HittRoad is certainly one of a number of low-cost electrical bicycles at the moment racking up gross sales on Amazon. The benefit of these $600-$700 e-bikes is that they assist carry the enjoyable and health points of electrical bikes to prospects who can’t afford fashions costing a number of occasions these costs. But conserving the universe in stability is the unhealthy facet, which is that the bikes’ high quality normally suffers at that value level.
So I took HittRoad’s Safari mountain bike-ish e-bike to my native trails to offer it a check on the only monitor. Here’s the way it did.
Let’s be trustworthy, for $760 (or $609 when clipping the on-page Amazon coupon), the HittRoad isn’t going to check to a higher-dollar electrical bike.
But odd title apart, it really has some respectable specs for the value, not less than in case your intention is to make use of it as a leisure e-bike.
This after all shouldn’t be going to deal with jumps or the forces exerted on a typical downhill mountain bike course. This is for leisurely rides in your native nature trails or parks. Think seashore path, not black diamond (or black path, because the case could also be in downhill driving).
But for those who maintain in its aspect, as I did, I believe you’ll discover that the bike can really carry out properly contemplating its modest value level. Check out my testing within the brief video under, then maintain studying for the specs and journey expertise.
HittRoad Safari e-bike video assessment
HittRoad Safari e-bike tech specs
- Motor: 350W rear hub motor
- Top pace: 32 km/h (20 mph)
- Range: 32-54 km (20-40 mi)
- Battery: 36V 10.4Ah (375 Wh)
- Frame: Aluminum
- Tires: 26″ x 1.95″
- Suspension: Front spring fork
- Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes
- Extras: LED show with speedometer, battery gauge, PAS degree indicator, throttle/pedal help operation, kickstand, included plastic fenders, 21 gears
Built for (mild) trails
The HittRoad Safari is a kind of electrical “mountain bikes” that’s barely in mountain bike territory. Yes, it’s obtained the fundamental geometry and barely knobby tires, however this is extra of a dual-purpose hybrid bike. Most individuals who get it is going to spend extra time within the bike lane than on the paths. It even comes with commuter-ready fenders (although the entrance fender was so low cost and floppy that I didn’t even trouble to put in it).
But any bike can journey pavement. I wished to see what this one may do within the grime.
And regardless of the low value, I used to be fairly optimistic. The tires aren’t fancy however had positive grip for mild trails. The suspension fork didn’t really feel like I may break it over my knee (a convincing endorsement, I do know – however that’s not at all times the case).
The disc brakes aren’t branded, however they appear to work simply positive. And you even have 21 speeds, which is round 14 greater than I really feel is critical, however I assume these in hilly areas would possibly recognize the granular gear selection.
![HittRoad electric bike review: I took this ultra-affordable e-bike off-roading hittroad safari](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/hittroad-electric-bike-2.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1000)
I took the bike to my native parks and single monitor to see what it may do. And whereas the acceleration off the road wasn’t peppy with solely 500W of peak energy from the 50 Nm Bafang motor, it was sufficient to really feel like I used to be getting a very good enhance. It’s no rocket, however it does the job.
Where the bike stunned me was how nimble it was on single monitor. It wasn’t fairly as responsive as higher mountain bikes, however rattling if it didn’t maintain its personal. I may wiggle by way of the serpentines and maintain a half respectable line on the HittRoad Safari to a greater diploma than I anticipated.
Now don’t get carried away right here. It wasn’t excellent. The easy spring suspension leaves lots to be desired, however for comparatively flat trails it was simply positive. Gravel roads had been additionally fairly snug, with the 1.95″ tires and the spring fork working collectively to do what my inflexible gravel bikes can’t – take in the tough highway and gravel shock.
The vary is definitely modest as properly, not less than after I’m serving to pedal. I’m not saying you’re going to get the 40 miles that the corporate claims, however the medium energy degree of the bike and restricted prime pace of 20 mph means it might’t pull an excessive amount of energy directly, serving to that 375 Wh battery last more.
HittRoad says it was capable of get a real-world 40-mile (64 km) vary when driving the bike in pedal help degree 2 at 9 mph (14.5 km/h) with a 165 lb. rider (75 kg). That could also be cheap, however I wasn’t about to journey that bike that slowly for 4 and a half hours straight to search out out.
Instead, contemplate that full throttle vary with out pedaling is probably going within the 18-ish mile (30 km) ballpark, and pedal help will stretch it out farther than that.
![HittRoad electric bike review: I took this ultra-affordable e-bike off-roading](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/hittroad-electric-bike-7.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
![HittRoad electric bike review: I took this ultra-affordable e-bike off-roading hittroad safari](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/hittroad-electric-bike-6.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
![HittRoad electric bike review: I took this ultra-affordable e-bike off-roading hittroad safari](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/hittroad-electric-bike-5.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
![HittRoad electric bike review: I took this ultra-affordable e-bike off-roading hittroad safari](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/hittroad-electric-bike-4.jpg?quality=82&strip=all)
The battery is lockable and detachable for charging both on or off of the bike, and HittRoad even features a highly effective 4A charger (in comparison with the standard 2A charger that comes with most low-cost e-bikes). That quick charger recharges the battery in round three hours, which is faster than most e-bikes in the marketplace. If you solely use round half of the battery on a journey, a one- to two-hour recharge is feasible.
The remainder of the components are of equally respectable high quality. Nothing fancy, however fairly darn respectable. The LED show on the handlebars is giant and straightforward to learn. The brakes work properly even when they aren’t branded. The saddle is definitely decently snug. And you even get an adjustable stem to dial within the handlebar top and angle to suit your physique sort.
You’ll discover this assessment is stuffed with phrases like “modest” and “decent.” I’m used to reviewing electrical bikes that price 2-3x this a lot, at a minimal. And so I can’t say that the HittRoad Safari works as properly or is constructed in addition to these e-bikes. But I can say that I’m stunned that it didn’t really feel like another low cost $600 Amazon e-bikes we’ve tried.
I might undoubtedly suggest this e-bike to somebody who wished a full-size electrical bike with mountain bike styling. It’s not going to take you off any candy jumps, however it appears like it is going to take you thru modest trails all day lengthy, and is greater than sufficient to deal with an city commute (although you’ll most likely need to add some low cost LED lights first).
For simply over $600 while you use the Amazon coupon, there’s some severe bang on your buck right here.
![HittRoad electric bike review: I took this ultra-affordable e-bike off-roading](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/08/hittroad-electric-bike-8.jpg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1000)
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