Six street-legal e-bikes that climb, compared on the numbers that matter on a hill: torque, motor type, sensor and weight. From $995 to $1,999.
On flat ground almost any e-bike feels fast. Hills are where they separate. A bike that feels great on a test ride around the block can slow to a crawl on a long climb, or leave you mashing the pedals while the motor does very little. These are the six street-legal e-bikes we would point you at if your rides go uphill, from $995 to $1,999, and why each one climbs the way it does.
| Ride1Up Prodigy V2 ECO | Ride1Up Vorsa | Ride1Up Portola 02 | Lectric XPedition 2.0 | Aventon Aventure 3 | Trek FX 1+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,295 | $1,495 | $995 | $1,399 | $1,999 | $1,999 |
| Top speed | 28 mph | 28 mph | 28 mph | 28 mph | 28 mph | 20 mph |
| Battery | 504Wh | 720Wh | 480Wh | 624Wh | 733Wh | 540Wh |
| Range (claimed) | 50 mi | 60 mi | 45 mi | 60 mi | 65 mi | 50 mi |
| Weight | 58 lb | 65 lb | 61 lb | 74 lb | 76 lb | 50 lb |
| Max payload | 300 lb | 440 lb | 342 lb | 450 lb | 400 lb | 300 lb |
| Rider height | 60–73 in | 65–76 in | 58–75 in | 58–78 in | 60–78 in | 60–78 in |
| Street legal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Torque | 90 N·m | 95 N·m | 90 N·m | 85 N·m | 80 N·m | 60 N·m |
| Motor type | Mid-drive | Hub | Hub | Hub | Hub | Hub |
| Sensor | Torque | Torque + cadence | Torque or cadence | Torque | Torque | Not listed |
| Gears | 9-speed | 8-speed | 8-speed | 8-speed | 8-speed | Not listed |
The Prodigy V2 ECO is the only mid-drive on this list, and on a hill that is the advantage that matters most. A mid-drive motor drives the chain, so when you shift into an easy gear for a climb, the motor gets the same leverage your legs do. Its German-made Brose motor puts out 90 N·m through a 9-speed cassette, with a torque sensor that adds power the harder you push. At 58 lb it is also one of the lighter bikes here.
The trade-offs: Ride1Up does not list a throttle, so you pedal every hill yourself, with a lot of help. The battery is the smallest here at 504Wh, and the weight limit is 300 lb. At $1,295 it is a pre-order, with Ride1Up quoting mid-October shipping. Fit runs from 5’0″ to 6’1″ across two frames.
See the Prodigy V2 ECO at Ride1UpThe Vorsa has the most torque on this list, 95 N·m from a 750W hub motor that Ride1Up calls its strongest hill climber. It pairs a torque sensor with a cadence sensor, and its 440 lb payload is the highest here, so it is the pick for heavier riders or anyone climbing with a loaded rack.
It weighs 65 lb, and Ride1Up itself notes that on a torque-sensing system, hills or tired legs can bring your top speed down compared with a cadence system. It is $1,495 on sale. The Vorsa Lite has the same motor for $1,345 without the integrated lights and fenders.
See the Vorsa at Ride1UpThe Portola 02 is the cheapest real climber we know of. For $995 you get a 750W motor with 90 N·m, a torque sensor you can switch to cadence, and an 8-speed drivetrain, in a folding bike that weighs 61 lb.
Small 20-inch wheels and a smaller battery than the full-size bikes here mean long climbs will use up range faster. For short, steep hills on a commute it climbs like bikes that cost hundreds more.
See the Portola 02 at Ride1UpIf your hill comes with groceries or a passenger, the XPedition 2.0 is built for it. It is a long-tail cargo bike rated for 450 lb in total, with an 85 N·m hub motor that Lectric rates at 750W and 1,310W peak, a torque sensor and 8 gears.
It is heavy, about 74 lb with one battery, and long, so it needs storage space. At $1,399 with one battery it is a lot of hauling bike for the money.
See the XPedition 2.0 at LectricThe Aventure 3 has two features aimed squarely at hills. A Boost button gives a short burst of extra power, with Aventon quoting 1,440W peak, for getting going on a steep section. And Hold Mode stops the bike rolling backwards when you are walking it up an incline. Underneath is an 80 N·m hub motor, a torque sensor and 8 gears.
It is the heaviest bike here at 76 lb, on fat tires, and costs $1,999. It suits steep neighborhood streets and gravel more than long, smooth climbs.
See the Aventure 3 at AventonThe Trek has the least torque here, 60 N·m, which Trek says is enough to help you carry loads and climb hills. It earns its place by weighing about 50 lb, which makes it feel more like a normal bike and much easier to pedal when the assist is low.
It is also the only bike here sold through local bike shops, so someone nearby can service it. At $1,999 you pay for that. Trek’s own pages do not list the sensor type or gearing, so check those with the shop.
See the FX 1+ at TrekWatts are the number on every listing, and on a hill they are the least useful. Some brands quote continuous power and some quote peak, so a 250W bike and a 1,440W bike can climb about the same. The Prodigy V2 ECO is rated at 250W and still has 90 N·m. Torque, in newton-meters, is the twisting force that gets you up a slope from a stop, and it is the first number to compare. That is why we left motor watts out of the table above.
A hub motor sits in the wheel and turns it directly at one fixed ratio. A mid-drive sits at the pedals and drives the chain, so it uses the bike’s gears. On a long, steep climb that lets a mid-drive keep spinning at an efficient speed while a hub motor is forced to slow down with the wheel. Hub motors are simpler, cheaper and often come with a throttle; mid-drives climb better and wear chains a little faster.
A cadence sensor turns the motor on once the pedals move and gives a set amount of help. A torque sensor measures how hard you are pushing and adds power to match, so the harder the hill, the more help you get. On climbs that feels much more natural. Every bike on this list has a torque sensor except the Trek, where Trek does not say.
On a hill the motor lifts you and the bike together. A 76 lb bike with a 200 lb rider is moving 276 lb uphill, and the lighter bikes here make every climb a little easier, especially when the battery is low. Check the payload too: if you plus your bag are close to a bike’s limit, it will climb slower and wear faster.
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