Electric Bike Company Model E Review

This review was provided for free, but the Electric Bike Company did organize delivery of two temporary demo bikes and accessories to test. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of EBC products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the Electric Bike Company forums.

Observations:

• The Electric Bike Company is based in Newport Beach, California and employs quite a few people who assemble and customize the bikes. They have a spoking machine, a paint shop, design facility, and accessory + shipping center! It’s heartwarming and pretty unique. These ebikes are about as “American Made” as you can get, but they also feel like citizens of the world because the founder is from South Africa and they donate back to some global communities in need.
• The Model E is their most affordable product, the E stands for “everyone”, but it is still completely purpose built. It features an internally mounted battery pack and cables that keep it looking streamlined and beautiful. They only sell it in one frame size, but the bike can be purchased with either 26″ or 24″ wheels. The smaller wheels lower the frame a bit, making it even more approachable for riders starting at 4’8″ tall. In my experience with the bike, as someone who is 5’9″ with a 31″ inseam, the 26″ wheels were great and the frame felt like it was the correct size.

Pros:

• This is the most affordable model from the Electric Bike Company, and is called the Model E because it’s for “Everyone” and is very approachable. It uses high quality parts, is shipped nearly fully assembled, has lots of custom accessory options, can be styled with custom paint, and gets excellent customer support.
• For those who are willing to spend a bit more, there are very few cruisers (or any ebikes for that matter) that offer so much customization! You can choose any color, even metallic, and they will paint EVERYTHING. That includes the frame, suspension fork, plastic fenders, and even the basket liner and basket! You can also get a water resistant speaker, a fancy cup holder, bags, a security system, rear basket… it’s crazy, and it’s fun.
• If you live in California, or are willing to drive a bit, you can visit their showroom in near Newport Beach to demo bikes and save on shipping when making a purchase. They employ many local builders, have a spoke machine, and are one of the most “made in the USA” ebike companies around, even though many parts are still sourced from Taiwan and other parts of the world.
• For me, comfort is a big deal, so I appreciate the upright body position because it offers a more relaxed ride. The Model E comes with stable vibration-dampening 2.35″ wide “balloon” tires, the long swept back handlebars keep you upright while dampening vibration, the adjustable angle stem improves fit for many body types, padded leather grips, oversized comfort saddle, and the steel fork tends to dampen vibration as well. If you want a suspension seatpost, they sell that as an option, and you could pay more for the Model R and get a suspension fork on the same frame as this.
• With a very high max weight capacity of 350lbs (while their other bikes top out at 250 or 300lbs), it’s nice to see that they really overbuilt the frame. Notice the welded plates where the downtube connects to the seat tube. Each of these design decisions helps to reduce frame flex and improve overall strength. Also, they spoke the wheels in house and use 36 hole vs. 32 or 24 and they use thicker 13 gauge spokes with corrosion resistant brass nipples.
• The Schwalbe Fat Frank E-Cruiser tires are great, providing reflective stripes and Level 3 puncture resistance for those moments you might leave the sidewalk or street. The wider 2.35″ size also provides stability on gravel and additional cushion, it helped me to ride “no handed” during the ride test, and float in wet grassy terrain at the park.
• It’s pretty cool that this ebike can be purchased with 26″ or 24″ wheels. You’ll get a smoother ride with the larger wheel size, because it lowers the attack angle and provides increased air volume (and air is squishy). The smaller wheel size will be extra sturdy and lower the standover height and effective minimum saddle height of the bike, but it also makes pedal strikes more likely when turning or going over varied terrain. I was told that the smaller wheels can comfortably accommodate riders starting at 4’8″ tall, which is unique.
• Safety is an important consideration for me, so I’m glad that one of the stock color choices is white and I appreciate the reflective tires and premium integrated lights. Seriously, the lights are a big upgrade from what I usually see because the headlight is very bright and rear lights have two 3-LED lights on either side of the frame that are highly visible from the sides and rear. If you get the optional rear rack, it comes with a built-in flashing light because the two smaller lights could get blocked by pannier bags. The optional front basket has a two-LED light built-in! The optional fenders have rubber flaps at the end with a reflective coating on them. Very thoughtful, extremely good attention to detail here.
• Unlike the Model X and Y, which are available in Black and White by default and cost extra to change… the Model E comes in Black, White, or Red by default! That’s great, because you can buy a set of bikes that don’t look exactly the same without having to spend extra on them.
