Most e-bike buying guides start with motors and batteries. That is the wrong end. Two riders with identical commutes can need completely different bikes, and the specification sheet will not tell you which is which.
Three questions decide it. Answer them honestly and the choice usually makes itself.
Question 1: where will it live?
An electric bike weighs 55 to 99 lb. That is not a bike you carry up two flights of stairs on a whim.
If you have a garage, a shed or a ground-floor hallway, you can buy anything. If you live in an apartment, park at an office, or need it to travel in a car, buy a folding bike and do not compromise on it. The Rebel 2 and the Rebel 2 Pro fold at the frame and the stem and fit in a car boot, under a desk or in a boat locker.
This is the question people most often get wrong. A beautiful bike you cannot store is a bike you stop riding by March.
Question 2: what are you carrying?
Just yourself
Anything in the range works. Choose on shape and feel.
Shopping, a laptop, a dog, a crate
You want an integrated rear rack rather than a bolt-on afterthought. The Runabout 2 was designed around this: a 13.8-inch standover so you step through rather than swinging a leg over a loaded bike, and a rack rated for 100 lb that takes panniers or a crate without an adapter.
Children, or an adult passenger
This narrows things considerably. You need somewhere for them to sit, somewhere for their feet, and payload headroom.
The Flux is the one built for it. It is a long-tail: the rear deck is part of the frame rather than bolted on, rated for 180 lb within a 440 lb total payload, with fold-out footboards on both sides. That is the difference between carrying one child and carrying two, or an adult.
Short of that, the Cougar and Cougar Pro have a bench saddle and take passenger footrest pegs, and the Runabout 2 and the Rebel platform accept a passenger seat and back rest on the rack.
Check your local rules on carrying passengers before you plan around it: it is not permitted everywhere, and where it is there are usually conditions on age and footrests.
Question 3: how do you want to feel?
This is the question nobody admits matters, and it is the one that decides whether the bike gets ridden.
Upright and practical
Step-through frames and folding bikes put you upright, with a clear view of traffic and no weight on your wrists. Best for city riding, and by far the easiest to get on and off.
Cafe racer
The Cheetah 2 and Cheetah 2 Pro put you in a relaxed forward posture on a long wheelbase, with a leather-look tank over the top tube. They look like a 1960s motorcycle and get commented on constantly.
Chopper
The Prowler is the extreme version: a long raked fork, a frame that drops low between the wheels, and ape-hanger handlebars that put your hands at chest height. You sit in it rather than on it. It is the least practical bike we sell and the one people photograph most.
The things worth paying more for
- Hydraulic disc brakes. On a 70 lb bike carrying two people at 25 mph, this is not a luxury. Every bike we sell has them.
- A bigger battery. The one upgrade nobody regrets. See our guide to real-world range.
- Torque sensing. On the Cheetah 2 Pro, the motor responds to how hard you push rather than just whether the pedals are turning. It feels like your legs got stronger rather than like a switch being flipped.
- UL certification. UL 2849 for the bike and UL 2271 for the battery. Some apartment buildings and insurers now require it.
The things not worth paying more for
- Top speed above 28 mph. In most states you cannot legally use it on public roads. See our guide to e-bike classes.
- Peak wattage as a headline. Peak output is a brief burst. Sustained power, gearing and weight matter more for real hill climbing.
- Colour, if it delays the purchase by two months. Owners repaint them anyway.
Frequently asked questions
Is a folding e-bike less sturdy?
A well-made folding frame with a proper hinge is rated for the same payload as a rigid one. The Rebel platform is rated to 400 lb.
Do I need suspension?
For smooth city roads, a suspension fork is enough and fat tyres do most of the work. For gravel, fire roads and kerbs, full suspension on the Cougar platform makes a real difference.
Can a shorter rider manage these bikes?
Step-through frames are the answer. The Runabout 2 has a 13.8-inch standover and owners from around 4 ft 11 in ride it comfortably.
How long does assembly take?
The bikes arrive around 85% assembled. Fitting the front wheel, handlebar, pedals and seat takes most people under an hour with the tools in the box.
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