Electra makes a wide variety of stylish cruisers and comfort bikes designed to get you around town, to the beach, or on any other type of leisurely ride. Their e-bike section consists of five model collections comprised of modern city and cruiser bicycles.
Electra was founded in 1993 but was later acquired by Trek in 2014. The management and the company’s philosophy have stayed the same, so Electra stays true to its primary idea of making bikes that are unique, fun, and built for everyone.
Electra Brand Overview
The company was founded in 1993 by Benno Bänziger, a Swiss native, who grew up in East Berlin, and Jeano Erforth of Germany, to fill what they saw was a gap in the industry of a comfortable, stylish cruiser. Both still run the California company.
Electra bikes for men, women, and kids are fashion accessories. They’ve even been used as props in magazine cover shoots and fashion spreads. The bikes are hip-looking. They have colorful, striking paint jobs on frames, fenders, and skirt guards, with saddles to match.
Electra wanted to put the fun back into riding, but they also designed these bikes for extreme comfort. Modeled after European-style cruisers as well as America’s 1940 and 1950 around-town bikes, they have lighter materials, modern components, and most important, something Electra calls flat-foot technology.
It’s a design that allows you to sit on the saddle when stopped with both feet flat on the ground. To do this, Electra lengthened the wheelbase and put the pedals and cranks slightly in front of the saddle.
Some models are single speed, some with derailleurs, and several have internal 3- or 8-speed hubs that are maintenance-free and let you shift while standing still.
Electra appeals to all ages. In the July 2008 People Magazine, Miley Cyrus raved, “This is my favorite bike of all history!” about her Electra, while AARP featured an Electra Townie in its May/June 2008 magazine.
What Can You Expect from Electra E-Bikes?
Included in the company’s wide range of casual bikes are five e-bike lines with Bosch or Hydrive rear hub or mid-drive motors and high-capacity batteries. At the moment, these are:
- Townie Go!
- Attitude Go!
- Cruiser Go!
- Townie Path Go!
- Vale Go!
These are all cruiser, city, and comfort bikes ideal for recreational cyclists and people who commute in the city. Most come with handy accessories, such as lights, racks, and fenders, making them practical for daily use.
What Electra doesn’t offer are bikes for sports enthusiasts. None are mountain bikes for rugged trails, and no one’s going to win a road race on an Electra or be the first up the hill in a group sprint. And that’s the point. These are bikes for everyone else.
With the rider’s weight slightly back from the pedals, it’s nearly impossible to get out of the saddle to charge a steep hill.
An Electra rider would lower the gear and climb leisurely, and have fun doing it.
Popular Electra’s Bike Models
Electra built its popularity on unique designs and solutions combined with quality components and Bosch electric drive units. Their e-bike selection includes classic city and comfort bikes intended for riders focused on utilitarianism, as well as authentic bikes for those who want to leave an impression wherever they go.
What type of rider are you?
Townie Go!
The Townie is Electra’s most popular model, by far. These are simple yet effective city bikes built around aluminum frames with Electra’s patented Flat Foot Technology.
In terms of prices, Townie Go! are mid-range bikes that cost between $1,500 and $2,500. The more expensive models have mid-drive motors, whereas the cheaper ones are powered by rear hub motors. These are quality Bosch and Hydrive units, meaning Electra does not cut corners.
The Townie series is all about practicality and comfort, so Electra equips most models with fenders, a rear rack, lights, kickstand, and other accessories.
Attitude Go!
The Attitude Go! series is intended for riders with an attitude, as you can guess from the name. These are authentic ‘head-turner’ e-bikes with moto-style and cruiser frames intended for leisure riding around town or to the beach. The prices are higher than what you can get the Townie Go! for, but you get more in terms of style and features.
The Attitude Go! e-bikes combine retro style and modern technology. Old-school-looking frames are equipped with Bosch Performance Line mid-drive motors with 20 or 28 mph of top speed, depending on the model.
They also feature attractive, retro accessories, such as fenders, dual-spring saddles, lights, integrated gear hubs, and more.
Cruiser Go!
Electra’s Cruiser Go! category consists of stylish cruiser bicycles with prices of around $3,000. All feature Bosch Performance Line mid-drive motors and elegant frames with curvy tubes and retro colors.
These are Class 1 e-bikes with 20 mph top speeds and 400Wh batteries that ensure a decent range. You can ride them to the beach, go on a bike path ride with your friends, commute, do errands, or just cruise around and explore.
Comfort is the synonym for these bikes, as they have wide tires, plush saddles, and upright geometries that put the rider in a relaxed riding position.
Townie Path Go!
Electra Townie Path Go! and Townie Go! e-bikes are similar, yet very different. Townie Path Go! is a collection of more premium models with mid-drive Bosch Performance Line motors, 500Wh batteries integrated into the downtube, and larger 27.5″ wheels.
Therefore, these bikes are ideal for commuters and those who are always on the go. They’re faster but no less comfortable than their cheaper cousins.
If you want to haul a lot of weight, take your kids to school, or get fast from point A to point B no matter the weather or the terrain, Townie Path Go! is the right choice.
Vale Go!
Vale Go! is one of the most advanced electric bike models Electra makes. It features a distinctive modern design, a mid-drive Bosch Performance Line motor, and a battery that’s fully integrated into the frame.
Vale Go! bikes roll on 27.5″ wheels and comfortably wide tires and sports numerous accessories that will make day-to-day rides a breeze. This line is ideal for commuters and urban dwellers who need an e-bike to use, abuse, and love.
People Also Asked For:
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Is Electra a good bike brand?
Yes, Electra is a pretty good bike brand. Its parent company is Trek Bikes, which is one of the biggest bicycle companies in the world for a good reason. When it comes to e-bikes, Electra mostly makes entry-level and mid-range models with quality Bosch electronics, aluminum frames, and Shimano mechanical components. These are bikes that both look good and last long, but don’t cost an arm and a leg.
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Are Electra bikes electric?
Some Electra bikes are electric, but not all of them. Electra makes both electric and traditional bicycles. We’ve already talked about the e-bikes Electra makes in this article and shared information about each category.
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Where are Electra bikes made?
Electra’s headquarters are in Vista, California. However, the bikes are made in Asia and then shipped worldwide.
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How much does an Electra Townie e-bike cost?
Electra Townie e-bikes cost between $1,500 and $2,500, depending on the model you get. More expensive models come with mid-drive Bosch motors and numerous accessories, whereas cheaper models come with rear hub motors and fewer accessories.
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How much do Electra e-bikes weigh?
Electra e-bikes usually weigh around 50 lbs, which is the average weight of an electric bike in the industry.
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What is Electra Flat Foot Technology?
Flat Foot Technology is Electra’s unique frame design that puts the saddle behind the pedals. That way, riders can get full leg extension without raising the saddle too high. This allows them to be closer to the ground, touch the ground with their feet while sitting on the saddle, and feel more confident and stable. This design also puts less strain on the knees and back, thus reducing the possibility of cycling-related pains and aches.
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What kind of bike is a Townie?
Electra Townie is a city/comfort bike perfect for leisure and recreational riding. The Townie Go! electric bike is not a performance bicycle, so it’s not the right choice for sports riders. It’s ideal for commuters and city folks who want to commute, run errands, take their kids to school, and go on fun rides with friends and family.
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