E-bikes for steep hills, ranked by torque
Specs, prices and rules checked
Top of this list
Lekker Amsterdam GTS
The most torque of any non-cargo bike we list, through a Bafang mid-drive, and legal everywhere.
Commuter, touring and cruiser bikes legal today in at least one state, with torque at or above our list's median or a mid-drive motor; most torque first.
Pick another from the list below if its battery, weight or price doesn’t suit you. The model matcher ranks them for your own commute.
No legal e-bike has more than 250 W of rated power, so on a climb the difference between bikes is torque, measured in newton-metres, and whether the motor drives the pedals (a mid-drive, which can use the bike's gears) or a wheel hub. This list takes the commuter and touring bikes we've checked that have at least the median torque of our list, or a mid-drive, and ranks them by torque.
E-bikes for steep hills, ranked by torque
| Bike | Torque | Motor | Legal in | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lekker Amsterdam GTS | 80 Nm | Mid-drive | All 8 | $4,298 | Lekker Bikes (opens in a new tab) |
| Cube Touring Hybrid ONE 600 | 75 Nm | Mid-drive | 4 of 8 (+2 for now) | $2,999 | 99 Bikes (opens in a new tab) |
| Giant Explore E+ 3 | 75 Nm | Mid-drive | All 8 | $5,499 | Giant Australia (opens in a new tab) |
| Reid Quest 2 Mid-Drive | 70 Nm | Mid-drive | All 8 | $2,499.99 | Reid Cycles (opens in a new tab) |
| Specialized Turbo Como 4.0 | 70 Nm | Mid-drive | All 8 | $5,900 | Specialized Australia (opens in a new tab) |
| Ampd Bros ACE-X | 65 Nm | Rear hub | 4 of 8 (+2 for now) | $2,490 | Ampd Bros (opens in a new tab) |
| Avanti Discovery-E Low | 40 Nm | Mid-drive | 4 of 8 (+2 for now) | $2,499.99 | Avanti Bikes (opens in a new tab) |
Why each one is here
- 1. Lekker Amsterdam GTS
The most torque of any non-cargo bike we list, through a Bafang mid-drive, and legal everywhere. (Lekker Bikes, checked )
- 2. Cube Touring Hybrid ONE 600
The same 75 Nm as the Giant from a Bosch Performance Line, for far less on sale; its EN 15194 label needs checking in WA, the NT and Queensland. (99 Bikes, checked )
- 3. Giant Explore E+ 3
75 Nm from Giant's Yamaha-built motor, with Giant's honest 50–180 km range spread. (Giant Australia, checked )
- 4. Reid Quest 2 Mid-Drive
70 Nm for $2,499.99, the cheapest strong climber here, and EN 15194 compliant. (Reid Cycles, checked )
- 5. Specialized Turbo Como 4.0
70 Nm in a relaxed cruiser, with the biggest battery on this list. (Specialized Australia, checked )
- 6. Ampd Bros ACE-X
The only hub motor on the list, 65 Nm on fat tyres, but not legal in WA or the NT. (Ampd Bros, checked )
- 7. Avanti Discovery-E Low
A mid-drive, so it uses the gears, but only 40 Nm: fine for rolling streets, slow on the steepest. (Avanti Bikes, checked )
Why watts don't help you here
Every state caps continuous rated power at 250 W for a pedal-assist bike, NSW's interim 500 W class aside. A bike sold on a 750 W peak figure, like Leon's Aspen, is still 250 W rated, and more rated power would make it illegal. Torque and gearing are the only legal levers.
The federal import guide describes the bicycle class as 250 W, with the motor cutting off at 25 km/h. (Department of Infrastructure, checked )
Cargo bikes climb too
The Tern GSD and Benno Boost both use 85 Nm Bosch cargo motors, more than anything here, but they're built for loads, not speed. If you carry children up a hill, see them on the cargo pages rather than this list.
Lists rank by the rule above, never by commission. Match a bike to your own commute or read how we work.