An internally geared hub goes a long way to weather proofing the drivetrain, as do the full housed gear cables that help stop dirt degrading your shifting performance. Not quite mainstream, yet still hugely popular, Genesis Bikes are a British brand loved by steel-aficionados and adventurers alike. Well thought out geometry, good looks and great handling make the Genesis Core 26.4 stand out as a great bike at a good price. The first thing you notice is that the cockpit is comfortable, it just feels right. Not too long and well balanced with none of the ‘too much weight on the wrists’ feeling that sometimes comes on trail hardtails.
It offers decent power and operates smoothly without creating much noise. The drawbacks here are weight and size because the motor relies on big magnets inside to create power. Also, when coasting or pedaling without assist the magnets may create some drag vs. a geared motor with a freewheeling mechanism. It also does not take advantage of regenerative genesis bike braking which some other gearless systems offer but overall it’s durable and gets the job done. Versatility still pervades the frame, with downtube bottle bosses and mounts for a rear rack and mudguards. Although this bike can take on the commuting duties or a bit of cycle-touring, it is more suited to lively riding in the woods and on bridleways.
The matte black finish with neon accents is sure to turn heads on any trail. The ProdecoTech Genesis 500 is one of the larger folding electric bikes around and it’s also one of the cheapest. As with most Prodeco ebikes this one uses a large gearless rear hub motor and rack mounted battery that sits just behind the seat post. It’s not the most elegant or well balanced design but it keeps the price low and works well with the simple twist throttle drive system. The Genesis comes in one sort of medium size frame and a brushed aluminum color but is functionally the same as the Storm 500 which comes in gold. Established UK brand Genesis produce some of the best quality road and mountain bikes on the market.
More solid than earlier Phantom ebikes, does not fold and has reinforced battery pack supports. High end RockShox fork with lockout, upgraded pedals (that don’t fold) and hydraulic Avid DB…… These are the dedicated carbon race bikes, as ridden by the (now disbanded) UCI continental team Madison Genesis.
Yeah… I think future ProdecoTech bikes will be better but this one (and the other rear-mount designs) just aren’t that balanced and the features are very basic. If you’re trying to save money, check out the other affordable electric bikes I’ve reviewed. We’ve partnered with Freewheel as a solution to offer genesis mountain bikes online whilst supporting local bike shops at the same time. Each online sale supports the selected bike shop with a percentage of your sale, whether you choose to click & collect or get it delivered straight to your door. Please note that Freewheel currently only deliver within the UK at this time. As with the Day One, there are mudguards, rear pannier rack, and an internally geared rear hub for all weather dependability.
A solid steel range and a smattering of aluminium and carbon models brings the brand bang up to date. Credited with creating the first-ever gravel bike, Genesis bicycles are designed to take you on adventure — off-road, on-road, or wherever your heart desires. The low price point makes it easy to get excited about the Genesis 500 but you are trading functionality, range and stability.