Pedego Avenue Review

This review was provided for free using a demo bike at Pedego Delta near Vancouver Canada. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Pedego products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the Pedego electric bike forums.

Observations:

• Pedego dates all the way back to 2007, when the founders began converting beach cruiser bicycles to electric by adding motors and battery packs. They moved from conversions to purpose built products in 2009 and have built a reputation around customer service, vintage styling, power, and simplicity. I began covering them in 2013, and actually owned a Pedego for a year before starting the website!
• The Avenue is one of Pedego’s more affordable models, aside from the fat tire Element model. The price is impressive, considering it’s sold and supported through dealers, available in two frame styles and sizes, and comes in so many colors! To me, it’s the most “normal” or “traditional” city model they offer, great for students, commuters, and basic neighborhood rides.

Pros:

• The bike looks amazing, it’s purpose built and so many of the parts are color matched or black. The cables are internally routed, and the battery pack is almost entirely hidden. There’s a level of finish here that is above average.
• The two frame styles are slightly different sized, so the step-thru is a small-medium and the high-step is more of a medium-large. I love the adjustable angle stem, which can provide a more forward aerodynamic body position or upright dutch relaxed position.
• The bike is powerful, the planetary geared hub motor offers up to 60nm of torque, but the controller makes it feel very smooth and natural. I love that the twist throttle offers full power override in all of the 1-5 levels of assist.
• It’s unique to have a level zero ride mode where the assist and throttle are completely off, as well as level six where only the throttle is active! These extra modes give riders more options to be comfortable or feel safe, and I really appreciate them.
• I appreciate that the display panel is fairly large and easy to read. It has a USB charging port built into the base, to maintain a phone or other portable electronic device. You can navigate through the assist levels by pressing up or down, and it circles around so you can go from high to low or low to high with fewer button presses!
• I love the aluminum alloy guide that sandwiches the steel chainring, because it protects the bottom bracket from obstacle strikes and keeps the chain from falling off if you ride across bumpy terrain.
• Note the beautiful color-matched rims and the thicker 12 gauge spokes here. This improves strength, and Pedego chose 36 hole rims vs. 32 or 28, so it seems like they were accounting for the heavier build and increased power of the ebike design> Note that this configuration adds a bit of weight and rides a bit stiffer as a result.
• Great adjustable length kickstand positioned towards the back on the left side of the bike. It doesn’t cause pedal lock, and will support the optional rear rack and cargo well.
• I love that both frame styles include bottle cage bosses! They’re positioned on the top tube for the step-thru model and on the seat tube for the high-step.
• Notice how the seat tube flares out towards the bottom bracket. I think this improves strength, but might also provide space for the controller and wiring. In general, the internal wiring on this ebike looks great.
• The motor power cable is routed on the left side of the bike frame vs. the right (which is already busy due to the derailleur). It’s well protected here, tucked in between the frame and disc brake rotor, which isn’t the case with many cheaper hub motor powered electric bicycles.
• Pedego is using water resistant threaded color coded connectors for all of their components. These are durable and easier to work with in the event of a replacement or repair part. Note also the quick disconnect for the hub motor.
• I really like the optional racks that Pedego designed. They look nice and offer good carrying capacity (10kg 22lbs for the front rack, 25kg 55lbs for the rear rack). Both racks are black, which matches the other hardware.
• It’s great when an electric bike has so many optional accessories that are custom designed or guaranteed to fit. The steel fenders were sturdy and quiet during my test ride (although they add weight and could rust compared to plastic or aluminum). The suspension fork is highly adjustable and very sleek, I love the black stanchions. The integrated lights are bright and apparently the rear light also flashes when braking!
• Pedego is using a sealed high-resolution cadence sensor at the bottom bracket to detect pedal motion. It performed well during my ride tests, and doesn’t require as much constant force as a torque sensor. For some riders, this is a more relaxing setup, and it helps keep things consistent and make the bike easier to repair from what I’ve heard.
• I was a little surprised that the max weight rating is only 250lbs, because it felt very sturdy to me, and I noticed the upgraded spokes and smooth frame tubing. If you get the optional magnesium rims, this will reduce the need for maintenance, look cool, and possibly increase weight capacity (though not officially).
• I like the active saddle they chose, which is manufactured by Velo (a trusted brand that I see a lot). The rubberized grips were not locking, but felt great and matched the half-twist throttle nicely.
• I love that the battery pack is removable, because it reduces frame weight for repairs and transport. You can charge the pack on or off the bike, and the charger is compact and pretty nice looking with the colored wire. I’ve read that it’s best to keep the battery in a cool dry location as extreme cold can reduce range temporarily, and extreme heat can degrade the lithium-ion cells.
• The display panel offers lights on/off by holding +, you can activate walk mode by holding -, and the USB port is turned on by holding + and power. You can even adjust settings such as units by holding + and -. It’s a good setup that resembles other Pedego displays, although there is no Bluetooth or smartphone integration.
• I love how the left brake lever has a sturdy little bell built in. The bell sounds very cheerful and is easy to actuate, but doesn’t crowd the cockpit where the display and shift levers and twist throttle are also located.
• Excellent five year limited warranty (basically three years comprehensive, and you pay a bit for battery replacement in years four and five). Most higher quality ebikes have two year warranties with lifetime on the frame or something like that, and very few have pro-rated battery replacement options like this. Keep in mind that Pedego has been selling their own products since 2009, they have a strong track record.
• This is a little thing, but I love how large and easy to use the seat tube clamp is! The quick release lever is larger, which gives you more leverage when adjusting saddle height :)

