Last checked Oct 23, 2026 · By EbikePost editors
Short answer
For steep hills, compare torque in newton-metres first, then gears and brakes. All four verified picks use hub motors, so none has a mid-drive. Our pick: Velotric Nomad 2.
We compare makers' published specs, warranties and return policies; we don't ride the bikes. How we score →
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Mixed surfaces on 26 x 4.0 in fat tires with a 100 mm suspension fork
Based on 5 of 5 specs. Our score of published specs, not a road test. How we score
Maker price $1,999 checked Oct 23, 2026 · source
Off-road riding on 27.5 x 3.0 in tires with an 80 mm suspension fork
Based on 4 of 5 specs. Our score of published specs, not a road test. How we score
Maker price $1,999.99 checked Oct 23, 2026 · source
Commutes on paved streets with a 750 W motor
Based on 5 of 5 specs. Our score of published specs, not a road test. How we score
Maker price $1,399 checked Oct 23, 2026 · source
Swipe sideways to see every spec →
| Bike | Class | Rider height | UL 2849 | Service | Buy | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velotric Nomad 2 | Class 1/2/3 (switchable) | Rear hub, 90 Nm | 705.6 Wh | ?–65 mi / 25–37 mi | 75 lb | 505 lb | 4'11"–6'5" | UL 2849 certified | Frame 5 yr · battery 2 yr | 14 days | TBD | $1,999 | Check price at Velotric (opens in a new tab) |
| Rad Power Bikes Radster Trail | Class 3 | Rear hub, 100 Nm | 720 Wh | ?–65 mi / 26–37 mi | 77.5 lb | 290 lb | 4'11"–5'8" | UL 2849 certified | Frame 2 yr · battery 2 yr | 30 days | TBD | $1,999.99 | Check price at Rad Power (opens in a new tab) |
| Lectric eBikes XPress2 | Class 1/2/3 (switchable) | Rear hub, 85 Nm | 672 Wh | ?–60 mi / 24–35 mi | 66 lb | 330 lb | 5'4"–6'4" | UL 2849 certified | Frame 1 yr · battery 1 yr | 14 days | TBD | $1,399 | Check price at Lectric (opens in a new tab) |
| Aventon Level 4 REC | Class 2 | Rear hub, 80 Nm | 733 Wh | ?–75 mi / 26–38 mi | 68.5 lb | 300 lb | 5'3"–6'4" | UL 2849 certified | Frame 2 yr · battery 2 yr | 14 days | TBD | $1,999 | Check price at Aventon (opens in a new tab) |
How we chose
Bikes are ranked by our Hills Spec score, built only from published specs. Weights for this use case:
Only from cited sources (maker FAQ, a named forum thread, recall or service notices). None added yet.
Warranty & returns: frame 5 yr, motor 2 yr, battery 2 yr · 14-day returns, restocking: $200 per bike · TBD · Velotric service details
Check price at Velotric (opens in a new tab)Based on 5 of 5 specs. Our score of published specs, not a road test. How we score
Estimate, not a test. Real range varies.
About 26–37 miles
Maker's claimed range: ?–65 mi
Only from cited sources (maker FAQ, a named forum thread, recall or service notices). None added yet.
Warranty & returns: frame 2 yr, motor TBD, battery 2 yr · 30-day returns, restocking: 30% plus at-cost return shipping, both deducted from the refund · TBD · Rad Power Bikes service details
Check price at Rad Power (opens in a new tab)Based on 4 of 5 specs. Our score of published specs, not a road test. How we score
Estimate, not a test. Real range varies.
About 27–38 miles
Maker's claimed range: ?–65 mi
Only from cited sources (maker FAQ, a named forum thread, recall or service notices). None added yet.
Warranty & returns: frame 1 yr, motor 1 yr, battery 1 yr · 14-day returns, restocking: Up to $300, at Lectric's discretion · TBD · Lectric eBikes service details
Check price at Lectric (opens in a new tab)Based on 5 of 5 specs. Our score of published specs, not a road test. How we score
Estimate, not a test. Real range varies.
About 25–36 miles
Maker's claimed range: ?–60 mi
Only from cited sources (maker FAQ, a named forum thread, recall or service notices). None added yet.
