Thinking about bicycle touring or carrying a lot of luggage on your bike but don't fancy all the extra effort required to carry it? An electric touring bike might be the answer. An electric touring bike takes the effort out of carrying luggage by providing significant power assistance and will have a large battery capacity for all-day or multi-day cycle touring.
Quick Navigation
- Electric Bikes Battery Capacity - discussing the importance of a battery with a good range for electric touring bikes
- Top Bikes for Battery Size - some of the best electric bikes that have the biggest batteries
- Motor Power Assistance - a look at the importance of the power of the motor and how this affects the ride.
- Luggage Options - touring bikes are required to be able to carry lots of luggage for long days or multi-day riding.
- Comfortable Ride Quality - for long days, it pays to be as comfortable as possible especially when you are on the bike for extended periods.
- Other Electric Bikes - a description of the other electric bikes available aside from electric touring bikes.
- Best Electric Bikes - a pick of the best of the other types of electric bikes available from electric road bikes to electric mountain bikes.
One of the other characteristics of an electric touring bike is the ability to carry a lot of luggage to be self-sustaining for days on end so we will take a look at some of the best electric touring bikes for this purpose.
In the first part of this article, we will have a closer look at some of the main considerations when buying electric touring bikes. Namely, we will look at the battery capacity, motor power, luggage options and lots more and then go on to list some of the best electric touring bikes available and then in the second part, we will look at other types of electric bikes.
First, let's have a look at what key factors that make an electric touring bikes fit for purpose. Namely:-
We always have a selection of E bike sale clearance bikes for a great deal on electric bikes.
Electric touring bikes battery capacity
The batteries on any electric bike will be measured in Wh (Watt hours) and the larger this number, the more battery range you will get. Some of the lighter electric bikes can have 320Wh of electric bike range while some of the more substantial electric touring bikes will have two batteries giving up to 1250Wh.
The exact range you get will very much depend on how you use the bike as using a higher assistance mode will, of course, use more battery and if you cycle more hills it will drain the battery quicker, but a rough guide to how far an electric bike will go is that 100Wh equates to approximately 10 miles of range.
If you are thinking about purchasing an electric touring bike then we would recommend at least 625Wh to give you the range for a full day of cycling - just make sure you are able to charge your bike overnight.
Top bikes for battery size
Riese & Muller Charger4 GT Touring 750wh 2024 Electric Bike
Riese & Muller electric bikes really spare no expense when it somes to their electric bikes and the Charger 4 GT Touring 2024 is no different. A massive 750Wh battery range and powerful Bosch Performance Line CX gives plenty of torque for getting you and your luggage up hill.
Tern GSD S10 LX Electric Cargo Bike
The Tern GSD S10 LX is a full cargo bike that comes equipped with a 500Wh battery. The reason this bike gets into our "top bikes for battery size" section is that the GSD range all have the capability to accept another 500Wh Bosch battery making this machine able to accept up to 1000W/h for proper all day cycling.
Specialized Turbo Tero X 5.0 29 2023 Electric Bike
The Specialized Turbo Tero X 5.0 is the perfect electric touring bike if you are planning on taking on some rough off-road sections in perfect comfort supplied by full suspension - front and rear. This electric bike features in this section as it comes supplied with a 710Wh battery for increased range.
Kalkhoff Endeavour 7.B Advance+ (750Wh) 2022 Step Through Electric Bike
An incredibly comfortable and capable electric bike that can be loaded up with luggage for touring or daily commutes. Supplied with a whopping 750Wh battery for all-day range and the powerful and reliable Bosch Performance Line CX 85Nm motor for getting you up hills with much less effort.
Gazelle Ultimate C5 HMB 2023 (625Wh) Low-Step Electric Bike
As we recommended earlier, a 625Wh is probably the minimum battery size you would want for electric touring bikes and that's exactly what you get with the Gazelle Ultimate C5 HMB. You also get the ultra reliable Bosch Performance Line motor (75Nm) and plenty of space for luggage on the rear rack and the potential to put on a bar bag too for extra capacity.
Motor Power assistance
With electric touring bikes, you will be loading the bike up with much more luggage so this, along with a heavier bike means you could be pushing a fair bit of weight up hill. This is where the motor power assist comes in. Not all motors are made equal and some are more powerful than others. The number we are looking for here is the torque - measured in Newton Metres (Nm) - and the higher the torque, the easier the motor will get you and your luggage, up hills. On some of the lighter weight electric bikes, these motors will be 35 Nm while some of the most powerful will top out at 90Nm.
