Populo Scout Review

Populo Scout Electric Bike Review
Populo Scout Right Profile
Populo Scout Motor
Populo Scout Battery
Populo Scout Gear Shifter Bell
Populo Scout Control Center
Populo Scout Hud
Populo Scout Headlamp
Populo Scout Suspension
Populo Scout Battery Close
Populo Scout Battery Level
Populo Scout Derailleur
Populo Scout Disc Brake
Populo Scout Seat
Populo Scout Kick Stand
Populo Scout Pedal
Populo Scout Left Profile
Populo Scout Profile Right Angled
Populo Scout Electric Bike Review
Populo Scout Right Profile
Populo Scout Motor
Populo Scout Battery
Populo Scout Gear Shifter Bell
Populo Scout Control Center
Populo Scout Hud
Populo Scout Headlamp
Populo Scout Suspension
Populo Scout Battery Close
Populo Scout Battery Level
Populo Scout Derailleur
Populo Scout Disc Brake
Populo Scout Seat
Populo Scout Kick Stand
Populo Scout Pedal
Populo Scout Left Profile
Populo Scout Profile Right Angled

Summary

  • A relatively affordable, surprisingly powerful eight-speed electric bike with a comprehensive HUD and front suspension that feels like a great fit for urban commuting, it also comes in two frame sizes, 49cm and 54cm to accommodate a wide range of rider heights
  • Extremely accurate torque sensors and quiet 350-watt mid-drive motor allows for a 27-mile real-world range and 20-mph top assisted speed, making riding the Scout an enjoyable experience
  • mid-frame battery fits nicely into the downtube and keeps weight relatively low and center, can be removed in a matter of seconds, has a power button on top to quickly check level and a USB port to charge accessories while riding or on the go
  • While the Scout performed well overall, there were some issues with the tightness of the stem and poor finish with the loose grip and missing screw, basic derailleur, grips, and fenders

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

Populo

Model:

Scout

Price:

$1,699

Body Position:

Forward

Suggested Use:

Urban

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Years Comprehensive, 3 Years Frame

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

20172018

Bicycle Details

Total Weight:

54.6 lbs (24.76 kg)

Battery Weight:

7 lbs (3.17 kg)

Motor Weight:

7.5 lbs (3.4 kg)

Frame Material:

Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

19.29 in (48.99 cm)21.26 in (54 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Small 49 cm Measurements: Seat Tube Length, Reach, 32.5" Stand Over Height, Width, Height

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

Matte Black with White Accents

Frame Fork Details:

Suntour NEX E25 Spring Suspension, 50 mm of Travel, Rebound Adjust, 100 mm Hub Spacing, 9 mm Quick Release Skewer

Frame Rear Details:

135 mm Hub Spacing, 10 mm Axle with Nuts

Attachment Points:

Bottle Cage Bosses, Fender Bosses

Gearing Details:

8 Speed 1x8 Shimano Tourney TX (Or Shimano Altus), 11-32T Cassette

Shifter Details:

Shimano M310 Triggers on Right

Cranks:

Bafang CKA05, Alloy, 170 mm Length, 38T Chainring

Pedals:

VP Plastic Platform with Rubber Tread

Headset:

Threadless, Internal Cups, 1-1/8" to 1-1/2" Tapered

Stem:

Zoom, Forged Alloy, 90 mm Length, 17-Degree Rise, 31.8 mm Clamp

Handlebar:

Zoom, Low-Rise, Forged Alloy, 560 mm Length

Brake Details:

Tektro HD-T285 Hydraulic Disc with 180 mm Rotors, Dual-Piston Calipers, Tektro Levers with Adjustable Reach

Grips:

Synthetic Leather, Ergonomic, Black

Saddle:

Velo Sport, Black

Seat Post:

Aluminum Alloy, Black

Seat Post Length:

350 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

31.6 mm

Rims:

Alloy, Double Wall, Mid Dish, 36 Hole, Reinforcement Eyelets

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 13G, Black with Nipples

Tire Brand:

