What is the Best Road E-Bike for Beginners?
Written by: Rémy Rossi | February 7, 2025 | Time to read 6 min
Ready to hit the road? Discover these excellent entry-level road e-Bikes that are great for beginners.
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
Pro-level road bikes get a lot of air time, whether it’s TV coverage of the Tour de France or those fancy carbon bikes zooming by you (and me) on a ride. But what about road bikes for beginners? In this article, I’ve picked out the best road e-Bikes for developing roadies and veteran cyclists returning to the sport after a hiatus.
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What is a road e-Bike?
Road electric bikes are a great option for riders starting their road cycling journey, adding a slight boost when you need it. Like standard road bikes, electric road bikes are designed for ultimate efficiency over smooth roads. There’s a rigid frame, narrow fast-rolling tires, and a forward-leaning riding position. The motor and battery are sleekly integrated into the bike, often much lighter than the drive units of other e-Bikes.
What to look for in a beginner road e-Bike
Entry-level road e-Bikes offer excellent value for beginner riders and come with features to make the ride that much more enjoyable— there’s no need to splurge on a pro bike just quite yet. For example, beginner riders may not be as used to the handling and forward riding position of road bikes.
Here are some things that I look for in a road electric bike for beginners:
- More upright frame geometry: Endurance or gravel bikes have a more relaxed riding position that’s more comfortable, especially on longer rides.
- Wider tires: Road cycling in general is moving toward wider rubber. Beginners will appreciate the added comfort and grip, especially when descending.
- Handlebar choice: Flat-bar road bikes are in the minority but can be the perfect choice for riders looking for road bike efficiency with a more comfortable setup for the upper body.
- Bike fit: Proper bike fit is crucial to feeling confident and comfortable on the bike, including saddle height and stem length. Upway makes it easier to search for bikes according to rider height!
- Good value: There’s no reason to spend tons of cash on your first road bike. Buying an entry-level or mid-tier model provides plenty of performance, and can accommodate upgrades as you develop your skills and learn what you like. A used electric bike from Upway provides the most bang for your buck!
Best Road E-Bikes For Beginners
What is the best electric bike for beginner road cyclists? I’ve hand-picked several flat-bar road bikes and gravel e-Bikes that I think provide the perfect balance for developing riders on the road. Upway has a wide selection of road e-Bikes for every level of cyclist, priced at a huge discount!
Bianchi E-Impulso Tourer Deore
The Bianchi E-Impulso is a flat-bar road e-Bike that’s appropriate for a wide range of uses. The flat handlebars offer a comfortable alternative to drop bars that you may not be accustomed to and encourage a more upright riding position. There are fenders and a streamlined rear rack so you don’t have to stick to training rides— take this touring bike on road adventures or use it as a daily commuter!
The E-Impulso is powered by a Mahle X35+ rear hub motor. It’s one of the most popular motors for road e-Bike because of its compact size and powerful boost, providing 40 Nm of torque and pedal assistance up to 20 mph. If you want to venture into road cycling, this versatile Bianchi oozes confidence and comes with handy features. For even more Italian flair, the brand has an impressive lineup of Bianchi road e-Bikes.
Diamondback Current
The Diamondback Current is a gravel e-Bike built for riders with a taste for the more adventurous side of road cycling. The wider tires and more upright frame geometry are ideal for beginner riders seeking a bit more comfort and stability. Similar to the Bianchi E-Impulso, there are frame mounts to attach fenders or some cargo accessories to customize this model.
This versatile gravel e-Bike gets its boost from an ultra-reliable Bosch Performance Line Speed mid-drive motor. The power specs are amped up as far as road e-Bikes go, featuring 85 Nm of maximum torque and Class 3 speeds of up to 28 mph. The 500Wh battery provides a longer range than many other road e-Bikes so you are ready to hit that road, commute, or gravel trek you’ve been planning.
BMC Alpenchallenge Amp Sport Two
The BMC Alpenchallenge Amp Sport Two is another flat-bar road e-Bike that’s made its way onto my shortlist. Similar to the Bianchi E-Impluso, the flat handlebars are an approachable design that cyclists are familiar with, ideal for beginner road riders— plus, this model comes with a side-view mirror for additional visibility. I love the stealthy, blacked-out look of the BMC road e-Bike and dropped seat stays.
The Alpenchallenge comes with a Shimano E6100 mid-drive motor rated at 250W with maximum assistance of 20 mph. The 60 Nm of torque ensures you’ll drive right up the steepest climbs. The external battery’s location along the seat tube isn’t the most conventional e-Bike battery location, but I think it works well with BMC’s minimalist design. It’s outfitted with my favorite groupset of all time— Shimano 105— and has reliable hydraulic disc brakes for added control.
Cannondale Topstone Neo SL 2
I’ve owned a Cannondale before, but I wish I would have been the Topstone Neo. This model is the electric version of the brand’s flagship gravel bike, outfitted with a powerful Mahle X35+ rear hub motor and integrated 250 Wh battery. SL stands for Super-Light, referring to the featherweight stats of this 33 lb electric bike! Those are pretty bonkers numbers, helping you stay as agile and efficient on whatever road or gravel route you choose.
The gravel-specific parts include the 42mm knobby tires and Shimano GRX 2x10-speed groupset designed especially for rugged riding. For more options, I recently wrote about Cannondale’s best road and gravel e-Bikes. If you’re new to road cycling, odds are you are going to catch the gravel bug like the rest of us and this versatile model can do it all.
Key Takeways
- Beginner-Friendly Features: Upright geometry, wider tires, and flat handlebars enhance comfort and stability.
- Solid Value: Mid-tier and used e-Bikes offer excellent performance without a high price tag.
- Top Picks: Recommended models include Bianchi E-Impulso, Diamondback Current, BMC Alpenchallenge Amp Sport Two, and Cannondale Topstone Neo SL 2 for a balanced ride.
