Best electric bikes under £2,000 2022

by Rebecca Bland Dec 1 2022

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Best electric bikes under £2,000 2022 – affordable and capable e-bikes in all categories — Rad Power Radrunner -1.jpg, by dave atkinson

Our round-up of the best electric bikes under £2,000

With costs spiralling and components costing more than ever before, there's perhaps growing interest in the best electric bikes under £2,000. E-bikes at this price can be great value for money, as there'll be a marked step-up in quality compared to cheaper options. This list may not be as exhaustive as one without a budget attached to it, so if you want to see what else is out there, make sure to read our overall guide to the best electric bikes, which also covers other budgets.

On electric bikes under £2,000 you’re likely to see hub-driven motors and plenty of folding bikes, so if you’re a multi-modal commuter looking for a daily rider then you’re in luck. You’re also likely to see more flat bar electric bikes at this price point, as the curly bars are usually reserved for a bit more of a premium.

1. Carrera Subway E - £1,099 (best overall)

The Subway E has gone up a few quid since we named it the best sub-£1,000 e-bike of the year in 2019/20. However, the motor system you get, and the level of equipment it’s fitted with, mean it’s still great value for money – it’s fun to ride, too. It’s fitted with Suntour’s HESC rear hub motor – which is excellent for the money – and a 317Wh battery.

Torque sensing allows the motor to more intelligently apply power which means it feels more natural and should also prove a bit more efficient battery-wise. Reviewer Dave reckoned you could easily exceed Carrera’s 40km stated range if you only rode on the flat, although it fares a little less well on the hills. It’s got nine gears, which offer a decent range, although you’d perhaps want another one for steeper stuff.

For more detail, read our review of the Carrera Subway E.

2. Rad Power Radrunner - £1,349 (best utility bike)

Smaller and less obviously for cargo than the Radwagon lower down on this list, the RadRunner is a massively practical utility e-bike. Key to this is an accessory range that makes the bike incredibly versatile. You can get a padded passenger seat, cargo bags, a front rack and more.

As with the Radwagon, with a passenger on board the RadRunner does need a bit of help on steep inclines, but on normal road hills and the flat it’s almost entirely unfazed by the extra load. Even if you’re also paying extra for a few of those accessories, the Radrunner is brilliant value for money.

For more detail, read our review of the Rad Power Radrunner.

3. MiRider One (2021) - £1,595 – £1,795 (best folder)

The MiRider One is a funky looking single-speed ‘fold-in-half’ style folder. It is reasonably light (17.6kg) and easy to get in and out of a car boot. It’s also seriously nippy and folding is quick.

The 2021 model offers increased efficiency and range on its predecessor, although the 187Wh battery is perhaps smaller than you’d like. It’s great value though, and comes in plenty of colour options so you can let your personality shine through.

For more detail, read our review of the MiRider One (2021).

4. Decathlon Rockrider E-ST900 — £1,999.99 (best e-MTB)

Fun to ride and capable enough over fairly technical terrain, the Rockrider is a real winner in our eyes. The Brose mid-motor is exceptional given the price tag, while a wide range of assistance levels and a 500Wh battery means you should be able to get a proper long ride out of it.

With 70Nm of torque it’ll provide more than enough kick for you to tackle the trails. So if you enjoy getting out and about off-road and you’re happy enough with more traditional mountain bike geometry, you really need look no further.

For more detail, read our review of the Decathlon Rockrider E-ST900.

5. Raleigh Stow-E-Way - £1,399 (best folder under £1,500)

The Stow-E-Way doesn’t have the world beating practical fold of the Brompton but it is a little more bike-like on the road – and will leave less of a hole in your pocket. The TranzX R15 rear hub motor looks neat and small and its stated weight of 2.5kg is pretty light.

The bike’s weight is also kept down by the 1.55kg, 245Wh battery. If you a looking for an e-bike that rides well, can fold if needs be and can carry a decent amount too, then the Stow-E-Way should certainly be on the list.

For more detail, read our review of the Raleigh Stow-E-Way.

6. Tenways CGO600 - £1,499 (best city bike)

If you're looking for a single-speed, the Tenways CGO600 is simple and affordable, offering high performance and low maintenance. It’s a very slick package and it’s not easy to spot that it’s an e-bike at first glance. You get a lightweight alloy frame with super smooth welds, a rear hub motor and a 250Wh battery that’s fixed inside the down tube.

Strikingly for a bike of this price, it doesn’t have a chain but instead a Gates carbon belt drive. Belt drives last longer than chains, don’t need lubricating and are all but maintenance-free. For now Tenways are a direct to consumer brand, which means you will be dealing directly with them for any after sales queries or problems. However, they’re pretty new and may establish a UK dealer network in time.

For more detail, read our review of the Tenways CGO600.

7. Crussis e-Cross 1.6 Mens Hybrid - £1,497 (best hybrid)

The Crussis e-Cross 1.6 has a wonderfully sporty yet efficient motor system allied to a nicely designed frame with a smoothly integrated battery. Even without the power on, or riding above the 15.5mph electric assist speed, the Crussis feels fast. The 21 gears also help you get a comfortable cadence too, whether you’ve got headwinds or tailwinds, steep climbs or descents.

