Achieving a good ride quality is perhaps the biggest challenge of building an Ebike under $1000. As discussed, designers only have so much capital, and certain components are bound to be on the more economical end of the spectrum. This isn’t necessarily a negative, but it does require an adjustment of expectations.
Let’s start with the good: The F2 is generally comfortable, and the adjustment is solid. At 6’3, I am right at the top of the stated size range for this bike, and I found it to be intuitive and ergonomic. The seatpost and stem have enough scope to accommodate riders of many sizes, and the upright riding position is natural as well. The bike has surprisingly plush-feeling touch points; the grips felt more premium than I was expecting.
Additionally, the bike is genuinely practical. It folds up to a reasonable size – not small enough to fit under a desk, but portable enough to fit well in the trunk of a car or SUV. The F2 weighs in at 60.7 lbs, so it’s not a featherweight, but also no heavier than what we typically see in this category. The fold hinges have a clasp that locks and unlocks with ease, and the frame is sturdy while in riding position.
While riding, the bike has a nimble and responsive feel to it. There’s a sense of certitude in the corners, and the F2 is fun! Its handling is approachable, but also sharp and capable. The dampening is decent as well – I noticed rough roads, but my wrists didn’t take the beating they sometimes do on other bikes.
At this point, you may be thinking our initial question has been answered – So far, the F2 has passed with good marks, and seems to be a worthy product. While I’d say that’s still largely true, there are a few quirks that we’d like to address.
While riding on bumpy surfaces, we noticed a loud clanking sound coming from the downtube. After investigation, we discovered the battery sits loose in its housing, resulting in rattling on rough roads. This isn’t so much dangerous as it is annoying. However, we’ve also been testing the GoTrax Efold and F3 recently, which don’t have the same issue. It’s possible this hiccup is specific to our test bike, but it’s still worth mentioning.
We also had an issue with the suspension fork, which didn’t seem to be rebounding properly. Frankly, the fatter tires still provide a comfortable ride, so this didn’t feel like a performance dealbreaker, but we did still notice it. The F3 that we’ve been testing has the exact same fork, and it seemed to function properly, so this is likely a maintenance or manufacturing issue.
Still, these are relatively minor complaints, and they are possibly unique to our test example. Additionally, GoTrax offers a 2 year warranty, which is impressive for the money. While we can’t speak to their customer service, they have been offering various electric transportation options for almost a decade; we bet they’ll still be in business for the foreseeable future to back their warranty, which is not always the case for brands selling at this level. The bike is also UL 2849 certified. This essentially means the battery and motor systems meet national safety standards. Both the certification and warranty are confidence-inspiring, and again, impressive for the price point.
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#GoTrax #Review #Folding #EBike #Proves #Budget #Good
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