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Will the Swagtron EB7 Plus be a Wise Investment as a Folding Electric Bike?
The EB7 Plus from Swagtron is one of the smallest foldable e-bikes I’ve seen, even smaller than the XDS E-Micro.
Swagtron EB7 Plus Technical Specs (basic)
| YEAR: 2019
MOTOR & TOP SPEED
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BATTERY & RANGE
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CONTROLLER & RIDING MODES
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FRAME
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DRIVETRAIN SYSTEM
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BRAKING SYSTEM
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OVERALL WEIGHT & CARRYING CAPACITY
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| TYRES AND SUSPENSION Tires
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FEATURES
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What Was to Ride the Swagtron EB7 Plus?
Design and materials
At first glance, there was not much about how sleek the frame could look. I think it doesn’t look that nice. Nevertheless, looking at other foldable electric bikes, such as the Hummingbird e-bike, it was also not pretty.
The one thing that was interesting to see was the frame handle. This was awesome; no other brands have offered this to me.
The folding and unfolding process
When I saw it, I thought the frame was quite compact already. In saying that, I expected the folding process to be easy, but it was not straightforward. It always happens the first time, though.
The unfolding process was not too bad; it was intuitive. It took me 10 seconds to unfold it. As mentioned above, the frame’s handle is key for the process.
Who is the Swagtron EB7 Plus for?
Due to its size and primary operating mechanism (throttle), it would be a good e-bike for people with knee problems or who have little storage space at home or work.
It might not be suitable for anyone wanting comfort, as the frame is rigid despite its rear suspension device. Also, the frame could be too short for anyone exceeding 180 cm (5’11”) tall.
Tires, rims, and suspension performance
The Swagtron EB7 Plus tyres (16″) were good enough to provide a decent grip on dry ground. I didn’t test it on wet ground, but I’d say to be extra cautious when riding.
Surprisingly, the recommended minimum pressure for such small tires was 45 psi. I felt the bumps on the road, so maybe lowering it to 40 psi would improve its comfort.
On the other hand, the rims seemed a bit weak since they were made of plastic. However, this is not the case, as they have been made with high-grade plastic.
Now, the rear suspension. It looks pretty basic, but at least they were offering something. Again, I haven’t seen anything around other brands.
Freewheel rear hub motor
The Swagtron electric bike EB7 Plus was fitted with a rear hub motor, which was powerful indeed for its small size.
During my test on a slight incline, the 350w motor reached a modest maximum speed of 20 km/h, but once on a flatter terrain, it achieved the maximum speed (18.6 mph (30 km/h)). What could have been expected from 30Nm torque? This test was made using the on-throttle mode.
I also noted (strangely enough) that the speed was reduced when the battery had around 25% power left; keep that in mind.
One last thing is that the motor specs won’t align with local e-bike laws in the European Union and Australia.
Swagtron EB7 battery
Chemistry
It is powered by a 36V, 6.4Ah, and 187.2 Wh Lithium-Ion battery. As expected, the battery was relatively small, making it easy to remove and put in a bag; not lightweight, though (3 lbs).
Range and charging time
Looking at the battery chemistry and comparing it with the one used by previous models, I noticed that the amperes are slightly higher; however, I noted that the battery lasted somewhat less than its predecessors. I’m unsure why, considering it has more capacity, but maybe it was related to the terrain.
This was a good increment as the range achieved was roughly 32 km, using only speed mode 3. I didn’t test the battery range for speed-mode 1, but I’m guessing its performance would be around 50 km.
EB7 Plus Controller (LCD EN06)
The Eb7 and the Plus models carried the same LCD controller, which offered the minimum needed to operate this budget e-bike.
Speed Modes
The EB7 offered three (3) speed modes. Yes, speed, no assistance levels.
- Mode 1: 11.3 mph (18 km/h).
- Mode 2: 13.7 mph (22 km/h).
- Mode 3: 18.6 mph (30 km/h).
Specifying the desired speed gave me access to another feature—the cruise control. From my experience, it was responsive and reached the selected speed.
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NOTE If you use all the battery energy, you can simply use “Mode 0” and ride it as a standard bike. The only issue here is the size of the bike crank—it’s too small for a long ride. |
Swagtron EB7 vs Plus
The Swagtron EB7 had good stuff to offer, but the Plus model could be a better option depending on the budget.
These were the differences between the two models I found:
| EB7 | EB7 Plus | |
| Frame (inch) | Folded: 29.5 x 16.5 x 25.9 – Unfolded: 52.7 x 22 x 42.1 | |
| Motor (specs) | 350w, 18.6mph | |
| Battery (specs) | 36v, 15 miles range, 3 hr charging time | 36v, 20 miles range, 4 hr charging time |
| Drive-train | Single speed | Seven (7) speed Shimano |
| Braking System | Hydraulic disks | |
| Tires | 16″ | |
| Controller | EN06 (3 speed modes). | |
The main two (2) differences were the battery range and the inclusion of a drive-train for better performance when climbing hills.
If I were to live in a hilly area, the Plus model would be beneficial. Otherwise, I would go for the single-speed one.
Is the Swangtron Eb7 Worth Plus It?
This cheap folding electric bike offered many things, such as an affordable price, a small size when folded, and a decent operational throttle feature, handy for people with knee issues.
Overall, there are a lot of good things that have been revealed in this review:
– Its foldable size is considerably smaller than that of similar e-bikes in the same category.
– I believe the bike was rigid; however, the rear suspension system was a unique feature that other models haven’t offered yet.
Some limitations could be:
– Having the throttle as a main feature to operate limits its use in many countries in the European Union and Australia. In other words, it would be not following the local e-bike laws.
– I expected a lightweight e-bike, maybe around 15 kg, not almost 20 kg.
– In terms of design, it doesn’t look like an eye magnet.
– The braking system made a lot of noise when stopping, which made me feel a bit unsafe.
In summary, the Swagtron EB7 Plus foldable electric bike could be a good option if you are looking for a budget e-bike. If you have the extra cash to spend, you could compare other options.
Images courtesy of Swagtron®
