Panasonic takes new approach to US e-bike market with Kent

At one point, I smelled burning plastic when it hit me that the smell came from the motor, which was burning hot from overuse. If you’ve ever had a job then you know that it can really cut into your day. I was still very into mountain biking so I got myself some lights and I’d ride the trails at night. Yeah, there’s animals but you know they are mostly more scared of you than you are of them and riding a trail by the light of a full moon is pretty much a magical experience. Now I ride mostly for recreation/activity (health), and when possible I commute. With a price of $1,498, Kent’s mid-drive e-bike certainly isn’t competing with the several thousand dollar models that use German mid-drive motors, and so it likely opts for a Chinese motor.

The battery’s on button isn’t in a highly visible place but is slightly raised so you can find it by touch. There is an old 8-mile Championship Course nearby that was abandoned several years ago. Reviews claim this trail is the most wild and raw ride in the area due to extremely steep ascents and descents, boggy mud, sharp switchbacks, and dangerous washouts. We wisely dismounted on the steepest uphills and also walked one suicidal downhill.

There are medium and low power modes that provide even softer assist. An LED battery meter is mounted on the handlebars that also houses the power mode selector. The motor doesn’t add any assist unless the rider is pedaling, and the assist cuts out immediately when pedaling stops. The brake levers that control a pair of V-brakes also have sensors to cut motor power any time the brakes are pulled. The motor is supplied by an adorable little 24V 5.2Ah battery with just 125 Who of capacity.

And the mechanical disc brakes are likely plenty for a 250W bike that isn’t going to get up to 20 mph (32 km/h) very quickly. Mid-drive motors are one of the two most common electric bike drivetrains, with the other being hub motors. Most low-cost electric bicycles use hub motors – or a motor housed in the center of a wheel – simply because they are cheap and easy.

Besides my one crash in a deep washout, we survived the worst trail in the area and had a blast. On my second test ride, a short 4-mile singletrack trail my wife and I ride each week, I popped both the front and rear tire tubes, probably due to my weight stressing the tubes. Popping a tube wouldn’t be so bad, except I had to walk the bike the remainder of the trail. We ask that you return your bike to the same place it was purchased. If you purchased on our website, we can accept the return.

If bought at an outside retailer, be sure to have your receipt. If bought on our website, please have your order number on hand. Your bike frame & fork are protected under our Lifetime Warranty policy. Since I’d gotten this bike for so little I wanted to keep that frugal trend going and see how little I could spend.

This is a purely recreational bike for parents to keep up with their sugar-fueled kids on neighborhood rides or for couples getting a little exercise on their local rail trails. If that’s what you’re looking for, the Kent Electric Cruiser will make both you and your wallet happy. The 10.4-amp hour battery promises around 1 hour 20 minutes of run time, or around 25 miles, using the electric assist at varying levels over the course of the ride. At this price point, you’re going to have to deal with some compromises. I wish the bike came standard with thru-axles or quick-release skewers for the wheels.

The Schwinn World Sport was a not fancy but decent sport touring bike of it’s day. The lugged frame was made in Taiwan for Schwinn and the main triangle is 4130 ChromeMoly tubing. The internet help me decode the bike’s serial number and told me that it was made in 1984. The dealer sticker told me that the bike had originally been sold by Stewart’s Wheel Goods, just over the bridge in Duluth. And I was running out of time, the moon was starting to rise.

I think that’s a really important piece,” Sigety said. We hired the bikes for a company away day and I have to say, it was a fantastic experience. The service from Marcus was brilliant, gave us all a very detailed but efficient training session kent electric bike and off we went. All of the bikes worked very well, no technical problems and it was the best way to explore the countryside. Would highly recommend hiring these bikes if you’re planning for something to do whilst in the Biddenden.

Panasonic intends to announce partnerships with other U.S. and European brands in the coming months. Users who answer the entirety of  SPIN’s safety quiz correctly can also receive a $5 credit, as well as the chance to order a free helmet. SPIN will be hosting tabling events and safety events where students can earn riding credit and helmets. All eBike and eScooter users need to follow the rules of the road.