GoTrax CTI 3 Electric Bike Full Test & Review: The Best E-Bike Under $1,500?
In today’s review, we’re diving into a review of a sleek, surprisingly fast, and reasonably priced e-bike—the GoTrax CTI 3. Given that we’re avid fans of cycling in all its forms, we have to admit we were pretty psyched to review this much-hyped bike.
But, as you probably know by now, here at The Solar Lab, our opinions can’t be bought, so all our reviews include our honest, unbiased opinions. Even though this stylish and speedy electric bike offers lots to like, especially at such an affordable price point, we still found a few quirks that left us feeling slightly underwhelmed.
After putting over 100 miles on this thing, it’s time to explain our findings, and break down all of the things we liked about the GoTrax CTI 3, as well as some of the things we didn’t. Let’s get started!
Our First Impressions
The GoTrax CTI 3, which we’ll call the “City 3” for short, gives off a slick urban look that doesn’t immediately scream "e-bike." When we have reviewed e-bikes in the past, a few of them have looked like real clunkers, which doesn’t seem to be the case with the City 3. In fact, it actually just looks like a really respectable cruise-style commuter bike.
With that said, it does weigh in at 64 lbs, so it’s definitely on the heavier side. It did pass the "Tiny Baby Lift Test", but you’ll only want to lift this thing when you absolutely have to.
As for our initial impression of the build quality, the bike feels really durable, which isn’t overly surprising given that it’s rated to support up to 300 lbs. Thanks to the size of the aluminum alloy frame, the adjustable seat, and handlebars that can raise and tilt, it is reasonably comfortable for any rider between 5'2" and 6'2". If you fall outside of that height range, the bike might feel a little bit off, but that’s still a decent range for a bike that is only available in a single size.
Breakdown of the Specs & Features
The CTI 3 comes equipped with a 652Wh lithium-ion battery, instead of a lithium iron phosphate battery, so it’s lighter and can handle quick charging. With that said, it might not last quite as long as a LiFePO4 battery would when you’re talking about charge cycles.
The battery is paired with a 500w Bafang rear hub motor, allowing the bike to hit a fairly impressive top speed of 20 mph in full throttle mode, and even as fast as 28 mph with the pedal assist in its top setting.
The range is one of this bike’s shining features, with GoTrax claiming 28 miles on throttle-only and up to 60 miles with pedal assist. While the first setting of the pedal assist will get you closer to that upper range, most riders will likely use setting number 5 for maximum power, bringing the realistic range closer to about 30–40 miles on a single charge.
While it’s realistically not going to quite hit that 60-mile range for most people, a realistic range of over 30 miles is still hugely impressive for an e-bike at this price point.
Charging and Solar Compatibility
Charging the GoTrax CTI 3 is really straightforward—you can either remove the battery and plug it in or charge it directly through a port on the bike. Either way, you can just use a standard AC wall outlet to charge the bike.
We tested the advertised 5-to-6-hour charge time on a fully drained battery, and it surprised us by reaching a full charge in just under 4.5 hours! Not only is that less time than GoTrax advertised, a charge time of under five hours means that you could ride it to work, plug it in, and easily have a full charge by the time you are finished your shift. Not bad at all, especially given that most people will be looking at this thing as a daily commuter.
Unfortunately, the bike is not compatible with solar charging. Its three-prong charging port isn’t designed for solar setups, which might be a downside for those looking to charge it off-grid. Some of the other e-bikes we’ve tested do have a plug-in for solar panels, so it’s kind of a bummer that GoTrax overlooked this feature.
Components and Riding Experience
Now that we’ve gone over some of the specs, let’s take a closer look at some of the bike’s components, starting with the breaks and gearing. The GoTrax CTI 3 features responsive front and back wheel NUT brakes, which actually outperform what we’ve seen for brakes on other budget e-bikes. The bike also has a 7-speed MicroSHIFT shifter, similar to what you’d see on a basic mountain bike. This gives riders more control and makes it easy to switch gears, even if you’re climbing and descending hilly terrain.
