When I moved to Kennesaw, Georgia, to be near my CrossFit gym, I noticed several well-known MTB trails in the area. No longer a teenager, I purchased a custom-made name-brand MTB from a local bike shop and rode the forks off it—literally. It’s about the size of a small water bottle and easy to stick in your bag when the family goes on a ride.
Cheaper mid-drive electric bikes tend to opt for Chinese-made mid-drive motors like those from Bafang, Truckrun, Tongsheng, and others. In the case of Kent’s mid-drive electric bike, seen above, it’s not clear exactly which 250W motor is used. Nicer (i.e., more expensive) e-bikes tend to use fancier mid-drive motors like those made by Brose, Bosch, Yamaha, and other major German or Japanese manufacturers.
The bike comes about 75% pre-assembled, and I only needed to attach the front wheel and fender, handlebars and saddle. Things started off on the wrong foot when I realized some of kent road bike the seat post assembly pieces were missing. (Luckily, my local bike co-op was able to hook me up with the needed parts!) But that was really the only major problem with assembly.
That isn’t a bad thing, as many riders (including myself) have been very happy with lower-cost mid-drive motors. I have a Truckrun motor on my daily rider city e-bike, and it works wonderfully. The Kent Torpedo kid’s electric bike is an excellent pick if you want something economical yet top-notch for your little ones. With its 180W motor, 6-speed gearing, and LED display, your kids can enjoy a smooth and tailored ride. The 10.4-amp hour battery promises around 1 hour 20 minutes of run time, or around 25 miles, using the electric assist at varying levels over the course of the ride. Shimano Tourney TX800 8-speed derailleur and shifters are paired with a no-name crank and mechanical disc brakes.
After a few seconds of strenuous pedaling, the bike suddenly took off with explosive force. It was an e-bike, an electric pedal-assist MTB with a motor that engages when an internal sensor encounters a hill. S-100 7th Edition Level 2 features a dual kickstaand for increased stability when parked, three independent braking systems, and dual suspension for smooth riding.
Mid-drive motors, on the other hand, are more costly to produce due to their more complicated design. That complication also makes them a bit more touchy, at least for new riders that aren’t used to shifting a bike. For our third eMTB trip, I chose a 16-mile gravel forest service road in nearby Helen, Georgia.
Without the battery, the Kent Torpedo is easy enough to pedal, though it will definitely feel a bit heavier than a typical kid’s bike. The geared motor doesn’t provide any extra resistance other than adding a couple pounds of needless weight. There’s also a 6-speed shifter that makes it easier for kids to climb hills in the proper gear, even without electric power. If the battery does die on a ride, the shifter kent electric bike definitely makes it more manageable to pedal. While nearly all the best electric bikes I’ve ridden or reviewed over the years have been aimed at commuters or enthusiasts, research shows that older Americans are the most frequent purchasers of motorized bicycles. Most of these buyers probably haven’t ridden a bicycle in decades and are looking for a cheap and non-intimidating way to get back on the bike.
Retailing for under $700 (around £515/AU$970), the Kent Electric Cruiser was created for them. S-200 1st Edition is a cutting edge three-wheeled e-scooter with enhanced suspension and a larger wheel base. S-200 offers the safest ride on the market with three independent braking systems (regenerative rear brake, front and rear drum brakes) and turn signals on the handlebars. S-200 has a front and rear-facing camera embedded in the scooter that allows our remote operators to reposition the e-scooter as needed.