Xprit Shuttle Electric Bike Review, 2024
Adorning its modern styling with a splash, this e-bike has a nostalgic look of the past, with its dual shocks and moped design; but its technology is definitely in the present. Complementing the Shuttle’s looks are its performance: with its great starting power – thanks to its 750-watt motor – it offers other important amenities, such as the 19-amp hour battery, 20” x 4” all-terrain knobby tires, and Logan hydraulic brakes. This e-bike invites you to climb aboard and take it for a ride anywhere across the land.
Notable features on the Shuttle include: long seat for carrying a passenger (up to 264 lbs total, rider and passenger); bright LED headlight and taillight, turn signals and an electric horn to help to warn other drivers you’re coming through. Riding it around town, the Shuttle was easy to handle and wiggle around trail impediments. Whether it was darting around bike path pedestrians or passing slower bikes, this was one mobile little monster.
Unlike its dirty smog hog moped and trail bike counterparts, this clean running e-bike has the features to make it the new moped for the 21st century. When you buy the Xprit Shuttle you get a stylish set of wheels that safely scoots you through the city, as well as taking you on treks to the beach and outskirts beyond, and even a romp in the woods.
The EBR Team recently spent significant time on the Xprit Shuttle, testing its performance, handling, safety, reliability and functionality. This e-bike offers great features to anyone looking for a cargo/utility e-bike that they can cruise around town, carry groceries and light cargo, take camping, ride to beach bonfires, or just ride with friends and family. Continue reading to find out how this could be the e-bike for you.
- Powerful 750-watt motor gives good acceleration and top-end class 3 speed.
- Suspension forks & rear shocks great at handling weight & rough roads.
- Logan hydraulic brakes provide great braking.
- 19 Ah battery provided 50-mile range in PAS 1
- Fat tires give confident handling on a variety of road conditions..
- Trigger throttle provides good acceleration.
- Feels and handles like a lighter e-bike despite its nearly 100 lbs heft.
- Head light, tail light, turn signals and horn help it fit in on city streets.
- Taller riders might appreciate a taller seat option.
- We’d like to see a gearing change to make ghost pedaling less noticeable.
- Motor: Bafang 48V750W/C579-77-014/G9.5
- Controller: 48V/9FET 25A Sine Wave Controller
- Battery: 48V/19.2Ah, 921.6Wh, Samsung/LG Cell
- Throttle: Thumb Throttle
- Sensor: Cadence Sensor
- Charger: 48V/2Ah CE/UL Certified XLR
- Display: LCD Mid Placed W108/48V
- Headlight: 48V / 4W LED 300 Lumen
- Tail light: 48V LED
- Turn Signal: MZ-01/LED/48V1.5W, included
- Bike weight, with battery: 99 lbs. (19 Ah battery weighs 10 lbs)
- Battery weight: 10 lbs.
- Weight Capacity: 264 lbs.
- Seat height: 31 ⅛”
- Total Length: 69 ¾”
- Handlebar Height: 42 ⅞ “
- Rack height: 29 ⅛”
- Rack length: 10 ⅝”
- Wheelbase: 45 ½”
- Bottom bracket height: 11 ½”
- Seat tube angle: 65°
- Head tube angle: 67°
- Brake: Logan Hydraulic Disc Brake, 180mm rotor
- Shifter: Shimano 7-Speed ASLRS35R7ET
- Cassette: 7-Speed FW-207B/14-28T
- Chain: KMC Z7RB/126 sections
- Pedal: Wellgo 249DU/9/16/BK/DU
- Crank: PRO-552PP-3 3/32*52T*160MM
- Derailleur: Shimano 7-Speed ARDTY500D
- Fork: Hydraulic Lock-out Suspension P171-20/¢28.6*273
- Frame: 6061 Aluminum BC/20*4.0
- Handlebar: ¢31.8/H245/T5.0/W710/AL
- Stem: AS-263/31.8*28.6*40MM/AL
- Wheels: Aluminum Rim C579-77-002/20*4.0
- Tires: 20” x 4.0” Kenda all-terrain tires
- Saddle: 18” x 6.9“ x 6“
Xprit Shuttle Review: Bike Overview
The Shuttle even features a traffic-ready horn, but watch out when using it on the bike paths – I had a few people react as if I was riding a moped instead of an e-bike. Topping off its technological features are an easy-to-see LED display, mounted to the crossbar, that offers a USB port for charging your smartphone, and a durable cell phone holder mounted on the handlebar.
