For the past couple of weeks, I have been riding around on an early sample model of the Zectron e-bike, and have even had other riders test it out to gather their opinions on its performance. From what I’ve seen thus far, ride comfort, powerful battery assist, and responsiveness to turns are what separates the Zectron from the rest of the market. But is it polished enough to warrant your investment?
Unboxing and first look
Two boxes arrived to set up the Zectron e-bike, but your experience may vary when the commercial-final versions are shipped to customers. One box contained the bike in an extended position, with the handlebar folded down and the front wheel removed. The other box contained the seat, seat post, kickstand, front axle, folding pedals, and frame shock. For what it’s worth, packaging the components separately should give each part enough space for safe and damage-free shipping.
Assembling the e-bike was not as much of a hassle as two boxes make it seem. Remember, the main frame comes pre-installed, so all you really have to do is attach the smaller parts – most of which don’t require anything more than an Allen wrench and/or screwdriver. The frame shock attaches to the frame under the seat area with the two securing points clearly visible. All of the hardware and tools needed for final assembly are provided by Zectron and it only took me a few minutes to get everything installed.
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There are a few elements to unfold for getting the bike ready to ride after all the parts are installed. The steps include:
The front light is installed and ready to go out of the box. The large, bright rear light is mounted to the aft of the main frame and lights up automatically when you push the brakes.
The 3.9-inch display is integrated into the center of the handlebars and lights up to a high brightness level for easy visibility when riding outside. I’ve tested e-bikes with dimmer screens and those are often illegible in direct sunlight. That’s not the case here, and I’m very happy about that. The only problem I currently have with the display is that you can set the System of Units (SI).
The buttons to control the display are on the left side of the handlebars, though one of the buttons on this early model is a bit off-center so it takes a positioned press to activate it. I’d be on the watch when the official product comes out to see if the buttons are properly fitted.
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As for the sound that comes from the display when your press a button, I found it too loud for comfort. Sometimes, I don’t need everyone on the block to know that I’m on my e-bike. While it’s always practical to have a confirmation sound, others who have ridden the bike over the past few weeks made the exact same observation. Zectron tells me that this will be adjusted before commercial release, so I’ll keep an eye out for that, too.
One aspect that stands out from all of the other e-bikes I’ve tested is the invisible wires. The wires on the Zectron are hidden inside the frame so that all you see is one cable collection leading down from the handlebars and then a short cable from the front light into the frame. For how much of a tangling mess e-bikes can be, I’m impressed by how clean and modern this one looks.
The model I tested has an integrated, non-removable battery with an advertised range of 74 miles. An external battery option will be available when the bike is officially launched for retail sales which will double the battery range of the bike. Obviously, that benefit comes at the cost of extra weight and money.
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Performance
The unique frame and shock system are designed to provide the rider with a comfortable riding experience – even for extended periods. The seat is suspended by the frame and shock absorber so when you go over bumpy roads, the ride feels less turbulent. When the bike ships, buyers will be able to select different-sized suspension shocks to accommodate their size. It’s a nice touch that makes the e-bike more user-friendly.
As far as battery life goes, Zectron’s 74-mile rating is under the assumption that you have pedal assist turned on. This range obviously varies based on rider size, terrain, and the method of propulsion used, but the bike is clearly designed with endurance in mind. I charged it up only two times during my testing over a couple of weeks and never felt I had to worry about the battery life.
While the handlebar height cannot be adjusted, I tested the bike with people ranging from 5 feet, 4 inches to 6 feet, 1 inch, and it was comfortable for all riders. The seat can be adjusted to match the rider’s height and the handlebars seem to be positioned just optimally enough to not have to be leveled.
Finally, a powerful 350W motor is present on the US model, with a maximum throttle speed of 20 mph. I was able to achieve that speed and also reach 10 mph up very steep hills thanks to pedal assist and the 7-speed Shimano gear system.
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Bottom line
There are many folding e-bikes available today but Zectron’s model provides one of the most comfortable rides and a clean and modern look thanks to the hidden wiring. It folds down to a small enough size for placing in a trunk or storing in a closet but is by no means wimpy thanks to the large display, powerful motor, and mag wheels.
My call-outs are as follows: There is currently no option to switch to SI units on the display, the button press sound is very loud, and the bike is pretty heavy at 55 pounds for a foldable bike. A couple of these things may be addressed as the bike continues to be refined for commercial release. There is also a smartphone app and connectivity that is in development with future options to enable a tracker in the bike, too.
Zectron offers five cool colors – we tested the black and yellow bumblebee one – with the price starting at $1,999. The company is running a crowdfunding campaign, though, that offers the base model at just $899.
Alternatives to consider
If you want an e-bike that you rarely have to charge and one that you rarely have to pedal, then the Fiido L3 is a great option. There are plenty of other folding options to consider too.
