Hero Lectro F3i 29: ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The Hero Lectro F3i is built on a full Alloy frame. This strong frame is part of the Hero Lectro Electric MTB range and has a concealed battery inside the bottom tube. The frame geometry was standard with a downward slanting top tube and gave the rider that extra bit of standover clearance and the overall shape of the frame helped with having an upright posture which was perfect for fitness rides and commutes.

The front suspension fork comes with an impressive 100mm travel which is ideal to tackle the bumps and speed breakers on rough city roads and moderate trails. The suspension lock-out feature on this E-Bicycle helped in riding faster on flatter surfaces.

The Hero Lectro F3i which I test rode came in a full Black primary colour on the frame with Red as the secondary colour for the graphics. The matte finish paint job was of great quality with a smooth finish to it. The seamlessly designed integrated battery sits inside the bottom tube and makes the frame look neat. The front LED light is a great design feature and also a safety addition on this Bicycle. This front LED light is powered by the bicycle’s battery. This light can be switched on by clicking on the light on/off switch on the handlebar controller.

This Electric Bicycle comes with a 1x7-Speed drivetrain with a Shimano Tourney rear derailleur. Whilst it is not a compulsion to have gears on an Electric Bicycle, it does come off use when wanting match the electric speed of the E Bicycle with the pedalling cadence. It also helps when you run out of battery power during a ride as the gears help in controlling the pressure you want to put into pedalling. The 7-Speed Shimano Tourney rear derailleur was smooth in shifting during the test ride. This Tourney rear derailleur is controlled by a Shimano’s SIS 7-Speed shifter.

The Hero Lectro F3i Electric Bicycle runs on a rear hub BLDC 36V 250W rear hub motor. This motor is powered by a 6.4 Ah Lithium-Ion battery. This battery is concealed inside the bottom tube making it non-detachable/removable. The throttle on the right grip was easy to use and also brought out the fun factor on this E-bicycle. The 3 level pedal assist termed low, medium and high; give three different levels of power assist from the battery for each pedal. The LED controller on the left side of the handlebar bar has the on/off button, assist level changer, walk mode/front light switch, battery level indicator and a RFID sensor. This model is part of Hero Lectro’s i-smart range and there are 2 RFID tags given with it. After switching on the controller, you will have to just tap the RFID tag on top of the controller and the E Bicycle will power on. This technology helps in mishandling of the controller and also protection from theft. The Hero Lectro app can be downloaded on your phone and can be connected to your E Cycle to access a few running parameters. The maximum speed using battery power is 25km/hr. As a safety feature there is a button next to the right hand side gip accelerator which can be used to switch on and switch off the throttle function.

With 1 full charge this Battery is capable of giving up to 35kms in Pedal Assist mode and lesser if used only in Throttle mode. These mileages might differ a bit with varied riding conditions, and rider weight. This battery takes 4 to 5 hours to charge from 0 to 100% with any normal Indian plug point. The charging point is on the frame above the bottom bracket area.

This Electric Bicycle’s stopping power is controlled by Promax 310 Mechanical Disc brakes at the front and rear. These Disc brakes were powerful enough to get the E Bicycle to a stop safely and quickly even at 20-25 km/hr.

The wide Alloy riser handlebar on this E Bicycle was perfect for the rider to get into a comfortable riding posture. The grip throttle on the right was smooth and easy to accelerate.

The 29” x 2.10” MTB tires on the Hero Lectro F3i were fast rolling on rough surfaces and were perfectly suited for an Electric Bicycle even when riding at 25km/hr. The width and treads were perfect to give good traction on trails.

The Saddle has an extra layer of padded cushion which makes it as good as having an external gel/foam seat cover. One can be sure that there will be no saddle soreness with the F3i.