Pedego 24″ Step-Thru Interceptor Review

Pedego has made several major improvements in its Inteceptor line for 2015, most notable, the addition of this smaller, low step frame model with 24” wheels, nicknamed the “Miniceptor,” to their family of Cruisers. This isn’t their only “petite” ebike, you can get a stripped down 24″ Step-Thru Cruiser for a bit less money but it won’t offer pedal assist, lights, a suspension seat post or the nice leather grips and saddle. Before the addition of these smaller models (which use 24 inch wheels and shorter frames) it was difficult for some riders to handle Pedego cruisers. Their large sweeping cantilever frames and rear mounted batteries look beautiful but also weigh quite a bit and don’t have a perfect weight distribution. At ~ 58 lbs, the Miniceptor is just a couple pounds lighter than the original full sized Classic Interceptor, depending upon which battery option you choose. All Interceptor models are powerful thanks to the premium 500 watt internally geared hub motor and 48 volt battery combination but the Miniceptor actually offers the most torque because its smaller wheels create a mechanical advantage for the hub drive. I like these bikes because they offer riders the ability to use throttle, pedal assist or both simultaneously (perfect for attacking short hills). With the 24″ Step-Thru Interceptor electric bike you get to choose from two frame colors (White and Seafoam Green) that include a matching rack, chain guard, rims and full length fenders.

Driving the Miniceptor is a 500 watt internally geared hub motor mounted in the rear wheel. It’s made by Dapu (one of the higher quality brands I’ve tested) and functions smoothly and quietly. In my opinion, these motors feel zippier than some competing brands and I love how it’s painted black to match the spokes and blend in with the cassette and disc brake rotor. To really make this ebike stealth, you could add a set of Pedego’s custom saddlebags to hide the battery and most people wouldn’t even know it was electric :) In terms of maintenance for the rear wheel, the axle requires traditional wrench tools but there is a power cable quick disconnect so removing the wheel completely is somewhat easier. Hopefully this won’t be a regular occurrence because the kevlar lined Schwalbe tires and pre-slimed tubes are designed to resist punctures and continue working (with a bit of an air top off) if they do get pricked. These tires offer a nice plush ride and compliment the puffy padded grips, oversized comfort saddle and seat post suspension very well.

Positioned just above the rear rack, completely surrounded by aluminum tubing and plating, is the battery bay. It consists of a black plastic sheath that houses the actual battery brick (which is also plastic). I’ve never been a huge fan of rear mounted batteries because they don’t offer the same balance and maneuverability as lower center-mounted designs but I must say… Pedego has done a great job here. The battery doesn’t rattle, feels protected (against tips or weather) and it even features an integrated LED back light. One complaint is that the pack must be activated independently from the control pad, this reduces phantom power draw but adds a step to riding and might confuse some people who forget and then wonder if the battery is dead or why the bike isn’t starting. Anyway… the cells inside this pack are 18650 size with Lithium-ion chemistry designed to be light weight and long lasting. The pack is only available in 48 volts (which is high power and very efficient) but you do get two size options from 10 amp hours to 15 amp hours for $300 extra. Basically, the higher amp hours is slightly heavier ~2 lbs but should extend your range. This could be a good option to upgrade to if you have longer rides or plan on moving heavier loads. Another option is to take along the ~2 lb charging brick which offers 3 Amps for quick charging. One of the things I love about Pedego’s new battery designs is that they don’t require the keys to be left in while riding, this means you won’t forget them, bump them or hear them rattling as you ride.

Cruiser style e-bikes are often appreciated for their simplicity and beauty and that’s definitely evident on the Miniceptor… but it doesn’t skimp on features either. To operate the bike you charge the battery, flip the toggle switch under the pack at the rear right corner to on and press the on/off button on the LCD display. A second tap on the on/off button lights the display console and activates both lights! This easy to reach console controls the pedal assist levels, and basic information about the speed, battery level, trip meter and lets you set a timer. In level zero the bike operates in throttle mode only and you can choose to pedal or not. In any of the five levels of assist you receive increasingly powerful output from the motor as you pedal and you can still use the throttle, as mentioned earlier. The pedal assist system uses a 12 magnet cadence sensor located at the bottom bracket that recognizes when the crank arms are turning and tells the motor to turn on or off. Compared to earlier versions, this is a more responsive system. Getting this thing up to speed is no problem but stopping is equally important… thankfully you get two solid disc brakes (which offer tool-free adjust for when the pads start to wear down) and the brake levers have integrated motor cutoff switches. At any time, even if you’re still pedaling and the motor thinks it should be helping, you can squeeze the brakes and the motor will stop. Overall I like how clean the cockpit is on this bike, it’s nice that the button pad is now integrated with the display console and it can be swiveled to reduce glare but you still can’t remove it. I found that the advanced menus in the display were very simple to adjust if you wanted to switch from Kilometers to Miles etc. as shown in the video review. While holding the set button, you use the up button to edit sub-menus like wheel size, top speed, trip meter reset and speed/distance unit change.

