rack (complete with elastic straps), front and rear lights, and an integrated lock on the rear wheel. Its no-nonsense aluminium frame and reinforced wheels shout that this is a machine designed to batter the elements into submission.
The lithium-ion battery sits in the tube behind the front wheel and is removable for easy charging, although you need a key to do so. Activating the motor requires the key, too. That strengthens security, but isn’t ideal if you tend to misplace things (keep the spares safe). As for the motor, it’s a 250W unit that sits between the cranks. It delivers a smooth drive across its three modes and, used wisely, will power you for around 100km (60 miles).
£2,499, voltbikes.co.uk
Ribble Endurance SL e
Ribble has gone to great lengths to make this bike light. Choose one of the smaller models and it could weigh as little as 10.5kg. It’s so light you don’t notice the battery that’s integrated into the tube behind the front wheel. The 250W motor is nestled within the rear wheel and provides three levels of assistance, which you choose via a button just behind the handlebars.
How often you’ll need assistance, however, depends on the terrain. The bike’s lightweight nature means that on the flats, it’s pretty easy to hit the motor’s 25km/h limit. So the assistance is solely for helping you out on the hills, which means its range is over 100km (60 miles). The bike also comes with 22 gears, bulletproof wheels and a comfy saddle – albeit if you’re wearing cycling shorts.
£3,199, ribblecycles.co.uk
Saracen Ariel 50E
Saracen’s Ariel 50E uses a 250W Shimano EP8 motor that sits between the cranks. It has three riding modes (Eco, Trail and Boost) and a Walk mode – a common feature on electric mountain bikes for when the gradients and mud make even pushing the bike a battle. Shimano’s 504Wh-capacity battery provides the juice, though it’s less than many of its contemporaries, so choose your mode carefully if you plan on riding all day.
There’s 160mm of travel in the suspension fork at the front and 150mm in the shock absorber at the rear – enough for even the most serious of trails. It’s a solid e-mountain bike, though perhaps one for the racier riders out there, as there’s a relatively long reach to the bars.
£4,499, saracen.co.uk