Electra Townie Go! & Path Go! Review

Even though electric bikes are more complex than regular bicycles, they should not stray away too much from the original idea of what this two-wheeled vehicle was imagined to be. A high-quality electric bike should be comfortable, durable, reliable, and have enough range to cover most of your regular rides.

In this review, I aim to uncover whether Electra Townie Go! and Townie Path Go! e-bikes meet these criteria.

These are entry-level to mid-range Class 1 comfort/cruiser e-bicycles built by Electra, a US-based company and a subsidiary of Trek. Though they come with high-quality electric and mechanical components (mainly Bosch and Shimano), they’re not ideal for everyone due to their design and original intent. That said, if you’re a commuter and a recreational rider, you will probably love them.

If you’re considering buying a Townie electric bike, you will benefit from reading this review by seeing exactly what you’re getting for your money.

What Kind of E-Bikes Are Electra Townie Go! & Townie Path Go!?

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Electra‘s Townie Go! and Townie Path Go! are two distinct lines of cruiser/comfort bikes. They have a lot in common, but they also come with some very noticeable differences.

First of all, let’s talk about the traits they share. Both lines are comprised of recreational bicycles intended for commuters and leisure riders. These are not fast bikes, so they’re not ideal for performance-oriented cyclists who want to dominate group rides. Though, with the help of a high pedal-assistance level, you can easily maintain a 15 mph average speed and reach a 20 mph maximum assisted speed. That’s not too shabby at all.

Both of these Townie electric bikes also implement Electra’s patented Flat Foot Technology for easier pedaling and a more stable feel.

In terms of pricing, Townie Go! and Townie Path Go! range from budget e-bikes to mid-range e-bikes, which determines what features and accessories you get. For example, Townie Go! 7D represents the bottom of the range ($1,500) and Townie Path Go! 10D sits at the top of the price range ($3,700).

Your budget will also determine whether or not you’ll get fenders, lights, an integrated battery, mid-drive or rear hub motor, and a few other bells and whistles.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a bike to use for commutes, run errands on, take your kids to school, go on family picnics, or enjoy a relaxing ride with your friends, these two Townie electric bikes will fit the picture just right.

Let’s find out exactly what you get with each of the available models, answer the most common questions, and clarify any other doubts.

But before that…

What is Electra’s Flat Foot Technology?

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Flat Foot Technology is a unique frame design solution developed by Electra. What they did is they moved the pedals forward relative to the saddle, relaxed the angle of the seat tube, and thus opened up the cockpit for a more comfortable position.

The main benefits of these design changes are:

• Upright riding position.
• Relaxed arm position and an improved view of the road.
• Ability to plant your feet flat on the ground while sitting on the saddle.
• Full and proper leg extension while pedaling.
• Less strain on the knees while pedaling hard, such as when riding uphill.

All Townie electric bikes feature this clever frame design solution. That’s what makes them so different from other similar bikes out there. They’re unprecedentedly comfortable, which is what matters the most when shopping for a cruiser/comfort bicycle.

Townie Go! Series Overview

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Townie Go! is the less expensive and more budget-oriented line of the two. These are simple but capable city electric bikes built around step-over or step-through frames.

They’re powered by either Bosch or Hydrive systems, both of which are similarly capable to take you on a spin around town, haul a lot of weight, and make short work of an intimidating hill.

Let’s get into a bit more detail about the value each of the available Townie electric bikes offers for the money. Are they worth it? You can decide for yourself.

Townie Go! 7D Step-Over & Step-Thru

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Electra Townie Go! 7D is the cheapest e-bike of the bunch. It costs just $1,500 and features a streamlined design with an emphasis on ease of use and practicality.

Available in step-over and step-through variations, the frame is made with lightweight aluminum and the fork is made with Hi-ten steel. Both frames come with Electra’s Flat Foot Technology that will improve your pedaling, comfort, and stability.

Townie Go! 7D is powered by a Hydrive 250W rear hub motor and a 309 Wh battery mounted on the rear rack. With a smart usage of the three available assistance levels, you can probably get around 50 miles from one charge. You can track your battery and assist levels on a handy LED control pad mounted on the handlebar.

The “7D” in the name of this Townie electric bike stands for a 7-speed derailleur, which is an entry-level Shimano Tourney in this case. Other features include dependable mechanical disc brakes and 26″ x 2.35″ balloon tires that will greatly improve your comfort. Note that the Step-Over model rolls on 27.5″ wheels and tires with the same width.

Speaking about comfort, you also get an ergonomic saddle with shock-absorbing elastomers, so you can enjoy long rides without a sore bum.

All in all, Townie Go! 7D ibn this review is a decent entry-level city e-bike with a lot of value for the money and a few points for future improvement. If you want an affordable, comfortable, upright ride with decent range and plenty of pedal-assistance, don’t hesitate to get it.

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Townie Go! 8D EQ Step-Over & Step-Thru

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Electra Townie Go! 8D EQ comes with a small upcharge in price but a big up-charge that you get from the battery and the motor.

In terms of frame design, it doesn’t differ from the less-expensive Townie Go! 7D. It sports the same aluminum frameset with a steel fork. Step-over and step-through versions are also available, both of which come with 26″ x 2.35″ balloon tires.

What differs is that this bike is equipped with a high-quality, mid-drive Bosch Active Line 250W motor and a Bosch 400Wh battery mounted on the down tube. It will give you up to 70 miles of range if you dose the four levels of assist the right way. Moreover, the LED control pad is replaced with a sophisticated Bosch Purion LCD screen.

This bike also features better hydraulic disc brakes, internal cable routing, and an 8-speed Shimano Tourney rear derailleur. A big plus is that it also comes with fenders, lights, and a rear rack.

