Ultra-affordable, low power electric bike that's great for neighborhood and urban riding, top speed limited to 15.5 mph
Great accessories including fenders, chain guard and side mirrors, you also get three color choices (red, white and black)
Entry level drivetrain but you get six speeds and the bike offers both pedal assist and throttle mode with override and throttle shutoff... you also get a twelve magnet cadence sensor for smooth motor activation and integrated motor cutoff switches on the brake levers
Average warranty with six months on the battery but decent dealer selection in Canada, shipping is $200 to $400 extra
1 Year Frame and Motor, 6 Month Components and Battery
Availability:
Canada, United States, Worldwide
Model Year:
20152016
Rating:
8
Bicycle Details
Total Weight:
50 lbs (22.67 kg)
Frame Material:
Aluminum Alloy
Frame Sizes:
18 in (45.72 cm)
Geometry Measurements:
18" Seat Tube, 22" Reach
Frame Types:
Step-Thru
Frame Colors:
Gloss Black, Gloss Red, Gloss White
Attachment Points:
Rear Rack Bosses
Gearing Details:
6
Speed 1x7, Shimano Tourney
Shifter Details:
Shimano SIS Index
Pedals:
Plastic Platform, Black
Stem:
Quill
Handlebar:
Low-Rise, Aluminum Alloy
Brake Details:
Generic V-Brakes, Generic Levers with Motor Inhibitors
Grips:
Flat, Rubber
Saddle:
Vader, Comfort
Rims:
Aluminum Alloy
Spokes:
Stainless Steel
Tire Brand:
Kenda, 26" x 1.75"
Wheel Sizes:
26 in (66.04cm)
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Full Length Plastic Fenders with Mud Guards, Plastic Chain Guard, Rear Carry Rack with Spring Latch and Pannier Blockers (25 kg Max Load), Bar Mounted Side Mirrors, Adjustable Length Kickstand, Bell on Right
Other:
Locking Removable Battery Pack, Quick Release Seat Tube and Front Skewer, Metal Derailleur Guard
The Daymak Paris 24V (and Vermont 24V) are the two most affordable products in Daymak’s electric bicycle lineup. Each model is about one thousand dollars and you get quite a few extras for this price… though many of the components are base level. Indeed, this is a cheaply made ebike but in my experience it performed well enough and included the necessary safety systems. You get both pedal assist (with three power levels) and a twist throttle mode (that can override assist at any time). Surprisingly, and thankfully, this bike includes brake levers with motor inhibitors that improve safety by cutting power to the motor when activated, something that the more expensive and more powerful 48 volt Vermont model seemed to be missing.
I focused this review on the Paris 24 volt model because it seemed to have a more refined battery and display panel but it’s very similar to the Vermont 24V, the primary difference being a step-thru frame vs. high-step. The big advantage of a lower step frame style is ease of mounting, you don’t have to swing your leg over the rear rack or lift it high over the top tube. There are trade-offs with this frame however and one is strength and stiffness. The Paris is a cool bike, though a bit on the smallish-medium and only available in one size. You get three color choices including red, white and black with sparkles… and in my opinion the sparkles aren’t so feminine as to not appeal to guys.
The drivetrain on the Paris electric bike offers six chainrings and a basic Shimano Tourney derailleur. On the electric side, you get a 250 watt motor running off of a 24 volt battery which is compared to most of the other electric bikes I’ve tested in North America. But don’t forget the low price and relatively low weight (considering all of the extras like fenders and a rack). In Europe the highest specced e-bikes are all limited to 250 watts and that’s about equivalent to what a professional distance cyclists puts out so you’re definitely better off than if there was no motor at all, but way worse off if your battery runs out of juice before you get home because it weighs ~50 lbs total. Note that the top speed of this electric bike is also 15.5 mph vs. 20 mph on most others in Canada and the US.
