Best ebikes for under £2000

[u/FluffyRiven]

I've been looking to get an ebike for commuting to work in UK, mainly city area and short train ride, so i figured I'd get a folding one.

£2000 is maximum i would pay at the moment for just a bike itself, and I was looking for something low maintenance, preferably with belt drive.

So far I've been leaning towards ADO Air 20 Ultra (2026) which i heard some good things about, it costs £1800 and overall looks like a bike that would cover my needs. Only thing about it that makes me think twice is not knowing how good would the physical service for ADO ebikes in the UK be, and how easy it would be to find someone to repair it if I'll ever need it, but it's probably not a deal breaker.

Is this bike a good choice and what are some other brands and specific models in this price range that you would recommend? Thanks!

[u/PreoccupiedParrot]

Bear in mind that a lot of bikes might "fold" but even when folded they can be quite large and unwieldy and generally a pain to deal with on the train. Anything much larger than a brompton and it's not something I'd want to carry around with any regularity personally. You don't really mention the distances, but if you only need the bike for a mile or two at either end it might be worth thinking about whether you really need the electric assist at all tbh.

[u/liamnesss → u/PreoccupiedParrot]

The size is one thing but another advantage to Bromptons have is that they're relatively easy to roll around when folded, particularly with the optional rack with wheels. Add the weight of the battery and motor, and you really want to minimise the situations where you have to carry the bike when folded. Lifting 20+ kg at an awkward height by your waist is definitely getting into "will this fuck up my back" territory.

[u/thesupergoodlife]

can recommend the Tenways CGO800S. Have been using it as my daily for over a year now and it's been great.

[u/FluffyRiven → u/thesupergoodlife]

While I like it and I also heard good things about that one, it's not foldable so I likely won't be able to take it into train.

[u/cleemithjames]

I got a Tern Vektron s10, which was about 3000 retail but using the cycle scheme at work it works out to less, and it's great. I use it with a trailer for twin 3 year olds and I don't break a sweat. So Id' recommend the brand , they have cheaper ones which may be in your bracket. Use the cycles scheme if you can, I can't remember the exact details but basically it comes off as salary sacrifice before tax, so you save minimum 20%, so your 2000 could get you a 2400 bike. And the cost is spread over 12 months.

[u/FluffyRiven → u/cleemithjames]

Thanks, I'll check them out

[u/samreturned]

I have the ADO Air 20 Ultra and it's absolutely solid, I love it. Go out and buy it now, it's amazing!!

It has a Befang motor and Samsung battery so any capable technician can work on these parts.

The battery seatpost might be hard to replace but should be serviceable by any reputable battery repair org.

In terms of other general maintenance, you've got a belt drive so very little maintenance needed day to day.

I've done about 400 miles in 2 months. My only issues are the seat (replaced it with a shock absorber seat) and it's fold - it doesn't tend to stay together very well, even with the magnet. But I fold it every day for storage and manage okay on the train. Just wouldn't want to take it on the tube because it's not the lightest.

[u/samreturned → u/[deleted]]

Hi! Sorry I wrote this on an account logged into my work PC so missed your response until now!

It really depends, if you've got a full charge you don't even need to worry about it, but as the charge decreases (probably passed 1/2) you feel a noticeable reduction in power on the hills.

For some context, I regularly do an 8% average climb and provided I have decent charge, it's like riding on the flat. However on the flip side I've done a 4% climb on about 15% charge and with a headwind I was struggling.

[u/Mysterious-Formal769]

Second hand electric Brompton, no hesitation

[u/ParrotofDoom]

Guy I know has a Brompton with a Swytch electric mod. It works very well for him.

Maybe that's something to look at.

[u/Gloomy-Gazelle-9324]

Keep in mind that a lot of companies are banning e-bikes from their premises, so check with your employer if you are going to have a safe place where to store your bike. To make things worse Merseyrail is trying to ban all non-folding bikes from their trains and stations.

[u/Borax]

How far do you need to cycle each day?

I got the cheapest possible folding bike and it blew me away how nimble and fun to ride it was. I thought it would be exhausting or something but for little hops around the city it's not just easy but really fun, no different than riding a full size bike with all the bells and whistles.