There are only a handfull of electric bikes specifically designed for petite riders. The Pedego 24″ Cruiser comes to mind but doesn’t offer the same mid-drive setup seen here. The Banff is a beautifully accessorized city style cruiser that comes complete with front and rear racks, whicker baskets, fenders, lights and a unique center-drive that keeps weight low and center while simultaneously leveraging the rear three-speed hub. While the motor isn’t quite as powerful or peppy as some (and does make a bit more noise) overall it’s a solid design at a good price with a nice two year warranty and free shipping to US and Canada. It’s a bike that looks amazing and includes some fancy features that really make it convenient to use (such as the removable battery pack).
The motor driving this bike is a 350 watt geared mid-drive. It’s not the most high-tech or powerful setup (it can’t sense when your changing gears like some of the higher end Bosch and Panasonic systems) but it doesn’t really need to be fancy to perform well here. This is actually a huge point, the gears on this bike are internal so they don’t grind as much when you shift, even if the motor is running. The other benefits are that the chain can stays tight (only one ring on the front and one cog on the back) and dust, water and mud stay away from the actual moving parts. The benefit of any middrive ebike motor is that it can leverage the bicycle gears for improved climbing or higher speeds and this extends the overall range you get from the battery.
The battery powering the Banff offers a solid 37 volts of power and 8.8 amp hours of capacity. I’d call that slightly below average but the upside is reduced weight… Considering this bike only weighs ~50 pounds compared with many others (including the Pedego) that weigh +8 lbs more, that’s a win. The battery is located at the rear and fairly high but is protected within a rack that also works with a special basket for toting groceries or cute furry animals. I like the basket a lot but it does rattle around a bit (adding to the cacophony of sounds already produced by the front basket and motor). I suggest some zip ties… The best part about the battery pack is that it gets a two year warranty and is removable for convenient and safe charging. It will last longer if you store it inside away from extreme temperatures and top it off after each ride and every couple of months if it hasn’t been used.
Operating the eProdigy Banff is simple… you just insert the key, turn on the battery, press the middle button on the console pad and either juice the trigger throttle or start pedaling for assist! The LCD display panel tells you which assist mode you’re in, how fast you’re going, how far you’ve gone and how much battery is left (it is also backlit for easy use at night). It’s easy to see and also easy to work with because of those externalized buttons. You don’t have to take your hand off the left grip to operate it (unless you have really small fingers). It’s a solid design that works well but also blends in and stays out of the way. The trigger throttle offers variable speed output and comes in handy if you need a break from pedaling or are trying to balance cargo while riding through puddles. And that’s when the fenders and chain guard really shine.
While the battery pack on the Banff is mounted somewhat high (which reduces balance) I love the mid-drive design and even though this is a lower end motor configuration it works just fine for city cruising. The lights are nice, the kickstand is super solid with two legs for support (the unit I test-rode had a single side kickstand but it still worked well) and the adjustable stem means you can dial in the riding position (I prefer upright for city riding around a lot of people and traffic, it’s easier to see your surroundings). The baskets match the ergonomic grips and comfortable sprung saddle. The soft cream color is beautiful and all of the other accessories do their job… You get medium sized hybrid tires for efficient but comfortable riding and industry standard v-brakes with levers that cut power to the motor. This is a fun little bike that really delivers for the price.
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Dan
10 years agoThis bike comes in at least 5 colors and has an optional 450 watt motor and optional nuvince drive system.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoWow, really? Thanks for the feedback Dan! I had visited the website but must have missed that information (I just downloaded the PDF and updated the colors based on what was listed there). I did this video review in Canada at a small shop which didn’t have much information for me. Could you please share the link or provide more information about the motor upgrade option? I’d like to update the review to be as accurate as possible.
ReplyDan
10 years agoMy contact at Eprodigy is Tony Sun. He sent great pictures of the available colors and information on other options. Please contact him directly or I will be happy to send you the pictures if you provide me your email
ReplyAdora
10 years agoSOURCE: electricbikedotcom:
To contact them, use their new email: [email protected]
“I was just informed by Melody at eProdigy that they will be debuting an upgraded 450W motor for all of their E-bike models at the Vancouver Bike Show, March 8-9, 2014. Also, they will have an upgraded battery that provides the higher amps needed by the new motor.
Plus, they will be adding another model to their line-up after the March bicycle show. It’s the “Jasper” (which is also a Canadian snow-ski destination), a step-through hybrid with 700C tires, front suspension, and a front disc brake.”
