Name: Electra Townie Go! 7D Review
Item: Electra Townie Go! 7D
Author: Court Rye

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Electra Townie Go! 7D Review

Electra Townie Go 7d Electric Bike Review

Electra Townie Go 7d Kickstand Rear Rack Battery

Electra Townie Go 7d Hydrive 36 Volt 8 6 Amp Hour Rack Battery

Electra Townie Go 7d Flat Rubber Kraton Grips

Electra Townie Go 7d 2 35 Stable Cruiser Tires Steel Fork

Electra Townie Go 7d Tektro Mechanical Disc Brakes 180mm

Electra Townie Go 7d Large Selle Royale Cruiser Saddle

Electra Townie Go 7d Hydrive Torque Sensing Bottom Bracket

Electra Townie Go 7d Plastic Pedals Rubber Tread

Electra Townie Go 7d Shimano Tourney Derailleur 14 34 Tooth Freewheel

Electra Townie Go 7d Steel Paint Matched Chain Cover

Electra Townie Go 7d Step Over Matte Black

Electra Townie Go 7d Removable Hydrive Ebike Battery 309 6 Watt Hours

Electra Townie Go 7d 2 Amp Ebike Charger

Electra Townie Go 7d Stock Step Thru Icy Blue

Electra Townie Go 7d Stock Step Thru Mint Mojito

Electra Townie Go 7d Stock Step Thru Zinfandel

Electra Townie Go 7d Stock Step Thru Cream

Electra Townie Go 7d Stock Step Thru Storm Cloud

Electra Townie Go 7d Stock High Step Matte Black

Electra Townie Go 7d Stock High Step Olive

One of the most affordable name brand electric bikes on the market right now, priced to compete with online ebikes but offers dealer assembly, fitting, post-purchase support, and comes in two frame styles and seven color options! The high-step frame is a medium-large with 27.5" tires and the step-thru is a small-medium with 26" tires, making it lower easier to approach
Two gender neutral color options for the step-thru presumably for guys who aren't as tall or have sensitive knees and hips like me. Class 1 ebike with three levels of assist on a dimmable LED display, minimalist buttons are easy to use, limited clutter with internally routed cables, easy to use grip shifter operates the 7-speed Shimano cassette with wide 14-34 tooth freewheel
Large 180mm mechanical disc brakes provide good stopping power and are setup well, wider 2.35" tires provide comfort and stability for light trail use, extra-wide saddle with elastomers, upright "Flat Foot" body position makes it easy to touch the ground when stopped while still providing good leg extension for pedaling. USB port on display can charge your phone or portable electronics
Battery pack offers modest 309.6 watt hour capacity, efficient 350 watt nominal planetary geared hub motor is quiet but not super powerful for large riders and steep hills (but uses the battery slower), torque sensing pedal assist is natural and responsive but requires a bit more leg effort to activate and there's no throttle option. Fenders and lights are available but cost extra and wouldn't be wired-in

Make:

Electra

Model:

Townie Go! 7D

Price:

$1,499

Body Position:

Upright Relaxed

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Cruising

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

500 Charge Cycles, One Year Comprehensive, Lifetime Frame

Availability:

Canada, United States

Model Year:

2020

Total Weight:

49.3 lbs (22.36 kg) (Step-Thru 48.9, High-Step 49.3)

Battery Weight:

5.8 lbs (2.63 kg)

Frame Material:

6063-T6 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

17.75 in (45.08 cm)20.5 in (52.07 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Step-Thru: 17.57" Virtual Seat Tube, 25" Reach, 18.5" Stand Over Height, 31.5" Minimum Saddle Height, 26.75" Width, 74" Length, High-Step: 20.5" Virtual Seat Tube, 24.5" Reach, 28" Stand Over Height, 33.5" Minimum Saddle Height, 26.75" Width, 74.5" Length

Frame Types:

High-Step, Step-Thru

Frame Colors:

Olive, Matte Black, Mint Mojito, Zinfandel, Icy Blue, Cream, Storm Cloud

Frame Fork Details:

Hi-Ten Steel Unicrown, Straight Tapered Leg, 100mm Hub Spacing, 9mm Axle with Quick Release Skewer

Frame Rear Details:

142mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Threaded Keyed Axle with 10mm Flats, 17mm Nuts

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses, Front Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses, Bottle Cage Bosses, Frame Lock Bosses

Gearing Details:

7 Speed 1x7 Shimano Tourney TY Derailleur, Shimano MF-TZ500-7 14-34 Tooth Freewheel

Shifter Details:

