Furo Systems eTura Review

Furo Systems Etura Electric Bike Review
Furo Systems Etura
Furo Systems Etura Front Light Stem Handlebar
Furo Systems Etura Single Speed System
Furo Systems Etura 12 Magnet System
Furo Systems Etura Battery Pack Kickstand
Furo Systems Etura Display Controls
Furo Systems Etura Folded Profile
Furo Systems Etura 2amp Charger
Furo Systems Etura Battery Charger
Furo Systems Etura Stock Folding Black
Furo Systems Etura Electric Bike Review
Furo Systems Etura
Furo Systems Etura Front Light Stem Handlebar
Furo Systems Etura Single Speed System
Furo Systems Etura 12 Magnet System
Furo Systems Etura Battery Pack Kickstand
Furo Systems Etura Display Controls
Furo Systems Etura Folded Profile
Furo Systems Etura 2amp Charger
Furo Systems Etura Battery Charger
Furo Systems Etura Stock Folding Black

Summary

  • An ultra-light and super-portable folding electric bike that weighs in at just 28 pounds with a sturdy carbon fiber frame, comes standard with independent lights and a front fender, and excellent two-year comprehensive warranty
  • Highly adjustable for different heights of riders thanks to the large range of the telescoping stem and lengthy seatpost, exceptionally low standover height and minimum saddle height make an especially great fit for smaller riders
  • Class 1 status with a 250-watt Aikema front hub motor and cadence-based pedal assist, single-speed drivetrain keeps things simple and reduces maintenance needs, ergonomic grips and above-average tire width lend some ride comfort
  • The small frame and wheels and lack of suspension will make for a rough ride when traveling long distances, lights are independently powered and operated which can be a hassle, basic rim brakes require more maintenance and more grip strength to actuate

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

Furo Systems

Model:

eTura

Price:

$1,789

Body Position:

Upright

Suggested Use:

Commuting, Travel

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Years

Availability:

United States, Europe, Australia

Model Year:

2019

Bicycle Details

Total Weight:

28.25 lbs (12.81 kg)

Battery Weight:

4.5 lbs (2.04 kg)

Frame Material:

Carbon Fiber

Geometry Measurements:

11" Seat Tube, 19.5" Reach, 16" Stand Over Height, 27" Minimum Saddle Height, 20.5" Width, 45.5" Length (Folded: 16" Length, 26.5" Width, 25" Height)

Frame Types:

Folding

Frame Colors:

Matte Black

Frame Fork Details:

Carbon Fiber, 80mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Keyed Threaded Axle with 17mm Nuts

Frame Rear Details:

85mm Hub Spacing, Horizontal Dropout with Hollow Threaded Axle

Attachment Points:

Front and Rear Fender Bosses

Gearing Details:

1 Single Speed with 9 Tooth Rear Sprocket

Cranks:

Forged Aluminum Alloy Arms, 170mm Length, Square Taper Bottom Bracket Spindle, 48 Tooth Chainrings with Metal Guard

Pedals:

Syun-LP F-586 Plastic Folding Pedal

Headset:

Integrated, Sealed Bearing, Straight 1.5"

Stem:

Aluminum Alloy, Folding, Telescoping Height (20mm to 160mm), 270mm Base Height, One 10mm Spacer, 25.4mm Clamp Diameter

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, 5º Backsweep, 500mm Width

Brake Details:

Cantilever Tektro RX1, Three-Finger Levers with Integrated Bell

Grips:

Gray Rubber with Ergonomic Edge, Locking Rings

Saddle:

Selle Royal Voga Saddle

Seat Post:

Aluminum, Tear-Drop Shape with Quick Release Collar and Plastic Foot

Seat Post Length:

580 mm

Rims:

Aluminum Alloy, Double Walled, 22mm Outer Width, 20 Hole, Black

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 11 Gauge Front 12 Gauge Rear, Black

Tire Brand:

CST,14" x 1.75" (47-254)

Wheel Sizes:

14 in (35.56cm)

Tire Details:

35 to 45 PSI, 2.4 to 3.1 BAR

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Front Fender (50mm Width), Battery Integrated LED Turn Signals, Battery Powered LED Headlight, Rear Mount Kickstand (Forked in Rear Axle Bolt)

Other:

Locking Removable Seattube Mounted Battery Pack, D-Power 1.3lb 2 Amp Charger, Basic Assembly Toolkit, 220lb Max Load (Not Tested by EBR)

Electronic Details

Motor Brand:

Aikema

Motor Type:

Front-Mounted Geared Hub
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

250 watts

Motor Peak Output:

400 watts

Motor Torque:

40 Newton meters

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

8.7 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

313 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

4.3 hours

Estimated Min Range:

10 miles (16 km)

Estimated Max Range:

31 miles (50 km)

Display Type:

Topology SW102, Fixed, LCD Display, Buttons: Power, -, +, M, Walk Assist: Hold -, Backlight: Hold +, Clear Values: Hold M, Settings: Double Tap M

Readouts:

Pedal Assist Mode (0-5 with Arrows), Current Speed, Odometer, Battery Life (5 Bars), Average Speed, Max Speed

Display Accessories:

Display and Remote Integrated

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist (12 Magnet Sensor)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)


Written Review

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Furo Systems. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Furo Systems products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Furo Systems electric bike forums.