CST Classic Zeppelin, 28" x 2.0" (700 x 48c)

Wheel Sizes:

28 in (71.12cm)

Tire Details:

Reflective Sidewall Stripes

Tube Details:

Presta Valve

Accessories:

Plastic Fenders, Plastic Chain Cover, Integrated LED Headlight, Adjustable Rear-Mounted Kick Stand, Flick Bell

Other:

Locking Removable Downtube-Mounted Battery Pack, 1.5 lb 2 Amp Charger

Electronic Details

Motor Brand:

Bafang MM G521.500 Max Drive

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Gearless Motor
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

350 watts

Motor Peak Output:

500 watts

Motor Torque:

120 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Panasonic

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

13 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

468 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

4.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

27 miles (43 km)

Estimated Max Range:

50 miles (80 km)

Display Type:

Bafang HMI, High-Contrast Backlit LCD, Adjustable Angle, (Double Tap i for Settings)

Readouts:

Current Speed, Max Speed, Average Speed, Tripometer, Odometer, Battery Level (10 Bars), Lights, Pedal-Assist Level (1-5)

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad on Left, (Buttons: Lights, Power, Info, +, -)

Drive Mode:

Advanced Pedal Assist (Measures Pedal Torque, Cadence and Wheel Speed)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)


Written Review

EBR charges a service fee to manufacturers to produce ebike reviews and videos. It’s the same flat fee for each bike, and it helps us to keep the site going while limiting ad clutter. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you with our opinions and data but respect your right to know that we receive compensation :)

At $1,699, the Populo Scout is a relatively affordable electric bike that feels like it was designed with the urban commuter in mind. It boasts a 350-watt Bafang mid-drive motor that affords a top pedal-assisted speed of 20 mph, a removable battery that provides an estimated 28-mile range, a surprisingly good HUD and front suspension to help soften the impact from those less-than-perfect city streets. Some of the Bafang powered e-bikes I have seen out there offer throttle mode but the Populo Scout does not, I found that pedal-assist only was more than enough to help me power through longer-than-normal rides and it felt really smooth because of the multi-sensor setup vs. pure cadence sensor. In fact, after putting nearly 50 miles on the Scout, the pedal-assist turned out to be my favorite feature. The torque sensor is incredibly accurate and power comes on almost instantly after applying pressure to the crank. Furthermore, the motor shuts off just as quickly once I stopped pedaling. As a 200-pound rider – by the way this is Brent, not Court writing this review – and I consider myself to be in average shape, the Scout made me feel like I had boundless energy and power, which of course is a common feature with most electric bikes. The torque sensor felt very fluid and natural and felt more like it was smoothly helping me up hills and when I pushed on the pedals I got more power more quickly than on some other electric bikes. I also greatly appreciated the expansive HUD, which includes all the pertinent information I like to see at a glance while riding, including current speed, top speed, average speed, a tripometer, odometer, battery level and more on a big LCD that is easy to see and read. The Scout feels like a well-rounded electric bike with tons of great features and only a handful of flaws.

The Scout comes in one color, flat black, and in two frame sizes, 49 cm and 54 cm. The frame is constructed from double-butted 6061 aluminum alloy with smooth welds, giving the 49 cm version a curb weight of 47.6 pounds without the battery, and 54.6 pounds with the battery, which is a bit heavier than average considering that it doesn’t have a rear rack. The official Populo website says the frame can support tires up to 38c, however my Scout came with larger 48c tires, which fit alright and didn’t rub but did seem a bit large for the bike. They helped to improve stability and comfort, so it’s neat that you could also decide to upgrade tires and feel confident that they would fit and not drag on the frame or fenders. The frame feels sturdy, even with a 200-pound rider, and the only downside I found was that the stem seemed overly tight. I tried loosening the screw on the top cap that connects the stem to the steering tube, but that failed to alleviate the pressure. I even took the Scout into a local bike shop and had them take a look at it. They mentioned the star nut that sits inside the stem was slightly askew, which may be the culprit, but in the end there was no easy fix and even after 50 miles the stem didn’t loosen at all. It wasn’t so tight that it made turning impossible, but it was noticeable and it did causes a fair amount of resistance when riding… so hopefully that’s not something that a lot of people will experience. I’m not sure if this is an issue with my specific unit, or if this is a stylistic or manufacturing issue with Populo? Feel free to chime in with your own experiences in the comments below. Either way, it’s not the worst thing in the world, but definitely something I wanted to note.

