Eleglide T1 Step-Thru review: Surprising value

In case you are considering of shopping for an electrical bike, Eleglide is without doubt one of the manufacturers it’s best to take into account. I wouldn’t have stated that earlier than I’d examined out one in all its bikes and was pleasantly stunned at what you get to your cash.  

Eleglide presents several types of electrical bikes: metropolis, hybrid, mountain, and right here I’ve gone for the T1 Step-Via, a ‘trekking’ bike – as the corporate calls it – that you could possibly commute to work on or take touring.  

Since my intention was to do each, this appeared like the best mannequin from the vary. However can it actually compete with rivals at this low value? Learn on to search out out.

Options & Design

The T1 Step-Via, like many electrical bikes, arrived partially assembled. I wanted to suit the entrance wheel, pedals, handlebars and some different issues. This isn’t one thing you are able to do in ten minutes. In my case, it took round 45 minutes.   

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All of the instruments you want are included within the field, however the directions weren’t as clear as I might have favored. Extra particulars would have made the meeting simpler, however when you’re extra aware of how bikes go collectively, you’ll little doubt be biking in much less time.

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All of the components are effectively protected in order that they don’t get broken throughout transport. A pleasant function is the actual fact you possibly can regulate the angle of the handlebars: one thing that’s mounted on most bikes, not to mention entry-level ones.

There’s little doubt that the T1 Step-Via is a handsome bike. Construct high quality is nice, and I favored the white end with contrasting brown Selle Royale saddle and handlebars. It’s additionally obtainable in gray, however not within the UK. There’s additionally a non-step-through model referred to as the T1, however that’s not obtainable within the UK both.

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Being an entry-level electrical bike, it’s pretty heavy at round 26kg. That’s nearly 10kg greater than the lightest electrical bikes we’ve examined.

The place I reside, I needed to carry the bike down a flight of stairs each time I wanted to experience it, however discovered that it wasn’t unimaginable.  

Above the rear wheel is a helpful baggage rack which is a really sensible addition when you, for instance, wished to suit some panniers and go on an extended journey or if you wish to exchange a automotive journey and use it to load up your buying. 

It’s additionally nice that Eleglide contains mudguards on each wheels, entrance and hind lights (the rear one comes on mechanically each time you utilize the brake) and a kickstand as effectively. 

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In comparison with a standard bike, the Step-Via takes its identify from the dearth of a horizontal prime tube. This makes it a lot simpler to get on and off the bike. 

The battery is situated within the down tube, and keys are included within the field so you possibly can unlock it and take away it from the bike for charging. You don’t should, although, it may be charged on the bike as effectively. However with sure bikes that value far more having a non-removable battery this can be a good bonus.

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The T1 Step-Via has 27.5in wheels with grippy 1.75in CST tyres. What’s not normally discovered on entry-level bikes is any suspension, however the T1 has entrance shock absorbers with 80mm of journey and lock-out for these occasions whenever you don’t need suspension, comparable to on easy asphalt.

Efficiency

After all, specs and options are solely half of the story. What’s the T1 Step-Via wish to experience?

The excellent news is that it’s easy and environment friendly, no matter whether or not you’re biking on-road or off-road.

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I’ve ridden it within the metropolis, within the dry and on wet days, in addition to off-road on grass and gravel. 

Though there are 5 totally different energy ranges, I most well-liked to experience with out help from the motor, identical to a standard bike.  

After all, as soon as I felt like I’d had sufficient of a exercise or encountered a steep hill, the motor was very welcome.

Every little thing is managed utilizing the handlebar-mounted buttons and surprisingly giant LCD display screen.

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This 3.5in display screen reveals helpful info comparable to your present pace, the help degree (from 0 to five) and the remaining battery degree.

It additionally has just a few additional features that some e-bike shows omit, comparable to journey distance, max pace, common pace, journey time and extra.

Handily, there’s additionally a USB port so you possibly can cost your telephone whilst you experience!

Eleglide claims a spread of as much as 100km, which is loads for a 450Wh battery.

Testing in winter isn’t the best time for evaluating vary, however I’d estimate the precise vary you’ll get will differ from about 60-80km, or near half the declare within the worst situations with steep hills and chilly climate.

Recharging from empty takes as much as 5 hours.

The 250 watt (50 Nm) motor is housed within the rear hub. 250W is the usual set by the European Union, and this additionally applies within the UK. It additionally means the T1 is proscribed to fifteen.5 mph / 25 km/h.

The motor does ship 500W for brief bursts, like a lot of its rivals, however the way in which Eleglide has configured it, it felt to me prefer it wanted a bit extra energy when biking up steep hills.

This doesn’t imply that Step-Via is a foul electrical bike, although. On regular roads, there’s undoubtedly sufficient energy and 25 km/h is greater than sufficient for a barely sooner than regular experience, for my part.

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One other nice function is that that the T1 Step Via has 7-speed Shimano gears. The place some bikes are single pace and depend on the motor to get you on top of things and assistance on the hills, the gears are what makes it doable to experience the Eleglide with out the motor.

Value and availability 

When you check out our choice of the finest electrical bikes, you’ll see that the T1 Step-Via is less expensive than you’d count on at solely £899.99 (or €999.99 in Europe).

Certain, it’s nonetheless not a ‘low cost’ bike, however you possibly can simply spend twice this quantity or extra on one thing with very related specs.

This implies it actually does provide glorious worth for cash.  

Simply keep in mind that the guarantee period varies by part. Some, comparable to pedals and the kickstand have a three-month guarantee, with the motor, different electrics and entrance fork being coated for a 12 months. Solely the body has a three-year guarantee, so that is the place Eleglide is saving some cash.

You should purchase it immediately from the official Eleglide web site, but it surely’s additionally obtainable on Amazon the place it prices £949. On the time of evaluation you could possibly apply a £50 voucher to carry it all the way down to £899.99.

It’s additionally doable to purchase a spare battery. This prices £229.99 from Amazon, or £199.99 from Eleglide, which is lower than many rivals cost.

Eleglide doesn’t promote bikes outdoors of Europe, so that they’re not obtainable within the US, Canada or Australia.

Verdict 

The T1 Step-thru stunned me with its considerate design, elegant seems, and the variety of options you get for the worth together with entrance suspension and Shimano gears. Eleglide actually has considered each final element and constructed a high quality hybrid bike.  

In actual fact, I ended up liking the T1 Step-Via a lot, it has change into my on a regular basis bike. It actually does tick all of the bins.

The facility of the assisted pedaling is sweet, though as a downside I can point out that it suffers a bit on the slopes, besides, it continues to satisfy the anticipated normal.  

To be an electrical bike and provide this high quality, its value is kind of aggressive. As well as, as I’ve been capable of observe, the model presents promotions on occasion that might decrease its value much more.  

So if you’re searching for a high quality trekking bike and your value restrict is 1,000 euros, this mannequin needs to be thought-about undoubtedly. 

Specs

• Most assisted pedalling pace: 15.5 mph / 25 km/h 
• Motor: 250W (500W peak), 50Nm (max output torque) 
• Battery: 36V 12.5Ah, 450Wh 
• Vary: As much as 100 km in assisted pedaling mode 
• Wheels: 27.5″ x 1.75″ CST tyres 
• Braking system: Entrance and rear mechanical disc brake (160mm) 
• Lighting: Entrance LED highlight 
• Water safety: IPX4 
• Weight: 26kg 
• 3.5in LCD display screen
• 7-speed Shimano gear
• Advisable rider top: 160-200cm (5ft2-6ft7)
• Saddle top vary: 825mm-1000mm