Our recommendation here would be dependant on how much, or how little, work you want to put in uphill - if you literally want to spin your legs up the hill with minimum effort then opt for 85-90 Nm of torque such as the Bosch Performance Line CX motor which provides up to 85Nm of torque or the Specialized 2.2 Motor that comes bikes such as the Specialized Turbo Como 5.0 IGH that delivers up to 90 Nm of torque.
Another recommendation here is to go for a bottom bracket motor as you will very unlikely get enough power from a rear hub motor or front hub motor.
Luggage Options
Another major factor in choosing an electric touring bike is that it can accept extra luggage capacity. The best electric bike for you will depend on the type of cycle touring you will be doing. The minimum you would usually require is a rear pannier rack (most electric bikes either come with a rack or are rear rack compatible) for a couple of pannier bags and/or a rack top bag but you get some electric cargo bikes that can take 75kg on the rear cargo bed if you are wanting to go away for multi-day trips.
If you don't need a full cargo bike but still want the extra luggage then choosing a bike that can take a handlebar bag or a frame bag can be a great way to fit on more luggage.
Top Luggage Options
Restrap Bar Bag
The Restrap Bar Bag is an ideal and hassle free luggage solution for bikepacking, touring or commuting on road, gravel and mountain bikes. With no rack, mounts or tools required, the bag attaches to any bike in seconds.
Ortlieb Back Roller Free QL2.1 Single Pannier
Through the use of robust polyester fabric, this Ortlieb Back Roller waterproof rear pannier becomes a long-lasting companion while maintaining the same timeless tarpaulin look and thanks to the hermetic roll-top closure, food and gear travels safely and protected from the elements
Giant Transit MIK Trunk Bag
With a key-secured but east to remove MIK mounting that locks to the rack as well as water-repellent fabric, an included rain cover and deep, easy to access main and side pockets, the Giant Transit MIK Trunk Bag is perfect for urban commuting and light touring" MIK Rack System
Comfortable Ride Quality
If you are spending a long time on a bicycle, you need that bike to be comfortable for the duration of your ride and this is especially important for touring bikes as you are sometimes riding many days in a row. For this reason, electric touring bikes will come with a number of components to add to this comfort. These can be:-
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Front and/or rear suspension - front suspension forks will smooth out the road or gravel to take pressure off of your hands, arms and shoulders and for rear suspension, this reduces the juddering and impacts of the back end.
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Suspension seatpost - in terms of rear end comfort, a suspension seatpost will reduce the impacts and juddering caused by going over ough or uneven surfaces.
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Ergonomic handlebar grips - The diffference with ergonomic grips is that they are shaped to be wider and spread the contact of your hands on the grip to a larger area thus reducing the force on your hands. Can make a big difference on longer rides.
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Wide tyres - Wide tyres are more comfortable due to having more air between you and the road. Another tip for more comfort is to run your tyre pressures a little lower as this can improve comfort too (please just be careful not to run them too low and risk pinch punctures)
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Position - The position you are in on the bike will have a great bearing on how comfortable you are for the duration of your cycle. Many of the best electric bikes will be adjustable so you can fine tune the seating position to make this the best for you.
Other Electric Bikes
Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative was one of the first UK bicycle retailers to supply electric bikes and that means we've racked up years of experience and expertise. E-bikes can be a big investment, so it's important to be confident in your purchase and finding the best electric bike for you. There are now nearly as many e-bike types are there are bikes: electric hybrid bikes, electric folding bikes, electric mountain bikes and cargo electric bikes. This handy guide gives you our ten best electric bikes, although we should say that all our e-bikes have been carefully selected, and what we would consider a ‘great buy'.
We always have a selection of E bike sale clearance bikes for a great deal on electric bikes.
Our other guides – Should I buy an Electric Bike and Guide to electric bikes have more information on each type.
Electric Bike type overview
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Electric hybrid bikes - best for a mix of on and off-road riding with light gravel and forest tracks being a breeze. Electric hybrid bike can be found in either full power assistance options or a super lightweight option with reduced power assistance and a smaller battery.
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Electric touring bikes - generally come with more options for storage but depending on the amount of luggage you need to carry, electric hybrid bikes can sometimes fit the bill. The best electric touring bike, therefore, will be the one that fits the amount of touring you will be doing. Both the Electric Hybrid and Electric touring bikes can accept a child seat for bike.
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Electric Mountain bikes - offering you help on the uphill portion and offering excellent handling on the downhills. Also available as a super lightweight bike for enhanced handling but with slightly less power and battery.
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Electric Cargo Bikes - designed with extra space for luggage or passengers on the front or the rear. Can be used on the school run or on the weekly shop. Most people replace their car with these styles of bicycle.