• I love how the frame was designed to hide wires at the head tube, seat tube, and downtube. Most are internally routed, and the plastic cable wraps match the paint job! I noticed that the other hardware also tends to match… either being all silver or all black depending on the frame color you choose.
• The stock single-speed drivetrain is super quiet and it’s highly unlikely that the chain will come off. This is not a drivetrain that will require much if any maintenance, and it’s less of on an inconvenience having just one gear because the motor is super strong and can get the bike going and climbing even without much pedal support. For those who enjoy choosing different pedal speeds or plan to climb frequently, it’s great that you can pay just ~$149 extra for a 7-speed Shimano Altus derailleur with basic 14-28 tooth freewheel.
• Given the heavier build of this ebike and all of the cargo potential (50lbs on the optional rear rack and 50lbs in the optional front basket, it’s great that they provide such high quality brakes. To me, the 180mm hydraulic disc brakes and dual piston calipers are exactly what is needed here. Easy two-finger brake levers offer adjustable reach to fit a range of hand sizes, and both brake levers have motor inhibitors to override assist and throttle instantly.
• During my ride test with the Model E, I didn’t experience any speed wobble and the weight of the motor and battery pack were distributed well across the frame (and kept low).
• The older Model X and Y used grayscale LCDs that I thought were fine. The new ones are color, making them a bit easier to read, and they have a USB A charging port built into the back right side so you can maintain your smartphone or the optional Bluetooth wireless waterproof speaker.
• The pedal assist sensor is sealed, making it durable agains dust and water, and positioned behind the chainring for protection. It performed well during my rides, starting quickly as I pedaled and cutting out almost immediately when I stopped.
• There are lots of options in the display panel including speed limit from 12mph up to 28mph, you can turn off pedal assist, change the units, or adjust how much power the throttle offers. Check the photo of the settings menu shown in the video review and photo gallery above. You can get into the menu by holding up and down immediately after powering the bike on.
• I’m very impressed with the optional basket battery upgrade options. This is a creative solution and will double range for those who are carrying more cargo or riding for long distances. EBC offers 48 volt 10, 20, or special order 30 amp hour batteries for the front basket!
• Very powerful hub motor that looks great. This is an MXUS motor rated at 500 nominal and 1,000 watt peak. It provides somewhere around 50 newton meters of torque and feels satisfying for flats or climbs. Of course, the best approach for climbing is to gain some speed going in and then pedal along (or shift to lower gears if you get the optional 7-speed drivetrain). The motor isn’t super loud and it’s almost hidden behind the disc brake rotor (and optional freewheel cassette).
• The batteries for all EBC ebikes use high quality cells and have fuses built-in to reduce the potential for failure and short life. They actually partnered with their battery cell supplier and specify that each cell have an individual fuse vs. just one for the entire pack. Like the brakes, it’s almost overkill but hasn’t drastically increased their price compared to the competition.
• Amazing 5 year comprehensive 10 year frame and motor warranty is one of the best that I have ever heard of. The Electric Bike Company has been around since 2013, and I’ve covered many of their products. They are even working on an ebike program for South Africa based on the products being sold in America, as a way to give back to parts of the world that don’t have as many ebike options.
• Excellent charger choice for these ebikes, you get a faster 3.5 amp Constant Current Constant Voltage CCCV type charger with a metal case, fuse, and built-in fan. It’s another premium/reliable part.
• This is a little thing, but it made a big impression on me. The charing port on the frame is up high on the right side! This means that plugging the bike in to charge does not require you to bend down and search. It’s easy to see and use, and won’t get bumped by the crank arm if they get cycled backwards. The locking core for the battery pack is also up high (on the left side of the frame) which keeps it clean and easy to reach).
• The model E is more powerful than the older Model X or Y because it utilizes a 26 amp controller vs. a 20 amp controller. This is why it is capable of outputting up to 1,000 watts. I see it as a powerful and comfortable cruiser with stable wheels and durable hardware, it’s high quality even though the price is very good in my opinion.
• The Electric Bike Company charges $199 for shipping, but the bikes come fully assembled, which can cost $75 to $100 extra if you need help from a local bike shop.
• This is a little thing, but the keys they chose for the battery lock seem higher security than some of the more generic stuff out there. I also noticed that they used a longer quick release lever for the seat tube clamp. This makes it easier to loosen when adjusting saddle height!

