My Gotrax F2 V2 Review: 'Good Value, But Serious Safety Concerns'

This is a decent e-bike overall for the price point. The display is nice and colorful, and the bike also has a lot of acceleration, which is a pleasant surprise. The folding feature is also really practical and adds a lot of convenience for storage and transport.

However, there are several features of the bike that are particularly problematic for me.

To begin with, the key slot for starting the bike is located underneath the frame—yes, actually under the bike. This means that when I’m out in public, I have to crouch down almost on my hands and knees just to insert the key and start it.

Secondly, the PAS (Pedal Assist) set on level 1 shoots up to around 15 mph. If you're not careful, this can literally cause the front of the bike to lift. This is not safe. Pedal assist on level 1 should ideally be capped at around 10 mph maximum. As it stands, if you're riding on a sidewalk and want to stay under 10 mph, you can't simply rely on PAS 1—you have to constantly manage the throttle instead. This is my main complaint, because it's not only very inconvenient but also creates a safety risk for both riders and pedestrians, since it’s easy to unintentionally accelerate faster than intended in close or crowded areas.

Furthermore, while riding this bike, I can feel every single bump in the pavement. Even small crevices between concrete slabs are very noticeable. After a 3-mile ride, I actually started to feel nauseated due to the rough ride quality.

Another complaint I have is about the bell that comes with the bike. It is basically a joke, and I don’t understand why it was even included in the first place, because it is so quiet that it would not be heard in many real-world situations. Pedestrians wearing headphones or drivers with windows closed likely wouldn’t notice it at all, which defeats its intended purpose as a safety feature.

My last complaint is about the bike rack that attaches to it. It is made of very thin, flimsy wire and does not feel sturdy. I originally bought it hoping to carry things like two 2-liter cartons of milk, but I honestly wouldn’t trust it for that. A wire piece that appears intended to secure the basket also doesn’t properly lock into place. In addition, when I use rubber bungee cords, the sides get pulled inward, which seems like a design flaw. Overall, the basket is not strong or well-designed enough for practical use.

If you are new to e-bikes, I would suggest spending a few hundred dollars more on a fat tire e-bike. The PAS 1 speed issue in particular is a huge deal breakers for me, as this feature makes it nearly impossible to ride at a relaxed, controlled pace. Because of this issue and the others I've mentioned, I will not be purchasing from this brand again.