SWFT – ZIP

IF YOU LIVE in a densely populated metro area, there’s a good chance that you’ve already spotted this e-bike. That’s because it’s a go-to for delivery guys who need a reliable ride to get that order of Kung Pao chicken across town ASAP. Its props are many, including a 20-inch steel frame, a cushy seat and fat tires paired with a heavy-duty front suspension that helps turn cobblestone streets and speed bumps into a fun challenge. The only other standard feature is a headlight and taillight, which means it costs about half of other, more tricked-out e-bikes. It ain’t bad-looking, either. Despite the utilitarian, black-on-black design, the Zip exudes a retro, understated Night Hawk vibe.

The 500-watt motor’s top speed holds steady at 20 mph, which is fast enough for whizzing past irked 10-speedsters in the bike lane or weaving through stopand-go traffic. The battery, which can be removed only with a key, ekes out 37 miles with intermittent pedaling. However, once the full-charge four bars on the LED control drop to two bars, max speed drops to around 14 mph.

The SWFT website recommends the Zip for any rider taller than 5'5", but it’s not ideal for dudes over six feet because the seat can’t be adjusted upward to maximize efficient pedaling. That means a reliance on the throttle, which decreases range and the (imagined) sense of getting in a workout. The bike could also benefit from sideview mirrors, blinkers and a horn. Such basics might not be needed when tooling around the ’burbs, but you become aware of their absence when trying to race the other working stiffs home after the horn blows. $1,399; rideswft.com