Mid-drive motors, unlike hub motors, actually power the bike through the standard gears on a bicycle. Of course if the battery ever runs out, the e-bike simply turns back into a standard pedal bike powered by a morning bowl of Wheaties. There’s even a six-speed transmission that makes the bike extra pedal-friendly even without any electric assist.
But after going to the gym and completing several CrossFit workouts each week, the rides became harder and more tedious. Each hill burned out our already fatigued legs and around the 4-mile kent mountain bike mark, we’d head back to the car with stiff, cramped muscles. Most days, one or more of us would be forced to walk our bikes back to the car due to a broken chain, flat tire or bent wheel.
The Kent 700C step-thru e-bike has a great and powerful motor with 8 speeds comparing to the price. You are paying less than $900, but you are getting a great electric bike. Shimano Tourney TX800 8-speed derailleur and shifters are paired with a no-name crank and mechanical disc brakes. Front and rear fenders and a rear rack come standard on the Electric Cruiser, which was a bit of a surprise, given its relatively low price. Most of the people buying this bike will love the wide, padded saddle and upright ride position, but adjusting the saddle angle was next to impossible.
Just click on one of the many featured products and start your shopping experience. You can even filter your results by price, if you wish to stay on budget. To turn on the bike, you need to first hit a button underneath the battery, then another on the LED display. The battery’s on button isn’t in a highly visible place but is slightly raised so you can find it by touch. At this price point, you’re going to have to deal with some compromises.
The rest of Kent’s mid-drive e-bike fits more in line with the other budget models in its class. A 36V and 10.5 Ah battery claims a range of 20 miles (32 km) from its 378 Wh of capacity. Simple front and rear suspension offer a bit of spring without costing an arm and a leg.
It’s about the size of a small water bottle and easy to stick in your bag when the family goes on a ride. It can help your kids ride even longer, extending that family Sunday ride even further than 15 miles (25 km). Now before I start getting disgruntled comments, let me start by saying this isn’t a small motorcycle – it’s a pedal-assist e-bike. The Kent Torpedo is the first electric bicycle that I know of designed specifically for children. And it’s so much fun (even for me as a full-fledged adult) that it surely won’t be the last one.
The Kent Electric Cruiser is a very pretty bike, with the removable Samsung lithium-ion battery integrated into the frame. Given the fire-engine red color scheme, 26-inch whitewall tires, and swooping handlebars, I felt like a fatter, hairier Pee Wee Herman pedaling around my city. The motor doesn’t add any assist unless the rider is pedaling, kent bike and the assist cuts out immediately when pedaling stops. The brake levers that control a pair of V-brakes also have sensors to cut motor power any time the brakes are pulled. The motor is mounted in the rear wheel and adds 180W of power in full power mode. There are medium and low power modes that provide even softer assist.
The Kent 700C Step-Through electric bike has a great, simple and minimalistic design. It also has a step-thru aluminum alloy frame which makes the bike suitable for both men and women. If you are aged 14 and up, you can ride this e-bike and enjoy its’ all benefits.