The electric bicycle market has grown a lot over the past few years. GenZe is stepping into this crowded market, hoping to make a difference with the right price. The $1,500 e101 GenZe feels like it should be closer to $2,500 to $3,000. The company is off to a good start.
GenZe proves quality rhymes with affordability
My first day spent with the GenZe e101 electric bicycle has been fun. Maybe a new object always feels good, but a quality new bicycle feels even better. The bottom line with GenZe’s entrance into the e-assist and electric bike world, the e101, is that it comes with quality and affordability.
The price of e-bikes has fallen down drastically over the past years. Gone are the days of the one-off conversions and high-end prototypes; e-bikes are almost mainstream. Still, no matter how far down the price has come, not too many are willing to spend $3,000 on a fairly good e-bike. Here steps in GenZe, a US company backed by Indian transportation giant Mahindra, which wants to make a noticeable entrance into this market.
GenZe e101
The GenZe e101 is the bicycle we will test ride for the next few weeks. The first test consists is how far can I go on battery power alone? A rough estimate of 10 miles should be right. Electricity alone on an e-bike is not that much fun I found out. I thought I would be tempted to only use the electric motor on the GenZe e101, but I quickly found myself wanting to pedal hard. That is a sign of a good e-bike, designed to assist you, not replace an electric scooter.
GenZe’s e101 has a fairly small 250 W electric motor, which helps keep its weight to a smart 46 Lbs. That is pretty light for a bike of that price tag. It also means you won’t always be tempted to use it all the time. It pushes hard, like any electric motor does, delivering 100% of its torque as soon as it spins. And this is where the e101 really shines. It isn’t over-powered by a beefy electric motor, tempting you to laziness. In this aspect, I find the bike not only pleasant to ride, but perfectly balanced.
Testing the e101 GenZe
The next few days will be spent taking the bike through its paces, in and out of the city with the e-assist on high, then low.
What I like so far are the following: Great quality build, right amount of power, detachable battery mounted in the central frame, electric motor on the back, Shimano dérailleur, disk brakes. What I don’t like? I haven’t found anything yet.
Top Speed: 16mph on throttle mode
Operating Modes: Throttle, pedal-assist, or analog
Battery: 36V, 8.7AH LI-ION
Brake System: Dual Disc Brakes
Derailleur: 7-speed Shimano
Dispay: LCD display with speed, distance, time, and diagnostics
Frame: Aluminum
Gear Shift: Shimano Thumb Shifter
Motor: 36V 250W Brushless Rear Hub Motor
Weight: 46lbs
Wheels: 26″ X 1.75″
