GIGABYKE GROOVE Electric Moped Scooter Review
- 2018 UPGRADED VERSION 2: With larger magnets and an increased motor size the 750w GigaByke Groove's motor now supplies you with plenty of torque to tackle those pesky hills and keep your speeds consistent on those long stretches of road. But that's not it! We've also upgraded the motor controller for better throttle input, a more sturdy kick stand, stiffer suspension for comfort and come painted with auto grade electro-static polymer paint so that your bike looks great for years to come
Description and Review
There’s been more than a few false dawns in the personal transport industry. We were told in the nineties we’d be driving electric cars by now. In the noughties, the Segway was hailed as a transport revolution- it was a revolution no-one particularly wanted and much less actually needed. Californian tech start-up Gigabyke will be hoping third time is a charm with their electric moped-cum-hybrid bicycle simply called the Groove.
Features
The first impression of the latest transport revolution is a good one. The Groove has a retro look which pays homage to its forefathers Vespa and Lambretta. The wing mirrors are all chrome with extra-long stalks whilst the front headlamp is round with a protective metal cage. The rest is relatively standard-fare. It looks just like a normal moped albeit with an extremely slim body.
Looks can be deceiving and this moped is far from a throwback. The front headlamp is LEDs which not only use less energy but have a lifespan of around 50,000 hours. That skinny body is because the Groove has no recognizable engine. Instead there are two panels. One contains a 48V silicon battery, the other a 750 Watt electric motor.
Electric mopeds straddle the line between a pedestrian vehicle and a regular one. The Groove has a top speed of 20mph. It will run for a maximum of 35 miles provided that you weigh 120llbs and are prepared to do a little pedaling. If you intend on riding on pavements you’ll be limited to just 15mph as per federal law.
Electric engines generally tend to struggle with inclines. Gigabyke have thought around that by providing pedals to help you get up hills. If you want the full 35 mile battery life you’ll need to pedal up to speed before engaging the engine. It’s a smart idea to extend the batteries plus when you do run out, you won’t have to lug home an 180llb hunk of metal on your back.
The real advantage of these smaller transport scooters is agility. The bike has both front and back suspension for navigating bumpy roads whilst the disc brakes are sharp and responsive. It’s easy to weave in and out of traffic whilst your speed, distance and battery is communicated clearly by an LED display in the middle of the handle-bars.
Best of all, you don’t need any licenses or qualifications to ride one of these things. If you have the money, which is a big if, you can ride it straight out of the box. A little practice on smaller side-roads is a must, but this bike is intuitive so you’ll get the hang of it in no time.
The price is a little on the expensive side, but considering how well this functions it’s a sound investment. The only issue is that they ship the product whole. The positive of that is it takes just an hour to set up. The downside is that cosmetic damage during transit is common. That said, it is interesting to note that the only 2 negative reviews we could find were from non-verified purchases. This is important, because it has become all too common place for competitors to secretly post negative reviews of a product! For what it’s worth however, the customer service seems good enough and, should you receive a damaged product, a full refund or replacement is available.
back to menu ↑Gigabyke Groove Video Review
Strengths
- Easy to set up out of the box with just a few tools and an hour of time
- Pedals which help to tackle inclines as well as pushing off to save battery life
- US-based company with an excellent manufacture record
- No need for license or registration to ride
- Responsive suspension and disc brakes for a smooth, safe experience
Weaknesses
- Some damage can occur during shipping due to the product being shipped whole
- It’s a shame that pedaling isn’t gyroscopic and won’t charge the battery
- Rather expensive
Specifications
Weight: 176 pounds
Wheels type: 6.5 inches
Weight Capacity: 250 pounds
Motor: 750W brushless motor
Miles per charge: 35 miles
Maximum Speed: 20 mph
Battery Type: Lithium Ion
Charging Time: 4-8 Hours
Available Colors: Blue, Green, Black, Yellow, Silver, Red
Price History & Alerts
GigaByke Groove - 750W Electric Motorized Bike (Yellow), GigaByke
We received a defective Gigabyke. it worked for about 5 minutes and then would no longer operate. The company has been giving us the runaround for literally months. They say they want to help us, but they are not helping. We’ve done everything they’ve asked – checked wiring, connections, the battery and sent them videos. Once they ran out of things for us to do, they said that their experts would be checking our videos and would get back to us. Guess what? That was weeks ago and now they have stopped communicating with us altogether. It seems we are stuck with an expensive e-bike – a lemon! I am beyond frustrated. What kind of customer service is this?
How much $ is gigabyte groove
I really like this bike, so far. It has a very smooth and quiet ride with comfortable seats. I bought it second hand (600 miles) so all the kinks have hopefully been worked out. I noticed that some of the metal looks rusted so will check on replacement. Not too sure about general maintenance yet. The manual is not particularly helpful.