Name: eProdigy Whistler Review
Item: eProdigy Whistler
Author: Court Rye

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eProdigy Whistler Review

2016 Eprodigy Whistler Electric Bike Review

2016 Eprodigy Whistler Geared Center Drive Motor

2016 Eprodigy Whistler 48 Volt 11 6 Amp Hour Removable Battery

2016 Eprodigy Whistler Handle Bars Ergonomic Grips Shifters Trigger Throttle

2016 Eprodigy Whistler Kt Lcd3 Display Panel

2016 Eprodigy Whistler 500 Watt Compact Mid Drive Motor

2016 Eprodigy Whistler 9 Speed Shimano Alivio Gears

2016 Eprodigy Whistler Plastic Fenders Kenda Reflective Tires

2016 Eprodigy Whistler Sr Suntour Xct Vr Suspension Fork

A well rounded mostly-city oriented mid-drive electric bike, eProdigy is offering a more powerful 500 watt motor that's visually small and relatively quiet along with a substantial 48 volt 11.6 amp hour battery
You get full length fenders, a decent set of pedals, a kickstand, an integrated bell and a solid suspension fork with lockout here, the nine speed Shimano Alivio drivetrain is mid-level
Available in high-step with one size (sort of a medium ~18 inch), you can choose from three colors and shipping to Canada and the US is free
The price tag feels a bit high given some of the more basic accessories (non-locking grips, generic saddle, mechanical disc brakes) and I wish it had rear rack bosses for use as a commuter platform

Make:

eProdigy

Model:

Whistler

Price:

$2,599

Body Position:

Forward

Suggested Use:

Urban, Trail

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

5 Year Frame, 2 Year Motor and Battery

Availability:

United States, Canada, Worldwide

Model Year:

2016

Total Weight:

55 lbs (24.94 kg)

Battery Weight:

7.2 lbs (3.26 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

18 in (45.72 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

18" Seat Tube, 22" Reach, 69" Length, 31" Stand Over Height

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

White, Red, Matte Black

Frame Fork Details:

SR Suntour XCT V4 with Lockout, Preload Adjust and 80 mm Travel, 10 mm Quick Release Skewer

Frame Rear Details:

10 mm Quick Release Skewer

Attachment Points:

Fender Bosses

Gearing Details:

9 Speed 1x9 Shimano Alivio RD-T4000, 11-32T

Shifter Details:

Shimano ALIVIO Rapidfire SL-M4000R on Right

Cranks:

42T Chainring

Pedals:

Wellgo Aluminum Alloy Platform, Narrow

Headset:

Neco

Stem:

Adjustable Angle

Handlebar:

Low-Rise, Aluminum Alloy, 25" Length

Brake Details:

Tektro Aquila Mechanical Disc with 160 mm Rotors, Tektro Levers with Motor Cutoff and Integrated Bell on Left

Grips:

Ergonomic Rubber

Saddle:

Velo Plush VL-6090

Seat Post:

Kalin, Aluminum Alloy

Seat Post Length:

300 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

30.4 mm

Rims:

Alexrims DM-18

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 14 Gauge

Tire Brand:

Kenda, 26" x 1.75"

Wheel Sizes:

26 in (66.04cm)

Tire Details:

Reflective Sidewall Stripe, KShield Puncture Resistant

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Single Sided Kickstand, Integrated Bell, Plastic Bash Guard, Plastic Fenders with Mud Flaps

Other:

KMC Chain, Locking Removable Battery Pack

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

750 watts (Programmable by Dealer to 350, 500 or 750)

Motor Peak Output:

850 watts

Battery Brand:

Panasonic

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

11.6 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

556.8 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

25 miles (40 km)

Estimated Max Range:

45 miles (72 km)

Display Type:

KT-LCD3 Fixed, Backlit, Monochrome LCD

Readouts:

Speed, Average Speed, Max Speed, Odometer, Battery Level (4 Bars), Voltage, Assist Level (0-5), Time, Ambient Temperature

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad on Left Bar

Drive Mode:

Trigger Throttle, Cadence 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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The 2016 eProdigy Whistler offers massive improvements in power and range with a 750 watt centerdrive motor that is compact and relatively quiet paired with a 48 volt 11.6 amp hour battery pack. The pack is removable which is great for indoor or in-office charging but requires an extra on step once attached to the frame before the display panel can also be turned on. The display is large, easy to read and navigate thanks to an independent button pad mounted near the left grip… Also mounted here is a trigger throttle that can be used to override assist as long as you’re in levels 1-4. If you’re in level zero the throttle and assist won’t work but the display will still tell you how far you’ve gone, how fast you’re traveling and how much battery capacity remains.

My initial impression of this ebike was that it would be great for trail riding. It comes with a suspension fork and the tires are semi-knobby… but upon closer inspection I think I’d use this mostly in the city or neighborhoods. The center of the tires is more slick for quiet, efficient rolling and the plastic fenders provide good protection in wet or muddy conditions. I think they’d rattle around a bit with true off-road use and the non-locking ergonomic grips, narrower pedals and adjustable angle stem might not offer the level of performance required for rigorous use. This is all fine and good, there are plenty of urban ebikes out there but if that’s the focus I wish this one had integrated lights and bosses for adding a rear rack. Instead, you might have to add a beam rack to the seat post and these are easily twisted side to side and of course, they add to the cost.

The Whistler isn’t an especially affordable ebike in my opinion. You’re getting mid-level parts and while the frame is custom built to be electrified, some of the wires are tacked onto the base of the downtube vs. routed through. For this kind of money there are a lot more options available now that look cleaner and deliver on one type of riding. The Whistler is capable, the motor blends in and is powerful and I love the integrated bell but the mechanical disc brakes are only average and the cockpit feels a bit crowded and awkward with both the throttle and button pad at the left. My biggest complaint is that the trigger throttle is flipped so you push it forward, requiring your thumb to swing up above the bar along with the rest of your hand. This definitely compromises handling and grip strength which could become an issue if you’re riding fast or in uncertain conditions.

Most of the time I’d probably be riding with pedal assist and that drive mode works very well. It activates through a cadence sensor so you don’t have to push hard, just keep the cranks turning. The motor switches on and off very quickly and offers a nice range of speed output so you can hit the max speed of 20 mph on the bike in several gears, not just the highest one like some other electric bikes. This was a tricky review to shoot because the e-Prodigy Whistler is good as many things and indeed would be capable off-road. The quick release wheels are a big convenience for transporting or performing service, the nine speed Shimano Alivio drivetrain performs well in a range of conditions (flats or climbing) and the bike felt comfortable. The company offers great support, has an awesome warranty and has been in the market for several years doing a good job. If the frame fits your body size and the areas of strength fit your needs then this could be a solid choice. Hopefully we’ll see some of the gaps in design filled in future years or the price dropped to make it more competitive.

Pros:

Super friendly small company from Canada, I haven’t had to deal with support issues but I’m guessing they would take good care of customers and they offer an amazing 2 year warranty on the motor and battery with 5 years on the frame!
Unique mid-drive motor that’s fairly small… it’s completely obscured by the chainring on the right side of the bike which helps it blend in and look more normal
I love that the battery is removable and can be charged on or off the bike frame, this also reduces weight and makes it easier to mount on hang-style car racks
Available in three colors (matte black, white and red) so you could get two for you and a friend or partner or aim for safety with white to be more reflective at night
You get four levels of pedal assist and the settings are easy to adjust while riding thanks to an independent button pad near the left grip (you have to reach over the throttle), I like that you can override assist with the throttle as long as you’re in level 1-4, not zero
Despite offering a lot of power (350, 500, and 750 watts) and being a geared design, the motor didn’t make a lot of noise when operating
In my experience the motor offered a nice range of speed out put so you could hit the 20 mph top speed in several of the higher gears, not just the very highest… It meant that I could choose a cadence I felt comfortable with vs. having to accommodate the motor’s output range
I’m a fan of the kickstand, integrated bell and hybrid tires with reflective sidewall stripes for use in city environments if you were commuting
Because this is a mid-drive ebike you get quick release wheels! This makes performing trail maintenance or transporting the bike more convenient, mid-drive ebikes also tend to be more balanced front to rear and in this case with the battery mid-frame that’s definitely the case
The motor is fairly responsive and uses cadence sensing so it’s a bit more on/off vs. ramping up and down with power, one benefit of this is that you don’t have to push hard to get it to activate… just keep turning the cranks, I like that the brake levers have motor inhibitors built in to cut power immediately if you pull them
It sounds like eProdigy offers free shipping to Canadian and US customers, this is nice considering it can run $150+ from some other companies and it’s important considering that it seems like not too many shops in the US carry the brand at this time

