The team over at Bike Exchange reviewed our City Pulse eBike - here's what they thought:
After initially being introduced to consumers as super commuters complete with all of the bells and whistles, it should come as little surprise that eBikes have begun to filter their way down to more affordable price points.
Being best known for its direct-to-consumer business model that packs an obscene amount of value into its budget-friendly bikes, Reid Cycles of Australia have introduced a new entry-level e-bike into its product line-up.
Complete with racks, fenders, lights and a hub driven e-bike motor, we set about putting the budget-priced Pulse e-bike to the test to see how it fares against its (much) more expensive competition.
Who’s it for?: The budget-conscious commuter looking for an affordable entry to the e-bike market.
What we liked: Impressive battery life, slick shifting drivetrain and the value for money.
The Pulse (AU$1,599.99) sits as the entry-level offering in Reid Cycles value-packed e-bike range. Much like it’s more expensive siblings, the Pulse makes use of a hydroformed aluminium frame. Sturdy in its construction, the frame doesn't have the smoothest welds going, but they are consistent and without questionable gaps. There are some surprisingly high-end features to be seen, such as the internal cable routing which adds a clean and polished aesthetic. A rigid steel fork features up front, well suited to the urban environments the bike is designed to traverse.
The geometry on our test-bike is similar to what you would find on an Urban bike. With a comfortable riding position and a long wheelbase, the bike offered up great stability at speed. With the bike's tall front, I was both upright enough to be comfortable, yet able to maneuverer around pedestrians and obstacles with ease.
Our size large test bike weighed in at 23.9 kilograms, a hefty number compared to a non-assisted bike, but not too bad when considering the number of additional extras fitted to the bike.