"Don't put the cart before the horse" is an idiom that MOD seemed to have taken very seriously when designing the MOD City+ 3. All of the basics that I expect from a foldable e-bike are there and done well. Because the foundational elements were all done properly, it had time to focus on final details that make this e-bike the most practical one I have ever ridden.
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As a shopping writer, I've been introduced to many products with fancy bells and whistles that catch my attention, but end up disappointing when their main function is faulty. Testing the MOD's latest foldable e-bike rekindled my hope that there are still companies who don't jump the gun at the expense of flashiness.
I received the MOD City+ 3 as a review unit. The e-bike came pre-assembled, and I only needed to install the front wheel, headlight, and some other minor parts, which was fast and easy to do. MOD says all of its MOD City+ 3 e-bikes come pre-assembled, so it should be an easy setup. As an early reviewer, I got access to a pre-production model of the MOD City+ 3. I experienced some issues with the display showing some errors and the throttle not kicking on sometimes (usually on hills), but MOD later sent me an updated display and controller with a software update. After installing them, I didn't encounter those initial issues anymore.
Assembly: Very easy to assemble.
Customizable: There are many ways to customize the e-bike and easily snap on any accessory you can imagine.
Features: The Lumos partnership and USB port on the display are very practical touches.
Dual suspension: Makes for a smooth ride.
Stylish: It's very aesthetically pleasing.
Accessible: Wide range of riders from 5&#;2&#; to 6&#;4.&#;
Weight: Although it's not the heaviest foldable e-bike I've tested, 65 lbs is on the heavy side.
Price: Expect to pay a higher price for the e-bike and accessories than the competition. At about $2,300, it's the most expensive e-bike I've tried, but it's also the most complete and the nicest.
Classification: Class 2 (Adjustable to Class 1 to 3).
Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors.
Tires: Multi-terrain Kenda K-Shield 20" by 3" with reflective sidewall.
Frame geometry: Step-through aluminum frame.
Lights: LED brake and tail lights and 300-lumen wide beam LED front headlights.
Battery: 48V 12.8Ah (615Wh).
Display: Password-protected full-color display with USB port.
Motor: 500W (Peak 750W) up to 60 Nm of torque.
Pedal Assist: 5 programmable levels with sensors.
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Claimed Range: Up to 45 mi.
Throttle: Thumb throttle.
Weight of e-bike: 65 lb with battery.
Rider height range: One frame fits 5&#;2&#; to 6&#;4.&#;
Maximum rider weight: 275 lbs.
Maximum load on the rear rack: 55 lbs.
Size: 66" by 43" (up to 50") by 24" (42" by 15" by 26.5" when folded).
The MOD City+ 3 is the third rendition of the series, as the name implies. It is meant to be a compact and practical foldable e-bike for people who commute and want to use the e-bike for carrying pets, groceries, or whatever they can fit on its many accessories. The idea of MOD bikes is to modify them to fit your lifestyle, and it makes this possible with its snap-on technology to easily attach and detach accessories. I found it very practical and easy to do compared to other e-bikes that require a lot more work to modify.
Coming off the RadExpand 5 Plus' revolutionary BMX-style handlebar, transitioning back to the MOD's flat handlebar had me nervous. I didn't think I would be able to find a similar comfort or control with the City+ 3, but I was pleasantly surprised. The handling isn't as good as what you can get with a BMX handlebar, but it was close. The City+ 3's handlebars aren't completely straight, so there was a bit more control than most foldable e-bikes when I was hitting the top speed of 28 mph. I always felt in control and was not afraid to push the bike further if I could&#;and you can, as you'll read in a bit.
The City+ 3 has a wide, well-padded seat which has a 40 mm travel suspension seat post. Riding over bumps, sidewalks, or most objects on the road didn't feel like worrisome obstacles, even at high speeds. Overall, it was a sturdy, smooth ride.
The left handlebar has a bell and the main control panel. Pressing and holding the plus button manually turns on the headlights, otherwise, they turn on automatically in the dark. Holding the minus button turns on a very useful walk mode. (Walk Mode gives the bike some push from the battery when you're walking it so you don't have to drag the whole weight of it yourself.)
The right handlebar has a seven-speed trigger shifter and a thumb throttle. The throttle was responsive and well-placed. I didn't feel I would accidentally press it and have my bike take off.
The display is the best one I've tried on an e-bike so far. It has useful metrics like battery percentage, my pedal assist level, the distance I've covered, speed, etc. It looks bright enough to see on a sunny day and the menu is very straightforward to navigate. The bottom of the display has a USB port which was perfect for charging my when I took it on my long rides (you'll still need a mount to prop up your ). The pedal assist and throttle were able to take my 165-pound self up every hill I encountered on the Atlanta Beltline. From a standstill, the throttle can hit the top speed of 28 mph without jerks and in a controlled way.
