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While electric bicycles are undoubtedly becoming more and more popular, there’s no denying that their style is not for everyone. One of the reasons why people are not making the transition from regular bikes to e-bikes is because of their futuristic looks.
While some people love a cutting-edge-looking vehicle, other riders may be put off by their relatively unusual looks. That’s why I’ve made this article on vintage electric bicycles to help show people that there is an e-bike available for everyone.
Contents
Below I’m going to discuss six of the best vintage electric bikes I’ve ever used. They’ve been selected not just for their classy stylish looks but for other attributes as well. This includes durability, battery life, speed and mileage, and more.
If you’re ready to see the wonderful combination of retro aesthetics and modern day technology then let’s dive into this list!
Range
65 miles
Speed
20 mph
Weight
77 lbs
Power
750 Watt
Verdict:
Whether you’re an experienced user of e-bikes or looking to buy your very first one, is a cool and unique retro e-bike that is a great choice especially if you are interested in long but fast off-road rides.
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The first vintage electric bike I want to show you today is one of the latest releases of Addmotor, a renowned e-bike brand. The Motan M-70 R7 fat tire bike instantly gives off the sense of modern retro bicycles with its sleek black frame and its vintage-style headlight and handlebars.
While this e-bike certainly looks like an accurate representation of mid-20th century cafe riders, it has some impressive stats that allow it to compete with the most modern-day e-bikes. It has an impressive top speed of 20mph and an even more impressive max range of 65 miles per full charge. It may look like a dated bike but it has the power to truly take you on a wild ride.
Additionally, the Motan M-70 R7 has a max load capacity of 300 pounds making it quite sturdy. The classic headlight is quite bright making this bike a good choice for anyone who likes to ride after dark. It also features a number of addons you can rarely find elsewhere like a backlit LCD control panel, multiple gear shift functions, mechanical brakes, high beams, a bell, and a loud horn. Plus, it comes with 20-inch fat tires that would let you explore rough terrains like beaches, snow, mountains, and trails.
Range
55 miles
Speed
25 mph
Weight
74 lbs
Power
750 Watt
Verdict:
Apart from the , Addmotor boasts another state-of-the-art retro e-bike, the Motan M60. You will surely love exploring the whole city with this powerful and fast vintage-style e-bike with its high-quality built and luxurious design!
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Second on our list is another captivating retro e-bike freshly released by Addmotor, one of the legends when it comes to crafting high-quality and aesthetically pleasing e-bikes. This retro-bike is a good mix of classical and modern looks, quality, durability, and competence.
For one thing, the 20-inch fat tire wheels are perfect for riding in hard, uneven, and rough terrains. It also has great braking and turning feel as well.
It comes with a longer seat that could accommodate another passenger if you like. Yet aside from the extra space for an extra person, the seat provides an extension that gives you additional control while changing pedal angles. It helps with your posture and is so soft enough that you’ll always want to be in contact with it, even at high speeds. Overall, this is easily one of the most comfortable vintage electric bikes I have ever used.
Range
35 miles
Speed
16 mph
Weight
50 lbs
Power
250 Watt
Verdict:
The ANCHEER e-cruiser is best for any adult rider who wants to get hold of a powerful yet unique-looking retro style e-bike. This e-bike is a great example of a properly mixed vintage looks with modern-day conveniences.
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ANCHEER is of the well-known brands when it comes to crafting the highest quality electric bikes. And just like any other ANCHEER e-bikes, the e-cruiser lived up to my expectations.
For one thing, this vintage bike is one of the most unique-looking e-bikes on the market. But more than that, its high-speed gear shift system that has 6-speed shift variations is the one that hooked me the most. This allows you to change gears to set your preferred top speed depending on the terrain you’re traveling to. It’s a wonderful feature that gives you the freedom to set your max speed to something slower and relaxing, or something faster for more of an adrenaline rush.
Range
40 miles
Speed
19 mph
Weight
59 lbs
Power
350 Watt
Verdict:
Heybike Cityscape E-bike looks like your standard e-bike, and has all the necessary components of a quality vehicle without breaking the bank.
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Like many of the best electric bikes out there, the Heybike Cityscape comes with a 7-speed Shimano gear system to give you powerful efficiency over how you want to ride. The wheels are 26 inches long which ultimately lends itself to adult-sized cyclists.
One of my favorite features is the USB charging port which is something I wish all e-bikes had. Being able to charge your bike on the go when at a mall for example is very useful.
