Happy Run G100 Dual Battery E-Bike is a modern electric bike

As e-bikes boomed, they quickly diversified into categories similar to regular bikes: mountain bikes, urban cruisers, no-nonsense commuters, cargo bikes, road bikes with skinny tires, kids bikes and so on. But since they are Do If you have a motor, e-bike makers have also begun to push the limits of e-bike power and speed into the world of electric motorcycles, giving rise to the kind of stealthy class of high-speed machines we used to call “scooters” years ago.

Motorcycles (below), if the exact definition isn’t clear to you, fall in the unhappy middle of a motorcycle/bicycle Venn diagram. Because they have pedals, they’re not quite motorcycles or scooters. They also don’t qualify as bicycles because power traditionally comes from a small gas engine, usually 49cc or less, and has a top speed on flat terrain (or inclines) of about 30 mph.

Motorcycles are heavy and almost impossible to move poor Bicycles. Underpowered, small and slow, they are terrible motorcycles. However, as a means of personal transportation, scooters have retained some desirability because they are simple and affordable, can transport passengers from point A to point B on city streets with little effort or cost, and typically require only the most basic of licenses. Although scooters have not become widespread in the United States, they still have a loyal following among those who ride and enjoy them in the United States.

Today, electric bikes that mimic scooters – and to some extent small motorcycles – are widely available from many e-bike makers. They’re faster than most e-bikes, and feel more like motorcycles — or even typical scooters — without the hot, messy, polluting gas engine. In some EU countries, e-bikes are available that can achieve scooter speeds Do not require Driver’s license/permit of some sort, plus registration, license plate, insurance, etc. In the United States, they don’t. for now.

Typically, we reviewers call “open class” e-bike models “roadsters” rather than scooters, because even though they look similar to the old scooters, they are much better at… Everything.

The positively named HappyRun Tank G100 (above) is just such a machine. It even looks like a scooter – and a bit like a motorcycle. But it has pedals, seven reverse gears, a 1,000-watt rear hub motor that can jump to a peak 2,000 watts as needed, and two batteries for extended range riding (more than 130 miles of claimed range, but we’ll get to that).

Maximum pedal-assist speed is about 30 mph – just like a moped or most DOT-spec 49cc scooters that require a driver’s license. It also has an “off-road” mode that allows a top speed of over 30 mph, a common feature among e-roadster bikes. Nearly 100 Nm of torque helps achieve great speed.

HappyRun Tank G100 Overview

The Tank G100 also features full long travel suspension, which is somewhat adjustable up front and from what I can tell, the dual rear shocks are not adjustable although they appear to have adjustment collars and remote reservoirs with adjusters. They don’t.

The G100 also includes LED turn signals, a four-element LED headlight, an LED brake light (mounted above the license plate) and a high-color LCD information display panel. Didn’t come with mirrors. Some roadsters in this segment have mirrors to make them road legal in the European Union. The dual battery setup consists of a large 20 amp-hour battery located under the upper frame rail, and a second 18 amp-hour battery in the “gas tank” above it. Both are removable for charging the bike. The power switch under the seat allows one or both batteries to operate, but not one or the other – unless you turn a dead one on.

Assembly: Additional parts and missing pages

During assembly, I found that I had some extra parts not listed in the manual, and after an email exchange with HappyRun, they updated my instructions to show that the pieces consisted of a back rail and support bracket (which is what I suspected). They also said the “barrier” would protect the power switch located under the seat, which it doesn’t come close to doing. It will prevent water from splashing onto the back of your clothes while riding in the rain, but the power switch remains unprotected under the seat, so I continued riding sorties even on dry days (which can be a challenge in Oregon).

also, Anywhere In the manual I received, it said the main power switch is under the seat! At first, I thought I had a broken bike because it wouldn’t start, even though both batteries showed a full charge and the NFC card was great for activation. Eventually, we sorted things out, and the G100 tank was finally up and running. HappyRun told me that they will update their manuals to avoid confusing other customers. With e-bikes from startups in China, this is not uncommon.

Ride time

Once started, a few things about the Tank G100 immediately stood out. Thanks to this big engine, it’s very powerful indeed – but it’s also unusually quiet. Class 3 speeds of 28 mph are reached quickly with only light input on the pedals when set for Level 4 assist.

