Gen3 is an e-bike and scooter company based in Bellevue, Washington, that’s set to deliver high-quality products at an affordable price. And so far, they’ve done a great job.
It’s a very young company, being founded less than a year ago. But don’t let that dissuade you. Gen3 consists of product development veterans with decades of experience working with some of the world’s biggest retailers.
Gen3 envisions an all-electric world and is doing its small part to make that vision a reality. And so far, they’ve launched four e-bike and two electric scooter models.
As of October 28th, 2022, Gen 3 Mobility, LLC has ceased operations and is no longer offering customer support. These e-bikes are not producing anymore.
This in-depth review will go over all their e-bikes and see how they fare against the competition. But before we get into the reviews, we’ll go over everything you need to know before buying an electric bike from Gen3.
In A Hurry? After 41 Hours Of Research, We Recommend
Quick Comparison Table
Before we proceed to important considerations and product reviews here is the short comparison table of the best products we covered for all of you who feel impatient.
Best For Off-Road
Gen3 The Outcross
Our Top Pick
Gen3 The Groove
Our Budget Pick
Gen3 The Stride
Things You Should Know Before Buying A Gen3 E-Bike
Who Are Gen3 E-Bikes For?
When it comes to any type of product, not just e-bikes, one of the first questions that come to mind is, “Who is this product for?”
Well, Gen3 e-bikes and scooters seem to be intended for beginners and experienced riders on a budget.
But just because these e-bikes are cheap doesn’t mean they’re low-quality. Quite the contrary, Gen3 e-bikes are incredibly well designed and built.
The e-bikes are made out of high-quality aluminum and are built to last. One of the best things about them is that frames have no plastic components; they’re entirely made of 6061 aluminum.
Besides high-quality materials, these e-bikes also come with excellent motors.
Each Gen3 e-bike comes with a Bafang motor that provides you with more than enough power for daily commuting and even offroading.
What Kind Of Drive Do Gen3 E-Bikes Feature?
If you’re unfamiliar, there are two types of e-bike drives - pedal assist and throttle.
The former monitors your pedaling and gives you a boost depending on the speed setting you choose. The max speed you can reach with pedal assist in most places is set at 20 miles per hour.
The latter works the same as on any bike or motor:
You either twist the handle or press on a thumb throttle - and the e-bike will get going.
When it comes to the drive types featured on Gen3 e-bikes, we’re happy to report that all their electric bikes come with both modes. That means that when you get tired of pedaling, you can use the thumb throttle, relax and take in the scenery around you.
What Kind Of Motors Are Gen3 E-Bikes Rocking?
Although Gen3 focuses on designing and building budget-friendly e-bikes, that doesn’t mean they cheaped out on the most crucial component - the motor.
All Gen3 e-bikes come equipped with a powerful Bafang motor. Each model comes with a 500W Bafang motor with peak power from 900W to 1000W - depending on the model you opt for, that is.
What this means is that these e-bikes are incredibly powerful for the price.
The torque the Bafang motor produces can be even a bit overwhelming for a beginner. But once you get used to it, conquering steep hills, country roads - or simply commuting around the town - will be a breeze.
Each motor comes with five levels of pedal assist and a thumb throttle. If you’re new to e-bikes, we would recommend starting with pedal assist level 1 and slowly working your way up as you get comfortable riding an e-bike.
Another cool feature Gen3 motors come with is the Walk feature.
With this Walk mode turned on, the bike will slowly push itself as you walk beside it. That is very useful for models like The Groove because it’s pretty heavy - and pushing this bike up a hill can be somewhat demanding.
What Kind Of Battery Do Gen3 E-Bikes Come With?
Except for The Groove, all Gen3 bikes come with a 500 Wh battery. The Groove comes with a slightly more powerful battery, boasting a 660 Wh rating.
However, battery capacity is only half the story - the other half is the range. We’ll talk about that soon enough.
When it comes to recharging time, it’s on the slow side. Recharging a depleted battery on any Gen3 bike will take anywhere from 6 to 8 hours - which might not be ideal for some users.
Thankfully, you don’t have to have the battery connected to the frame to charge it. You could also pop it off and take it with you to top it off when needed.
What’s The Range On Gen3 E-Bikes?
All Gen3 e-bikes have a range of around 40 miles. Keep in mind that the range heavily depends on the riding conditions.
If you’re riding on mostly flat terrain, you can expect to have the same range as advertised. If you'll ride in hilly terrain, though, expect it to drop down drastically to around 30 miles. Still, this is quite impressive for a budget brand.
All Gen3 e-bikes feature a relative battery indicator on the controller. This feature displays how much battery charge you can expect depending on the current riding conditions.
For instance, if you’re using the throttle to climb up a particularly steep hill, you’ll see the battery bar drop off significantly.
You can also check the actual battery charge by pressing the indicator button on the battery.
How Much Do Gen3 E-Bikes Cost?
As we mentioned multiple times so far, Gen3 focuses on designing and building budget-friendly e-bikes.
