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There's no doubt that if you can find the best electric bike under £500, your cycling is going to improve for very little outlay. The best e-bike is a fantastic enabler for those carrying an injury or lacking fitness. By making things a little easier they're a great option for those looking to improve their health and mobility. They also increase people's riding range and bring enjoyment back to cycling.
But, as our list of eBikes below will show – finding the best electric bike under £500 doesn't leave a whole lot of choice. In truth, you’d struggle to get a decent ‘normal’ pushbike for £500, let alone an electric mountain bike or a hybrid with a decent electric motor. They are not instant power boosters either. Every eBike needs you to input something into the pedals for the motor to work. They have a limited speed too. At around 15mph, the motor stops and your own pedal power takes over.
The best electric bikes under £500 in 2024 at a glance:
Thankfully, there are solutions to the prohibitive cost of good e-bikes that could make your cycling life a lot cheaper. If you're not fully satisfied, you can always check out our guides to electric bikes under £1000 and under £2,000. There's a lot more on there and you'll likely grab a great deal. But which e-bike is right for you? We've looked at a range of bikes to suit road bikers, commuters and city riders, as well as a folding option for maximum portability. So, let's get the motor started and the wheels turning to find the best electric bike under £500.
Best electric bikes under £500 in 2024:
All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best overall
AmazonThe DYU Folding Electric Bike is ideal for city commuting and leisurely rides, featuring a compact and portable design that makes storage and transportation a breeze. Equipped with a powerful 36V 250-watt motor, this bike can achieve up to 30 miles of range, ensuring you can cover significant distances without hassle. The motor is seamlessly integrated into the rear hub, delivering a smooth and responsive ride.
One of the standout features is the three riding modes, allowing you to switch between full electric, pedal-assist, and manual cycling, providing flexibility and control over your riding experience. The seat is highly adjustable, catering to a wide range of heights and preferences, ensuring maximum comfort for every rider. The bike's frame folds down effortlessly too, making it easy to carry on public transport or store in tight spaces. A convenient LED display keeps you informed of your speed, battery life, and riding mode, so you can stay in control at all times.
Pros
- Highly adjustable seat with handy foldable function
- Three unique ride modes
- Up to 30 miles of range
Cons
- Motor struggles with inclines
| Motor: | 250W |
| Battery: | 36V 10AH |
| Range: | Up to 30 miles |
| Weight: | 17.5kg |
| Gears: | 3 |
| Brakes: | Dual disk and electronic brakes |
Best with a display
AmazonThese 26” wheels are perfect for both city commuting and countryside adventures, offering up to 32 miles of range from a capable 250-watt motor. The battery is cleverly integrated into the bike frame, allowing for a dynamic design and improved balance. With a recharge time of just three to four hours, you’ll be back on the road in no time. The bike also features a pannier mount, making it easy to carry your belongings on the go. A G51 LCD Display keeps you well-informed en route, showing speed, battery life, and more.
The GSOU Electric Bike boasts three versatile riding modes: full electric, pedal-assist, and manual, providing you with ultimate flexibility for any journey. The Shimano 7 Speed Drivetrain ensures smooth and reliable gear changes, allowing you to tackle varied terrains with ease. Despite its size, the bike is compact and portable, designed for easy storage and transportation. Whether you're navigating through busy streets or exploring off-road trails, the GSOU Electric Bike delivers a reliable and enjoyable riding experience.
Pros
- G51 LCD Display is brilliant
- Whopping 32-mile range
- Seven gears make it great for various terrains
Cons
- Users might need additional tools for assembly
| Motor: | 250W |
| Battery: | 36V 8AH |
| Range: | Up to 32 miles |
| Weight: | 25kg |
| Gears: | 7 |
| Brakes: | Dual disk brakes |
eBike leasing
Here comes the reality check: For our money, there are few reputable eBikes available for under £500. The cost of manufacture and the need for reliable parts means that a good eBike is often beyond this price point. So, for safety and quality's sake, we're also taking a look at lease options that will bring a high-quality e-bike into reach at a fraction of the cost.
The best eBikes for leasing in 2024:
3.
Volt London
Best city e-bike under £500
www.blike.co.uk
With a sturdy frame made from lightweight aluminium, mudguards and front rack plus a whopping 504Wh battery pack, you should have everything you need for your daily commute.
This e-bike is something of a game changer in active travel which is well-specced for all weathers, day and night.
