Best women’s electric bikes: power up and go further

Whether or not everyone is on board with the concept, we firmly believe that electric bikes are great. From making cycling more accessible to injecting some extra fun (and miles) into a long day out, the best women's e-bikes are designed to deliver great comfort and performance. 

While there's a huge market covering the best electric bikes, there's only a small handful of bike brands manufacturing women's specific e-bikes, usually the same ones responsible for the best women's road bikes, best women's gravel bikes and best women's hybrid bikes. 

That means many options are unisex, but that's perfectly fine because as women we're not a homogeneous entity with all the same body shapes and proportions. The more variety on offer, the better. For some, women's specific bike geometry will be perfect, and for others, unisex geometry with female-focused contact points will be more important. If you do opt for a unisex model, you may want to swap out the seat for something more anatomically appropriate. We've got a guide to the best women's road bike saddles, which will be helpful.

So whether you plan to commute on an e-hybrid, go on a club run with your e-road bike, or head off the beaten track on an e-gravel bike, if you’re on the lookout for the best women's electric bikes, we’ve rounded up some of our favourites, which you'll find listed below. If you're on the fence about investing in a whole new bike, did you know you can add a boost to your favourite bike, using one of the best electric bike conversion kits?

Our roundup of the best women's e-bikes covers a range of disciplines so there’s something for everyone, though if you're not sure what to look for yet, head down to the bottom for some frequently asked questions, as well as a guide on regional restrictions for e-bikes in the US, UK and Australia.

 Best women's electric road bikes 

Scott's Contessa Addict eRide 15 is styled after its analogue World Tour sibling, with a full carbon construction and SRAM Rival eTap AXS 12-speed drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes. The Syncros Capital wheelset is mated with 30mm Schwalbe ONE Race-Guard tyres to deliver race-grade capability while keeping resilience and longevity on the table.

Throw in a Mahle X20 motor, and you’ve got a race-oriented powerhouse. While it isn’t the most powerful on the market and doesn’t deliver the same rocket-like boosts you’d expect from an e-bike powered by Shimano Steps or Bosch, for a race-oriented e-bike we think this makes sense. If you’re driven by the thrill of racing and pushing your body to its limits, then an all-out motor isn’t going to give you what you want. The compact and lightweight nature of the Mahle system means you can forget it’s there and only opt for a small boost when you need it. Most importantly, it doesn’t add a shed load of weight to the frame, so you can ride it without the e-assistance and without it feeling like a tank. In fact, this is the lightest e-road bike on the list.

What's more, Scott is one of the only bike brands designing an electric road bike specifically for women, thanks to its Contessa range. The size range goes down to extra small to accommodate smaller riders, the endurance geometry with its shorter reach is complemented by a compact handlebar width, and it's topped off with a women's specific Syncros Savona saddle.

Canyon's Endurace road bike is wildly popular, and now it comes with an electrified option. As its name suggests, this bike is designed for endurance riding, which means spending long hours on the saddle and covering a lot of distance. To make this possible, the frame geometry puts the rider in a relaxed and relatively upright position, reducing the strain on the shoulders and back. If you're in it for the long haul, this is a great place to start.

Despite previously offering women's specific models in its range, Canyon this year has opted to keep the Endurace:ON unisex, so you may want to swap out the saddle to something you know works for you. 

The Fazua Evation motor with its 250Wh battery is relatively tame compared to the Shimano Steps or Bosch motors widely used by competitors, however, it forms a much neater package, resulting in an e-road bike that blends in. There are three assistance modes: Breeze, River and Rocket, which provide 100, 210, and 250 watts respectively. Canyon claims that on a full charge, the Endurace:ON can reach up to 90 km in Breeze mode.

Interestingly, although the Endurace:ON is technically an e-road bike, it comes with the Shimano GRX groupset, combining a 1x 48T chainring with an extra wide 11-42 cassette, delivering a very comfortable range of gears. 

The Lapierre eSensium 3.2 Disc is a great choice if you want to blend in and not stand out as an e-bike rider. The slender battery is integrated into the downtube and the motor is barely visible.

Similarly to the Canyon Endurace, the geometry of the eSensium is focused on comfort, putting you in a relaxed position while riding so you can sustain it for longer. It's less about powering ahead of everyone else, so rather than opting for a powerful motor like the Shimano Steps or Bosch systems, it uses the Ebikemotion X35 motor, which is subtle in the support it offers. It doesn’t pack as much of a punch, but if you’re looking for an e-road bike that only gives an occasional nudge when you need it, then this will do the trick. Plus, with a 250Wh battery that weighs just 3.5kg, the system doesn’t add a huge amount of weight to the lightweight aluminium frame and carbon fork, resulting in a fairly regular road bike feel when the motor is switched off.