Even their most expensive e-bike, The Outcross, at the time of this writing, costs roughly $1500. And while this might seem a bit steep for some, keep in mind that electric bike prices range from $1000 to $10 000.
So, when you factor what you get for the price, most Gen3 e-bikes are practically a steal. There are very few other e-bike brands out there that produce high-quality products at this low price.
Top Gen3 E-Bikes In 2022 Reviewed
The first e-bike on this list is The Stride - and this fantastic e-bike is Gen3’s premier commuter.
This e-bike comes with a cargo rack and has more than enough range to get you wherever you need to be. It’s incredibly comfortable to ride - and affordable too.
Let’s see what makes The Stride tick.
The Specs
For an affordable e-bike, The Stride rocks some excellent specs.
This e-bike has a 45-mile range, which is more than enough for city commuting. It’s powered by a powerful Bafang motor that provides quite a lot of torque - which means you’ll be reaching the full 20 MPH speed in just a couple of turns of the pedal.
And since it is a commuter bike, it comes with a rack that can hold up to 55 pounds of cargo.
On top of all this, The Stride features puncture-resistant tires, which makes the ride that much safer.
The Design
Gen3’s The Stride has a fantastic frame design. The lines are clean, and we especially love how clean-looking the welds are.
Since this is a step-through bike, that means it’s also very accessible since you don’t have to lift your leg to mount it.
The break and power cables are routed through the middle tube. That means you don’t have to worry about them getting cut if you hit the bike accidentally or crash.
The adjustable front suspension does a great job at absorbing the road shock coming your way. Unfortunately, you can’t adjust the handlebar's height - but you can adjust the seat height for added comfort.
The Motor And Battery Power
The Stride comes equipped with a powerful 500W Bafang motor with 900W of peak power. At the highest speed setting, the motor produces a whopping 65 N/m of torque. This means you’ll be able to reach max speed in just a couple of seconds.
The battery is fully integrated into the frame and has a capacity of 500Wh. At full charge, you can expect to have a range of around 40 miles. The recharge time of 6 to 8 hours isn’t that great, but completely understandable when you factor in the price.
Read the full review here.
The second in our list of Gen3 Ride e-bikes is one of the most fun e-bikes you can buy. The Groove is a foldable fat-tire e-bike with an impressive range and motor for its price.
The Groove is an excellent choice for anyone that’s looking for an electric bike they can use to commute around town and take on weekend adventures - but don’t have a lot of storage space.
The Specs
The Groove has some impressive specs. It comes with a powerful 500W Bafang motor and a 660 Wh battery that provides you with around 45 miles of range.
Thanks to the fat tires, you won’t have any trouble driving over any terrain. On top of that, the tires are puncture-resistant so you don’t have to worry about cutting your offroad adventures short because of a few sharp rocks.
To ensure maximum safety, Gen3 designed custom brakes for this e-bike. No matter how wet, cold, or hot it is, you can rest assured this bike will stop with just one squeeze of the brake lever.
The Design
The Groove is quite an attractive electric bike. The frame is built out of durable double-butted 6061 aluminum with zero plastic accents or components.
Although this makes The Groove quite heavy, it also ensures it’s incredibly durable.
The main feature of Groove’s design is its ability to fold:
There are two latches, one located on the middle tube and another on the head tube. Once you unlock the latches, the bike folds to half its size.
The latches are more than capable of holding the bike together and we didn’t notice any wobble or vibrations.
The Motor And Battery Power
For a budget-friendly e-bike, the Groove comes with an incredibly powerful motor. This e-bike is powered by a 50W Bafang motor that’s rated at 1000W of peak power.
At the highest speed setting, the motor is capable of delivering 80 N/m of torque. That is more than enough power to conquer even the steepest of hills and the most demanding country trails.
The motor is powered by a 660Wh battery that provides you with around 45 miles of range. Like other Gen3 e-bike batteries, the recharge time is a bit longer - but that’s understandable when you factor in the price.
Read the full Groove review here.
Gen3’s The Flex is a hybrid electric bike that’s perfect for those that are looking for a bike they can use to get the muscles working - but also want something they could use for relaxing joy rides.
The bike features superb suspension and a 21-speed Shimano shifter which makes conquering mountain trails, and tough roads a walk in the park.
The Specs
The Flex boasts some pretty impressive specs.
It features a Shimano SL-TX50-7R and -LN shifter with 21-speeds, which is incredibly snappy and responsive.
The CST all-terrain tires are just as impressive. They provide more than enough grip for even the roughest terrain and are puncture-resistant to boot.
Just like all Gen3 e-bikes, The Flex also has custom-designed mechanical disc brakes that measure 160-mm. The brakes are very responsive, and you’ll come to a full stop within just a couple of feet.
The Design
The Flex has quite a unique design. We love the contrast between the thin middle tube and the thick down tube.
The down tube also houses the battery - which is fully integrated. It also houses the routing for the power, shifter, and brake cables. We love this type of routing because it protects the cables from damage.
