Bodhi Sport Review

Bodhi Sport Electric Bike Review 1
Bodhi Sport Ebike
Bodhi Sport 250 W Motor
Bodhi Sport 24v Battery
Bodhi Sport Lcd Computer
Bodhi Sport Nuvinci Shifter
Bodhi Sport Rear Led Light
Bodhi Sport Front Chain Ring Pedelec Sensor
Bodhi Sport Nuvinci
Bodhi Sport Electric Bike Review 1
Bodhi Sport Ebike
Bodhi Sport 250 W Motor
Bodhi Sport 24v Battery
Bodhi Sport Lcd Computer
Bodhi Sport Nuvinci Shifter
Bodhi Sport Rear Led Light
Bodhi Sport Front Chain Ring Pedelec Sensor
Bodhi Sport Nuvinci

Summary

  • Smooth riding, fully featured electric bike with mid-level components, balanced weight distribution, removable battery
  • Smaller 250 watt front hub motor paired with 24 volt battery, optional 36 v upgrade increases power
  • Basic front suspension shock, adjustable stem and plush seat create a comfortable ride, fenders keep you clean

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

Bodhi

Model:

Sport

Price:

$2,500

Body Position:

Forward

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Urban

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

1 Year Comprehensive

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2013

Bicycle Details

Total Weight:

59 lbs (26.76 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

20 in (50.8 cm)22 in (55.88 cm)

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

Titan Silver with Black Accents

Frame Fork Details:

Basic Suspension

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses

Shifter Details:

Grip Twist on Right Bar

Pedals:

Aluminum Alloy Platform with Rubber Tread

Stem:

Adjustable Angle

Handlebar:

Low Rise

Brake Details:

Mechanical Disc with 160 mm Rotors, Tektro Levers with Motor Cutoff

Grips:

Rubber, Ergonomic

Saddle:

Velo Comfort Plush

Wheel Sizes:

26 in (66.04cm)

Tire Details:

Reflective Sidewall

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Bamboo Fenders, Integrated LED Headlight, Flashing LED Rear Light, Single Side Adjustable Kickstand, Bell on Right Bar

Other:

Removable Battery Pack with LED Charge Level Indicator

Electronic Details

Motor Type:

Front-Mounted Geared Hub
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

250 watts

Battery Voltage:

24 volts (Optional 36 v)

Battery Amp Hours:

8.7 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

208.8 wh (Optional 313.2 wh)

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

2 hours

Estimated Min Range:

10 miles (16 km)

Estimated Max Range:

20 miles (32 km)

Display Type:

Fixed Backlit Monochrome LCD

Readouts:

Speed, Odometer, Battery Level, Assist Level (1-5)

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad on Left Bar

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Trigger Throttle

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)


Written Review

The Bodhi Sport is the larger brother of Bodhi’s Step-Through electric bike. Both models run off the same 250 watt hub motor, use NuVinci continually variable transmissions in the back instead of chain rings and derailleurs and they both cost the same amount. The big difference with the Sport is that it uses a high-step frame and comes in larger 20″ and 22″ sizes. If you plan to mount this bike to a hanging style car rack, it will work better than the Step-Through because it has the straight top tube. It also has a larger rear light and includes plastic fenders instead of the bambu ones with the Step-Through.

This is a great entry level bike for someone who appreciates a balanced frame and variable speed hub transmission. You pay more for the NuVinci hub but the benefit is you can shift at standstill and have a cleaner, quieter ride and get support from a leader in the space. None of the gears are exposed to the elements and the chain just drives the hub without derailleurs to mess with so the chain doesn’t fall off as easily or get as messy. Keep in mind however, when shifting on this bike you don’t want to shift too far up or down with force because that can mess up the transmission and it could be expensive to fix.