The eSensium 300 Disc features the latest 10-speed Shimano Tiagra groupset, complete with hydraulic disc brakes for reliable braking power in all weather conditions. The geometry is geared towards comfort, while the 700x28mm Continental Ultra Sport II tyres deliver cushioning, stable grip, and reliable puncture resistance.

Best women's electric gravel bikes 

The Canyon Grail is widely revered as a great gravel bike - it even made it onto our list of the best gravel bikes - despite the initial confusion around its 'hover bar' cockpit. Whether you love it or hate it, it's here to stay, and you’ll find a women’s optimised version of it on Canyon’s recently released Grail:ON, its answer to the unending quest for a carbon e-bike that floats over gravel with ease. 

While there's no longer a women's specific model, the unisex Grail:ON still caters for the vertically-challenged, and is available in sizes 2XS-2XL. The smaller sizes use 650B DT Swiss HG-series wheels to keep everything in proportion while maintaining a low standover height.

The Grail:ON features Bosch’s Gen4 CX Performance Motor with a removable 500 Wh battery, so this e-gravel bike will pack a punch. It can provide up to 340 per cent increased pedal power and has four assist modes: Turbo, eMTB, Tour and Eco. The only downside is that it is very visibly an e-bike, with its chunky and rectangular downtube, so aesthetically it won't appeal to everyone.

The Grail:ON WMN comes stock with the Shimano GRX groupset, and 50mm Schwalbe G-One Bite tyres which, though they’ll roll over the rough stuff, will also add a bit of rolling resistance when you’re on the road. In order to make the ride as comfortable as possible, these high-volume tyres are teamed up with the CP07 Gravel Cockpit and VCLS 2.0 seatpost to soak up the bumps.

If you’re looking for an e-gravel bike worthy of the Strade Bianche, look no further than the Scott Contessa Solace. Similar to its road-oriented sibling listed above, it goes undercover with an unobtrusive system integrated into the carbon fibre frameset. While not as powerful as the Bosch motor found on the Canyon Grail:ON, the lesser-seen TQ HPR50 motor is practically invisible, and remarkably quiet when in use. So it's perfect for blending in. Plus, not everyone wants the bike to do all the riding for them. If you get a kick out of being fast, but still want to work hard with the option of getting the occasional boost, then this is for you.

Again, the Contessa range is Scott's answer to women's specific bike design, so you'll find a more compact frame geometry and smaller sizing on offer, as well as contact points designed for the female anatomy. The Syncros Tofino Regular 2.0 Cutout saddle in particular should work for a lot of riders, thanks to its short nose design and cutout channel for relieving pressure and delivering airflow.

You'll find the mechanical SRAM Rival 1 11-speed drivetrain and hydraulic brakes, paired with Syncros Capital 2.0 25e Disc wheels shod with 50mm wide Schwalbe G-One Overland EVO tyres, delivering a smooth and surefooted ride when things get bumpy.

Best women's electric fitness bikes

An electric fitness bike should provide ample support without drowning out your efforts. The Liv Thrive E+2 Pro is essentially a flat-bar e-road bike, meaning not only will you naturally be in the best ride position for powering through, but you'll move efficiently to see the rewards for your efforts.

If you're new to cycling or a bit out of shape, the Giant SyncDrive Pro motor (powered by Yamaha) offers up to 360 per cent suitable pedal assistance. It kicks into action instantly and works in conjunction with Giant’s PedalPlus 6-Sensor technology to provide smart assistance based on your power output and pedalling style. This is great for fitness because the motor essentially works with your efforts rather than overtaking them completely. You'll still get a workout and build up your fitness, but you'll get to enjoy riding further for longer.

Formulated with Liv’s 3F Design model (fit, form and function), the Thrive E+2 Pro is designed from the ground up to fit a female rider’s anatomy perfectly. This is based on global body dimensions data that the women’s bike brand uses to manufacture their ‘for women, by women’ range. Sizing goes down fairly small so shorter riders are accommodated.

If you're looking for an e-bike that will support you through your fitness journey, work alongside your smartphone, and also double up as the perfect commuter or school-run bike, look no further than the Canyon Roadlite:ON.

