Swagtron EB-5 Pro e-bike review

Swagtron EB-5 Pro Electric bike front
Swagtron EB-5 Pro Electric bike back

The Swagtron Swagcycle EB-5 Pro has a long, convoluted name but it’s an impressive electric bike. Like other Swagtron products, it’s sleek, modern, and durable (see our Swagtron Pro T1 hoverboard review).

The first thing to mention is the price. If you’re looking for a cheap electric bike then this is a good option. It’ll cost you around $500 USD (£365 / 412€) - which is cheap for an electric bike - and it’s a quality e-bike too.

As well as being a budget e-bike, it’s also portable. The seat, handlebars and the body itself can be folded down, making the bike small enough to fit into the boot (trunk) of a car.

So it’s a cheap and portable electric bike, let’s dive into the details to see if this e-bike is right for you.

Introducing the Swagtron EB-5 Pro electric bike

  • Motor
    250 W electric motor
  • Battery
    36 V Li-ion battery
  • Distance
    25 km (15.5 miles)
  • Recharge Time
    4-5 hours
  • Speed
    25 kph (15.5 mph)
  • Load Capacity
    120 kg (264 lb)
  • Weight
    16.8 kg (37 lb)
  • Tyres
    36 cm (14”)
  • Pedal assist settings
    1
  • Extras
    • Removable battery
    • Carry handle
    • Foldable
    • Bell, reflectors, kickstand
    • 25 degrees incline (throttle only)
  • Pros
  • Budget e-bike
  • Foldable and portable
  • IPX4 water-resistant
  • Removable/replaceable battery
  • Cons
  • No lights (has reflectors)
  • Only 1 power assist setting
  • Manual pedalling is difficult (without power assist)

Design and portability

Swagtron EB-5 Pro folding electric bike

We were impressed with the Swagtron EB-5 Pro design for a cheap e-bike. The frame is made of aluminium alloy making it strong, sturdy, and resistant to rust. The handlebars are good quality and the seat is comfortable.

3 quick-release clamps allow the e-bike to neatly fold down so it’s more compact for storage or carrying. It’s important to note that the Swagtron EB-5 Pro is cumbersome and the weight is not centred, making it awkward to carry long distances. It’s designed to fold down to take up less space than to be carried.

On the right handlebar, you’ll find the battery gauge and the on/off switch. The battery gauge indicates the battery status while riding. It’s represented by 5 LED lights. The more lights lit up the more battery the e-bike has. The on/off switch is a simple button and not operated by a key. This means that anyone can turn the bike on - not ideal if you’re storing it in a public place. 

Twisting the right handlebar controls the throttle acceleration (similar to that of a motorbike or moped). This allows the scooter to go up to 25 kph (15.5 mph) without the need to pedal.

Additionally, the Swagtron EB-5 Pro is available in 3 colours (black, blue, white), the seat and handlebars are adjustable, and it has a kickstand for when it’s not in use.

Speed, Distance, and Battery

The Swagtron EB-5 Pro is an urban commuting electric bike. So it’s made to go the distance, not to go the fastest. Having said that, it isn’t slow. It has a max-speed of 25 kph (15.5 mph). Obviously this can be increased with manual pedaling or if you are traveling downhill.

So how far can it go? This e-bike has a self-professed range of 25 km (15.5 miles). We expect that this max-distance is under perfect conditions. Going uphill and riding on rough surfaces will put more strain on the motor and so don’t expect to go as far.

The motor is a 250 W electric motor - fairly standard for an electric bike. And it’s powered by a 36 V lithium-ion battery. In the new addition of the Swagtron EB-5 Pro, the battery is removable and so replaceable. Extra batteries are sold separately and cost around $170 USD (£125 / 140€).

Swagtron EB-5 Pro e-bike

The Brake System

The brakes on the Swagtron EB-5 Pro are basic V-brakes. “V-brakes'' is the common name for the rubber pads that pull together onto the wheel. They were more commonly used before the invention of the disc brake.

This could be considered a down-side to the EB-5 Pro. Obviously disc brakes would be nicer. But V-brakes work fine and allow Swagtron to make the sale price lower.

Brakes on both the front and rear tyre are activated with the traditional lever on each handlebar.

Certification and Safety

The Swagtron EB-5 Pro has a IPX4 rating meaning it’s resistant to water splashes from any direction. Swagtron don’t recommend use in heavy rain - but there aren’t many bikes that are recommended in heavy rain, so this isn’t surprising.

As stated earlier, the e-bike’s body is solid and durable. And, in general, it’s built with quality parts. The quick-release clamps are strong enough to prevent failure while riding and easy enough to open to make folding the bike down simple and stress-free.

This electric bike is designed for adults, not kids. And it’s fairly powerful so we wouldn’t recommend it for kids under 16 years of age. On the other end of the spectrum, the bike can hold a max-rider-weight of 120 kg (264 lb). Also, the recommended rider height is between 1.5 m - 1.8 m (4 ft 10” - 5 ft 10”).

With all electric rideables we recommend riders wear helmets and take other appropriate safety precautions, including using lights and/or reflectors.

Swagtron EB-5 Pro Electric bike back

Riding Experience

With 2 riding modes, the Swagtron EB-5 Pro gives you options while riding. You can use the throttle located on the right handlebar to accelerate without the need to pedal, or you can use the pedal assist. The pedal assist activates automatically (as long as the bike is turned on) after about a quarter cycle stroke. The assist makes pedalling about 70% easier. The only downside is that the e-bike only has one pedal assist setting - more expensive e-bikes offer more choice.

If it’s your first time riding an electric bike the pedal assist can seem jumpy and harsh, but as electric bikes go, it’s quite smooth on the EB-5 Pro.

As an urban commuting electric bike, the EB-5 Pro is designed for flat surfaces such as roads and pavements, so this is where the e-bike performs best. But it can handle rougher areas such as riding on grass, gravel and dirt roads. Just don’t expect peak performance.

The motor can tackle inclines up to 25 degrees.

Swagtron EB-5 Pro foldable e-bike

Final Thoughts

As budget electric bikes go, the Swagtron EB-5 Pro is a good one. Is it perfect? No. But if you’re looking for a foldable e-bike to get around an urban area, it’s worth considering. For city commuting or on a university campus it’s a good electric rideable to have. 

It’s a simple, foldable electric bike for a decent price. For that, we give the Swagtron EB-5 Pro 8/10.


If you’re willing to spend a little more, check out other electric bike reviews we have. If you’d prefer something cheaper, take a look at our electric scooters, hoverboards and skateboards.

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