2013 EZ Pedaler T350 Review

The EZ Pedaler T350 offers a great feature set at a reasonable price and manages to balance weight evenly across its frame so riding feels natural even though it weighs nearly 60lbs. It’s got three internal gears to pedal with, front and rear lights for safety, optional fenders to keep you dry, a good sized 350 watt motor for helping up hills, and both pedal assist and throttle modes. If you’re a smaller rider or someone who is looking for the low-step frame design this is a solid choice.

The T350 name on this bike signifies how powerful the front hub motor is. The motor itself is geared which provides extra torque on hills but for larger riders, 350 watts might not offer enough power to really help when going up steep hills. Thankfully, the bike has built in pedal assist mode which lets the rider pedal along with the motor, significantly improving climbing power and range. The hub motor itself is built into the front wheel which is atypical for ebikes because it requires a stronger, burlier fork and can be more prone to spinning out. One benefit to the front-hub design however is that it balances out the weight of the bike more evenly from front to rear and makes servicing tires easier.

Back to how the motor works with this bike. In addition to a small thumb throttle on the right handlebar, the rider can use pedal assist, where the motor kicks in whenever you pedal. This mode can actually be turned on or off but in both cases the throttle still works! I love this setup because it means that at a stop sign, you can quickly accelerate from standstill using the throttle and then go back to pedaling with assistance from the motor. Many other ebikes make you choose one or the other.

The type of pedal assist offered on the T350 uses a pedelec sensor, not a torque sensor. This means it activates more abruptly (after two pedal rotations) and the motor can sometimes continue running for a second after the rider has stopped pedaling. For this reason, many people turn off pedal assist in crowded areas or when riding in more delicate situations. I’m a fan of pedelec sensors however because they don’t require you to push down hard on the pedals to activate the motor, all you need to do is keep the pedals going and that’s enough to signal to the motor that you want assistance.

The battery powering this bike sits mid-frame and low to the ground which is great for handling and maneuvering at racks and other non-riding situations like walking. Many other electric bikes position the battery pack high up on a rear rack making it less stable. The battery on the T350 is Lithium-ion which is lightweight and powerful. It’s enclosed in an aluminum shell and protected by the bicycle frame tubing on all sides. It locks to the bike and requires the key to be in when riding which is a little annoying but the key is not in the way of getting kicked so that’s nice. The battery itself is removable but can also be charged on the bike if you wish. The pack offers 36 volts of power and 12 amp hours of capacity, getting upwards of 25 miles per charge in throttle mode and even more with pedal assist.

The EZ Pedaler T350 is a well rounded bike in terms of performance but it also offers a lot of comfort. This stems from the larger balloon style tires that help to smooth out cracks and bumps along with the cushy sprung seat and upright handlebars. What really sets it apart from other cruiser style bikes like the Pedego Cruiser is that it actually has a front shock absorber built in! While this adds weight to the bike, it does a lot to improve the ride in bumpy conditions. On the downside, if you’re throttling the bike and the front motor is turning hard, the shock stiffens up because it is being pulled forward by the force of the front wheel.

There’s really a lot to say about this bike and all of its extras. It has a built in front light and AA powered rear light (both requiring a manual switch to be pressed in order to activate). The optional fenders are nice for regions where it rains a lot and the standard rear rack works well with panniers. The chain guard is nice and I especially like that they used an internal gearing system on the rear hub because this allows you to change gears at rest and avoid some of the wear and tuning issues that external derailleurs present. I would like to have seen a metal bash guard protecting the rear shifting mechanism but the plastic case works well enough and the kickstand ensures you won’t have to lay the bike down on its side. Overall, this is a solid ebike with great features at a good price.

Pros:

• Rich feature set at a reasonable price
• Balanced weight distribution, front to rear
• Low center of gravity, step-through design is easy to mount
• Lights on front and rear are great for safety
• Simple to use thumb-throttle design
• Pedal assist works very well and I love that it can be used in conjunction with throttle!
• Upright positioning is easy on the back and keeps rider’s view up and alert
• Oversized tires absorb bumps and compliment the front shock and sprung seat nicely
• Lithium battery is well protected, long lasting and light weight
• Seat flips up to make removing battery easy
• Chain protector and fenders are great for keeping riders clean
• Solid double-sided kickstand works well and doesn’t hang down too far
• Adjustable neck and oversized handlebars provide a good range for taller riders
• Tires have large white reflective sidewalls for safety
• Front light is mounted to bike frame vs. fender so it doesn’t bounce around and is more sturdy

Cons:

• Medium power and torque offering from 350 watt motor 36 volt battery combination
• Front hub motor changes the feel of steering a bit, can lose traction easier than rear designs
• Rear light requires independent power source, two AA batteries
• Both lights require rider to turn them on with a switch, easier to forget to turn off
• Front shock is very basic, no lock out options, but gets the job done
• Bolt-on style rear rack can get rattly over time but much less so than ebikes with batteries mounted to them
• Battery requires key to be left in when riding, can be jingly when going over bumps
• Adjustable neck can get loose over time, especially riding over bumps and curbs
• Basic pedals offer small surface area and can get slippery in wet riding conditions
• Wires are not integrated into the frame, controller box sits just below the bottom bracket which is a bit more exposed to road elements like curbs and rocks

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.ezpedaler.com/
• Official Manual: ez-pedaler-manual.pdf
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/JPqGbuSeYBC1my6T8