Shimano RevoShift Grip Twist

Cranks:

Forged Aluminum Alloy, 170 mm, 42 Tooth Chainring with Steel Guide

Pedals:

VP-817 Plastic Platform with Rubber Tread

Headset:

Steel Threaded, Semi-Integrated, 1-1/8" Straight

Stem:

Forged Alloy, Quill Style, 60mm to 80mm Length, 25.9mm Clamp Diameter

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, High-Rise, 680mm Width, 100mm Rise

Brake Details:

Tektro Mechanical Disc with 180mm Rotors, Four Finger Levers

Grips:

Comfort Kraton, Flat Rubber or Flat Stitched Faux Leather

Saddle:

Selle Royale Ergonomic with Shock-Absorbing Elastomers

Seat Post:

Promax Aluminum Alloy, Tapered Head, Classic Saddle Clamp (Two Nuts)

Seat Post Length:

330 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

27.2 mm

Rims:

Electra Townie Branded, Aluminum Alloy, Rounded, Double Wall, 28.25mm Outer Width, 36 Hole

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 14 Gauge Front 13 Gauge Rear, Silver with Adjustable Brass Nipples

Tire Brand:

Electra Branded, 26" x 2.35" or 27.5" x 2.35"

Wheel Sizes:

26 in (66.04cm)27.5 in (69.85cm)

Tire Details:

Nylon, 40 to 65 PSI, 2.8 to 4.5 BAR

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Aluminum Alloy Rear Rack, Aluminum Alloy Rear-Mount Kickstand (18mm Spacing), Optional Aluminum Alloy Fenders (Black or Silver, $50), Optional Bontrager Trunk Bag ($60), Optional Bontrager Panniers, Optional Electra Linear Cup Holder, Optional Cheers Ringer Bell, Optional Electra Commute Front Tray

Other:

Locking Removable Rear Rack Battery Pack, 1.3lb 2 Amp Charger, Rated Current 9A, Maximum Current 15A, KMC Z9 Chain, Stainless Steel Anti-Rust Hardware

Motor Brand:

Hydrive

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Geared Hub

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

250 watts

Battery Brand:

Model 54C003

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

8.6 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

309.6 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

3.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

20 miles (32 km)

Estimated Max Range:

40 miles (64 km)

Display Type:

Hydrive 40010C18E-1, Fixed, LED (5 Red, 5 Blue), Buttons: Power, Up, Down, Walk Mode: Hold Down Arrow, Brightness: Hold Up Arrow

Readouts:

Battery Level (5 Dots), Assist Level (3 Dots)

Display Accessories:

Full Sized USB Type A Port Below Button Pad (5V, 1A)

Drive Mode:

Torque Sensing Pedal Assist

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Electra Bicycles. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Electra products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Electra electric bike forums.

Observations:

Priced at $1,499 this is one of the most affordable electric bicycles being sold by one of the “big three” ebike brands that have lots of shops for assembly, test rides, and service. It’s kind of a milestone in my opinion, and it makes ebikes more accessible for a lot of people
Since this ebike does not have a suspension fork, it relies on the larger tires, high-rise bar, comfort grips, and extra large saddle to absorb bumps! Consider purchasing a 27.2mm suspension seat post like one of these for more back, shoulder, and neck comfort
The 7D platform stands for 7-speed with derailleur vs. an internally geared hub. It comes in a step-thru or step-over frame style which are sized as small/medium and medium/large respectively. I appreciate that they offer some gender-neutral colors in the step-thru frame for shorter guys or those with hip and knee sensitivity

Pros:

One of the most affordable mainstream electric bicycles I’ve seen, it’s sold through dealers who offer test rides and post-purchase support. The Townie Go! 7D is being sold in two frame styles and sizes, as well as seven colorways! That’s two colors for high-step and five colors for step-thru
It’s really unique to see that the step-thru frame has smaller 26″ wheels vs. 27.5″ on the larger high-step frame! This lowers the stand-over height of the bike, making it easier to approach and mount
Electra developed “Flat Foot Technology” which is basically a frame design that positions the bottom bracket more forward from the base of the seat tube, this allows riders to position the saddle lower for more stability when stopping while offering full leg extension when pedaling
Impressively low minimum saddle height on these ebikes, Electra positioned the rear rack far enough back that the saddle an go all the way down, and they chose a fairly low seat tube… this is great for people who want to be able to touch the ground while seated
I was really delighted to find that the control pad has a full sized USB Type A charging port built into the base! I even tested it with my iPhone and it worked perfectly, providing 5 Volts and 1 Amp of power
Excellent drivetrain design here, two metal plates act as a guide so the chain won’t fall off of the chainring, the freewheel offers a wider 14-34 tooth vs. 14-28 tooth on most competing products… which makes the bike easier to pedal up hills, and the shifter is a grip-shift that is fairly intuitive with a little window showing your selected gear
The battery pack is lightweight, locks securely to the frame rack, is easy to remove and carry (thanks to an integrated handle), and the charger has a sturdy metal tip that won’t get damaged as easily as smaller plastic ones
I’m used to seeing affordable electric bikes specced with cadence sensors, but the Electra Townie Go! 7D comes with a torque sensing bottom bracket that feels more natural and dynamic. The harder you pedal, the more power you get. It doesn’t feel jerky or surprising, but it does require a bit more pedal effort than a cadence sensor… but that also helps to extend your range
Great overall aesthetic with a range of fun colors and integrated cables, the bikes don’t look busy or cluttered because there’s no need for motor inhibitors on the brake levers, there’s no throttle, and the display is combined with the button pad so there’s only one wire there
Electra chose large 180mm disc brake rotors for this bike, which dissipate heat and provide greater leverage for stopping… just be careful parking the bike at racks because the larger rotor can be easier to bend and then it will make woosh, woosh, woosh noises as you ride ;)
The rear rack comes in black or silver to really tie into the bike accents (rims, handlebar, chainring guard, cranks), and it surrounds the battery pack for extra protection. Note the standard gauge tubing and pannier hangers on the side as well as the dedicated reflector mount on the back
The tires used for these bikes are slightly wider than average at 2.35″ which provides some comfort as well as stability, I spoke with Michelle from the Trek West Phoenix store and she talked about some great crushed granite paths… wider tires will be able to handle some light off-road like that much better than narrow city tires, but they do add a bit of weight… good thing the bike has a motor to assist ;)
I love that both frame styles incorporate bottle cage bosses in an easy-to-reach location there below the top tube or on the downtube. Some manufacturers put them on the seat tube, which limits how low the seat post can slide down
Great job with the little details, note the position of the kickstand towards the back of the bike (so it won’t cause pedal lock) and the plastic platform pedals with rubber tread (that won’t scrape your shins if you slip off). Consider some larger grippier pedals like these if you have big feet or want to ride more aggressively or in wet/snowy conditions
If you hold the down arrow, the bike will offer walk mode which is useful if you get a flat tire or need to cut across a park or other crowded area. Also, if you hold the up arrow for a couple of seconds, the LED brightness will decrease! This is a huge deal for me because LED lights shining up into your face at night can be very annoying and most other LED displays don’t offer a dimming feature like this!
The battery box has a nice built-in handle for removing and transporting securely. I like that both the charging port and locking core are positioned high up on the frame so you don’t have to bend way down to reach them. I also appreciate that the keys do not need to be left in the lock in order to operate the bike!
Electra chose thicker 13 gauge spokes for the rear wheel. This provides additional strength for the rack, motor, and pedaling drivetrain. Most of the weight from the rider will also be shifted towards the rear on this ebike due to the Flat Foot design where the saddle is further back on the frame
The frame has provisions for mounting a front rack, fenders, bottle cage (or other accessory like a folding lock or mini pump), and even a frame lock to secure the rear wheel… which is kind of rare

Cons:

The steel fork and chain cover are paint matched and look great, steel is sturdy and offers some vibration dampening (which improves ride quality) but can also rust when scratched… consider using clear touch-up paint if you notice chips over time
Rated at 309.6 watt hours, the battery pack is fairly small compared to others I’ve seen. It won’t offer as much range, but also weighs less and won’t drain as fast given the modest 350 watt motor and pedal assist only drive modes
The display is discrete and less likely to be damaged because it’s so compact, but it doesn’t show your current speed, a precise battery readout, estimated range, or any of the other neat stats that a full LCD might
I see a lot of cruiser style electric bikes with throttles, which can be nice to get started or give your legs a break, but the torque sensing pedal assist here is pretty nice and since they skipped the throttle, this ebike is Class 1 which is allowed almost anywhere vs. Class 2 which can be restricted on trails and paths
The pedal assist worked pretty well, but there are only three levels of power to choose from. For some people, this could seem very basic, for me personally, it felt just right for relaxed neighborhood cruising without distraction or complication
This is kind of a minor complaint, but the saddle clamp they used is VERY basic, and can be tricky to adjust. It uses two nuts vs. a single bolt, so you need two tools to hold and tighten and adjust position… it’s not much fun, but at least the Trek dealer will handle this part for you ;)
This ebike does not come with puncture resistant tires, reflective tire stripes, lights, or fenders stock… but Trek stores sell all of these accessories aftermarket, and have a great selection that will fit the bike perfectly (specifically the fenders and add-on rechargeable lights). Their sister company Bontrager, also sells trunk and pannier bags
One of the trade-offs that this ebike makes to keep the price low is mechanical brakes vs. hydraulic, they require a bit more hand effort (which is why they chose four-finger brake levers), but they positioned the cable facing down so water and dust won’t run inside the cable housing, the brakes felt really good during my test rides
Both the high-step and step-thru frames suffered from speed wobble when I rode with no hands, this is a test I do to see how the bike is balanced… and with the rear rack battery, this ebike is rear-heavy. I did not have a problem when riding with my hands on the grips, but I did feel some frame flex when standing and pedaling hard. This is really a relaxed cruiser platform, not high performance
I like how compact and quiet the motor is, but it’s definitely on the weaker side of the ebike spectrum. I wasn’t able to test it on a large hill, and I only weigh ~135lbs, so it worked great for me on the flats and would probably do great against wind or modest hills, it’s just not a super powerful ebike setup

Useful Resources:

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Dave

5 years ago

Hello, Thanks so much for the review. Very thorough!

My wife currently has a Townie (non-electric). She really enjoys this bike, especially because it is easy for her to step through the frame. We are considering an electric bicycle for her. As such, the first bike I researched was the 7D, since this electric bike you reviewed (7D) is very similar. Can you tell me with a budget around $1500, are there any other electric bikes you would recommend?

Thanks so much,
Dave Cimo

Court

Hi Dave! Great question… I do recommend checking out local ebike shops and buying from them when possible. This allows for a better overall experience, including post-purchase support if something goes wrong with the bike. If your budget is $1,500 then there are a bunch of options that I’ve reviewed here on EBR categorized as affordable electric bikes. I do like Electra, but if you want something with a throttle and different battery position, check out the RadCity Step-Thru… because it’s a similar frame style. I also like the Ride1Up 700 Series, but that bike is from a much newer and smaller brand than Electra or Rad Power Bikes :)

Kate Deslauriers

3 years ago

But the RadCity Step-thru weighs over 65# Not for short, scrawny armed little old ladies like me. Some trails do not allow ebikes with throttles. So there is this to consider. But your suggestion of going to local bike shops is spot on. You can try them out, get great (often a little biased) advise, can establish a valuable relationship and find out about the cycling clubs.

Mike R

Electra did NOT develop the ‘flat foot’ (crank forward) geometry. It was developed by Felt in the 90’s. Electra was able to somehow secure a US patent in 2010. Electra introduced the Flat Foot technology in 2003, originally licensing it from Felt. (which is why it was not patented in 2003)

Wow, thanks for the history lesson here, Mike! I had no idea… and it’s definitely a style and feature that Electra has touted and marketed online and in person when I’ve looked at their bikes. I appreciate you clarifying this :)

Bakari

4 years ago

I purchased this bike about a week ago, for a few reasons: it’s the most affordable assembled e-bike in my area, and because the design is pretty good. Thanks to your YouTube video review, I had some knowledge of the 7D when I checked it out in a local bike shop. The salesman wasn’t a help at all. They basically stood by me and waited for me to ask questions. He only perked up after I said I would buy the bike. So the sales commission really should go to you. He did nothing to sell me the bike.

With that said, I’m really enjoying the e-bike experience. I’m riding further distances and have already discovered a trail near my neighborhood that I didn’t know previously existed. I can peddle as much as I want without feeling strain, and I really love the boost the motor gives when I start peddling after a stop. I sometimes get a car lane at a stoplight because I can take off so fast and not slow traffic. Not sure if that’s legal but I prefer it sometimes to getting in a bike lane to cross a street.

The more I check out your reviews, I already know that the 7D won’t be my last bike. There’s at least two other bikes that I wish I purchased instead of the 7D. I really want an e-bike that will go a longer distance and maybe faster. But for now I’ll just enjoy what I have.

Hi Bakari! Thanks for your feedback, I’m glad that you enjoyed the review and have found a good ebike. I was impressed by the 7D, Electra has great products and the in-store support is usually awesome… but the technology is still new and unfamiliar to some salespeople in shops, so I’m not surprised that this particular salesperson didn’t know ;) maybe you helped educate them!! Lol, enjoy the ride and share any updates, I hope the bike works well until you upgrade someday.