The handlebars are fitted with ergonomic grips made from what feels like synthetic leather. The grips are comfortable and the stitching looks nice, but out of the box I noticed the right grip on my Scout was loose and moved around when I put pressure on it. A little bit of tape or superglue would probably fix this in a few seconds, but again, just something I wanted to note because the grips were not locking. These are not the kinds of grips with lockers where you can just tighten a screw or clamp to keep them straight. On the right side of the handlebars is a thumb-activated bell to alert passersby that you’re, well, passing by. Also, on the right side of the handlebars is the thumb-activated Shimano M310 eight-speed gear shifter that connects to the Shimano Tourney derailleur, which is a pretty basic derailleur (entry level from the Shimano brand). The official Populo website says the Scout comes with a Shimano Altus derailleur, which is one step above the Tourney, but the model I received came with the Tourney. Shifting on the Scout was smooth enough, though I did experience some issues getting into top gear. It felt like the derailleur kept hanging onto 7th gear and just didn’t want to find 8th, this is something that a good tuneup from a bike shop cold possibly alleviate if you ever experience it, but that can cost $60 to $100 to do in my experience. I found that if I switched back and forth from 6th to 8th a few times it eventually hit top gear. Shifting also felt a bit laggy and clunky when trying to shift under heavy load and I actually had the chain pop off during this phase of testing. I suspect a bit of fine-tuning might alleviate this issue, but these were the issues I found with the Scout out of the box. The last thing on the right side of the handlebars is the brake lever, which leads down to the rear 180 mm hydraulic disc brake. The Scout has disc brakes in the front and rear, giving the bike ample stopping power without requiring too much hand strength. There was no disc rattle with the brakes and zero play or sponginess in the levers themselves.

In the middle of the handlebars is the Scout’s LED backlit HUD. The HUD itself isn’t interactive, but instead serves only as a screen from which you can see your current speed, max speed, average speed, how far you’ve gone during a trip, how far you’ve gone during the life of the Scout, how much battery power is left, what level of pedal-assist you’re on and whether the front headlamp is on or off. The information on the HUD is cleanly laid out and the fact that’s it backlit makes it easy to see during the day and at night. I really appreciate the level of detail that went into the Scout’s HUD, as I much prefer to use an integrated to HUD on my electric bikes as opposed to having to hook up my phone in order to see speed, distance, etc. On the left side of the handlebars is a brake lever that activates the front 180 mm hydraulic disc brake and the rubberized button control pad which allows you to switch between pedal-assist modes one through five, turn the front headlamp on and off and toggle between display settings. The tactile feedback on the control center’s buttons are good, providing an audible click and physical feedback when they’re depressed, and I think they would probably work well even with gloves on. The control center is secured to the handlebars via a clamp that is locked in place with a screw. This screw was missing out of the box, so the control center on my Scout frequently comes loose and falls off. Bummer, this is one of the trade-offs if you order a bike online vs. being able to find it in a shop… but Populo is building relationships with new dealers regularly, so not everyone will have to deal with the damage that can happen in shipping.

