The ProdecoTech Genesis 500 is one of the larger folding electric bikes around and it’s also one of the cheapest. As with most Prodeco ebikes this one uses a large gearless rear hub motor and rack mounted battery that sits just behind the seat post. It’s not the most elegant or well balanced design but it keeps the price low and works well with the simple twist throttle drive system. The Genesis comes in one sort of medium size frame and a brushed aluminum color but is functionally the same as the Storm 500 which comes in gold.
Driving this bike is a 500 watt direct drive (gearless) rear hub motor. It offers decent power and operates smoothly without creating much noise. The drawbacks here are weight and size because the motor relies on big magnets inside to create power. Also, when coasting or pedaling without assist the magnets may create some drag vs. a geared motor with a freewheeling mechanism. It also does not take advantage of regenerative braking which some other gearless systems offer but overall it’s durable and gets the job done.
The battery powering this bike delivers ~36 volts of power and 9 amp hours of capacity. That’s kind of average and the pack is a bit heavier than some equivalent designs because it uses a Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry vs. Lithium Manganese or Lithium Cobalt. The pack is kind of large and you can actually upgrade it to be even larger if you want, just be careful over large bumps given the limited strength of just one pair of support struts vs. higher end ProdecoTech bikes.
Ultimately, you get power and decent range here but only have a twist throttle to take advantage of it. Pedal assist adds cost and complexity but helps when climbing hills and ultimately extends your range while giving your wrist a break. The pack on this bike is removable and feels pretty solid but the rack it mounts to is high up and fairly rigid which creates more strain. I listed “no mounting points for cargo” as a con but with the limited support here and somewhat delicate battery interface I think they made the right call.
The low price point makes it easy to get excited about the Genesis 500 but you are trading functionality, range and stability. Prodeco Technologies offers a generous two year warranty but the fine print says it doesn’t cover normal wear and tear on the battery from use which seems misleading to me. There aren’t a whole lot of dealers that carry this bike right now, in part because I believe their margins are very low, but it is available online. If you do get it over the Internet there will be some assembly involved and it can take some effort to work with.
To me this bike is reminiscent of first gen electric bike technology. In the early 2000’s many companies were using rear mounted packs because it’s easy and cheap, they didn’t have fancy pedal assist options and the computers were also very simple or non existent. The Genesis 500 brings updated Lithium batteries that are lighter and longer lasting and a variable speed twist throttle that is fun to use. Over time your hand might get tired (and good luck trying to carry it up stairs) but for the money it gets the job done and could be a solid option for someone willing to screw around a bit and who also fits the frame. Note that when I was test riding this bike I bumped my knee on the battery when swinging my leg over the back. Some of the low-step ProdecoTech bikes like the Stride R help eliminate this concern.
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Steve Davis
11 years agoI had the bike for a year and 6months when the battery went bad. Took it back to Prodecotech. They said water got in the battery and it was not covered by the warranty. How water got in this battery is strange because I never rode the bike in the rain and kept the bike in the house when not in use. When I told them to send me my charger back they never called me back. I would never buy this bike again. Now I am out a charger and a battery. They alway say they will call me back and never do! They do not stand behind the warranty!
ReplyIan
11 years agoThat’s a total bummer! I’m considering buying my first electric bike, and this story may make me look at another brand.
ReplyCourt Rye
11 years agoYeah… I think future ProdecoTech bikes will be better but this one (and the other rear-mount designs) just aren’t that balanced and the features are very basic. If you’re trying to save money, check out the other affordable electric bikes I’ve reviewed.
Replychristians cortina
3 years agoSaludos, mi bicicleta se daño de la entrada del conector creo se quemo, necesito ayuda quien me puede asesorar.
ReplyCourt
3 years agoEso es muy malo. ¿Quizás alguien de los foros de EBR podría ayudarlo? Esto no es algo que yo sepa.
Reply