Electra Townie Go! 7D eBike Review – 2024

In-Depth Review

Frame

Many eBikes are constructed with 6061 aluminum, an alloy that offers a great balance of durability while staying lightweight and affordable. There are multiple variants of 6061 aluminum, with the best variant being 6061-T6, which maximizes durability and toughness without significantly increasing the weight. This is the exact alloy used to construct the Trek Electra Townie Go! 7D electric bike, providing it with fantastic durability while weighing just 48 lbs fully assembled. While the 48 lbs weight is still more noticeable than what you typically get with a non-motorized bike, the 48 lbs assembly weight is significantly lighter than what you’ll find in many other electric bikes.

Another great aspect of the Townie Go! 7D is that it is available in two different models, consisting of a Step-Over and Step-Thru design. The Step-Over is recommended for cyclists who are 5’5’’ to 6’3’’, while the Step-Thru model is recommended for cyclists who are 4’11’’ to 5’11’’. Due to the customization options on these eBikes, you should still be comfortable even if you are a couple inches taller or shorter than the recommended heights for these frames. Both electric bikes are rated to support up to 300 lbs, including both the rider and any cargo you take with you. It’s a great range and weight support for an entry level bike, and even more extensive than what you’ll find with many mid-level electric bikes.

Motor & Battery

The Trek Electra Townie Go! 7D is a class 1 eBike, with pedal activated motor assistance up to 20 MPH.

The Townie Go! 7D has a 250 W Hydrive rear hub motor, which is a bit of a mixed bag for us in terms of the performance it provides. The motor is very lightweight and helps the eBike stay so affordable, and if you are sticking mostly to flat road riding you don’t need a motor that much stronger. The small motor size also means minimal battery drain, helping you travel farther on a single charger compared to other eBikes with significantly larger motors and batteries. The main drawback though is that the motor struggles even when you have to climb a light hill, and won’t be able to provide you with sufficient motor strength if you have a very steep or challenging hill to tackle. This is an entry-level eBike, so you don’t expect too powerful of a motor, but only consider this electric bike if you are looking for a commuter or cruiser style eBike you plan to mainly use on easy, flat roads.

Like the motor itself, we have mixed feelings about the battery included with the Electra Townie Go! 7D eBike. The Hydrive 309 Wh battery is also lightweight like the motor, reducing the total weight of the final assembled eBike, besides helping save money in terms of overall cost as well. Since the motor is so small, you don’t need a particularly large battery either, and with the right settings you can travel over 40 miles on a single charge with the 309 Wh battery. As an entry-level eBike, the overall range is on par with many other eBikes that have a similar price point, and with the included 2 amp charger recharging from 0% to 100% takes just 3 to 4 hours. If you do want to upgrade your eBike though, swapping out the battery with something that’s even more powerful will greatly extend the range of your eBike. Just make sure you check compatibility before you do upgrade your battery, as it isn’t as simple as simply looking for a battery with a larger watt hour

Display/Assist Modes

Another component that riders are going to have split opinions on is the LED display. This is one of the smallest and simplest LED motor displays on the market, with just three buttons, a readout for your battery, and a readout for your assist level included. If you prefer a very simplified display, especially one that doesn’t weigh down your handlebars or get in your way, then the included display is great. If you were hoping for something that did report key metrics like your speed, trip distance, watt output and more, you’re better off considering a more mid-level or premium eBike instead. The display is fixed as well, so it can’t be replaced easily if you like the bike but wish you had a better motor control system.

The Electra Townie Go! 7D is a class 1 eBike, so your motor will help you accelerate up to 20 MPH before shutting itself off. The motor is capped at 20 MPH so that you can purchase and ride the Townie Go! 7D without any additional registration or licensing. With manual pedaling though, you can exceed the 20 MPH speed cap, with the motor automatically turning itself back on once you drop below 20 MPH.

There are three assist levels on the Townie Go! 7D, along with a walk mode that provides motor power while dismounted and walking with the eBike. Lower pedal assist levels provide less power and slower acceleration, but maximizes the energy life in your battery for greater riding range. Higher pedal assist levels provide greater power and acceleration, but have a larger battery drain and will limit how far you can travel before the battery runs out of power. Get some practice in with all three power settings, and you’ll be able to maximize your range and motor performance in any riding situation.

