How we score e-bikes

The Genius Score (0–100)

The Genius Score is a single, buyer-first number that blends two things: how capable a bike is in the real world, and how much bike you get for the price. It's always rated against other bikes in the same category, so a commuter is judged against commuters and an off-road bike against off-road bikes.

Data first: we normalize before we score

Manufacturers quote specs inconsistently, so before anything is scored we clean the data:

• Nominal vs. peak watts are kept separate — a "1000W peak" motor is not a 1000W motor.
• Weight vs. payload are kept separate — a 350 lb payload rating is not the bike's weight.
• Battery watt-hours are computed from volts × amp-hours when a brand lists only those, and dual batteries are summed.
• Claimed range is treated as the optimistic "up to" figure it is, not a guarantee.

Every value carries a confidence level and a citation to its source. If a spec isn't published, we mark it unspecified rather than infer a number.

The sub-scores (shown as stars)

Beneath the headline number, four capability sub-scores and a value sub-score break down the rating. They're shown as stars, rated relative to category peers:

• Range — usable real-world range for the battery and class.
• Power — how the motor and torque perform on hills and from a stop.
• Weight — how the bike compares to its peers (e-bikes are heavy; we judge it against its class, not in the abstract).
• Build — components: brakes, drivetrain, and the rest of the spec.
• Value — how much capability you get for the price, versus peers.

What the score is not

The Genius Score is not paid placement and not a manufacturer rating. Brands cannot buy a higher score, and our affiliate relationships never feed into it. It's also not a substitute for a test ride — it's a data-driven shortlisting tool to help you compare honestly before you buy.

Prices and specs change. Always confirm the current price and specification on the manufacturer's site before purchasing.