Getting around is easier than ever on the GoTrax CTI 3, the newest electric bike in GoTrax’s lineup. This bike offers an impressive range. It offers a host of features that make city streets and rugged paths simple to traverse, including Pedal Assist Technology.
When you use your electric bike for commuting, it must work. This bike is durable and will never leave you stranded. We took a closer look at this bike in order to bring you the best recommendations for Canadians. This is what we found.
Unboxing and Assembly
We received the CTI 3 quickly. We were eager to get our hands on it, as the features seemed great for the price point. As soon as we took the parts of the bike out of the box, the quality of the materials was obvious. Everything looked comfortable, high-quality, and ready to go.
Putting the bike together was simple. The instructions were easy to follow, and we were able to get it together without any hassle. Each of the pieces fit together perfectly, including the rear storage rack. We ordered the gray version of the bike, and the overall aesthetic was very modern and capable.
Charging
With the bike put together, it was time to get it ready for a test drive. Though the battery came with some charge, we wanted to make sure that we were starting with a completely fresh charge.
While the 48V13.8AH battery usually takes about 6 hours to completely recharge, it only took about two and a half hours for our battery. Out of the box, it has enough charge to get you going.
We took this time to go over the look and feel of the bike. The seat was comfortable and ergonomic, supportive without being too firm for longer rides. The gear changer on the handlebars had 7 available speeds, and clicking between them felt tactile and intuitive.
Once the battery was ready to go, it was time to test how the GoTrax CTI 3 performed.
Speed and Range
According to GoTrax, the CTI 3 has a max speed of 32KPH. The range varies based on whether you use the pedal assist or not, so we put this bike to the test using the Pedal Assist system first.
While pedal-assist features are active, the bike can go for up to 95KPH before the battery needs to be recharged. This is, as GoTrax states, on a flat surface with no frequent stopping or starting, and with the wheels at 40 PSI.
There are multiple factors, as we see here, that can affect the range of your electric bike. The conditions of the road, how often you are stopping for traffic, the features you use, and how much weight is on the bike.
While the weight limit for the CTI 3 is 264 pounds, the performance will take a hit when you get close to this number.
There are five pedal assist settings, represented by the numbers 1 through 5. The first is a lighter pedal-assist feature, which only helps you with pedalling occasionally, such as in areas with smaller hills. When you get up to the 5th level, the bike is doing most of the work for you.
As such, you can expect the range of the bike to decrease as you apply more pedal assist. At level 5, you can expect the bike to go for 48 KM (instead of the 95 KM it could make at level 1).
Other Factors
Aside from pedal assist, there are other factors that GOTRAX suggests you consider before looking at the range of your bike. If you use a throttle only, your bike won’t go as far. Pure electric mode, where the bike is doing all of the work for you, shortens the range to about 45 KM. How fast you are going can also affect how the bike works for you.
With all of this in mind, we filled our tires up to the recommended 40 PSI and set out to find the flattest stretch of open space we could. Our test driver was of average height and build, well below the 264-pound limit (and within the height range of 5’2” to 6’2”).
The bike was powerful enough to take on anything we threw at it during our test drives. It excelled on flat surfaces and climbed small hills and rugged paths with ease. Since this is a commuter bike, we attempted to simulate most conditions you might encounter during your commute (including traffic and stop lights).
Performance
The performance of the GoTrax CTI 3 was around what GoTrax claimed it would be. With more stops, rugged roads, and different pedal assist functionality, the bike’s range was vastly different. It’s important to consider all of these factors before you purchase the bike. You need a commuter bike to be as reliable as possible!
The headlight on the front of the bike illuminated the road ahead well, though using it did take some charge off of the expected range. The display, too, was extremely helpful. We were able to see how fast we were going as well as the discharge rate of the battery. It told us how much time we had left before we needed a charge, too.
Gauging performance is a little tricky with this bike because of the factors that can change how it works. Suffice it to say that this bike does everything it’s supposed to. If you understand how your specific conditions can affect how the bike performs, you will be blown away by the performance of this top-of-the-line electric bike.
Redefining Your Commute
The GoTrax CTI 3 is a new bike on the cutting edge of electric bike technology. This model features some of the best speed and range statistics we’ve tested, even when we factor in different terrain, weights, and more. No matter how you slice it, this bike offers a quality alternative to other transportation methods, which can be costly for you and the environment.