Pros
- Excellent battery pack for an extended range of up to 96km
- Puncture-resistant tyres and mudguards make this a sensibly robust city bike
- The battery pack is also removable for easy charging
Cons
- Despite the aluminium frame, some may find it a little heavy
| Motor | 250 W SPINTECH™ with Bafang Motor, max assist speed 25 km/h |
| Battery | 36V Large 504 Wh, Integrated and Removable Panasonic Lithium |
| Range | Up to 96 km |
| Weight | 22.1 kg |
| Gears | Shimano Single Speed |
| Brakes | Tektro Hydraulic Brakes |
Best road e-bike under £500
www.blike.co.uk
The Volt Pulse LS is a lightweight aluminium eBike which combines a modern and classical look. With a cleverly hidden battery and pannier rack to help you carry all you need for up to 96km. The other really smart bits are the Shimano 8 Speed Alivio gears, comfort saddle, and convenient frame design for easy mount and dismount.
Pros
- Clever technology mixed with modernised yet classic design
- Excellent for on and light off-road routes
- Mudguards, Rear Rack, Lights, and Kickstand make this a great practical choice
Cons
- Some may find the design a little olf-fashioned
| Motor | 250 W SPINTECH™ with Bafang Motor, max assist speed 25 km/h |
| Battery | 36V Large 504 Wh, Integrated and Removable Panasonic Lithium |
| Range | Up to 96km |
| Weight | 24.7 kg |
| Gears | Shimano 8 Speed Alivio |
| Brakes | Tektro Hydraulic Brakes |
Best folding e-bike under £500
Blikewww.blike.co.uk
Need something a little more compact to help get you about town and not take up too much room at home? This Brompton E-Bike folds up in a super clever way for straightforward transport and it's not too heavy to lift when all folded up either, despite being a steel frame.
Pros
- The compact size is ideal for hopping onto other modes of transport too
- Solid seat and disc brakes to keep you safe, comfortable, and in control
- Equipment hire, theft & damage cover, plus maintenance, all included in the price
Cons
- Range is less than road and city bikes
| Motor | 250W Brushless DC motor providing assistance up to 25 kmp/h |
| Battery | 300Wh 36V with LED display |
| Range | Up to 70 km |
| Weight | 16.6 kg |
| Gears | 4 Speed (1x4) |
| Brakes | Brompton Dual Pivot Calipers |
Consider an e-bike conversion kit
It doesn’t take a lot to convert a bog-standard bike into an eBike. So, if you have a bike in your shed, a good service and a conversion kit could be the answer. You could get yourself a brand-new e-bike for less than £500!
There are a few companies out there that offer this. If bike maintenance daunts you, speak to your local bike shop. It's often a service that they can provide. Different types of conversion kits are available.
Friction Drive Conversion
Here a roller pushes against the tyre, similar to a dyno bike light, when the roller turns the wheel turns. While not the most efficient motors, it’s simple. There’s not a huge amount needed to make it work, but it doesn’t work that well.
Mid-Drive Conversion
eBikes with a mid-drive tend to be the more successful design out there. The power to the crank is instant and not lost. It therefore feels much more natural. The weight of the motor sits low, keeping your centre of gravity lower. This is the best placement, but the most expensive and difficult to fit.
Electric Bike Wheel Conversion
The final option on our list is swapping out your front or rear wheel for an electrified version. This is a happy mix and a middle ground in terms of price point. The conversion is generally pretty simple, depending on battery mounts the weight distribution can be quite good. Generally, the battery is mounted where your bottle holders would be.
If the electric motor is on the front wheel, it can make it heavy. This might affect the handling and balance of the bike. There is also a slightly odd feeling in the way the power is delivered. If it’s on the rear wheel, it can feel like you’re getting a push from behind, certainly when setting off.
The best eBike conversion kit in 2024:
Best e-bike conversion kit
TongSheng matches the best with the best – a mid-mounted motor with a torque sensor. Instead of the system knowing you are pedalling and adding power, a torque-based system adds a percentage of power. Max torque available on this system is 80Nm but depending on your chosen assist level, that 80Nm will add between 36 and 300 per cent to your pedalling power.
To keep it simple, think about it as an amplifier. If you pedal harder you go faster, just like a normal bike, but now your muscles have extra support.