Warranty & returns: frame 2 yr, motor 2 yr, battery 2 yr · 14-day returns, restocking: None for new, unused bikes (1 mile or less on the odometer); 50% for used bikes (under 20 miles) · TBD · Aventon service details
Check price at Aventon (opens in a new tab)Based on 5 of 5 specs. Our score of published specs, not a road test. How we score
Estimate, not a test. Real range varies.
About 27–39 miles
Maker's claimed range: ?–75 mi
Is it legal where you live?
This is general information, not legal advice. Rebates near you →
The best ebike for hills is not the one with the biggest watt number. Peak watts are a short-burst figure. For climbing, the published torque, the gearing and the brakes tell you more. These are the factors our hills Spec score uses, and the order to check them (how we score).
Velotric Nomad 2 (maker price on Oct 23, 2026: $1,999). 750 W rear hub motor (1,300 W peak), 90 Nm, torque sensor, 705.6 Wh removable battery, 26 x 4 in fat tires and a 100 mm suspension fork. It weighs 75 lb. Riders 4'11" to 6'5".
Rad Radster Trail (maker price on Oct 23, 2026: $1,999.99). An off-road model with 100 Nm of torque, a torque sensor, 720 Wh battery, 27.5 x 3.0 in tires and an 80 mm suspension fork, rated Class 3. It lists a maximum rider weight of 290 lb and riders 4'11" to 5'8" tall. It weighs 77.5 lb with the battery.
Lectric XPress2 (maker price on Oct 23, 2026: $1,399). A 750 W nominal motor (1,310 W peak), 85 Nm, 672 Wh battery and an 80 mm suspension fork. It is the lowest-priced of the four and lists a top assisted speed of 28 mph. Riders 5'4" to 6'4". Warranty is one year.
Aventon Level 4 REC (maker price on Oct 23, 2026: $1,999). A paved-road commuter with a 750 W motor (1,188 W peak), 80 Nm, a 733 Wh removable battery, 2-piston hydraulic brakes and a throttle. It weighs 68.5 lb. Riders 5'3" to 6'4". Warranty is 2 years on the frame, motor and battery.
Look for UL 2849 certification of the whole e-bike system, use only the maker's charger and follow the manual. Our records list all four bikes as UL 2849 certified. For recalls and official guidance see the CPSC Micromobility Information Center.
Class rules (a Class 3 bike, for example, has extra limits in many states), minimum age, helmet laws and trail access vary. Use our state e-bike law checker. It is general information, not legal advice.
Velotric promotes nearby support and a dealer locator. Lectric sells direct with certified partner shops handling service. Aventon has a help desk, a phone line (Mon to Fri, 9am to 4pm PST) and a bike-shop locator. Rad uses mobile service and velofix mechanics (zip code dependent), retail stores and shop partners.
About Rad: Rad Power Bikes, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 15 Dec 2025 and sold substantially all assets. The brand has been under new ownership (Rad Life Mobility, part of Life EV) since 27 Feb 2026. Rad's warranty page says the current owner has no obligation to provide warranty or other service for products bought before 15 Dec 2025, and that claims on those bikes go through the bankruptcy process. The warranty terms apply to products bought after 15 May 2026. Source: Rad's warranty page, checked Oct 23, 2026.
Claimed maximums: up to 65 miles (Nomad 2, Radster Trail), 60 miles (XPress2) and 75 miles (Level 4 REC). Hills cut range sharply compared with flat riding. Use our range estimator for a cautious band.
It depends on the hill, your weight and your load. Torque of 80 to 100 Nm is at the high end of what verified bikes on this site list, but a very long or very steep climb may call for a mid-drive bike, which we have not yet verified. Check the maker's maximum rider weight too: it is 290 lb for the Radster Trail.
Lock the frame to a fixed object and take a removable battery inside.
Rider heights: Nomad 2 4'11" to 6'5", Radster Trail 4'11" to 5'8", XPress2 5'4" to 6'4", Level 4 REC 5'3" to 6'4". Weights run from 66 to 77.5 lb. Plan on a ground-level storage spot.
Velotric: 14 days, $200 restocking fee per bike, prepaid label. Rad: 30 days; return shipping at cost plus a 30% restocking fee are deducted. Lectric: 14 days, up to $300 restocking at its discretion, buyer pays shipping. Aventon: 14 days, no restocking fee for new unused bikes, buyer pays $125. See each maker's policy page linked in the sources below.
Last checked Oct 23, 2026
