Best hybrid bikes: how to choose the right model for you

How to find the best hybrid bike that suits both your riding and your budget

Hybrid bikes are a great solution for many cyclists.

With flat handlebars and relaxed geometry they offer an upright riding position that’s well-suited for navigating traffic and enjoying a leisurely ride on a cycle track. Typically they offer decent tyre clearance too, making them adaptable and comfortable across a range of terrain. Throw in mounts for fenders and rear racks and the best hybrid bikes are a practical option that can double duties as both a reliable commuter and a bike for fitness.

Although some hybrid bikes include a suspension fork, many don't. This is a feature that may not be needed for less extreme riding, as the hybrid bike's wide tyres will take care of bumpy surface conditions. A suspension fork can add substantial weight to the bike, while lower priced suspension forks may not add much comfort to the ride. Some hybrid bikes may use less complex suspension systems, as with the Specialized Sirrus X below.

Hybrid bikes are also a popular option to which to add an electric motor, making them some of the best electric bikes. We've included some electric hybrid bikes in our round-up of the best hybrid bikes below.

To put the bikes through their paces, our testers rode a variety of terrain across varying distances and weather conditions, detailing important considerations such as comfort, ease of use and durability - all vital components of the best hybrid bikes.

Read on for our top picks or head lower down the page for advice on how to choose the best hybrid bike for your needs.

Best electric hybrid

With build options offering fenders and a rack, the Hybrid is AL e is ready to roll, while the Ebikemotion system delivers plenty of assistance and range.

Read more below

Best low-maintenance e-hybrid

The Gates belt drive makes for a low maintenance ride, aided by fenders coming as standard. The rear hub motor features a torque sensor to match the power to your pedalling.

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Best for features

With front and rear Dynamo lights and fenders as standard, the Continuum Onyx is loaded with features. Add in the Gates belt drive and you have a solid commuter-friendly option.

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Best budget hybrid

With a Shimano drivechain, disc brakes and a carbon fork, the RC 500 delivers great value for money, while the fender and rack mounts add to its versatility.

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Best premium hybrid

While the frame's look may divide opinion it's design and carbon construction make for low-weight and plush ride. The FutureShock front suspension adds to this, reducing fatigue.

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Best value

A 10-speed Shimano groupset with a single chain ring, hydraulic disc brakes and carbon forks add up to a great value build. There are mounts for both fenders and a rear rack.

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Ribble Hybrid AL e demonstrates how subtle the electric power is on the bike

Our expert review:

We test rode the electric version of the Ribble Hybrid AL - the Ribble Hybrid AL e - and loved it so much we gave it a Cycling Weekly Editor's Choice Award as it's one of the best hybrid electric bike's we've seen.

Offering a smooth level of assistance from the Ebikemotion system, coupled with decent range and a fully loaded spec the Ribble Hybrid AL e can handle the daily commute as well as anything. But being both capable and rewarding, it's certainly not restricted to A to B rides and could take you on many adventures.

The aluminum frame features elegantly shaped tubing profiles including pencil-thin, dropped seatstays for added compliance and a distinctive dropped driveside chainstay design. There's a step-through frame option as well as a frame with a crossbar if you prefer a bike that's easier to mount and dismount.

Ribble has specced a full carbon fork on the Hybrid AL e to help keep weight down whilst still retaining a good level of steering stiffness and much needed vibration damping.

The Ribble Hybrid AL e is really quite a joy to ride in most respects. It has an engaging handling feel and a build quality that turn it into a bike you look forward to riding rather than a dead and dreary commuter.

At this price point you get a fully loaded electric bike with a superb frame, quality motor system and really decent parts the Ribble Hybrid AL e certainly offers almost unbeatable value when compared to its rivals.

If you want a non-assisted bike, the Ribble Hybrid AL is available in a range of pre-built specs, many of which come with mudguards and a rear rack. Ribble provides advice via video link to its showroom if you want a walkthrough of the bike's features or more buying info.

