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Forrest Woolman

Product Reviewer, Content Writer

As an aspiring young writer, one of his first articles was about how he and other local kids built a 5-foot by 15-foot ramp for jumping their BMX bikes over a mud pit in his neighborhood. Forrest and his friends used the article to promote a competition event, where they sold front row seats — using borrowed beach chairs — at five cents a seat. In essence, Forrest earned his first writing gig before middle school. He continued to write in high school and college before settling in the business world, writing about more mundane topics like human resource data analysis and employee performance reviews. When the EBR team invited Forrest to join them, he was happy to incorporate his decades of bicycle and motorcycle experience in testing and writing about electric bicycles. Analyzing bikes from the perspective of a longtime rider, consumer and certified bicycle mechanic (trained by the United Bicycle Institute), Forrest gives his honest take on the pros and cons of the bikes he tests and writes about, so readers can get an accurate description before purchasing their e-bike.

Get to Know Forrest Woolman

Certifications

  • B.A. History, Political Science

Favorite Style of E-Bike

Fat Tire, Touring

Favorite E-Bikes Reviewed

Juiced RipCurrent S, Zen Samurai

Current Bikes You Ride/Own

Aventon Aventure, Pedego Element

Hobbies

In his spare time, he often rides with his wife, Vicki. And when he’s not on two wheels, he is usually hiking with dogs, playing drums, bass or keyboards, writing fiction, or planning the preparation and execution of becoming to ride an e-bike from Alaska to Argentina — viajes seguros!

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Forrest Woolman

Denago Cruiser 1 Step-Thru Review, 2024

An ultra-affordable cruiser that uses simple design for classic look with easy-to-ride appeal

Denago Cruiser 1 Review 2024
There was something rather refreshing about the Dengao Cruiser 1 Step-Thru we were sent in to review. Cruiser electric bikes tend to be heavier and cost more than comparable urban bikes, which begs the question: where do you find a cruiser that’s lighter and costs less? Well, Denago was aiming to provide one with their Cruiser 1 ST, a classic looking electric bike based on a simple design and a scaled down collection of components that keep this bike’s price competitive at just over $1000.

One of the keys to this bike’s appeal is its simplicity. Cruisers, by nature, are designed to provide riders comfort and ease in controlling the bike so they can focus. And a simple design means fewer parts to maintain and service.

Denago skipped on over-the-top frills that require more maintenance and adjusting not only to keep the price down but to also align with cruising’s “keep it simple” motto. If you’re someone who just wants to ride, and not worry about technical stuff, then the Cruiser 1 probably fits your riding style.

Along with a simple design, the Cruiser 1 has an attractive look, too. The overall design carries the quintessential look of cruisers from the past. However, the Cruiser 1 Step-Thru is not just about good looks and leisurely ride, we’ll cover the important parts to consider – performance and quality – in the our in-depth Denago Cruiser 1 ST review below.

[Read more…] about Denago Cruiser 1 Step-Thru Review, 2024

Magnum Pilot Review, 2024

A Bike That Looks Classy, Gives Balanced Motor Engagement and a Comfortable Ride

Magnum Pilot Review 2024
Billed as a touring bike, the Magnum Pilot merges the quality ride features of a commuter e-bike with the comfort features of a cruiser e-bike. Taking a hybrid approach, Magnum blended features like fat 26” x 3” tires, comfy Selle Royal Freeway seat and upright posture, with a workhorse mid-drive motor, suspension, and a battery that can take you far.

Powered by the Ananda 500-watt mid-drive motor that generates 135 Newton meters of torque, the Pilot can take you up steep hills and down busy boulevards. It uses a torque sensor to help economize energy consumption, so you can ride further between battery charges.

The frame integrated removable lithium ion battery has a 15 amp-hour capacity and carried our test rider well beyond the 50-mile range we were anticipating. Sporting its stylish step-through design and classic white wall tires, the Pilot utilizes broad 10-speed gearing that can help you get in the right speed, whether you’re riding through town, or to the next town over. Our Magnum Pilot review will cover the key details, along with the results from our performance tests to help you find out if this bike has what you’re looking for.

