How to choose the best electric bike: Your ultimate buying guide

Electric bikes have become a regular sight in cities, towns, and wild places far off the beaten path. Why? There are plenty of reasons, but they generally can be summed up in one word: More. Electric bikes give you more of what makes cycling great – more speed, more distance, and more fun.  

Whether you are looking for a little added power boost to scale steep hills, or a way to keep up with faster friends, e-bikes make cycling more accessible for everyone. 

When e-bikes first hit the scene a few decades ago, they weren’t terribly sophisticated. That’s all changed. Today’s e-bikes are not the heavy, clunky and cumbersome electric bikes of years gone by. Nowadays, you can pick up (quite literally) an e-bike that’s as lightweight as just 14 kg. 

In our electric bike buying guide you’ll figure out how to go about the process of choosing your own e-bike. We’ll also answer some commonly asked questions, and explain the most common electric bike types.  

Simply put, e-bikes are bicycles that integrate an electric motor and battery that add a power boost to your own pedalling. Though they have motors, e-bikes are more similar to standard bikes than they are to mopeds or motorcycles.  

In fact, in most countries, for a product to be defined as an e-bike, it must use a pedal assist system rather than the throttle you’d find on a moped or motorcycle. Pedal assist means the bike’s motor only engages when you’re pedalling. While you’re getting a helpful push from the motor, you’re still putting in work to ride.  

These days virtually all e-bike systems offer multiple levels of powered assistance, so you can decide how much help you want to get from the motor. The great thing about e-bikes is that they allow you to choose just how easy or challenging your ride is going to be.

People choose electric bikes for all sorts of reasons. E-bikes are great for a wide range of people: commuters who don’t want to break a sweat on the way into work, people with mobility issues, high-performance mountain bikers looking to get a boost to the top of the trail – the list goes on and on. There’s really no single type of e-bike rider. But if you ever find yourself wishing you had a bit more power at your disposal or you simply wanted to ride further, faster....an e-bike might be just what you’re looking. 

The first step to shopping for an electric bike is deciding where you’ll be riding it. Different types of e-bikes are suited to different styles of riding. 

Will you ride on sealed pavement and asphalt? Do you prefer traffic-free trails and bike paths? Or perhaps you would like to do some cycle touring in the summer where you’ll enjoy a mix of everything. 

Here are the main types of electric bikes you’ll encounter and what they’re best suited for.

There is no “correct” bike to commute on, but if you’re looking for something dedicated to enhancing your enjoyment of the journey into work an electric city bike is a strong contender. 

With a reliable motor and robust components, an electric city bike is designed to be ridden in all weathers, sometimes on varying surfaces, while carrying all of your necessities. We have several e-bikes that are perfect for city commuters. 

For effortless city riding with zero fuss, the Citylite:ON delivers. If you’re looking for an electric bike that keeps up with your busy schedule and takes the stress out of urban commuting, this is the one. With smooth electric assist, integrated features for carrying your daily essentials, and a low-maintenance design, it’s built to glide through traffic with ease. Quiet, practical, and refreshingly simple – the Citylite:ON makes every ride feel like second nature.  

Our Commuter:ONfly is the ideal, lightweight e-city bike. It uses a light-assist system developed by Fazua, which engages smoothly and supports you in the background as you ride. You can ride up 75 km on your bike with everything you need for the day ahead without the worry of parking, pollution and traffic jams. The Commuter:ONfly comes with almost everything you need for your day, with built in lights, fenders and rear rack. It’s powerful enough to navigate busy city streets but light enough for you to carry it down escalators or stairs. 

For an even lighter weight option that gives you the speed you’ll want for riding in the city while still being easy to carry or ride without assist, the Roadlite:ONfly might just be your perfect companion. The Roadlite:ONfly uses a dynamic, natural-feeling motor with a removable battery, so that you can charge your battery at work without having to take the entire bike into the office.

Cycle touring opens up a whole new world of places to visit, but some sights and destinations are just a little further away than you’d like. With an e-touring bike, you can unlock those extra kilometres. Electric touring bikes are a little more rugged and ready for mixed terrain than city e-bikes. They’re great when your journeys might include a mish-mash of paved roads, gravel tracks and dirt trails. Basically, if you want a bike that’ll handle the unexpected, an e-touring bike might just be the answer.