Read more: Ribble Hybrid AL e full review

Tenways integrates the motor and battery neatly into the CGO600 electric bike

Our expert review:

The Tenways CGO600 Pro has an alloy frame and fork with a slender battery enclosed in the downtube. It's a low maintenance design with a lubricant-free Gates belt drive that Tenways says should go up to 19,000 miles without servicing. Tenways says that the bike is weatherproof, but should not be stored outdoors regularly.

Assistance comes from a 350W (in the US) rear hub motor, which gives a 53 mile claimed range and includes a torque sensor that helps ensure that the power output matches your pedalling input. The battery locks into place, but can be removed for easier charging. The on-bike LCD display gives plenty of data and allows you to switch between the four assist modes and there's an app which lets you log trip distance and other data.

The CGO600 Pro has Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. It's kitted out with grippy tires, mudguards and an integrated front light, although there are no water bottle cage mounting points.

Tenways sells its range of commuter bikes part-assembled, so there's a little work to get everything set up, with some tasks a little tricky. The bike is supplied with some useful extras like a mini pump. The handlebar grips were a little uncomfortable with bare hands, but they're easy to swap out and a pair of cycling mitts would solve this.

Read more: Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bike full review

The Priority Bicycles Continuum Onyx has a belt drive and variable ratio transmission

Our expert review:

The Priority Bicycles Continuum Onyx includes front and rear lights, fenders, and uses a Gates Carbon belt drive system with a continuously variable rear hub. It's unlike most anything on the market and offers the advantage of reduced maintenance and no chance of grease on your clothes.

If you want a bike that feels at home in the urban jungle the Priority Continuum Onyx might be the perfect solution.

Both the frame and the fork are made from aluminium - a material common at this price point. It's light but stiff and easy to work with.

But what's really unique is the continuously variable NuVinci N380 CVT drivetrain. What you get is roughly the same gear range as a common 7-speed chain driven bike but without distinct gears. Shifting happens with a grip shift and there is a smooth progression from easy to difficult.

It has a carbon belt instead of a chain and all the shifting components live in the rear hub. The system is silent and requires no real maintenance, which is why it suits a commuting bike so well.

With the Priority Continuum Onyx there is no real point of comparison on the market. It's possible to get other hybrid bikes in the same price range with a focus on different features. It's also possible to find cheaper bikes but if you want something with this unique mix of features, this is it. There's simply nothing else out there that's quite the same.

Read more: Priority Continuum Onyx full review

Decathlon offers excellent value with the Triban RC500

Our expert review:

The Triban RC500 is a speedy hybrid bike that's more tarmac than off-road orientated and will suit those riding mostly on the road. The carbon fork supplies phenomenal value and adds an enormous amount of comfort to the ride.

The bike's head tube puts you in an upright position from the off. Out on the roads you're left feeling in control of the bike but also comfortable, with the aluminium frame absorbing a good amount of the road's lumps and bumps.

Just because it has a focus on comfort doesn't mean the RC500 is slow to respond. We were impressed by the bike's fast acceleration and how well it holds its speed. Newer riders will certainly be impressed by its turn of pace.

It's a great price for a great bike; the mechanical disc brakes are OK, but worth a hydraulic upgrade if you see a good deal. There's a compact 50/34 chainset boasting a rear cassette replete with a wide spread of gears that will see you up and over most hills, without sacrificing flat speed.

The tyres warrant a special mention, having proven their robustness over the course of commutes (and many more shards of glass). The tyres and the wheels (another Decathlon in-house product) form a fine partnership and can even be set up tubeless should you want the extra security.

If you are looking for the best hybrid bike at this sort of price point, and are after plenty of versatility and dependability then look no further than the Triban RC500 flat bar.

Read more: Triban RC500 flat bar full review

The Specialized Sirrus X has a unique design that adds a lot of comfort to its ride

Our expert review:

The eye-catching carbon frame design of the Sirrus X stands out and, along with the Future Shock 1.5 headset, adds plenty of comfort. You can fit tires up to 42mm wide too. Reflective paint ups your road presence when riding after dark.

