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. 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:
- Electra introduced two brand new models in 2020 that both use the Bosch PowerTube 500 battery; the Townie Path Go! 10D and the Vale Go! 9D. The Path, which is the focus of this review, features a traditional curvy cruiser frame that fits what Electra is known for stylistically, while the Vale is more angular and futuristic looking. The Path comes in step-thru and high-step (each one in a single size, high-step being larger) while the Vale only comes in step-thru and a single size. Finally, the Path models utilize traditional 9mm axles with quick release while the Vale has thicker 12mm thru-axles without quick release… an interesting choice. Both models come in several color schemes, including several gender-neutral options.
- Other quick differences between the Path and Vale are that the Path has a more powerful and sporty Bosch Performance Line motor, brighter more durable integrated lights from Supernova, a better charge port position, a rear rack with top support vs. side-pannier support only, a paint-matched steel chain cover, an keyed-alike ABUS frame lock, an upgraded 10-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain, nicer 180mm Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, the Bosch SmartphoneHub display interface, and a larger more comfortable “cruiser” saddle… but no suspension seatpost ;) it also costs $400 more than the Vale
- Electra was launched in 1993, introduced the first Townie cruiser models with flat-foot geometry in 2003, and was acquired by Trek in 2014. Trek is one of the “big three” bicycle manufacturers in the US, along with Giant and Specialized. Trek started in 1975, making hand-brazed steel frames, and since then have grown into a global powerhouse in the cycling industry with distributors in 90 different countries and hundreds of dealers that assemble and support the products locally. For consumers, this means more opportunities for test rides, post-purchase support, and parts availability
Pros:
- The Electra Townie Path Go! 10D EQ is a premium Class 1 cruiser electric bike with upright geometry, comfortable saddle and grips, hidden battery with great weight placement, and powerful mid-drive motor… that’s surprisingly quiet! This is their to-of-the-line cruiser ebike, and it’s available in both step-thru and high-step with many color options. It’s feature-complete, meaning it comes stock with everything you’d need to ride in varied weather, day or night, and haul cargo
- Priced $400 above the Electra Vale Go!, the Path Go! uses the same great PowerTube 500 battery pack and Schwalbe Super Moto-X puncture resistant tires with reflective stripes, while maintaining traditional 9mm quick-release skewers for the wheels and an upright quill stem for the swept-back handlebar
- The bike frame, fenders, and chain cover are all paint matched! The frame, fork, and fenders are all aluminum alloy, making them lightweight and rust-proof… while the chain cover is steel
- For the rear rack, I love that they chose sturdy functional hardware with a flat deck on top for trunk bags or a child seat, side bars for use with bungee cords (which may be included, because one of the demo bikes already had them!) and that it’s rated to 25kg/55lbs. The Vale Go! only has pannier hangers, no side bars or flat deck on top, and no listed weight rating
- Ebikes tend to be ridden more frequently and for longer distances, so Electra chose high-volume 2.4″ wide tires and a very comfortable cruiser saddle with elastomer bumpers. Even though the Townie Path Go! doesn’t have a suspension seat post like the Vale Go! it felt more comfortable during my test rides. Note the swept-back riser handlebar and ergonomic grips. You could always add a suspension seat post aftermarket if you wanted, but that will raise the minimum saddle height… consider the Suntour NCX, a Thudbuster, or Kinekt with 27.2mm diameter to work with this bike
- Electra pioneered the Flat-Foot geometry, used on the Townie Path Go!, which pushes the bottom bracket (spindle and crank arms) forward from the seat tube. This allows riders to lower the saddle position for easy mounting and stabilization while still achieving maximum leg extension while riding
- I was intrigued by the Bosch SmartphoneHub display panel because it’s very intuitive and usable even without a smartphone! There’s a grayscale LCD that lists current speed, assist level, range estimate, and battery charge percentage! Most of the older Bosch displays just used 5 bars for battery level, with each bar being 20% vs. 1%. If you do choose to connect your Android or iOS smartphone, you’ll get a large color display with even more readouts including phone and music controls, and turn-by-turn GPS directions that can be voiced out so you don’t have to look down… and the SmartphoneHub charges your phone from the ebike battery as you use it! Micro-USB cables included for 5 volt 1 amp output.