Handling

• On Streets- The Trek Electra Townie Go! 7D is a city commuter/cruiser eBike, so it’s designed to handle especially well as long as you’re on paved roads. Both tire sizes are tall enough to provide great speed while riding, while they’re a good width to balance overall stability without compromising on overall handling. With the patented Flat Foot Technology design, you will have a comfortable riding experience without sacrificing any handling or control on your eBike.
• Turn Radius- While it isn’t necessarily designed with performing tricks, the Townie Go! 7D does have a tight turn radius given its smaller and lighter construction. If you need to navigate down a tight alleyway, or are going somewhere with a tight doorway, you won’t have too much trouble getting the Townie Go! 7D through any narrow passageway. Taking a bit of extra time to turn the Electra Townie Go! 7D can also be helpful, so don’t try to rush it if you do find yourself needing to make an especially tight turn.
• Low Speed Handling- At 48 lbs, the Townie Go! 7D is a far easier electric bike to handle at low speeds compared to other, heavier frames. The Townie Go! 7D also has two great options to further improve low speed handling, though they both require battery power to make use of. If you’re riding the bike, setting your eBike to the lowest pedal assist mode and pedaling slowly will provide you with just enough kick to more easily maneuver the eBike at low speeds. Alternatively, you can dismount and make use of the walk mode, which pushes your eBike with just a little bit of motor power without going so fast that you have to worry about it shooting out from your hands. Overall, the Townie Go! 7D is a fairly easy eBike to handle at low speeds, with or without motor power.

Gears/DriveTrain

The Trek Electra Townie Go! 7D is a primarily Shimano based drivetrain, with a 7-speed 14-34 T cassette attached to a 42 T FSA chainring via a KMC Z7 eBike optimized chain. As a 7-speed eBike, you don’t have the control and gearing options typically required for a mountain bike, but it is enough for riders who intend to use the eBike for cycling around a city. Shimano is one of the most popular eBike drivetrain manufacturers in the industry, and with a double chain guard setup you’ll be spending even less time maintaining your drivetrain throughout the year. The chain guards protect the drivetrain against mud, rocks, and other debris, while also having the added benefit of restricting chain movement so it’s less likely to fall off the eBike while you ride. As a final note, one of the added benefits of having such a small motor is that it is barely more taxing on the chain than your typical non-motorized drivetrain. As a result, the KMC Z7 chain will last far longer than it would on eBikes with more powerful motors, so you’ll spend more time riding the Townie Go! 7D and less time getting it serviced at a repair shop or in your garage.

Brakes

One of the stand out components on the Electra Townie Go! 7D is the Tektro mechanical disc braking system. The eBike has 180 mm rotor brakes on both the front and rear wheel, which is more than enough stopping power even when you’re riding at high speeds to keep up with traffic. The mechanical disc brakes also provide strong, responsive feedback when you pull on the levers, helping you verify just how much pressure you’re applying with your brakes for an even more controlled stop. Lastly, it’s worth highlighting that the braking system is integrated into the motor system, so the motor will shut off completely the moment you start to apply the brakes. Having an integrated braking and motor system means that they won’t compete against each other, helping you come to a quicker stop while also extending the life of both the motor and brakes.

Suspension

There is no suspension fork included with the Townie Go! 7D, but there are a number of systems in place that do help it feel more stable as you ride over cobblestone and other bumpy road sections. The larger tires, extra large saddle, and Flat Foot Technology design work together in tandem so that you can not only ride over cobblestone and loose gravel, but on light mountain trails as well. If you would like additional suspension support though, a 27.2mm suspension seat post would be a great option to consider if you want to make every ride with the Townie Go! 7D smoother!

Pedals

The pedals are another area where, while it meets the standard for entry-level eBikes, they’re worth upgrading if you can afford to spend a bit more. The plastic resin pedal platforms are large enough to support almost any size of rider, while also having a rubber tread to reduce the wear and tear that comes with riding on the Townie Go! 7D. For our part though, we prefer aluminum platform pedals to plastic, because aluminum provides even greater traction support while having greater durability, greatly reducing the risk of breaking your pedals if you suffer a crash. The pedals are fine enough for casual cruising through the city, and they do have some reflective lighting to make it easier to spot you while you ride.