The handlebar has just the right amount of thickness for a secure grip. And thanks to the front suspension, you will feel minimal road shock.
The Motor And Battery Power
The Flex is powered by a 500W Bafang motor rated at 900W of peak power. At the highest speed setting, the motor provides 65 N/m of torque.
Although the motor’s not as powerful as the one on The Groove, it’s more than capable of getting you over rough trails and steep hills.
The 500Wh battery provides you with around 40 miles of range. But if you exclusively ride this bike offroad, you can expect the range to fall off significantly.
The Ride is Gen3’s premiere off-road e-bike. Its design is almost the same as the one on The Flex, but it comes with bigger tires and a beefier motor.
The Specs
Although The Outcross and The Flex have similar designs, the specs are quite different.
The Outcross features a 7-speed Shimano TX50-7R shifter that’s just as responsive and snappy as the one on The Flex.
The brakes on this electric bike are the same size - but slightly more durable than those on The Flex. They’re built out of stainless steel for additional durability and responsiveness.
The motor is also a bit beefier than one The Flex, with 1000W peak power.
The Design
The frame design of The Outcross is practically the same as the one on The Flex. Both have a thin middle and thick down tube with an integrated battery.
The only notable difference frame-wise between The Outcross and The Flex is the color:
The Outcross features a blood-red frame, while The Flex boasts a jet-black frame.
One thing that is different between these two bikes is the tires. The Outcross features 4-inch puncture-resistant tires. These tires provide more than enough grip for any type of terrain and give additional flair to the overall design of the e-bike.
The Motor And The Battery Power
The Outcross comes with a 500W Bafang motor that’s rated at 1000W of peak power. At the highest speed setting, the motor provides you with a whopping 80 N/m of torque.
That’s more than enough power to conquer even the toughest of mountain trails easily.
As for the battery, it’s a bit underpowered, in our opinion. With a 500Wh capacity, you should expect around 35 miles of range. However, the range is significantly cut down if you ride this bike over rough terrain.
How Do Gen3 E-Bikes Fare Against The Competition?
Now that you’re familiar with what Gen3 Ride has to offer, let’s see how this brand fares against the competition.
Gen3 Vs. Rad Power
Rad Power is Gen3’s main competition. Both brands produce high-quality, affordable e-bikes.
Rad Power’s e-bikes come with beefier motors and a slightly higher range than the Gen3 bikes. Another difference is the throttle:
Gen3 utilizes a thumb throttle, while Rad Power utilizes a half-throttle on their e-bikes.
Rad Power also has a wider product selection - but that’s because they’ve been on the market for a while now.
Besides these differences, everything else is mostly the same. If you wish to support a startup company, we recommend you go for a Gen3 e-bike. Otherwise, you can check out what Rad Power has to offer.
Read the full Rad Power e-bike round-up here.
Gen3 Vs. Cannondale
Comparing Gen3 and Cannondale is quite unfair. Cannondale has been around for more than half a century. What’s more, Cannondale produces high-end e-bikes that simply blow Gen3 out of the water.
Cannondale bikes have superior range and speed compared to Gen3. Then again, not everyone has the budget for a Cannondale e-bike.
So, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly solution, going for a Gen3 e-bike is your best bet.
Keep in mind that Gen3 is still a young company with a limited product line. We can only hope they’ll expand into the high-end e-bike market.
Read all about Cannondale e-bikes here.
Gen3 Vs. Juiced
Unlike Cannondale, Juiced has some budget-friendly e-bikes in its offer. However, most of their e-bike selection falls in the mid-range.
Compared to Gen3, Juiced electric bikes have a much higher range - and some of their models are capable of going faster than 20 miles per hour. However, better specs mean Juiced e-bikes are more expensive than Gen3’s e-bikes.
With that said, Gen3’s build quality is on par with Juiced and the same goes for the ride comfort.
If you go for a Gen3 e-bike, you will get the same build quality and comfort with a shorter range - at a lower price. That’s more than fair if you ask us.
Read all about Juiced e-bikes here.
Best E-bike
It has a small and compact design that you can easily carry in your car and comes with a host of interesting features that will be great for your e-bike experience.
Best On A Tight Budget
The Aceshin has a cool and durable design that will enable you to take on any off-road adventure tests. It is a great buy considering its budget price.
Interesting Option
The Ecotric Fat Tire Electric Beach Bike provides you with a fun way to enjoy a cruise on the beach. The fat tires ensure that you enjoy a stable ride on the shifty ground even at high speeds generated by its powerful motor.
Thanks for the great information on Gen3. I just bought "The Stride" for my wife last week. I'll give you an update on the quality, reliability, and performance in a few weeks.
Was Gen 3 sold to another company? If so, who?
I have the stride and like very much.
Russ
Gen3 no longer exists, I don’t think they were acquired.
Regards,
Ruaan
Gen3 no longer exists, I don’t think they were acquired.
Regards,
Ruaan