So if you want more power, range, and gears, better electronics, better brakes, and you’re willing to pay, Townie Go! 8D EQ will deliver on all of that.

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Townie Go! 5i Step-Over & Step-Thru

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Electra Townie Go! 5i EQ is the premium model in this line. It shares all the good features of its less expensive cousins and improves on the poor ones.

Like the cheaper 8D EQ, this model also comes with a potent, mid-drive Bosch Active Line 250W motor and the same 400Wh battery pack. Of course, these are coupled with the respected Bosch Purion LCD display.

This Townie Electric bike’s main selling point is the Shimano Nexus 5-speed internal gear hub that’s completely sealed and requires no adjusting or maintenance. It has plenty of gear range to comfortably climb hills with the help of the motor.

Urban riders will also appreciate the power and the ease-of-use of the hydraulic disc brakes, as well as the Schwalbe Fat Frank 26″ x 2.35″ tires. These come with puncture protection which will make all the difference when navigating the minefields that city streets are.

Of course, being a premium model of this review, Townie Go! 5i EQ also sports fenders and lights, a kickstand, and an Abus frame lock, all of which will enhance your riding experience.

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Townie Path Go! Series Overview

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Townie Path Go! is Electra’s answer to the needs of riders who requested more style, better looks, improved power, and more sophisticated components and accessories.

The result is a good-looking city/comfort bike with a sleek design, powerful Bosch electronics, and smoothly operating Shimano components. Naturally, the price tag is also higher compared to the budget-oriented Townie Go! series.

If you have high expectations from an e-bike you’ll be using every day, these Townie e-bikes might just be the right choice.

Full Review: Electra Townie series review

Townie Path Go! 10D EQ Step-Over & Step-Thru

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Those who wish to ride faster, explore further, and conquer steeper hills should consider getting the Townie Path Go! 10D EQ Class 1 city e-bike.

This Townie e-bike features a more powerful Bosch Performance Line 500W mid-drive motor and a fully integrated Bosch 500Wh battery pack. You can barely see that the battery is there, but it will easily provide you with a range of up to 65 miles.

Instead of a traditional LED or an LCD controller, Townie Go! 10D supports a Bosch Smartphone Hub controller. It lets you connect your smartphone to the bike via Bluetooth, which lets you control the bike, charge your phone, get navigation, listen to music, track your rides, and a lot more.

The 10D in the name stands for a Shimano Deore 10-speed rear derailleur, which is a really nice feature. It’s a mid-range group offering crisp and precise shifting.

Townie 10D EQ also sports dependable Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, fenders, lights, ABUS frame lock, and so on. It rolls on Bontrager E6 hard-case lite 27.5″ x 2.4″ tires with puncture protection and reflective sidewalls, so you get comfort, convenience, and safety all at once.

To sum, this is a modern and trendy electric bike for city folks who put comfort and style above everything else but don’t feel like sacrificing power, range, speed, and reliability to get them.

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How Do Electra Townie Go! & Townie Path Go! Feel to Ride?

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Electra Townie Go! and Townie Path Go! are built to be enjoyed. If you’re a performance-oriented cyclist looking for an e-bike with a sporty feel, you should probably keep looking for your ideal e-bike. On the other hand, if you want comfort, style, and fun, scroll back up and make your pick.

No matter which Electra Townie Go! or Townie Path Go! model you get, you will enjoy a similar ride feel and experience. Of course, what will differ will be the accessories, power, and the range of the bikes.

With the battery charged and the pedal-assistance on, Electra Townie e-bikes feel fast, nimble, and responsive no matter the terrain. Each bike weighs around 50 lbs on average, which is reasonable for an e-bike of this class. They can also haul up to 300 lbs of rider weight, kids, or additional cargo mounted on the rear rack.

Thanks to the multi-speed drivetrains, you can ride these bikes with relative ease even with a low pedal-assist level or with a dead battery. If you take the battery pack off, you can ride any Townie e-bike like a regular bike and get a good workout in.

To sum this review, the words I feel need to be emphasized when discussing the ride feel of Townie Go! and Townie Path Go! bikes are Comfort, Style, Power, and Versatility. Enjoy it!

 

People Also Ask

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• Is the Electra Townie a good e-bike?

Yes, Electra Townie is a very good e-bike. It is not intended for professional or sports-oriented cyclists but for recreational cyclists and commuters. It packs quality electric components, Shimano derailleurs, disc brakes, and handy accessories for enjoyable everyday riding.

• Where are Electra Townie e-bikes made?

Electra Townie e-bikes are made in Asia and then shipped worldwide to cut down on production costs.

• Can you manually pedal an Electra Townie electric bike?

Yes, you can manually pedal an Electra Townie e-bike. The power from the motor only kicks in when you pedal, so you have to keep turning the pedals to get assistance. You can still ride the bike even when the battery is dead or the motor is off, but you’ll have additional weight from the electric components to haul around.

• How much does an Electra Townie e-bike cost?

Electra Townie e-bikes cost between $1,500 and $3,700, roughly. The prices change over time depending on which models are available.

• How much does an Electra Townie e-bike weigh?

Electra Townie e-bikes weigh around 50 lbs, which is the average weight for an e-bike of this type in the industry.

• What is Electra Flat Foot Technology?

Electra Flat Foot Technology is a unique frame design that places the pedals forward relative to the saddle, thus ensuring an upright riding position, full leg extension, more comfort, and better stability.

• What kind of bike is a Townie?

Electra Townie line is comprised of city/cruiser/comfort e-bikes intended for ordinary riders who value comfort, convenience, reliable performance, and a unique design that combines good looks with clever solutions.

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