If you’ve ever been pedalling away on a busy city cycle path, rushing to work using all the power your legs could muster only to arrive tired and sweaty, the thought of getting an electric bike has probably crossed your mind.
Electric bikes, or e-bikes, make pedalling easier using a battery-powered assist. It generally comes through pedalling — i.e. when you pedal, a small motor engages and takes over some of the work — or, in some cases, with a throttle.
When e-bikes are equipped with a throttle, it engages the motor at the press of a button, but this is a separate class of e-bike which is generally not suitable for road use.
Electric bikes can go pretty fast (in theory, more on that later), with the fastest commercially-available e-bike clocking speeds of over 70mph.
The world record speed for an electric bike is an incredible 283.182mph — but it won’t surprise you to learn that this wasn’t a pedal-powered bike.
In this article, we’ll explore the world’s fastest e-bikes, the fastest commercially-available e-bikes (though they are very expensive), and discuss why you shouldn’t get too excited about hitting speeds of 60+mph with pedal power on public roads (spoiler alert: it’s illegal).
DISCLAIMER: E-Bike Speed Laws and Delimiters
An essential thing to note as we discuss the fastest e-bikes you can buy is that it is illegal in most countries to ride high-speed bikes on the road.
E-bikes intended for road use are fitted with speed limiters which stop the motor from working above the legal speed, leaving you reliant on pedal power.
In the UK, Europe and Australia, e-bikes are not allowed to go faster than 15.5mph on public roads.
In the US, e-bikes can go up to 28mph depending on the class of e-bike.
While you might be wondering whether getting an e-bike is even worth it with these speed limits, remember that they are placed for safety of riders, motorists and pedestrians. E-bikes are very quiet and can be hard to hear coming, and if you’re going fast on two wheels you’re more likely to badly injure yourself if you fall off. Plus, those speeds are generally plenty fast enough whether you’re using an e-bike to commute, for leisure, or as a general mode of transport.
It is possible to delimit, or derestrict, an e-bike. The bike’s pedal assistance limit is placed by the manufacturer, and the bike tracks its own speed so it knows to cut off the motor when it reaches a certain speed. Therefore, the bike can be tuned to allow the full electrical power to be released by essentially tricking the bike into thinking it’s going slower than it actually is.
However, in delimiting an e-bike you stop it from being roadworthy, as only e-bikes which are limited to the local speed limit are legal to ride on public roads.
Fastest E-Bike(s) You CAN’T Buy
The world record for the fastest electric motorcycle is currently held by the Voxan Wattman, which when driven by former pro Grand Prix motorcycle racer Max Biaggi at the Kennedy Space Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, USA, on 1 December 2021, achieved 283.182mph (455.737 kph).
According to the bike’s GPS, thanks to the favourable wind, the bike hit a max speed of 292.204mph (470.257kph).
The Monaco-made Voxan Wattman has 150kw of power, or 203 horsepower, and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 3.4 seconds. It was specially created to set new world speed records, so you can’t just go out and buy one.
Another super-fast e-bike that is solely made to break records is White Motorcycle Concepts’ WMC250EV.
It’s not intended to be a road-going machine, and was created to target the world land speed record for electric motorcycles, and also to show that its unusual technologies are improvements over conventional ones.
Its name comes from its intention to hit 250mph, but its final top speed may be higher than that. When it was initially tested, just to make sure that its systems and technical elements were working as they should, it got up to 170mph without really trying.
Fastest E-Bikes You CAN Buy
| RANK | MODEL | TOP SPEED |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hi Power Cycles Revolution XX | 70mph / 112 kph |
| 2 | Hi Power Cycles Revolution X | 65mph / 104 kph |
| 3 | Stealth B-52 | 50mph / 80 kph |
| 4 | Delfast Top 3.0/3.0i | 50mph / 80 kph |
| 5 | Ristretto 303FS | 40mph / 64 kph |
1. Hi Power Cycles Revolution XX
Top Speed: 70mph / 112 kph
Weight: xx.x kg
Range: 160 km
Wheel Size: 24”
Gears: X-Speed
Price:
£17,500
$ 20,000
€20,000
Hi Power Cycles’ Revolution XX Super E-Bike is an impressive machine with extraordinary performance and incredible top speeds.
The top speed of the Revolution XX is officially listed at 70+mph, and test riders have been able to achieve 74mph on a flat surface.
The manufacturers state that they believe this is the fastest e-bike ever produced that has usable pedals at top speed.
It looks more like a dirt bike than a bicycle, with heavy-duty tyres, world class brakes and even a windscreen — necessary when going at such high speeds.
The windscreen is specially designed to breach wind resistance at top speeds, helping riders gain an extra few mph on the top end, and the suspension system is individually factory tuned to suit the rider who purchases it.
The battery system allows for a nearly 100 mile range, which is more than enough for an off-road speed run.
Only 20 units of the Revolution XX will ever be made, so this is a very exclusive bike.
It is also worth noting that, according to the HPC website, the bike will ship fully compliant with US Class 2 e-bike laws, meaning it will be limited to 20mph. Of course, as we’ve discussed earlier, you can remove speed limiters, but it will render the bike unusable on public roads.
2. Hi Power Cycles Revolution X
Top Speed: 65mph / 104 kph
Weight: 35.8 kg
Range: 80 km
Wheel Size: 26”
Gears: 10-Speed
Price:
- £11,300
- $ 13,000
- €13,000
Hi Power Cycles’ Revolution X is the manufacturer’s flagship model, which boasts a top speed of up to 65mph depending on which power option you choose.
