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"One of the best electric bikes around"

Ezee Sprint Review from A to B Aug/Sept 2004

The original full text of this review, including illustrations and graphics, is available from the A to B magazine website at www.atob.org.uk

The production Sprint is broadly the same as the prototype we tried back in June 2003, so we won't dwell too long on the detail. Beneath the skin there's a new power controller with larger and better cooled something-or-others. The headlight has changed too - it's bigger and altogether sexier looking. And in place of the bargain-basement trip computer there's now a decent Cateye model. Also standard is a centre stand, and bell.

The Sprint weighs 28kg and the light, rigid frame now comes in a swish dark grey rather as well as polished alloy, but the efficient motor, nickel-metal hydride battery and suspension remain unchanged. [2007 update: Sprint is now lighter and comes with a Lithium ion battery]

The 'hall-effect' brushless motor on the Sprint is strikingly efficient. Peak power consumption is only 500 watts, but most of those watts emerge as impressive pulling power, rather than heat. On the open road, with sustained gentle pedalling, the Sprint can easily hit 18mph, and cruise for mile after mile at 16mph, consuming rather less than 250 watts in the process. It has only three hub gears [7-speed model is now standard], but the ratios are perfect and the gear range is all you need with such a powerful motor.

Average speed is very impressive. On our hilly range-finding course, we averaged a blistering 16.1 mph, making the Sprint easily the fastest electric bike we've seen.

Ezee's neat little fan-cooled charger gives a full charge in just over four hours. Thanks to the impressive range, and replacement batteries at a relatively modest £150, the Sprint is the cheapest NiMH electric bike to run on the market.

You can ride without power (quite pleasant), or feed in just the number of watts you want when you want it. You can accelerate smartly out of steep side roads or on to busy roundabouts with full human power to the rear and full bike power to the front, or just troll along without pedalling if that takes your fancy. Freedom, control, safety and economy.

Conclusion

The Sprint’s price puts it streets ahead of most other bikes in the £800-£900 price bracket. Who in their right mind, for example, would choose a Neanderthal TGA Electrobike or an Easybike, over the Sprint? More serious competition comes from the top-of-the-range Powabyke Commuter at £845, but even here, the tables are just as one-sided - the Commuter has no front suspension, a heavy lead-acid battery, noisy old-tech motor, ten hour charge time, steel frame, no lights, no trip-computer, and so forth...

For less money, the Sprint is lighter, faster, more comfortable, better made and better equipped. In a desperate search for suitable metaphors, we'll turn to the plains of Africa . The Powabyke is a bit of a hippopotamus - big, heavy, ugly as sin, but good for a few miles once you get it up to a canter. The Sprint is more like the wildebeest - a little classier, undoubtedly better looking, and much faster, with impressive acceleration.

You'll know right away whether this blend of performance and efficiency is for you. In our book that makes it one of the best electric bikes around.

Specification

Ezee Sprint 7-speed version Weight Bicycle 23.5kg Battery 5.7kg Total 29.2kg (641b). Gears Nexus 3spd hub . Ratios 46" 62" 85" . Batteries NiMH . Capacity 324Wh . Max. Range 27.9 miles Full charge 4hrs . Fuel Consumption Pedelec 14.4Wh/mile.

Order securely online or call 0844 800 5979
Sprint electric bike £995