BEST ELECTRIC BIKES
SPECIALIZED TURBO VADO SL 4.0 2022 HYBRID EBIKE
It’s a great electric bike because
First and foremost - the Specialized Turbo Vado SL is a very a lightweight bike (approx 16kg) considering it has a battery and electric motor and gives you up to 35n/m of torque for a bit of help up the hills or into a stiff headwind. Hydraulic disc brakes and quality SRAM 11-speed gearing for smoothness and reliability. The battery capacity is 320w/h with the possibility of adding a range extender for an extra 160w/h for up to 50 miles of range. Kitted out with mudguards, rear rack, kickstand and integrated lights for a bike that is ready to go. An amazing hybrid e bike.
Gazelle Chamonix C7 HMS E bike (500 WH)
It's a great electric bike because
Gazelle have ensured that the Chamonix C7 HMS 500Wh electric hybrid bike has an upright riding position is as comfortable as possible. Wide tyres, ergonomically shaped handlebar grips and suspension fork for optimal comfort. A unique adjustable handlebar stem with integrated cables ensures the correct and most comfortable sitting posture for every rider.
Internal hub gears mean less cleaning and maintenance and powerful hydraulic disc brakes make stopping easy considering the extra weight of the bike. A motor power assistance of 50n/m will give you a boost when you need it. This model also comes with a 500wh or a 630wh for a battery range of approximately 50 miles (500wh) or 65 miles (630wh)
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WHYTE HIGHGATE WOMEN'S HYBRID ELECTRIC BIKE
It's a great electric bike because
Whyte Highgate Women's electric bike is made in the UK by one of the country's leading bike brands and it's one of our most popular hybrid e-bikes. This is down to the fact that it is relatively lightweight considering you get the Shimano full power mid drive motor that gives a super smooth power delivery of up to 60n/m for getting up steep hills.
Equipped with quality Shimano 10-speed Deore gearing, powerful hydraulic disc brakes and comes with rear rack, mudguards and handy kickstand. It really is the complete package. The Highgate is the compact version and would tend to suit people with proportionally longer legs for their height but there is also the Whyte Clifton for people who are longer in the torso.
Specialized Turbo Creo 2 Comp 2024 Electric Bike
IT'S A GREAT ELECTRIC BIKE BECAUSE
The Specialized Turbo Creo 2 Comp are well spec'd, lightweight, and exceptionally capable electric gravel bikes that offers assistance when you need it. A motor that offers up to 50 Nm of torque for when the ascents get tough and a 320 Wh battery that offers up to 5 hours of range - you will have a lot of fun on this bike.
From a pure gravel bike perspective, this bike delivers everything a modern gravel bike should - tyre clerance of up to 29" x 2.2" for extreme gravel grinding and SRAM wireless electronic shifting make this one of the best electric bikes.
Specialized Turbo Creo is also available as an electric road bikes
Riese & Muller Charger4 GT Vario 2023 Electric Bike
IT'S A GREAT ELECTRIC BIKE BECAUSE
Riese & Muller spare no expense when it comes to their electric bikes and the Charger4 GT Vario is no exception. The Bosch Performance Line CX electric motor is one of the industry's most powerful and reliable motor in electric bike technology and a whopping 750w/h down tube mounted battery gives all day riding. Sensitive and powerful Magura hydraulic disc brakes provide sharp stopping and Enviolo stepless internal gears give smooth, reliable shifting and very little maintenance from the internal gears and belt drive system. Front fork suspension and suspension seatpost make for an incredibly smooth ride.
Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy 2024 Electric Mountain Bike
IT'S A GREAT ELECTRIC BIKE BECAUSE
The all-new Turbo Levo Alloy 2024 delivers unbelievable power to ride more trails through an unequaled combination of ride quality, usable power and ride anywhere range making it one of the best electric mountain bikes. The motor and battery are customisable with the use of the Specialized App to control everything from power assistance in each power assist mode to how quickly the power sets in when you start to pedal.
The battery is located in the down tube for lower centre of gravity which gives the Levo its exceptional handling and it is easily removable for charging off the bike. Specialized now use "S" sizing which gives mountain bikers a choice of whether they opt for a shorter, more nimble bike or a longer, more stable bike depending on personal preference and the bike trails. All in all it is an excellent electric mountain bike.
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Whyte E-160 S 2024 Electric Mountain Bike
IT'S A GREAT ELECTRIC BIKE BECAUSE
With its super low centre of gravity and Whyte Total Geometry handling - that combine to deliver you exceptional confidence and capability - the E-160 S 2024 has all the unique Whyte engineering innovations of the E-160 platform - tilted motor, large 750Wh in-tube battery, class-leading reliability and impeccable weather-proofing - wrapped up in a high value build that will help you break barriers without breaking the bank.
160mm front + 155mm rear suspension travel is capable on everything you throw at it.