- High quality hydraulic disc brakes provide smooth stopping power without a lot of hand effort, and the levers offer adjustable reach for different hand sizes. Electra has opted for 180mm rotors front and rear here, and chosen Shimano hardware vs. Tektro on the Vale Go! As with all hydraulic braking systems, both levers will pull with similar resistance vs. mechanical, which often has more resistance for the rear brake (right lever)
- Great drivetrain here, the 10-speed Shimano Deore setup shifts smoothly and is reliable. This is a derailleur that I see frequently on mountain bikes, and it has a one-way clutch built in to tighten the derailleur and keep the chain from bouncing on bumpy terrain (the little gray lever that clicks forward for off and back/up for on). Note the clear sticker slap guard to protect the right chainstay paint, and the aluminum alloy chainring guard to keep the chain on track and protect the bottom bracket from log/rock strikes, the full chain cover will keep your pant leg or dress end completely protected from the chain
- I really like the trigger shifters used on this ebike because the high lever (that shifts to harder gears) can be pushed or pulled, using your right index finger or thumb. The low lever (that shifts to easier gears) offers three-steps for each push, so you can dump a lot of gears quickly as you approach a hill
- The bike is fairly quiet, in part due to the efficient Bosch Performance Line motor. It’s not as quiet as the Vale Go! Active Line motor, but it’s much more satisfying to ride, and a better climber. Note that the fenders are extra sturdy and don’t rattle or chatter as much as plastic. I tested it going off curbs and through bumpy grass in the video review above
- The front fender is connected directly to the fork with fixed metal stays, meaning it won’t bump out of position easily. Notice also that there are additional threaded eyelets on the front fork for possibly mounting a front rack?
- Trek has this ABC safety campaign of “always on, biomotion, contrast” which you can see in the reflective silver accents, reflective tire stripes, and integrated lights here on the Electra Townie Path Go! 10D. The headlight is mounted to the base of the steer tube so it points where you steer and isn’t blocked by wires up higher
- Decent charging port design and position, it’s on top of the downtube vs. the left side, so it’s easier to reach and won’t put your charging cable directly in the pat of the crank arm… as is the case with the Vale Go!
- Great kickstand position, it’s far back, clear of the left crank arm so you won’t get heel strikes when pedaling. It’s also positioned directly below the rack to support heavier loads
- Trek designed a battery system called RIB (removable integrated battery) that is basically a shield with a handle that is screwed onto the Bosch PowerTube battery pack. This RIB system is easy to remove from the right side of the frame and safer to carry around. You can charge the battery on or off the bike. Electra borrows this same battery design for their Path Go! and Vale Go! models
- You can reduce the weight of the bike by 7.1lbs by removing the battery pack. This is a great approach for lifting the bike or transporting it on car racks. I have been taught that storing the battery pack at half full and away from extreme heat is best for lithium-ion cells. Extreme cold will temporarily stunt the battery, and limit range, but isn’t as damaging as extreme heat
- The battery pack locks into the frame using an ABUS core with PLUS keys that are matched to the ABUS frame lock and can also can be matched to ABUS folding and chain locks! The frame lock also has a hole for using one of the ABUS lightweight chains that connects into the hole on the left side of the lock, so you could secure it to a pole while also disabling the rear wheel, more info on the official ABUS website
- Trek chose the 4 amp Bosch charger for faster turnaround times on the Path Go! and Vale Go! models. The charger is relatively lightweight, compact, and can fill the battery on or off the frame without the need for any dongles. The proprietary plug interface is durable and won’t get confused with other charging devices you might own… it’s my favorite ebike charger!
