GOTRAX F2 E-Bike Review

The Gotrax F2 is the exact type of e-bike to look at if you are wanting a solid first e-bike. Its relatively small size and folding capabilities make it just about as compact as an adult ebike can be, but still delivers the performance, quality and features to make it fun and versatile.

Will it satisfy expert e-bikers? No. This is a beginner-friendly bike from Gotrax. That said, the $799 price tag makes this one of the best values on the market for an electric bike with high top speed, long range, off-road capability, room for cargo, and a space-saving form factor.

There are bicycles made for almost everyone, no matter their skill-level, age, or abilities. In recent years, this has been the case with e-bikes, too. Electric versions of specialist mountain bikes and road cycles have joined the market next to big electric cargo bikes– and everything in-between.

Recently, scooter maker Gotrax has thrown their electric hat into the e-bike-making ring, and we’ve had the chance to test one of their first bikes, the F2.

Just as we’ve been super impressed with Gotrax’s recent scooters, we found lots to love about the F2. It rolls comfortably in-between performance bikes and bulky grocery getters, with the added perk of folding up neatly for portability.

No, it’s not going to impress hardcore cyclists, but that’s not who the F2 is for. It is for people who want a reliable beginner e-bike that can go pretty much anywhere, from sandy beachfront paths to snowy mountain roads.

To boot, the F2 folds compactly to fit in the trunk – no more unwieldy, unstable bike racks – and it’s got powerful torque and long range, even in its highest speed mode. For only $799, the F2 offers value and features found on bikes that cost hundreds more.

Related: Should You Buy an E Bike or an Electric Scooter?

The G3 Plus takes many of the best qualities from the company’s budget models, nailing the basics while skipping the frills.

Our Take: A Well-Built, Folding Commuter Bike with Value and Features that Usually Cost Hundreds More

Is it Good for Bigger, Heavier Riders?

The F2 is a good bike for larger riders, but with a word of caution: The max rider weight is 265, so it should handle most riders, but if you are close to the rider limit or above it, you might look to get a non-folding bike, as they will handle weight much better than folding bikes.

For riders within the weight limit, large 3-inch wide tires give this bike plenty of cushioning over bumps, curbs, potholes, and other obstacles, and the front suspension, though short, does an adequate job of absorbing shocks.

Some reviewers have criticized the F2’s “jumpy” throttle, but to be fair, this is to be expected in less-expensive electric bikes like this one, and it’s not overly aggressive.

The F2 has cadence pedal assist, rather than torque pedal assist, so the motor will always be active at full power when pedaling rather than sensing how hard you are pedaling. This is much more intuitive for new riders and the riding modes make it easy to set how fast you want to go.

Top Speed

This is a class 2 ebike so it is limited to 20 miles an hour, but if you know anything about us here at Rider Guide, you know we like to verify everything ourselves with our testing equipment.

We tested the actual top speed of the F2 with the mode 5 pedal assist and also with just the throttle and sure enough, the bike officially does a true 20 miles an hour, even jumping up to almost 24 miles an hour with the throttle on flat ground.

Hill Climb

We did our usual hill climb test to get a feel for how the F2 handles hills. Unsurprisingly it had no issues, getting to the top of a 10% 200-foot hill in 14 seconds.

Budget e-bikes offer a huge advantage over budget e-scooters in hill climbing because you get to help the bike by pedaling. Without shifting down from the highest gear, I still was able to easily make it up the hill just by holding the throttle down and pedaling.

Range and Battery

The F2 has a 48V 10.4 Ah battery, and we range-tested it in riding mode 4, which felt like the mode that most people will use, with a good top speed of around 17 miles an hour and enough power for hills. 

We got 22.1 miles in our range test, which matches up almost exactly with Gotrax’s estimated range graph on the product page.

So many makers of both e bikes and electric scooters will give you a range number with no context. That number usually ends up being the maximum range if you are riding at an absurdly low speed in the lowest riding mode. 