The combination of a 38 tooth chainring with an 11-50 tooth 12-speed cassette gives a wide gear range, although we found the SRAM Eagle NX shifting a little unrefined and that it lacked the top-end ratios for higher speeds on tarmac. There's a more road-going spec available if you do want higher gearing and skinnier tires.

The Sirrus X 5.0 feels light, fast and very comfortable on road and in its element on bumpy off-road, when its built-in compliance features make it very smooth, even with tires at higher than ideal pressure, to avoid pinch flats. The wheels and tires are both tubeless-ready, allowing you to lower pressure and add even greater comfort and grip.

The price is high for a hybrid, but the Sirrus X isn't your normal hybrid and its clever design will up your riding enjoyment no end, even is the component spec is underwhelming for the price.

Read more: Specialized Sirrus X 5.0 full review

The Boardman HYB offers a women's-specific fit

Our expert review:

The Boardman HYB 8.8 has a carbon fork paired with its alloy frame - the fork being a nice extra to improve comfort over an alloy or steel number. The bike's geometry is quite racy, so you're not sitting as upright as on many hybrids.

There's a smart-looking one piece bar and stem, which gives the Boardman Hyb 8.8 a stylish air, although it makes for fewer adjustment options than a more conventional separate bar and stem.

The bike comes with a single chainring 10-speed Shimano Deore groupset. That's a good combination, lowering complexity by eliminating the front derailleur. The wide range cassette still gives lots of gear range, although it does result in quite large jumps between ratios.

We reviewed the women's HYB 8.8, but there's a men's/unisex version too, which differs only in its size range and contact points: saddle and bar width. It's well specced for its price and comfortable and fast to ride, although we'd have liked wider tyres for more off-road adventures.

Have a look too at our review of the Boardman HYB 8.6, a lower priced alternative to the HYB 8.8.

Read more: Boardman HYB 8.8 hybrid bike full review

A quality spec marks out the Giant Escape 1 Disc

Our expert review:

The Giant Escape 1 has a butted aluminium frame (Giant calls it ALUXX) with tons of stand-over clearance - an ideal bonus if you're commuting in jeans - and a composite fork. The tyres are wide and this model can go off-road, but this is a bike designed mostly with tarmac in mind.

This would be a great hybrid bike for anyone looking to start leisure riding or wanting to get to work in comfort.

The Shimano Altus gearing is excellent. As with most Shimano products, it has proven itself bombproof, and its shifting didn't miss a beat. It's a triple setup, which means you'll have the use of three rings at the front (in a 26/36/48 guise paired with a nine speed cassette on the back) which makes winching yourself up any hills relatively painless.

Giant has gone for integrated cables, a smart move as it reduces the risk of contamination or damage over time and thus maintenance. The brakes offer super speedy stopping and there's a huge choice of gears.

Features such as a riser stem allow for an upright and comfortable position.

There are a handful of Giant Escape Disc Sport Hybrids to choose from with the Escape 1 the range topper, although it can be a little harder to track down than the lower priced Escape 2 and 3.

Read more: Giant Escape 1 Disc full review

Carrera's Subway is low priced and easy to live with

Our expert review:

This bike from Carrera represents good value for money, and with mudguard and a pannier rack it's a versatile option too. If you're planning on cruising around town, riding to parks, to beaches or to other recreation spots, you can't really go wrong with this.

There are three Carrera Subway bikes in the range: a men's and women's-specific Subway 1 and a male/unisex Subway 2.

All three share the same lightweight aluminium frame, with the women's frame getting a subtle frame geometry tweak with a dropped top tube.

We reviewed the women's Subway 1 and rode it on a mix of road and trail-like terrain.

Admittedly, it's not quite as comfortable as some other options out there, but a slight decrease of tyre pressure helped soften the buzz enough to take the Carrera Subway 1 off road, and it coped pretty well.

It's nimble enough to navigate tight slow corners, while being predictable to give a rider handling confidence, especially when descending at a reasonable speed or when riding slowly in traffic.