Despite its towering 35-inch seat height, likely due to the long-travel suspension (most e-bikes are well under 30 inches), the Tank G100 was Still Too narrow for me to easily pedal, at least with my 34-inch inseam. For shorter riders, it will probably be more manageable, but then they have to deal with a very tall seat, which is not adjustable. It’s a difficult combination to get right, and like the G100, many roadsters err on the side of shorter seat height making pedaling essentially decorative, since that’s not the main power source anyway. Simply twist (or push) and start with the throttle and engine. No one buys a roadster e-bike to get into Peloton shape. These are very lightweight and fun motorcycles. Very few roadsters I’ve tried have enough legroom for my 6-foot-1 frame when pedaling, and I was comfortable enough on the G100 once I engaged the throttle.

On my secret test track away from public roads, I was able to get the Tank G100 up to an indicated 33 mph with both batteries and pedal assist running at max, or level 5… as well as using the pedals, at least until I was It is therefore pointless to do so. But by keeping the pedals turning (albeit slowly), the G100 eventually found maximum speed on a long, flat straight road. Dual hydraulic disc brakes are up to the task of slowing down the 105-pound Tank G100. But the maximum speed power drains the batteries quickly.

I was a little surprised by the overall comfort level on the move from the compliant and firm suspension, but the seat is quite hard compared to other roadsters. Since I ride a lot of dual-sport and adventure motorcycles, I also pointed the Tank 100 out on some dirt trails near my house and found that the 20-inch tires with light knobs could make their way down a dry, worn-out road with some pep. . The long handlebar and suspension make standing-up riding easy and fun in the rough stuff. I didn’t ride in any deep mud or standing water.

At night, the quad-LED headlight punctures the A huge A hole in the dark – it is enormously So bright that motorists flashed their lights at me until I adjusted the headlight housing a bit. When the main LED lights are off (usually for daytime riding), the LED halo light signals you in traffic. I was very happy to see that the bright taillight always came on when I applied the brake. As mentioned, “chaseer” LED turn signals are standard and help make the rider more visible (and communicative) at night.

The tall seat and dual shocks will allow for a range of smaller bags to carry items, but adding an actual rack for larger loads isn’t an option the company offers, at least not yet. The bottom frame has a built-in compartment that fits wallet, water bottle, gloves, phone charger, etc. Soft motorcycle panniers and a backpack should cover most cargo emergencies.

Conclusions

The HappyRun Tank G100 was a little challenging to experience in terms of the manual (which I’m told is now updated) and assembly, but the e-bike itself was actually much better than I expected. Nice touches are sprinkled around: the turn signals beep so you don’t forget they’re on. The bottom frame includes this easy-to-use compartment. The pedals can be folded for easy storage and transport.

The display panel (above), although not a TFT display, is loaded with useful information and is graphically attractive. Plus this powerful flashlight! Having seven actual gears at the rear end also helps when pedaling compared to the single gear typical of most roadsters. I like being able to run one battery at a time or both as needed. It’s like having a spare gas tank. I love how quiet it is.

But it’s not perfect. The seat is very Tall, making it difficult for short riders to ride and control the bike when stopped. They are also too thin and too hard for long distance riding while seated. The main power switch, oddly located under the seat, remains exposed to the elements during a wet or muddy ride and doesn’t seem splash-proof at all. The “horn” is the awful bell sound coming from a loudspeaker; Just place the appropriate bell on the handlebars. The LCD screen is great but can be difficult to read in direct sunlight.

As far as range goes, “up to 130+” miles on pedal assist will need to include plenty of inclines, tailwinds, and low gravity, using only Class 1 mode and a lot From her threats. maybe then. My experience included heavy throttle, pedaling a bit, often riding at speeds over 20 mpg, which burned through both batteries in less than 60 miles, and I’d bet that kind of usage is fairly typical. However, 60 miles is a very good range on most e-bikes, and is far beyond what most people cover in a day (or week). If I’m a little shorter than my 6’1″ self, pedaling a lot will extend the range. If you were a lot lighter than my 230 lbs, your range would be better. Maybe much better.

At $1,699 MSRP, most of these issues can be fixed in some way, and the powerful, quiet engine, unexpectedly good suspension, and solid lighting package make up for a lot of these shortcomings. Bottom line: It’s a fun, useful, and entertaining e-bike to ride. It’s not my cup of tea, but that doesn’t matter much since everywhere I go, people immediately come up asking about it and how they can get their own cup.

If you want to get into motorcycling at a very basic level, the HappyRun Tank G100 is a good way to start. It’s also a fun and useful electric bike. be seen? It could be both.