9 Best Class 2 Electric Bikes With a Throttle

Bicycling Land is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

You’re stopped at a red light with groceries on the rack, and a hill starts right past the intersection. Pedal assist helps, but only after you turn the cranks. A thumb throttle gets the bike rolling first, and your legs catch up.

That’s the appeal of a Class 2 electric bike: a throttle, and a motor that stops helping at 20 mph. It’s the simplest category to live with, and it’s why “ebike with throttle” is one of the most common searches from first-time buyers. This list is for riders who want a throttle for starts, hills, sore knees or easy weekend rides. I also cover where a Class 2 bike is and isn’t welcome, because that catches people out.

Prices as of October 2026.

Quick picks

• Best overall: Lectric XP4 750
• Best for hills: Lectric XPress2
• Best for red-light starts: Ride1Up Portola 02
• Best big-battery commuter: Velotric Discover 2
• Best for sore knees: Aventon Aventure.3
• Best for rough roads and big riders: Himiway D5 2.0
• Best light city commuter: Aventon Soltera 2.5
• Best for easy, flat rides: Lectric XP Lite 2.0
• Best on a tight budget: Jasion EB5

Lectric XP4 750

Lectric lists the 750W long-range XP4 at about $1,299. The base 500W version is $999. I’d pay the extra for the 750W. You get a 750W rear hub motor (1,310W peak), a removable 48V, 840Wh battery, a thumb throttle and hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors. Payload is 330 lbs.

The bike ships with Class 1, 2 and 3 modes. In the Class 2 setting, the top speed is 20 mph. The 28 mph top speed belongs to the Class 3 setting. Leave it on Class 2 for shared paths and you have a simple throttle bike that also folds.

Folding is the reason to pick it over the XPress2 below, if you live in an apartment or park an RV. Just don’t confuse folding with light. Lectric lists about 62 lbs without the battery, which adds about 7 lbs. Expect 70 lbs or a bit more ready to ride, so stairs are a chore.

Range claims run up to 85 miles. In Turbo, the top assist level, real-world riding is closer to 30 to 35 miles. Plan around that if you ride in high assist or on the throttle. Our folding electric bike roundup shows how it stacks up against the lighter folders.

Pros

• Strong, well-controlled 750W motor
• Hydraulic brakes, turn signals and a brake light
• Low price for the spec

Cons

• Basic spring fork
• No chain-slap protection on the chainstay. Chain slap is the chain bouncing against the frame, which is noisy and scuffs paint.
• Battery gauge moves in 10% steps
• Frame and rear axle can mark the paint when folded

Check price at Lectric Check price on Amazon

Lectric XPress2

If you commute every day and don’t need to fold the bike, this is the one I’d look at first. The XPress2 lists at about $1,399 during Lectric’s current offer. It’s a full-size bike with a 750W hub motor (1,310W peak) rated at 85Nm. Nm, or newton-meters, is twisting force. More of it means a bike that pulls harder from a stop and up a grade.

That torque gives it strong hill climbing. A 48V, 672Wh battery sits semi-integrated in the frame. Lectric lists up to 60 miles. Measured range was about 33 miles in Turbo and 54 miles in Tour, the gentler setting. Either way, you’ll get a full commute and then some.

It comes with fenders, lights, turn signals and a rear rack that holds up to 30 lbs. You also get a Shimano Altus 8-speed drivetrain, an 80mm SR Suntour fork and a TFT display. The motor is quieter and smoother than on the first XPress. Class 1, 2 and 3 are selectable, with a 28 mph top speed in Class 3. High-step and step-thru frames come in four colors.

The catch is weight. Lectric lists 60 lbs without the battery, and Electric Bike Review put it near 72 lbs with it. There’s no companion app, and the battery gauge moves in 10% steps. Riders 6 ft 2 in and taller may run out of leg extension.

Check price at Lectric

Ride1Up Portola 02

The Portola is the bike for people who want the throttle to do the hard part of every start. It has a left thumb throttle, a 750W angle-geared hub motor and a rated 90Nm of torque. That’s the highest figure in this group, tied with the Himiway. A torque sensor adds pedal-driven assist once you’re moving. A torque sensor reads how hard you press the pedals and scales the motor to match. A cadence sensor only notices that the pedals are turning.