Our Pathlite:ON is the perfect companion for electric touring bike for longer adventures, whether you ride the beaten path or not. With a capable Bosch e-system, options for up to a large-capacity 750 Wh battery and enough rack space for a week-long trip, the Pathlite:ON has everything you need to start your e-touring journey. The front suspension and off-road tyres mean that you won’t be limited by the terrain you encounter.   

Do you love hitting the trails but find yourself less in love with the idea of grinding your way to the top of climbs before the fun actually starts? If that sounds like you, an electric mountain bike is a brilliant way to maximize the best moments of your ride—the sweeping vistas, the rollercoaster downhills, and the far-flung destinations that are often just out of a reach on a typical day’s ride.  

We offer e-MTBs for every kind of mountain biker:  

• If you’re after all-round trail riding with a powerful pedaling boost, the Neuron:ON is your perfect match. Built around a durable yet sleek frame, 140 mm of suspension travel, and the smooth, powerful pedaling assistance of Bosch’s proven Performance Line CX drive system. The Neuron:ON is reliable, versatile, and effortless to ride – making every trail feel accessible. 
• If challenging terrain is your daily calling card and you’re looking for the lightest e-MTB option, the Spectral:ONfly is your featherweight ally. Built on a full carbon frame with 160/150 mm of plush, traction-boosting front and rear suspension the Spectral:ONfly is extremely capable on the toughest trails. What’s more, the bike’s “mullet” wheel setup (29″ front, 27.5″ rear), gives the bike a nimble and responsive ride quality that’s rare in e-MTBs. With its confident-yet-playful handling, the Spectral:ONfly is the perfect choice for riders looking to push their own limits without compromise. 
• If you live for the downhills, the Torque:ON is your ride. Built for big jumps, steep trails, and full-on bike park laps, this bike is all about gravity-fuelled fun – no shuttle necessary. With tons (180/175 mm) of smooth suspension travel and its playful mullet wheel combination, this bike is built to help you dominate the roughest terrain with total control and confidence. 
• For serious speed and all-out trail fun, the Strive:ON brings the heat. With a lightweight carbon frame, 170/160 mm of travel, and a powerful Bosch motor, this e-enduro racer is built to crush climbs and rip descents. The mullet setup, keeps it agile and stable where it counts. And if you’re after even more pedaling power, top-tier models come with Bosch’s premium CX Race motor for extra boost on the toughest trails. 
• For riders seeking a truly versatile e-MTB at a price that can’t be beat, the Grand Canyon:ON is a great value. With its powerful Bosch drive system, trail-tuned geometry, and versatile features like rack and fender compatibility, this hardtail e-MTB is built to handle everything from forest trails to everyday errands. Wherever you're headed, the Grand Canyon:ON delivers power, comfort, and control in equal measure. 

Gravel bikes have changed the way we ride – now e‑gravel bikes are taking the adventure even further. With electric support, you can explore rougher routes, ride longer distances, and carry more gear without sacrificing the freedom and versatility that make gravel riding so addictive. 

If you want to explore the great outdoors with a little bit of extra help, the Grizl:ONfly is a sleek, long-range e-gravel bike designed for adventure. With a lightweight carbon frame and powerful Bosch SX motor, the Grizl:ONfly is just like the regular Grizl – ready for anything – but with an added boost to help power any adventure you can dream of.  

If you love road riding and also crave a bit of extra power on the climbs, or you simply want a way to arrive at your destination a little less sweaty, an electric road bike is the answer to getting the most out of every ride.  

That’s where the Endurace:ONfly comes in. As one of the lightest e-road bikes ever, this ultralight e-road bike blends classic road bike feel with subtle electric support to help you take on hills, headwinds, or longer rides with ease. With its sleek carbon frame, minimal weight, and seamlessly integrated TQ motor, it looks and rides just like a traditional road bike—only with a little extra help when you need it most.

Decided which design is right for you?  

If so, now it’s time to pick which exact model you need! Luckily, at Canyon we’ve got a logical naming system that makes it easier. 