Cons:

This bike is only available in one “medium” frame size measuring ~18 inches and only comes in a traditional triangle high-step design that is sturdy but might not be as easy to mount for people with shorter legs, I like that the stem is adjustable to help dial in fit but make sure it doesn’t get loose if you ride off-road as these don’t seem as sturdy as fixed stems
No bottle cage bosses on the seat tube (in part because the battery is mounted to the downtube and takes up most of the space), no rear rack mounts either… consider using a seat-post beam rack like this or a smaller saddle bag for gear or just use a saddle rail adapter for bottle cages if water is all you need
There are some exposed wires going from the battery to the motor… not as clean as the Yamaha, Bosch or Impulse mid-drive systems, I also wish the display was removable for protection but it’s fixed
This is more of a light trail bike or neighborhood/urban bike in my opinion so it’s nice that it has lockout on the suspension fork but otherwise many of the accessories like the grips, saddle, tires and fenders seemed basic and I actually felt the price was a little high
I like trigger throttles for off-road riding vs. twist because it allows for a more secure grip but it took me a moment to get used to having the trigger on the left side vs. right and since it’s inverted my thumb grip was compromised vs. pushing down like I’m used to… they probably put it on the left because there are trigger shifters on the right taking up the space near the grip
The motor doesn’t have any sort of shift sensing technology so you could more easily strain the chain and sprockets if you try to change gears while it’s operating
Two-step power up process for this electric bike, you have to activate the battery pack and then the display which could add confusion if you don’t ride frequently and just some extra time
This is a minor gripe but considering the fenders, kickstand and bell it would be nice to also have integrated lights for city riding… it would be convenient and considering the very large battery it wouldn’t cut into range much

Resources:

Official Site: http://www.eprodigybikes.com/whistler.aspx
More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/us8VJFuWm7kjMS2D8

January 29, 2024 (11 months ago)

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Rocky

7 years ago

I researched this bike and some from Magnum and a few others. I am very happy with my purchase. I wanted an E-bike with significant power for hilly country, but to be used mostly on paved bike paths and a few hard pack dirt roads. I particularly like the adjustable handlebar stem so I can have an upright position.

While I generally agree with the reviewer comments, I have no problem with the exposed wires given the bike’s purpose… this is not a mountain bike! I also like the throttle position; I use my index finger to activate it, not my thumb. It is great for passing or topping a short hill. This bike has plenty of power!

I did not find the price too out of line with the others I researched or demo-ed. The LCD screen is quite complex and learning all of it’s functions takes a bit of time, but I’m a tech nerd, so I like that. I immediately replaced the saddle with a Serfas E-gel Cruiser and my 70 year old butt thanks me every time I ride it.

I bought direct and had no trouble assembling the bike…everything worked perfectly from the start. A 20 mile ride on gently hilly paths uses about half the battery capacity, a great range, using mostly 1 and 2 assist level, sometimes 3 and one steep pitch using 5. One caveat for US buyers is that you may have to pay duty depending on which state you live in if you buy direct from the factory; figure this into your cost!

Court Rye

Nice! Thanks for the great review and testimonial Rocky, I’m glad the bike has been working out well for you. eProdigy has an amazing team with good customer support. Their bikes are unique and I feel that they take an authentic approach to business, they are honest and even though the wires are exposed or some parts are different, they get the job done for sure. Thanks again and have fun out there :D