The mechanical disc brakes were top notch and we actually struggled to tell the difference performance-wise compared to hydraulic ones.

The Carrera Subway 1 is a good bike that will get you out rolling and enjoying the world on two wheels. With its mudguard and pannier rack mounts, it also offers a good deal of opportunity to be reasonably versatile.

Read more: Carrera Subway full review

Weight

Brakes

Gearing

Max tire width

Ribble Hybrid AL e

13.1kg

Shimano hydraulic disc

SRAM NX 11-speed

35mm

Tenways CGO600 Pro

41lb

Tektro hydraulic disc

Gates 1-speed belt drive

Not specified

Priority Continuum Onyx

30.3lb

Hydraulic disc

Nuvinci CVT

32mm

Triban RC500

10.5kg

Promax mechanical disc

Shimano Sora 9-speed

36mm

Specialized Sirrus X 5.0

Not specified

Tektro hydraulic disc

SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed

42mm

Boardman HYB 8.8

10.4kg

Shimano hydraulic disc

Shimano Deore 10-speed

35mm

Giant Escape 1 Disc

11kg

Hydraulic disc

Shimano Altus/Alivio 9-speed

36mm

Carrera Subway

14kg

Mechanical disc

Shimano Tourney 7-speed

1.95"

A hybrid bike is a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike, incorporating the best bits of both to create a machine that is comfortable over multiple terrains and surfaces.

While the best comfort bikes are ideal for gentler-paced leisure riding and best fitness bikes are designed more for workout goals, the best hybrid bikes give you a lot of versatility, either for commuting or weekend leisure rides.

Each of the best hybrid bikes will have its own unique design. The road and off road capability is blended differently depending on model, with some having a stronger speedy road/urban bias, while others will have a greater preference for gravelly lanes and uneven off-road terrain. If you're unsure what bike is best for your riding then read our article explaining the difference between mountain bikes and hybrid bikes.

Hybrid bikes generally have tyres that are wider than those of a pure road bike, but narrower than mountain bike tyres. Somewhere around 28-32mm is the norm but the more rugged will go up to 50mm

Hybrid bikes will have flat handlebars and a more upright position that allows the rider to sit with a straighter back than on a road bike

You'll often find disc brakes on a hybrid: these provide more powerful stopping and are more reliable in wet weather than rim brakes

If you plan to use your hybrid bike for commuting, look for eyelets for mounting a pannier rack and mudguards - most hybrid bikes will have these and they may have a rack and mudguards already fitted

Yes and no! The most important thing about getting the best hybrid bike for you is fit. Many brands will offer women's hybrid bikes which will come in smaller sizes, including narrower handlebars and women's-specific saddles. Check out the full range of the best women's hybrid bikes on our dedicated page to help you decide.

How do I get the best style of hybrid bike?

The best hybrid bike for someone else might not be the best hybrid bike for you. Think about the sort of riding you're going to be doing. Would you be better suited buying a hybrid bike that is more similar to a road bike, or one that is more similar to a mountain bike?

If you are thinking of riding your bike to work check out our top tips for commuting to work by bike page for all you need to know. In the UK consider the Cycle to Work Scheme to reduce the net cost of your purchase.

If you're doing most of your riding on roads and cycle paths, then the best option is to go for a more road-orientated hybrid. Quite often, these will feature the same frame and fork as found on the manufacturer's sportive road bike, but with a flat bar handlebar for a more upright position. The tyres will also be slick, and not super wide, allowing you to ride fast and keep up with traffic.

This type of hybrid bike will normally also come with gearing that reflects its road origins, mainly designed for relatively fast riding over flat roads. At its bottom end, the gearing should also be easy enough to tackle some pretty fierce hills. But, if you're carrying extra pounds in your panniers (or around your middle), then you may struggle a little.

However, if you are going to be riding on rough cycle paths and bridleways, then it's better to go for one that will be able to cope with the terrain.