The Revolution X has a 6,000W power level as standard, but buyers can upgrade to a 7,000W or 8,000W machine to reach the top speeds.
The model was first launched five years ago, but in 2022 the manufacturer has added an all-new motor, a 7% increase in maximum efficiency, a lower weight and less cogging torque.
The bike’s starting price is $ 13,000, with any added extras like two-stage colours, coloured rims, upgraded power levels, upgraded charger, individually factory-tuned suspension, added lighting etc costing extra.
As standard, you can choose from gloss red, gloss white, matte black or clear coat paint.
You can choose from the Thunderbolt (speed motor) or Striker (high torque motor) depending on what kind of ride you’re after.
The Speed motor blends speed, acceleration and torque in a way that’s perfect for moderate trails and moderate hills. With this motor, you can achieve speeds of 55mph on the 6,000W model, 60mph on the 7,000W model, and 60+mph on the 8,000w model.
The Torque motor is for riders who want more acceleration/torque while sacrificing a bit of top speed. It’s more efficient than the Speed motor in most circumstances, and is better suited to steeper hills and trails. With this motor, you can achieve speeds of up to 45mph with the 6,000W model, 47mph with the 7,000W and 50mph with the 8,000W.
Like the XX, the Revolution X will ship fully compliant with US Class 2 e-bike laws, meaning it will be limited to 20mph.
Hi Power Cycles Revolution X Colours:
3. Stealth B-52
Top Speed: 50mph / 80 kph
Weight: 64 kg
Range: 100 km
Wheel Size: 27.5”
Gears: 9-Speed
Price:
- £9,499
- $ 10,400
- €11,000
The Stealth B-52 reaches top speeds of up to 50mph, and is comparatively cheaper than the Revolution models listed above at around £9,500.
It weighs 64kg, has a max range of 60 miles on economy or 25 miles on full-throttle, and a recharge time of 3 hours.
The Stealth B-52 comes complete with motorcycle-grade brakes which gie you precise stopping control with just two fingers on the levers.
A silent, high-torque, brushless DC hub motor gives you fast acceleration, and is coupled with suspension that will give you a smooth ride even on the toughest trails.
It is designed with solid state, digital inverter technology with no moving parts to prevent wear-and-tear and reduce maintenance intervals.
It has a continuous power of 2500W and the peak power is 6200W, and its noise emission is just 65db — quieter than the average vacuum cleaner!
You can get the Stealth B-52 in Pitch Black or Pitch Black Fluo depending on preference, and you can add on front and rear mudguards and a controller cover if you wish.
Stealth B52 Colours:
4. Delfast Top 3.0/3.0i
Top Speed: 50mph / 80 kph
Weight: 69 kg
Range: 321 km
Wheel Size: 19”
Gears: Single Speed
Price:
- £5,700
- $ 6,999
- €6,599
With a full charge range of up to 200 miles and a top speed of 50mph, the Delfast Top is a great e-bike for anyone looking for endurance as well as speed.
Some critics say it blurs the lines between electric bicycle and electric motorbike, but as it still has pedals, we’re including it in this list — like many of the other bikes we’ve featured, it looks more like a dirt bike with pedals than a regular bicycle.
There are two models of the Delfast Top available depending on your location — the Delfast Top 3.0, which can be bought in the EU and internationally, and the Delfast Top 3.0i, which is only available in the US.
The Delfast Top 3.0i has an on-board computer and 4G GPS, while the 3.0 has a built-in 3G GPS navigation system. Aside from this, they are functionally the same in terms of speed, range and more.
In terms of speed modes, both bikes will ship as a Class 2 e-bike, powering up to 750W with a top speed of 20mph and a Gates Carbon Drive
single gear belt drive.
The EU version has a limited mode with a 15mph max speed, which is suitable for road driving in the UK and EU, as well as a 20mph eco version.
Both bikes have an Unlimited mode, which on the US 3.0i model is up to 5000W and 50mph, while the EU 3.0 model can go to 3000W and 50mph.
Therefore, while the top speeds remain the same, the regional versions of the bike are adapted to be road legal in their respective territories while still able to be opened up off-road if you choose — a great bike for all terrains and uses, including commuting.
Both models come in a range of colours, with black or white as standard and orange, red and blue available at an extra cost.
Delfast Top 3.0 Colours:
5. Ristretto 303FS
Top Speed: 40mph / 64 kph
Weight: 10.3 kg
Range: 88 km
Wheel Size: 26”
Gears: 8-Speed
Price:
- £4,000
- $ 4,500
- €4,500
The Ristretto 303FS wraps a top speed of 40mph in Italian vintage-inspired design for an e-bike that’s both fast and beautiful.
It’s a bike that comes in two classes: Class 2, with throttle and pedal-assist up to 20mph, and Class 3 allowing for a speed of up to 28mph with pedal assist. These modes make it road-worthy in the US.
It also has an exclusive ‘Race Mode’, allowing up to 3,500W of power in the motor using the throttle, enabling speeds of up to 40mph. This mode, however, is only for use on private property and race tracks. You can easily switch between the two modes using the bike’s LCD display, so there’s no need to tamper with the bike to remove the speed limiter.
The 303FS has a range of 35-55 miles on a single charge, which takes around 5 to 6 hours.
It weighs 38kg, comes with an adjustable suspension system that can be customised based on riding preferences, and fat tyres which provide increased stability and momentum as well as a larger footprint for sandy terrain.
The bike also comes in a wide range of colours, every one of them stylish and sleek.
Ristretto 303FS Colours:
The post Fastest Electric Bikes for Sale in 2022 [Top 5] appeared first on Discerning Cyclist.