Schwinn also offers a Mendocino cruiser, though this looks more vintage than beach styled. Speaking of steps, the step-thru frame comes in only one size but should fit most riders five feet and taller. We wisely dismounted on the steepest uphills and also walked one suicidal downhill. Other than my one crash in a deep washout, we survived the worst trail in the area and had a blast. Second, at $500 and with free shipping, these bikes are about half the price of every other similar brand.
Mid-drive motors, unlike hub motors, actually power the bike through the standard gears on a bicycle. E-bikes have become kent road bike the favorite transportation method of hunters these days. The reason is that e-bikes have a lot to offer as benefits.
For just a bit more at $1,799, the dual batteries, significantly higher power/speed, hydraulic disc brakes, and a pile of other features blow this Kent bike away. But Lectric’s model is also a folding fat tire e-bike and won’t fulfill the trail bike role that Kent’s offering here claims to satisfy. Walmart has long offered an interesting array of low-cost electric bicycles. Some of the bikes have even dipped down into ultra-budget territory with prices below $400.
Eight-year-olds don’t really need to commute anywhere, so a throttle seems unnecessary. But the pedal assist Kent Torpedo e-bike seems like exactly what a screen-enamored generation of kids need. A “motorbike” that is fun and exciting and tricks them into getting in some exercise sounds just fine by me. The motor is mounted in the rear wheel and adds 180W of power in full power mode. There are medium and low power modes that provide even softer assist.
In 1947, the father of the current President founded his own business, Philkam Cycle, which provided bicycles and components to retailers throughout the Eastern United States. In Kearny, New Jersey, it started making bicycles in 1979, but in 1990 it closed the plant and moved the production elsewhere. Constructing a factory in Clarendon County, South Carolina, it brought manufacturing back to the country that year. Head to the page below and fill out the warranty claim submission form. I contacted Kent’s customer service about a different issue and an actual human being answered the phone after just a couple of rings.
I realized we could skip the gym to train a couple times a week specifically for these longer rides or we could buy e-bikes. The motor is supplied by an adorable little 24V 5.2Ah battery with just 125 Wh of capacity. In low power mode, the battery is sufficient for 15 miles (25 km) of range. That isn’t a bad thing, as many riders (including myself) have been very happy with lower-cost mid-drive motors.
And at just $498, it’s easier for parents to afford than a typical adult e-bike. The Kent Torpedo is the first electric bicycle that I know of designed specifically for children. And it’s so much fun (even for me as a full-fledged adult) that it surely won’t be the last one. Once, the gears got caught, but a short spray of WD-40 got them moving again.
The medium power mode seems like a nice happy middle ground. Now before I start getting disgruntled comments, let me start by saying this isn’t a small motorcycle – it’s a pedal-assist kent electric bike e-bike. The Shimano drivetrain shifted flawlessly between its eight speeds, and the mechanical disc brakes on the front and rear worked capably in dry conditions.