It’s a well-equipped e-bike for the urban commuter. Riders taller than around 5’5” might find the seat too low for comfortable continual pedaling. Fortunately, the throttle is available for these taller riders so they can travel 20 – 25 miles on this ebike, with minimal pedaling.
This e-bike certainly has a lot going for it, but I did find two things worth addressing for improvement: changing the rear cassette, and offering an optional seat that sits the rider 3 – 5 inches taller. More on that later – first, let’s look at the performance test results.
Xprit Shuttle Review: Motor Performance, Speed and Acceleration
Riding the Xprit Shuttle over 160 miles, we found that PAS 1 and PAS 2 are pretty close in power output. PAS 1 averaged 16. 8 mph, and PAS 2 averaged 18.3. If you plan to ride this with folks who are on Class 2 e-bikes, you will probably use PAS 2 most of the time. If you are riding with friends who are on regular bicycles, then plan on sticking to PAS 1.
Most of the time I rode this on the 20 mph-maximum bike trails, I never needed to go past PAS 3. You will probably only need PAS 4 and PAS 5 when you’re dealing with cars and trucks on city streets.
Using the Shuttle’s PAS 3 is where you start to feel the motor jump again, averaging 21.3 mph. Testing its off-road capability, PAS 3 was the most suitable setting for most of the ride. This setting provided suitable power to shoot me and the bike across the whoop-dee-doos and up and down the berms. Climbing short hills, I found PAS 4 or 5 were necessary to get up and over the top, while making sure to downshift the derailleur to 2nd or 3rd gear.
Riding on regular bike trails, I found the throttle output was adequate when I needed a quick surge to get past slower bikes and pedestrians, and bolt out of ruts and climb out of washes in the off- road test.
The top speed limiter could be controlled on the display. We set the limiter to 28 mph, in line with the maximum speed for a Class 3 e-bike. There’s an option to set the speed limiter higher, but that would make this an unclassified e-bike, which is not in the realm of our testing and review.
Compared to the other Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes I have tested, the Shuttle’s motor had globs of power to project me and the bike forward. There were times when I needed to be extra cautious about the PAS setting – when you’re used to PAS 5 taking you 20 mph, that extra 8 mph can get you into trouble if you don’t watch out!
All in all, the Xprit Shuttle’s motor has great power output and acceleration. If you are not used to riding a Class 3 e-bike then you need to prepare yourself for the power difference. Everyday there are incidents where riders who are new to Class 3 e-bikes go overboard on the throttle and PAS settings, and get into accidents. This e-bike is one step short of being classified as a regular motor vehicle, so use good judgment and get a feel for the acceleration and power of the motor before playing around at higher speeds.
Xprit Shuttle Review: Range Test & Battery Performance
The range test is used to determine the actual range where the battery provides sufficient power for pedal assistance. We use the same bike path for every e-bike we test so there is consistency. The course is mostly flat, with some occasional short inclines and downhill sections. The Xprit Shuttle didn’t perform as well as expected on the range test. The manufacturer’s claimed range for the minimum PAS 1 riding was 54 miles. But our tester Brendan, who is 5’10” and 150 lbs., only reached 50.02 miles before losing effective power to run the pedal assistance. Our result was 92.62% of the total distance claimed by the manufacturer.
