James and Julia from Ride On! spend the day riding and reviewing the new electric bikes from Linus.
Linus is a bike brand committed to thoughtful design, and when we made the trip out to the Linus headquarters in Venice Beach, this commitment was clear. As Linus co-founder Adam McDermott explained, their bikes are built for the purpose of replacing car trips. Linus has spent over a decade honing their craft of making beautiful bikes that are also highly functional, and the eRoadster, one of their newest ebike models, is no exception.
The eRoadster was recently introduced as part of the “New Classic” line from Linus, along with its sibling, the eDutchi. The eRoadster adopts the same sporty stepover frame seen on their original Linus Roadster model, but this model also includes a 250 W rear hub motor. The added oomph of the motor, combined with a smooth pedal-assist experience via torque sensor, is really intended to create an effortless ride that users can look forward to enjoying. Not to mention, the eRoadster also comes with a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain and three levels of pedal-assist, making for a highly adaptive riding experience. The eRoadster can travel up to 20 mph, qualifying as a class 1 ebike in the US, and its 250 Wh Samsung battery claims a maximum range of 40 miles. Conveniently, the eRoadster also comes standard with a rear rack, which can haul up to 55 lbs of cargo. This may not be quite as much hauling capacity as some of the bulkier cargo bikes on the market, but the added benefit of the rear rack should not be overlooked in assessing this bike’s high potential for replacing car trips. Lastly, it’s important to note that while this bike does have a more sporty step-over frame than its sibling the eDutchi, the incorporation of swept-back handlebars on the eRoadster still make for a comfortable upright riding position, as you’ll see in the video above.
With all this said, the eRoadster joins a large collection of Linus bikes that are built for simplicity and convenience. While the eRoadster is not designed to be the “sports car” of ebikes, it could easily become your daily-driver to and from work, while your actual car sits in the garage (where it belongs).
What other reviewers are saying
8 Reasons to Buy the Linus eRoadster
- Lightweight profile makes the eRoadster feel more like a traditional bicycle
- 40 miles of range makes the eRoadster perfect for commutes and long joyrides
- 7-speed Shimano drivetrain and three pedal assist settings allow for a custom ride experience
- Torque sensor creates a highly responsive pedal assist system
- Rear rack adds additional capacity for a small cargo load
- Integrated front and rear LED lights for improved visibility
- Swept back handlebars create a comfortable riding position
3 Reasons Not to Buy the Linus eRoadster
- 250W motor may not be a good fit for riders looking for a very high-powered ebike
- Mechanical disc brakes may require a bit of maintenance over time
- Step-over frame may make the eRoadster difficult to mount-dismount
Bottom Line
The Linus eDutchi is a great mid-class ebike with high quality components that justify a slightly higher price tag than some cheaper competitors.
