Hidden Powers

Cycling expert Richard Peace looks at the best of the latest breed of electric bikes in the January 2008 edition of Condé Nast Traveller magazine

'Once upon a time, electric bikes had a rather Heath Robinson appearance, with heavy batteries and large motors that looked like an ill-conceived afterthought. Now, only those in the know will be able to tell the difference between the best of today's electric bikes and their non-electric cousins.

Concealed Lithium batteries pack more energy into less weight and motors have become more powerful and smaller - barely noticeable in many case. Best of all you can get on and power away without any of the red tape that goes with other motorised vehicles. Here is my cream of the current crop'

'EZEE FORZA eZee has emerged as the market leader in quality electric bikes by producing a large range from high-end sports models to more practical town bikes, all with good performance. Along with eZee's Torq, the Forza is the fastest and best performing bike in mainstream production. Lightweight Lithium batteries give it a range of 20 to 30 miles. With suspenion forks, puncture resistant tyres and disc/hydraulic brakes, this is an all-surface bike that's great for everything from commuting to touring. You have the option of disconnecting the limiter and speeds of 20mph plus are possible (though 15mph is the UK legal road limit). The motor isn't the quietest but otherwise it's hard to fault.'

Forza F-series electric bike review
Fully specced town and country bike
A review of the Forza from Cycling Plus magazine October 2007.

The eZee Torq was my Pick of the Year for 2006 and the Forza resembles a more compact and more trail-capable version of this Lithium ion powered machine from established E-bike manufacturers Ezee.

What's the ride like? The smooth and very effective throttle power starts slowly from a standing start but after a couple of seconds you're soon speeding up gentle gradients at 13mph with virtually no pedalling, making it ideal for long, sustained climbs and making light work of nagging headwinds.

Add a touch of pedal power via the 300 per cent Shimano Nexave gears and you have a bike that will tackle one in five gradients with ease. For those who prefer to use independent throttle power this is the only one where that is feasible of the bikes reviewed here, in effect, you can pedal as much or as little as you want. If you're after less pedalling, the eZee Forza has the most powerful motor on test here.

Richard Peace, Cycling Plus October 2007