It’s time to bring some style to your commutes. Parking permits can be really expensive in the city, especially if you’re a college kid who rarely leaves campus, and when you do it’s to nearby clubs or restaurants. Why pay hundreds of dollars to store your car and let it endure all kinds of wear and tear in cities that were clearly built in spite of difficult terrain? It’s time to downsize from 4 wheels to 2!
But how will you get around? Simple! Use a foldable electric commuter bike! What’s that? The technological marvel that will free up all that money you spend on parking and gas each semester, so you have more time to relax and party with your friends. Ditch the car and opt for a more environmentally friendly option that is still full of style.
We have looked into a lot of different electric bicycles and hand picked out favorites to review. We really like the Swagtron SwagCycle EB-7 Elite Folding Electric Bike! The Swagtron has a great range for your campus needs and lets you completely avoid traffic, parking lot fees at urban events, and other obstacles of fun. As an added bonus, the Swagtron brand of electric bicycles is officially endorsed by a Major League baseball team, so you know it’s cool.
Overview
Swagtron EB-7 Foldable Electric Commuter Bike
- Maximum Speed: 18.6 miles per hour
- Power Output: 36 volt lithium ion battery
- Motor: 350 watts with heat sink
- Range: 15.5 miles
- Charge time: 3 to 4 hours
- Best use: tough city streets
- Portability: foldable
- Net weight: 42.3 pounds
- Load capacity: 264 pounds
How Does This E Bike Works
The Swagtron Swagcycle EB-7 Elite Folding Electric Bike has 3 different modes of operation. Maximize the battery life in a pedal assisted hybrid mode if you want to get a huge range from your bike. For shorter commutes, take it easy and skip the pedals for a completely electric trip. Finally, there’s no chance of getting stranded because if the battery dies while you’re out, this offers a full pedal mode and you can use it like a traditional bike.
The bike combines pedal power with a motor to make it easier to mount steep hills. The motor assists with pedaling, adding horse power to human power so that each pedal motion takes you farther than you could go on your own. It propels the bike forward faster and farther.
The motor is batter powered. This bicycle uses a 36 volt lithium ion battery. They’ve built a pretty compact battery that can be easily carried in a small pocket of a backpack, so if you have longer commutes consider buying a spare battery and swapping them out as you ride. The battery recharges itself in 3 to 4 hours, so you don’t have to constantly buy replacement batteries.
This bike also has an added security feature to make sure no one walks off with your battery. It slides into a battery sleeve on the bike. The sleeve is built to protect it from the elements and any dust kicked up during the ride. To ensure no one steals it, simply lock the battery into the sleeve with a key.
How Far Can The E Bike Go?
This bike has an electric range of 15.5 miles. This makes it pretty great for running errands in the city, powering through campus as you get to and from class, or just enjoying a nice day outside when you don’t feel like walking.
It also offers a pedal assisted movement. This will maximize your range per charge because pedal power works with the motor and decreases the amount of pure power required to go the same distance and speed. This feature can sometimes double or triple the range if you’re careful and don’t mind a good workout.
When the battery fails, you won’t be totally stranded because it will still function like a traditional bike, so you can go as far as you need. Use some caution, though. These bikes are much heavier than traditional ones, so it’s much more difficult to cycle with these once the battery power dies. Most users just fold it up and walk.
Because this bike features a great suspension system, it can weigh a little more than lighter counterparts. If your commute features rugged terrain with some off-road paths or places where the pavement is really rough, this bike can still get you where you need to go.
The motor also assists with going where you might not otherwise be bold enough to handle. Thanks to the high torque motor, even inclines as steep as 25 degrees can be easily mounted in pedal assist mode.
The bike has both a headlight and a tail light, as well as rear reflectors, so you can go just as far after dark. A horn will alert nearby pedestrians of your presence in time for them to move aside.
How To Use The Meter
The meter has a very clean interface. It monitors and tracks your speed, riding mode, and battery level in a single small display. Turn it on using the power button and toggle between modes and throttle speeds using the + and – buttons.
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Wheels and Brakes
The SwagCycle EB-7 features front and rear disc brakes. The braking system includes Autoguard technology to bring the motor to an immediate stop as soon as the brakes are engaged. They also include coil shocks to aid in suspension.
It has a free wheel and read hub motor system. It features an advanced rear suspension to make for a smoother ride. The tires are 16 inches and have 40-65 PSI. They’re made of air-filled rubber. The bike is IPX 4 rated to ensure a smooth ride no matter what the terrain may be.
Portability
This electric bike is pretty portable. It folds up into a compact, transportable size. Simply pull up on the safety lock on the handlebars, open the silver latch, then them fold up. Next, fold the pedals. This fits easily into almost any compact space, so storage will never be an issue. The downside is that it weighs a little over 40 pounds, which makes it less friendly to carry for longer distances.