Overly technical outside sports activities are a bit embarrassing. For instance, I like biking, however I don’t need to misrepresent my curiosity or talents—I’ve no need to hobble round espresso retailers in clip-in footwear and full-body stretch jerseys. That makes me the right buyer for Precedence Bicycles, an organization that goals to make high-quality however not-so-technical, affordably-priced bikes (I additionally know I’m the right buyer as a result of, disclosure, I personal a Precedence gravel bike myself).
Like all of its bikes, Precedence’s electrical seaside cruiser has a retro enchantment. It has some premium parts, like a low-maintenance Gates carbon belt drive with a robust rear hub motor, on a clear aluminum stand-up body. That is interesting, particularly because it comes with a wallet-friendly price ticket (for an ebike). Sadly, Precedence might have overshot the mark with the E-Coast. You’re simply not going to seek out many cruisers with Gates belt drives at this value. However ought to you?
Determine It Out
The primary signal that I had that each one won’t be nicely was when the bike arrived. Precedence is a direct-to-consumer firm, which implies that while you order a motorcycle, it’s going to arrive boxed at your home. The corporate does advocate having it assembled by an expert; it engaged an organization to assemble it for me (listed below are the directions, for those who don’t need to spend a further $200 and might assemble it your self).
Nonetheless, as soon as I acquired the bike, it did require troubleshooting. The entrance brake wanted adjusting, and the included proprietary entrance fender strikes every time I flip the entrance wheel, regardless of what number of instances I tighten the screw holding it on. A number of weeks after receiving the bike, I nonetheless have to regulate the entrance brake or fender sometimes. It’s the form of low-level annoyance the place you don’t need to hassle going to a store.
Nonetheless, on one of many first lovely spring days of the 12 months, I fortunately threw on a jean jacket and hopped on the E-Coast to cruise across the park—sadly, it was buzzing nastily. I grouchily got here house and glued it, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a downer while you simply need to run out the door within the solar.
My tester got here in an especially fairly mint-green step-through body. You’re meant to trip it whereas sitting straight up. Precedence states that the minimal inseam on the step-through is 26 inches, which occurs to be my actual inseam. I may trip the bike fairly simply whereas pedaling, however I do have to face on my tiptoes to face on the bottom after I’m at a cease.
That’s not an issue with a Trek Electra cruiser bike, which has a proprietary flatfoot geometry—the best way the seat and pedals are positioned on an Electra body, you get full extension whereas pedaling and nonetheless can place your ft flat on the bottom. I didn’t discover this to be uncomfortable on the E-Coast, nevertheless it’s a consideration while you’re pedaling round a 56-pound bike.
It has 26-inch wheels which are enormously huge, and a proprietary 500-watt rear hub motor, with a 576-Watthour removable battery that’s positioned below the rear rack. This can be a lot of weight to position on the again half of the bike, though to be truthful I didn’t actually discover until I used to be lifting the bike up onto a rack or up the steps. It’s price noting right here that neither the motor nor battery, has presently been UL licensed, which is the protection normal for ebike electrical techniques. Nonetheless, Precedence does notice that it is on the horizon, in time to be compliant with New York’s new regulation.
Not a Commuter
{Photograph}: Precedence Bicycles
One of many E-Coast’s closest direct-to-consumer rivals might be the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser, a motorcycle with which it has so much in widespread. Just like the Cafe Cruiser, the E-Coast has a pleasant kickstand. It has a rear rack, even if you cannot carry passengers on it. And it’s a single-speed, which is definitely okay. As I discover with ebikes that don’t have a classy pc, it’s typically not definitely worth the bother of calibrating the right help degree with the best degree of torque to really feel pure whereas pedaling. Simply use the throttle and be executed (it additionally has a throttle).