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I previously published a guide on the best discrete lightweight belt-driven e-bikes.
That post was inspired by my review of the Vanpowers City Vanture, which is a 15.5kg belt-driven bike that looks almost identical to a normal hybrid bike you will see out and about.
I have reviewed a lot of e-bikes, but the Vanpowers was the first that suited my needs, I want something that both looks and feels like a bike. I don’t need a throttle or all the weight you get from suspension and luggage racks. I just want to make the commute marginally less horrible when it is windy.
My research for that post didn’t yield too many options. However, I did come across alternative options that used a more typical chain-based drivetrain. Some of these are single gears, while others will have multiple gears.
Having multiple gears is obviously a big advantage, but it also means more weight, maintenance and increased costs. Even a single-gear bike will require more maintenance as the chain doesn’t last as long and needs cleaning and lubricating. However, replacement parts are normally easier and cheaper.
Best Lightweight E-Bikes
It is worth mentioning that there are a lot of lightweight electric road bikes which are lightweight. They are almost always very expensive, and I have enough costly hybrid options below.
Similarly, there are a lot of good lightweight hybrid e-bikes on the market, but many of these are very expensive, a lot of them use the same components and materials you get on pricey road bikes. After listing my third £3k+ bike, I realised it was best to call it quits, it was making me feel poor.
Almost all the affordable e-bikes I review come from Chinese brands, and they are almost always very heavy. Most brands focus on foldable e-bikes or large hybrid/mountain bikes with suspension. Many of these weigh 25kg+ which is too big and heavy for my needs.
KBO Hurricane 2.0
- Country availability: US
- Weight: 36lbs /16.3kg
- Frame: 6061 Aluminum frame
- Motor: 350W brushless geared motor
- Battery: 36V 10.5Ah Lithium-ion battery with Samsung/LG cells
- Range: 18~53 Miles
- Drivetrain: Single gear with KMC chain
- Sensor: cadence and speed sensor
- Brakes: mechanical disk
- Tyres: 700*32C road tires
- Price: $1,199.00 discounted to $899.00 at the time of writing.
The KBO Hurricane 2.0 is by far the most affordable option on the list, but sadly only ships to the US. The single-gear design helps keep the price down, and the motor only has three levels of assist. The bottom end of the range seems low compared to others, but I think that’s because it is a US bike with a more powerful 350W motor.
Estarli e28 hybrid eBike
- Country availability: UK
- Weight: 16.5kg
- Frame: Aluminium
- Motor: 250 watt, 40nm high torque, 36v.
- Battery: Samsung 10ah 36v (375WH)
Range: 60-90km / 37-56m - Sensor: Torque
- Drivetrain: Shimano Altus 8 speed
- Brakes: Shimano Tektro – 180mm disc brakes
- Tyres: 28 inch wheels with a choice of tyres
- Price: £1,550
The Estarli e28 hybrid looks almost perfect for UK buyers, it is assembled in the UK, so not some Chinese import, which should hopefully mean support and warranty is good.
You have an 8 speed Shimano Altus gears then 6 power modes, and this uses a torque sensor, so the overall ride experience should be excellent.
It is at the top end of weight for what I would classify as lightweight, but the gearset adds some weight, and it is an aluminium frame. You have some optional extra which includes a pro model with mudguards, front suspension and a pannier rack.
It is also part of various Cycle2Work schemes, which can save you quite a bit of money.
Quella ELECTRIC Varsity
- Country availability: UK
- Weight: 13.9kg
- Frame: Aluminium
- Motor: 250W
- Battery: 29.2V / 154.8 Wh
- Range: Up to 60km
- Sensor: Speed/Cadence?
- Drivetrain: Single speed 44T/16T
- Brakes: Radius Dual Pivot Calliper
- Tyres: 700c 40mm Deep V – Kenda West 25c
- Price: £1,995
The Quella ELECTRIC Varsity is definitely the most striking option on the list with its retro design. It is reasonably priced (especially compared to the following options). The stand-out feature is the incredibly light design for an aluminium frame. The bike also has Bluetooth and can be paired with an app with features such as a tamper-proof alarm & wheel lock function.
Raleigh Trace Electric Gravel And Commuter Bike
- Country availability: UK
- Weight: 16.5kg
- Frame: Aluminium with a carbon fork
- Motor: Ebikemotion X35 internal battery 250Wh
- Battery: 250Wh
- Range: up to 50miles
- Sensor: Ebikemotion Sensor – Speed?
- Drivetrain: Shimano Alivio 9 speed / Shimano HG200 9 speed 11-34t
- Brakes: Tektro R280 Flat Mount Hydraulic Disc Brake
- Tyres: 700x40c WTB ByWAY tanwall
- Price: £2199
The Raleigh Trace is quite similar to the Estarli but with 40c tyres plus mudguards and a rear rack included. Raleigh state this uses the Ebikemotion X35, whereas Estarli is more vague about the e-system used.
Ampler Curt
- Country availability: UK / EU
- Weight: 15.7 kg
- Frame: Aluminium / Carbon
- Motor: 250 W
- Battery: Ampler integrated battery, 48V 336Wh
- Range: 50–100 km / Up to 62 miles
- Sensor: Torque
- Drivetrain: Shimano M5120 11 speed / CS-M5100 11-42T
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes Shimano M6100
- Tyres: Panaracer GravelKing Semi Slick Plus 40-622
- Price: £3090
The Ampler Curt has either a belt drive or 11 speed Shimano M5120 option. It comes with integrated lights and fenders. While there is nothing that stands out in terms of features considering the price, it appears to use good quality components, it is well-reviewed online, and the company is EU based with service centres across Europe.
Page 2 for the remaining lightweight e-bike recommendations and conclusion
Originally posted on mightygadget.co.uk – Follow on Twitter – Instagram – Facebook – Mighty Gadget Latest Reviews
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