Carrie

My husband and I both have townie go bikes. We love them! One BIG problem. My husband’s front bike tire always goes flat. He has had it changed a number of times, but it keeps going flat… even sitting in the garage. So frustrating. Has anyone else experienced this?

Hi Carrie! I’ve noticed that because ebikes tend to weigh more, it’s important to check the pressure and “top it off” more frequently. Most tires (even on cars) will slowly lose air over time. perhaps you also have an old or leaky inner tube on that front wheel, or maybe the inside of the rim has a sharp spoke edge poking the tube or maybe a liner that is twisted. There could be many reasons and it’s intriguing to hear that the FRONT tire is going low, because usually the rear wheel receives more weight. I hope these general tips help and you can stop getting those flat tires! I record the recommended tire pressure range for each ebike here on EBR since I know that they can get worn off of the tire sidewall sometimes. I was taught to always keep the pressure at least as high as the minimum recommendation, and higher towards the max if you carry a lot of gear or carry a heavier rider.

Sheila Picard

Thanks so much for the review on the Townie Go! 7D. I am purchasing one in Storm Cloud. The very strange thing is trying to find fenders to match. I can’t reach anyone at Trek, and my local store is telling me they are only available in 2 colors… Silver and black matte. Anyway, I thought this might be worth a mention to those that like fenders on their Townie Go! 7D

Thanks for this information Sheila! I do think this will help others who are considering the bike. Which color are you going with? Hope you’re enjoying the rides this Spring!

Decided on the storm cloud color. I bought the black matte fenders. We will see if it will look good. Thank you!

Andy

Long term review and thoughts. I bought the Step-thru for my wife a couple years ago, right when they first came out. It is a decent quality bike with a few caveats.

PROS: Durable, reliable, comfortable, simple, inexpensive, wheels never needed truing so far, even regularly ridden on rocky / gravel paths. Frame hasn’t shown any stress (even with the flex). Was able to purchase custom fender set from Trek as well.
CONS: Tires are awful and puncture prone. I swapped out with Schwalbe Big Apples. Much better ride and cornering, never had a puncture flat. Swapped out the mech disc brakes for hydraulic. This was an easy task for the LBS to do. Rear derailleur: The chain tension was weak and causing the chain to jump the chainwheel. I put a Shimano Deore derailleur on, and never any issue again. (I would suggest the Alivio derailleur as it has the set-back mount which would make the wheel removal a bit easier) And as for the seat/post, she rides with a Brooks B67 and an Ultracycle suspension post. (she has a fused spine). Stock saddle is hard as a rock that only looks comfy. Also replaced the kickstand with Trek’s new heavy duty adjustable one. I also swapped out the rear freewheel with the Epoch 11-34 as the 14T would cause the legs to overspin at 18 mph.

We had a tough time finding easy-to-release pannier bags that would fit on the rack. The Ortileib’s we found at REI work the best for mounting, but come at a cost. Finally, the charger is flimsy and fragile, I do not recommend carrying it in the pannier bag. Trek replaced it once already because she traveled with it, and it got jostled around.

All in all, she loves the bike with the changes. She averages 25 miles between charges. I put an Origin8 portier rack on front and mounted a milk crate so our 16lb dog goes for rides all the time. The bike has the power to carry her and a full load up a fairly steep hill/bluff with little effort. (BTW, she weighs 145lbs and her load is at least 15lbs plus the dog.)

Hi Andy! What a wonderful comment to read, very insightful pros and cons. Thanks for mentioning your upgrades and sharing details about the range you’ve gotten and the weight of rider and dog. It sounds like a lot of fun!

Karen

2 years ago

When you speak of a heavy load, what is considered. I’m a plus size person looking at this bike. Consider myself a heavy load. If not this ebike, what would you recommend?

Thank you

Hi Karen! Most ebikes are rated to at least 250lbs, and I’ve seen people much larger riding them… but the spokes can get loose and break more easily above this limit. I don’t know the official weight rating for the Townie Go! 7D, but Trek/Electra make great products. I would consider them, Specialized, and Giant to be very trustworthy. Trek/Electra is actually my personal most trusted and favorite, because they have the dealers and are so well organized online and in-person. Ebikes are a great way to get outside, be easy on joints, and stay healthy. I cannot officially ensure the weight rating, but I can say this seems like it could be a good option for you, and to maybe ask the dealer for their opinion if you’re concerned :)