The F3’s scope is a bit broader than some folding EBikes. While portability is a part of this bike’s package, there’s a lot more to it.
Off road capability is an example of this. The fat, knobby tires give riders the option to venture away from paved paths – I tried some of this myself, and the F3 generally does well off road. The bike has a stable feel, even on loose dirt, and I could feel the 4 inch tires smoothing out the bumps. For additional cushion, GoTrax also equipped the bike with front suspension. It’s a coil fork with roughly 30-40 mm of travel and a lockout. Frankly, it’s not the most refined suspension, but we don’t expect otherwise on a sub-$1000 bike.
On pavement, the bike keeps its settled handling. However, while the fat tires have some positives, there are some drawbacks as well. The bike feels settled, but also mildly sluggish. It’s reluctant to make quick movements, and the rolling resistance is noticeable – it doesn’t want to coast when on flat terrain, so I had to keep pedaling to sustain momentum. This is common for bikes with tires of this size, and it isn’t a huge issue, but it is there. Additionally, the motor helps level the playing field.
For additional cushion, GoTrax has equipped the bike with front suspension. It’s a coil fork with roughly 30-40 mm of travel and a lockout. Frankly, it’s not the most refined suspension, but we don’t expect otherwise on a sub-$1000 bike. The wide tires help pick up the slack as well.
As for the riding position, the F3 has riders in an upright stance with significant weight bias towards the saddle. GoTrax doesn’t provide a size range, but I’d estimate that riders from about 5’2 to 6’3 are in workable territory. I’m about 6’3, and was impressed with the F3’s adjustability. I was able to get comfortable leg extension using the seatpost, and the bars can be raised or lowered to tailor riding position.
Value has been a key hallmark for GoTrax, and the F3 comes with some extras to support that. A seat bag, lock, phone holder, mirrors and tire levers are all included.
As for the motor engagement, the F3’s torque sensor feels natural and responsive. The motor engages fairly quickly – usually within a quarter turn of the cranks. This is another point of separation between this bike and its little brothers. There’s a refinement in the pedaling experience that is slightly above what I found in the F2 and Efold.
The F3 is the largest and heaviest of the GoTrax folding family. GoTrax claims that it weighs 58 lbs; we weighed it, and found it was actually about 67 lbs. This isn’t abnormally heavy, but it’s not lightweight either. Removing the battery may help ease the strain when transporting the bike.
To sum it up, the F3 offers a decent package in the way of versatility and performance. The size of the tires have positives and negatives, but this is the case with most fat tire Ebikes. If you’re alright with the extra size and rolling resistance, there isn’t much to dislike about the F3’s ride quality.