Riese & Muller UBN Seven Silent 2023 ELECTRIC BIKE
It's a great electric bike because
Well, in a nutshell, the Riese & Muller UBN Seven Silent is light, powerful, super quiet. The new Fazua combined motor and battery are full removable and can be found on many an e-Road Bike and gives a powerful 60n/m of torque for those steep hills despite it's compact size and a battery capacity that gives approximately 45 miles of range. And as if that is not impressive enough - it comes with the exceptional Alfine internal gears and Gates carbon belt drive for smooth and maintenance free gearing.
Riese & Muller Culture Mixte Touring 400wh 2024 Electric Bike
IT'S A GREAT ELECTRIC BIKE BECAUSE
A modern look and natural riding experience: meet the Culture Mixte Touring. Its pastel colour frame with its striking bend in the lowered top tube is guaranteed to immediately grab attention in and around town. Sustainability was a real priority in its frame construction.
Its raised headset with curved handlebars provides for excellent comfort - so now you can leisurely cycle around town for hours on the Culture Mixte. And do so with a clear conscience: about 50% of the frame is made of recycled aluminium.
You'll also be cruising around the streets in style with its lightweight and efficient Bosch Performance Line SX motor and 400 Wh battery. Just take the Culture Mixte home to charge it - it's guaranteed to look good there too.
Brompton Electric
It's a great electric bike because
It a folding e bike! It is notoriously difficult to make a folding electric bike and still ensure that it folds down to a manageable size but Brompton Electric have managed.
What makes this one of the best examples of a folding electric bike is that the UK's best-loved folding bikes brand takes everything that makes their folding bikes popular and basically adds a motor and battery to turn it into one of the best folding electric bike that you can buy.
You can find a Brompton bike store in Canonmills, Edinburgh; Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, Leeds and Aberdeen.
With the same lightweight, super-slick folding mechanism, this e-bike can be packed up and put in your boot, the train, the tube, the bus. You can maintain 15 miles an hour with ease and with a range of between 20-45 miles it is the perfect example of practicality, ease of transport and assistance. As far as folding electric bikes go, this range is hard to beat. Brompton also have a wide range of spare parts and Brompton accessories UK
See all our Electric Brompton for sale
Tern GSD S00 Electric Cargo Bike
It's a great electric bike because
It's the new great innovation in electric bikes. A solution for businesses and families that cut pollution, journey time, and parking charges. The Tern GSD S00 can be loaded in a variety of ways, and has enough space to carry two children to school. If you're a city-centre business and need a last-mile delivery solution, look no further. The power assist makes the 200 kg load feel like nothing at all. One you try it, you'll be smitten.
Powered by the exceptional Bosch Cargo Line motor for plenty of power assistance even when you are loaded to the gunnels and are carrying extra weight. The 500w/h battery will give you approximately 50 miles (but this depends on how much you load onto the bike) but you can also add a second battery to increase this range even further.
Liv Vall E+2 2023 Women's Electric Bike
IT'S A GREAT ELECTRIC BIKE BECAUSE
WIth the Liv Vall E+2, you have access to new trails and experiences is easily within reach thanks to up to 50 mile range of the ultra-reliable EnergyPak Smart 500Wh battery. The SyncDrive Sport motor, powered by Yamaha, delivers 70Nm of torque and has six speed control settings so you can get up hills with ease or drop the power assist for a good workout. Liv eBikes are generally known for their value for money and quality.
Along with the integrated speed sensor, the EnergyPak Smart battery is integrated into the downtube and easily accessible for great looks on the bike while still being practical.
Smooth riding thanks to Smart Assist Technology that smooths out bumps, and the handlebar-mounted RideControl Dash is makes it easy to select pedal assist functions and view battery levels.
Merida eOne-Sixty 500 2023 Electric Mountain Bike
IT'S A GREAT ELECTRIC BIKE BECAUSE
The Merida eOne-Sixty 500 is a hard-hitting enduro-ready e bike that has wowed the press worldwide and become the most decorated, tested and awarded bike in Merida 50-year history.
The eOne-Sixty is built around compact Shimano Steps motors, the Shimano design ethos is around natural riding, and the physical design of the motor allows our designers to create very short chainstays which deliver agile and “regular bike” geometry.
To give the e-full suspension bikes precise steering, fantastic rolling over obstacles behaviour yet maximum traction, Merida have combined a 29er front wheel with a 2.5" tyre and a 650B rear wheel, equipped with a slightly wider 2.6" tyre. The perfect combination of precision, playfulness and traction allowing you to feel planted when tackling the most demanding of trails.
Shimano's e-Tube app allows you to tailor power delivery to suit your riding style, and even set two profiles, one for shredding and one for cruising.