The main difference with this type of hybrid is that it will come with a suspension fork, which will improve comfort when riding over rough, rutted surfaces. These bikes will also come with slightly wider tyres, usually with a bit of tread on too to give a little more grip.

With regard to gearing, they will generally have slightly easier gearing than their more road-orientated brethren.

Although you won't be able to hit quite the same top speeds, having a big sprocket at the back and a tiny ring at the front should help you get better at climbing hills. Our video on how to ride faster up short, steep hills could help here, especially at the end of your commute, even on a Friday evening at the end of a long, tiring week.

Compared to road bikes, all hybrids will come with wider tyres. The width will vary, but it will generally be something between 28c and 42c. Not only will this help to improve comfort, ironing out any rough surfaces, but will also add to the level of grip when the roads are wet.

The more varied the terrain you plan to ride on, the wider you'll want your tyres. If you're sticking mainly to the road, opt for the lower volume end.

The best hybrid bike frame will generally have a fairly relaxed geometry. This means a short top tube and tall head tube to give a relaxed and upright riding position that should be nice and comfortable and help you avoid cycling neck pain.

Many of the best hybrid bikes also feature a top tube that is sloped downwards from the front of the bike towards the back, which will increase standover clearance and should make it a little bit easier to get on and off whatever you are wearing. Step-through frames without a top tube are also available for many hybrid bikes if you want even easier mounting and dismounting.

Hybrid bikes promote a comfortable ride position

The majority of hybrid bikes - like most bikes - use one of three materials: steel, aluminium, or carbon.

The least used of the three is steel, which although it is able to give a comfortable ride, generally makes a heavy bike. Think: tough to haul over the hills. Often, though, steel finds itself on the more stylish bikes. It can be a good choice if you're looking for a bike to pootle down to the shops on summer days.

If you're wondering should your next bike be carbon, aluminium, steel or titanium it's worth knowing that either steel or aluminium is the material used on the majority of the best hybrid bikes.

From budget options right up to more serious machines costing four figures, most will feature either a steel or aluminium frame. The better of the two generally will be aluminium, providing a light and comfortable ride, while standing up to plenty of abuse through years of use.

The third material, carbon, is more common on road bikes and higher-end mountain bikes, but it's starting to turn up on the best hybrid bikes. It's an incredibly versatile material, so a good choice if you're wanting to drop the overall bike weight, add compliance, or even stiffen it up.

There are also quite a few hybrids on the market that combine an aluminium frame with a carbon fork. This helps to keep the cost down through the use of aluminium for the frame, while the carbon fork will do a better job of soaking up judder from rough roads.

It might be a bit of a cliché, but you will generally get what you pay for when it comes to gearing. Pay more and the best hybrid bikes will come with higher quality groupsets. You'll gain more gear ratios, better quality shifting and less effort needed to shift between gears.

Our Buyer's Guide to road bike groupsets will explain the hierarchies in more detail for you.

Depending on use, gearing range might be more important than shift quality. If you live in a hilly area, then it's worth looking for a bike with a 32-tooth sprocket at the back. A big sprocket paired with a small front chainring will let you winch your way up steep gradients.

There are lots of hybrid bikes that offer a triple chainset. This is good if you want some seriously easy gears but it's not always the best answer. The gear range is often not that much more than with only two rings at the front. Moreover, it can be harder to find the perfect gear if you want to get into a rhythm on a long flat road or steady climb.

Most of the best hybrid bikes - and that increasingly includes the more value-orientated ones - use disc brakes. Rim brakes use two pads to grip the rim of the wheel, while disc brakes grip a rotor attached to the hub of the wheel.

Mechanical disc brakes use a cable to link the brake levers to the brake callipers, while hydraulic disc brakes have a closed system with hydraulic fluid. Hydraulic brakes generally give you more stopping power, better modulation and they're less prone to contamination than cable-operated disc brakes, but they're more expensive and harder to work on.

Although disc brakes have been used on mountain bikes for years, they're a more recent addition to road bikes, although they are pretty commonplace now and a perfect match for the best hybrid bikes.

