This review is for the original Pedego Interceptor I which ended production in 2013 and was replaced with the newer Pedego Interceptor II. If you happen to find this bike used at a garage sale or new at a discount from an ebike dealer please continue reading! It’s a wonderful bike that received a great rating when I first rode it and has only been improved with the latest version.
The Pedego Interceptor takes the time tested Cruiser frame and components then adds 12v of extra power! You get a bike that’s durable, easy to ride, easy to fix and service with shared parts all for a very reasonable $2,495. Now, you may not need that extra 12v but I can guarantee almost everyone out there will enjoy it. If you’re a larger rider, someone planning to mount a baby seat or pull a trailer or a police officer looking for a great ebike to use on patrol, this bike is for you. And it also comes in a smaller, easier to mount step-through style.
Let’s start with the motor. This thing is 500 Watts, brushless and gearless. It’s super durable because there aren’t any gears rubbing in there and while this does leave it with slightly less torque, the 48v battery makes up for that and you’ll have no problem getting up hills. The best part about a gearless hub motor is that it coasts silently and frictionlessly. If you decide to pedal the bike, that’s a real plus. It’s also an advantage if you’re a police officer going for stealth.
The battery used for the Interceptor is fully encased in aluminum, includes a built in handle at the back for easy removal and can be charged on or off of the frame using the wall charger that comes with the bike. If it ever breaks or you decide to get a second pack, you can simply pull one pack off and slide the other on. It’s very easy and universal feeling compared with some other ebikes. The downside is, this battery pack is mounted on the rear end of the bike frame meaning the weight of the bike is distributed towards the back, and that can make it easier to slide out going around corners and harder to lift evenly. The Classic Comfort Cruiser models from Pedego only come in 36 volt options. For the money, the performance is well worth the upgrade in my opinion and even required in some situations. The picture below shows the power indicator on the back side of the battery pack. It that lights up to tell you how much is left.
To get this bike going you simply insert the included key into the battery pack and turn (you have to leave the key in when riding). Then you press the red button on the twist throttle and an LED gauge shows whether the battery is at green, yellow or red status representing charge remaining. Next, you twist the throttle and go! Easy, probably the easiest design of any electric bikes out there. The downside is that you don’t get a clock, a speedometer, a precision graph of how much power is being used or how much juice is left… But at least there’s less to break or get confused with.
Speaking of durability, this bike is tough. Aside from the somewhat flimsy chain guard, this bike can be tipped over, tossed aside and even crashed and then get back up with no problem. Even better, if you do break an electrical component, fixing it is easy because they are all modular. Each portion of the system is connected with a male to female wire adapter and that makes changing the throttle, controller unit or rear wheel much easier. Note that this bike does not include any built in lights, it doesn’t come with fenders (though you can add them in matching color for $50) and the handlebars aren’t adjustable on the fly like the City Commuter, but that’s part of what makes it rugged. Even if you don’t choose to purchase fenders, the rear battery mount keeps the stripe off your back pretty well so it’s not a big deal.
In conclusion, this bike is fun to ride and offers lots of power at a good pricepoint. You’ll be sitting more upright and that’s nice for city riding, alleviating pressure on wrists, shoulders and neck. You won’t have to worry about learning a new computer interface or having one get messed up if you let a friend ride it. Practically anyone who can ride a bike can also ride this and be just fine. The bike will last and even if something does break, it shares parts with the time tested line of Cruiser bikes put out by Pedego over the past several years and the parent company itself is very responsive and supportive (so I’m told by their dealers and other customers) and their warranty is great. It’s hard to go wrong with this bike and even for someone lightweight like myself, it’s fun to have that extra power! Just don’t expect to easily lift it up stairs or even pass through doorways without a little bit of maneuvering.
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Barb O'Reilly
11 years agoI live in Western Maine and need power to get up some very steep hills on my commute. Is this the best bike for that? I pedal most of the time and just need power on the big hills.
ReplyCourt Rye
11 years agoHi Barb! The Interceptor is a great choice for torque and power because it runs on a 48 volt system (vs. 36 for the standard Pedego Cruiser and 24″). If you weigh under 180 then the 36 volt system would probably work fine and you could get a stepthrough and smaller frame (assuming you are a woman and a bit shorter than a man). The Interceptor (or Cruiser) is also great because it’s simple, you turn a key, press the on button and twist, that’s it!
If you want to consider a Pedego bike with pedal assist, I recommend checking out the City Commuter. It can be purchased with a 48 volt pack and comes in a stepthrough design that’s smaller and is designed more for pedaling. This is the ebike I ride, in fact, since I’m only 5’9″ I got the stepthrough version and it worked great :)
Here’s the full review for the City Commuter, again if you’re going up very large hills and weigh more I recommend the 48 volt system https://electricbikereview.website/pedego/city-commuter/
ReplyCarmen Kessing
11 years agoHi, I really appreciate your knowledge and reviews. I am debating whether to get this bike or the new Izip E3 Zuma. I’m looking for comfort and of course quality. Please help me out, I need to decide very soon :) Thank you!
ReplyCourt Rye
11 years agoCool! Well, I think it depends on a lot of things like how tall you are because the Interceptor is a rather large bike and the E3 Zuma is more normal sized. Both have pedal assist, throttle and are backed by great companies… The biggest difference is the battery placement (rear rack with Pedego vs. seat tube on IZIP) as well as the style. Do you have specific questions?
ReplyCarmen k
10 years agoI ended up with the e3 Zuma 2014 , because I like the way they placed the battery, bike looks tidy . very nice and smooth but not as comfortable as pedego interceptor. I think, I have to replace the seat and the handle bar with larger ones to make it more comfortable to ride longer distance.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Carmen, hope the Zuma works out well for you! I agree that a larger seat and handlebars might improve comfort but also that the battery design is nicer on the Zuma, keeps the weight low and centered vs. hanging off the back. Once you get it all setup I’d love to see some pictures! You could share in the IZIP forums if you want :)
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