The G-FORCE ZM electric bike is one of those street-legal electric bicycles that takes heavy inspiration from the styling of motorcycles. Despite this, the G-FORCE ZM is classified as an electric bicycle. But the motorcycle influence isn’t just on the surface; it goes all the way down to the ride itself, which is quite powerful.
G-FORCE ZM tech specs
- Motor: 750W geared rear hub motor
- Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h)
- Range: Claimed 60-80 miles (96-128 km)
- Battery: 48V 20Ah (960 Wh)
- Weight: 85 pounds (38.5 kg)
- Max load: 400 pounds (181 kg)
- Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes, 160mm rotors
- Extras: 7-speed Shimano drivetrain, large color LCD, LED headlight and tail light, half-twist throttle, removable battery, padded bench seat with space for second passenger, fenders, kickstand, mag wheels.
Rides like a small-format electric motorcycle
Even though it could be classified as an e-bike according to some criteria, I’d still refer to it as more of a traditional electric moped.
Although it is classified as a class 3 e-bike in the United States, it rides more like a moped and only has a few pedals on which you can rest your feet. If the battery dies, you can pedal it, but given its weight of 85 pounds (38 kilograms), it won’t be much fun to do so at speeds higher than about 4-5 miles per hour (8 kilometers per hour). And heaven help you if there’s even a little bit of an incline on the way back to your house when you’re pedaling there!
However, the choice between a battery with 48 volts and 20 amp hours or a battery with 13 volts and 13 amp hours, you should have more than enough range for a daylong excursion. And considering that the base model, which costs $1,899 and has a 13Ah battery, is only $100 less expensive than the 20Ah version, I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to spend an additional dollar to get half as much range for their vehicle.
The G-FORCE ZM has speed is 45 kilometers per hour (28 miles), making it quick and handy and having a respectable range. The 750W Bafang motor is producing closer to 1,300 watts of peak power, and the bike has good acceleration even though I’m riding it while carrying 150 pounds (68 kilograms) of weight.
Larger disc rotors are another upgrade I would have liked to see included on the G-FORCE ZM. When repeatedly stopping this heavy bike at higher speeds, the hydraulic disc brakes seem to be working properly; however, the smaller 160mm rotors are likely to heat up more quickly due to the increased friction. Opting for rotors with a diameter of 180 millimeters would have been the better choice.
The ride is made more comfortable thanks to the dual suspension system. Still, I’m not sure how well it would hold up if the maximum weight rating of 181 kilograms (400 pounds) was applied (or if the acceleration would be nearly as peppy).
The front suspension fork, which has 110 mm of travel and is adjustable, is not the same as the rear suspension, which is more of a “you get what you see” situation. Even though it works well for me and provides a fun ride, I wouldn’t recommend it for use on a technical downhill mountain bike trail. The speed bumps increased its pace by a little bit.
Which raises another question: why did they put knobby tires on the bike in the first place? The four-inch fat tires with a 20-inch diameter are perfect for riding on the street, except that the knobbies do not provide as much traction on asphalt as I would like them to. You could, in theory, go off-roading with these tires; however, the suspension isn’t designed for anything more than taking a shortcut through a grassy field that has been relatively well-manicured. Although I would have preferred to see street tires instead of all-terrain tires, it is possible to swap tires at home or a local bike shop.
I like the tires that Specialized displayed on its budget-friendly utility bike. These tires featured a street-optimized center patch with knobbies on the edges for improved turning off-road. I think these tires are cool. That would have been an acceptable middle ground in this situation.
Even though I would have liked to see some improvements to the brakes and tires, I must admit that the G-FORCE ZM still manages to earn a few more points in my book.
The LCD screen is bright and colorful, making it easy to read at a glance. It also looks much nicer than the displays that are typically found on e-bikes that are priced similarly.
The motorcycle tank-shaped battery is a cool feature that contributes to the fun vibe of the bike. However, I can already guarantee you that there will be armchair physicists in my comment section below educating us on the travesty of having that weight higher up on the frame. This is a feature that adds to the fun vibe of the bike. Despite this, I can pretty much already guarantee you that there are going to be armchair physicists in this section. In actual use, the rider’s center of mass, which is approximately 15 times heavier than the battery and much higher up, will have a much greater impact on how the bike handles than the battery ever could. And the higher center of mass from that tank battery is just not going to be very noticeable for a bike that will spend most of its time riding straight in a bike lane or making easy 90-degree turns on city streets. As for me, I think I’ll have a good time with the motorcycle-themed fun design.
It is correct to say that a battery that is mounted lower would technically be superior. However, as someone who has ridden both this bike and others with less powerful batteries, I can tell you that the difference is simply not that significant when everything is considered.
Other desirable features, such as a Shimano transmission with seven gears and a USB charger integrated into the handlebar display, are frequently omitted from electric bicycles that are styled after mopeds. To maximize the rider’s visibility while commuting or riding in other low-light conditions, the bike is equipped with a large LED headlight and an LED tail light.
Although there are a few things about the G-FORCE ZM, such as its smaller brake rotors and its tire choice, which doesn’t quite make sense, there are a lot more things about this that I like than there are that I dislike.
It is normal for the full-suspension setup to drive up the price quite a bit. Still, the starting price of just $1,899 for a Class 3 electric bicycle with dual suspension, hydraulic brakes, and some nice additional features seems reasonable.
A set of footpegs is needed to transform this into a pretty awesome urban cruiser, giving motorcycle vibes in a price class that is more appropriate for an electric bike.
It may not have the gravitas of a SUPER73 or other big-name moped-style electric bikes, but it sure does offer a ride that is enjoyable and at a price that is reasonable!
