Electra  Townie Go! 7D Step-Thru Electric Bike

Five years ago I had bypass surgery. It took me 3 years to feel normal again. During that time I purchased a 750 Watt, moped style ebike. It was great, but really didn't give me a lot of exercise. On a trip to Lake Tahoe, my wife and I rented a Townie eBike. I love it so much I bought one when we got home at REI. That was about 7 months ago. Over 900 miles later, I would buy this bike all over again. I rode all winter which is NOT like me. I hate the cold. Because of the Townie torque sensor, the motor only works when you're applying pressure to the pedal. That's a good thing, because my legs are now in great shape. Stairs are easier to navigate! I highly recommend the Townie 7D!

I set this townie go up with a rack plus surfboard rack. I was able to attach my ortley bags with camping gear on the back. Best freedom ride I could ever imagine. As others have recommended, more miles possible if the assisted level is lower. I only used the highest level if I encountered a true hill. Best of all, I could surf to full exhaustion knowing that, once was back on the bike, I could make it up and over long hills back to my campsite.

For the price, this is a great starter e-bike. But I found the "pull" on this bike a little startling. The electric assist kicks in pretty suddenly, which is not the bike's fault - I hear it is normal for a rear hub motor, which is what this bike is equipped with. You won't find a mid drive motor for this price, but if smoothness is important to you, the Electra Townie 5i has a mid drive motor without this jutting pull sensation. That aside, this is one of the most fun looking bikes on the market and you won't find much for bright colors outside the Electra brand.

I bought this to replace my wife's nearly identical non-electric Electra Townie that she loves. The "flat foot" design gives her comfort and confidence. I bought it so she could keep up me on my REI CO-OP CTY e2.1 e-bike which, currently selling at $1799, is a GREAT deal while it lasts, but I digress. The wife loves the bike, an easy transition from her non-electric because the design is so similar. The integrated battery neatly disguises that it's an e-bike. LIKES: Style and color options, good range (a 12 miles ride consumed less than 1/4 of battery capacity), disc brakes, good power assist (wife usually uses only low or medium setting), quality construction DISLIKES: fenders and rack not included nor currently available as an accessory (I was able to make minor modifications of the rack off of her non-electric Townie to make it fit), disc brakes are not hydraulic (but still work well), integrated battery is not easily removed or replaced

This bike is from the original Beach Cruiser bike makers--Electra. High points for me are the strong torque, combination torque and cadence sensor, allowing a ""reward" in the form of more power as you pedal harder, and simplicity with quality components. It's light, easy to ride, and fun. Knowing REI is there when needed is a huge plus as well. They are the absolute best.

This is a good looking bike from a reputable brand (Electra is owned by Trek). I've ridden it a few times but it's mainly my partner's bike and we've now logged about 200 miles on it. Overall it does the job. The pedal assist is herky-jerky enough to be a problem at low speeds on tight turns, especially for a novice, but is smooth and quiet once you get going. The seating and pedal position is upright and comfortable as advertised, I'm told the seat is excellent. The fat downtube makes this bike a challenge to lock up with a U-Lock, and the shape of the rear triangle isn't compatible with many racks, so this isn't very practical as everyday transportation. The gearing is also very short, so unless you run out of battery, or have hills too steep for the motor on your route (unlikely), you'll never use anything but the top gear. In top gear on mostly flat with level 2 assist we've gone 30 miles and still had a bar or two left on the battery. The tires it comes with are paper thin and very wide so they collect flats like crazy. After a few roadside patches and a few more day-after flats I've replaced them with name brand puncture resistant tires like I have on my bike and haven't seen a flat since. I'd recommend if you're looking for a pretty but sturdy bike that can keep up with your hardcore cyclist friends, or you want a little extra help on the beach path. Just make sure you get better tires.

If you are looking for a fun bike to ride the paved trails or cruise around the neighborhoods, this is it. I purchase one a year ago for my spouse and she loved it so much I got one too! It makes a nice option to go for a nice ride after dinner or tackle trails. Hills are where the Townie Go! really shines allowing the extra push to make it to the top without wearing you out. The batteries are hidden so it really doesn't look like an electric bike and is a reasonable weight to lift on/off the carrier. We rarely need to go beyond the first/second levels of "boost" and the combination of gearing and power makes this an easy bike to ride. I debated on whether to go with the step-thru version, but after reading comments from other guys, this is definitely the way to go. The ease of getting on/off is key. The price point is reasonable for an entry level electric bike. If you are a serious trail rider or wanting to do rides of 30+ miles, then this may not be the right choice. But if you are looking for a fun bike to enjoy, give this a serious look.

If you are considering a low cost e-bike, this may be it! I love this bike. If you live where there are a lot of steeper hills, the battery doesn’t last as long (I did 13 miles last night, and forgot to put the power on low, so my bike died when I got home.) I had done 13 miles on low, and still had power left. I am very out of shape and wanted a bike to keep up with my kids. This bike is so fun and I am so glad I made the purchase!

Buy this eBike if you run on relatively flat surfaces and you want to get some exercise. I've had this ebike for six months. This is the first time I've actually ridden through the winter because I loved what this bicycle was doing for my health. I used to have a 750 watt ebike with a cadence sensor and a throttle. I really didn't get much exercise with that ebike because it really required no effort. As long as I turned the crank, the motor was on. I rented this same model Townie 7D ebike in Lake Tahoe and loved it. When I got home I bought one. Because it has a torque sensor, you have to put pressure on the pedals to get the motor to give you assistance. The harder you press on the pedal, the more motor you'll get. I love the upright seating position and the step through. I had quadruple bypass surgery a few years ago and I believe that purchasing this ebike is the best thing I've done for my health since that surgery. You're in no danger of overexerting yourself, but you can still get a decent workout. I can handle stairs, squatting down, etc. with much more ease than I could when I bought this ebike six months ago. I don't know how it does on hills because I really don't have any hills to worry about.

These bikes are totally amazing. And I can tell it’s going to be very very good for my health and my wife’s health at ages 70 and 69. They are light, versatile, powerful, and keep a charge for a long period of use. Well constructed, and everyone comments how nice they look also.