Gotrax has done us the favor of actually giving real range numbers based on which mode you ride in. Why can’t all brands do this? There is no excuse for brands to not have this kind of graph on their product pages.

Braking

Front and rear mechanical disc brakes are the minimum requirements expected on ebikes and these ones work fine, bringing the bike to a stop in 16.4 feet from 15 miles an hour.

Ride Quality

The F2 is a 20” ebike with 3” wide fat tires, which help with traction and shock absorption. It also has a front suspension fork which, while small, helps out with ride comfort and takes the sting out of some of the large bumps and potholes you encounter while riding. You can also lock the suspension out for an extended hill climb with a quick twist of this lever.

The adjustable seat post and adjustable handlebar height means it can handle just about any size of rider. E-bike seatposts are often too short for me, a 6 foot 1 rider, but the F2 had seatpost length to spare.

GOTRAX F2 Electric Bike Features

Portability

The F2 is a 20” ebike with 3” wide fat tires, which help with traction and shock absorption. It also has a front suspension fork which, while small, helps out with ride comfort and takes the sting out of some of the large bumps and potholes you encounter while riding. You can also lock the suspension out for an extended hill climb with a quick twist of this lever.

The adjustable seat post and adjustable handlebar height means it can handle just about any size of rider. E-bike seatposts are often too short for me, a 6 foot 1 rider, but the F2 had seatpost length to spare.

Cockpit

The center display is simple and easy to read, displaying current speed, battery level, the odometer, and the current pedal assist mode. 

Lights

The Gotrax F2 e bike comes with a front headlight and rear tail light/brake light.

The lighting is not super-bright and we recommend that you use additional lighting if you ride at night or in low-light conditions.

Tires

The F2’s 20-inch tires are a full 3 inches wide, which make them suitable for riding in almost any conditions, from dirt roads and trails in the summer to snow-covered streets in winter. Fat tire electric bikes are the ultimate in go-anywhere personal electric transportation and the Gotrax F2 is certainly no exception.

Seat

A large, comfortable gel seat comes standard on the F2, but you can fairly easily swap it out for one of the literally thousands of after-market bike saddles available at prices anywhere from around $10 to several hundred. If you’re unsure what kind of saddle fits you best, you can schedule a fitting at most local bike shops. 

Build Quality

The overall design of the Gotrax F2 is simple, but feels solid, with very little noise or rattling coming from the components or frame while riding. The step-through design makes it easy to get onto, even for shorter riders, and the integrated handle makes it easy to quickly lift the bike up and down a set of stairs if needed.

With ebikes at this price you often get lopsided wheels, incorrectly installed components and all sorts of cheap feeling nonsense, but the F2 doesn’t have those issues. Everything is installed properly and working as it should.

The components are all very typical for an ebike this price, but let’s take a closer look at what you get:

The F2 comes with a 7 speed shimano drivetrain. Shimano is a well-known and trusted brand in the biking industry. The Shimano Tourney groupset is entry-level, but Shimano doesn’t make junk bike components, and you don’t need anything fancier on an ebike like this. 

Another upside to using entry-level Shimano components is that if you damage the derailleur or any other component, replacement parts are easy to find and extremely inexpensive.

Safety

The F2’s stability makes it feel safe on the road, but you should always take precautions and wear a helmet when riding. 

Features like front and rear lighting increase the bike’s safety profile. We typically recommend additional headlights for entry-level bikes and electric scooters, and this is the case with the F2. (See our post on riding at night.) 

One of the great things about this e-bike is that its five speed modes make it suitable for every kind of rider

Warranty 

As we’ve noted in previous reviews, GOTRAX has improved their warranty from their previous scooter models. They now offer 1 year of coverage on most major parts and a 6-month warranty on the battery.

GOTRAX F2 Electric Bike: Review Conclusion

Everything that the F2 offers is what you typically see for $1000 or more from other brands, offering a solid, well rounded folding, fat tire ebike for only 800 bucks. This is a great place to start if you are looking for a quality starter ebike for a commute or for casual weekend rides no matter your age or size.