- The Bosch Performance Line motor offers more than enough torque for neighborhood, city, and gravel path riding. It should perform well on moderate hills due to the 65 newton meters of torque output (especially if you shift gears appropriately). The MY20 motor lets you cycle the chain backwards through the drivetrain which can be handy for lubing the chain and performing bike maintenance without a stand
- The Bosch Performance Line motor offers high pedal cadence support at 120RPM vs. 105RPM with the Active Line Plus motor on the Vale Go!, meaning that it can keep up if you shift into very low gears and “spin” to climb a hill. That means, if you switch gears down while heading into a big climb
- The Bosch electric bike motor controller measures rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque over 1,000 times per second and is one of the more reliable and reputable ebike drive systems around. Bosch has partnered with Magura in North America to provide great customer support if issues arise. The motor even offers shift detection, which reduces chain and drivetrain wear by easing power back when it senses gear changes in motion
- With the compact motor and internally mounted Bosch Powertube battery pack, this ebike is fairly stealthy. It doesn’t stand out, doesn’t produce a lot of noise, the cables are mostly internally routed, and the ebike system weight is kept low and center for optimal handling
Cons:
- I was a little bit surprised to see that the Electra Path Go! is using the old-fashioned spoke magnet for rear wheel speed measurement while the cheaper Vale Go! uses a disc brake rotor mounted sensor that stays out of the way and is more reliable. Maybe we will see this minor upgrade on future Townie Path Go! models
- If we compare this ebike to the less expensive Electra Vale Go! 9D, we notice that it is $400 more expensive and ~2lbs heavier. I think that it’s superior in many ways, but do prefer the standard 31.8mm handlebar bore and mountain bike stem vs. 25.4mm handlebar bore and quill stem here (which is not compatible with the Trek Bontrager Blendr stem accessory mount… just minor things that seem like slight downgrades like the 9mm axles vs. 12mm axles, and lack of suspension seatpost, it makes me wonder why
- The MY20 Bosch Performance Line and Active Line motors introduce a sort of “clunk” feeling when I stop pedaling. It’s like there’s some inertia built up in the motor or drivetrain that dissipates with a feeling and sound that the higher-end Performance Line Speed and CX motors do not have… perhaps this isn’t as noticeable with time if the motor breaks in? I mainly test brand new ebikes, but almost always notice this “clunk” feeling, which I describe in the video review above
- While I do prefer the upwards facing charging port here vs. having it on the side of the frame, it’s still very low down. It would be physically easier to reach and safer to have the charging port positioned up high on the right side of the bike
- Part of me really likes the Removable Integrated Battery RIB casing design that Electra is borrowing from its parent brand Trek here, because of the built-in handle and right-side removability from the frame. However, I dislike that it adds roughly 1.3lbs to the battery, that the shield is color-matched to the bike (making it less attractive to swap between other Electra/Trek models if you own multiple bikes), that the locking core is positioned on the left side of the frame vs. the right, and that the key must be used to mount the battery vs. simply pushing hard on the case to click it into the frame
- The steel chainring is very standard, there’s no narrow-wide tooth pattern or guide element to help retain the chain. It could hop off inwards towards the motor casing on very rough terrain, but this is a minor concern for a cruiser ebike with city tires and no suspension
- The headlight is bright and aimable, but doesn’t have side windows for maximum visibility. I do appreciate that the Townie Path Go! comes with a large rotary bell for friendly signaling
- The bike is only available in one frame size for each frame style. You can always tip the handlebars forward or back to adjust reach, and saddles can slide forward and back as well, but you don’t have as many sizing choices withy cruisers vs. hybrid models
- Considering the relatively high price of these electric bikes, some people might wonder why Electra didn’t opt for the super high capacity Bosch PowerTube 625 battery. I suspect that the longer dimension of that pack wouldn’t allow for the shorter downtube and step-thru frame styles on the Path and Vale models.
