If you’re looking for an ebike with solid components and drive system that won’t cost a lot, the Stride 500 might be perfect. Now, you won’t be getting pedal assist, no front light or fenders and there’s no fancy computer system here… but what it offer, works well. And it even comes with a two year warranty that includes the battery pack! This is a medium quality bike with a scooter style drive system. Just insert the key, press the on button, twist the throttle and you’re off! Anyone can use it.
The motor driving this bike is a 500 watt gearless design. This means it’s quiet, smooth, durable (because it doesn’t use gears) but also a bit heavier than a geared design. All in all, it works great though I would have loved regenerative braking to help reduce the wear on brake pads and perhaps recapture some of the energy coasting down large hills. Everything has a trade off however, and regenerative braking requires a more sophisticated controller and that costs money.
The battery pack on this and other ProdecoTech bikes uses Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry which is stable and lasts a long time (they say 2,000 cycles which is nearly 2x other Lithium-ion types). The only downside is lower energy density which means the battery has to be larger in size and weight to provide the same capacity. Adding to this drawback is the position of the battery pack, way high up hanging off the end of the bike. Notice that both the motor and battery are at the rear end of the bike. This makes it hard to lift and transport. The good news is, the pack is removable – this makes transport and charging on the go much easier. All in all, the ~36 volt pack offers good power and decent range, especially paired with the strong 500 watt motor.
Some other things to consider with this bike. The frame size is about medium and the step-through makes it easy to mount. If you’re a tall or overweight individual this bike could be uncomfortable and I recommend checking out some of the larger cruisers from Pedego. Consider replacing the pedals with stiffer metal ones and keep in mind that you’ll have to assemble this bike yourself vs. getting it at a shop. ProdecoTech keeps their bikes inexpensive by bypassing retail distribution but that means assembly and service suffer. I’ve owned a lot of ebikes and because you tend to ride them more often than regular bikes, this could be a setback. Even though the warranty is good with ProdecoTech, you will still pay shipping after 30 days and be without a bike to ride.
This isn’t my favorite electric bike to ride but I do prefer it as a “lower end” option and if it gets more people out there riding then it’s a huge success! The price is hard to beat, the technology is simple but solid. The little extras like the bell and rear light for safety are much appreciated. You won’t be able to carry stuff on the rear rack but hey, get a backpack. The ride will be less stable than a bike with downtube battery design but hey, this layout has been standard for over 10 years with ebikes and it works fine. The motor is solid and should be capable of moving larger riders and even climbing medium hills. As one final benefit, the throttle is so simple to use that sharing this bike is no problem and that’s part of what has made it a good choice for bicycle rental companies.
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David White
3 years agoWhere are your E bikes manufactured?
ReplyCourt
3 years agoHi David! I cannot speak directly for ProdecoTech, but I think that most bicycle components are produced in Taiwan, China, Vietnam, or other Asian countries. ProdecoTech does design and assemble in the USA though, and I think that they try to source some of the parts domestically when possible.
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