Ecotric Seagull Electric Mountain Bike Review: What to Expect for $939
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The Ecotric Seagull is a part of Ecotric’s electric mountain bikes in their range of electric bikes. It is featuring impressive and convenient design, and I can say that this is one of the most beautiful Ecotric electric bikes. When it comes to electric mountain bikes there are two main concerns. Is it big enough to be comfortable, and is it good enough for off-road riding. And the new $939 (check price here) Ecotric Seagull mountain electric bike might just be the answer to your concerns.
In addition to having a great price, the Seagull caught my attention for its design, and positive consumer experiences and reviews. It features lightweight minimalistic design weighing 65 lbs which is more than impressive for a mountain bike.
Ecotric Seagull Main Specs
- Size: 73.2″ x 24.8″ x 41.3″
- Frame: Aluminium Alloy Frame
- Weight: 65 lbs
- Motor: 1000W Rear Hub Motor
- Battery: 48 V 13 Ah Removable Battery
- Charging time: 6-8 hours
- Tires: 26″ Fat Tires
- Top speed: 24 mph
- Max Range: up to 35 miles (pedal assist mode)
- Suspension: Front fork suspension
- Brakes: Front + Rear Hydraulic Disc Brakes 160mm Rotor
- Gears: 7-speed SHIMANO Derailleur
- Max load: 265 lbs
- Lights: LED Headlight and Battery Integrated Rear Brake Light
- Display: Smart LCD Display
- Waterproof: IPX4
Design and Riding
As I already said, the Seagull features minimalist design. I don’t like the fact that the battery isn’t integrated into the frame, but because of that the price is more than affordable and the Seagull is cheaper than some competing mountain bikes like the Charge XC, Ancheer 26″ mountain e-Bike, and Hiboy P6. It can be ridden in 3 different modes: throttle only mode, pedal assist, and pedal only mode. However, it isn’t a perfect bike, but by and large, it has serious potential as a affordable and reliable mountain electric bike.
The ride is quite good for a budget eMTB bike. With 26″ fat off-road tires the Seagull has great performance and integrated front fork suspension makes the ride more comfortable. Front fork suspension is kind of a standard when it comes to mountain electric bikes. Combined with large 26″ fat off-road tires it surely enables smoother ride experience. However, the Ecotric Seagull isn’t a high-end mountain bike, so don’t expend to behave like one. It’s more a simple electric MTB made for light off-road experience, trail riding and good family times.
Compact geometry combined with 26″ fat tires worked just great for me. The wheels roll perfectly and I didn’t have problems to achieve top speed of 24 mph. Of-course, this stands for flat surfaces, if you are on trails and off-road there is slim chance to achieve top speed, but on a steep downhill you will get even faster than that. The rider needs almost 0 time to get accustomed to the Seagull, and its ride quality is more than satisfying, considering its low price.
Size
When it comes to comfort and riders’ height there are some limitations. This is not ultra comfortable e-bike, but it is comfortable enough for an off-road ride. Also, there is a sport seat with two springs underneath, enough to support rider’s weight. This model has adjustable seat, but since the range of seat height adjustment is limited some riders might experience problems when it comes to proper leg extension for pedaling. So, if you are tall like me, avoid this model and choose larger one. But, for those under 6 feet this is good choice and comfortable enough.
Speeds and Riding Modes
Thanks to a 7-speed SHIMANO derailleur the Ecotric Seagull can be ridden even if the battery drains out. In that case just use it like any other regular mountain bike. It features 3 riding modes, pedal only, pedal assist and throttle only mode. This ensures hassle-free ride without tinkering what to do if the battery is empty. Just keep pedalling.
Motor, Battery, Speed and Range
The Ecotric Seagull has a powerful 1000W brushless rear hub motor that provides a reasonable power output, and this bike can easily get up to its 24 mph top speed on flat ground. It gets up to speed quickly on throttle alone and can overcome some smaller hills without dropping much speed. This is not the case when it comes to more serious hills, and in this case you need to engage pedal assist mode.
As a power source it uses removable 48V 713Ah high capacity battery enabling the bike to run as far as 35 miles on a single charge (when on pedal assist mode). The battery is not incorporated into the main tube of the frame, but clever design hids it well. The battery is removable, so you don’t need to get the whole bike relatively close to an outlet for charging. One clever design feature is a rear light integrated into the battery housing for better visibility during the night. After the battery drains you just need to pull it out of the frame grabbing the handle on top of the battery. To fully recharge the battery you will need between 6 and 8 hours.
Controls and Display
Controls of the Seagull are basic with two brake levers, one on each side (left for rear and right for front brake). Also, there is a mode switch for easy switch between riding modes on the left side, and a gear shifter on the right handle, together with a throttle controller. The Seagull is featuring smart LCD display right in front of the rider and it displays battery remaining, odometer, current speed, and riding mode.The simplicity of the controls means that you will master them in no time and they are easy to use.
Final Verdict
If you are looking for affordable electric mountain bike that perform well on and off-road than the Ecotric Seagull is the right choice for you. On the other side, if you are experienced rider in search for high speeds, extreme terrains and of the chart durability than this e-bike is not your cup of tea. I liked its design and ability to handle my weight on urban and off-road terrains with fair range of 35 miles on a single charge. Also, 7-speed derailleur showed good and enabled me to ride it as any other plain mountain bike. The Seagull provides lots of god family time and sightseeing rides.