- The Bosch Performance Line motors have a larger q-factor than competing mid-drive units from Shimano, Yamaha, and Brose. The width is 175mm, and that spaces the crank arms out a bit further… not that big of a deal, but worth mentioning because a standard analog bicycle q-factor is 145mm to 157mm on road, city, and gravel bikes
- As with any premium electric bike with name brand components and a leading drive system that is custom-integrated into the frame, this ebike costs more money, but at least it is sold through a vast network dealers who can offer support and comes with a great 2+ year comprehensive warranty
- It appears that the units designation on the smartphone hub cannot be changed without syncing a phone. I called Bosch to ask about this, and was surprised that there wasn’t a button combination to go from kilometers to miles built into the firmware… if you get this ebike and don’t have a smartphone, be sure to ask your dealer for help and get the units setup correctly before leaving the shop ;)
Useful Resources:
- Official Electra website
- Local Electra bike shop directory to find an Electra/Trek dealer near you for fitting and test rides
Anonymous says
This bike is appealing to me. I wished that I could use my Bosch powerpacks as range extenders on it.
Court says
Yeah, that would be cool! I like how Trek is offering that as an option on some of their 2020 models like the Allant+.
Stephen Mercier says
Court your hill test was not very hilly. I suggest next time climb the bike up that gravel path at the east end of Lincoln Ave. where you made the video. Of course if you film with one hand you should have an ambulance standing by. (-:
Court says
Lol, that’s a great suggestion… both parts ;) It’s more fun if I have a buddy standing by to help film or riding next to me and filming. The other day I was filming a different ebike and tried to go up a ramp from these docks and it felt pretty unstable. I bumped the left handlebar a bit on a railing and just decided to stop so nobody (and no thing) would get damaged. I’ll keep working on this and appreciate your feedback Stephen ;)
Jay says
This is a terrific review. Very helpful. Tempted to purchase this Townie Go 10D, but not sure if I should get the step over or step thru frame. I am about 5’6″ with 29 inch inseam. Will the step over frame be too big for me? Impossible to find a local bike store that has these in stock to try out, so going by your geometry measurements. My other option is to go with a Pedego City Commuter mid-drive that comes in a smaller frame size but has the less appealing rear rack battery. Any advice you can provide would be most appreciated. Thx.
Court says
Hi Jay! Sorry for the slow reply here. It looks like your inseam is almost exactly what I measured for stand-over height on the high-step Electra Townie Path Go! 10D EQ… so it might push your pants up a bit while standing over (just in front of the saddle nose), and if you move your body forward as the tubing slopes up… it could get even tighter ;)
The high-step frame will be stiffer than step-thru, but both Electra models will be stiffer and probably more satisfying to ride than the Pedego because of battery placement (as you called out). I like Pedego products, the throttle option is nice, but Electra is a step above in my opinion (quality, components, dealers). Depending on your plans for using the rack (like with a trunk bag or child seat), I’d definitely consider the step-thru because it will be even harder to swing your leg over… or you’ll have to tip the bike frame to the side when mounting, which could be heavy with a loaded rack. I hope this helps, and I wish you luck! I love that they have so many color options in the step-thru models, and that would probably be my choice if I was in your position, and even my own choice as someone who is slightly taller at 5’9″
DK says
Is the top speed of the Townie 10d really only 20mph? Even in the highest support level? If on private roads, etc. I just assumed the Bosch Performance line would be much faster.
Court says
Hi DK! Bosch does offer a drive system called Performance Line Speed that gets close to 28mph (45km/h) but all of their other motors top out at 20mph (32km/h) and are Class 1. You can sort and filter the bikes here by top speed or look at this category for all of the Class 3 models, including some Bosch :)
JL says
Are there any similar bikes in style and performance to the Townie?
