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.
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...
Jeff Johnson
11 years agoHave 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
ReplyCourt Rye
11 years agoHi 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?
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