The Crussis’s five power levels all provide fairly proportionate assistance so it’s great to be able set the power level to the first of five levels and find you still have a smidgen of power assisting you at 15.5mph, allowing to to cruise along, getting good sporty exercise and maintain a good amount of speed too without having to be brutal and wasteful with the power. It suggests Crussis have made the modest extra investment in amp-based controllers over volt based ones, making it excellent value for money.

For more detail, read our review of the Crussis e-Cross 1.6 Mens Hybrid.

8. Dallingridge Malvern - £1,349 (best trekking e-bike)

Dallingridge’s take on a trekking bike, the Malvern comes with a Far Eastern geared rear hub motor with a 12 magnet cadence sensor, cable-operated disc brakes and a 6-speed Shimano groupset. Designed for riders who want a slightly sporty riding position, it’s available in one frame size: 18”.

Our reviewer tested the bike over hilly countryside terrain and found the motor system performed nicely, even making it up a 20% incline with about 12kg of tools on the back with ease. A nice trekking or urban package at a decent price, the Malvern is hard not to recommend.

For more detail, read our review of the Dallingridge Malvern.

9. Tenways CGO800S - £1,899 (best step-through)

The slightly more expensive step-through sibling of the CGO600, the Tenways CGO800S is a high-quality city bike at a reasonable price. As well as a larger price than the CGO600, it also comes with a larger battery, a rear rack, and integrated lights front and rear, making it a pretty complete city bike package.

It’s on the heavy side at 22.7kg, but it’s purposefully designed and comes with everything you need to get on and ride comfortably in an urban environment. If your budget can stretch this close to £2k, then it’s certainly one to consider.

For more detail, read our review of the Tenways CGO800S.

10. Juicy Bikes Ticket - £1,865 (best commuter)

The Juicy Ticket, is a light (16.5kg), nimble, stylish bike that you can ride some of the time without power and add assistance when you fancy it. The Ticket is built around an Aikema motor which performs better than most hub motors.

Given the small size of the battery at 280Wh, the range is decent too. Juicy claims 18-36 miles which is credible. You can also upgrade to a 375Wh battery for another £150.

For more detail, read our review of the Juicy Bikes Ticket.

11. Riverside 540e - £1,999 (best leisure e-bike)

Okay so it’s normally £2,199, but it’s currently available for under £2k and it would be remiss of us to miss it off the list. The Riverside 540e is a very capable leisure e-bike from multi-sport giants Decathlon. There’s lots to like about the build and the ride, and it represents good value for money, which is what we've come to expect. Motor power comes from Shimano’s excellent STEPS E6100 mid motor. The motor unit weighs in at 2.9kg and supplies up to 60Nm of torque across three assistance modes. It’s paired with the excellent 10-speed Shimano Deore transmission.

A bike like this is most likely going to be pressed into service for leisure excursions and as a runabout in town. If you want to make it more suitable for city living then there are rack and mudguard mounts, and integrated lighting can be added to the Shimano motor system, so it’s a decent basis for an all-year commuter as well as being a good fair-weather bike out of the box.

For more detail, read our review of the Riverside 540e.

12. Rad Power Bikes Radwagon 4 - £1,649 (best cargo)

If you’re looking to dip your toe into the cargo biking waters, then the Rad Power Bikes Radwagon 4 is a brilliant first bike. It’s very usable and easy to ride, and you can get accessories to carry all kinds of things.

The rear hub motor’s a little bit under-powered if you’re looking to haul big loads up big hills, but that may well not be a concern for you. The Radwagon also comes with a surprisingly big 672Wh frame-mounted battery and while some of the components perhaps won’t withstand heavy use, all in all it’s an absolute bargain.

For more detail, read our review of the Rad Power Bikes Radwagon 4.

How to choose from the best electric bikes under £2,000

Which cheap electric bike is best?

This depends on a few variables. What is classed as ‘cheap’, and what kind of e-bike you want! With advancements in technology and trickling down of this tech onto more entry-level bikes, you are more likely than ever to be able to pick up a decent e-bike at any price.

We’ve picked some of the best under £2,000, but if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, have a read of our guide to the best electric bikes under £1,000.

What type of motor is most common on electric bikes under £2,000?

Many of the bikes on this list use rear hub driven motors as they are generally cheaper to manufacture and easy to install – you don’t necessarily need to redesign your whole bike frame around them.

More expensive bikes come with mid-drive motors, and also some on our list like the Decathlon Rockrider E-ST900. However, you’re unlikely to find big-brands like Bosch on any bikes in this price bracket. If you want to learn more about motors, read our article on buying an e-bike: a beginner's guide to electric bikes (+ video).

How much range can I get on an electric bike under £2,000?

Quite obviously, more range is better – but then more range tends to mean a bigger and more expensive battery, so it’s not quite that simple. If you’re only pootling around doing short trips, a huge, expensive battery probably isn’t going to be doing much for you.

Range is probably the hardest thing to compare when you’re looking at different bikes because it will depend on your own effort, the level of assist you select, the terrain you ride and how fast you go. The combined weight of you and the bike will also have an impact.

All of this means that the manufacturer’s stated range is woolly and often a bit of a best-case scenario. Battery capacity – as measured in Wh – may well be a more useful number to look at. Either way, range typically works out somewhere between 25 and 75 miles.