Pros:

  • Incredibly lightweight at only 28 pounds, this is made possible thanks to the small and lightweight carbon fiber frame, small 14″ wheels, and a lower capacity battery that weighs in at only 4.5 pounds. This makes the eTura an excellent “last mile” option, being almost absurdly easy to toss into the trunk of a car or to carry with you on the subway
  • The small diameter of the CST tires means a mechanical advantage for the front hub motor and it makes a noticeable difference, certainly feeling more powerful than just 250 watts. The tires are 1.75″ wide and this helps to provide a little bit of ride comfort
  • the seating position is surprisingly comfortable for such a small folder, thanks in part to the slight sweep back of the handlebars and the locking ergonomic grips. The handlebars can telescope up an additional 140mm to accommodate taller riders and the seat post can also be raised up very high – almost to the top of it’s 580mm length!
  • The plastic front fender helps to keep you dry and clean when riding, it’s only a half fender but it still makes a noticeable difference, and it gets the job done considering that this is not a bike you would want to ride at high speeds
  • Front and rear lights are included and it’s a unique setup, both lights are independent which means that they must be turned on/off manually, and use separate batteries instead of drawing from the bike’s electrical system. However, the front light has a flashing option which I appreciate as it means more visibility, and the rear light has turn signals which are operated wirelessly from a secondary control pad on the handlebar, a rare feature on any Ebike so I was surprised to see it on an ultralight folder like the eTura! The rear light is also USB rechargeable so you won’t have to buy batteries for it
  • This bike is amazingly adjustable and able to fit a tall rider (like me at about six feet), but it will be an especially good fit for people who fall on the short end of the spectrum, boasting a standover height of 16 inches and a minimum saddle height of only 27 inches! Shorter riders will also be able to raise the telescoping stem and ride in more of an upright relaxed position, something that goes a long ways to providing ride comfort since the eTura does not have any suspension
  • I appreciate that the crank arms are the standard length of 170mm, many ultra-portable folders opt for shorter cranks which makes pedaling much less efficient
  • A kickstand is included for making stops or storing the bike when it isn’t folded, and I like that it is mounted in the rear to prevent “pedal lock” which occurs when the left crank arm gets locked up against a center-mounted kickstand
  • The human-powered part of the drivetrain is a simple single-speed setup with a 9-tooth cog in the rear and a 48-tooth chain-ring in the front. No derailleur means no derailleur maintenance or tuning, and keeps the chain tight and essentially immune from bouncing off
  • Electrical assistance is provided by a 250-watt Aikema front hub motor which receives a mechanical advantage from the small-diameter wheels, while the 313 watt-hour battery pack is mounted behind the seatpost, helping the bike’s weight to be fairly balanced instead of heavily skewed towards the rear as it is with many hub motor Ebikes
  • Engaging the motor is done via the 12 magnet cadence sensor, there is no throttle here which classifies the eTura as a Class 1 Ebike. This is rare on a folding bike, and while I like having a throttle, I appreciate the Class 1 status which allows you to ride in more places
  • The eTura’s display is small with minimalist readouts which I tend to prefer for simplicity’s sake, it is also backlit and has an excellent contrast ratio for good visibility

Cons:

  • No suspension and a tiny frame make for a rough ride, and getting used to balancing and steering may take some time if you’re used to riding larger bikes. This is the tradeoff for the ultra-portability of the eTura, which is why it shines as a “last mile” vehicle but not as a long-range rider
  • I do miss the throttle quite a bit on this Ebike because of the cadence sensor which has a delay before kicking in, requiring more effort to get started. Since the eTura is single-speed this can make starting on a hill quite difficult!
  • The display is sufficiently bright enough to be visible even in direct sunlight, my only gripe with it is that it is very small and it can be difficult to read without having to lean in for a closer look if you’re a taller rider like me
  • The rim brakes are a basic setup, they get the job done here thanks to the light weight and mechanical advantage provided by the smaller diameter wheels, but they will require more frequent tuning and maintenance than disc brakes, as well as more grip strength to actuate. They also don’t have motor inhibitors which can be dangerous and have you fighting against the motor if you need to stop suddenly, because the cadence sensor will take a moment or two to realize that you have stopped pedaling
  • A problem shared by all folding bikes with telescoping stems is the length of control cabling, raising the stem to the maximum height can cause “cable stretch” by pulling the control cables too tight when turning. On the flip side, if you lower the stem all the way down then you have a lot of extra length of cable that can get in the way or snag on things while riding
  • The lights are certainly appreciated but since they are independent you must remember to turn them on and off, as well as replacing the batteries or recharging them at regular intervals

Resources:

Comments (2) YouTube Comments

Tom
5 years ago

I still keep up on your ebike reviews. As an enthusiast, you are a go-to resource. I’m sure you get plenty of requests and here are a few bikes/styles I’d really like to see detailed reviews on: Zhugo Rhino. Ampler Ebikes and other invisible-electrics models. The new Super 73 R Series. I was downright pissed off at Lithium Cycles for using cheap parts on their heavy bikes, then charging $3,000 per unit, but now they have impressed me again with the new R series’. I’m very curious. I’m equally curious about the Ariel Rider X-Class – especially the battery with Chinese-brand cells.

BTW, I’ve owned (and returned under warranty) a Super 73 Original, and I currently own an Ariel Rider W-Class. Ariel Rider as a company is excellent, and the W-Class is a fine build with quality parts, and fairly priced. My next bike will be a 20″ fat tire ebike with as much torque as possible that I can afford, for traversing Oregon’s hilly, rugged terrain. I’m getting option paralysis from the vast market now, for these kinds of bikes. Need your help!

Sincere fan,
Tom

  Reply
Court
5 years ago

Thanks Tom! I enjoy your comments and appreciate your suggestions on bikes to cover. I’m in a similar boat with Super 73 and have had a difficult time reaching them and coordinating for reviews. I think they prefer a more marketing type message and want to control the story… which makes me suspect ;)

  Reply

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