The Bicycling Test Team rode and evaluated hundreds of bikes to establish the year's 40 best. We divided 2022's winning bikes into four main categories: Gravel, Road, Commuter, and Mountain. Click on the buttons below to see our top picks for 2022 in each category, access full reviews for bikes, and view galleries with exclusive images.

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Trek | District 4 Equipped
$1,730 // 34.2 LB (Large)

trek district 4
Maegan Gindi

Fully equipped with a rear rack, lights, fenders, and an internally geared drivetrain, the District 4 Equipped includes almost every amenity imaginable, stripping away off-bike maintenance and preparation in favor of a polished on-bike experience. Arriving at work or the grocery is more graceful than ever on this quiet, reliable utility bike. With a belt drive, quick-stopping hydraulic brakes, and an available step-through version (called Stagger), it highlights the reason so many of us prefer to commute by bike: the joy of motion.—Aithne Feay

Read Full District 4 Review Trek District 4 Gallery


Momentum | PakYak E+
$6,845 (As Tested) // 103 LB (One Size)

pakyak e
Dan Chabanov

A sturdy and dependable way to transport cargo or humans around town, the Momentum PakYak E+ electric bike lets you enjoy the ride rather than deal with the frustrations of car traffic and congestion for those short- and medium-length trips. The PakYak E+, a one-size midtail-style cargo e-bike from Momentum, comes equipped with a front basket, rear rack, a heavy-duty kickstand, and lights. A wide range of optional accessories customize your PakYak’s cargo configuration based on what you want to carry. A class 3 e-bike, the bike has 80Nm of torque and pedal-assisted power up to 28 mph via five support levels. Paired with a five-speed Shimano Nexus internal gear hub, the bike helps you haul kids or cargo efficiently and comfortably without breaking a sweat.—Caitlin Thompson

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Hudski | Doggler City
$2,000 // 25.5 LB (Large)

hudski doggler city
Maegan Gindi

The only thing more unusual than this bike’s name is how versatile it is. Hudski is a portmanteau of the last names of founders Will Hudson and Brian Szykowny, longtime friends who tackled the ultimate challenge of making a do-anything bike. Doggler is a term they use for an old friend, and this bike—available in builds for city, gravel, and mountain use—is exactly that

Though other bicycle brands have made strong urban-hybrid contenders, most are pavement-focused utility bikes. They can swing dirt surfaces in a pinch, but they favor low maintenance over broad terrain flexibility. The Doggler City is the opposite, a dirt-ready beast tamed for the streets.

The City model brings an eclectic off-road feature set to the urban environment at a competitive price. All Doggler bikes include the same wide-geared Shimano SLX 1x groupset, a carbon fork, dropper post, trail-focused geometry, and bespoke Hudski handlebars. The primary difference is each version’s wheelset: The Doggler can handle anything from narrow-ish 700c rubber to 27.5x2.6-inch-wide mountain bike knobbies. The City features a 29-inch version of Maxxis’s two-inch-wide Grifter BMX tires and a swept-back bar for
nimble pavement cruising. Hydraulic brakes help inspire confidence on busy roads. Swap between wheelsets to change the bike’s capabilities, but not its character.

Hudski’s designers have created a true do-it-all bike, tweaked to highlight terrain nuance with each wheelset variant. The result is the thoughtful expression of a love of bikes, not merely as a tool but as a companion that can carry you through anything.—A.F.

Rear Full Doggler Review Hudski Doggler Gallery


Specialized | Sirrus X 4.0
$1,500 // 24.5 LB (Large)

specialized sirrus x 40 for best bikes 2022
Maegan Gindi

Part of Specialized’s long-running Sirrus lineup, the aluminum-framed X 4.0 is a competent, city-focused fitness bike that can handle any pavement or dirt track it encounters, with speed and grace.

The Sirrus is billed as a fitness bike, and that’s where it truly excels. While spartan accessory mounts sacrifice some utility, the Sirrus X 4.0 is strong on performance features like hydraulic disc brakes, multi-surface tires, and Specialized’s creative Future Shock stem suspension system.