It ships as Class 2 and can be set to Class 1, 2 or 3 on the display. The throttle tops out at 20 mph. Pedal assist goes to 28 mph in the Class 3 setting.

Ride1Up sells it for about $995 with the 10Ah battery and about $1,095 with the 15Ah. Buy the 15Ah. The 10Ah is not recommended because range and climbing both suffer. Maker range figures are 25 to 45 miles for the 10Ah and 30 to 60 for the 15Ah. The Portola 02 Lite starts at $895 if you can live without the integrated rack, lights and fenders that the full 02 includes.

It folds small and weighs 61 to 63 lbs (58 to 60 for the Lite). Rider weight tops out at 342 lbs. It has dual-piston hydraulic brakes with 180mm rotors.

The downsides are worth knowing:

• One frame size, so riders over about 6 ft 1 in may feel cramped.
• The throttle output can’t be capped, so practice in an empty lot first.
• The display sits low on the BMX-style bars, leaving little room for accessories.
• There are no over-the-air updates, and Find My tracking works only with Apple devices.

See Ride1Up’s site

Velotric Discover 2

The Discover 2 is the commuter with the biggest battery here: 48V and 705.6Wh. Velotric lists it at $1,999 but sells it for about $1,499 now. The maker claims up to 75 miles with pedal assist and 60 on the throttle. Treat those as ceilings.

You get a 750W hub motor rated at 75Nm and Tektro hydraulic discs with 180mm rotors. The 80mm fork has a lockout, which stiffens it for smooth pavement. Payload is 440 lbs, the highest of the nine. The throttle is a trigger type, pressed with your thumb. Class 1, 2 and 3 switch on the display. It defaults to 20 mph and can be set up to 28.

Compared with the XPress2, you give up the standard rack and fenders. In exchange, you get a larger battery and a higher payload. Right now only the Cherry Crimson color shows in stock on the maker’s site.

Quirks to know about:

• Velotric lists 63 lbs, but one tester measured 69 lbs.
• The display is hard to read through polarized sunglasses.
• Speed jumps between assist levels.
• Switching between torque and cadence sensing happens only in the app.

See Velotric’s site

Aventon Aventure.3

Sore knees are a throttle use case in themselves. You can rest your legs on a climb, and a step-thru frame spares you the leg swing over the saddle. The Aventure.3 comes in step-over and step-thru. It also has a 750W hub motor (1,440W in Boost mode) and 26×4 fat tires that soften rough pavement.

It lists at about $1,999. Aventon calls it Class 2. The throttle runs to 20 mph, and pedal assist goes to 28 mph. A 28 mph assist cap is how most Class 3 bikes work. So check which setting you’re in before you ride somewhere with class rules.

The rest of the spec is generous. Torque is 80Nm, and the 36V, 733Wh battery gives up to 65 miles claimed. A switch toggles between torque and cadence sensing. You also get GPS and cruise control. Payload is 400 lbs. It makes sense for gravel paths, packed sand and mixed pavement.

The weight is 76 lbs for the step-over and about 77 lbs for the step-thru. Charging takes 6 to 7 hours. The Tektro hydraulic brakes are fine, though some riders would want four-piston calipers at this weight. Aventon’s security features need a small subscription after the first year.

See Aventon’s site

Himiway D5 2.0

The D5 2.0 is the only full-suspension bike here, with 100mm of travel up front and 130mm at the rear. It has 26×4 Maxxis fat tires and a 750W hub (1,300W peak) at 90Nm. The battery is 48V and 720Wh. Himiway lists a 70-mile pedal-assist range and 40 miles on the throttle.

The 15Ah Space Grey step-over lists at about $2,199, and some variants run $1,999. Class 1, 2 and 3 are available. It defaults to 20 mph and can be raised to 28. Brakes are Tektro hydraulic discs, with 203mm rotors in front and 180mm in back. The payload is around 400 lbs.

Choose it if you’re a larger rider or you spend time on broken pavement, gravel or sand. It’s the bike on this list that I’d call comfortable on bad roads. It’s also the one you can’t lift. At 92 lbs, you need a garage floor, not a second-floor walk-up. It doesn’t fold.

