Gotrax Ranger review: Big Comfort in a Small Package

Moto-style e-bikes are becoming increasingly popular, but many of them come with one major drawback: they're big. Really big. For riders who like the relaxed riding position and motorcycle-inspired looks of these bikes but don't necessarily want something enormous, the GoTrax Ranger offers a more compact alternative.

With a 350W motor, twist throttle, fat tires and a long bench-style seat, the Ranger is designed primarily for relaxed city cruising rather than high-performance riding.

I took the GoTrax Ranger out for the day in Salt Lake City to see how it performed in the real world so keep reading to see how I found it… 

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price: $499

Good for:

• City cruising
• People who like the look of moto-style e-bikes but don't want an enormous bike
• Riders who want the option of using a throttle

Pros:

• Really comfortable long bench seat
• Compact and easier to manoeuvre than larger moto-style e-bikes
• Powerful-feeling twist throttle
• Dual mechanical disc brakes
• LED display, headlight and brake light

Cons:

• Noticeable ghost pedalling at higher levels of assistance
• Smaller 350W motor won't suit riders looking for serious performance
• Maximum rider weight of 165lbs is relatively restrictive

Expert verdict:

I took the GoTrax Ranger out for the day in Salt Lake City and found it to be a really enjoyable little city cruiser. It's compact enough to feel manageable, comfortable enough to spend hours riding and has plenty of personality thanks to its moto-style design.

The Ranger isn't trying to be a high-performance e-bike, and riders looking for huge amounts of power or serious off-road capability will probably want something bigger. For $499, the GoTrax Ranger is a fun and affordable option for anyone looking for a compact moto-style e-bike for city cruising.

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Specs:

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Components and build quality:

Moto-style e-bikes have become incredibly popular in recent years, but there is one big problem with many of them: they can be heavy, bulky and difficult to manoeuvre, particularly if you live in a city or don't have a huge amount of storage space. The Gotrax Ranger 16 takes a slightly different approach. It still has the long seat and moped-style frame that give this category of e-bike its distinctive look, but the smaller 16-inch wheels and relatively compact frame make it feel much less intimidating than some of the larger fat tyre bikes we've ridden.

The Ranger 16 is powered by a 350W and GoTrax claim that the 36V 7.8Ah battery can deliver up to 40 miles of range. The bike also comes equipped with three levels of pedal assist and a twist throttle, giving you the choice between putting some effort in or simply letting the motor do the work.

Build quality feels appropriate for the price point. The frame has the chunky, moto-inspired styling that has become popular in this category, while still remaining relatively compact and approachable.

The long cushioned seat is one of the bike's standout features and makes the Ranger comfortable enough to ride all day. It's spacious, soft and gives you plenty of room to find a relaxed riding position.

For a bike costing $499, the Ranger offers a good balance between practical components and the distinctive styling that makes moto-style e-bikes so appealing.

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Performance and handling:

At 56.9lbs, it's not exactly lightweight in the traditional bicycle sense, but for a moto-style e-bike it feels manageable. Once you're riding, the compact frame makes the Ranger easy to manoeuvre and surprisingly nimble. That makes it particularly well suited to city riding.

The comfort was probably one of my favourite parts of the GoTrax Ranger. The long bench-style seat gives you plenty of room to move around and find a comfortable riding position. It's soft and bouncy, which makes a surprising difference when you're spending a long time on the bike. In fact, the seat is so bouncy that, while the Ranger doesn't have rear suspension, it almost feels as though there is some form of cushioning happening at the back of the bike. The 16" x 3" tires also help here to soak up any bumps or dips in the road. Together, the tyres and seat make this a genuinely comfortable bike for cruising around town.

I found the handling particularly enjoyable while riding around Salt Lake City; it definitely feels at home on long city roads. It's not trying to be an aggressive or sporty e-bike. Instead, the Ranger feels relaxed and easy-going. You can comfortably cruise through the city, navigate corners and move around traffic without feeling like you're wrestling with a particularly heavy machine. The moped-style frame also gives the bike a different riding position to a traditional e-bike. You're sitting back rather than leaning forward, which suits the relaxed cruising character of the Ranger.

The twist-and-go throttle delivers power smoothly and seamlessly. I will say however, that it is quite easy to experience ghost pedaling when in pedal assist level 3. 

Safety and security:

The integrated front and rear LED lights brick you safe and seen making sure that you can see and be seen on the roads at all times. 

The Ranger also comes equipped with dual mechanical disc brakes, which provide reliable stopping power when you need it. Mechanical disc brakes aren't as premium as the hydraulic systems found on some more expensive e-bikes, but for a $499 city cruiser, they feel appropriate and provide dependable braking performance. 

The compact size of the Ranger is also an advantage from a safety perspective. It feels easier to manoeuvre through city streets than some of the larger and heavier moto-style e-bikes, giving you more confidence when navigating traffic and tighter spaces.

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