In terms of power, as mentioned before, this bike is not super powerful (250 watt motor combined with 24 volt battery isn’t much) but it gets the job done and works very well in pedal assist mode. You can also get an updgraded 36 volt battery pack and in either case, you’ll be getting Lithium-ion cells which are lightweight and can endure over 1,000 charge cycles before losing capacity, as long as you care for them. The front motor is geared and that gives it extra torque but in some ways, it’s nice that it isn’t too powerful because that could present more of a challenge in steering, changing the momentum of the wheel. Also, since the front fork has a shock absorber built in, the additional strain of a 300 or 500 watt motor could actually require heavier duty materials or a less responsive shock which adds more money and changes ride quality.

the little features that this bike offers all combine to deliver a ride that is functional without looking tacky. Wires are integrated into the downtube, the fenders match the paint nicely, the grips are ergonomically designed and feel good. Even the neck, which is adjustable, improves the ride quality and compliments the soft Velo seat. I love that there is an integrated front light and I wish the rear one was also integrated, but appreciate that it’s more adjustable vertically to accommodate a saddle bag or rack. Rounding it all out are the disc brakes that provide wonderful stopping power as you might expect.

The computer unit on this bike is one of my favorites, it’s large and mounted right in the center of the handlebars. You can swivel it forward and backwards to reduce glare on sunny days and it’s fully sealed reducing the risk of riding in rain. To change modes there is a set of three buttons mounted on the left side of the handlebar. The menus are very simple to use and consist of powering the unit on then navigating through five modes with 1 being throttle mode and 4-5 being pedal assist power modes. The more time you spend in pedal assist modes the longer your battery will last as you pedal along. Since this is a weaker bike, pedal assist is basically required for going up medium and large sized hills, but it works well. The pedal assist sensor is pedelec which means it isn’t sensing the torque of your pedal strokes, just whether you’re pedaling at all. I really like this because sometimes I don’t want to push down hard to make the bike respond with electric support.

In conclusion, the price tag on this bike really goes towards the clean design, nicer computer and NuVinci internal gearing system. It’s not the most powerful ebike out there but it rides well and comes with everything you need for neighborhood or city riding (except a rear rack). I love the addition of a front shock absorber and adjustable handlebars but keep in mind, they can get loose when riding off road. This electric bike is classic and blends in with regular bicycles, fitting in well at racks or on the front of a bus. It’s not the lightest thing in the world but the balanced weight distribution goes a long way.

Pros:

  • Integrated battery pack is well sealed and can be charged off of bike
  • Balanced weight front to rear with hub motor in front, hub gear in rear and centrally located battery
  • Integrated fenders with mounting points for an optional rear rack
  • Front shock, soft medium sized tires and ergonomic grips add comfort to the ride
  • Adjustable neck allows custom positioning of handlebars
  • Available in 20″ and 22″ frame sizes for different rider body types
  • Rear hub gear system by NuVinci is quiet and can be shifted at standstill
  • Integrated front headlight with battery powered clip-on light in rear
  • Wires are integrated into the frame, the LCD computer is intuitive and the control buttons are conveniently placed

Cons:

  • Battery requires key to be left in when riding, can jingle around but is sealed well (uses a circular cup around key grip area)
  • Weaker 250 watt motor running off of 24 volt battery (optional 36 volt available), not great for hills or larger riders
  • NuVinci can be over-shifted and get broken more easily than traditional derailleurs and chain rings, it’s also heavier but does stay cleaner
  • Overall weight of bike is higher than some others, this is a drawback when considering the lower power of the motor/battery system
  • Relatively expensive when compared with similar offerings
  • No chain guard but since the chain doesn’t use derailleurs it stays cleaner and tighter so less of an issue
  • Pedals are kind of basic and can get slippery in wet riding conditions, I prefer all-metal Wellgo pedals

Resources:

More Bodhi Reviews

Bodhi Step-Through Review

  • MSRP: $2,500
  • MODEL YEAR: 2013

Stylish design with great computer but less power and range than other ebikes. Front mounted hub motor balances out rear mounted NuVinchi continuously variable transmission CVT hub...

Comments (2) YouTube Comments

Jeff Johnson
10 years ago

Have an extra battery pack and tried to use it for the first time. It seems defective and will not lock into place. Need to send it in for repair or get a new one. Where can I send it. Thanks. Jeff

  Reply
Court Rye
10 years ago

Hi Jeff, I’m not certain but would guess that you could use the address and contact information that came with the battery if they mailed it to you? If you got it from a local shop I would check with them. The Bodhi website used to resolve at bodhibikes.com but has been offline for over a month. I did a lookup on their domain contact info but it’s registered by proxy so no luck there. I wonder if they have gone out of business?

  Reply

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