If you’ve browsed through a couple of our e-bikes, you’ll have seen that a typical Canyon bike name might read something like ‘Strive:ON CFR LTD’ or ‘Grizl:ONfly CF 7’, to use two examples. 

This is what it all means. 

In short – the higher the number in the name, the more premium the components. 

In general, it’s important to remember that even on our most affordable bikes, the standard of modern bike components is very high in terms of reliability and durability. For example, you could ride across entire continents or around the entire globe (as long as you keep your bike well maintained and looked after) on our very affordable Neuron:ON 6 model. 

However, on the higher-number bikes, the higher-quality components are significantly lighter, and feel more premium and more comfortable, all of which are a major benefit the longer you spend in the saddle. 

Example of upgrades you’ll see at higher levels include features like electronic gear shifting, carbon wheels, and more premium tyres. These all feel awesome. Upgrading to parts like these will give you a major boost in terms of speed and comfort.  

That said, you don’t have to break the bank to have the ride of your life. Every bike we make is all that you absolutely need to tackle epic rides... and love them. 

In most cases, this refers to the frame material. CFR bikes utilize premium carbon layups and construction techniques, for example, while CF bikes use a more affordable carbon fibre that’s slightly heavier yet equally strong. Of course, we also tend to equip higher-end models with a higher grade of components that typically cut weight while improving shifting, braking, and bump absorption performance.

Sometimes, you’ll see a bike name with an extra word or phrase added on the end – examples including ‘Trail’, ‘CLLCTV’, ‘LTD’, or the like. 

These words typically describe a distinct feature or characteristic of the bike that makes it standout. At Canyon, ‘Trail’ refers to bikes built for a mix of climbing, descending, and technical terrain. ‘CLLCTV’ editions are inspired by Canyon’s pro riders and tend to focus on more aggressive downhill performance. ‘LTD’ means Limited Edition, offering exclusive designs or special specs. 

We recommend reading the short description on a bike’s product page for a clear idea of what the standout features of one of these bikes is. 

After deciding what kind of e-bike is best suited to the type of riding you’ll be doing, it’s time to narrow that category down to a model.  

There are many considerations to think about when looking at e-bikes, such as battery size, motor, range, weight and frame material, to name just a few.  

We’ll explain each of these categories and break down exactly what you’ll want to look out for when e-bike shopping. 

There are several considerations to think about when looking at the e-system on an e-bike. The main things to look at are the size of the battery, the range of the bike and the type and power of motor.   

Let’s start with the size of the battery. Battery capacity is measured in Watt hours: the higher the Watt hours, the longer you’ll be able to ride without recharging. Off-road e-bikes tend to have bigger capacity batteries. This is because riding on uneven, loose and challenging terrain is less efficient and therefore requires more power. The smooth asphalt and rolling terrain of urban environments means a smaller battery (250 Wh) is more than capable of the job.  

The size of your bike’s battery is directly related to your bike’s range. The larger the battery, the further you’ll be able to go, though range will always vary depending on how much you’re carrying and what level of assist you use. A higher level of assist will drain the battery faster, so bear that in mind. 

On most e-bikes, you can keep an eye on your battery usage with the integrated computer on the handlebars. The computer will also display the mode you’re in and other useful information such as current speed. 

There are two main types of motor you’ll find on e-bikes: hub-drive and mid-drive.  

• A hub-drive motor is one that is integrated into the rear wheel of the bike. Hub drives are common on more affordable, entry-level e-bikes and typically have slightly less torque than mid-drive motors.  
• By contrast, mid-drive motors are placed in the bottom bracket area of the bike. By placing the motor between the pedals, your e-bike has a more stable centre of gravity and is generally less noticeable.  

Mid-drive motors are considered more of a premium option but as technology improves, so too does the price. They’re also a lot more convenient if you find yourself with a flat rear tyre on the side of the road. Removing the wheel is much easier on a mid-drive motor bike than a hub-drive bike as you won’t have to disconnect the motor. 

You’ll find motors from Bosch, TQ, Shimano and Fazua in our e-bike range. All these brands produce market-leading e-bike technology and we trust them to match the high standards we insist on across all our bikes. 

