E-bike features to look for in 2024

Buying last year’s model is a savvy way to save money on an e-bike without compromising much (or anything) on performance. As summer drifts into Autumn, you’ll be able to grab some of the best end-of-season deals we’ve seen for a few years.

But if the price isn’t a deal-breaker, it might be worth waiting until later in 2024 to buy an e-bike. We’re seeing interesting new trends and innovations appear in the market after a few Covid-hit years of stagnation. Here are the new electric bike features to look out for this year.

Dual-suspension low-step frames

Once you’ve tried a low-step frame, you’ll never want to awkwardly swing a leg over a high saddle again! Rear suspension, a feature often reserved for mountain bikes, is being added to less technical e-bikes to increase comfort. But squeezing in rear suspension alongside a low-step frame had confounded bike designers until now.

We’ve tested and recommended new models from Sinch and Smartmotion that pack 100mm of rear suspension into a reasonably stiff low-step frame – and there’s another from Moustache we haven’t got to ride yet.

Dropper posts

Dropper posts are telescopic seat posts that can be lowered with a handlebar-mounted control. It’s another innovation borrowed from mountain bikes; dropper posts make descents of steep, rough trails more controllable (and fun) by dropping the saddle out of the way. For many e-bikes never intended for rough offroad use, they make it more comfortable to get on and off the saddle and easier to plant a foot down at stops.

Shimano Cues LinkGlide gears

Seasoned e-bike riders know all too well how fast gears and chains wear out, and how costly they are to replace. With the new Cues LinkGlide gearset, cycling giant Shimano claims to have the solution. Cues is designed for durability on recreational bikes, unlike previous gearsets that were lower-cost versions of more expensive components designed for cycle racing.

Shimano claims its new LinkGlide rear cassette is up to three times more durable than the Deore and Alivio versions it replaces. That should be great news for e-bike riders. We can’t confirm the validity of those claims, but we have ridden Cues and found it shifted gears better than any e-bike drivetrain we’ve ridden previously. That’s a good sign.

Bosch Smart System

Bosch have made their e-bike systems smart – linking to an app to add extra functionality, such as the ability to customise assistance modes. You can also use the app to lock the e-system and (with an extra GPS module) track the location of your bike if it is moved. But I think its best new function is over-the-air system updates, which means you don’t need to take your bike to an authorised dealer to keep your Bosch e-system up to date. It allows you to use any independent bike store to service your bike, or even tackle it yourself. If you take away the complexity and mystery of the e-system, you’re left with a mechanical bike like any other.

New e-bike tests dropping in spring

E-bikes developed from “acoustic” bikes and opened cycling to a whole new audience. Since we published our first test of 14 e-bikes in 2017, they’ve improved rapidly: e-systems have become more refined, and e-bike designs are much more integrated. Covid paused the pace of innovation, but 2024 could be the year e-bikes break away from the “acoustic” bikes they grew from and really gain their own identity.

We’ll identify new models to add to our test as they are released over the coming months, publishing our next batch of results and recommendations in spring.