On the front of the Scout sits the integrated headlamp, which can be toggled on and off from the control center on the left side of the handlebars. It’s great that the Scout has a headlamp to help increase visibility in low-light conditions, but it does little in the way of actually illuminating my path. The headlamp isn’t particularly bright to begin with, and with the striated beam pattern it looks more like a bar code than an actual headlamp. I really enjoy riding at night so a good headlamp is important to me – I was disappointed the quality here. I ended up using my Bright As Day headlamps, which I use on pretty much all my electric scooters and bikes, and that allowed me to comfortably ride at night. The downside of lights like this is that you have to take them off when parking or risk losing them to a quick thief. I’d love to see a better headlamp in future models of the Scout, or at the very least, an option to upgrade to one because it’s handy to have lights attached more permanently and wired into the battery pack vs. having to charge a second one or two. Beneath the headlamp is the Suntour NEX E25 adjustable spring suspension, which offers 50 mm of travel. The shock worked well enough for hopping up and down curbs and dampening rougher roads and uneven terrain, but I wouldn’t necessarily say the Scout is a mountain bike. It has limited adjustability and is more of a street design to take the bite out of cracks in the road. The Populo Scout really feels like an urban electric bike to me, so I guess you could scout out your neighborhood? I stiffened the suspension a bit to compensate for my weight by using the compression dial and after they were properly adjusted there was minimal dive with heavy braking. If we keep going down from the suspension, we get to the 28″ smooth tires and stainless-steel spoked double walled rims. Pretty standard stuff here.

On the downtube of the Scout is the semi-integrated, detachable Panasonic 36v, 13ah, 468wh battery pack. That was a mouthful. But the battery pack is fantastic on the Scout. It sits nicely on the downtube and while it’s not completely flush with the frame, it’s not overly bulky or an eyesore that sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s also only as wide as the frame itself, so I didn’t have any issues of hitting the battery pack with my knees while pedaling. On the left side of the battery pack is the lock. The key isn’t used to activate the battery, but to remove it from the frame. Just turn the key, lift the lever and boom – the battery pack is free. The battery can be charged while it’s attached or detached from the frame, which is great because that means I can ride to my favorite coffee shop (which is Peet’s if you’re wondering), lock up the Scout and bring the battery inside to charge. There’s also a USB port on the right side of the battery so it can be used as a portable battery bank, which is great! Charging the battery takes about three hours, on the top of the battery itself is the power button, which also doubles as a quick way to check the battery power level. There are four hash marks to indicate 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% or less. Populo estimates the battery can power the Scout for 28 miles, and to my surprise that’s almost exactly what my real-world testing showed. As a 200-pound rider operating with the highest pedal-assist level, I averaged 27 miles per charge. That totally blew me away and is by far the most accurate range estimation I’ve seen to date. I think a lighter rider or someone who is willing to use a lower pedal-assist setting would likely be able to go even further.

At the bottom of the Scout is the Bafang Max 350-watt mid-drive motor, which uses a torque sensor to determine how much help you need. I was impressed with the accuracy of the torque sensor and with how quickly the power came on when I started pedaling. And thankfully, I never felt like the bike was running away from me when I stopped pedaling, which is a problem I’ve noticed on some other electric bikes that use simple cadence sensors. The Bafang Max Drive motor is also ghostly quiet and I could only hear it running when it was under heavy strain. Because of how smooth the motor is and because of how quiet it is, riding the Scout really made me feel like I was much stronger and more fit than I actually am. Taking hills was easier than I expected, and even with just 350 watts of power I was able to get to the top of most inclines without exerting too much effort. In fact, I don’t think I ever broke a sweat while riding the Scout, but I do feel like it gave me a mild workout – maybe something comparable to a brisk walk, a cardio workout. The Scout is less versatile than some of the other Bafang motor bikes that have a throttle-only option, but honestly, I found that I really enjoyed being forced to pedal as it made me feel like I was at least burning some calories. The Populo website says the Scout comes with a Cionlli Ergonomic saddle, but my Scout came with a Velo Sport. At the bottom of seat post is quick-release lever to adjust the seat height.