The removeable battery, purchased separately, can also be super handy should you need to double your juice. Though keep in mind that 40 miles on a single charge with the pedal-assist mode still makes this Heybike meet the basic standards of a long-range bike.
And of course, its vintage looking seat and handlebars have an old-fashioned charm that makes this bike awesome.
Range
35 miles
Speed
25 mph
Weight
69 lbs
Power
350 Watt
Verdict:
This simple e-cruiser is what you’re looking for if a simple, no-hassle bike that is low-maintenance is all you need when cruising around the city.
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The included wicker basket makes this a great choice for shopping, but even more important is the comfort, especially of the seat. The rounded design makes it safe to sink into the seat without feeling like your posture is slouching poorly.
The curvature of this bike’s design has a European look to it that is hard to find in American made bikes. This makes sense when you take into account that this bike was manufactured in Germany. That adds nicely to the vintage feel.
Range
28 miles
Speed
15 mph
Weight
50 lbs
Power
250 Watt
Verdict:
Swagtron is known for their high-quality devices, and the EB-11 is absolutely no exception. It looks cool, it feels cool to ride and ultimately is cool itself thanks to its abundance of features.
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One of the neatest security features here is the key-secured battery lock, making it near-impossible for this thing to fall off or be stolen. This is a feature I want more e-bikes to take note of.
Maybe I can only speak for myself but I really enjoy the looks of this bike. The mix of black, white and yellow gives it a vibe that somehow makes this bike fit in with virtually any situation. It’s like this bike is so advanced that it doesn’t even look out of place in a parking lot next to dozens of cars.
This is also one of the most comfortable e-bikes I’ve ever ridden, thanks to the highly curved handlebars that allow your hands to rest in a natural angle.
Now that I’ve given you a taste of some examples of great vintage e-bikes, I’m going to spend some time explaining what it is that makes a vintage electric bike so good in the first place. That way you can take this information with you should you ever decide to go shopping for a new vintage e-bike someday.
First thing’s first – let’s talk about the style. If you specifically are looking for a vintage electric bicycle then that probably means that the aesthetics matter quite a bit to you. That means you should be adamant about exactly how you want your e-bike to look. Don’t be afraid to spend a little extra if you really want the model that looks exactly like the bike or the motorcycle you owned or wanted back in the day.
Next let’s talk about characteristics that apply to any kind of electric bike, vintage or otherwise. You always need to take into account where and how you are going to ride your bike. If you plan on using it as an urban commute vehicle or for off-road trails, then the wheels, battery, speed, and mileage will have to reflect your needs.
If you only need an e-bike that goes 15mph then you don’t need to spend extra money on a bike that goes over 20mph. If you only need a max range of 20 miles, then likewise, you won’t need to spend more cash for anything that goes farther than that.
Additionally, you should also be thinking about extra functions or accessories as these are often some of the best benefits that e-bikes offer over regular bikes. Many electric bicycles come with gear shifting modes, pedal-assist riding modes, LCD screens that display battery life and a speedometer, and other technological conveniences.
Lastly, any kind of bike should be both safe and comfortable. A good vintage electric bike should have comfortable seat padding and handlebars with a good grip. Additionally, the bike itself should ideally have some sort of water-resistant capabilities and good brakes. A dual disc brake system that stops both wheels is the most ideal choice, especially if you are using a faster bike than usual.
Vintage-looking electric bicycles are specifically designed to have a very retro look, particularly of the types of bikes that were popular during the mid 20th century.
“Vintage” is a broad word, therefore vintage e-bikes can take many different shapes and styles. Some of them look like popular motorcycles from the 1950s and 1960s. Some of them look like standard classic bikes from even earlier decades of the last century.
The short of it is that vintage e-bikes are actually quite diverse in their looks. The frame, headlight, handlebars, and other components will all look different depending on what specific model they are based on. This gives you a lot of freedom when selecting what kind of vintage e-bike you want.
At their core, vintage electric bikes are no different than regular electric bikes. They both have a battery and a motor and can come with various functions. Pedal-assist mode, gear shifting, LCD screens, and more are precisely the kind of convenient features one can expect to find on an electric bike, whether or not it is made in a vintage style.
Just as modern-day regular bikes can be turned into electric bikes, any older vintage bicycles you have from decades ago can undergo the exact same kind of transformation.
All one needs to do to turn their vintage bike into a vintage electric bike is to purchase a conversion kit and preferably have an online tutorial that teaches you the process. These conversion kits can be found easily online and come with all of the items you need to transform your bike, including a motor, battery, and more.
Last update on 2023-11-18 at 02:36 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.