I Found the Cheapest Folding Ebike on Amazon. Gotrax R1

Overview of the Gotrax R1

• The Gotrax R1 is a Class 2 e-bike.
• It can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.
• It has a half twist throttle on the right hand side.
• It offers five levels of pedal assist.
• The bike weighs 45 pounds and has a payload capacity of 265 pounds.
• Gotrax claims a range of 15.5 miles using the throttle only or up to 25 miles using pedal assist.
• It is priced at $599 on Amazon.

“The Gotrax R1 is a Class 2 e-bike that can reach speeds of 20 mph with its half twist throttle and five levels of pedal assist. It weighs 45 pounds and is priced at $599 on Amazon.”

Specifications of the Gotrax R1

• The Gotrax R1 has a 350 watt rear hub motor with a peak power output of 500 watts.
• It features a single drive transmission for simplicity.
• The bike uses a Jax super brake mechanical brake system with 160mm rotors.
• It is equipped with 20″ x 2.6″ punch-resistant Chow Yang tires.
• The battery is a 48V 7.8Ah with 374Wh capacity.
• The battery is UL certified and fits in the downtube of the bike.

“The Gotrax R1 has a 350 watt rear hub motor, a single drive transmission, Jax super brake mechanical brake system, and 20″ x 2.6″ punch-resistant Chow Yang tires. The battery is a 48V 7.8Ah with 374Wh capacity, and it is UL certified.”

Foldability and Battery Access

• The Gotrax R1 has a foldable design that only takes a few steps.
• To access the battery, simply fold up the bike, insert the key in the designated pin, and slide out the battery.
• The battery can then be charged without the need to fold the bike.
• The battery charger is 1.5 amps and charges the bike in 5.5 hours.

“The Gotrax R1 is easily foldable, and the battery can be accessed by inserting the key and sliding it out. The charger is 1.5 amps and charges the bike in 5.5 hours.”

Folding and Unfolding the Bike

• To fold the bike, pull up on the button to relax the stem and bring it down.
• Then, pull out the button and fold the bike backwards.
• To unfold the bike, lift it up, bring it around to the front, reconnect, and pull up the lever.

“Folding the Gotrax R1 involves pulling up on a button to relax the stem, folding it backwards, and then lifting it to unfold it. It is a simple and quick process.”

Features and Controls

• The Gotrax R1 comes with a palm rest on the left-hand grip and a hard rubber grip surface.
• The front brake lever is located on the left-hand side.
• The control panel displays speed, pedal assist level, and odometer reading.
• The M button on the control panel allows for trip tracking and accessing additional information.
• The plus and minus buttons adjust the pedal assist levels.
• The bike is equipped with a walk feature, headlight, tail light, and brake light.
• The throttle is located on the right-hand side.

“The Gotrax R1 features a palm rest on the left hand grip, a control panel, adjustable pedal assist levels, a walk feature, and various lights. The throttle is located on the right hand side.”

Performance and Speed Tests

• Without any power, the bike reached a speed of 9.9 mph.
• Pedal assist level 1 resulted in a comfortable speed of 9 mph.
• Pedal assist level 2 increased the speed to 11 mph.
• Pedal assist level 3 further increased the speed to 13 mph.
• Pedal assist level 4 allowed for a speed of 15 mph.
• Pedal assist level 5 reached a speed of 18.5 mph.
• The throttle test brought the bike up to 18 mph.

“During the speed tests, the Gotrax R1 reached speeds ranging from 9.9 mph without power to 18.5 mph with pedal assist level 5. The throttle test achieved a speed of 18 mph.”

Additional Features and Controls

• The bike is equipped with a speedometer that can be adjusted to match the display.
• The bike has a walk feature that allows for easy movement even when not pedaling.
• The bike has a headlight, tail light, and brake light for increased visibility.
• The palm grip on the right-hand side controls the half-twist throttle.
• The bike also comes with a bell and a rear brake.

“The Gotrax R1 has a speedometer that can be adjusted, a walk feature, lights, a throttle, a bell, and a rear brake.”

Bike Performance

• The bike has a maximum speed of 18 miles per hour.
• The throttle time test revealed that it takes off smoothly, but not aggressively.
• The battery starts to drain quickly, even after just five miles of riding.

“this bike Taps out at 18 miles an hour”

Pedal Assist Speed

• From a standstill, the bike can reach its top speed of 18-20 miles per hour in around 9 seconds when using pedal assist.

“and right there now we’re going to see how quick we can go from zero to top speed using pedal assist using throttle using all of it let’s go”

Size and Fit

• The bike is suitable for riders ranging from 5’2″ to 6’2″ in height.
• The seat post has adjustable lines, allowing for different height settings.
• The handlebars are not very wide, making the bike nimble and easy to maneuver.

“let’s take a look at this other set of lines here… that is the highest part right there”

Brake Test

• The bike took about 26 feet to come to a complete stop when braking from a speed of 20 miles per hour.
• The brakes have 160 millimeter rotors, which may contribute to their effectiveness.

“we are at 26 feet… well I thought it would actually stop a little bit quicker”

Off-Road Performance

• The bike handles off-road conditions reasonably well, with minimal rattling noises.
• The battery may rattle slightly over rough terrain, but this can be easily remedied with the addition of some felt material.

“it is time for a little off-road action… now I am hearing some noise from the battery rattling around a little bit”

Use Cases

• The bike is suitable for scenarios such as cruising around a campground or using it as a compact and lightweight option for recreational activities.
• It may also be a good choice for teenagers starting to use e-bikes.

“there’s like different applications that I keep picturing that this bike would be good for”

Hill Climb

• Despite having only a 350-watt motor and a single gear, the bike was able to climb a hill successfully.

“are we gonna make it up this thing… oh yes if so this is the first bike with a 350 watt motor that has made it up this hill”

Riding Experience and Mileage Update

• The bike provides some resistance when freewheeling downhill
• The bike has a display showing mileage, battery power, and tire size settings
• The recorded mileage is 11.4 miles with about 45% battery power remaining
• The battery power is estimated using the displayed battery level markings
• The rider suspects that the incorrect tire size settings affected the accuracy of the mileage tracking
• The rider adjusts the tire size settings to the correct value
• Due to limited battery power, the rider decides to explore closer areas rather than going to Lake Shore Drive

“The bike provides resistance when freewheeling downhill and the mileage tracking may have been affected by incorrect tire size settings.”

Battery Power and Return Journey

• The battery power is now at 15%
• Mileage recorded by different tracking apps shows a slight variation
• The rider plans to head back home due to rain clouds and low battery power
• The rider mentions the need for brake adjustment
• The rider is considering seeking assistance from a bike shop regarding the brake issue

“With 15% battery power left, the rider decides to head back home and mentions the need for brake adjustment.”

Testing Battery Power and Final Thoughts

• The rider tests the throttle at 18 miles per hour with 15% battery power
• The bike still provides throttle assistance even with low battery power
• The energy bar starts flashing, indicating a critically low battery
• The rider manages to keep a speed of 11 miles per hour using the remaining battery power
• The rider mentions concerns about rain since the bike’s IPX rating is unknown
• The rider acknowledges limitations regarding microphones’ resistance to rain
• The rider concludes the ride successfully just as it starts to rain

“Even with low battery power, the bike still provides throttle assistance.”