Triad E1: ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The Triad E1 Electric Bicycle is built on strong full Alloy frame. The frame geometry is unique in design with a slightly curving top tube. This slight curve on the top tube helps get extra standover clearance, easy getting on and getting off the bicycle and also makes it compatible for women and shorter riders. The riding posture is comfortable and the Alloy frame does absorb vibrations of the surface when riding through bumpy surfaces at higher speeds. This frame comes in a standard 18” frame size.

The E1 comes with a front suspension fork with an impressive 80mm travel. During the test ride this suspension fork helped ride smoothly over rough roads.

The Triad E1 comes in full Black primary colour with Orange and White as the secondary colours for graphics and text. The battery pack on the bottom tube has colour coded graphics and is also shaped in such a way that it does not look out of place. The front and rear LED lights were stylish in design and were not only useful features for visibility in the dark but also enhanced the aesthetics of this bicycle.

The Triad E1 which I test rode came with a 7-Speed Shimano Tourney rear derailleur. Gears in an Electric Bicycle help in keeping up to the battery assisted speed of the bicycle by adjusting the pressure in pedalling. These gears are also useful when the battery charge is low or if the charge has run out, as one can use it to ride efficiently. During the test ride these gears shifted smoothly and the shifter was easy to operate.

The battery pack in the Triad E1 comes with a 36V 250W brushless DC motor with waterproof casing and is located at the hub of the rear wheel. This is powered by a rechargeable and detachable Lithium-Ion battery, with a capacity of 7.8 Ah. The battery takes about 3 to 4 hours to charge and can last for 35-50 kilometres per charge on Pedal Assist Mode and 25-35 kilometres on Throttle Mode. The mileage on an Electric Bicycle can vary according to weather, rider weight and road inclines. The Pedal Assist mode gives more mileage than throttle mode. The battery pack on the bottom tube is easily detachable and can be carried along for charging.

The E-Bicycle functions on two operating modes, one being Pedal Assist and the second being Hub and Throttle driven. In the Pedal Assist mode, there are 3 levels – each level determining the amount of battery push provided for each pedal rotation. Level 1 being the least, and level 3 being the highest battery push. The level 3 Pedal Assist Mode setting allowed me to reach 25 km/hr with minimum effort. In the second mode, you can get this Electric Cycle moving by simply rotating the throttle on the right grip of the handlebar, similar to the accelerator on motor bikes and scooters. The maximum speed achievable on this mode is also 25 km/hr, however using this mode one does not have to pedal at all. The pick-up was impressive while using both modes and the electric power was more than sufficient to effortlessly ride on inclines and rough roads.

The Triad E1 comes with a pair of Logan Mechanical Disc brakes at the front and rear. Since Electric Bicycles deliver speeds that require no effort, braking is an important component, in case one needs to get the bicycle to a full stop as quick as possible and in a balanced manner. During the test ride the Mechanical Disc brakes on this E-Bicycle worked efficiently, giving me confidence to ride fast in heavy city traffic. Both the brake cables acts as a motor cut off, and it responds quickly.

The raiser handlebar on this bicycle is 600mm long and comfortable, allowing for a comfortable riding position. The reach to the console on the left, and the grip accelerator on the right was comfortable without straining.

The Triad E1 comes with a pair of DSI 26” x 2.0” MTB tires. The heavy treading on the tires enabled rolling over any hard surface with ease. The 26” tires are great in terms of on road performance as they roll fast and can take on potholes and occasional rugged roads with ease. The tires are sure to work well providing adequate traction on both wet and dry surfaces. The Saddle on this bicycle is comfortable, it was well cushioned leaving no room for saddle sores or general discomfort when used on longer rides.