As for the all-important issue of rider comfort, a cushioned and fairly wide saddle-style seat, a durable frame, and 27.5-inch wheels help ensure it’s a really comfortable ride, especially when it’s on flat pavement.
On top of that, the bike’s clear LED display is easy to read, even when you’re looking at it in direct sunlight. We also really liked that the pedal-assist kicks in immediately, another huge advantage for when you’re starting a ride facing uphill. Some other bikes require a full rotation of the crank before the pedal assist will fire up, which can be a pain if you’re trying to get a bike that weighs almost 70 lbs climbing from a standstill.
Speaking of the bike’s performance, it allows users to select either full throttle mode or one of five pedal assist settings. This gives you the option to either cruise without pedaling or get some exercise with the motor making things a little easier. As mentioned, the pedal assist responds really quickly, and when we tried it out, the full throttle mode was able to reach 20 mph from a standstill in roughly 10 seconds, just like GoTrax advertises.
Real-World Performance Testing
While reviewing the specs and taking it for a few quick rides was a good start, we wanted to see how the GoTrax CTI 3 would handle various real-world conditions. To make sure we really put it through its paces, we ran several tests, checking the bike’s range, speed, torque, and overall performance. Here’s what we found:
Top Speed & Range Testing:
The bike easily achieved its claimed 20 mph top speed with the throttle only. If you have an even greater need for speed, and you’re willing to play around with the settings, you can actually unlock a max speed of up to 29 mph on pedal assist mode (watch the video to learn how).
As for the bike’s range, we were able to hit just over 30 miles on throttle-only. This test was a little sketchy, as we had to blow through quite a few stop signs in order to maintain a consistent speed, but that 30-mile range actually surpasses GoTrax’s 28-mile estimate. The last mile was a bit touch-and-go, but 30 miles without even needing to touch the pedals is really solid.
Torque & Responsiveness Testing:
The responsiveness on this bike is great, and we’ve already mentioned that the throttle and pedal assist modes both kick in with almost no delay. Having both the throttle and the pedal assist engage quickly is really great for steep inclines, but it’s also just nice being able to accelerate the second you’re ready to go.
Not only does it react fast, the motor is really smooth, helping the bike reach full speed without any of the jerking or lagging we’ve noticed with some of the low-end e-bikes we’ve tested. We tested the bike on flat ground, starting from facing both uphill and downhill, and even over some fairly bumpy terrain. In every situation, it delivered a smooth and responsive ride, which is perfect for something that can be used as a daily commuter.
What We Like and Dislike About the GoTrax CTI 3
Now that we’ve covered the specs and gone over some of the results of our testing, let’s take a look at some of the things we really liked about the GoTrax CTI 3, as well as some of the things we weren’t impressed by.
What We Didn’t Like
Up until now, we’ve really only discussed the positive attributes of this bike, so let’s start by looking at some areas we think could use improvement.
Lack of Serious Weather Resistance:
The bike only has an unimpressive IPX4 waterproof rating, meaning it’s not fully splash-proof. During one of our tests, we took the bike on a road trip, using a bike rack to transport it. Just our luck, rain caught us by surprise, and we were a bit concerned the entire time about water damage since the bike was fully exposed while we were on the highway.
At the end of the day, this is a bicycle, you shouldn’t have to worry if you’re using it in the rain. Look, we get that it’s an e-bike, so there are electronics and batteries to worry about, but a higher IP rating would make this bike so much more practical. To be fair, it did work perfectly fine after being exposed to heavy rainfall, but maybe we just got lucky.
The Lack of Good Anti-Theft Features:
There’s no built-in GPS tracking or anti-theft functionality, and while you can set a password to power on the bike, it doesn’t have features like an app or remote lock. You already have to use a key to remove the battery, so adding some sort of key ignition to turn the bike on or adding some app-based tracking capabilities would go a long way. With e-bike thefts becoming increasingly common, we would feel better if you didn’t have to just depend on a standard bike lock to keep the thing safe.
The Awkward Throttle Positioning:
This is a minor gripe, but the throttle is on the left side, which is unconventional. It’s not a big deal, but it took us a while to get used to, so it’s worth mentioning.