When it comes to choosing the best frame material for an electric bike, it really depends on your priorities - be it weight, ride feel, or budget. 

Carbon fibre is often the go-to for riders who want the lightest, most responsive ride possible. Even with the added weight of a motor and battery, carbon’s performance advantages still shine through. Take the Endurace:ONfly SUB-10, for example – it’s Canyon’s lightest e-bike, tipping the scales at just 9.8 kg, offering a road bike feel with electric support that doesn’t weigh you down. 

On the other hand, aluminium remains a strong, reliable, and cost-effective alternative. It allows for high-performance builds at a more accessible price point. For instance, compare two of our electric mountain bikes: the Neuron:ONfly CF 8 (carbon) weighs in at 19.6 kg, while the Neuron:ON AL 8 (aluminium) comes in at around 25.5 kg. That weight difference can matter on the trail, but both offer durable builds and great ride quality – proving aluminium is still a top contender, especially for value-focused riders. 

E-bikes are typically heavier than a regular bike due to the addition of motor and battery, but how does that added weight affect the performance of your bike? For the most part, the extra weight will be most noticeable when you aren’t using the assist, while climbing, or when carrying the bike. When riding with power assist activated the extra weight is something you rarely notice thanks to the extra power being delivered by the e-bike's motor. The handling of an e-bike will be slightly affected, however, as the lower centre of gravity will make the bike more stable. 

On e-MTBs, the added weight of the bike may help you with descending (thanks to the extra stability it provides) but can make climbing technical sections harder to navigate in certain situations. The handling of an e-MTB will be slightly sluggish compared to a regular e-MTB, but the e-system's power boost greatly counters that.  

Because of the increased weight of e-bikes, many riders opt for more robust wheels to handle the demands of the bike. This is especially important for e-MTBs, as along with the increased weight, the wheels still have to hold up to the demands of regular mountain bike riding.  

Having a robust tyre is equally important. As we mentioned above, it can be difficult to change a flat tyre by the side of the road on an e-bike, so you’ll want a durable and flat-resistant tyre.  

Wider tyres will also give you a smoother and more comfortable ride. Look for tyres that have e-bike ratings, as these tyres will be stronger and better suited for use on a heavier bike.  

The answer to this question will vary depending on what you’ll be doing with your e-bike. For many casual riders, commuters and road cyclists, suspension won’t be necessary and will just add more weight to your bike.  

On the other hand, if you’re planning on embarking on more off-road adventures, then full-suspension electric bike will help to keep you comfortable over rough roads and trails.  

Many city and touring e-bikes that are designed for commuting will come fully equipped with all of the accessories that you’ll need for your daily commute.  

Those accessories include fenders, lights and front or rear racks. If your bike doesn’t come with these must-haves, don’t worry! We have a wide range of accessories for e-bikes that are compatible with most of our e-bikes.  

For commuters, we also have a selection of bags so that you can comfortably carry all of your necessities to and from the office in style. And don’t forget a lock, to keep your precious e-bike safe.  

Worried about getting the wrong size when buying online? Don’t be. 

Our Perfect Positioning System (PPS) makes finding your ideal frame size quick and easy – just enter your height and inner leg length, and we’ll give you a tailored recommendation in minutes. 

Using over 15,000 data points, PPS also suggests seat height and checks fit compatibility across models. With a 98% accuracy rate (when data is entered correctly) and a 30-day return policy, you can order your new bike with total confidence. And if you want more detail, our comprehensive sizing guides are always there to help you fine-tune the perfect fit. 

Choosing the right electric bike doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Once you’ve found the style that fits your riding goals, the next step is to think about how you’ll use it day-to-day. Whether you’re after comfort, performance, or versatility, there’s an e-bike that fits your lifestyle. 

If you get stuck and don’t find your question answered in our e-bike buying guide, you can always use our handy bike finder tool to discover your perfect match, or the bike comparison tool to see exactly what sets up to three top candidates apart. 

Aaaand that’s a wrap – now you’re ready to choose your perfect e-bike and enjoy every ride with a little extra power and a lot more fun!