Its 24V 5.2Ah battery is adorably small yet provides up to 15 miles (25 km) of range if the kid keeps it in low power mode. The item is exaggerated for its rankings, exactly as Kent’s lawyers undoubtedly insisted. It works well as an electric bike because it provides enough help to boost confidence through an electric push, to assure kids that they can tackle anything. Its finest application is that it helps to get kids away from screens and back to the outdoors, thus witnessing more children growing up on the streets like in the past. Although you can connect the throttle to your current controller, it’s conceivable that in order for it to function, you will need to be pedaling.
Major bicycle manufacturer Kent is announcing today its first electric bicycle designed specifically for children. The Kent Torpedo packs an e-bike system onto a 20″ kids bike, charging up the ride with more distance and speed. The bike is built on a steel frame and sports 20″ wheels. My 7-year-old nephew struggles to touch the ground while my nearly 9-year-old nephew fits on the bike easily. The fact that younger kids can’t fit on it is probably a good thing.
On my test ride, I chose a 5-mile path at Smithgall Woods State Park that alternated between asphalt and gravel. On the gravelly bits, the e-bike performed well, kicking in enough power to keep the momentum going on the climbs and cutting off on the downhills. When I moved to Kennesaw, Georgia, to be near my CrossFit kent road bike gym, I noticed several well-known MTB trails in the area. No longer a teenager, I purchased a custom-made name-brand MTB from a local bike shop and rode the forks off it—literally. Having not ridden Kent’s new e-bike (yet, but hopefully that changes), it’s hard for me to judge it too hard on the spec sheet alone.
Kids should be a certain age before they are mature enough to handle the extra power of an e-bike, even a low-power one like this. It is most likely equipped with a speed-level PAS control, allowing each level to select a different wheel speed as opposed to a different power level. You may confirm this by hand-cranking the pedals while the bike is upside-down while testing the wheel kent bayside cruiser off the ground and checking the wheel speed. You will notice a noticeable shift in speed with each change in assist level if it is speed-level related. If the child uses the 24V 5.2Ah battery’s mode in low power, it can travel 15 miles (about 25 km) without charging. The thrill of driving swiftly in a mode that releases high power is undeniable, however, the battery life is shorter.
The bike comes about 75% pre-assembled, and I only needed to attach the front wheel and fender, handlebars and saddle. Things started off on the wrong foot when I realized some of the seat post assembly pieces were missing. (Luckily, my local bike co-op was able to hook me up with the needed parts!) But that was really the only major problem with assembly.