The maximum PAS 5 test was performed by me. Given the fact that I am taller and heavier than Brendan (I am 6’0” and 190 lbs), we can expect a result that’s a little shorter than if he rode this test. The manufacturer’s claimed range max PAS 5 was 28 miles. I came closer to that than expected, logging in 24.31 miles before losing effective power assistance to the motor.
This leads us to consider the overall performance of the battery. When I took the Xprit Shuttle on the off-road test, and for general city street travel, PAS 3 was primarily used. This is because PAS 3 provided the maximum speed needed during a lot of the riding conditions. That gave us an average range or about 35 miles when using just PAS 1, 2 and 3. Keep in mind that this is testing as a Class 3 e-bike, with a maximum speed of 28 mph. If you set the PAS 5 to max at 20 mph, then you are going to get a longer range.
Real world riding confirmed that although the Shuttle’s battery is larger than most, it meets the motor’s needs in delivering power and range. It’s important to note that not all 750-watt motors are designed to operate the same way. This motor’s job is to accelerate quickly so the rider can merge into street traffic safely. Therefore, the battery provides ample power to accommodate both speed and range. Since most city commutes are less than 10 miles, we think this bike can go at least two to three days before needing a recharge.
Xprit Shuttle Review: Hill Test
The hill climb test is meant to test the e-bikes climbing ability under extreme conditions. The hill we use for all tests is a local steep known as “Hell Hole,” a 0.30 mile climb with grades of up to 12 percent. Not all e-bikes make it up this hill in our tests. We perform two tests on this hill climb: the throttle test and the maximum PAS test.
The throttle test involves using only the throttle to power the e-bike up the hill. There are several factors to consider when performing this test, including motor wattage, battery amperage, the bike’s weight, and tires. The Shuttle weighs 99 lbs, making it heavier than many e-bikes, but this bike made it to the top of Hell Hole on the throttle test.
For the pedal assist hill climb test we used PAS 5. The Shuttle again made it to the top, with a time of 72 seconds and an average speed of 15.1 mph.
Our conclusion is that the Xprit Shuttle deserves accolades for making it to the top of Hell Hole – not all e-bikes can do it. The motor’s power is best demonstrated at the low end of the gear range – when the bike only needs to climb short distances. The Shuttle is set up to tackle those kinds of hills. Hopefully, we will get more Xprit e-bikes to test, so we can analyze their gearing and performance in relation to their other models.
Xprit Shuttle Review: Safety, Brakes and the Brake Test
The Xprit Shuttle’s brake system is made by the Cleveland, Ohio based company Logan Clutch. This is the first time I’ve had a chance to test and evaluate this company’s brakes for e-bikes and I have to say that they work great! According to the manufacturer, the brakes for the Shuttle were designed and manufactured in the USA!
So, when it came time to test the Xprit Shuttle’s brakes, we were enthusiastic to see. The EBR Brake Test is the same standard test we have performed on scores of e-bikes before. The brake test involves pedaling the bike to a top speed of 20 mph, coasting for 10 feet and then hitting the brakes to stop the bike completely. We commit to braking, not as skilled racers or professional cyclists, but as regular average riders. The Shuttle finished in the middle of our group, at 21’9”, which was a good showing since a lot of the bikes we test are equipped with quality hydraulic systems.
Looking at the overall safety of this bike, through our barrage of tests and rides, the Logan brakes performed well and stopped the bike in ample time when comparing it to similar e-bikes we tested. I appreciated the Logan brakes when coasting downhill at 31 mph. Suddenly, I spotted an unbeknownst ditch that required me to act fast. Fortunately, the brakes slowed me quick enough for me to change direction and continue on my ride.
When it comes to riding on city streets, there will be times when an e-bike rider needs to make a sudden stop. The Xprit Shuttle appears to have an adequate braking system to do just that.
