Electra Townie Go! 8i first look

A cruiser that can truly cruise

Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

Published: June 22, 2016 at 1:00 pm

Electra made its name with cruisers that combined an old-school aesthetic with a modern execution and creative geometry. Now, with the Townie Go!, Electra has electrified its smooth-rolling machines.

The Townie Go! 8i comes in a variety of women’s (shown) and men’s styles, but all feature the proven Bosch Performance 250w mid-frame motor and Shimano’s tried-and-true Nexus 8-speed internal hub.

A bosch performance 250w mid-frame motor offers four levels of pedal-assist power: a bosch performance 250w mid-frame motor offers four levels of pedal-assist power - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

The Bosch Performance motor provides extra oomph once you start pedaling, and you can control the amount of assistance on the fly

What does all this mean? It means you have a cruiser that can really cruise, as Bosch’s pedal-assist system kicks in within a quarter turn of the cranks, and can be adjusted on the fly between one of four assist settings.

Shimano’s Nexus drivetrain lets you switch gears with a twist shifter on the right hand grip, and the internal drivetrain keeps the lines clean (as compared with a derailleur system's hanging chain and two pulleys).

As with the standard Townies, these e-cruisers from Electra let riders put both feet flat on the ground when seated. Electra calls this, well, Flat Foot Technology. This is achieved by putting the saddle a ways back from the bottom bracket, which is the pivot point between the cranks. In this way you can have proper leg extension for pedaling efficiency, and still feel very stable when stoping or starting or just hanging out sitting on the bike.

Electra's beach cruiser aesthetic is alive and well. and comfy: electra's beach cruiser aesthetic is alive and well. and comfy - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

Electra's bikes are designed for comfort

Electra claims a pedal-assist range of between 20 and 100mi, depending on which assist mode you use and the terrain. (More assistance and more hills means less range.)

Charge time on the lithium-ion battery (that’s the big black thing attached to the down tube) is 90 minutes to half charge, and 3.5hr to a full battery from empty.

In line with regional regulations, the Townie Go! 8i has a top assisted speed of 20mph in the US and 25kph in Europe. Of course, the bike can be coasted downhill or pedaled without assistance at higher speeds, but the motor cuts out at these specified speeds.

You toggle between four levels of pedal-assist - or none - with this left-side switch: you toggle between four levels of pedal-assist - or none - with this left-side switch - Ben Delaney / Immediate Media

The +/- switch controls the amount of electric power assistance