Although discs supply more predictable braking in the wet, the stopping power of mechanical discs is not always greater than rim brakes in the dry. Additionally, the rim brake system is lighter than the mechanical disc system. Expect the superior hydraulic options to come with a bigger price tag.

Another advantage of disc brakes is longevity of your wheels. The rim-braking surface wears down over time, particularly if the bike is ridden in wet or dirty conditions. Moving it to a disposable rotor saves having to replace more expensive wheels.

Another thing to consider is the saddle that comes with the bike. Check that it suits the sort of riding that you're going to be doing. Also consider the clothing that you're going to be doing it in.

If you're riding more than a couple of miles then we highly recommend you invest in the best cycling shorts as getting a pair of padded cycling shorts will vastly improve your comfort in the saddle.

As is the case with most bikes, you may find even the best hybrid bike is sold either without pedals or in some cases, you might find plasticky black flat pedals included. If it's the latter, the first thing you should do to your new hybrid bike is take these off and throw them in the bin. Seriously. Invest in a more suitable pair. Check out our guide to clipless pedal systems and the best models reviewed.

The best options for commuting and urban riding are off-road pedals such as Shimano's SPD system. These are easy, even for beginners, to get in and out of. The recessed cleat makes walking easy and since it's an off-road design it's less susceptible to mud.

Disc brakes are an advantage for all-weather commuting

The best tire choice for a hybrid bike will depend on where you're riding. If you only expect to ride on tarmac, narrower tires with less grip will roll faster with less effort. Although you could fit 25mm wide tires, even the best road bikes are now routinely fitted with 28mm tires.

The best hybrid bikes will usually allow you to fit tires that are much wider though. You can choose a wide city tire, but if you plan to take your fitness bike off-road, the best gravel bike tires can add extra grip and versatility, without necessarily affecting your on-road riding experience.

For any riding, whether on road or off, the risk of punctures can be reduced by fitting the best puncture proof tires.

If you're having to carry large or heavy items to work, then it can be uncomfortable to carry a backpack. A better option is to invest in a pair of panniers. Panniers will move the weight from you to the bike. Have a look at our guide to panniers and pannier racks to help you decide.

All of the best hybrid bikes should come with eyelets in the frame for a pannier rack. It is possible to buy adaptor clips that will let you use a pannier rack without having the eyelets. The problem is these won't hold the rack quite as securely as if the frame is specifically designed for the purpose.

If you are pondering the question regarding whether you really need mudguards? The answer is yes!

Look for a hybrid bike that has plenty of clearance between the frame and the tyre. The clearance will be important for fitting mudguards. Even better will be a frame with eyelets so you can fit ones with better coverage, rather than flimsy clip-on ones.

It might seem a shame to spoil the look of your new bike in such a way, but you'll certainly appreciate it when cycling on wet roads.

The vast majority of major bike manufacturers create hybrid bikes. Specialized bikes, Trek bikes, Giant bikes and Boardman bikes are all examples of brands who offer flat-bar multi terrain hybrid bikes within their collections.

You can buy a bike online, but it might not be the best choice. As a result of being new to the cycling world you might be unfamiliar with the right bike fit for you. A good shop will make sure you leave the shop with the perfect fitting hybrid bike.

Look for a retailer that will fit the bike for you and allow test rides. Some also offer money back guarantees after 30 days in case you change your mind.

The best value is often on line if you know what features you want

We have a dedicated team of testers here at Cycling Weekly, whose job is to review a whole range of cycling products and to write objective reviews of their experience of using them day in day out in a whole range of conditions.

With huge experience, they're really well placed to compare products, identify their strengths and weaknesses and bring you an honest, unbiased assessment of how they perform.

To test hybrid bikes we undertake rides of varying lengths and conditions. Typically these will include town and city commutes as well as longer leisure rides. Our testers assess the performance each bike across a number of factors, including comfort and handling and the bike's suitability for commuting (for example, how well it is equipped to carry panniers and other luggage) as well as the quality of the build, the durability of the components and the bike's overall value for money.