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of a folding bike is how it actually folds, and the City+ 3 does it well. It takes about 20 seconds once you know what you're doing. The handlebars tuck neatly without pulling on any cables. There's also a velcro strap that helps keep the bike together when handling it once it's folded. Keep in mind that the bike weighs 65 lbs with the battery, so you will need to be a decently strong person to handle it up a set of stairs or put it in a trunk.
Once folded, it measures 42" by 15" by 26.5", which is compact enough to fit in my Toyota Corolla's trunk. Be warned that if you rest the weight of the bike on right handlebar when handling it, it can shift it in enough to where it hits the throttle. If your throttle gets stuck and doesn't spring back into place, just loosen the handlebar and shift it back into place.
MOD finished its homework early and had time to play around when designing the City+ 3. It's a beautiful bike I would not mind showing off in my living room. It also designed a snap-on technology for accessories that makes it very practical to take bags, baskets, or any of its accessories on and off. With all of my other e-bikes, it has been complicated to take these products on and off the bikes, to the point I would rather not use them&#;or I would just leave them on all the time. The snap-on technology actually makes accessories usable and convenient.
Another impressive standout feature is MOD's collaboration with Lumos. You can pair any Lumos Ultra Smart bike helmet with the MOD bike and have the turning signals synced. Pressing the left or right turning signals on the panel will light up the helmet's turning signals. It's also connected to the rear brake lights, so you'll have two lights to warn whoever is behind you.
MOD also has a "secret" mode that releases all limits from the bike and allows you to pedal and throttle as much as you can. It's meant for off-roading and it can actually go faster than its set speed limit of 28mph. To get to that mode, hold the "I" button and when the panel asks for a password, use ".&#;
The MOD City+ 3 is a perfect example of what you can accomplish if you focus on doing the basics right: You have time to add fancy bells and whistles that set you apart from the competition. The City+ 3 is an outstanding foldable e-bike for those who can afford it. A double suspension with a padded saddle and a slightly curved handlebar makes riding very comfortable. The pedal assist and throttle are powerful and give you enough kick to get through any reasonable hurdle. The screen is top-notch, with user-friendly controls and a useful USB port to charge your . Being able to sync my Lumos helmet with the lights and easily snapping the accessories on and off makes this a very practical bike that I can see myself using for most occasions.
If you're looking for a stylish, foldable e-bike that you can easily modify for different tasks, the City+ 3 is your best bet.
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Who can afford these?Been in a bike shop recently? Lots of bikes - both commuter and sport have price tags in this range. Especially e-bikes.
Who can afford these?You can get a ~21 kg generic folding pedelec for around &#; (~$ without VAT I guess). It won't be so well thought out and customised as the GoCycle, but at 1/3rd the price you can probably live with that... Upvote 36 (38 / -2) I think I can see a barrel adjuster on that shifter in the pics. Fixing the gear alignment should have been that easy. Also, you don't want to shift an internal hub under load. Upvote 50 (50 / 0) A friend was a test pilot for GoCycle, whose job was to ride the bikes all day to pile on the miles. I had a go on one of the early ones. I think it&#;s the nicest e-bike I&#;ve ridden, although most of my other experiences have been fishing at the budget end of the market.
It's important to note that what the bike really provides is a pedal assist, so you'll almost always need to be putting some effort into the cranks to keep the bike cruising. If you were hoping to use the motor to avoid any real exertion&#;something that's not unreasonable if you intend to use it to commute in a hot climate&#;you'll be disappointed.Weird. I had a look at it in a local bike shop (just ogling it, way to expensive for me) some time back, and they told me it does offer a pedal&#;less scooter mode. IIRC it just had to be enabled in the app, since it's illegal on public roads and bike paths in Europe. Maybe you missed it, given your problems with the app?
Car+bike has a lot of benefits as a combined mode of transport.Agreed. I'm pure WFH now, but I used to drive across a bridge that was lacking bike access, park, and pull my bike out of the trunk and finish the commute. This avoided a huge and frustrating traffic jam everyday. Total commute time didn't drop, but it was so much nicer.
Car ownership costs $10,728 annually. This is a bargain in comparison.Holy cow, thanks for reminding me the benefits of a small, cheap electric car. My TCO/year is almost 1/10 that number! Upvote -14 (16 / -30) More aerodynamic fairings please. Or else I go back to my old Schwinn Streamliner with balloon tires. Upvote -18 (2 / -20)
I think I can see a barrel adjuster on that shifter in the pics. Fixing the gear alignment should have been that easy. Also, you don't want to shift an internal hub under load.Agree. I rode a bike with a Shimano Alfine 8-speed, and it was a bit touchy: the shifter had to be adjusted just right. With good shifter cables, it won't drift much. Had it for 10 years before I sold it on.
