Hero Lectro C8i: ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The Hero Lectro C8i built on a 6061 full Alloy frame. Electric bicycles are always heavier than normal cycles mainly because of the battery pack and the hub motor. Therefore, by having an Alloy frame the Cycle’s overall weight is kept in check and makes it easier to accelerate with and without battery power. The frame geometry is comfort focused with a slanting top tube which gives extra standover clearance. The rider’s posture is comfortable and safe while going at 20+ km/hr speeds. The front suspensions fork worked smoothly and helped make the ride less bumpy on rough roads and the lock-out feature made it easier to ride on flat surfaces.

The Hero Lectro C8i which I test rode came in a full Black primary colour on the frame with White used for the graphics. While matte is considered premium in recent times, a good quality gloss finish can make a lot of difference aesthetically. In the Hero Lectro C8i, the gloss finish paint job was top notch in quality and was shining.

This Electric Bicycle is equipped with a simple 1x7-Speed drivetrain. This means there is no front derailleur and the rear has a 7-Speed Shimano Tourney derailleur. Gears generally help in increasing or decreasing the pressure in pedalling and in an electric bicycle. The 7-Speed gears help in 2 ways; for exercise purposes and also to pedal easily if in case the battery power runs out during a ride. The Shimano TX50 shifters were basic and easy to shift with clear gear indicators.

The Hero Lectro C8i E-bicycle runs on a 6.4Ah Lithium-Ion battery which power a motor placed in the rear hub. There are 2 electric modes, Pedal Assist and Throttle. The Pedal Assist mode has 3 levels; each level gives a specific amount of battery power for each pedal thus making the pedalling easier. The throttle mode is a grip accelerator on the right side handlebar grip which is the same as found on a scooter or motor bikes. Half of the grip is a throttle and easy and smooth to rotate. The handlebar controller can be turned on only by using the RFID tag given. This is an additional safety feature on this Electric Bicycle.

With 1 full charge this battery is capable of giving up to 30kms in pedal assist mode and up to 25kms in throttle mode. These mileages will differ with the varied riding conditions and rider weight. This battery takes 4 hours to charge from 0 to 100% in any normal Indian plug point. The charging point for the battery is on the left side of the frame just above the bottom bracket. The small downside to this charging method is that the bicycle has to be nearing a charging point as the battery is not detachable.

The Hero Lectro C8i’s stopping power is handled by Promax Mechanical Disc brakes at the front and rear. These Disc Brakes provided powerful stopping power during the test ride.

The 680mm handlebar on this E-Bicycle was of perfect length to give a comfortable riding posture for the rider. The grip throttle on the right was smooth and easy to use to accelerate.

The C8i rolls on a pair of 28” x 1.75” Hybrid tires. These tires were slick and fast rolling, making them perfect for commutes and long distances rides. The Double wall Alloy rims were strong enough to handle vibrations of the surface.

The stock saddle from Lectro was ergonomic in design with the perfect length, width and cushioning for a comfortable ride on bumpy roads.