Cons:

• I’ve noticed similarly specced city electric bikes for sale that cost less, but none of them are sold through dealers like the Pedego Avenue. The Avenue will be assembled properly, helping it perform better and last longer, and you can probably test ride it before making a decision. For some people, that’s worth the extra few hundred dollars.
• The Avenue is a completely rigid electric bike, with no suspension fork or seat post suspension included. The tires are 28″ x 2″ and can run at a lower pressure to act as a shock absorber, but this lowers efficiency. Consider their optional suspension fork (which is pretty nice) and suspension seat post if you want optimal comfort and are willing to pay a bit more.
• Mechanical disc brakes tend to require more hand effort to actuate, especially the rear brake since the cable has to go farther. To help with this, Pedego stocked excellent four finger brake levers with comfortable rubberized edges. Also, I do wish the brake wire and housing at the rear were aimed down, to deter water and dust from seeping in over time.
• I didn’t see a slap guard on the right chain stay. Considering the beautiful paint, which could get chipped by the chain bouncing over time, I think a clear sticker or neoprene wrap from them would have been nice. You can make your own slap guard with a clear piece of box tape, or get one online like these.
• The drivetrain is okay, with a 12 to 32 tooth 7-speed and microSHIFT derailleur. The trigger shifters are a bit small and firm compared to Shimano, but the parts you get may depend on supply chain. Overall, it’s basic but decent.
• I love how large the Wellgo pedals are, offering good traction with the raised nubs. However, they are plastic instead of aluminum alloy or magnesium, which are stiffer and more durable. You can always replace them if they get banged up over time.
• The stock tires that I saw on the demo bikes did not match the official Pedego images. Those ones appeared to have reflective sidewall stripes, which improves safety. Perhaps it’s a supply chain issue, or a last minute design change. I appreciate the reflectivity and puncture resistant lining if it’s available. Note that Pedego does use pre-Slimed inner tubes that can self-heal from small punctures :)
• As with many ebikes I’ve reviewed recently, the charging port and locking cylinder are positioned low on the frame. They are actually in the path of the left crank arm, making them vulnerable to snags. I find it difficult to bend down and reach, and feel that they are more exposed to water and dust here. I’d prefer high on the right side of the frame. In general, removing the battery is a two-hand exercise, and be careful when standing up so as not to bump your head on the left handlebar.
• The adjustable angle stem is nice for changing body position, but in my experience with these parts it seems that they can become loose over time, especially when riding on bumpy terrain. Just keep an eye on the stem and be sure to tighten it (or get help from your local shop) if you start to notice it rattling or getting loose.
• Compared to lower voltage systems and some alternative motors, the 48 volt 500 watt planetary geared hub motor used here produces some extra buzzing and whirring noises. This is especially true when riding at full power, as shown in the ride tests in the video review above.
• If you purchase and mount the optional front rack, note that it may impact steering, since it connects to the fork vs. the steer tube. Your cargo can dump out easier and there’s a lower weight capacity with this design.

Useful Resources:

• Pedego electric bike dealers.
• Official Pedego website.