For the fitness side of things, this flat bar e-road bike is equipped with a powerful Fazua motor that delivers a natural ride sensation while providing three modes of support:  Breeze (100 watts), River (210 watts) and Rocket (250 watts). The ride is versatile and responsive, while the acceleration is gentle and builds up naturally, emulating that real ride feel. When you really want to push yourself, you can ride the Roadlite:ON without the e-assistance, giving you the opportunity to really work up a sweat. 

What's more, the bike comes with an SP Connect smartphone mount so you can easily attach your phone to your cockpit. This means in addition to keeping an eye on Strava (or whatever fitness app you choose), you can connect to the Fazua app to control all aspects of the bike and have full visibility of how much juice is left in the tank, all while you're on the go.

As a nice addition for those planning to use the Roadlite:ON for more than just workouts, it's compatible with bike trailers, which means it's perfect for carrying the kids on the school run, or loading up on groceries while running errands, making it a truly versatile bike.

Best women's electric hybrid bikes

If you're looking for a powerful e-bike that will take you from A to B, whether that's within your local area or heading further afield, Liv’s Amiti E+1 is an excellent commuter bike that’s ready to go from the outset. The sloping top tube offers a low standover height, which makes it ideal for shorter riders, as well as anyone with slight mobility issues who would benefit from a step-through frame design to make mounting and dismounting easier. 

It also comes jam-packed with all the accessories you could possibly need. A short-travel suspension fork to soak up some of the bumps in the road, a kickstand to keep it standing still, which helps if you’re loading it up with groceries, mudguards to keep road spray at bay, a rear rack for attaching panniers, and dynamo lighting which runs automatically, so you never have to worry about running out of battery power on the way home.

Powered by the Giant SyncDrive Sport motor, the Amiti E+ comes with six assist modes, including a Smart mode which uses multiple sensors to detect your power output and the terrain you’re covering, to cleverly match your efforts and provide only the power you need. This helps you to feel more in control when the road gets bumpy and also conserves battery for when you really need it.

The relaxed geometry of the Boardman HYB 8.9E lets you comfortably pedal all day long if your heart so desires, and this is especially true given that on just a 3-hour charge you can still reach up to 97km.

This women’s e-bike is powerful and practical, driven by a Fazua Evation motor with three natural-feeling assistance modes and a gentle acceleration that doesn’t jar. The removable battery with a replaceable cover makes it easy to pedal the bike under your own steam when you want to work on your fitness, which also takes 4.6kg off the overall weight of the bike.

Tektro hydraulic disc brakes help you stay in control on sharp descents, Shimano Deore 1x10 gearing lets you shift smoothly, and plush 35mm Schwalbe Citizen K-Guard tyres provide grip and puncture protection, so you can roll with confidence across roads, towpaths and trails.

If you’re serious about improving your fitness, you can connect to the Fazua app to use GPS navigation and tracking, a speedometer and battery status, and share your rides with your friends.

Best women's electric mountain bikes

The Liv Intrigue X E+ 2 is designed to fly to the top of a climb in order to maximise the thrill of the descent. No need to rely on uplifts anymore, because this bike can do that for you, which means you get to enjoy a lot more of the trails than you would from a van.

Powered by a 625 Wh battery and Giant SyncDrive Pro motor, the electric assistance kicks in immediately to deliver a fast and responsive ride, whatever the conditions. It’s actually so immediate that if you're new to this type of bike, you might find the sensation a bit jarring at first, but with time you'll get used to it. Such responsive acceleration can be especially helpful when you're on a technical climb that you need to take slowly.

Using six sensors to detect your ride style and the terrain you’re tackling, the Smart-assist mode automatically adjusts its power output to give you exactly what you need, when you need it.

Equipped with tubeless Maxxis Assegai 27.5x2.6in tyres, the Intrigue X E+ 2 provides all the grip needed to help you stay in control while enjoying its incredibly sprightly ride. Meanwhile, the stock Giant Contact Switch dropper post makes it incredibly easy to manoeuvre on descents without stopping to fiddle with seatpost clamps. All the focus is on you and the fun you're having, as it should be.

The Canyon Neuron:ON 7 is built around a stiff hydroformed 6061 T6 aluminium frame with the battery integrated inside the downtube, offering a lightweight and responsive ride. Acceleration is gradual, delivering a natural ride feel that leaves you in control, even with the Shimano Steps EP8 system tripling your pedalling power.

