2013 Grace Easy Review

The first time I saw the Grace Easy was at Interbike 2012 along with several other Grace electric bikes including the Grace One. They come across as being very engineer-driven because the frames, lights, batteries and drive systems are so well integrated. The Grace Easy for example, uses the BionX system but features a very uniquely integrated battery pack unlike any other I’ve seen on a BionX bike. It also features a belt drive system instead of a chain (though you can get a chain version that offers 9 speeds instead of just 3 internally geared). It’s still, well balanced and beautiful with attention to detail and aesthetics that’s immediately available. There are no big stickers or crazy colors streaking the frame of this bike, just a ridged imprint of the word Grace on the battery pack cover.

The video review above was shot at Interbike 2013 when I had the chance to ride the bike on what was a very windy Outdoor Demo Day. I was told that these bikes may make their way to the United States in mid or late 2014 and that the model I was testing had a shock absorber on the front that the production model may not come with. Regardless of the timing and the minor deviations from the final model, I got a great idea for what this bike offers. It’s all about simplicity, it’s meant to be “easy” to use ;)

The rear hub motor provides 350 watts of power which is average for most ebikes, not super powerful but very capable when used in conjunction with pedal assist. What’s unique about it is the gearless design which offers regenerative braking and regen mode (of which there are four to choosse from). It’s very quiet, durable and smooth. It also has a secret inside, there are three gears to choose from in pedal mode that are actually built into the motor itself! This is very unique in the world of ebikes and worked pretty well. I like geared hubs vs. cassettes because they stay clean, allow the chain (or belt in this case) to stay tight and require less adjustment. In this case, there are just three speeds to choose from but they can be shifted at rest which is nice and for a simple or “elegant” city bike it’s a step up from a pure fixie or single speed.

The battery pack is pretty powerful offering 48 volts. Most ebikes provide 36 or so and those extra 12 volts go towards torque and speed. Considering the entire bike weighs just 42 pounds and is capable of 26 miles in pedelec mode (depending on the country you’re in) it feels swift and fun. The amp hour capacity is around 6.3 which is average but somewhat boosted by the regenerative braking and pure pedal assist nature of the bike. Also, the light weight helps to extend the range.

With built in LED lights for the front and rear, an optional rear mud guard and rack and the simplicity of the drive system and removable battery this bike makes a lot of sense. It’s not as comfortable as a cruiser (especially without a front shock and the narrow tires) but it rides fast, coasts very well and is easy to park, carry or mount on a car or bus rack if you’re traveling somewhere. I really like the BionX system though there were some issues reported with the 48 volt battery packs in early 2013. It’s simple to use but still feature rich. DIY BionX kits offer a throttle mode as well as pedal assist so you could convert your own bike to something like the Easy with that benefit but you wouldn’t get the internally geared rear hub or the custom designed battery pack that makes this bike look so amazing.

If you you live in Europe this could be a great city bike, for those of us in the USA it will be a while before we can buy one. I appreciate the unique design aesthetics and well rounded offering of this ebike. It won the Red Dot design award in 2012 in large part due to the clean style and simplistic nature of operation and it’s easy to see why.

Pros:

• Beautiful well balanced design with custom BionX battery integration in the downtube
• Unique BionX hub motor also offers 3 internal gears for pedaling
• Optional 9 speed chain driven configuration for those who want more range when pedaling
• Belt drive looks great, operates silently and is cleaner than a chain
• Four modes of pedal assist and regeneration plus regenerative braking to extend range and reduce wear on disc brakes
• Front and rear LED lights built in for safety, run off the main battery pack
• Optional rear rack and mudguard for increased utility
• Battery is lockable and removable making it great for commuters
• Overall light weight of bike at just 42lbs makes it easy to transport, carry up stairs and pedal
• Magura hydraulic disc brakes are smooth and easy to use with plenty of stopping power
• Available in two colors (white and dark blue “anthrazite”) with leather accents on Brooks saddle and grips
• 700c wheels paired with medium sized city tires for efficient coasting and great handling
• Well integrated side-folding kickstand stays out of the way when riding

Cons:

• More rigid aluminum frame paired with city tires makes for a bumpier ride, suspension fork option helps
• No throttle mode, only four levels of pedal assist despite other BionX systems offering a trigger throttle
• Hard to find in the USA, may be available at one store on the West coast according to their dealer locator page

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.grace-bikes.com/Bikes/Easy
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/D7T5Tq7TBZNCkwyx7