CSC FT750 review: I tested electric bicycles from a motorcycle company

There’s nothing within the firm’s identify, CSC Bikes, that might trace on the superior electrical bicycles they not too long ago designed and debuted. However CSC has spent the last couple years increasing from their conventional gas-powered motorbike choices into a variety of sunshine electrical bikes (which I’ve also tested!), and now a pair of electrical bicycles generally known as the CSC FT750 collection.

And also you didn’t suppose I used to be going to overlook an opportunity to check out a pair of the latest electrical bicycles within the US, did you?

In fact not!

So I acquired all the way down to Azusa, California, in Los Angeles County, to see what occurs when a motorcycle company designs an electric bicycle.

Or two electrical bicycles, moderately.

You see, the CSC FT750 really is available in two flavors. There’s the FT750-26 with 26-inch tires, and the smaller FT750-20 with 20-inch tires.

The bikes are pretty related electronically, principally differing within the geometry. The smaller FT750 is healthier for shorter riders because it has a decrease minimal seat top.

Take a look at my video assessment under, then learn on for the total experience expertise.

CSC FT750 video assessment

CSC FT750 tech specs

• Motor: 750W steady Bafang geared rear hub motor
• Prime velocity: 40 km/h (25 mph) with pedal help or 32 km/h (20 mph) with throttle solely
• Vary: 45-72 km (25-45 mi) relying on throttle or pedal help
• Battery: 48V 13.6 Ah (650Wh) with Samsung 35E cells
• Body: 6061 aluminum
• Suspension: 100 mm journey entrance suspension fork with preload and damping adjustment, plus lockout
• Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors
• Weight: 25 kg (55 lb) for FT750-20, or 30 kg (61.6 lb) for FT750-26
• Max load: 120 kg (264 lb) for FT750-20, or 150 kg (330 lb) for FT750-26
• Extras: Detachable battery hidden in body, LCD show with speedometer, battery gauge, PAS stage indicator, odometer, tripmeter, gentle standing indicator, entrance and rear LED lights, 5 velocity settings, thumb throttle, USB charging port

Value and high quality

The factor that first impressed me in regards to the CSC FT750 when I reported on the debut was the worth that the pair of bikes provided. They’re each priced at $1,688 with free transport included, and but they provide some very good parts for the value.

The bike will get as much as 25 mph with pedal help (or 20 mph on throttle alone). And to convey you again all the way down to zero, the bikes are rocking Shimano Acera twin piston brake calipers biting down on 180 mm rotors.

You get a 100 mm entrance suspension fork with changes for damping and preload, plus there are these 4-inch Kenda Juggernaut Sport fats tires. Between the entrance suspension and the massive air quantity within the tires, the CSC FT750 rides fairly comfortably on diverse terrain.

For energy, the bike makes use of Samsung’s highest power density battery cells (the Samsung 35E) to stuff 650Wh of capability contained in the downtube, the place it doesn’t stick out and wreck the bike’s strains like on many different e-bikes.

Every thing is metallic that may be — no low-cost plastic elements right here. The headlights aren’t simply low-cost little LEDs, they’re extra-bright LEDs. The graphics are included below the bike’s clear coat. The rear motor has a fast launch connector near the motor to make it straightforward to take away the wheel when essential, comparable to to vary the tire or exchange a tube. All of these items are indications that CSC put some thought into designing an e-bike with good worth, that appears good, and is straightforward to work on — once more drawing on their expertise as a bike firm.

The shifter and derailleur are in all probability the lowest-quality parts on the bike. They’re nonetheless Shimano elements, which is an efficient indicator of baseline high quality, however they’re on the low finish of the Shimano hierarchy. So whereas I might have appreciated to see a nicer Shimano shifter and derailleur, these will get the job accomplished for us leisure cyclists. And for anybody who plans to make use of the bike like a bike with out pedaling, you gained’t actually care what sort of shifter you might have.

Principally, in comparison with the litany of normal $1,500 e-bikes on the market that don’t match these specs, the $1,688 price ticket for the CSC FT750 feels greater than affordable, contemplating the elements that you simply get.

The one different factor I discovered actually fascinating was that CSC shares an enormous warehouse filled with alternative elements. Severely, it’s enormous. You would have a soccer match in there. And the rationale they do that’s to make sure that clients get American-level service that’d they’d count on of a neighborhood firm. These are in fact nonetheless imported Asian-assembled e-bikes. However CSC tries to separate the distinction by providing American-level service and assist with fast transport of alternative elements if any ought to be required. That approach clients can get the value of an imported bike with the service and assist of a neighborhood firm.

There’s just one space I’ll ding them, and this can be a frequent grievance of mine: Racks and fenders aren’t included.

You possibly can nonetheless add them as a customized choice, and CSC shares them so you’ll be able to even get them straight with the bike. However I all the time like to see when they’re included as a regular characteristic.

I suppose the upside is that they’ll cut back the value a bit for people who don’t want them — however they’re such helpful options on any bike that I virtually take into account them a necessity. Nearly.

However how does it experience?

In fact the final word figuring out issue of any e-bike isn’t the spec sheet, it’s the experience.

And the CSC FT750 is an superior experience. Electrek’s Fred Lambert joined me on my take a look at experience the place we took an FT750-20 and an FT750-26 by road, trails, and sand to check each bikes on as many various surfaces as we might.

We tossed sand, traversed flooded-out trails, and skidded our approach throughout parking heaps and paved bike paths like youngsters with new toys. Which is mainly what we have been.

Be sure you return and watch the video above to see the bikes in motion.

The 750W motors are highly effective and supply fast acceleration. Between the 2, the FT750-20 feels prefer it has a bit extra torque, probably due to the smaller diameter wheels. However each might minimize their approach by thick seaside sand simply, which is an efficient take a look at of how a lot energy a fats tire e-bike actually has.

On the paths, the FT750-26 was probably a bit higher since its bigger diameter wheels might extra simply roll over bigger obstacles like roots and logs. On the road, they each carried out equally effectively. Just about any fats tire e-bike goes to do superb on the road, although — there’s nothing to actually problem them there. Nevertheless it definitely is sweet to have that further air quantity in your tires for hitting curbs and hopping round on pavement. There’s entrance suspension already, however you virtually get quasi-rear suspension with a fats sufficient rear tire.

I’m 5’7″ (170 cm) tall and I match simply superb on the FT750-26. However the FT750-20 might need been much more comfy for me, and doubtless extra enjoyable, too. It virtually looks like a BMX bike and provides you the urge to pop the entrance wheel up and mess around with it like a BMX bike.

Ultimately, each bikes felt good, and it’s actually onerous for me to decide on my favourite. If I needed to resolve, it will in all probability rely upon what sort of using I did probably the most, and never on the dimensions of the bike, since they each appeared to suit me superb.

If I needed to do extra nimble, aggressive using, then I’d in all probability go for the FT750-20. If I used to be extra into informal using or was traversing trails with extra obstacles, the bigger diameter wheels on the FT750-26 would win me over.

Between the highly effective motors, prime quality batteries, robust hydraulic disc brakes and lengthy checklist of different nice-but-not-top-shelf elements, these bikes are a high-value choice for anybody in search of a bang-for-your-buck leisure e-bike.

Let’s hear what you suppose. Did CSC Bikes do effectively on their first stab at an electrical bicycle? Hold forth within the remark part under!

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