Overly technical outside sports activities are a little bit embarrassing. For instance, I like biking, however I don’t wish to misrepresent my curiosity or skills—I’ve no want to hobble round espresso retailers in clip-in footwear and full-body stretch jerseys. That makes me the right buyer for Precedence Bicycles, an organization that goals to make high-quality however not-so-technical, affordably priced bikes. (I additionally know I’m the right buyer as a result of, disclosure, I personal a Priority gravel bike myself.)
Like all of its bikes, Precedence’s electrical seashore cruiser has a retro attraction. It has some premium elements, like a low-maintenance Gates carbon belt drive with a strong rear hub motor, on a clear aluminum stand-up body. That is interesting, particularly because it comes with a wallet-friendly price ticket (for an ebike). Sadly, Precedence might have overshot the mark with the E-Coast. You’re simply not going to seek out many cruisers with Gates belt drives at this worth. However ought to you?
Determine It Out
The primary signal I had that each one won’t be nicely was when the bike arrived. Precedence is a direct-to-consumer firm, which implies that once you order a motorcycle, it should arrive boxed at your own home. The corporate does advocate having it assembled by knowledgeable; it engaged an organization to assemble it for me. (Listed below are the instructions, should you don’t wish to spend an extra $200 and might assemble it your self.)
Nevertheless, as soon as I acquired the bike, it did require troubleshooting. The entrance brake wanted adjusting, and the included proprietary entrance fender strikes each time I flip the entrance wheel, irrespective of what number of instances I tighten the screw holding it on. A number of weeks after receiving the bike, I nonetheless have to regulate the entrance brake or fender often. It’s the type of low-level annoyance the place you don’t wish to trouble going to a store.
Nonetheless, on one of many first lovely spring days of the yr, I fortunately threw on a jean jacket and hopped on the E-Coast to cruise across the park—sadly, it was buzzing nastily. I grouchily got here dwelling and stuck it, however it’s nonetheless a downer once you simply wish to run out the door within the solar.
My tester got here in a particularly fairly mint-green step-through body. You’re meant to trip it whereas sitting straight up. Precedence states that the minimal inseam on the step-through is 26 inches, which occurs to be my actual inseam. I may trip the bike fairly simply whereas pedaling, however I do have to face on my tiptoes to face on the bottom after I’m at a cease.
That’s not an issue with a Trek Electra cruiser bike, which has a proprietary flat-foot geometry—the way in which the seat and pedals are positioned on an Electra body, you get full extension whereas pedaling and nonetheless can place your ft flat on the bottom. I didn’t discover this to be uncomfortable on the E-Coast, however it’s a consideration once you’re pedaling round a 56-pound bike.
It has 26-inch wheels which can be enormously vast, and a proprietary 500-watt rear hub motor, with a 576-watt-hour removable battery that’s positioned underneath the rear rack. This can be a lot of weight to position on the again half of the bike, though I didn’t actually discover it except I used to be lifting the bike up onto a rack or up the steps. It’s price noting that neither the motor nor the battery has presently been UL licensed, which is the protection customary for ebike electrical techniques. Nevertheless, Precedence does say that it is on the horizon, in time to be compliant with New York’s new law.
Not a Commuter
{Photograph}: Precedence Bicycles
One of many E-Coast’s closest direct-to-consumer rivals might be the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser, a motorcycle with which it has lots in widespread. Just like the Cafe Cruiser, the E-Coast has a pleasant kickstand. It has a rear rack, even if you cannot carry passengers on it. And it’s a single-speed, which is definitely OK. As I discover with ebikes that don’t have a complicated pc, it’s typically not well worth the hassle of calibrating the proper help stage with the best stage of torque to really feel pure whereas pedaling. Simply use the throttle and be finished (it additionally has a throttle).
