The bulk of the e-bike market sits between $1000 and $2000. Buyers can stretch
their dollars like taffy and find a good bike that suits their needs. But some folks want Lexus, not Toyota. Even though the market isn't as robust and the offerings are fewer, there is definitely a market for premium commuter e-bikes like the Evelo Atlas in this review.
So what makes for a premium commuter that's fit for touring? The first, most obvious difference is swapping the hub motor for a mid-drive motor mounted in the frame. This is where most of the additional expense goes. Once a manufacturer makes an upgrade of that sort, we often see other upgrades—better brakes, a wider-range drivetrain with more gears (or better yet, a more sophisticated drivetrain altogether), a better quality suspension fork and other little touches, like
better lights.