The frame geometry plants you right in the middle of the bike with a low centre of gravity, which helps to disguise the additional weight from the battery and motor. While many e-mountain bikes can feel like tanks, the Neuron:ON feels really sprightly in comparison.

Kitted out with a Shimano Deore XT 12-speed drivetrain, the 4-piston Shimano brakes coupled with the massive 203mm rotors offer really powerful and modulated braking to help you always feel in charge of the bike.

At the front of the bike is the Fox 34 Rhythm fork, delivering 130mm of travel that feels supple and responsive to whatever terrain it takes on. At the rear, the 130mm Fox Float DPS Performance shock provides some serious damping, making the Neuron:ON 7 incredibly trail-ready.

While Canyon has done away with its WMN range, the Neuron:ON 7 sizes down to XS, and the range includes both 27.5in wheels and 29in wheels dependent on size, to ensure the geometry and proportions remain consistent regardless of the rider’s size. Furthermore, the air shocks on the XS and S models come with a lower sweet spot, so lighter riders will experience the same compliance as their larger companions.

The Liv Embolden E+1 is designed to encourage new riders to the trails, or, to ‘embolden’ them, as the name suggests. Powered by the Giant SyncDrive Sport motor, the Embolden E+1 delivers a fully-charged and playful ride, cushioned by the 120mm RockShox Monarch RT rear shock and 130mm RockShox Recon Silver RL fork. Together with the plush 2.6in Maxxis Rekon tyres (27.5in for XS, 29er for S and M), the Embolden E+1 smooths out the rougher trails to inspire confidence and ignite a desire to go further.

In fact, the geometry and spec of this particular bike are designed with touring riders and less serious mountain bikers in mind. Rather than throwing it at the roughest descents possible, the Embolden E+1 shines when ridden over longer distances.

In terms of sizing, since Liv builds all of its bikes from the ground up specifically for the female anatomy, all the critical parts of the Embolden E+1 are sized incrementally over the entire range: the smaller sizes feature shorter stems and narrower bars, while the larger sizes come with the opposite.

How to choose the best women's electric bike

As you'll see from the variety of bikes on this list, there's a plethora of e-bikes to choose from, but the choice doesn't have to be daunting. Here are some key things to consider when making your decision.

What are the legal restrictions on e-bikes?

Whatever drive system your e-bike has, whether it’s Shimano, Bosch, Fazua or Ebikemotor, it will still need to comply with regional laws and restrictions. These vary from region to region and will have an impact on the maximum wattage, pedal-assist speed, licensing and insurance.

1. UK

In the UK, e-bikes are classified as regular non-pedal assist bikes, provided that the motor is capped at 25kph, generates no more than 250 watts of assistance, and doesn’t engage until the bike is already moving. Riders have to be at least 14 years old. If these criteria are met, you can legally ride your e-bike anywhere a bike can be ridden. 

If your e-bike doesn’t meet these standards, you will need to register and insure it as a motor vehicle, plus you’ll need a helmet and a license.

2. USA

The US is a more difficult country to navigate e-bike regulations because the rules vary from state to state. Even then, you’ll need a member of your local bar association to translate the laws for you into plain English.

According to federal legislation enacted by congress in 2002, an e-bike is defined as:

“A two- or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p.), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph.”

Unfortunately, state laws relating to e-bikes tend to supersede this legislation, meaning that while 33 states currently have statutes that define an e-bike in some manner, the rest lack a specific definition, and may include them with another class of vehicle. If that’s not confusing enough, states like Mississippi don't mention e-bikes in the wording of their laws, but the Attorney General issued an opinion stating that an electric bicycle should be classified as a regular bike. There are 13 states where the three-tiered system outlined by The Bicycle Product Suppliers Association is in place, which divides e-bikes into groups based on their maximum assisted speed:

Regardless of class, the motor must only generate 750 watts maximum, with the class labelled clearly. 

In the 17 states that group e-bikes together with other vehicle classes, licensing and registration may be needed. 

If your head is spinning now, don’t worry. Our friends at People for Bikes created a handy state-by-state guide. 

3. Australia

Thankfully things are much simpler for Australians. E-bikes are split into two groups: throttle-operated and non-throttle-operated (or pedal-assist). Throttle-operated e-bikes must be limited to 200 watts and 25kph, while pedal-assist can deliver up to 250 watts of assistance. However, both are restricted to the same speed limit. Anything that doesn’t fall into these two groups is considered a motorbike by law and must be licensed and insured. 

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