You get quality components throughout, like an 11-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain, and internal cable routing one might expect on more expensive bikes. If the price is still too high, the Sirrus line starts at $650. Nestled at the apex of budget and quality, the Sirrus X 4.0 is an affordable bike for exercise or commuting. It’s perfectly built for getting you from A to B while leaving you hungry for C.—A.F.

Specialized Sirrus X 4.0 Gallery


GT | Power Performer
$2,600 // 51 LB (One Size)

gt power performer
Trevor Raab

This trendy, quirky, retro-BMX-themed e-bike will put a smile on your face when cruising or commuting. Like the BMX bikes many of us had as kids, the Power Performer inspires you to do skids, stay out well after the streetlights come on, and look cool all at the same time. The Power Performer doesn’t completely make sense until you take it for a ride; then you hit the little thumb paddle for the throttle and suddenly it all clicks. A BMX bike with fenders, an aluminum frame, 29-inch wheels, a nine-speed drivetrain, and a peppy, 250-watt Bafang hub motor? These are a bunch of great tastes that are not supposed to go together. But somehow, GT combined all these disparate ideas to make a really special bike.

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Cero |One
$4,210 // 63.8 LB (One Size)

cero one e bike
Trevor Raab

Maybe no type of bike benefits more from pedal-assist power than cargo. Traditional cargo bikes are unruly when loaded. But add a motor to the mix and they become the perfect tool for grocery-getting, hauling stuff, or carrying kids—exactly the kind of vehicle that can replace a car for some trips.

If you’re looking for a heavy-duty bike just for this purpose, the One has you covered. With the One’s max load rating of 77 pounds (but no more than 55 pounds on one rack), we routinely carried large amounts of gear using a combo of the front and rear baskets. An optional platform rack can be used for transporting large or irregularly shaped items.

The One’s feature set is optimized for commuting and utility. A Gates belt drive and five-speed internally geared hub are low maintenance and provide reliable performance. Integrated head- and taillights allow you to see, and be seen, while riding. Full-wrap fenders keep you clean of road spray. And the integrated Abus wheel lock is handy for quick errands and keeps anyone from easily riding off with the bike; we recommend a heavy-duty lock when leaving the bike anywhere for an extended period of time, or if locking it up out of sight.

The Shimano Steps E6100 motor has an intuitive feel, with pedal assist up to 20 mph. Motor settings can be controlled via the display screen or with a phone app, where you can also update firmware and adjust riding modes and max assist speed. For example, you can switch from Natural to Sportive mode for a little more torque when starting or on hills. We found this especially useful when hauling around heavier loads.

Cero One Gallery


Aventon | Soltera
$1,200 // 42.1 LB (Large)

aventon soltera
Trevor Raab

Many commuter-style e-bikes have complicated features and designs that are impractical for many riders’ lifestyles. What excites us about the singlespeed Soltera is its simplicity and functionality. Aventon did away with derailleurs and disc brakes and skipped the suspension fork and fat-bike-size tires. This makes for a lighter e-bike that is easier to live with and maintain.

This simplicity, however, does not mean the Soltera is barebones or boring. At the heart of the bike are a 350-watt rear hub motor and a 10-amp-hour integrated battery. A thumb-controlled throttle helps you accelerate from a stop, or get some extra assistance up hills. The front light is bright enough to illuminate a bike path at night; the rear light is cleanly integrated into the frame and also functions as a brake light.

Read Full Soltera Review Aventon Soltera Gallery


tokyobike | Bisou
$825 // 27.7 LB (50CM)

tokyo bisou city commuter from best bikes 2022
Trevor Raab

Combining clean design aesthetics with practicality, the accessibly priced tokyobike Bisou is a great bike for getting around town. What sets the Bisou apart from other commuter bikes or townies on the market isn’t only its stately, classic appearance: toykobike uses 26-inch wheels across its range. The smaller-diameter hoops are handy for city riding; they get up to speed quickly from a stop and provide a nimble ride around potholes or illegally parked vehicles. The bike’s shorter wheelbase also makes the bike easier to carry upstairs or store in smaller apartments.

