Urban commuters have a rough time getting to work. If you take the car, you have to set your alarm extra early because you know you’ll spend forever stuck in gridlocked traffic, watching the clock tick down as your anxiety spikes. You put tons of wear and tear on your car and waste money pouring gas into your idling car because the stop and go traffic burns through a lot of gas.

Taking public transportation isn’t any better. You have to wake up even earlier to take transit. If you’re lucky, your city has a great subway system and you can hop a single line from your home to your office. If you’re unlucky, it takes wizard like skills in cartography hopping from station to station, line to line, and a lot of advanced planning to make sure that delays and switches don’t cost you any time. If you miss one of them, be prepared to wait forever for the next one and call the boss to let her know you’re late. All of this, in the best-case scenario, crams you into overly packed quarters filled with sweating bodies and nosy strangers.

You arrive to work already stressed out before your day even begins, and you completely forgot to stop for coffee but your travel tumbler is still sitting on your kitchen counter and.. oh no!! Did you even remember to turn the coffee pot off?

It’s time to change how you commute. You live so close to your office that sometimes you feel like you could walk there faster… and you’re probably right! The only issue is that no one wants to walk in work clothes, and after a long and stressful day at work, no one really walks to walk all the way back home when their energy is low. Luckily, there are some really affordable alternative options!

We looked for a better option for morning commutes and decided to review the best budget ebike that we found. The Swagtron SwagCycle EB-5 Power Assist E-bike is absolutely perfect for urban commuters who are fed up with the morning rat race and ready to hit the open road.

Overview

Swagtron EB-5 Best Budget Ebike

• Maximum Speed:  15 miles per hour
• Power Output: 36-volt, rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Motor: 250 watt hub motor
• Range: 15.5 miles in power mode, more with pedal assist
• Charge time: 4-5 hours
• Best use: Urban riding, flat terrain
• Portability: Foldable
• Net weight: 37 lbs
• Load capacity: 265 lbs

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How Does The E Bike Work?

This bike works in much the same way as a traditional bike. It’s basically a booster packed to a bike. It has a built-in motor that allows it to run as a fully electric bicycle that doesn’t require pedaling or as a hybrid bicycle that assists your power so that each pedal goes farther than it would on muscle strength alone. It uses a hub motor with a built-in high efficiency heat sink to keep your commute running smoothly.

There is a red power button on the handlebars that allows the engine to engage. A latch allows you to turn the handlebars for the most comfortable grip. Once you turn the bike on, a little screen will light up with a battery indicator to show you its remaining power.

Twist the throttle and start pedaling to take this from fully electric to assisted riding mode for maximum range. The manufacturer recommends toggling between electric and pedal assist modes to maximize your commute and minimize your effort.

The downside of their pedal assist is that it’s not adjustable. It is either on or off, with no range of settings to conserve additional energy.

To stop, just squeeze the hand brake. Braking works like a traditional bike.

This bike comes fully assembled, so you don’t have to worry about learning how to assemble a bike or waste money paying a professional to do it for you.

How Far Can The E Bike Go?

The range of this bike is just over 15 miles when you disengage pedal power. Unlike similar models, this bike has pedal assist, so it is capable of handling hills and rougher terrain instead of only being able to ride on flat surfaces and roads. This means that you can go pretty much anywhere with this bike!

You can engage assisted pedaling for those big hills to reduce power without having to get off and walk. Doing so means it takes 83% less effort to ride uphill than a normal bike.

The one place you can’t go with this bike is chasing after storms. Unlike other models, this electric bicycle is not made to brave the elements with its stock standard tires. It is not recommended to ride this bike in the rain or snow unless the tires are changed to suit wet weather.

How To Use The E Bike Meter

The handlebars are thin. The right-hand bar has the throttle and battery indicator.

In addition, you can activate the constant speed cruise setting from here, allowing you to relax and enjoy the ride if you find a comfortable traveling speed over even terrain. The on/off switch is located near the gearshift, on the right side.

Suspension And Transmission

The Swagtron EB5-pro folding electric bike has been kept simple in this area. There is only one gear so you don’t have to fuss with changing gears when riding. If you need a boost to kick off just engage the motor.

There is also no suspension on this bike. However, the saddle is padded and easily removable if you want to swap it out for a more plush ride.

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Wheels and Brakes

Braking with this bike is a breeze! One of the cool features is Autoguard, which automatically shuts off the engine the second the brakes are hit. This prevents unexpected obstacles from sending you flying. Simply use the hand brake on the handlebars to stop your bike.

The bike features 14-inch wheels.

Portability

The Swagtron SwagCycle EB-5 is extremely portable. While many e-bikes feature a foldable frame, this model also features foldable pedals and a foldable handlebar. When folded, the dimensions of this bike are 15.6’’ by 23.6’’ by 26’’. This makes it easy to stash on public transportation, in luggage for air travel, or in any compact space you want to carry with you on the go. While it is heavier than other similar e-bike models, it is still lighter than 40 pounds, making it easy to carry up and down any stairs, you may encounter during your commute.