Propella 2.2 Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs
The stylish, lightweight, and economically priced Propella 2.2 has arrived for testing and review!
With its “fixie” performance design and remarkable 38 pound weight the 2.2 is an agile eBike for zipping around town.
The bike in this test is the 7 speed version that is priced at $1,199 and Propella offers a single speed version for $999.
In this first part of the review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications.
Part 2 of the Propella 2.2 review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this eBike.
Alright, let’s take a closer look at the Propella 2.2!
The Propella 2.2 has a very striking look with its deep anodized blue rims that is inline with the urban “fixie” bike style.
First of all we will take a closer look at the aluminum frame. The Propella 2.2 is offered in a 19″ frame size that Propella states will fit riders between 5-2″ and 6-4″ but it is ideally designed for riders in the 5′-4″ to 6′-2″ range.
The battery is attached to the downtube for centered and low weight distribution which is good for overall bike handling and balance.
Here is a closer look at the head tube with large aluminum welds connecting the top and down tubes to the head tube.
There is a gusset on the downtube for additional strength and you can see the internal cable routing that provides some cable protection and a cleaner look.
This is the seat tube with top tube and seat stay connections. There are rack attachment points on the seat stays.
Internal cable routing exits the downtube near the bottom bracket. You can also see the cadence sensor for the pedal assist system at the cranks.
The aluminum forks have a bladed profile for a nice touch of style.
The 36V 6.8ah lithium battery with Panasonic cells is mounted to the downtube of the frame and looks similar to a water bottle. The battery weighs 3.3 pounds.
The button on the top of the pack shows the charge level. There is also a charge level indicator on the handlebar display.
The charge port is on the left side of the battery and there is a rubber cover that protects the port.
The battery is removed by unlocking it with one of the supplied keys (2 supplied) and pulling it up and off the bike.
Here is a look at the battery frame mount. With the battery removed the bike weighs 35.1 pounds.
This is the battery removed from the bike with the charger plugged into the charge port on the left side of the battery. The battery can be charged on or off the bike and full charge time is 2.5 hours.
The charger is about the size of a laptop charger. The battery can be charged on or off the bike.
Now let’s take a closer look at the drive system of the Propella 2.2. A 46t chainring drives the white chain back to the 7 speed Shimano cogset.
The aluminum Neco pedals have a grippy platform with reflectors on both sides.
A Bafang 250 watt (350 watt peak power) geared rear hub motor provides pedal assist up to 18mph. The Propella 2.2 is a Class 1 eBike because it is pedal assist only (no throttle).
The Shimano 7 speed cogset has a 14 tooth to 28 tooth gear range.
A Shimano Altus rear derailleur shifts through the 7 speed Shimano cogset.
Shimano TX-805 mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors are used front and rear.
Here is a look at the rear Shimano TX-805 mechanical disc brake with the rotor attached to the Bafang hub motor.
Kenda 700c x 32c road tires really make the Propella 2.2 fly! These narrow road tires are all about efficiency with the low rolling resistance smooth tread pattern.
There is a reflective stripe on each side of the tires for help with being seen in low-light/dark conditions.
The Propella 2.2 has a performance style ride position that is somewhat stretched out with flat handlebars and a narrow saddle.
On the left side of the handlebar is the lock on grip, control pad, front brake lever, and LCD display.
The control pad up and down arrows adjust the pedal assist levels and other features.
Holding the up arrow for a few seconds cycles through information on the display like the average and max speeds.
Holding the down arrow for a few seconds activates the walk mode that moves the bike at 2 mph to help when walking the bike uphill.
The on/off button below the up/down arrows turns the bike on/off and cycles through info on the display like the trip distance and odometer.
The LCD display provides information on:
- Pedal assist level, there are 5
- Battery level
- Time
- Current speed
- Average speed
- Max speed
- Trip distance
- Odometer
The brake levers have a built in sensor that will stop the motor assist when either brake lever is engaged.
On the right side of the handlebar is the lock on grip, rear brake lever, and Shimano 7 speed shifter.
The saddle has a performance profile that matches the Propella 2.2 style very well.
Propella 2.2 Electric Bike Specifications
Frame: Aluminium frame
Fork: Aluminium fork
Motor: Bafang 250 watt (350 peak power) geared rear hub motor
Battery: 36V 6.8Ah (245 watt hour) lithium battery with Panasonic cells. The battery weighs 3.3 pounds. Charge time is 2.5 hours.
Assist Options: 5 pedal assist levels. Cadence sensor pedal assist.
Speed: Pedal assist (no throttle) up to 18 mph which makes this a Class 1 eBike
Display: LCD display with information on: pedal assist level, speed, average speed, max speed, odometer, trip distance, battery level, time.
Drivetrain: 7 Shimano with Altus rear derailleur. 46t chainring and 14t to 28t cogset. Single speed option available.
Brakeset: Shimano TX-805 mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors
Tires: Kenda 700c x 32c with reflective sidewalls
Sizes: 19″ frame
Accessories: Kickstand
Colors: Black
Weight: 38.4 pounds. 35.1 pounds with the battery removed.
Price: $1,199 USD for 7 speed. $999 for single speed.
Here is a link to the specifications page of the Propella 2.2 electric bike.
Now checkout part 2 of the Propella 2.2 review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts!
-Pete
Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you or not.
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[…] Make sure you check out part 1 of this review with large pictures and specifications to get a detailed look at this e-bike. […]
Joel says
Where do I buy this bike?
Pete says
Hi Joel, here is the link: https://www.propella.bike/bikes
Charles Sykes says
Are the tires tubeless,