Best electric bike for 2021 – CNET [CNET]

We’ve all seen them — people zipping down the street on an electric bicycle (or scooter), getting to where they’re going without a care in the world. They look like they’re having the time of their lives. 

Just a few years ago, spotting someone electric commuter bike would have been a rare occurrence, but these days there are a lot of great options out there for people who are looking to decrease their carbon footprint and whizz around their respective cities at the same time.

The market for electric rideables is straight-up booming and, as a result, we’ve had to divide our electric rideable recommendations into two different categories: the best electric bike options, which you’ll find below, and the best electric scooters and skateboards. Most of the rideables were tested on a commute through sections of midtown Manhattan, bike paths around Central Park or on the West Side Highway bike path — note, these all fall into the category of “commuter bike,” and we don’t recommend trying to traverse rough terrain on one of these babies. Save that for your regular bike, the one with puncture resistant tires. Some were given a test ride recently, others we tested before the coronavirus pandemic. 

If you do get into rideables and electric commuter bikes, be sure to be safe by keeping several guidelines in mind. Keep your battery charged and make it a habit to check on your tires often. Leave enough space between yourself and both cars and riders on plain old human-powered bikes and scooters. Ride and pass with caution, because an electric bicycle will go faster than a traditional bike or scooter. Most important, wear a helmet every single time you ride. 

We update this list regularly. 

Note that the Trek Super Commuter electric bicycle, which had previously been on this list, is no longer a current product according to the manufacturer. The bike was subject to a recall in December 2019 because of a possible fall hazard relating to the bike’s front fender. 

Read more: Best cheap electric bike and electric scooter under $500

Here’s some of the best electric rideables available right now

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