Kent Torpedo review: A kid’s e-bike, tested by a fun uncle and some kids

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. The motor is supplied by an adorable little 24V 5.2Ah battery with just 125 Wh of capacity. In low power mode, the battery is sufficient for 15 miles (25 km) of range.

They simply give you more power to ride faster, longer, or climb hills that were previously unconquerable. And yes, the Lectric XPremium is probably the best game in time now when it comes to mid-drives at affordable prices. For just a bit more at $1,799, the dual batteries, significantly higher power/speed, hydraulic disc brakes, and a pile of other features blow this Kent bike away. But Lectric’s model is also a folding fat tire e-bike and won’t fulfill the trail bike role that Kent’s offering here claims to satisfy.

While the battery seems to last for a while on low power mode, high mode drains it quicker. I asked Kent Bicycles about the possibility of buying spare batteries to swap in and make for a longer ride, and they’re looking into offering them on their website. My 7-year-old nephew struggles to touch the ground while my nearly 9-year-old nephew fits kent mountain bike on the bike easily. The fact that younger kids can’t fit on it is probably a good thing. Kids should be a certain age before they are mature enough to handle the extra power of an e-bike, even a low-power one like this. 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.

The perfect choice for riders who are looking for a comfortable, and efficient ride. Crafted with a step-thru aluminum frame, this bike is lightweight and easy to mount and dismount. The removable semi-integrated battery ensures that you can charge your bike wherever and whenever you need to, and it’s lockable with a key to prevent theft. The 8-speed drivetrain provides a plenty of gearing range for hilly terrain, and the trigger shifter is easy to use.

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 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.

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 kent mountain bike 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 Kent Step-Through electric bike is made for riders who like a smooth and sleek ride. The e-bike has a very simple and minimalistic design that is suitable for both women and men. Kent bikes are also known as strong and sturdy bikes, so this is no exception when it comes to the 700C Step-Thru model. It has a powerful motor and a great battery that you can’t even see unless you know where it is placed. Anyone under 160 lbs will LOVE this bike—my wife (5’7 and 130 lbs) is one of those people who is a perfect fit for this e-bike. I started riding mountain bikes when I was a teenager in Augusta, Georgia.

A “motorbike” that is fun and exciting and tricks them into getting in some exercise sounds just fine by me. Major bicycle manufacturer Kent is announcing today its first electric bicycle designed specifically for children. The Kent Torpedo packs an e-bike system onto a 20″ kids bike, charging up the ride with more distance and speed.

On my test ride, I chose a 5-mile path at Smithgall Woods State Park that alternated between asphalt and gravel. On the gravelly bits, the e-bike performed well, kicking in enough power to keep the momentum going on the climbs and cutting off on the downhills. Reviews often mentioned bad batteries, broken bike parts, or other annoying setbacks. Because of this, having a 90-day return policy was extremely important for peace of mind. Of course, all the fun is in going fast in high power mode, though that drains the battery quicker.