There’s no denying the fact electric bikes have more components than an unassisted bike, but modern e-bikes are now getting much closer to matching their non-electric equivalents in the weight department. Folding bikes still lead the way as the lightest e-bikes available, but carbon fibre framed e-road and hybrid bikes are slowly catching up.
Motor and battery technology is getting smaller and more efficient, so it’s not like brands are even compromising on power or usability for less weight – as evidenced by the fact some of the bikes below are also listed in our overall best electric bikes guide. That being said, of course there are some e-bikes that are built purposefully to be the ‘lightest’, so make sure to check the specs before buying to make sure it’s still fit for your riding needs.
Lightest electric bikes 2023
- Scott Lumen eRide - 15.5kg | Buy for £11,695 from Blazing Bikes
- Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate - 14.8kg | Buy from CHF 6'290.00 from Thömus
- VELLO Bike+ Titanium - 9.9kg | Buy from £4,838 from Human Cycle
- Hummingbird Electric - 10.9kg | Buy for £4,495 from Hummingbird
- Hummingbird Folding Electric Flax Bike - 10.3kg | Buy for £4,995 from Hummingbird
- HPS Domestique - 8.5kg | Buy from €14,400 from HPS
- ARES Super Leggera - 9kg
- Ribble Endurance SL e Hero - 10.5kg | Buy for £8,499 from Ribble Cycles
- LeMond Prolog - 11.8kg | Buy for £4,576 from LeMond
Lightest e-MTBs
1. Scott Lumen eRide – from £6,499 (15.5kg)
A cross-country beast, the Scott Lumen eRide range is a capable electric mountain bike, light on weight, but big on price. Prices start at £6,499, and for the 15.5kg bike we’re on about, it’ll set you back £14,699. Just like most things in cycling, the less it weighs, the more it’s likely to cost.
The natural ride feel of the TQ-HPR50 e-bike system is a big selling point, and is also what allows Scott to keep the weight so low. It weighs just 3.9kg with the motor itself only weighing 1,850g. Even without the minimal weight, this Lumen eRide range is pretty attractive, and worth a look if you want an aggressive e-MTB and you have deep pockets.
For more detail, read our article on the Scott Lumen.
2. Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate – from CHF 6’290 (14.8kg)
We’ve not been fortunate enough to try this one, but the Lightrider E-Ultimate is claimed to be the lightest full-suspension electric mountain bike in the world. It tips the scales at just under 15kg for the top of the line spec. Unfortunately the motor isn’t the most powerful, with 40Nm peak torque so it’s perhaps best suited to more cross country style riding.
It’ll set you back CHF 10’374.00, which is roughly £9,475 at the time of writing. It uses a Maxon BIKEDRIVE AIR mid-drive system which weighs 3.5kg, just 400g lighter than the TQ-HPR50 e-bike system. If you’re after an e-MTB that’s likely just as nice to ride with the motor turned off and you can afford it, the Lightrider E Ultimate could be for you.
Lightweight electric folding bikes
3. VELLO Bike+ Titanium – from £4,838 (9.9kg)
This ultralight contraption was unveiled back in April 2022 at the Cycle Show, and uses super light components. This includes “ultra-lightweight titanium” which helps keep the weight just under 9.9kg - that is, until you add in the electric drive system.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Cycle Show bike was a one-off, with the production e-bike models listed at 12.9kg without pedals. The unassisted version still weighs 9.9kg, but if you want to shave weight off the e-bike you’ll have to get the Dremel out – which isn’t something we’d recommend. We reviewed the non-titanium version below.
For more detail, read our review of the VELLO Bike+.
4. Hummingbird Electric - £4,495 (10.9kg)
Back in 2019 when the Gen 1 Hummingbird Electric launched, it was the lightest e-bike of its kind. Fast forward to 2023 and it’s still incredibly light, at just under 11kg, but not the lightest. There is a lot of carbon fibre in play to help keep the weight low and the fold is similar to that of the Brompton style.
The Gen 2 is now the current model, and it’s quite pricey at nearly £4.5k, but is a great option for urban riding and last-mile commuting. It isn’t quite as compact as a Brompton, and thus won’t fit into smaller luggage compartments on busy trains, but it’s easy enough to carry through buildings and as it’s so light, it can easily be carried up stairs as well.
For more detail, read our review of the Hummingbird Electric.
5. Hummingbird Folding Electric Flax Bike - £4,995 (10.3kg)
Sticking with the Hummingbird brand, they recently released the Flax, made partially using flax fibres to produce a bike that weighs a reported 10.3kg. This is 600g lighter than their Hummingbird Electric model and £500 more expensive.