Court says
Hi JL! There are many ebikes that offer the cruiser style, but they might have a different motor or features than the Townie. Electra mostly uses Bosch mid-drive motors, but recently introduced a more affordable hub motor model called the Townie Go! 7D. You can see all of the cruiser style electric bicycles that I’ve covered on the cruiser category here :)
Russ says
I just picked one of these up this past week. I’ve owned a couple of non-electric Townies and generally love the riding position; I am not a “bike person” but they really do make riding bikes fun. My primary motivation for buying the bike was to allow me to navigate some of the bigger hills near my house with my surfboard mounted alongside me. Unfortunately because of the COVID19 stuff going on the beaches are closed but I have been taking the bike out every day to explore (20+ miles) and it so far, it checks the boxes. I can get where I want to go. I’m a large guy 235lbs / 6’1 in reasonably good shape and it gets me up the pretty big hills with no problems – as long as I put it in turbo or sport mode and get to a low gear. I am worried once I load it up with gear it might bog down a bit – we’ll see. Weight is the main factor, of course. My wife has the Electra Vale Go and can blow past me up the hills in eco mode – but she weighs 100 lbs less. I wish they put in or had an option for the highest end motor that they have in their Café racer model – oh well.
One last thing – it’s a pretty big bike – I’m 6’1 and swinging my leg over the top tube seems harder than it is on my regular Townie. My 12 year old son, who is 5’4 ish and 105 lbs can’t ride it and it’s pretty difficult for my wife who is just a bit bigger. Something to keep in mind.
Court says
Hi Russ! Bummer about the beaches being closed… I love to surf too. Sounds like fun, you and your wife going for rides! I wish Electra offered a motor upgrade for too, that’s a good idea. The Bosch Performance Line motor would be perfect, and I feel like they could just start with that vs. the Active Line+ since it’s not as loud as the Performance Line CX but does offer more torque power than the Active Lines. Anyway, thanks for sharing your weight and height with us, so others can get some perspective :)
Jamie says
Would you compare this (or any Electra) with a new Specialized Como 4.0? I was just about to purchase the latter but decided to check out bikes on REI and found they don’t carry the brand.
Court says
I think Electra/Trek have done an amazing job with their ebikes. Specialized is also a high quality brand, but they are using more custom systems while Electra has mostly stuck with Bosch. I think both ebikes would be fun, so it might come down to color and availability. I’d rank Electra slightly higher than the Como for myself at the moment, though the Como may offer some extra power (which could limit range). Since there are a wide range of models and years out there right now (even just 2018-2020) there are some variations. I hope this general feedback helps guide you!
DrJay says
Hi Court. Great review with a very good performance ride test. This bike checks a lot of boxes for me plus we have two Electra dealers close by. Dealer support is one of the main criteria for me. For me, the smart phone hub is the problem when compared to the Intuvia or the Kiox. I have a smart phone, so that is not the issue, but I have been told that to use the app on the bike one has to agree to give access to data to third parties. Somehow this seems excessive to get access to a range of useful information in the app with much better visibility. Do you have any information on this and is there a way to use the app while not agreeing to data mining?
Court says
Hi DrJay, I understand your concerns about granting app access. Unfortunately, I don’t have a solution to offer you… I think that most smartphone apps are an all or none install or don’t sort of situation. Your best bet may be to pay your Trek/Electra dealer to swap the SmartphoneHUB out for the Kiox, Intuvia, or Purion. If they won’t do it, then you might want to look at other similar products from BULLS, because they also have many dealers and I believe that independent dealers like Propel and New Wheel offer these kinds of upgrades and custom swaps. I’m not sure this is the sort of thing you can do on your own without a shop, because I haven’t seen where you could buy a display as an end user. I hope this helps and I’m wishing you luck!! It would be nice if more companies offered display choices, like Riese & Müller does… but then again, that company has 1-3 month wait times since each ebike is built to order ;)
DrJay says
Thanks for your reply. I will check out your suggestion with the Electra dealer nearest to me. At this price point there are a lot of alternatives and I just found out that there is a Specialized dealer in the same town as the Electra. I was very impressed by your review of the Turbo Como 4 and 5. But in my area Class 3 is really restricted to streets (though who would be checking, I don’t know) so the Como 4 would likely be the way I would go and it does have a nicer standard display than the Electra. The Specialized app that allows customizing settings is very nice but again not sure of how much personal data one has to agree to share. I guess in the high tech world of bikes I am still somewhat of a troglodyte. Stay safe in this pandemic and keep up the great work.