Pros
- Lots of parts make this a genuine one-stop-shop for conversion
- Excellent power assistance for your pedalling up to 300 per cent
- Mid-mounted for the most efficient and effective power delivery
Cons
- Difficult for novices to fit
| Items included: | Motor, thumb throttle, Crank, battery cable, crank arms, speed sensor, brake levers or hydraulic brake sensors |
How to choose the best electric bike under £500 for you
An e-bike is an electrical motor-powered bicycle. However, if you think that an eBike will just propel you to a set speed with no effort from you, that’s where you're wrong. The electric motor needs power from batteries these batteries will only give the motor power if you put effort into the pedals.
They rely on three things, power to the pedals, power from the batteries and power to the motor. If one of these things does not exist, then the bike will be stationary or you're riding a normal bike. Before you hit the 'buy now' button, it's important to know the difference and some pros and cons of e-bikes.
Here's a run-down of the basic types of e-bikes in terms of form and function. The best electric bikes under £500 may not include all of these options though, unless you're taking the hiring route.
Road bikes and City bikes
A road bike is used on roads with flat surfaces. They often have enough range to travel quite some distance. City bikes are often more comfortable. Often, these will also have a more upright seating position for comfort. City riders need similar features but typically make shorter runs - so battery and torque are usually lower down the list.
Commuter bikes
Every commuter needs decent battery life and road bike handling. But, they may need to hop on and off other forms of transport. A folding electric bike is an excellent option for portability in urban environments.
Mountain bikes
Motorised mountain bikes can make hill climbs and descents easier and more comfortable. You can ride for longer too., thanks to the powered assistance, so exploring farther is a real benefit here. The tougher and better equipped they are the heavier they’ll be without spending much more - even an e-bike costing under £1000 may not fit the bill here.
Hybrid bikes
Hybrids combine features from most of the above, making them a great all-around flexible e-bike choice. A hybrid electric will let you mix up a wide range of everyday cycling activities.
Choose based on different types of motor
Not all eBikes are created equal, the development rate on them has been huge and you may be looking at an eBike, without even knowing.
There are two main types of eBike motors ones that work on the pedals, which assist you in your pedal stroke and ones that work on the rear hub in assisting the rear wheel to turn.
We've tested many over the years and we’ve always found the Bosch motors, which are pedal mounted, to give you the most amount of boost and reduce fatigue the most. This is because the power is directly mounted to the pedals so you feel it instantly and they’re generally more bulking meaning they can put in a bit more torque than rear hub motors.
Motors on the rear hub are much more compact, about the size of the big gear on your cassette so they’re much more discrete. They provide plenty of power in terms of assistance and could be a good option for someone who is looking for a discrete boost of electrical assistance.
<strong>FAQs: The best electric bike under £500</strong>
How does an eBike work?
Many eBikes have different 'modes' for instance, eco, touring, sport and turbo. Each mode gives you a different level of power from the motor. It uses the power you put through the pedals as an indicator of how much power is needed. With motors giving you up to 250 watts.
It's true that you can lightly push on the pedals and the eBike will go up a hill. You will certainly notice the increase in power from the motor and it’ll be a huge benefit to you going up a hill. However, don't expect to start accelerating up to 15mph from stationary. They simply do not work that way.
Always remember for an eBike to work efficiently, you need to do so too. The added assistance from the motor will boost your ride in terms of distance, and average speed and not fatigue you so much.
What is torque?
The torque on an e-bike is very similar to a car; the higher the torque a motor can produce, the more weight it can shift. It's not uncommon to find pedal-assist motors producing up to 80Nm of torque. This is plenty to get you off the mark and up the hills. But, the higher the torque a motor can produce, the more weight it will be able to shift.
What are Watt-hours?
A Watt is a unit of power, and Wh is a unit of energy. So, Watt-hours measure the amount of energy for a specific period. Watts is a measure of rates of power at any moment in time. So if you have a 250Wh battery, it will give you 250 watts of power for one hour.
Do I need a licence to ride an electric bike?
No, you don’t need a licence to legally ride an electric bike in the UK. To meet the required standard your e-bike must be pedal-assisted. Therefore, no motorcycle-like throttle will be fitted. It also can’t exceed 250 watts and has a restricted speed of 15.5mph.
How do you charge an eBike?
Some of the best electric bikes under £500 have a removable battery pack. This lets you plug just the battery into the charger – handy when you just can't take the bike inside for charging. Others require you to plug the charger into the frame if the batteries are integrated.
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Myles Warwood is a Commercial Content Writer for What's The Best, Parkers and CAR. His areas of expertise include cycling, fitness tech and hot hatches.
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