Electric Bike Company, Model E Review, 2024

“How far will this bike take me using the battery?” That is one of the most common questions we get here at EBR. Battery range is one of the key features that either encourages or discourages a would-be buyer. Our range test helps ease bike shoppers’ worries about an e-bike’s range because we base them on real world riding conditions.

The Model comes standard with a 12 Ah battery. So our test results reflect what this battery can do. As you can see in the chart above, both test results came pretty close to what the manufacturer claimed the range would be.

PAS 1 was good for slow riding on the flat paths. Negating our use of PAS 1 for the range test were the many hills and moguls on our course here in Southern Utah. That meant we had to use PAS 2 for riding with minimum pedal assist. Our PAS 2 yielded a distance of 45.92 miles, and averaged 10.9 mph.

Our maximum pedal assist test, using PAS 5, produced a distance of 21.26 miles. Keep in mind that your results might differ from ours. Factors such as rider weight, road conditions, elevation, wind, weather, and even time of day can all affect the results. Your results will probably come pretty close to ours, so you’ll know what to expect.

EBC uses Samsung batteries which are certified and internationally approved, and includes a 2-year warranty (except for cases of water damage). Throughout this review I’ve mentioned how the team at EBC can customize your Model E anyway you like. Well, that involves the batteries, too. This starts with the primary battery, which you can upgrade and get a 14Ah battery for a little more range. If you add the front basket, there’s room for two more 9 Ah batteries, meaning you could have as much as 30Ah of battery power. That would significantly increase your range to at least 115 miles, based on our calculation using our rider and test course.

All Model E bikes come with EBC’s SuperCharger, which will completely charge the base 12 AH battery in 2 to 3 hours! That’s quicker than most other e-bike battery chargers we’ve seen.

Regardless of what kind of distance you’re planning to ride on a consistent basis, the Samsung battery on the Model E we tested worked well and delivered an acceptable range on both our range test rides.

“How well will this e-bike climb hills?” the second-most common question we get. That is why we run every e-bike we review through the hill climb test. This test doesn’t make or break an e-bike in how we view it. Every bike is built to meet different needs, and every rider has his or her own unique expectations from the e-bike they buy. The person who buys the Model E is likely not planning to do a ton of strenuous hill climbing.

As you can see from the chart above, the Model E can get you up some steep hills either via the throttle or PAS. The throttle is slow and steady, but it will get you most anywhere. A little pedaling goes a long way, and significantly improves thing when you add a little leg-power to the ride.

For sure, the Model E would have climbed the hill quicker if it had more than one gear. Gearing is another feature EBC can customize and add to your new Model E, for a few dollars more. If hill climbing is on your itinerary, then having EBC add the Shimano 7-speed would be an option worth pursuing. But if you’re riding mostly on the flats, then you probably don’t need it and will get by just fine on a single-speed experience.

The Model E comes stock with Bengal brakes, featuring dual piston calipers, and 180mm alloy rotors. Optional are the Tektro Dorado brakes, with quad piston calipers. This is what came on our bike and you can get those installed on your Model E. The 24-feet average stopping distance from our test was okay compared to other e-bikes in general. The average is slightly shorter around 22-feet.

Cruising on an e-bike usually involves riding at a slower pace. The upright posture, mustache handlebar, and laid back ergonomics on the Model E encourage the rider to ride at a more leisurely pace. When I rode this bike on the bike path, which was loaded with kids on spring break, my average speed was around 15 mph and the brakes worked great for me.

The Fat Frank tires superbly handled the bumps and dips I rode over. The rigid forks rode firmly and with the tires absorbing the bumps, I didn’t miss not having suspension forks on this bike. Suspension is another option EBC can customize for you, adding a Zoom hydraulic suspension fork, with 80mm of travel, 135mm hub width, and 9mm quick release.

One last note are the large brake lights – bigger than other lights we’ve seen. That really helps warn other riders who are behind you. And the headlight is larger than most we’ve seen, too, which is comforting to know if you end up riding home in the dark.

For a rigid frame bike I could really feel its durability on the road. The 26″ x 2.35″ Schwalbe Fat Frank e-cruiser tires handled great and I always felt in control. Yesterday, I rode this Model E 15 miles, facing wind gusts of up to 50 mph. There were a few times when I felt like the wind was about to blow me off the bike, but the bike stuck to the road and didn’t budge. I felt like the bike said to me, “I’ve got this.” When riding other, lighter bikes there were times when that same notorious local wind was blowing the bike off the road, too. That says a lot about how well the Model E safely stuck to the road and kept me safe!!

The 26 inch, double walled, rims make a difference, also. Combined with the stainless steel 13 gauge spokes, these rims can handle 420 lbs of rider and cargo, which is 70-100 lbs more than most e-bikes.

I’m not a fan of the mustache style handlebar. A remnant from a by-gone era, when bike frames were longer, these bars look really cool but you give up some handling ability with them, and they’re not comfortable for riders with wrist issues. I’m also not a fan of the leather grips. They may look nice but they are slippery, especially when your hands perspire. I recommend switching out for the rubber grips and getting a safer ride.

The color LCD display has a USB port for charging your smartphone. When you first turn on the display it will flash a safety advisory message that you’ll need to accept. You will also need to actually switch on the PAS after your turn on the display. I could see people getting a little annoyed by that, but I also understand the safety concern EBC has for their riders and like the approach here. The color display was easy to read under bright sunlight. I also liked the thermometer, I haven’t seen that on any other display units.

If you’re looking for any sort of cruiser electric bike, then the Electric Bike Company’s Model E makes a good choice, based on quality, safety, customization and price. EBC makes building electric cruiser bikes their only business. Their specialization is indicative to how good they are in the cruiser e-bike industry. Each bike is handcrafted and uses top of the line materials to avoid rust, wear and tear. Don’t believe it? Check their warranties.

I think they fulfilled their goal of making this the e-bike for everyone. I am 6-feet tall, and weigh 195 lbs, and I fit into this bike very well. After adjusting only the seat post and handlebar I was out on the road and having a fun time riding this bike. Cruising is a different style of riding, and this bike worked great at introducing me to this laid back approach.

Even though our test bike’s frame is rigid, the Fat Frank tires did a marvelous job cushioning me from the speed bumps and dips I hit. When riding headlong into high winds, this bike didn’t get fazed and just kept plowing along. I have a hard time finding bike seats that are comfortable for my butt. The standard seat on the Model E was super comfy for me, which is super important when you’re cruising.

And lastly, the team at Electric Bike Company offered great customer service. They didn’t know who I was when I called and got on their chat room. That gave me a really good impression of how they treat all of their customers. When you’re buying an electric bike, you’re going to have questions and, maybe, some issues. My experience made me comfortable recommending them to other would-be customers.

So all in all, the Model E is a great choice and one I recommend. Click the price button above and just see all the customization available at your finger tips, or look at the top sellers to see the most popular ways people are choosing to ride a model E.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Electric Bike Company Model E.