Grips and Saddle

The Townie Go! 7D has Comfort Kraton grips, which are ergonomic so that you can ride for several hours straight while minimizing the strain and discomfort in your hands and arms. These grips are mounted on the 680mm wide handlebars, which is built out of the same high quality aluminum alloy as the rest of the frame. As mentioned previously, the extra large saddle is also quite comfortable to use, making up for the lack of suspension support with this eBike. The real highlight when it comes to comfort though is the patented Flat Foot Technology, an exclusive eBike frame design incorporated only into Electra eBikes.This eBike is made so that you can have an upright, relaxed seating position that minimizes lower back strain while allowing you to have proper leg extension while pedaling or when you need to plant your feet on the ground. If you haven’t had the chance to ride one before, check out your local bike dealer so you can feel the difference that comes with riding an Electra eBike for yourself!

Wheels and Tires

The one area where you do see a significant difference between the Townie Go! 7D Step-Over and Step-Thru electric bikes are the wheels. The Step-Over has 27.5″ × 2.35″ Balloon tires, while the 26″ × 2.35″ Balloon tires. Both tires are mounted on anodized alloy 36 hole rims, with stainless steel 14 gauge front spokes and 13 gauge rear spokes. The overall PSI is recommended to be set between the 40 to 65 PSI range, with 40 PSI ideal for light trail riding while 65 PSI is better set for city cruising. Overall, these are reliable and trustworthy tires, though there isn’t much offered in terms of puncture protection, so careful if you want to ride on a particularly rocky trail. There isn’t any reflective stripes or taping either, so make sure you add some if you want to maximize how safe it is to ride on the Townie Go! 7D electric bike.

Accessories/Upgrades

The Trek Electra Townie Go! 7D is a entry-level eBike, so for the most part we aren’t surprised that there aren’t many accessories or upgrades included with the stock model. The one area where we are a bit critical is that some more lighting features should be included with the stock model. Lighting and reflective features help a lot in increasing the rider’s profile, making cyclists significantly easier to spot in order to minimize the danger of suffering a collision. Adding a few lighting options, like a headlight and some reflective taping, should be some of the first upgrades you make to the Electra Townie Go! 7D electric bike. If you would like to see some of our favorite accessories, here are a few you could consider adding to your order for the best eBiking experience:

• Electra Retro Headlight
• Electra Lifestyle Lux Ace Bike Helmet
• Electra ABUS Steel Chain Combo Lock
• Electra Cheers Domed Ringer Bike Bell
• Electra Lucky Cat Domed Ringer Bike Bell
• Electra Lunar Domed Ringer Bike Bell
• Electra Cheers Wired Can Holder
• Electra Bicycle Cover
• Electra Go! MIPS Bike Helmet
• Electra Love-Ocado Socks

Recommendation

*For up-to-date pricing on the Electra Townie Go! 7D click here

The Trek Electra Townie Go! 7D is a fun cruiser/commuter eBike for those just getting into cycling, or for experienced cyclists looking for a lightweight secondary bike. The components range in quality, but one that particularly stands out is the 6061-T6 aluminum frame with patented Flat Foot Technology, providing great durability and comfort options while staying under 50 lbs. The Shimano based 7-speed drivetrain provides good gearing options for city cruising, with the Hydrive 250 W rear hub motor giving enough push to keep up with traffic and even go on occasional light trail riding. You can swap it out for a larger battery for greater range, but the Hydrive 309Wh battery will help you go up to 40 miles on a single charge, especially as you make use of the three pedal assist modes with the LED remote display. The 180 mm rotor mechanical disc brakes provide plenty of stopping power to help you come to a quick and steady stop, and is integrated with the motor as well for even greater performance. The saddle and grips provide even greater comfort, though for additional safety and durability we would swap out the pedals and add a headlight along with some fenders. Even in the stock model though, there are plenty of great features on this city cruiser, so if you’re looking for your first eBike on a tighter budget consider the Trek Electra Townie Go! 7D electric bike!

Thank you again for reading our spec review of the Trek Electra Townie Go! 7D electric bike! Leave a comment below if you would like to see a full performance review or video review of this electric bike.