Himiway advertises a fit range of 5 ft 1 in to 6 ft 5 in. That’s optimistic, and taller riders will want a longer seatpost. The Smart Auto assist mode is hard to use at low speeds. The display has no USB port.

See Himiway’s site

Aventon Soltera 2.5

The Soltera 2.5 is the quiet, tidy commuter of the group. It lists at about $1,199 and weighs 46 lbs. It has a throttle, a torque sensor, integrated lights and Tektro hydraulic discs. The Baja color is in stock on aventon.com, and Midnight Black is sold out.

The motor is modest: 350W sustained, 540W peak, 45Nm. The 36V, 346Wh battery claims up to 46 miles. In practice you’ll see roughly 27 to 29 miles at maximum assist and 48 to 55 in eco. That makes it a bike you ride in a low assist level to stretch the battery.

Don’t expect it to climb steep hills on throttle alone. Throttle acceleration is slow, and the slick 700x38c tires get sketchy on loose or wet surfaces. The fork is rigid and the drivetrain is basic Shimano Tourney. Total weight limit is 300 lbs.

Compared with the XPress2, it is lighter and calmer, with far less power. That’s the right trade if your commute is flat and you carry the bike up stairs.

Check price on Amazon

Lectric XP Lite 2.0

The JW Black XP Lite 2.0 is Lectric’s cheapest bike with a throttle. It lists at about $899 with the standard battery, and the long-range versions run about $999 to $1,099. With the 7-lb battery on, it weighs 49 lbs, and it folds. That’s the lightest folding throttle bike on this list.

It is Class 1 or 2, with a 20 mph top speed, and the throttle is a twist grip like a motorcycle’s. A Gates carbon belt drive replaces the chain, which means less grease and less maintenance. The motor is 300W (819W peak) at 28Nm. Battery options are 375Wh standard or 672Wh long-range. Brakes are hydraulic discs.

It has one gear. Above roughly 15 to 16 mph, pedaling feels like ghost pedaling, spinning the cranks with nothing to push against. Payload is 275 lbs, and hills are not its strength. Lectric claims up to 45 miles on the standard battery. Riders report 19 to 37 miles. If range matters, budget for the bigger battery.

Pick it for flat routes, short errands and small spaces. If your route has real hills, step up to the XP4 750.

Check price at Lectric Check price on Amazon

Jasion EB5

The EB5 is here because some buyers have a hard ceiling on price. The MSRP is about $399, and it gets discounted heavily. It is Class 2, with a 20 mph top speed on throttle and pedal assist. It’s a 26-inch hardtail with a spring fork, a Shimano Tourney 7-speed drivetrain and a removable 36V, 360Wh battery. Weight is about 50 lbs, and max load is 330 lbs.

The listing rates the motor at 350W with a 500W peak. Range is claimed at 25 to 40 miles. Riders report 18 to 25 miles of mixed riding and about 12 on the throttle alone. So think of it as a short, flat-commute bike.

The trade-offs are real:

• Mechanical disc brakes, which are cable-pulled and need regular adjustment. One reviewer noted a slightly warped front disc.
• A 5 to 6 hour charge.
• A small battery that limits hill climbing.
• Mixed customer-support reports.
• A one-year warranty on motor and battery, and six months on the frame.

The maker claims UL 2849 certification, but doesn’t name a certifier. Before you buy, look for a named certification. Charge the battery away from exits and sleeping areas.

Check price on Amazon

How to choose a Class 2 electric bike

Class 1, 2 and 3 at a glance

Most states use a three-class system. It sorts bikes by how the motor is controlled and how fast it stops helping. Our guide to e-bike classes goes deeper. Here’s the short version.

Thumb throttle or twist throttle

A thumb throttle is a small lever you push with your thumb. It’s easy to hold steady on a long ride. A twist throttle turns like a motorcycle grip. It takes less thought at a stoplight. But it can get tiring on the wrist, and you can bump it by accident on rough ground.

In this group, the XP Lite 2.0 uses a twist. The Discover 2 uses a trigger. The rest use a thumb lever. If you’ve never ridden one, I’d start with the thumb lever.

