These are the 6 affordable e-bikes in the test
(Click to go to the individual tests)
In 2022, the average bike customer will spend around 2800 euros on a new e-bike, according to calculations by the German Bicycle Industry Association ZIV. 3000 is currently considered the maximum price for many e-bike beginners: they don't want to spend more, and they don't consider less to be enough to get a bike of solid quality. How much can you expect to pay? We all realise that e-bikes have become significantly more expensive over the last five years. But the development is not so one-dimensional: assisted bikes have become increasingly high-quality, more attractive and actually more durable.
What's more, the e-bike is a relatively new product - in the first few years of a new technical product, development always progresses in leaps and bounds. This also needs to be paid for. The average price of an e-bike has risen significantly, as have the quality expectations of buyers. If you spend €3,000 today, you may get a bike that is "only" half the price of a high-end bike, but you expect it to fulfil the requirements that a high-end bike fulfilled years ago, especially in terms of the drive system.
Affordable e-bikes with motor revolutions
You can't expect anything special in the entry-level range? Surprise: With the B'Twin LD920 E from Decathlon is an affordable e-bike with a new motor/gearbox unit developed by the manufacturer and its partner. This combination has been around for years, but only Pinion is currently successful on the market with its system. The drive system developed jointly by Decathlon and E2 Drives is even equipped with an automatic, continuously variable transmission, which - attention, spoiler! - works perfectly.
And another piece of engine news: the centre of the frame of the Hepha is driven by an engine developed in-house by the new manufacturerand it also harbours surprises. On the lightweight Hercules, a Bafang motor provides 30 Newton metres of thrust. This may not sound like much, but as it is located directly on the rear axle, it is easily sufficient for flat terrain. In addition, the small motor and a small integrated battery make the affordable e-bike quite light. It is extremely quiet anyway. This also applies to the Active Line Plus motor on the Koga, a solid standard product from industry leader Bosch.
A Shimano E5000 does its job in the Stevens. At 40 Newton metres, it is not very powerful, but the system offers perhaps the most harmonious pedal feel, a good range and also a very quiet performance. The QWIC is powered by the second Bafang motor in the test, a mid-motor (M420). It couldn't quite make its 80 Newton metres credible on the climbs, but runs very smoothly.
Speaking of which: all motor and bike manufacturers offer apps that turn the mobile phone into an informative display or make the system individually customisable. For example, some systems allow you to customise support modes, but you can also select lots of other additional information such as navigation or automatic tracking and connection to social media.
How much of an all-rounder are the affordable e-bikes?
By all-rounder, we mean one thing above all: e-bikes that can be used for a wide range of applications, that are manoeuvrable in the city, reliable for commuting and resilient and ergonomic enough for touring. They should also be able to cope on a country lane and with prolonged adverse weather conditions. Of course, safety must not be neglected: A sturdy and high-quality frame is the basis - a requirement that all our affordable e-bikes fulfil. With Hepha, Stevens or Koga, you'll even find some extraordinarily beautiful details.
But it also needs tyres that are not too narrow and profiled for different terrain, balanced riding characteristics, powerful brakes that are easy to modulate and adequate light output. In terms of practical use, the manufacturer faces challenges in this price range: Maximum low-maintenance, for example, is achieved with encapsulated gears and belt drive - such as Koga. However, this combination is significantly more expensive than mid-range derailleur gears. As we can see: Building good and affordable e-bikes is not easy.
In addition to the motor/gear combination in the B'Twin, the portfolio includes two easy-to-maintain hub gears and three derailleur gears with eight and ten gears respectively. Safety is also the top priority for this bargain. When it comes to brakes, the hydraulic disc has become the standard right up to the entry-level class, and that is a very good thing, especially for heavy e-bikes, because more weight requires more braking energy - which a disc provides. By the way: A low price can also cause weight problems, because lightweight construction costs money. Our affordable e-bikes weigh between 23 and 29 kilograms, with the cheapest, Hercules, standing out as a lightweight.
