Lectro is a brand under the Hero Cycles banner which specializes in Electric Pedal Assisted Bicycles. These bicycles define state-of-the-art technology and perfect styling. The aim of Lectro bicycles is to redefine your everyday ride. Electric Pedal Assisted Bicycles use rechargeable batteries which can be charged using a power plug. These cycles come in varied designs, and are meant for all age groups for various usages. We got the opportunity to test ride the Lectro Ezephyr and here is what we thought.
Weight: 17.2 kgs (Including battery)
Category: Commuting/Leisure
The Lectro Ezephyr is built on a full Alloy frame. Electric bicycles are generally considered heavy due to the battery and motor but the use of alloy as the frame material helped keep the overall weight in check. The frame geometry was standard with a slanting top tube which helped the rider get more standover clearance. This geometry helped with having a upright posture which was perfect for commuting. The Alloy rigid fork was bladed and aerodynamic in design. Whilst some might think that a suspension is needed for commuting on moderate roads to the speed of electric bicycles, this rigid fork along with the Alloy frame was able to absorb most vibrations of the surface and in turn give the rider a smooth ride experience.
The Lectro Ezephyr which I test rode came in a full Red primary colour on the frame with White as the secondary colour for the graphics, text and logo. The rigid alloy fork was Black in colour which was in contrast to the Red frame. The matte finish paint job was of great quality with a smooth finish to it. The concealed battery inside the bottom tube made the bicycle look like any normal bicycle and hence making the frame look neat and also protecting the battery. The internal cable routing for display and battery wire to the throttle was perfectly done on the left side of the bottom tube.
This hybrid electric bicycle comes with a Shimano Tourney 7-Speed rear derailleur and no front derailleur. This 1x7-Speed drivetrain was useful to keep the cadence up to speed with the speed generated by the battery. Also when an unfortunate situation arises that you have ran out of battery power during your ride, then this 7-Speed gearing will help you ride efficiently without having to fully feel weight of this bicycle. The SIS 7-Speed shifters were old school but they did the job well and were easy to shift.
The Ezephyr electric hybrid bicycle runs on a rear hub Shungfung motor. This motor is powered by a 36 volt, 5.8 AH lithium ion battery. 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 gives three different levels of power assist from the battery for each pedal. There is also a walk mode which helps get a constant speed for easy walking with the bicycle. The LED button display on the left side of the handlebar has the on/off button, assist level changer, walk mode button and also the battery level indicator. The maximum speed using battery power is 25kmph.
In 1 full charge this battery is capable of giving 30 kms in pedal assist mode and 22-25 kms in throttle mode. These mileages might differ a bit with the varied riding conditions. The battery takes 4 hours to charge from 0 to 100% in any normal Indian plug point with a 440W power supply. The charging point for the battery is on the left side of the frame above the bottom bracket. The small downside to this charging method is that the bicycle has to be near a charging point as the battery is not detachable.
This Electric Bicycle’s stopping power is controlled by Promax’s 310 series Mechanical Disc brake at the front and Power V-brakes at the rear. Both these brake were powerful enough to get the bicycle to stop safely and quickly at 20-25 kmph.
The 630mm handlebar on this 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 700C hybrid tires on the Ezephyr was fast rolling on urban roads and was perfectly suited for an electric bicycle when riding at 25kmph. The treads were sufficient to give enough traction on slightly rough roads and fast cornering. The stock PU Saddle was of perfect length and width to give the rider comfort on long bumpy rides.
Overall Rating
This Alloy frame is lightweight and comfortable to ride. The concealed battery is neat and along with the smooth matte finish paint job makes the bicycles look aesthetic. The 3 level assist along with the throttle made the electric riding experience easy and enjoyable. The 700C tires were fast rolling on urban roads. Priced at Rs.26,999(as on 18th March 2019) the Lectro Ezephyr is an ideal choice for anyone looking to buy an electric bicycle for commuting and leisure rides.
Prices are subject to change by the brand, without due notice.