It Doesn’t Display the Battery Percentage While Charging:
This is another small issue, but while the bike is plugged in and charging, there’s no way to check what your battery percentage is, even if you look at the display screen. Instead, you’ll have to rely on the charging brick’s red/green indicator light, which only tells you if the battery is fully charged or not. This isn’t ideal when you’re wanting to keep an eye on the charging progress.
The Confusing and Unimpressive Website:
GoTrax’s website isn’t great, which doesn’t inspire us with confidence given that their bikes can cost well over $1,000. Plus, some things about the website can be a bit confusing. For example, the U.S. and Canadian versions of the site list different weight capacities for the City 3 bike (300 lbs in the U.S., 260 lbs in Canada). This is the same model we’re talking about, why would it be different?
On top of that, the information and descriptions could use some clarity, as some details appear to be poorly translated from another language. Even the images look a little questionable. Look, the product is great, but we’d probably hesitate to throw down serious cash if the website was the only thing we had to go by. Come on, GoTrax, give your website and social media accounts a meaningful refresh.
What We Really Liked
While it may seem like we’re tearing the GoTrax CTI 3 apart, it actually is an all-around really solid e-bike. We also think it shines in a few key areas:
The Gear Ratios:
With the appropriately sized gear ratios, you can comfortably ride the CTI 3 without the battery—a lifesaver if it dies on you mid-ride. The gearing is designed so you can pedal uphill or at a decent speed on flat ground without having to rely on motor power. This may sound like a pretty basic feature for a bicycle, but trust us, it’s not standard with e-bikes. Some are so heavy and their gear ratios so crappy that it makes it next to impossible to use them without battery assistance.
The Overall Component Quality:
Beyond the somewhat flimsy front fork, which seems a little undersized for this bike, the rest of the City 3’s build feels solid. Everything from the frame to the fenders is tightly constructed, and nothing rattles while riding. Again, this is not something that should be taken for granted, especially when you’re talking about a more budget-friendly e-bike. Some of the lower-end e-bikes feel like they’re a few minutes away from collapsing like a deck of cards the first time you take them out.
Straightforward Shipping & Assembly:
Despite the questionable look of the website, the bike arrived quickly and well-packaged. Once we unboxed it, the assembly was really straightforward. Even if you’re completely new to e-bikes, we’re confident you could put it together solo. Not only were the included instructions really easy to follow, all of the components fit together seamlessly. Again, this really isn’t the case with a lot of budget e-bikes.
The Affordable Price Point:
Given that this thing is regularly priced as low as $1,299, it’s one of the most affordable e-bikes we’ve come across. For the price, it just offers fantastic value. In terms of features, build quality, and performance, we think it’s a bargain.
Our Final Verdict: Should You Buy the GoTrax CTI 3?
After putting the GoTrax CTI 3 through over 100 miles of serious testing, we feel pretty confident recommending it to anyone. We’re confident it would be a particularly good option for those looking for a reliable, well-priced e-bike they can use on a regular basis.
It’s a responsive, quality ride with solid performance. It delivers on speed, responsiveness, and range. Sure, there are a few things we’d love to see improved, like a more meaningful weather rating, but in terms of day-to-day riding, it ticks nearly every box.
Whether you’re commuting, just want something you can use to enjoy leisurely weekend rides, or you want to get into the world of e-bikes without breaking the bank, the GoTrax CTI 3 is a really solid option. In fact, of the four e-bikes we’re currently testing, it’s probably our top pick!
🛒 Shop the GoTrax CTI 3 E-Bike:
🇺🇸 https://gotrax.com/products/cti-3-ele...
🇨🇦 Use Code: THESOLARLAB100 for $100 Off Your CTI E-Bike Order.
🛒 We Also Recommend Shopping At:
Signature Solar: https://signaturesolar.com/?ref=theso...
Use Code: THESOLARLAB50 for $50 Off Your Order
Shop Solar: https://shopsolarkits.com/?ref=TheSol...
Use Code: THESOLARLAB50 for $50 Off Your Order