Affordable and comfortable?
You can slim down, for example, by dispensing with the suspension fork, which often offers little comfort in the simpler class anyway. However, manufacturers like to install suspension forks because the buyer expects a lot of comfort, which is not always the case with our test bikes - the forks only respond tentatively. Customers also want less weight - every kilo you save on the bike helps on the basement stairs, but also when riding. The suspension on the Koga and Decathlon is almost invisible with an inconspicuous headset suspension. On both bikes, this equipment provides relief, at least on rough road surfaces.
QWIC relies on narrow, fast tyres with less damping in favour of smooth running, and a countermeasure: a simple suspension fork and seat post. Basically, you shouldn't expect too much comfort from the bikes in the price range. Incidentally, the Hepha stands out here with the best-performing fork and wide, cushioning tyres. The weight winner, the Hercules, does without any front suspension elements at all and thus comes in at 23 kilograms.
Lighting and design of the affordable e-bikes
All affordable e-bikes are also on the safe side when it comes to lighting. However, you will not experience a bright miracle with the equipment. 30 lux, the standard, is sufficient in the city. Overland, more powerful models such as those on Koga, Hercules or Stevens with 50 lux are the better spotlights, also due to their wider illumination. The rear lights are bright and often designed as wide, eye-catching spotlights - a plus for visibility. The connection to the system battery guarantees light reliability.
Incidentally, the design of the bikes does not suffer from the price limit. All the bikes are confidently styled in their own way: the Decathlon has a futuristic touch, the Koga is classically elegant and the Stevens is classically sporty. You will find metallic, matt or other paint effects that were previously only common in the top price range. Incidentally, two affordable e-bikes in our selection have only fallen below the 3,000 mark thanks to a discount from the manufacturer - good times for bargain hunters!
All affordable e-bikes in comparison
Not listed is the category Service - 5 % share, which does not change the final score.
* The range information refers to the medium support mode or "Auto" mode with an active riding style and terrain with very low gradients. These are always approximate values.
(Click to go to the individual tests)
Tricky: The corner price situation
The same applies to buying clothes and entering the e-bike sector: everyone likes to find a bargain on value for money. In most cases, people are guided by the motto "I'll go up to XYZ euros and not a cent more". The €3000 limit is one such limit for entry-level e-bikes. The seller tries to create a product at a limit that fulfils the highest possible requirements in terms of performance and quality without reducing the revenue too much. The buyer, on the other hand, wants to see as many features and high quality standards as possible at a price pain threshold. In return, however, they are prepared to make compromises in areas that are less important to them - often in terms of comfort or range.
Fundamental question: What is the relationship between price and performance?
The manufacturer naturally has a certain concept of being able to offer favourable prices. And they can also play tricks: in the past, the quality of the gears - "It's got an XT rear derailleur!" - was a good argument to emphasise the quality of the bike. At less obvious points, such as the bottom bracket or the headset, the manufacturer then installed simpler components and was thus able to offer a lower price than with high-quality components throughout. Today, this is less easy: on the one hand, the structures and paths that lead to the sales price have become much more complex, and the options for building and equipping an e-bike have multiplied.
On the other hand, consumers today are often better informed. Nevertheless, some suppliers find it easier than others to offer affordable e-bikes. For example, the effort that companies put into the development or production of frames varies. Manufacturers who develop and produce the frame or some of the components themselves, represented in the test by sports giant Decathlon for example, can often offer their products at even lower prices.
Factors such as a focus on sustainability and/or environmental protection also play a role in the consumer price today - driving up the price. 3000 is a limit that many newcomers still accept and expect a solid e-bike for. Safety and robustness are basic expectations at this price. The e-bike should also offer a certain level of comfort and be as versatile as possible. By the way: The price cap is an RRP, a recommended retail price. Some dealers will currently be able to offer the respective bike at an even lower price.
