2021 Bluejay Premiere Edition Review

This review was provided for free. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Bluejay products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the Bluejay electric bike forums.

Pros:

• Bluejay is a new company to me, but I was very impressed with this ebike build because they selected high quality parts, made thoughtful design decisions, and appear to be selling through shops as well as direct. They only make one model (at the time of this review) and I can tell that they really focused on it to get things right.
• I really like the motor they chose because it provides efficiency, positions weight low and center on the frame, is very capable when climbing (if you shift to a lower gear), and it’s exceedingly quiet!
• I feel like the drivetrain on this ebike is going to be very clean and reliable, because Bluejay included a physical shift sensor to cut power whenever you change gears. This protects the already durable internally geared hub (Shimano Alfine 8 speed) from getting chewed up.
• The trigger shifters perform very well! You get an optical window that communicates which gear you’re currently riding with, a two-way trigger, and the click and operation felt very satisfying to me. I’m glad they chose this vs. a half-grip twist shifter because sometimes those require more hand strength for me and can impact steering.
• Since there’s no derailleur hanging down, the gears won’t go out of tune as easily, and the chain won’t fall off because it’s setup with a fixed length. Bluejay went one step further and stocked a narrow-wide chainring that really locks onto the chain, and included an aluminum alloy chainring guard that protects the teeth and prevents outward chain drops. I love the minimalist chain cover because it’s also aluminum alloy vs. steel, paint matched, and will keep your pants or dress ends clean.
• The steel fork, aluminum alloy front and rear racks, chain cover, and aluminum alloy fenders are all paint matched. The bikes really look great. Bluejay even selected two tire colors to help them better match the respective frame color. Finally, they matched the hybrid saddle to the locking ergonomic grips to complete the look. The grips even have a fun Bluejay logo ;)
• The frame is a mixte mid-step design that offers a lower standover height without sacrificing too much stiffness. This is important, because it reduces frame flex and provides the strength needed for the front and rear racks. I was impressed by the 22lb front rack capacity, this is only achievable with a headtube mounted design vs. a hanging or fork mounted basket that can easily tip when parking and impact steering.
• While the rear rack looks pretty standard at first glance, it supports a good amount of weight (25kg 55lbs), has a dedicated pannier tube that’s lower than the top (so you can attach a trunk bag and panniers without crowding), and it has bungee loops near the base! It’s extremely versatile, and I love the curved support arms that follow the fender and wheel lines.
• Although this electric bicycle is already produced in two sizes (which is awesome), the swept-back handlebar, adjustable angle stem, and lower seat tube cutoff point let it accommodate an even wider range of body types.
• While the battery pack is more external than some of the newest fanciest designs, this makes it lighter and less expensive to replace. I appreciate that the charging port is on the right side of the frame vs. left, and not so low that it blocks the crank arm rotation. The battery casing has handle with knurled ridges to make it easier to hold and carry… but I would still consider using two hands and holding from below since the handle is just an inset vs. a full loop.
• Safety is very important to me, so it’s great to see integrated lights, puncture resistant tires, and reflective tire stripes here! For maximum safety during low-light conditions, consider the lighter colors being offered here.
• I like how the headlight points where you steer, because it’s mounted to the left arm of the fork vs. the rack. They chose a stylized light that matches the silver accents of the frame and other components.
• The LCD display panel is very large, making it easy to read, and it shows 10 battery bars vs. just 5 for 10% increments vs. 20%. This makes it more precise when estimating range.
• I appreciate that Bluejay co-branded the display with their logo (even though it’s made by Bafang), that they included a full sized USB Type-A charging port built into the left side (allowing riders to maintain a smartphone, run additional lights, or run a portable speaker), and that you can adjust settings such as backlight brightness! Double tap the i button on the control pad to enter the settings menu.
• Notice the button pad that operates the display. Bluejay chose one with more buttons, so it’s easier to figure out how to activate lights or navigate through different menus. This is a more intuitive button pad, and it was fairly easy for me to reach during the ride tests.
• Hydraulic disc brakes require less hand effort to actuate, and tend to perform consistently vs. mechanical brakes. This is a very nice upgrade to see on an ebike, because they weigh more and can be ridden at higher speeds more easily and frequently.
• I like how the saddle can go very far down without colliding with the rear rack and support arms. They really scrutinized the frame geometry here, and I was told that it has been improved for this second generation of the bike.
• In addition to the matching fenders, racks, tires, seat and grips, it appears that Bluejay also specs black and gray batteries vs. just all black. That’s some real attention to detail and extra effort that I hardly ever see.

Cons:

• Because the fork is made from steel, it could rust if paint is scratched off. Consider using some clear nail polish or car paint if you notice a scratch. Steel tends to be very sturdy and dampens vibration, so it was a good choice for the fork.
• Since the light is positioned below the front rack, it can be blocked when viewed from high up. It’s also less visible way down on the fork vs. if it were up on the handlebar or stem.
• This is not a big complaint, but the 20″ large size model that I reviewed weighed nearly 60lbs. This is on par with other commuter-ready ebikes that have fenders, racks, and lights. It’s nice that the battery can be easily removed, because this reduces the overall weight by 6.6lbs if you need to lift the bike or transport on a car rack.
• While the adjustable-length kickstand worked well enough, it is positioned at the center of the frame and can produce pedal lock if left down when backing the bike from a rack or narrow hallway or side of the garage etc.
• It looks like Bluejay chose not to include a bottle cage mounting point on the seat tube or top tube. My friend Marc suggested a handlebar mounted cup holder instead. It does look like they included a cafe lock mount on the seat stays, so that’s nice.
• This isn’t exactly a con, but worth considering. I’ve seen this Bafang Max Drive used on many other electric bikes, and most of them offered a throttle. Some people like this feature, but it tends to drain the battery faster, can be harder on the chain and gearing, and converts the bike to Class 2. Bluejay skipped it, but if they did offer it at some point, you could just unplug and remove it to get Class 1 on your own.
• The motor is heavier than average mid-drives, and the maximum supported RPM felt a touch slower. Many electric bikes support up to 120 RPM, but this felt more like 110 RPM to me, which means you cannot “spin” in lower gears and still have the motor supporting… it may fade a bit and require that you slow your pedaling or shift up to a higher gear.
• Priced at $3,295 USD, this is not the most affordable electric bike… and Bluejay is a fairly new company from what I can tell. They really designed the bike well and used name brand parts, but they’re less well known than some others out there.
• Internally geared hubs add weight compared to cassette and derailleur, and they don’t shift as quickly or easily (in my experience). I like that they chose to use trigger shifters here vs. a twist shifter, because that helps a bit with the shifting speed… but it could be less intuitive for casual riders.
• The display panel is not removable, but you can adjust it a bit to reduce glare if the mounting bracket is not overtightened.