The e-bike community had an eventful 2025, and four of YouTube’s leading e-bike reviewers came together to discuss the year’s biggest trends, standout products, and what’s ahead. Here’s what Chris Crossed, Matt from Electric All Wheel, Tyler from Tyler’s Trail Rides, and Scott Hardesty covered in their comprehensive recap.
The Year in Numbers
The panelists were prolific in their content creation this year:
- Scott Hardesty led the pack with 96 videos, reviewing 54 e-bikes throughout 2025
- Chris Crossed reviewed 47 e-bikes, representing a 7-8 bike increase from the previous year
- Tyler from Tyler’s Trail Rides reviewed 22 e-bikes and 2 gas-powered vehicles, focusing heavily on custom builds
- Matt from Electric All Wheel produced over 700 videos total throughout his channel’s history, with approximately 2 videos per week in recent months, though he notes many more bikes are touched through his shop but not recorded.
Best and Worst E-Bikes of 2025
The panelists showed strong consensus on some standout performers:
Top Ebike Picks:
Scott’s favorites: The Segway Cyber for motorcycle-style bikes, the Velotric Adventure 3 for fat-tire bikes, and the Velotric Discover 2 as the best commuter e-bike
Matt’s choice: The Magician Alpha 72V class bike, which he praised extensively
Tyler’s pick: The Escape Ranger 72V, citing its power, battery capacity, full suspension, and perfect sizing for shorter riders
Chris’s selections: The Escape Ranger and the Tesway X7s (both AWD and RWD versions) for their range and styling
Notable Disappointments:
- Scott criticized the original Utopia with its dot matrix display, though he noted the newer Utopia Carbon Classic is significantly improved
- Matt was unimpressed with the APIs F3, citing inaccurate speedometer readings and poor performance acknowledgment
- Tyler dismissed a 36V moped-style bike with single-gear drivetrain as the worst he’s ever reviewed
- Chris called out the PuckiPuppy Doberman for misclassification issues (labeled Class 2 but designed as Class 1)
The 72V Standard: Has E-Bike Power Peaked?
A major discussion point was whether 72V has become the ceiling for e-bike voltage. The consensus: yes, for practical purposes.
Tyler explained that 60-72V is plenty of power for hub motor pedal bikes, while higher voltages make sense for electric motorcycles and mopeds where efficiency and heat management matter more. Matt noted that 72V sits at the edge of frame durability, requiring structural designs that maintain the optics of a traditional bike to comply with regulations.
The panelists acknowledged that regulations were written by people who don’t ride these bikes, creating a disconnect between what’s legally allowed and what riders actually need.
E-Bike Laws: A Regional Patchwork
Enforcement varies dramatically by location:
Chicago (Scott’s perspective): Relaxed enforcement for responsible riders. Police told Scott that as long as people “don’t act a fool,” they don’t care about voltage specs1. The city has a thriving PEV community with electric unicycles, Surrons, and fast bikes coexisting without major issues.
Connecticut (Tyler’s perspective): Connecticut’s new laws classify bikes up to 3,500 watts the same as 49cc mopeds, making street legality better than ever—though enforcement is lax since there’s no practical way to dyno test bikes on the road.
Florida (Matt’s perspective): More aggressive enforcement. Matt described a ticketing incident where a large riding group was dispersed after media attention, though he emphasized that infrastructure problems and irresponsible behavior (wheelies, dangerous stunts) are the real culprits, not e-bikes themselves.
The Great E-Bike Company Collapse of 2025
2025 saw the closure or bankruptcy of several major e-bike manufacturers:
Electric Bike Company: Filed for bankruptcy despite making bikes in-house in California. Matt suspects the merger with Integral E-bikes was more about debt restructuring than technology, and predicts the owner may return with a new venture
Rad Power Bikes: Entered bankruptcy protection while continuing operations, but with a major trust issue—they’re not refunding customers or addressing battery fire recalls, making future sales unlikely
The “Lectric Effect“: Multiple panelists noted that Lectric’s aggressive pricing has forced competitors to either improve quality or go out of business. Companies like Aventon and Velotric can’t match Lectric’s prices, so they’ve differentiated with better components and security features.
Smart Technology: Practical Features vs. Gimmicks
The panel debated which tech features actually matter:
Tyler’s take: Skip the apps and gimmicks. Invest in tuning apps (like his CYC bike’s throttle and torque controls), hydraulic brakes, larger batteries, and higher-output controllers instead.
Scott’s counterpoint: For urban riders, Aventon’s security features are game-changers. Geofencing, hub locking, and GPS tracking saved him from bike theft—his Segway’s theft alert actually helped him recover 20 bikes from thieves.
Matt’s concern: Firmware updates are risky. He cited Aventon’s controversial speed-limiting firmware update (which they later reversed) and Heybike’s throttle integration bugs as cautionary tales.
The Kepler 2: Mixed Reception
Kepler released a new mid-range e-bike with dual 35amp-hour batteries, 28 mph top speed (Class 3), four-piston hydraulic brakes, and turn signals.
Scott’s assessment: At $2,000, it’s competitive with the Aventon Adventure 3, but the timing feels late given the market’s maturity. The dual battery system and suspension seat post are nice touches, though it’s a hardtail competing against full-suspension bikes.
Matt’s concern: The price-to-performance ratio doesn’t justify the investment compared to other options on the market.
First Videos of 2026:
- Scott: A three-state winter ride attempting to reach his cabin on a Walkie H9 all-wheel-drive bike—a test of both bike and rider endurance in harsh conditions
- Chris: A feature wishlist video covering desired e-bike tech and modifications for 2026
- Matt: Product builds and testing, including a dual battery discharge balancer and USB adapter for the Wired Predator, plus test rides of the Escape Ranger
- Tyler: A vehicle collection showcase asking viewers what content they want to see
Final Thoughts
2025 proved that the e-bike market is maturing rapidly. Price competition is fierce, regulations are evolving, and consumer expectations are rising. The panelists emphasized that the best e-bikes balance practical performance with reliability—and that gimmicks and poor customer service will sink even established brands.
As the industry heads into 2026, the winners will be those who listen to their communities, invest in quality components, and navigate the complex regulatory landscape with transparency and respect for riders.