At first glance the Scorpion 27 from ProdecoTech resembles the Titanio 29er in that it uses a Keyde drive system. These ultra light weight motors and bottle shaped battery packs blend in and keep weight low and centered but on the Scorpion the motor is rear mounted vs. front mounted and it uses a torque sensor that is much more responsive than the speed sensor on the Titanio. For me, it just rides better and the 27 speeds (verses 10 on the Titanio) can come in handy for faster riding or climbing. It’s surprising to me that both ebikes didn’t opt for the rear motor design and that the Titanio, with it’s knobby tires, doesn’t have more gears for climbing off road? Whatever the case may be, the Scorpion 27 is a bit heavier overall at ~38 pounds (still very light for an ebike) and in true ProdecoTech fashion is only available in one size and color… medium and black :)
The motor driving the Scorpion is a 250 watt geared friction drive that takes a moment to spin up compared with the larger direct drive motors on older, more traditional, ProdecoTech bikes. It’s still relatively quiet and adds a decent boost to riding but is meant to be pedaled with. There’s no throttle on this bike, you activate the motor by turning the cranks and it automatically kicks in to help out. The peak output is ~350 watts but even when it’s working at full speed there isn’t a lot of noise being produced. Given the slick tire design this motor is able to propel the bike up to 20 miles per hour depending on the terrain and how hard you pedal along.
The battery pack fueling this system offers a modest 33 volts of power and 9.3 amp hours of capacity. That’s a touch below average but considering the smaller 250 watt motor and pedal-assist only design it performs very well. I love that the battery cells are contained inside a bottle shaped enclosure. It blends in, keeps weight low to the ground and is super easy to remove. The cells inside are packed with a Lithium-ion chemistry and are made by Panasonic (one of the leading global producers). It’s a great setup but one downside is that you will need to add a second cage mount for a real water bottle somewhere else on the bike. Here are a few options that have come up in the forum.
The control panel used to activate the bike and measure remaining battery is also very well integrated and seems to disappear because it’s so small and unassuming. As soon as you plug the battery pack in and click the red button on top to activate the bike, a black display panel lights up showing a number (denoting your current level of assist) and red bars (denoting battery level). It was tricky to see in the direct sunlight at times (I had to cup my hands around it) but the small form factor might protect it from bumps and tips. It also appeared to be well sealed against water and dust. The only two buttons are a plus and minus and they let you increase or decrease the level of assist. In addition to the control interface you get a standard stem-mounted bicycle computer by Keyde that shows speed and distance and is easily removable to prevent theft and vandalism. That’s mounted in the center while the assist interface is over to the right making it easy to reach with your thumb when riding.
The Scorpion 27 is one of my favorite new bikes from ProdecoTech. While it costs more than their traditional models with larger motors and rear mounted packs I love that it actually performs well as a bicycle verses a scooter. It’s light weight, you can easily add a rear rack to actually carry supplies and the battery is simple to charge. The two year warranty is awesome and ProdecoTech builds all of their bikes in South Florida USA which is admirable. I’ve actually visited and met some of the guys and girls who assemble and service the products. This particular bike is unique because it leverages a Keyde SR300 drivetrain but given the complexity of trying to spoke one of these in yourself (and the expense of adding a RockShox with lockout and SRAM hydraulic disc brakes) it’s easy to appreciate the complete package here. The 26″ Continental tires, double walled rims and Cheetah pedals work great and make for a solid “around town” type of bike that would also be comfortable on light trails and dirt paths.
Pros:
- 27 gears and smooth tire tread make this bike efficient to pedal when climbing or zipping around at speed
- Uses torque sensing assist which activates faster and smoother than the speed sensor used on the ProdecoTech Titanio 29er (which also uses a Keyde motor system)
- One of the lightest weight volume production ebikes I’ve tested at just 38 pounds (17.2 kg)
- Excellent weight distribution with battery low and center on downtube vs. rear rack
- Bottle style battery pack blends in with the bike and so does the small rear mounted hub motor which won’t attract unwanted attention
- Fairly quiet operation, motor creates a high pitch whir when actively running
- Five levels of pedal assist for extended range or power in speed in climbing
- High end SRAM components including Avid DB hydraulic brakes
- Solid two year warranty on bicycle, drive system and battery with a 100%, in-stock replacement parts policy
- Diamond style frame provides plenty of room for mounting this bike on a hang-style bike rack and it’s light enough that it should work alright (you can always remove the battery to reduce weight by ~3.5 pounds)
Cons:
- You actually have to pedal to activate the motor, this bike does not have a throttle like most other ProdecoTech electric bikes
- The bike doesn’t come with a kickstand but the frame is fairly standard so adding one isn’t too tough
- Motor doesn’t offer as much torque as a standard planetary geared design would for climbing
- At this time it appears that the bike only comes in one standard size and high-step configuration
Resources:
- Official Site: http://prodecotech.com/bikes/scorpion-27/
- More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/KrxzrxrrDyu6Zb6M9
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