Hey, great question! This is definitely one of my favorite categories of electric bikes. They provide the comfort and ergonomics of a more upright seating position and the soft tires, long handlebars and larger seats dampen the vibration of bumps and higher speeds.
The clear leader in cruiser style ebike space is Pedego. They actually started out by converting regular Electra bicycles into ebikes years ago and had such great success that they started making their own frames and using better motors and batteries. Over time their "
Classic Comfort Cruiser" has been refined beyond almost any other cruiser style electric bike and the 2014 model got a big upgrade with a new battery pack that's built right into the rear rack (vs. just sitting on top), a nicer single-sided kickstand that's easier to use, water bottle braze-on and a rear light. They have an exceptional warranty and lots of colors.
Okay, okay... so most people have heard of Pedego but one of my new favorite cruisers is made by Motiv and is called the
Spark (or Sleek if you want step-through). These guys also offer great colors, a nice warranty and a very similar layout as the Pedego line but theirs put the battery pack just behind the seat post tube vs. on the back. I like how this keeps the weight lower and more centralized on the bike. I also like that (just like Pedego) they offer upgrades on the tires and have mounting points ready for fenders and a rear rack. The handle bars on Motive bikes are smaller which makes them easier to get through doors and other tight spaces but not quite as relaxing or vibration-dampening to use. As with the Pedego's and most cruisers, these bikes only offer twist throttle mode but one thing that separates them from Pedego is the addition of a rear disc brake as well as one for the front. Also, I like that they use the same brake levers that have an integrated bell on the left, it's probably one of my favorite ebike features ever
Another recognizable cruiser style ebike you might of heard of is is the
Electra Townie Go. Apparently, way back when Pedego was using the Electra bikes for a platform and then converting them into electric the guys at Electra were concerned about liability and were not interested in entering the space. A lot has changed and in 2012 the Go! was premiered at Interbike. I got to meet the CEO and hear about it and I took some video so you can too:
So the Townie Go! is all about simplicity and uses the SRAM battery and motor system. It's noisier than Pedego or Motiv but also simpler because there's no throttle, just a self-activating pedal assist. I'm excited to see such a well-recognized company getting into the space and they have some neat patents to exercise with their bikes. Have you ever noticed that the bottom bracket (where the pedals come out) on Electra bikes is more forward? This positions the rider in a more reclined sitting position than normal bikes and is patented by Electra. Until 2013 some Pedego bikes also used this forward-seating position but the design was changed for 2014 to honor the patent. In my opinion, the Electra bike feels less powerful and they are several design cycles behind Pedego and Motiv but their newest bike has three pedaling gears built right into the motor which is amazing! No more cassette exposed to dirt and water, no more loose chain, all of that is solved with the internally geared hub.
One other Pedego I wanted to mention is the 24" Cruiser which is specifically designed for smaller riders. This thing offers the same power and value of the larger models but is easier to manager for shorter people. I really appreciate this and am sure there are a lot of petite women out there who do too
Okay, so those are some of the main leaders in the space but what about the new
Ford Supercruiser?! Well, this is actually built by Pedego and resembles the Interceptor (the higher powered Cruiser from them) but is built around a custom design that resembles a chopper style motorcycle. The first thing I noticed was the battery pack hanging out on the rear fender, it concerned me but actually felt very solid when test riding. It's exciting to see a bike like this from a company that is know for making automobiles... though some of their new cars offer hybrid and EV tech so that's really cool. This is the bike to get if you care about style, it will cost you more but offers the same great quality of any Pedego.
OHM is another great ebike company that makes some bikes that almost feel like cruisers. I'd call them more city style ebikes, and they have actually been around for a long time and make high quality stuff. They are also very supportive and responsive with customers. Their stuff is used for rentals a lot and varies because they use different kits, like some from BionX and some from SRAM etc. It's hard to say much more about them as a company vs. zooming into their specific bike offerings.
Currie Technologies, the makers of IZIP, also have a cruiser that's called the
Zuma and it's also quite good. The motor is powerful, the frame is sturdy and the new 2014 design positions the battery behind the seat post tube much like Motive ebikes. The benefits of getting a Currie is that they have a large network of dealers, a solid warranty and their design is comfortable. There aren't quite as many color choices and the community is more generic (Pedego is known for doing social rides, having exclusive dealers and offering tours) but it's worth considering and is a bit less expensive.
Speaking of affordable... Prodeco offers a couple bikes that could be considered cruisers like the
Stride 500, but it's not one I personally would get into. They are mostly sold online which means you have to assemble yourself and I've heard that their battery packs can get cracked off when going over rough terrain. The packs are also a bit heavier since they use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo) and tend to create a more unstable feel than any of the other cruisers I've ridden. The support is harder to get, the resale value is low etc.
Hebb is another brand that makes ebikes that could be considered cruisers. They offer two models (one with 350 watt motor and one with 500) and the higher end model offers both pedal assist and twist throttle. They come with fenders, lights and a nice set of grips, an adjustable stem, chain guard, seat etc. I like the battery position because it's balanced and low (like Motiv) but their prices are a bit higher and they are harder to find (fewer stores carry them). I have also heard that they might be slowing down and leaving the space. I'm also not a huge fan of the control switch module they chose or the full-grip twist throttle that is harder to hold onto vs. a half twist option.
So yeah, the space has a lot of great options and depending on what your needs are your favorite might change. If I was smaller then I'd definitely go for the 24" Cruiser by Pedego. If I liked the style of choppers and the flat black looks I would get the Ford Supercruiser. For me personally, I'm somewhere between the Motiv Spark and the Pedego Classic Cruiser because they are high quality, well priced and I like the color options. Both companies are friendly, responsive and doing a lot to improve their designs with each release.
