While the lack of bells & whistles isn’t enough justification to drop a cool thousand on a new bike, you can spec out your existing e-bike for a much smaller price tag to match the capabilities of 2026 flagships. To do that, we’ve compiled 5 product categories.
Comfort & Contact Points
The easiest way to upgrade your e-bike riding experience is to better engage the first sense organ you use to interact with the bike - touch. The feeling of high-quality & premium materials is the quickest way to elevate your riding from mediocre to meteoric.
Ergonomic Grips
These Ergon GP4 Evo grips cost $79.95. They are fully rubberized and feature angled bar ends. The bar ends are also adjustable. The rubber is latex-free and UV-stable, so it won’t irritate sensitive skin or degrade when left outside. Crucially, its sturdy construction and thickness help dampen vibrations. They also lock onto the handlebars and won’t rotate even on the trickiest of trails.
Wide Platform Pedals
Annoyingly, even the best electric bikes often come with subpar pedals as a cheap cost-cutting measure. So, we love these RockBros Carbon Fiber MTB Pedals, which cost $67. They weigh a mere 252g and are constructed with carbon fiber. They don’t flex. They don't deform and take a hell of a beating. They are fully sealed and are paired with a titanium axle to dampen vibrations.
Visibility & Lighting
This category isn’t really optional, because it is all about safety, and most e-bikes within the past decade have featured some sort of lighting system. However, most are subpar and leave a lot to be desired. We have a full guide on lighting, which you can read to learn more. But here are the best ways to keep yourself and others visible at night & in poor lighting conditions on the road.
Headlight & Radar Taillight
Our pick for a sufficiently bright headlight is the 2500 Lumen NiteRider Lumina Max, which costs $199.99. For that price, you get a USB-C rechargeable headlight. This headlight is also compatible with NiteRider’s wireless control system, which lets you choose when to turn the lights on. It also features a fiberglass lens and aluminum heat sink, ensuring a rugged build that won’t melt.
Our favorite radar taillight is the $199 Garmin Varia. It sets off when it detects a vehicle up to 153 yards (140 meters) away and automatically illuminates. When used with compatible smartphones, the Varia app also sends you alerts. It is battery-operated and can last up to 16 hours in day flash mode and 6 hours in solid lighting mode.
Turn Signals Helmets
A perennial option in just about every relevant helmet top-10 list, the Unit 1 Aura MIPS costs $260 and is our ideal helmet with turn signals. It's a bit pesky, but you have to buy a control unit for the helmet to activate the turn signals. It features MIPS construction, a lightweight ABS shell, and is certified to the NTA 8776 standard, meaning it is certified for S-Pedelecs that can go up to 28 mph.
Cockpit & Tech Integration
Modern bikes are as much a part of your tech ecosystem as your iPad, phone, or laptop. They run an operating system, feature GPS connectivity, and provide live telemetry. While it's difficult to create an identical ecosystem to the native version, here are our picks to emulate it.
Computer
The easiest way to take your legacy e-bike into the 21st century is to buy a bike computer. We love the $330 Garmin Edge 540. It has GPS, route planning, live tracking, inclination tracking, and a 26-hour battery life. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth, and you can also get stamina insights, power output, and performance insights for your daily health goals.
Bell
Our favorite bike bell is the $14 RockBros electric bell. This electric bell can go as loud as 90 dB. It has 3 different sound modes, and its silicone coating makes it watertight. It weighs only 51 grams and is super easy to install.
Cargo & Utility Upgrades
Need to store more to do more? We’ve got you. We love the $291 Vaude Pannier. This German-engineered, fully waterproof pannier can hold 48 liters of your stuff. It weighs just under 2 kg and can carry up to 35 kg. It features a rear mounting plate with a quick-release feature & it comes with a shoulder strap that you can utilize when you grab it to go.