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Ride1UP Prodigy Review, 2024 | XC Variant with an Appetite for Dirt Roads

Style, Looks, and Quality for Riding in the City and Off-road

Ride1UP Prodigy Review 2024
In this review for the Ride 1Up Prodigy e-bike, we cover all the important parts that make this a great lightweight, long range, quality built, all-terrain e-bike, at an affordable price. The highlight features of our XC variant include an energy efficient motor that delivers the right power when you need it, good off-road tires, front fork suspension, and an overall design that will appeal to a large number of riders. Combined with its sturdy build, practical design and rider-friendly components, the Prodigy also looks sharply stylish wherever you ride to.

As you go through this Ride1UP Prodigy review it’s worth pointing out that our XC model comes standard with a few different specs than what you’d find on the XR or ST models, and this one will largely be better suited for lighter dirt trail riding where the others are more paved path-friendly. At any rate, keep reading and find out how this e-bike delivers on many fronts.

*Looking for the latest on the Prodigy? Check out the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX review.

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Mokwheel Basalt ST Review

Built To Roam Most Places and Power Almost Anything Electric Thanks To Unique Accessories

Mokwheel Basalt ST Review 2025
How do you make a fat tire e-bike standout in a pretty crowded market? A bright splash of color helps, make it fast as a bullet and you’ll be sure to get noticed too, and round it off with the promise of accessories that enable you to use the sun to power the bike, or have the bike power up most of your electronics too. Yup, that’ll help it standout! In our review of Mokwheel’s newest iteration of its fat tire Basalt Step Through (ST), we cover this e-bike’s performance and cover all its best features.

The Basalt ST has all the hallmark traits of the Basalt high step model we reviewed, with the added bonus of being easier to get on ride without a top-tube. Shorter riders, or folks who don’t love swinging a leg over a bike in general will appreciate the ST frame here.

Mokwheel’s Basalt line is known for the massive batteries that lend many miles to a speedy motor. This bike has a torque sensor for splitting the work difference better with the rider, but it’s still the type of bike that’ll happily do all the work for you if that’s your preference.

Thanks to the large 26″ X 4″ fat tires, and just enough comfort features and adaptability for different riders, the Basalt ST can dominate the roads or the dusty trails alike. But if you spring for the optional power inverter and solar panels, it can become you’re roving power plant that charges all manner of electronics via that big ball of burning gas in the sky. It becomes enticing and easy to imagine some camping trips with, doesn’t it?

Overall the bike is a solid value and left us with a lasting impression. It isn’t without a couple of drawbacks, but the Basalt ST overall is a bike worth a further look into if you’re on the hunt for something that’s burlier and ready to go fast. For all the details, continue on in our Mokwheel Basalt Step-Through review.

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Murf Higgs Step-Thru Review, 2024

Murf Higgs ST Review 2024
What you’ll find in this Murf Higgs Step-thru review is a bike that is angling to be the utility e-bike shorter riders have been waiting for. If you want an uncomplicated ride with enough performance to help you get out and enjoy fresh air more, the Higgs Step-thru aims to please.

A 15.5” stand over height on burly 20″ X 4″ tires make this easy ride for shorter riders, but it scales up decently for taller riders who want a more compact bike to hit the throttle on.

The Higgs ST is one of the newer members of the Murf e-bike family, but don’t let it’s smaller size fool you. It delivers quick acceleration, better-than-expected range and it’s easy to maneuver, confirming it’s no spruced up kids’ bike with its adult-sized power.

Cranking out impressive speed and acceleration, the 500-watt motor runs on a 52-volt system that makes for a fun ride while producing good efficiency in the range department.

