Hero Lectro F6i 27.5 7S: ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The Hero Lectro F6i is built on a full Alloy frame. This frame is the most performance focused in new Hero Lectro range and also the only one with a detachable battery. The frame geometry was standard with a downward slanting top tube which gives the rider that extra bit of standover clearance and the overall shape of the frame helped with having an upright posture which was perfect for fitness rides and commutes.

The front suspension fork comes with a 60mm travel which is ideal to tackle the bumps and speed breakers on city roads. The suspension lock-out feature on this E-Bicycle helped in riding faster on flatter surfaces.

The Hero Lectro F6i which I test rode came in a full Black primary colour on the frame with Red as the secondary colour for the graphics. The suspension forks is Black in colour. The matte finish paint job was of great quality with a smooth finish to it. The semi-integrated battery is the best design feature on the F6i. The seamlessly designed battery sits in the carved top tube and merges with it, without any protrusions. The front and rear LED lights are great design and safety additions on this bicycle. The front LED light is powered by the bicycle’s battery and the rear LED is solar powered. The rear LED light will have to be detached and kept in sunlight for it to be solar charged. In a new cycle, the rear LED light has a small transparent strip jutting out of the bottom of the light, which has to be pulled out for the light to start working

The Hero Lectro F6i Electric Bicycle runs on a rear hub BLDC 36V 250W rear hub motor. This motor is powered by a 11.6 Ah Lithium-Ion battery. This battery is semi-integrated on the frame, on a carved bottom tube which makes it easy to install and remove. The throttle on the right grip was easy to use and also brought out the fun factor on this E-bicycle. The 3-level Pedal-Assist termed Low, Medium and High give three different levels of power assist from the battery for each pedal. The LED controller on the left side of the handlebar bar has the On/Off button, Pedal-Assist level changer, walk mode/front light switch, battery level indicator and RFID sensor. This model is part of Hero Lectro’s i-smart range and there are 2 RFID tags given with it. After switching on the controller, you will have to just show the RFID tag on top of the controller and the bicycle will power on. This technology helps in mishandling of the controller and also protection from theft. The Hero Lectro app can be downloaded on your phone and can be connected to your bicycle to access a few key parameters. The maximum speed using battery power is 25Km/hr. As a safety feature there is a button next to the right hand side gip accelerator which can be used to switch on and switch off the throttle function.

With 1 full charge this battery is capable of giving up to 60 kms in Pedal-Assist mode and lesser if used only in throttle mode. These mileages might differ a bit with the varied riding conditions, and rider weight. This battery takes 5 to 6 hours to charge from 0 to 100% with any normal Indian plug point. The charging point is on the battery pack itself and is easy to charge as this is a detachable battery.

This Electric Bicycle comes with a 1x7-Speed drivetrain with a Shimano Altus/Tourney rear derailleur. Whilst it is not a compulsion to have gears on an Electric Bicycle, it does come to use when you want to match the electric speed of the E-Bicycle with the pedalling cadence. It also helps when you run out of battery power during a ride as the gears help in controlling the pressure you exert while pedalling. The 7-Speed Shimano Altus/Tourney rear derailleur was smooth in shifting during the test ride and is controlled by Shimano’s SIS 7-Speed shifter.

Note: The Hero Lectro F6i comes with either a Shimano Altus or Shimano Tourney 7-Speed rear derailleur. This may change as per the brands production.

The F6i’s stopping power is controlled by Mechanical Disc brakes at the front and rear. The braking system was powerful enough to get the bicycle to stop safely and quickly even at speeds of 20-25 Km/hr.

The Alloy riser handlebar on this E-Bicycle along with an adjustable stem made it perfect for the rider to get a comfortable riding posture. The grip throttle on the right was smooth and easy to use.

The 27.5” x 2.0” Kenda tires on the Hero Lectro F6i were fast rolling on smooth and rough urban roads and were perfectly suited for an Electric Bicycle when riding at 25km/hr. The width and treads were perfect to give good traction on rough roads.

The saddle has seen a considerable upgrade on the newly revamped Hero Lectro’s with an extra layer of padded cushion which makes it as good as having an external gel/foam seat cover. One can be sure that there will be no saddle soreness while riding the F6i.