The Outlaw series from ProdecoTech features some of the coolest looking electric bikes I’ve seen. These things are monstrous with long travel suspension, oversized tires and enormous motors and battery packs. Unfortunately, the steep geometry of the front fork and high rigid position of the battery pack at the rear create a ride that feels unstable. And even though the motor driving this beast is gearless, the electronics themselves are very simple and forego pedal assist, regenerative braking or LCD display unit with speed, range or battery level.
The motor driving the Outlaw EX is a 750 watt gearless design that accelerates smoothly and stays very quiet. Gearless motors generally offer less torque than their geared counterparts but considering the high wattage of this motor, it should be enough to move larger riders and even take on large hills. It would have been nice to see a regen mode or even just regenerative braking as that could save some major wear and tear on the disc brake pads when coasting down large hills but likely would have cost much more.
The battery pack on this and other ProdecoTech bikes consists of Lithium Iron Phosphate which has a lower energy density than some other Lithium-ion chemistry options. This means that in order to offer ~48 volts to power this bike, it had to be heavier and thus contributes to the 62lb weight of the bike. Overall, LiFePO4 is stable and lasts longer than other battery types and ProdecoTech offers a generous two year warranty on the bike and the pack. With 12 amp hours of capicity, this pack is capable of distances in excess of 25 miles which is decent. Pedal assist would increase that range but again, would cost more and complicate the system.
Overall, the electronics on this bike are very simple. There’s an ignition where you insert a key (and have to leave it when riding) then you press the on button near the trigger throttle on the right bar and three LED’s light up for full, medium and empty. Next, you press the trigger and the bike speeds off! This makes the bike very easy to learn and even share with friends. Pretty much anyone can figure it out and have a good time but don’t get too carried away because as mentioned earlier, this bike is a bit unstable.
Take a look at that steep angle for how the fork and front wheel are mounted. It’s sticking way out front like a chopper style motorcycle. Now look at the battery pack, firstly it’s huge, secondly it’s almost as high as the neck at the front. Also note, both the battery and motor are mounted in the rear. The result is a ride that leans naturally as you turn and wants to lean… all the way over. Honestly, this bike freaks me out more than any other ebike and I would not take it off road, it just feels too sketchy. Add to this the lack of a kickstand and you have a bike that will definitely fall over at some point (potentially breaking stuff or hurting you) and may even crash when riding.
So in conclusion, this bike looks awesome and comes at a great price point but has a few drawbacks. I love the fact that it has a rear light built right into the battery pack. I love the higher end hydraulic disc brakes that offer great stopping power and the soft tires and shock at the front. ProdecoTech has addressed some of the issues with the rear rack coming loose by adding an addition set of struts for support. The pedals feel stiff and solid, the grips are beautiful, it’s clearly an enticing bike. This bike might be good for someone who is on a budget, is familliar with downhill geometry and has good balance but isn’t actually going to use it for downhilling and who wants the extra power and smooth acceleration of a gearless hub motor.
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John Hornby
11 years agoThank you for an insightful review! I felt like I had been for a real test ride : much different than just reading specs ;-)
ReplyJoe Schur
11 years agoI call this bike, which I purchased in April 2013, “The Beast”. The review above is accurate but maybe I have some insights after riding one of these for several months.
I’m 6’2″, 235 lbs., I got an electric bike because of arthritis in my knees. The Outlaw is powerful. I looked at several, probably ten bikes, and focused on the Outlaw and the Pedego Interceptor. Both bikes are good quality and strong, I rented the Interceptor when traveling because they are more readily available. I tested the Interceptor on hills and it did pretty well but the Outlaw is considerably more powerful to get you moving quickly and to go up almost any hill. The bike is heavy in the back and you can tip, I have, so you have to be careful when riding. I can get about 15-18 miles out of a charge with fairly heavy use of the motor and some hills. The nubby tires the bike comes with are for off-road, I replaced them with tires recommended by Prodeco for street use, they are more quiet and no problems with tire deteriorating with street use. This bike is well-suited for larger, taller people with good upper body strength.
Prodeco service is OK to good depending on who answers the phone. I found a local bike shop that can service the bike. The disc brakes need to be adjusted occasionally, they begin to make noises. I hooked up a piece of Velcro so that I can keep the accelerator on all the time, the thumb accelerator control was not very comfortable and the thumb piece that you push to accelerate actually broke off (replaced for free by Prodeco). There’s an on/off button so I can shut the motor off if necessary. There are some safety issues doing this but I find it works well. I don’t find the key being in the motor a big problem.
In short, I’ve been very happy with this bike, it makes me feel like a twenty year old and I love keeping up with/passing those skinny guys in the spandex official bike outfits! Because it’s a large bike and I’m heavy I do try to be extra careful with other bikers and pedestrians to avoid injury of them or myself. Get an excellent lock, I paid about $100 for mine. For the right person, this is a great bike.
ReplyCourt Rye
11 years agoThanks for the thorough writeup Joe! It sounds like your Outlaw is working great and it’s nice to hear that you’re getting good support from Prodeco and your local shop :)
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