Best step-through e-bikes under $1,500

The Basalt ST posts the highest Genius Score on this list at 90, backed by the highest torque and biggest battery here. That 940Wh battery and up to 80 miles of claimed range mean you can wander far past the trailhead without worrying about the ride home, and the fat tires keep it planted in sand and gravel. Mokwheel doesn't publish suspension specs, so how it handles rocky or root-covered ground is a gap you'll have to account for, and its 28 mph top speed may exceed what some paths allow.

The Mesa Lite ST is the cheapest bike on this list at $999.99, which is the whole case for it. At 58 pounds it's lighter than most fat-tire off-road e-bikes, making it easier to muscle onto a rack or around a garage, and its throttle covers you up to 20 mph on loose gravel. The 45 Nm motor runs out of steam on steep or technical terrain, and mechanical disc brakes mean more frequent adjustment than hydraulic setups.

At $1,199.99 with a Genius Score of 88, the Mesa Plus ST is the cheapest bike here that still holds up well, and it ties for the highest torque on this list at 90 Nm. That torque, paired with a 768Wh battery good for up to 60 miles, means hills and a loaded rack won't slow you down much, and a 400-pound payload leaves room for cargo or a passenger. The mechanical disc brakes need a firm pull and regular adjustment, which feels like a mismatch for a bike this capable of hauling weight at 28 mph.

The FLINT ST wins on weight alone, at 40 pounds, roughly half what a typical e-bike weighs, so it handles more like an ordinary bike than an electric one. The throttle lets you skip pedaling entirely up to 20 mph, and hydraulic brakes plus a Shimano 8-speed give it components that punch above the price. The 360Wh battery is small, so the claimed 70-mile range won't survive real commuting, and the 40 Nm motor will make you work on steep climbs.

The Aura is the best-scoring bike here set up for road and bike-path commuting, with a low step-through frame and 26 x 4.0-inch fat tires that smooth out rough pavement. A 780Wh battery claims up to 60 miles of range, and the throttle takes you up to 28 mph without pedaling, useful for hills or a quick escape from traffic. Cyrusher's own spec sheet contradicts itself on battery size and torque, so plan around the conservative numbers, and check local rules since 28 mph on the throttle can put it over the limit on some bike paths.

The Asphalt ST is the best-scoring bike here built specifically for trails and loose surfaces, thanks to 70 Nm of torque for steady pulling power on climbs and loose ground. At 63 pounds it's light for an off-road e-bike, so you're not fighting its weight to load it or walk it over obstacles, and hydraulic disc brakes give it stopping power to match. The 500W motor will strain on long, steep, loaded climbs, and its 27.5 x 2.4-inch tires aren't wide enough for deep sand or technical rock gardens.