Depending on how you use the throttle and which level of assist you prefer this bike might only get 10 miles of range per charge but you can always bring along the portable charger and take the removable battery pack inside for a quick top-off. It only takes a couple hours to add ~5 miles and a full charge should complete in under four. The battery consists of Lithium-ion cells that should hold up over time but you’d do well to store them away from extreme heat or cold. I wasn’t told what brand the cells are but you do get a six month warranty and Daymak stocks lots of replacement parts so that’s reassuring. All things considered, this product is a step up from no-name electric bikes sold through Amazon and possibly even those available through Walmart, Sams and Costco. Daymak actually has dealers that will let you test ride the bike and they’ve been around as a company for many years. The big downside for most buyers who don’t live near one of these dealers is that shipping can be $200 in Canada and up to $400 in the USA which eats into the relatively low starting price. A couple of other gripes for me were the lack of bottle cage mounts (though the rack could be used with a bag to solve this) and the odd quick release lever on the seat tube that took more time to unscrew. There’s no suspension on this bike but it won’t feel so jarring at lower speeds anyway.
Pros:
For ~$1k you get a lot of nice extras with this ebike including plastic fenders, chain guard, derailleur guard, side mirrors, a bell and adjustable kickstand
Considering the low price it’s nice that the battery isn’t mounted to the rear rack, this is still a purpose built frame made specifically for electric bike applications
I love that get both pedal assist and twist throttle mode and that the throttle overrides assist to add power and speed for passing or climbing AND that you can disable the throttle if you want
Pedal assist is actually very responsive on the Paris ebike because it uses a 12 magnet pedelec disc vs. just 5 or 6 on a lot of other affordable electric bikes
The low-step frame is easier to mount without having to swing your leg over the rack on the back but tends to be a bit less stiff than a traditional diamond frame and it might also not work on hanging style car racks or bus racks without a cross bar adapter
Cons:
No suspension fork to add cushion but the medium-sized tires and oversized sprung saddle helps to smooth out the bumps
The quick release lever for the seat tube is kind of old-school and wasn’t as easy to use as newer designs, also there’s no adjustability in the stem here as it’s all one piece
Two steps to start the bike, first you turn on the battery pack using an on/off toggle switch down by the cranks and then you press on using the LED console up near the left grip, this takes extra time and either bending down or hopping off
This is a much less powerful ebike than average with a 250 watt motor and 24 volt battery, it’s capable of reaching a top speed of 15.5 mph (25 kph) vs. 20 mph (35 kph) so it might not be ideal for larger riders or those hoping to ascending steeper terrain
No bottle cage mounting points on the seat tube or downtube so you might have to wear a backpack or use a bag like this with a bottle slot on the rack
This bike is only available in one standard “medium / small” frame size so it might not work for taller riders
Unless you live close to a Daymak outlet (which are mostly located in Canada) there will be extra shipping charges ranging from $200 to $400 and you’ll have to tune up the bike on arrival
Somewhat limited gear selection with just six speeds, it’s enough for neighborhood, urban riding and commute sorts of rides
A fat electric bike designed to be strong with a 500 watt hub motor and 48 volt battery but still relatively affordable. Comfortable oversized 4" tires, extra-wide suspension fork with lockout, hydraulic disc brakes for improved stopping...
One of Daymak's most popular electric bike models because you get power, range and comfort for a reasonable ~$2k price. I like the addition of fenders but the front isn't long enough to protect feet…...
A full-sized, full suspension folding electric bike with a near-complete set of value components (disc brakes, 21 speeds, kickstand etc.). The single-tube frame design is elegant and conceals as well as protects the battery but…...
A light weight, value priced carbon fiber electric bike available in three flavors: Standard, Advance and Pro with larger batteries and more carbon parts on the higher models (including drop bars on the pro!). More modest 250 watt planetary geared hub motor drives all three models, paired with the…...
A light weight, compact, folding electric bike available in one size but adjustable with seat and handlebar height. The battery is completely concealed and protected in the downtube, the motor is relatively small…...
A stable, three-wheeled electric bike (trike) with front and rear cargo baskets for hauling supplies or groceries. Full length matching fenders look great and keep you dry, the basic headlight and large…...
Awesome! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Raymond… the price is definitely right and I like that it comes with fenders and a rack, pretty useful design :)
Hi Stephen, check out our lightweight electric bikes category here. I’ve listed all of the products that I consider to be lighter than average :)
You can look at the weight for each product by clicking and then reading the specs, or you can click the compare checkbox for all bikes you’re interested in, then scroll down to the weight row to see them compared back to back. Good luck!