It sports a utilitarian role as it’s designed with carrying plenty of gear in mind. It has a hauling capacity of 100 lbs on its rear rack – nearly two times greater than the average we find on most e-bikes, thanks to its frame-welded rear rack. So not only does this bike give you fun, it also gives you a break from having to use a car for shopping and running errands, or for loading up for a day at the beach.

This Murf Higgs Step-through felt like a a good overall emblem for what Murf describes as its roots as a company; It’s a chill ride meant to make going about your daily activities easier and more enjoyable. It isn’t overly sophisticated, but it’s flexible enough for your needs and easy to operate so you can enjoy just hopping on, hitting the throttle and going. Simplification can come with some drawbacks, and the Murf Higgs Step-thru has one or two of those, but those will lie in the eye of the beholder and how they want to ride it.

For all our thoughts and performance results read through the rest of our Murf Higgs Step-thru review.

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Troxus Trax 30/750 Review

Versatile Commuter Ebike, With Lots of Customization Options to Fit Almost Any Rider, Whether it’s for Short Commutes or Long Range Adventures

Troxus Trax 30/750 Review
In the following review of the Troxus Trax, you will discover how this versatile Dutch-style commuter e-bike can help you branch out, adding greater variety to your rides while also taking you further than you thought possible. This bike is intended for urban exploring, all it needs is a rider with a taste for adventure and a willingness to ride.

The specific model we were sent for review is the Troxus Trax 750/30. What makes the Trax unique is how it’s one of the few DTC e-bikes that let’s you pick your setup in a variety of way. The base model is a fully rigid 500W motor with a 15Ah battery. You can climb up in terms of motor power, battery size and extra comfort to our test bike’s level with its 750W motor, 30Ah battery and front suspension fork and suspension seat post. All these choices span the three different frame sizes and three color options as well. Essentially you can pick based on needs and budget, which isn’t something you find a lot of, but is a nice way to stand out in the greater e-bike market.

The Trax is fitted with nice components from well-known brand names, the Trax is meant to hold its own, wherever you take it, and power you along with reliable performance.

After riding it for over 150 miles, and testing its performance in a myriad of ways, we discovered pretty quickly what this e-bike is all about. Keep reading, and you will, too.

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Mokwheel Scoria Review

Multi-use e-bike that can accommodate a lot of riders, and fulfill multiple riding tasks – commute, run errands and explore on the weekend

Mokwheel Scoria Review

If you’re looking for a moped-style e-bike that’s easy to ride then you might want to take a closer look at the Mokwheel Scoria. This e-bike is sized to fit riders from 4’8” – 6’0” and offers a lot of fun, whether you’re on city streets, bike paths or dirt roads outside town. Not only is it fun to ride but it also works for commuting, cruising, and exploring. The sturdy rack enables you to carry groceries, work supplies, camping gear, and most anything else you can think of.Whether you’re a new rider, experienced rider, or someone who has been away from bikes for a while, the Scoria is designed for you to ride and explore. With its step-through frame, fat knobby tires, and upright riding design, this bike offers riders a user-friendly riding experience along with some impressive e-bike performance.

Adding power to your pedal is the 750-watt rear hub motor that can take this Class 3 e-bike up to 28 mph, using throttle and pedal assist. Making sure your ride doesn’t end too early is the large battery that holds loads of power. The fat tires and suspension work great managing the terrain, giving you the feeling to keep on riding.

Campers rejoice; The Scoria has a truly unique feature for when you leave the power grid behind. It has an optional power converter to charge personal items off the bike’s battery. Cell phones, mini fridge and more! But won’t that leave less for the battery? Well, you can always get the optional solar panels too for charging off the bike – neat! It’s bigger sibling in the Mokwheel lineup – the Basalt – shares this seldom seen feature too.

Recently, our team spent a few weeks analyzing this e-bike, and testing its performance as we logged over 125 miles on the Scoria to find out if this Mokwheel is a winner.