Court says
Nice word choice there with troglodyte! Yeah, the cool thing about the Specialized interface is that it does not require the use of a smartphone. They make great products, and the Como is an excellent cruiser with lots of comfort and a smooth motor. I hope you find a great fit, and enjoyed our chat here… definitely staying safe, thanks again DrJay :D
Jill says
So glad I found your e-bike reviews. There are so many options and brands to choose from…
I think I’ve settled on the Townie Path Go! 10D EQ but would like to test ride to make sure it’s right for me before I purchase it. My local bike shop carries Electra e-bikes but they don’t stock the Townie Path Go! 10D EQ (or none are available at this time). They do have the following models, which one should I test ride to determine if the Townie is right for me?
Thank you!
Court says
Hi Jill! Sorry for the slow reply here. I recommend test riding any of the Bosch powered models there. The Path Go! 10D uses a Performance Line motor, but an Active Line Plus will be similar (just a bit less powerful). I’d avoid the 7D because it uses a completely different hub motor system that is less expensive but not as dynamic or natural feeling… or powerful. The Vale, Townie Go! 8i, and Townie Commute Go should all be good to compare with the Path Go! Good luck :D
Jim says
Thanks for this review. I find hits almost all of my wants. I currently have a Raleigh RetroGlide with seat and handle bar extensions and find still a little to small for me. Would this be good for my size 6’4″ 225 pounds
Thanks!
Court says
Hi Jim! Given your height, I’d probably go for the larger size of the Townie Path Go! 10D EQ. That’s one of the benefits of Trek/Electra, they offer more colors and sizes on some of their bikes than the smaller brands. You can also adjust the seat height, saddle position, and handlebar angle. You could even get a longer stem. I do think it could fit you, and if it’s the style of bike that you like, it’s a good option because they have dealers who can help you get fitted and even install accessories to make it fit better!
Sarah says
Thank you for your review. I am considering getting a Townie Path 10D for my daily commute which is 26km (15 miles) one way. The route is on low traffic country roads that are not super hilly. I love biking but have not done much over the last years, I know nothing about e-bikes, so sorry for the silly question. Would this bike work for such a long trip, or do I need a sportier bike? I like sitting up on a bike if I can, it feels safer and more comfortable, I do not need to be super fast but keeping the commute under 1.5 hours each way would be nice. I just have no idea what would be best.
The reason that I am considering the Path is that I have always liked ‘granny bikes’, a local bike store has a rather good sale on their Path bikes (around 2,600 Euros) and the motor and battery seem like they might be good. The Path with the sale is at the very top end of my budget, I need a safe, comfortable, trusty bike to commute. Would this bike work? I also live in the northern EU so the weather can be harsh, is the Path a better beach bike than a commuter bike? What would you recommend? Thank you
Court says
Hi Sarah! Great job explaining your situation and needs. Yes, I do think that this would be an excellent choice for you, especially if you appreciate the classic beach cruiser style. Considering that it has the fenders, rack, and lights, it’s not as heavy as I thought it might be (before I reviewed it). This thing will handle the different conditions, it offers an excellent 10-speed drivetrain, and brings the reliable and efficient Bosch drive system. I do think that it will meet your range needs, even if you use the higher levels of assist, based on my ride experiences. This is because it has the high capacity 500 watt hour PowerTube battery. To double check this, perhaps you can experiment with the Bosch electric bike range calculator tool here. Just enter the battery size of 500 watts, the Performance Line motor, and experiment :D
While there are many other ebikes that could provide a similar experience for you, it seems like the styling, quality, and sale price of this one makes it a focus. I genuinely think you’ve found a good fit here, because you’ve done your research.
Sarah says
Thank you so much:)