More aerodynamic fairings please. Or else I go back to my old Schwinn Streamliner with balloon tires.At 15 km/hr? You expecting some serious headwinds? Upvote 61 (63 / -2) Post content hidden for low score. Show&#;
Been in a bike shop recently? Lots of bikes - both commuter and sport have price tags in this range.Yep. The carbon frame for the new full suspension trail bike I'm building is shipping Monday. Between the frame and components the cost will be over the top end of the G4. Upvote 22 (22 / 0) On the other hand high end bikes suffer from the same problem: outrageous price inflation in the pursuit of ever diminishing returns. My everyday commuting ride is a $400 road bike with a rack for my bag. I could shave a few seconds off of my commute with an expensive carbon fiber frame, but it would suffer worse attrition from being ridden every day and would be far more expensive to replace when it is stolen. Outside of people who actually race their bikes and seriously care about hundreths of a second I think the high end market is serving them poorly. Upvote 5 (15 / -10)
Yep. The carbon frame for the new full suspension trail bike I'm building is shipping Monday. Between the frame and components the cost will be over the top end of the G4.There is something of a renaissance in biking these days. Stores are selling everything from folding bikes to carbon fiber electric full suspension mountain bikes and a dozen steps in between.
C'mon, folks. It's a custom engineered boutique folding e-bike made in the UK. NOTHING about that says cheap. Honestly, 3.5k isn't half bad.Think of it as the cheapest McLaren you can buy!
... a specific niche: people who want a bike that can fit into commutes that may include rail travel or destinations without bike parking. And the G4 completely nails it here.Looks like it; very well thought-out. Of course, here in the US, while there is rail transit in some larger urban areas, most transit is buses. Most buses have racks on the outside for a couple of regular bikes. Bike-assisted commutes are rare enough that at least one of those rack spaces is usually available. So if you can hoist it on to the rack, you're good. As long as you have a place to secure it at work.
At 15 km/hr? You expecting some serious headwinds?Common wind speeds in SF or Fairfield, CA, in the afternoon, are in the 15-30mph range, with gusts 30-40. So yes, headwinds if you heading west or southwest, which many people will be if they live in the more suburb-y parts of SF, or if they commute on Amtrak or work at Travis and live in Fairfield. Upvote -16 (5 / -21) I just can't get into foldable bikes. They just don't seem like a good riding experience. I feel like any situation in which you'd actually need a small foldable bike, there would be better alternatives, like rentable scooters or bikes.
On the other hand high end bikes suffer from the same problem: outrageous price inflation in the pursuit of ever diminishing returns. My everyday commuting ride is a $400 road bike with a rack for my bag. I could shave a few seconds off of my commute with an expensive carbon fiber frame, but it would suffer worse attrition from being ridden every day and would be far more expensive to replace when it is stolen. Outside of people who actually race their bikes and seriously care about hundreths of a second I think the high end market is serving them poorly.yea, my mom bought my mountain bike used for me for ~$100 around 14 years ago and its still holding up. I just hope people don't see these expensive bikes and think all decent bikes are this expensive. Upvote -5 (8 / -13) Post content hidden for low score. Show&#;
Holy cow, thanks for reminding me the benefits of a small, cheap electric car. My TCO/year is almost 1/10 that number!insurance?
At 15 km/hr? You expecting some serious headwinds?Paradoxical it may seem, but any elegant integrated kool factor is associated with better performance in use. Upvote 0 (0 / 0)
You can get a ~21 kg generic folding pedelec for around &#; (~$ without VAT I guess). It won't be so well thought out and customised as the GoCycle, but at 1/3rd the price you can probably live with that...The Lectric XP 3.0 is $999, or you can get the 2.0 for $800 and upgrade the brakes and the freewheel and get mostly the same thing (though the upgraded motor controller on the 3.0 might make it worth it just for long-term reliability). Upvote 7 (7 / 0)
Great job compared to whats already out there from other companies but it still looks bulky, awkward and pokey as fuck when foldedI mean, it's an adult-size bike that folds up. And includes a battery and powertrain. Feel free to design something like that isn't bulky when folded...
I don't know if I'd call 38lbs light. Maybe comparably to other e-bikes, but that's a good amount of weight to be expected to carry more than a short distance.It doesn't strike me as the kind of thing you are meant to carry long diatnces. The point of folding seems to be 1) store it in a small apartment, 2) keep it near you on a train or something, or 3) stash in the trunk of your car. Upvote 41 (42 / -1)
Common wind speeds in SF or Fairfield, CA, in the afternoon, are in the 15-30mph range, with gusts 30-40. So yes, headwinds if you heading west or southwest, which many people will be if they live in the more suburb-y parts of SF, or if they commute on Amtrak or work at Travis and live in Fairfield.As a side&#;note and no offence meant, but did you actually measure these at ground level with an anemometer? It's like when hiking or camping &#; people really tend to exaggerate wind speeds they "encountered", reading a forecast that usually states the wind speed at thirty feet above ground as gospel, while the actual speed at the level of terrain is often much lower. 30&#;40 mph wind already makes walking pretty difficult... Upvote 26 (28 / -2)