Overly technical outside sports activities are a bit embarrassing. For instance, I like biking, however I don’t wish to misrepresent my curiosity or talents—I’ve no need to hobble round espresso retailers in clip-in footwear and full-body stretch jerseys. That makes me the proper buyer for Priority Bicycles, an organization that goals to make high-quality however not-so-technical, affordably-priced bikes (I additionally know I’m the proper buyer as a result of, disclosure, I personal a Priority gravel bike myself).

Like all of its bikes, Priority’s electrical seashore cruiser has a retro attraction. It has some premium elements, like a low-maintenance Gates carbon belt drive with a robust rear hub motor, on a clear aluminum stand-up body. This is interesting, particularly because it comes with a wallet-friendly price ticket (for an ebike). Sadly, Priority could have overshot the mark with the E-Coast. You’re simply not going to seek out many cruisers with Gates belt drives at this value. But ought to you?

Figure It Out

The first signal that I had that each one won’t be effectively was when the bike arrived. Priority is a direct-to-consumer firm, which signifies that whenever you order a motorcycle, it is going to arrive boxed at your home. The firm does advocate having it assembled by knowledgeable; it engaged an organization to assemble it for me (listed below are the instructions, in case you don’t wish to spend an extra $200 and might assemble it your self).

However, as soon as I acquired the bike, it did require troubleshooting. The entrance brake wanted adjusting, and the included proprietary entrance fender strikes every time I flip the entrance wheel, regardless of what number of occasions I tighten the screw holding it on. Several weeks after receiving the bike, I nonetheless have to regulate the entrance brake or fender sometimes. It’s the type of low-level annoyance the place you don’t wish to hassle going to a store.

Still, on one of many first lovely spring days of the yr, I fortunately threw on a jean jacket and hopped on the E-Coast to cruise across the park—sadly, it was buzzing nastily. I grouchily got here residence and glued it, however it’s nonetheless a downer whenever you simply wish to run out the door within the solar.

My tester got here in a particularly fairly mint-green step-through body. You’re meant to experience it whereas sitting straight up. Priority states that the minimal inseam on the step-through is 26 inches, which occurs to be my precise inseam. I may experience the bike fairly simply whereas pedaling, however I do have to face on my tiptoes to face on the bottom when I’m at a cease.

That’s not an issue with a Trek Electra cruiser bike, which has a proprietary flatfoot geometry—the best way the seat and pedals are positioned on an Electra body, you get full extension whereas pedaling and nonetheless can place your ft flat on the bottom. I didn’t discover this to be uncomfortable on the E-Coast, however it’s a consideration whenever you’re pedaling round a 56-pound bike.

It has 26-inch wheels which are enormously broad, and a proprietary 500-watt rear hub motor, with a 576-Watthour removable battery that’s positioned below the rear rack. This is a whole lot of weight to put on the again half of the bike, though to be honest I didn’t actually discover except I used to be lifting the bike up onto a rack or up the steps. It’s value noting right here that neither the motor nor battery, has presently been UL licensed, which is the protection normal for ebike electrical programs. However, Priority does observe that it is on the horizon, in time to be compliant with New York’s new law.

Not a Commuter

One of the E-Coast’s closest direct-to-consumer rivals might be the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser, a motorcycle with which it has lots in widespread. Like the Cafe Cruiser, the E-Coast has a pleasant kickstand. It has a rear rack, even if you cannot carry passengers on it. And it’s a single-speed, which is definitely okay. As I discover with ebikes that don’t have a complicated laptop, it’s typically not definitely worth the bother of calibrating the proper help stage with the appropriate stage of torque to really feel pure whereas pedaling. Just use the throttle and be finished (it additionally has a throttle).