The Pedego Miniceptor isn’t the ultimate electric bike, it’s rear heavy with a little crack the whip feel when accelerating (but less so thanks to the shorter frame). Even though it uses a more basic style of pedal assist (cadence sensing) I find that this works for cruising because you just move your feet to activate it vs. actually pushing hard with a torque sensor. There’s plenty of value with the classic frame style, relaxed geometry and Pedego’s great reputation for quality customer support with well trained staff and technicians. Pedego Interceptors are often used as rental bikes and seem to hold up well in rough environments, a positive testament to the durability of this product line. I’ve spoken with a number of riders who compared the Interceptor with other similar electric bikes and the consensus was that the Pedego offers extra power and quality. Some nice extras include a little USB charging outlet at the base of the display and an integrated bell (it’s built into the left brake lever). Like the other bikes in the Interceptor line, you get the upgrade of extra power, pedal assist, lights, nicer grips and saddle plus that seat post suspension compared to the traditional Classic Cruisers. I also love that with this and other newer models you get bottle cage bosses on the downtube for adding a lock, a mini pump or a standard bottle cage. I’ve always appreciated Pedego’s electric bikes and with the 24″ Interceptor (which only comes in step-thru) they are more accessible than ever and perfect for the more petite rider.

Pros:

• Sturdy low step frame design with integrated welded battery rack in a smaller ‘mini’ design with 24″ wheels to better fit smaller riders
• Powerful 500 watt geared hub motor by Dapu paired with 48 volt Samsung battery pack (available in 10 or 15 amp hours for increased range)
• Premium Schwalbe Big Ben tires offer cushion and come with a built in Kevlar liner, which compliments the padded grips, oversized saddle and suspension seat post nicely
• Available in two colors which also coat the chain guard, rear rack and optional fenders
• Upgraded Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes with 180 mm rotors that dissipate heat better and stop better, less squeaky than other lower-end brakes and use a simple tool-free adjustment
• Integrated front and rear lights that run off the main battery, the display is now combined with the button pad for simplicity and a cleaner handlebar appearance
• The large cruiser style handlebars are “right sized” at 24″ to fit the smaller frame, still comfortable but a bit easier to manage than if they were the full size bars
• Cables and wires are run through the frame for a clean aesthetic and reduced chance for snagging
• Offers “throttle only” mode while riding in assist level zero, you can also override any of the five levels of assist for a burst of energy while climbing
• Handy integrated USB charging port built right into the LCD display panel allows you to charge a cell phone or other small portable electronics while riding
• The battery locks to the frame for security but is removable for convenient charging and to reduce the overall weight of the bike during transport
• Threaded eyelets are included on the downtube so you can mount a portable pump, folding lock or water bottle cage
• 12 magnet pedelec sensor activates or cuts off the motor power as you pedal along for a much smoother and quicker performance than older six sensor designs
• The battery has a built in fuse to help protect it and you don’t have to leave the key in the battery pack while riding to operate the bike (as with older models)
• Standard rims with 12 gauge spokes can support 250 pounds

Cons:

• Rear heavy design with the hub motor and battery both mounted on the back half of the frame, the battery is also positioned higher up which isn’t as stable while parked or riding
• The battery pack must be activated independently from the LCD display, this might deter tampering but requires extra time and may be forgotten (leaving the battery pack on to drain slowly)
• The display panel is fixed which means you cannot easily take it off the bike for storage, leaving it with increased exposure to sunlight or harsh weather elements or potential vandalism; however, it does swivel up and down to help reduce glare
• With the Miniceptor design the chain guard is a more exposed and easier to tag or bend when stepping on or off than some plastic guards
• The extra wide cruiser style handle bars, although scaled down to match the smaller frame size, can be tricky to fit through some doorways or other tight spaces

Resources:

• Official Site: https://www.pedegoelectricbikes.com/shop/24-step-thru-interceptor/
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/HnT6nqxXB6UjSgdY6