The EZPedaler T500 is a value priced unisex city bike that’s balanced well and feature rich. They made a trade off here putting the hub motor on the front vs. the rear but that allowed the bike to use an internally geared three speed Nexus hub which stays cleaner and can be shifted at rest. The battery is low and center on the frame but still removable and you get to choose from three levels of assist or throttle mode though the control panel doesn’t have a readout for speed, distance or precise battery capacity remaining. It’s an ebike that’s easy to approach thanks to the step-thru design and overall very functional but a little heavy.
The motor driving the T500 offers 500 watts in a geared configuration located in the front wheel. It’s made by 8FUN which is a trusted manufacturer in Asia and it performs quite well. Acceleration is good, it’s powerful enough to pull you up hills and it stays relatively quiet. One downside here is that as the motor pulls forward on the bike, it creates friction in the suspension fork making it harder to travel up and down. You also feel the weight and momentum of the motor when steering but it’s not overwhelming and performs well enough for neighborhood or city cruising.
Powering the motor and front light is a 36 volt 12 amp hour Lithium-ion battery pack. In terms of power and capacity it’s a touch above average and I love that they mounted it low and center because it keeps the bike more stable and frees up the rear rack for more cargo. One downside of the battery is that you have to leave the keys in while riding which means they can jingle around but they stay mostly out of the way. The battery is easy to remove and even has a handle on top. The saddle is designed with a release lever which allows it to swivel up when the battery is being removed and that’s also a neat feature.
The control panel on this bike is pretty basic but it works well and appears to be durable. Instead of a computer with speed and odometer readouts this thing contains LED lights that communicate an estimated battery capacity along with the mode of pedal assist in use. It’s nice that they also included a headlight button here but it would be great if that also controlled the rear light because that’s arguably the more important one when riding near cars. As it stands, the rear light has a tactile slider switch and runs on its own disposable (or hopefully rechargeable) batteries.
The T500 electric bike uses more basic systems but keeps price low and is fun and comfortable to ride. The suspension, larger tires, comfort saddle and swept back handlebars keep your neck and back from getting sore and give you a “heads up” riding position. It’s a solid choice for city riders but can feel a bit jerkier due to the more basic pedal assist sensors in use. I love that it also has the thumb throttle which can be used at any time when the bike is powered on.
Pros:
- Shimano Nexus geared hub is clean, requires less maintenance, can be shifted at standstill, also keeps the chain shorter and tighter so it won’t fall off as easily
- Front and rear LED lights are convenient and improve safety when riding, front light can be activated from the control panel
- Front and rear fenders look great and keep you clean when riding in wet conditions
- Semi opaque chain guard keeps pants or dress clean when riding
- Suspension fork, padded seat and larger tires cushion bumps and improve ride quality (though the suspension fork doesn’t slide up and down as easily when the motor is actively pulling the bike forward)
- Rear rack uses standard sized tubing which works with most packs and panniers
- Battery is removable for convenient charging or to make the bike lighter when lifting for storage, the seat also swivels up which makes it easier to get the battery pack off
- Double leg kickstand is extra stable which helps when adding items for storage on the rear rack
Cons:
- Simpler cadence sensing pedal assist with six magnets can feel jerkier than systems with torque, speed and cadence sensors
- Hub motor weight in front wheel creates gyroscopic centripetal force that impacts steering a bit
- Rear light has to be switched on manually which makes it easier to forget or leave on, it also runs on separate batteries
- Band brake in the rear doesn’t stop as quickly as the v-brake used in the front
- Very basic control panel, lacks readout for speed, distance and precise battery capacity
- At the heavier end of electric bikes weighing nearly 60 pounds
Resources:
- Official Site: http://www.ezpedaler.com/t500-ez-pedaler-unisex-touring-electric-bike.html
- Official Manual: ez-pedaler-manual.pdf
- More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/89qmKmtTbc6tNmt28
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