Overall I feel like the Scout has some great features, like the comprehensive HUD, removable battery and an effective mid-drive motor, but it definitely has a few drawbacks, like the overly tight stem and somewhat unfinished feel due to the missing screw and loose grip. The derailleur and suspension are pretty basic but I like the hydraulic disc brakes, bottle cage bosses on the seat tube, fenders, bell, and lights (even though they were also kind of basic). The Scout seems like it’s a great electric bike for anyone looking for an urban commuter that won’t break the bank. AT $1,699, you’re definitely paying less than a lot of the higher-end electric bikes, but you’re still getting a decent product that fulfills its purpose… and does so quietly and smoothly ;)

Pros:

  • The Bafang 350-watt motor is extremely quiet and the torque sensors do a great job of detecting exactly how much pedal assist to deliver
  • The real-world range of 27 miles (in my experience) is incredibly close to Populo’s estimated 28-mile range, and the range could probably be extended even further for riders who weigh less than 200 pounds and/or who are willing to use a lower pedal-assist setting
  • Impressive and easily navigable HUD with tons of pertinent information, it’s also backlit so it’s easy to see during the day and at night
  • Front suspension does a good job of dampening minor bumps and rough roads, making for an all-around smoother ride experience than if there was no suspension at all
  • Battery locks into place and can only be removed with a key, so it’s relatively secure if you have to leave the Scout unattended, it also has a USB outlet so you can charge accessories while riding the Scout or use it as a portable battery bank
  • Front and rear 180mm disc brakes give the Scout more than ample stopping power, there’s also no brake rattle out of the box and the brake levers themselves are very responsive and have no play in them
  • Having eight different gears to choose from makes finding the right one for climbing hills and cruising an easy task
  • Five different levels of pedal assist allows riders to choose between getting a good workout, or feeling like Lance Armstrong
  • Relatively low price of $1,699 is less than a lot of higher end electric bikes, but doesn’t sacrifice too much in terms of quality

Cons:

  • The stem on my Scout was overly tight to the point that it made riding for long distances somewhat tiring and uncomfortable, even the folks at my local bike shop weren’t able to diagnose the issue
  • There were some issues with the finish on my Scout, like the loose grip and the missing screw for the control center, as well as some discrepancies between the included components Populo advertises on their website vs. the actual components on the bike, like the Velo saddle as opposed to the Cionlli, Tourney derailleur vs the advertised Altus
  • Shimano Tourney derailer struggled to find 8th gear, even when repeatedly switching back and forth from 6th to 8th, some tuning might fix this but out of the box there were definitely some issues
  • The plastic chain cover is nice but I found that the derailleur was more basic and the chain fell off when riding at times, the Bafang Max Drive doesn’t provide any shift detection so it could put more wear on the drivetrain
  • The Scout only comes in one color, flat black, but at least the tires have reflective stripes on them to keep you visible from the side
  • The chain guard feels like it’s low quality – I struggled to get it back on after fixing the chain derailment during testing

Resources:

More Populo Reviews

Populo Lift V2 Review

  • MSRP: $1,399
  • MODEL YEAR: 2018

An approachable step-thru electric bike with basic suspension for and seat-post suspension that improve comfort, large display is simple and easy to read, integrated headlight keeps you visible. Efficient 250-watt hub motor drives the Lift V2 to a top pedal-assist or throttle-only speed…...

Populo Sport V3 Review

  • MSRP: $999
  • MODEL YEAR: 2018

An affordable, single speed electric bike available in three colors and four frame sizes, driven by an efficient 250-watt hub motor for a top pedal-assist speed of 20 mph, no throttle mode. Extremely basic setup makes for easy operation and potentially lower maintenance than electric bikes with…...

Populo Sport Review

  • MSRP: $999
  • MODEL YEAR: 2017

An affordable, fairly stylish, surprisingly peppy single speed electric bike that would be great for urban riding, available in five frame sizes and four colors. Very affordable at just under $1k, especially considering the wires are internally routed through the…...


Comments (2) YouTube Comments

tupbhho
7 years ago

I would take the mud gurards off :)

  Reply
Court Rye
7 years ago

Yeah, it makes sense… I wish he would have shown what they sound like and look like for the review before removing them, but I can understand why he did it ;)

  Reply

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.