Ebikes come in all shapes and sizes, quite literally. From diminutive folding bikes to beefy downhill mountain bikes there's one for every occasion, and the choice is becoming bewildering.
One of the first big firms to ride the electric wave was Specialized, and the popular American company drew on its long heritage of building world-class bikes to develop a new range of "Turbo" e-bikes, getting off blocks a decade ago, well ahead of the surge in popularity which we're seeing now.
And while Specialized's e-bike range is now incredibly comprehensive, covering every competitive discipline from road biking to extreme off-road riding, it's their all-rounders that I've been most interested in.
And the nice people at Specialized sent me their top-spec utility bike, the Turbo Vado 5.0 IGH to get to grips with over a few weeks, and getting settled in to life with a £5,600 e-bike has been an absolute delight.
Let me tell you a bit more about the Turbo Vado range. The latest 5.0 Vado is available in a lightweight SL, or full-fat versions, with conventional or step-through frames.
Driven by a mid-mounted 250w motor and, in the version I tested, powered by a hefty battery offering nearly 20ah, it's capable of covering up to 90 miles, depending on which of the three settings you choose to ride in.
Eco, Sport and Turbo are all selectable through handlebar-mounted buttons, and in the most potent "Turbo" mode it'll effectively amplify your leg power by four times.
It's available with either an 11-speed conventional derailleur system, or with fully automatic gears through a belt-driven, hub-based system by Enviolo. I've been trying the latter, and it's seriously impressive. Not having to change gear on a bike takes some getting used to, but it does simplify the process.
The bigger Vado comes with chunky tyres and an 80mm front suspension fork, along with a suspension seatpost. It has a rack at the rear capable of carrying 27.5kg, and lights front and rear that are wired into its battery.
That battery unhooks from its cavity within the frame and charges through a large unit off a normal mains plug. You also have SRAM hydraulic disc brakes and huge mudguards draped over the 2.3 inch tyres.
The handlebar-mounted display is married up to the four buttons on the left-hand side of the wide handlebars, and this displays an array of statistics, starting with your riding speed and pedal cadence, along with other useful information on other screens including altitude, torque and battery levels.
There's also a feature on my test bike, developed by Garmin, which uses a rear-mounted radar sensor which will alert you, through the bike's display, to any cars approaching you from behind. It's a marvellous bit of kit, which does away with the need for mirrors and means you can keep your eyes on the road.
And it could be argued that on the road is where the Turbo Vado 5.0 is at its best. The tyres might be chunky, but they're fairly smooth, and they roll well, despite their size.
While the suspension setup and the sheer geometry of such a large bike does lend itself well to riding on the rough stuff, I found it was more at home on the back-lanes and B-roads of my local area, on the edge of the Peak District.
Around town, the mountain of torque available from the mid-drive motor, especially on the Turbo setting, helps you sprint away and keep up with traffic - although your assistance does cut out at 15.5mph, thanks to some rather stringent UK laws.
And, it has to be said, when that assistance cuts out, it does expose the sheer weight of the bike. At over 25kg it's quite a beast. But I guess that just highlights how much it assists you.
And that level of assistance is infinitely tuneable, through Specialized's own Mission Control app. Bundling in everything from an anti-theft feature to ride tracking, it'll even offer a smart control feature to ensure you're on the optimal setting to complete your ride.
Although on general recreational riding, there's so much power offered by the battery you really don't need to think too much about settings. Just make sure it's charged up and enjoy your ride.
It's hard to pick any faults with the Turbo Vado 5.0. I didn't find the handlebar grips all that comfortable, but grips are a very personal thing, and mounting the battery in the frame is a tad fiddly, even with practice, as is connecting the magnetic charging lead to it.
But minor gripes aside, it is a glorious illustration of just how far the technology has come. Blending Specialized's strong reputation for creating genuinely capable bikes with some of the best technology on the market has produced what must be one of the most desirable e-bikes on the market today.
Sure, you can spend less than £1,000 on an e-bike and thoroughly enjoy it, I've been there and done that. And I realise £5,600 is a lot of money. But if you're ready to take your cycling to the next level and invest in something built to last and capable in almost any situation, it's impossible not to recommend the Turbo Vado 5.0. It's a terrific bit of kit.