Why a torque sensor plus a throttle works

This is the combination I’d look for. The torque sensor makes pedaling feel natural, because the motor follows your effort. The throttle covers the moments when you want power with no pedaling: launching from a light, crawling up a short ramp or resting your knees.

Know the catch, though. Throttle-only riding drains the battery faster. Himiway’s own figures are 70 miles with pedal assist and 40 on the throttle. Velotric’s are 75 and 60. The Jasion drops to about 12. Use the throttle for starts and climbs, and pedal the rest.

Motor power and torque for hills

Watts tell you about sustained power. Peak watts are a short burst. Torque tells you how hard the bike pulls from a stop or up a grade. On this list, the XP Lite 2.0 has 28Nm and the Soltera 2.5 has 45Nm. Both are weak on steep hills. The XPress2 (85Nm), Portola (90Nm), Himiway (90Nm), Aventure.3 (80Nm) and Discover 2 (75Nm) are the ones I’d send up real hills.

Battery size and range

Watt-hours (Wh) are the battery’s fuel tank, volts times amp-hours. The nine bikes run from 346Wh to 840Wh. Maker range claims assume gentle assist on flat ground. Plan on roughly half of the claim if you ride in high assist, carry cargo or climb. For more on cells and chemistry, see our e-bike battery guide.

Weight and folding

Weights here run from 46 lbs to 92 lbs. A folding frame saves floor space, not weight. If you carry the bike up steps, aim for the Soltera 2.5 or XP Lite 2.0. If it lives in a garage, the heavy bikes are fine.

The nine at a glance

Where Class 2 is allowed

On roads and in bike lanes, a Class 2 bike is treated like a regular bicycle in most states with the three-class system. Many paved multi-use paths accept it too. Local rules vary, so look for the sign at the trailhead.

Dirt is where it gets tight. Many mountain bike trail systems allow only Class 1 on singletrack, and some allow none. A throttle is often the sticking point, since managers want the rider’s effort to set the speed. Federal land has its own rules by agency, and they change from park to park. Our guide to e-bike rules on public lands covers the details.

So for a Class 2 ebike for trails, think gravel roads and rail-trails, not singletrack. If singletrack is the goal, a Class 1 e-MTB is the safer buy. Start with our best electric mountain bikes.

Can a Class 3 bike be switched to Class 2?

On some bikes, yes. The XP4 750, XPress2, Discover 2, Himiway D5 2.0 and Portola 02 all let you pick the class on the display. In the Class 2 setting, the throttle and assist cap at 20 mph.

Two cautions. First, the label on the bike is supposed to match what it does in states that use the class system. If you change the setting, check what your state expects. Second, some places are moving against fast bikes. Class 3 limits have been proposed in places like New York City. Our rundown of the NYC Class 3 bills shows what would change. A switchable bike lets you adapt, but keep it in the lower class where it matters.

Class 2 e-bike questions

What is a Class 2 e-bike?

It’s an e-bike with a throttle that can move the bike without pedaling. The motor stops helping at 20 mph. Most Class 2 bikes also have pedal assist.

What is a Class 1 e-bike?

A Class 1 bike has pedal assist only and no throttle. The motor stops helping at 20 mph. It is the class most trail managers accept.

Which Class 2 e-bike can go 20 mph, and what is the fastest?

Every bike on this list reaches 20 mph on the throttle, because 20 mph is the Class 2 cap. The difference between them is how quickly they get there and how well they hold it uphill. The XPress2, Portola and Himiway have the most torque in the group.

Can a Class 2 e-bike go over 20 mph?

Not on the throttle. Some bikes sold as Class 2 let pedal assist run to 28 mph, as the Aventure.3 and Portola do. Switchable bikes can run to 28 mph when set to Class 3. Our piece on how fast an e-bike goes explains the limits by class.

Should I buy a Class 2 or Class 3 e-bike?

Pick Class 2 if you ride shared paths, want the simplest legal status or want a throttle for starts. Pick Class 3 if you share fast roads and need to keep up with traffic. If you can’t decide, buy a switchable bike like the XP4 750 or XPress2 and set it to Class 2 for now.

Photo: Divvy bikes at McCormick Square, Chicago, 2025 by DimiTalen, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.