There are numerous trails in North Georgia with large inclines and several over 15 miles long that we had intentionally avoided. I realized we could skip the gym to train a couple times a week specifically for these longer rides or we could buy e-bikes. It’s true that the Kent 27.5″ electric mountain bike is one of the most budget-friendly options kent road bike on the market. But before you click “buy now,” be sure you know the pros and cons of this pedal-assist bike. Its 24V 5.2Ah battery is adorably small yet provides up to 15 miles (25 km) of range if the kid keeps it in low power mode. Kent’s Electric Cruiser has plenty of limitations, but it’s doubtful the people buying this bike will care too much.
E-bike and e-scooter riders must follow the rules of the road by looking after pedestrians, adhering to signage and driving in the correct direction. When I sold the CrossFit gym and moved to Gainesville, Georgia, I lost all of my MTB-riding friends, so my bike went into storage. This year, I introduced my wife Haley to some local beginner singletrack in our new town of Cleveland, Georgia, and she loved it.
They are a great option for students, employees, and visitors to Kent State University. My 7-year-old nephew struggles to touch the ground while my nearly 9-year-old nephew fits on the bike easily. Kids should be a kent bayside cruiser certain age before they are mature enough to handle the extra power of an e-bike, even a low-power one like this. Of course, all the fun is in going fast in high power mode, though that drains the battery quicker.
Powered by a Shen-350 watt rear hub motor, 36v, 4.8 ah, using Samsung battery cells. The Kent Electric Cruiser’s 350W rear-hub motor was more than capable on the flat roads and bike paths around my home, easily reaching and staying at 20 mph. But when the bike was pointed uphill, the performance was much less impressive. With me pedaling and the power assist at maximum, my speed frequently dropped down into the single digits on steep hills. S-100 7th Edition with Spin Insight Level 2 features a dual kickstaand for increased stability when parked, three independent braking systems, and dual suspension for smooth riding. Spin Insight Level 2, powered by Drover, allows for real-time sidewalk, bike lane, and proper parking detection.
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 350 watt rear hub motor provides a pedal-assisted boost that gives you the power you need to tackle any incline, while the lithium-ion battery delivers long-lasting power. The handlebar-mounted controller display has 3 speed settings, letting you easily switch between electric assist modes, and provides up to 40 miles of boosted range. Whether you’re commuting to work or running errands around town, the 700c Kent Hybrid E-Bike is the perfect companion for an efficient and enjoyable ride.
I realize these are “tetherless,” but scooters laying on the sidewalk is unacceptable. I don’t know the answer to this problem, but the city and the company need to ensure the sidewalks are clear and safe. Having not ridden Kent’s new e-bike (yet, but hopefully that changes), it’s hard for me to judge it too hard on the spec sheet alone. But for the $1,498 price, it’s at least an interesting addition to a slew of Walmart e-bikes that so far haven’t taken a shot at such higher-end (or perhaps even midlevel) markets.