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Engwe M20 E-Bike Review 2024

Full Suspension Cafe Racer For Throttle Fun Without The Pedaling

Engwe M20 E-Bike Review 2024
Our review of the Engwe M20 electric bike covers all the details on this sporty BMX-looking e-bike. With its full suspension and all-terrain knobby tires, the M20 handles bumps, moguls, and drop offs better than most 20-inch wheel e-bikes you’ll find. Riders seeking more power to explore urban and outback areas will like the 750-watt rear hub motor.

The M20 is a Class 3 e-bike, with motor power from the throttle up to 20 mph, and motor power through the pedal assist up to 25 mph. This e-bike’s low-sitting, sporty design makes a great handling bike for riders of all levels. When you first hop on this bike and grab the handlebar, you’ll likely yearn for adventure. This bike’s design and feel will invite you to go where you haven’t gone before.

Until recently, full suspension e-bikes resided in the $3000-plus range, leaving many new riders to opt for hardtail e-bikes instead. But Engwe came up with the right recipe for suspension and performance, and offered this bike for a price that’s considerably lower than most of its competitors. So, if you’re interested in this kind of sporty BMX-style e-bike, then you’ll want to keep reading about our review and performance tests on this bike.

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Pedal Core Electric Bike Review, 2024

Full Suspension, Speedy Motor, and Seating for a Friend Enables This Bike to Offer More Fun Per Mile

Pedal Core Review 2024
Amidst the surge of new e-bikes hitting the scene, one could argue (and complain) that a lot of these new e-bikes look and ride similarly. But breaking the mold on this the new Pedal Core, a fat tire, moped-style e-bike hosting some unique features that really make this bike standout. Tailored to whet the appetite of adventurers and off-roaders, the Core hosts a unique suspension design that is inspired by the motorcycle world.

Riding on inverted, “upside down,” forks and dual coil shocks, the Core handles bumps, ditches, rocky and sandy trails better than many of the so-called “all-terrain” e-bike out there. Not only does this bike give you a smoother ride in the dirt but the suspension also handles carrying a passenger on its long seat, and cargo, on the optional rack that’s available.

Helping the Core break free from its seemingly indistinguishable brethren in the e-bike community, this bike’s suspension dominates the terrain with its powerful Bafang 750-watt motor, helping reaching speeds up to 32 mph, when set in Sport Mode. Providing the much-needed energy to go further, its 15 amp-hour (672 watt hour) battery can take you upwards of 50 miles on a single charge.

Whether you’re a new or experienced rider, if you’re looking for a way to break the mold of monotony of moped-style adventure e-bikes, then the Pedal Core is a bike you should take a longer look at. We’ll go over all the pertinent details here, including the results from the gauntlet that is Electric Bike Report’s testing regimen . After finishing reading this Pedal Core review, your mind should be pretty set on whether or not the it is a bike you’d want. So please read on.

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Magnum Metro 750 Review – 2024

The Adventure Bike for Urban Commutes and a Little Outback Exploration

Magnum Metro 750 Review 2024
The following review on the Magnum Metro 750 details how this adventure bike will likely attract riders who are city commuters and would like some capabilities for light, outback exploration. Built for commuting, touring and rougher roads beyond, it’s a mid-step frame for easy on-and-off sitting, for long rides and short ones. The upright design and lightweight feel makes it easy to adapt to and ride longer than expected.

The Bafang 750-watt motor gives ample loads of acceleration when you need it, and powering the motor is a large battery that gives longer range than many of the existing e-bikes out there. The medium/large size frame has an ergonomic relationship with the handlebar, steering head and saddle, making this an ideal size bike for riders who are 5’0” to 6’5”.

This bike comes with a host of good components to enable you to get many miles of enjoyment from this bike. They include suspension on the fork set, which allows you to adjust the compression and damping, the suspension seatpost.

The Metro 750 does a little of everything well, with a few areas of true highlight. See the full Magnum Metro 750 review below for more details.

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