SwagCycle Pro by Swagtron REVIEW
In certain parts of the world, you can get around easily without having a ‘real’ car. I’ve seen lots of people use public transportation (like buses and subways) to get from point A to point B and I’ve always been envious of that. I’d love to have the opportunity to hop on a scooter or electric skateboard to travel through a concrete jungle rather than get into my car. Even though my geographic location doesn’t quite lend itself to that type of transportation, I’m grateful that personal electric vehicles exist because they are a blast to use. I’ve been a fan of these devices ever since I saw the first Boosted Board. My love only deepened when I had the chance to try a Boosted Board and now, I’ve ventured off onto other personal electric vehicles like the SwagCycle Pro from Swagtron.
DETAILS
The SwagCycle Pro is one of the models of e-bike that Swagtron produces amidst the many e-rideables they design. It’s considered an ‘advanced’ e-bike as it pairs with a companion app for monitoring and fine-tuning controls of the cycle itself. The SwagCycle Pro features a foldable frame for easy storage and can support up to 264 pounds. The bike is rated IP54, which means it’s dust resistant as well as water/splash resistant. You can take the SwagCycle Pro off-road and ride as easily as you can on smooth pavement thanks to the 12” front and 10” back air-filled tires.
The SwagCycle Pro produces zero emissions. It runs off of a rechargeable 37V lithium ion battery and charges with the use of an A/C cable (included). There is a battery indicator located on top of the handlebars so you know when you need to recharge the cycle. You can also monitor this from the aforementioned app. There is even a standard USB port built into the battery so that you can charge your phone from it if needed. The bicycle can travel distances of up to 15.5 miles on a single charge and reach speeds of up to 18MPH. The bike even has enough torque to move up inclines up to 12º.
The bicycle is pedal-free and powered by a motor that is located in the rear tire. After a gentle kick-off when you start out, your momentum is controlled by the throttle on the handle and you can rest your feet on the foot pegs that live on the front wheel. Swagtron designed the SwagCycle Pro to be used in any environment including low-light situations. There is a headlight located on the front of the bike so that you can see where you are going even when it’s dark out.
USER EXPERIENCE
The SwagCycle Pro ships in a plain cardboard box with the words “Swagtron” and “SwagCycle Pro” stamped on the outside of it. Inside the box, you will find the cycle mostly assembled. In fact, all you really have to install are the foot pegs and the seat. Those parts come packaged along with the bike. A user manual with assembly instructions is included. Aside from attaching the foot pegs and installing the seat, you really only have to remove the cardboard and bubble wrap from the frame of the SwagCycle Pro before riding it.
Before your first ride, you should make sure that the battery is fully charged and complete basic safety checks. Once that’s finished, hop on the bike, kick off and go. If you know how to ride a basic two-wheeled bicycle, you can ride and enjoy the SwagCycle Pro.
This compact bike can break down quite easily and I was actually able to travel with it. In the past couple of months, I took it with me on several road trips including one to Nashville, TN and one to Florida. I have flat feet and longer walks can be really painful for me. Having the SwagCycle Pro available for me to use for travel has been a lifesaver in these cases. The only downside is that I look a little like a circus bear on a unicycle. I guess that’s the curse of being a bigger guy who rides a bike with smaller wheels.
My 16-year old daughter has really taken a liking to the SwagCycle Pro, too. I dare say she has fallen in LOVE with it. While I have been testing it over the past few months she has sometimes argued with me about taking it. She has pretty much claimed it from me and I now have to ask for permission from the queen to ride it. We live in a neighborhood that has little car traffic and lots of back streets that are fun to ride around on the bike. She will take it from the house and ride around for hours exploring our area. She’s never complained about the bike giving her any issues and says it’s very comfortable to ride — even longer distances.
One of the features that make this bike ‘advanced’ is the incorporation of the mobile app. I like this as an option as the app will log your trips, speed, and help you monitor your battery life. I don’t like that in order to view it, you have to use your phone while you are riding. With this in mind, it would be great if Swagtron would include a phone mount for the SwagCycle Pro. I believe most universal mounts would probably work for this sort of application, but having one that was sure to work with the bike would be awesome. In my experience with it, I found that the SwagCycle Pro connected to my iPhone every time I used it with the app. I’ve been able to easily map my rides and I love being able to see what my average speed was from a trip.
CONCLUSION
Since I grew up skateboarding I was bound to have a love for powered skating rigs right off the bat. The SwagCycle Pro, however, turned me into a big fan and supporter of other rides like scooters and e-bikes. I have had the chance to review a few different types of electric battery powered rides and all of them have there ups and downs but the one I have found to enjoy the most other than the Boosted Board is the SwagCycle Pro from Swagtron. This is a great vehicle option for beginners as well as more advanced users.
For more details, visit Swagtron.
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Originally published at macsources.com on July 27, 2018.