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoAwesome information Adora! Thanks for sharing this and citing the source. I’m excited to see their new bikes and glad to hear about the upgraded power as well :D
ReplyDan
10 years agoWe purchased the Banff and I assembled it. We ordered it with the optional nuvince drive. We went on a 14 mile trail ride today. The Autumn colors were beautiful here in upstate NY. My wife had never ridden an electric bike before partly because she is only 4’11” tall and it has been hard to find a bike she could ride. The frame on the Banff is perfect for her. She is very happy with the performance. We have had great support from E-Prodigy. After riding 14 miles the battery display had only gone down slightly so I wouldn’t be surprised to get 40-50 miles of range with the 8.8 amp/hr battery. My wife feels the bike is beautiful and she loves it. We would highly recommend it. Only negative is E-Prodigy needs to have a better solution to attaching the rear wicker basket. Thanks again Court for your review as that is how we discovered a great bike for us.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoThat’s awesome Dan! Thank you so much for this feedback about your wife using the Banff and the range you’ve experienced. Sounds like a beautiful time of year in NY and what a fun way to enjoy it together :)
ReplyKnapweed
10 years agoAfter watching all your very execellent reviews, my wife and I decided that a mid drive unit was the way to go for range and hill climbing ability. eProdigy is situated only a few miles from us in Vancouver and didn’t suffer the usual price hikes that plague all Canadian machines, compared to U.S. Prices.
After doing our research, we discovered the mid-drive unit was actually produced by Mitsubishi, which gave us confidence that it would be a robust unit, even if it wasn’t as technologically advanced as, say, the Bosch unit. My wife ordered the Banff and I ordered the Jasper. Both bikes are the 450 watt unit with the 11 AH battery and “Reckless” bikes was the outlet we chose to purchase it from. Prior to this, I was in contact with Tony Sun with all kinds of questions, which he answered promptly and candidly. We also received terrific service from Reckless, who give a year’s FREE servicing and tuning.
Confession time. I hate push bikes and my first choice would have been a small motor bike to get around the busy Vancouver streets. I only bought the Jasper so that I could accompany my wife on her Banff, as she loves cycling. Boy, was I wrong, it was the best decision I ever made regarding a vehicle. Frankly, I can’t keep off it. I get the exercise I need by dialling down the assist and, when the going gets tough, I just increase the assist.
I see far more of the countryside, I get my exercise at my own pace and the many bicycle lanes in Vancouver means I get around faster than any car. The finish on the bikes is excellent, there is more than enough power to get up the steepest of hills and it costs almost nothing to charge the battery.
I am very grateful for the thoroughness of your reviews, which guided me in my purchase. Without your advice, I probably would have “cheaped out” and bought a direct drive SLA unit for a few hundred bucks. Great for what they are but not suited for my intended purpose.
Thanks again mate, your reviews are superb and I wish you every success in evangelising the benefits of these terriffic vehicles. I am a total convert and healthier as a consequence.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoWow! Awesome testimonial, thanks for sharing your insights about the Mitsubishi motor and the great experiences you had with Reckless Electric Bikes in Vancouver. Always great to hear that my work is helping people discover the space and choose the best product for their lifestyle. Ride safe out there, reach out anytime :)
ReplyKnapweed
10 years agoI would just like to add something about the lack of a torque sensor on the Banff and Jasper motors, that might be useful.
Although nominally rated at 450 watts, the motor can peak at over 580 watts on full assist up a steep hill. This combined with any pedal power can lead to some very clunky gear changes with the chain, sprockets and spokes taking a huge hit in terms of torque from the crank.
The risk of increased wear and damage by crashing the gears, can be obviated by slowing your pedaling to an almost complete stop. The watt meter display drops to almost zero, you then change gear and resume pedaling. It sounds cumbersome but it actually takes less than a second to do and becomes second nature very quickly. I don’t even think about it any more and a crashed gear is a shock.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoThat’s great feedback Knapweed, thanks for taking the time to share! I’ve used this technique a bit myself and it feels a lot smoother and likely reduces wear on the chain and sprockets just as you suggest.
ReplyKnapweed
10 years agoHi Court, I would just like to correct a statement I made in my initial review. I said the motor was a Mitsubishi, based on my misreading of another review of this range of bikes. I apologise if I misled anybody, as I really appreciate the quality and practicality of these bikes and I should have been more careful in my research.
Reply