The Bisou’s step-through-style frame makes getting on or off the bike easier, especially when carrying anything in a basket or on a rack. The bike is available in six colors and three sizes and can be upgraded with numerous accessories when buying on the brand’s website.

toykobike Bisou Gallery


Specialized | Turbo Vado 4.0
$4,000 // 57.5 LB (Large)

specialized turbo vado for best bikes 2022
Trevor Raab

There are few feelings better than riding a bike where everything just feels “right.” That best describes everything about the Turbo Vado. From the motor to the computer head unit and phone app, to the aesthetic design, to the parts selection, to the ride quality, the Turbo Vado 4.0’s details have all been thoroughly thought through to perform as a seamless package. This is a rare quality from which anyone—a lifelong cyclist or the person getting their first e-bike—can benefit and enjoy.

Specialized is known for its ethos of continual R&D, but that focus is not limited to the brand’s competition bikes. On the Turbo Vado, it utilized those skills to make an elegant utility e-bike to carry you around town with aplomb and style.

The Turbo 2.0 motor delivers quick, seamless power to the pedals, with barely any perceivable pedal lag. Turbo Vado’s motor feels natural and intuitive, with just the slightest sound of motor “whir” to tell you you’re getting an assist, plus a whole lot of extra confidence that you’ll make it to work without getting too sweaty or easily climb that hill on the ride home.

When you have such a good motor and electronic interface on an e-bike, the other component parts that make up a bike can easily be overshadowed. Luckily, Specialized also did a great job on the Turbo Vado 4.0’s build kit, outfitting an e-bike where the parts all blend together functionally and aesthetically.

A SRAM NX 11-speed drivetrain and 11-42 tooth cassette give the Vado 4.0 a broad selection of gears to help get up longer or unexpectedly steep hills. Stopping duties are managed by SRAM Level hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors, which have plenty of power on hand and good modulation.

The SR Suntour Mobie A32 suspension fork performed much better than expected. Despite not having damping adjustments, it felt smooth and well-mannered over a variety of different-sized bumps regularly encountered riding around town. It also feels laterally stiff under heavy braking, a reassuring quality on a 57-pound e-bike with a 200-pound rider aboard.

Important commuter-friendly features are also well-thought-out on the Vado. The front and rear fenders are full metal, don’t rattle around over rough pavement, and do a sufficient job of keeping road spray off your body. Though not overly large, the sturdy rear rack carries up to 60 pounds and fits MIK-compatible accessories. Integrated front and rear lights are powered by the main battery and are bright enough to illuminate the bike lane at night.

At $4,000, the Turbo Vado 4.0 carries a higher price tag than many other commuter e-bikes. However, with that premium comes a more refined and integrated riding experience, superior brakes and drivetrain, a quality suspension fork, and a global dealer network, in the event your motor requires service.

Read Full Turbo Vado Review Specialized Turbo Vado Review


Brooklyn Machine Works | Gangsta Track V.4
$975 frameset // 22 LB (Large)

brooklyn machine works gangsta from best bikes 2022
Miki Marcinkiewicz

Lots of bikes are built to get around city streets, but few do it with the basic simplicity of fixies. Just one gear, no brakes, no coasting. There are few better examples of the modern fixed-gear bike than the Brooklyn Machine Works Gangsta Track. The latest version of this classic bike features a chromoly frame and fork with updated geometry, removable brake bosses (in case you want to run it with brakes and a freewheel), and a headset. This special edition blue and high-viz color is an homage to the legendary Subaru World Rally racing team livery of the 1990s and early 2000s and is only available through King Kog in Brooklyn, New York. You can also pick up a Gangsta Track in neon orange or black.

Brooklyn Machine Works x King Kog Gallery


Brompton | P-line
$2,965 // 21.6 LB (One Size)

brompton pline from best bikes 2022
Trevor Raab

Tight on space but still want a bike for getting around town? The new P-Line from foldable stalwart Brompton is the ideal bike for busy city dwellers. Replacing the old, all-titanium Superlight, the P-Line features a ti fork and rear triangle to shave weight to a road-bike-esque 21 pounds, without bulking up price. The new wheelset is now stronger and lighter and features custom four-speed gearing, and Brompton enhanced portability with new roller wheels and slimmer dimensions. When folded, the P-Line measures in at a mere 24x11x26 inches, making it easy to carry onto a train or bus, stash under a desk, or fit into the smallest of studio apartments.

Read Full P Line Review Brompton P Line Video Brompton P Line Gallery