Xprit Shuttle Review: Ride Comfort, Handling and Cockpit
When rating the Xprit Shuttle’s riding comfort, you need to consider the rider’s height, or leg length. The 18-inch long ”banana style” seat was super comfy and large enough to invite a passenger (the powerful motor proved it could handle the extra weight). But at 31 ⅛“ above the ground, the saddle was too low for me to comfortably pedal. Each time my foot reached the top of the pedal stroke, my knee was higher than my hip. If you try lifting your knees an inch or two above your hips, back and forth, you’ll get an idea of how this becomes uncomfortable fairly quickly.
Standing at 6’, I tend to set my bike seat (saddle) at 35 ½“, giving my hips ample height to pedal and not cramp. Xprit can resolve this issue by offering an alternate seat for taller riders like me, or at least an adapter plate that allows the seat to be remounted a few inches higher. Since I’m a guy who wears a pant inseam of 32,” I am probably not part of the demographic this e-bike was designed for.
Looking at the promo pictures on the Shuttle’s web page, you will find that Xprit is targeting the shorter riders. This saddened me a bit because I really grew to appreciate this e-bike and its long seat, and would even consider buying one for myself if it had an option for a taller seat.
Evaluating the bike’s handling, I found the Shuttle to handle quite well. Much of this had to do with the combination of hydraulic coil front forks, dual shock rear suspension, and the meaty 20” x 4” tires. Whether riding on city streets, over speed bumps, or bouncing along gnarly desert whoop-dee-doos, the suspension and tires worked great in smoothening out the rough parts, and helping me maintain good control.
The overall cockpit design of the bike tendered an easy-to-see and operate LCD display. The buttons were safely accessible for making PAS setting changes when I needed to up the power output. The throttle switch simplified accelerations, and the brake levers were comfortably positioned for safe braking. Capping things off were the BMX-style handlebars and stem that really added to the overall experience of power, simplicity and control.
Xprit Shuttle Review: Summary / Where to Buy
Overall, the Xprit Shuttle had a lot going for it. The motor provided loads of acceleration when I needed it, as well as good top speeds when my riding conditions allowed it. The motor was solid in delivering the power when I needed it.
The brakes and suspension were another bright spot. Where the motor delivered the power to get me there, the brakes performed admirably in stopping me everytime I needed it. Meanwhile, the suspension soaked up the bumps, dips and other assorted road menagerie when I needed it to.
The low saddle and low gearing were the only issues I found with this bike. If you like this bike as much as I did, then you can probably find a bike shop that will resolve this for you. This e-bike might already be just right for you as is – especially if you want to use more throttle and less pedaling.
Overall, Xprit’s Shuttle was a fun moped-style e-bike to ride. You can expect to get a lot out of this bike; but don’t over-expect, especially in terms of what you can do with this bike. You should still use good judgment about your riding capabilities on the faster Class 3 e-bikes. Regardless, I think you will find this to be a fun bike to ride. For more information on prices and availability, please click the link below.
‘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 Xprit Shuttle.
David M says
The two key points that I took out of this review were the hill climb and braking. I live at the bottom of a 200 foot climb is just over a 1/4 mile of gravel road. Getting up the hill on a mountain bike was impossible due to tires spinning out. Fat tire bike and Fat tire e-bike solved it but not without a lot of effort. Coming home is a tale of staying in control of your speed in order to make the numerous turns and not end up dropping off into the woods. I a looking for a lower center of gravity than my Fat Tire e-bike affords. Your review put this bike on the short list.
Dennis Douglas says
I will be using my Xprit Shuttle ebike strickly on a private island with no traffic but my Dad and his bike and my ebike. Can you tell me if there is a way to turn up the speed on the control box. I went into the advanced setting and turned it up to 31 miles per hour but it still will only do 20 miles per hour using just the thumb speed lever. If I peddle on pas 5 and gear 7 I can get it up to 31 miles per hour but I don’t want to peddle all the time. How can I tune the controller to allow 31 miles per hour using just the thumb lever please.
Thank you,
Dennis Douglas