Is Urban Populo the Best E-bike Under $1000?

LEV Revolution
Aug 9, 2017 · 5 min read

This article has been previously published on LEVRevolution.com

The best e-bike under $1000 is an elusive treasure for many new (and budget minded) e-bike riders. Recently, another contender has entered the race to win this category and claim the pedal power of e-bike riders near and far — the Urban Populo. Available in three different models, the Sport starts at $999 and comes in 4 frame sizes to fit riders of all sizes.

Is the Urban Populo the best e-bike under $1000? To be considered worthy of this title, there are a number of proof points that must be met.

Must-Have Items in the Best E-Bike Under $1000

Any e-bike worthy of your pedaling prowess, should have the following components and features:

-A (relatively) lightweight frame: The heavier the frame on your e-bike, the more taxing it is on the motor. This can lead to an increase in repairs, or a shorter lifespan. Plus, a heavier bike means you’ll need to put some more muscle power into carrying the bike up a flight of stairs or into your car (if for some strange reason you’re transporting your LEV with another form of transportation).

Most e-bikes weigh in the neighborhood of 50 pounds — with a generous variance either way, depending on components, motor weight, etc. Look for an e-bike that falls within this range.

Wallerang M.01 Smart Electric Bicycle — White

Your new form of transportation shouldn’t make you feel like you need to add another day of weight training at the gym — but more power to you if you do pump some additional iron.

-Lithium ion batteries: These really are the clear choice in e-bike battery power. Lead acid batteries are heavier and don’t last as long, but are cheaper. Therefore, you’ll find these on some budget e-bikes, but the best e-bike under $1000 should have a lithium ion battery.

-Max speed: If you have the need for speed, then you might have skipped on ahead to the e-bike’s bigger, faster brother: the motorcycle. Still here? Ok, great — because the best e-bike for under $1000 can still move you around at a pace that will make a jogger jealous.

Many e-bikes can have you whizzing around at speeds up to 20 miles per hour.

-Range of travel: Those two wheels will only go around and around for so long before the battery pack will need recharging. The average range of travel on an e-bike varies depending on rider weight, terrain type, age of battery pack, and so on. But establishing some type of normal range is important, since you don’t want your e-bike with dead batteries to leave you huffing and puffing on a long haul home.

Many entry-level e-bikes have a range of about 15–50 miles, but real-life riders may find that this number is significantly lower for all the reasons listed above. So you want to find an e-bike with a decent range to make sure that your commute doesn’t become a crawl and that your evening cruise isn’t cut short.

-Style and appearance: Maybe the ‘look’ isn’t the most important factor when considering the best e-bike under $1000, but it doesn’t hurt to look good while saving energy! Some of today’s budget e-bikes are a workhorse with little attention to design. Others are an artful combination of power and style.

We understand needing to get the job done, but we tend to prefer e-bikes that do it with style. On a related note, you’ll want to think about the comfort of any electric bike you’re thinking about purchasing. Some things like saddle and handlebars may be customizable, but the geometry of the frame is not. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s specs — and don’t stop at color options.

How the Urban Populo Measures Up

Now that we’re on the same page regarding criteria for the prize of best e-bike under $1000, let’s see how the Urban Populo measures up in each of our categories.

-A (relatively) lightweight frame: Weighing in at 36 pounds, the Urban Populo won’t have you gasping for air before your ride starts if you happen to need to lift or carry it.

The minimal design and streamlined look, combined with the svelte lithium ion battery pack, keep this e-bike in a reasonable weight class.

-Lithium ion batteries: This cycling machine is equipped with a 36-volt Panasonic Lithium ion battery with 8.7Ah.

Kudos to the Urban Populo for putting a lightweight, powerful lithium ion battery onboard for all of your e-bike adventures.

-Max speed: Hop onboard this budget electric bike, put your feet to work, and let the motor kick in to offer you speeds up to 20 miles per hour.

This is right on target for a budget e-bike that is ready to ride without any special licenses or permits.

-Range of travel: According to manufacturer specs, the Populo can carry you up to 30 miles. This isn’t as much as some of the entry-level e-bikes that carry a price tag with 4 digits, but it is a respectable range for an e-bike under the $1000 price barrier.

While it may not be the best range we’ve ever seen for an e-bike, we’ll give the Populo credit for this category since it is rated for a longer range than some of its competitors.

-Style and appearance: The Urban Populo comes in three color choices, so it earns points for presenting you with options. Choose from a simple polish finish with black lettering, a bright blue with white lettering, or a commanding black-on-black color scheme.

Overall, this e-bike has a clean and simple look. Some riders may wish for a slightly more aggressive or stylish appearance, but it’s hard to find serious fault with this bike for its basic looks. Sometimes less is more — just saying.

Urban Populo — Best E-Bike Under $1000?

So is the Urban Populo the best e-bike under $1000? The answer depends on what exactly you’re looking for in an e-bike, but it certainly is a top contender on our list.

We haven’t mentioned the motor yet, but onboard the Urban Populo you’ll find a 250W brushless direct drive motor ready to carry you up a steep hill or across town. It’s certainly capable of delivering the power you’ll need for your next ride.

It has a top speed well above several other e-bikes under $1000 we’ve previously highlighted, including the Watseka XP Cargo-Electric Bicycleand the Currie Technologies Men’s Ezip Trailz Commuter. It also exceeds the range of the X-Treme Scooters Men’s Lithium Electric Powered Mountain Bike. But the Ancheer Power Plus Electric Mountain Bike — Lithium Ion does match the Urban Populo’s speed and potentially exceeds the Populo’s range as well — the Ancheer is rated for a range of 35–70km (or 21.7–43.5 miles).

If you’re looking for the best e-bike under $1000, then the Urban Populo makes a solid choice. If your wheels are still spinning, check out our other picks for e-bikes in this price category here.

LEV Revolution

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LEV Revolution is the definitive source for all information related to light electric vehicles (LEVs).

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