Cons:

• This is a fairly heavy electric bike, especially if you add the front basket, rear rack, and fenders. I weighed it at 55.6lbs stock and 67.2lbs with the fenders, front basket, and rear rack added. Electric Bike Company had to reinforce the frame for strength (to reduce any flexing) and to guarantee the maximum 350lb weight rating. Thankfully, you can remove the battery to shave off about 7.5lbs before lifting or transporting the bike.
• As nice as the battery pack looks, hidden in the downtube, it can be difficult to remove… especially if you add fenders. You have to insert the key, twist to unlock, then press this spring loaded black lever thing below the downtube and pull the battery downwards. I suggest being careful not to pull so hard that the battery tumbles out and hits the hard ground. I’ve seen better solutions out there, to be honest, but the good news is that you don’t have to remove the battery pack to charge the bike, because there’s a plug on the right side of the main tube to plug in. Note that extreme heat is hard on lithum-ion batteries and extreme cold will temporarily stunt their range (halving it usually), so if you cannot park the bike somewhere with cool dry temperatures, you’re back to having to remove it carefully each time.
• The included charger is great in that it has a durable case and built-in fuse for safety, but it’s also really large and fairly heavy. This makes it less fun to tote around. Thankfully, it offers 3.5 to 4.0 amp output for faster charging (most chargers I see are just 2 amp). Another trade-off is that the built-in fan can be kind of loud. Also, if you opt for the secondary basket-mounted battery pack, you need to charge it separately from the main battery (or get two chargers to fill them simultaneously).
• As great as the stock or basket mounted headlights are, they are mounted directly to the steer tube (or basket front), so it doesn’t turn as you steer. I still think this is a good solution, because it won’t be super low on the fork or get blocked by cargo if you get the basket… but it does compromise how your path is illuminated.
• This is a minor complaint, but the frame doesn’t have any bottle cage bosses. To bring a drink, you’ll either need to pay extra for a rear rack with some sort of trunk bag bottle holster or purchase their “Ultimate Beverage Holder Liquid Caddy” accessory. It clutters the handlebars a bit, but does tilt as you steer and brake, and it works best with cans or smaller cups vs. actual bike bottles. I think it would be cool if they added bottle cage bosses to the side of the front basket like some other companies have done.
• This ebike was designed as a single speed, which has the benefits of reduced weight, noise, and complexity but limits how easy and efficient it is to pedal. Thankfully, they do offer a basic 7-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain upgrade for ~$149, and that might be worth getting if you’re a more active pedaler and enjoy adjusting your cadence to match different speeds.
• The fork, handlebar, and optional fenders are all made from steel, which is strong, dampens vibration, and tends to be quiet, but it can start to rust if it gets scratched. Thankfully, the front basket is aluminum alloy (along with the main frame and fork), so they won’t rust, and EBC offers color-matched touch up paint!
• The frame only comes in one size, and it’s on the small side, but they include a 0-60 degree adjustable stem and the the stem can be angled and handlebar can be swiveled to accommodate different body types. I was actually very impressed with how low the saddle could go, and that they sell smaller 24″ wheels that lower the entire frame and makes it more approachable for people who want to put their feet flat on the ground when stopped.
• Despite the thicker main tube and additional gussets, there is still some frame flex when you pedal hard, turn quickly, or stand up and pedal on this ebike. This is especially true if the front basket or optional rear rack are loaded with cargo. Frankly, I think they did better than average with frame strength here, this is just a general trade-off for most deep wave step-thrus.
• You can angle the display to reduce glare but it isn’t completely removable, this means that it could get scratched at a public bike rack and take more weather wear when parking outside for extended periods. The screen is plastic.
• Be careful with the right side of the rear axle because the motor cable protrudes here and could get snagged or bent if the bike tips over, this is a design vulnerability than many hub motors experience and just something to be considerate of as the owner. Some ebikes have derailleur guards, and this is something that could possibly be added aftermarket or that EBC could build for future models.
• The trigger throttle power output is limited by the chosen level of assist. I prefer the when throttles let you access full power at any time, so that you don’t have to click any buttons on the display pad. This is because I like to save power and use lower assist when pedaling but then override with the throttle to climb hills or catch up with friends. Thankfully, this can be adjusted in the display settings (along with top speed). You can reach this menu by holding up and down immediately after holding the power button when first powering on the bike.
• Pedal assist can be turned on or turned off, but the throttle will work in both cases (unless you unplug it completely). In order to switch pedal assist, you need to hold the down arrow when the bike is powered on. I don’t think this ebike offers walk mode, but you could use the throttle as a substitute.
• For as nice as the battery pack is, and all of the upgrade options, I wish that the display showed 10 bars vs. just 4, or maybe a percentage readout. This way, you would have a much more precise readout and be able to estimate your trips better. Also, I feel that the color display is a bit dim at times, and can be more difficult to read than some of the simpler cheaper grayscale models. I noticed that it didn’t dim down when activating the lights, as some other models do.
• The kickstand has a nice wide foot, offers adjustable length (which is good for if you get the smaller 24″ wheel size), and stays out of the way when pedaling, but it is center-mounted on the frame and can cause pedal lock when backing the bike up or if the cranks spin backwards while the bike is parked. There did appear to be provisions for adding a rear mounted kickstand, for those who want to switch and buy the part aftermarket.

Resources:

• Official Electric Bike Company website.