My Paris e-bike came with no on/off switch for the throttle, so it is dangerous if you hit the throttle by mistake. Also, the pedal assist only has one battery level which seems high, there is no going slow unless you keep hitting the brake. I wanted to be able to just ride slowly with a small amount of pedal assist but this is impossible. Can it be converted with a throttle on/off switch.
Hi Ken! Sorry to hear that the Paris hasn’t quite met your hopes. I haven’t reviewed this ebike for many years and am not familiar with their most recent designs. I think it tends to be difficult to retrofit some ebike parts, unless they are using very standard modular systems from Bafang or similar company. Maybe you can find a similar part on eBay or some other parts website. Perhaps you could ask Daymak directly, since I only review products and am not connected with the builders or parts. You could also ask for help in the Daymak forums that we setup here, but they aren’t super active. Good luck! Perhaps you could sell the bike and find a different company with the feature you want if the change is difficult, expensive, or just not possible.
After 2 years barely used it as battery kept dying. And now battery does not work at all. It was stored inside a house. The $1,200 investment is total garbage now as cannot risk buying another battery as even the company will not provide more than 6 month warranty, no assurance that spending $450 on a replacement battery will resolve the issue either. I wish we had just spent money on a more expensive bike in the first place as we now have to fork out another $2,000 for a better brand. You GET what you PAID FOR.
Bummer, I’ve been in your shoes before… You could try FTH Power to have the battery repacked with high quality cells, but the older design and less well know brand may not recoup the value. I guess it’s not such a waste since it sounds like you barely used the bike. In my experience, these ebike batteries all have a set lifespan with full charge capacity, and it sounds like you did the right thing storing it in a cool dry location. The other thing is to make sure it stays 50% plus charged when not in use.
raymond major
8 years agoi have this bike and i love it, it goes really well
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoAwesome! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Raymond… the price is definitely right and I like that it comes with fenders and a rack, pretty useful design :)
ReplyStephen Chin
5 years agoI am interested in a light weight electric bicycle
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Stephen, check out our lightweight electric bikes category here. I’ve listed all of the products that I consider to be lighter than average :)
You can look at the weight for each product by clicking and then reading the specs, or you can click the compare checkbox for all bikes you’re interested in, then scroll down to the weight row to see them compared back to back. Good luck!
ReplyKen Thompson
3 years agoMy Paris e-bike came with no on/off switch for the throttle, so it is dangerous if you hit the throttle by mistake. Also, the pedal assist only has one battery level which seems high, there is no going slow unless you keep hitting the brake. I wanted to be able to just ride slowly with a small amount of pedal assist but this is impossible. Can it be converted with a throttle on/off switch.
ReplyCourt
3 years agoHi Ken! Sorry to hear that the Paris hasn’t quite met your hopes. I haven’t reviewed this ebike for many years and am not familiar with their most recent designs. I think it tends to be difficult to retrofit some ebike parts, unless they are using very standard modular systems from Bafang or similar company. Maybe you can find a similar part on eBay or some other parts website. Perhaps you could ask Daymak directly, since I only review products and am not connected with the builders or parts. You could also ask for help in the Daymak forums that we setup here, but they aren’t super active. Good luck! Perhaps you could sell the bike and find a different company with the feature you want if the change is difficult, expensive, or just not possible.
ReplyJohn Chandra
2 years agoAfter 2 years barely used it as battery kept dying. And now battery does not work at all. It was stored inside a house. The $1,200 investment is total garbage now as cannot risk buying another battery as even the company will not provide more than 6 month warranty, no assurance that spending $450 on a replacement battery will resolve the issue either. I wish we had just spent money on a more expensive bike in the first place as we now have to fork out another $2,000 for a better brand. You GET what you PAID FOR.
ReplyCourt
2 years agoBummer, I’ve been in your shoes before… You could try FTH Power to have the battery repacked with high quality cells, but the older design and less well know brand may not recoup the value. I guess it’s not such a waste since it sounds like you barely used the bike. In my experience, these ebike batteries all have a set lifespan with full charge capacity, and it sounds like you did the right thing storing it in a cool dry location. The other thing is to make sure it stays 50% plus charged when not in use.
Reply