It’s a single-speed machine, built around the ‘all-in-one’ Zehus motor system. This consists of a 158Wh battery contained within a hub motor. The idea behind using flax is that it’s sustainable as well as lightweight. The waste from the production stage is biodegradable, meaning it’s less harmful to the environment to dispose of than other materials' waste products.
For more detail, read our article on the Hummingbird Folding Electric Flax Bike.
Lightest electric road bikes
6. HPS Domestique – from €14,400 (8.5kg)
Could this be the lightest e-bike on the market? Quite possible. It claimed to be back in 2021 when it launched, and it looks like it still might be at just 8.5kg. The HPS brand designed the Domestique e-road bike in conjunction with Formula 1 engineers, with the aim of producing an electric road bike that rides just like an unassisted one - oh, and that weighs roughly the same as well.
This is achieved through the 1.5kg Watt Assist System, which includes a minuscule 85Wh battery or an 193Wh option they reckon can cover three hours of riding. All of this in a sleek carbon fibre package will set you back €14,400 - about £12,700 at the time of writing. It’s a lot to spend to be part of a select club, but if weight matters to you on an electric road bike, this is definitely one of if not the lightest around.
For more detail, read road.cc’s article on the HPS Domestique.
7. ARES Super Leggera - €18,950 (9kg)
Not the lightest, but certainly one of the best looking, the ARES Super Leggera is made in partnership with the same High Performance Systems (HPS) that made the Domestique above. It utilises the Watt Assist system which houses components close to the bottom bracket area for a sporty ride.
Hidden in the downtube are the electronics that manage the battery and motor, although the battery itself looks like a water bottle installed in a specially designed cage. If you think you want one, however, it’s a pretty exclusive affair. They’re only sold and exhibited in ARES showrooms located across the globe, (although not in the UK) and cost €18,950 (£16,435 at the time of writing).
For more detail, read our article on the ARES Super Leggera.
8. Ribble Endurance SL e Hero - £8,499 (10.5kg)
If you’re after something a little more attainable (read: available) then the Ribble Endurance SL e Hero is a great call. It’s significantly cheaper for only a kilogram or two more weight. This particular model now comes with a 2x12-speed Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset, and the popular hub-driven MAHLE Smartbike Systems X35+ motor and battery.
We last reviewed it in 2019, but were impressed with the value, quality and lightness of it all – and at a claimed 10.49kg now, that is lighter than when we tested it. A reliable option, with actual availability in the UK, the Endurance SL e is hard to fault.
For more detail, read our review of the Ribble Endurance SLe Di2.
Lightest electric urban and hybrid bikes
9. LeMond Prolog - £4,576 (11.8kg)
Not only does the LeMond Prolog look the part, but it’s also pretty lightweight for an urban bike, let alone for an electric one. It uses the same MAHLE Smartbike Systems X35+ motor and battery system as many other road going brands like Ribble and Orbea, so you know what to expect in terms of power assistance and battery range.
Although it’s not perhaps groundbreaking in terms of weight, the Prolog is still light enough to be hauled up flights of stairs. Stick some wider tyres on and you’ve got a very capable lightweight hybrid e-bike.
For more detail, read our review of the LeMond Prolog.
How to choose from the lightest e-bikes
Does the weight of an e-bike matter?
When you’re riding, not a great deal, as long as the e-bike system is good enough to make it not feel like you’re riding through treacle. If you’re concerned about the weight of an e-bike because you need to be able to carry it about, like a folding bike, then yes, it does matter.
It’s impossible to escape the fact that electric bikes need more kit on them to make them electric. That’s why they usually weigh more than their unassisted counterparts. But as we’ve shown with some the bikes on this list, the technology is progressing so you can choose an electric bike that provides the necessary power at the minimal weight needed to do the job.
What e-bike is the lightest weight?
The HPS Domestique electric road bike is certainly one of, if not the lightest electric bike available as a production model. There are some custom models that might be a bit lighter, but the Domestique weighs just 8.5kg (although it costs €14,400).
What motors are on the lightest electric bikes?
This depends. If we talk about the lightest of all categories, then you’re likely looking at hub motors – unless you look at the HPS Domestique, which uses a motor nestled above the bottom bracket. You’ll see mid-drive motors in the lighter electric mountain bikes, as mountain bikes perform far better with mid-drive than hub-drive.
Folders are likely to use hub-driven motors, and similarly with electric road bikes, except for those using proprietary tech.
