Propella 7S – a Better-Looking Budget Electric Bike

I love the Propella 7. I’ve ridden more powerful e-bikes. I’ve ridden faster, more versatile e-bikes – rides that cost three times as much and have five times the features. But if I prefer to drive on paved roads and just cruise around the neighborhood, the Propella 7S is my top choice.

It may lack the bells and whistles (literally) of more expensive cars, but the 7S feels like a bicycle rather than a moped. It does its one simple task—assisting when driving on paved roads—surprisingly well. It’s currently on sale for under $799 and looks stylish as hell.

Pros and cons of Propella 7s

pros

• Low price
• Amazing appearance
• Easy

Minuses

• Lack of versatility
• Low power will leave some people wanting more

Characteristics

• Classification: Class 1
• Engine: Bafang 250W, 5-speed, rear hub.
• Weight limit: 230 lbs.
• Assistant: 5 levels of pedaling assistance.
• Battery: removable 36V 7Ah (250Wh) Samsung
• Recharge time: 2.5 hours
• Claimed maximum range: 40 m.
• Display: LCD display: speedometer, odometer, trip meter, clock.
• Brakes: Shimano mechanical disc brakes.
• Transmission: Shimano Altus, 7 speeds.
• Tires: CST Xpedium 700 x 35c tires.

The Propella 7S is a surprisingly stylish electric bike.

Maybe I’m shallow, but when it comes to bikes, looks matter, and the 7S looks cool. The 7S’s 250W motor won’t win a tug of war with a more powerful ride, but it will definitely take home the trophy at the beauty pageant. Featuring a matte black aluminum frame with classic bike geometry, a white chainstay, eye-catching anodized blue rims on 28-inch skinny wheels, and matching blue accents on the handles and battery, the S7 is downright sexy —a rare adjective. applies to electric bicycles.

In terms of style, the only downside is the removable battery attached to the pole. It looks out of place and outdated. A frame-mounted battery might be too expensive for such an inexpensive ride, but I wish Propella would sell a case that would disguise it as a water bottle or something.

How does the 7S drive?

The whole appearance of the world means nothing if it doesn’t have that schwing . So how does the 7S drive? Overall better than I expected.

It’s a Class 1 e-bike, with no throttle control and a top speed of 18.5mph, so it won’t leave anyone in the dust, but unlike many faster e-bikes, the 7S is not a stick-on electric moped. -the ability of the pedals to comply with legislation; It’s very much a bike. It weighs only 37 pounds, light enough for most car bike racks, and can be ridden perfectly without the aid of pedals.

The frame geometry, riding position and wheel size will be familiar to fellow bikers, so riding it will be similar to riding a “regular” bike. It doesn’t handle like a Tour de France-ready whip or anything like that, but it’s plenty nimble and responsive on paved roads, and it doesn’t feel cheap despite the low price. Overall, it’s fun to jump curbs, lean into corners, and ride hands-free in the spirit of casual city cycling.

It’s not designed for gravel or mud, so there’s no suspension to absorb impacts, but it doesn’t have a harsh ride. The tires run at fairly low pressure and the frame is flexible enough that you don’t feel any teeth chattering or anything.

The pedal assist is solid, especially for such an inexpensive ride. It’s not as smooth as the more advanced cadence-sensing pedal assist, but it delivers the power you need when you need it without the unsettling feeling of too much torque off the line that some bikes give.

I’ve now driven the 7S over 50 miles on a variety of paved roads, at all levels of pedal assist, and have had no issues. Lower settings are great for accelerating with a lighter touch, while higher settings make the engine come alive as you pedal.

To test the 7S, I climbed a 1,200-foot hill on maximum assist, pedaling as little as possible. Even though this burned out most of the battery, it still got me there without shutting down.

Speaking of battery, the manufacturer says the S7 can travel up to 40 miles on a single charge. But how long this will last depends on so many other factors—hills, rider weight, speed, wind, etc.—that it’s impossible to say for sure. I can say that the 7S provides a reasonable charge level for most purposes. It won’t take you across the country, but it will take you across town. Recharging takes about 2.5 hours.

Controls and display

There’s nothing special about the 7S’s controls. There is a power switch, as well as up and down buttons to control the level of pedal assist. The LCD display is just as simple, showing how fast you’re going, how many miles you’ve driven, what level of pedal assist you’re using, and the time of day. In other words, it is as easy to use as possible.

Consistent with the battery gauges of many e-bikes (and as a byproduct of lithium battery performance in general), the reading on the 7S varies greatly depending on how much load the motor is under at the moment, so a near-empty gauge may appear full when going up a hill three-quarters of the way down as you go down. This is something you need to get used to.

Maintenance and repair

I haven’t had any mechanical problems while using this bike – the gears shift smoothly, the brakes work great, and there are no disturbing rattling sounds. But I haven’t owned it long enough to speak to its long-term reliability. Parts from manufacturers like Shimano and CST imply quality, and the fact that the parts on this old-school bike are stock means you can fix it yourself or take it to your local bike shop.

Bottom line

If you’re looking for a less expensive e-bike or a beginner looking to try one out, the Propella 7 should be at the top of your list to consider.