How to choose an electric cruiser bike
Every cruiser here shares a step-through frame. What separates them is how they ride.
Bumps: rigid fork, suspension fork or fork plus seatpost
The Aventon Pace 5 REC Step-Through has a rigid alloy fork, with no front suspension. A suspension fork insulates you from rough ground at the front: the OHM Discover has a Suntour coil fork with 63 mm of travel. Add a suspension seatpost, the pairing comfort bikes are known for, and you get the Velotric Discover 3 setup, with an 80 mm air fork.
Tires: width and wheel size
Wider tires can run at lower pressure, which can make uneven pavement feel smoother. The EUNORAU META24 1.0 and META26 1.0 roll on 3.0 in Innova tires; the Pace 5 REC Step-Through uses 27.5 x 2.1 in. For 4.0 in tires, see our fat tire e-bikes.
Motor: in the wheel or at the cranks
Most cruisers here have a hub motor, built into the wheel and turning it directly. A mid-drive sits at the cranks and works through the gears; the OHM Discover, Velotric Discover M and Aventon Level 4 ADV Step-Through use one. Read hub motor vs mid-drive before comparing torque figures: the two types measure it at different points.
Weight and carrying
Carrying it up stairs? Check the weight: the Velotric Breeze 1 weighs 22.0 kg, the Aventon Level 4 REC Step-Through 31.1 kg. Max load is the brand's weight rating, so check whether it counts rider and cargo together; the Discover 3 lists 200 kg.
Cruisers side by side
- Aventon Pace 5 REC Step-Through: rigid alloy fork, 27.5 x 2.1 in tires, rear hub motor (80 Nm, 96 Nm in Boost), 733 Wh removable battery, 27.4 kg, 150 kg max load.
- Heybike Venus: aluminum rigid fork, 27.5 x 2.2 in Kenda tires, Galaxy eDrive hub motor (70 Nm), 680 Wh battery, 22.7 kg, 159 kg max load.
- Velotric Discover 3: 80 mm air fork plus suspension seatpost, 27.5 x 2.4 in Kenda puncture-resistant tires, hub motor, 730 Wh battery, 28.0 kg, 200 kg max load.
- OHM Discover: Suntour Mobie-A32 coil fork, 27.5 x 2.15 in Schwalbe Big Apple tires, Bosch Active Line Plus mid-drive, 400 Wh Bosch PowerPack, 23.9 kg, integrated rear carrier rated to 27 kg.
- EUNORAU META24 1.0: front suspension fork, 24 x 3.0 in Innova tires, rear hub motor, 720 Wh battery plus an optional second battery, 28.0 kg, 130 kg max load.
See more low frames in our step-through e-bikes, bikes set up for daily distance in our commuter e-bikes, or every type in all our e-bikes.
Questions
What is an electric cruiser bike?
It is a cruiser-style bicycle with a motor that helps while you pedal. The classic cruiser, often called a beach cruiser, usually pairs balloon tires and an upright riding position with one gear and a steel frame, and it suits easy, low-speed rides on paved roads. The electric cruisers here have step-through aluminum frames and Shimano gears with 7 to 10 speeds.
What is the difference between a cruiser and a commuter e-bike?
A cruiser is built for comfort on relaxed rides, with an upright riding position and wide tires. A commuter bike is set up for daily distance and often carries lighter, narrower tires, a rack and full fenders. On e-bikes the line blurs: most cruisers here are also in our commuter collection. For a long daily ride, compare range and weight before style.
What is a comfort e-bike?
A comfort e-bike takes the soft, upright ride of a cruiser and puts it on a more conventional bike shape, often with a suspension fork, a suspension seatpost and a wide, padded saddle. On this page, the Velotric Discover 3, Velotric Discover M, Aventon Level 4 ADV Step-Through and Aventon Level 4 REC Step-Through pair a suspension fork with a suspension seatpost.
Do electric cruiser bikes come with fat tires?
Not the ones on this page. Fat tires are usually 3.8 in wide or more; here, the EUNORAU META24 1.0 and META26 1.0 run 3.0 in Innova tires and most other cruisers use 27.5 in wheels with 2.1 to 2.6 in tires. For 4.0 in tires on a step-through frame, see our fat tire e-bikes.
What is a Dutch-style e-bike?
Dutch bike is the name some riders give to roadsters styled like the Dutch omafiets: a step-through frame, an upright riding position, large 28 in wheels, mudguards and a skirt guard, traditionally with a single gear. None of our e-bikes is sold as a Dutch bike; the cruisers here share its step-through frame but roll on 24 to 27.5 in wheels, not 28 in.
