Costco’s cheapest e-bike looks tempting, but the reviews might make you reconsider – Jalopnik

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We don’t know if you’ve priced e-bikes lately, but Costco is currently offering the Jetson Bolt Pro Max for $399.99. Even for a small bike, that’s not a bad price. But is this e-bike a good deal or is it a case of getting what you pay for?

We looked at the reviews of buyers who actually purchased the bike, not just from Costco, but also from Jetson’s website, as well as BestBuy, Amazon, and Temu. The reviews were largely positive; many were downright exuberant. They often talk about how easy it is to put the bike together and how fun it is to ride it. However, there were a few that might give you pause for thought. Some customers occasionally received a lemon and reported that parts – including major components such as brakes – simply fell off while driving on the road. Something like that could pose a serious safety risk. At least Costco has a return policy.

What are the details of this affordable e-bike? It has a 350-watt motor that takes you all the way to a blistering speed of 25 km/h. It has a range of 15 miles if you use the motor alone, and up to 25 miles with pedal assistance. The bike itself weighs just over 49 pounds. It is foldable and compact, making it easy to store. Many reviewers bought it for their children. If you’re looking for one for your child, read our e-bike kids guide for parents first.

Annette808 says her 12-year-old daughter thinks the bike is “absolutely amazing” and that the charge will “last a while”. Another reviewer who bought it for their child praised the dual mode and ease of assembly, exclaiming, “100% worth it, 10/10!” At least they didn’t accidentally buy their child an e-motorcycle. Justin C also liked how easy the bike was to put together and praised the manual. They actually read the manual – no wonder they found it easy to put together. They also liked that it is foldable and compact.

The only opponent among the reviewers is Boonoj, who was given the bike because they are injured and need it to get from the parking lot to their office, which for some reason is a mile apart. They said the bike’s load wouldn’t even last “⅔ of the way.” This reviewer was “surprised by all the rave reviews” and said other reviews online “agree with me more than the rave reviews here.” Boonoj brings up a good point. With so few reviews on Costco, it would be a good idea to see what reviewers on other sites are saying.

Like the reviewers at Costco, several commenters on the Jetson site praised the bike for its ease of assembly. Kevin14 said the bike “provides a smooth and comfortable ride,” and catherine2024ride said the bike is “perfect for a casual ride around the neighborhood.” ChrisS called the bike “super sturdy” and “very fast”. Valentina R, who describes herself as “someone who has been riding e-bikes for a few years”, said that “this bike is one of the best electric bikes I have ridden in terms of performance, ease of use and overall value for money.”

But what about the only dissenter? Lucasbikes, who had the bike for only 2 months before writing the review, appears to have had several serious problems with it. They said, “The first time I folded it, the throttle cable tore, causing it to go full speed as soon as the power was turned on, or randomly lurch forward at intersections when I was stopped and the steering wheel moved a little.” They also had problems with several parts coming loose. Overall, between the Costco and Jetson sites, we still haven’t read that many reviews.

Many reviewers here liked how light the bike is and called it “affordable.” AngelE praised the Bolt Pro Max for being light and safe for both children and adults. JasminM called it ‘sustainable’. Many of the reviews just talk about how much fun it is to ride the bike.

Still, not all reviewers were enthusiastic about it. Juvy said the front headlight won’t turn on. BobbiFransisco said the rear brake pad fell off their bike while they were riding down the road — no wonder Connecticut requires helmets for e-bike riders. They don’t recommend buying one unless you have a lot of gift cards. Saddesign says: “If you get a flat bicycle tire, you will realize that it is the end of the investment.” We looked at A YouTube video from someone who replaced the rear tube on the non-Max version of this bike for the first time, and it didn’t seem that difficult. Our favorite review was from KarlG, who succinctly said: “after a few kilometers the tire is punctured!!!”

Interestingly, none of the three reviews were particularly positive. There was one review with four stars and the other two were with one star. But Justin Chambers, who wrote the four-star review, had nothing to say about the bike except to warn us that it is different from e-bikes with footpegs. Cindy said that “the thread of the wheel” is broken and the bike won’t move at all. Laura said the brakes on the bike she bought don’t work, the battery doesn’t last long, and the steps keep falling off.

Since there weren’t many reviews on Amazon, we decided to check out Temu. Yes, say what you will about Temu, but we have had good experiences using it. Unfortunately, Temu has let us down this time, as there are no reviews for the Bolt Pro Max. There is one 5 star rating, but no comments. At least the Past The listing includes photos of adults riding this bike. Although we have to say that the relationship between man and bike in those photos reminds us of those little bikes that clowns ride in the circus.

That’s not to say there aren’t benefits to buying your bike from Costco. You will definitely save money. Costco is offering the Jetson Bolt Pro Max for $399.99, which is significantly less than all the other sites we checked, even Temu. And none of the bike shops around us even list small, budget-friendly e-bikes like the Bolt Pro Max on their websites, although we have seen e-bikes of that size for sale in the actual stores.

So, is it worth buying the Jetson Bolt Pro Max from Costco? Judging by the reviews, you will probably get a bike in good condition, although there is a possibility that you will encounter the occasional dud. However, since Costco has a 90-day return policy, we don’t see much risk. We’d probably take a chance if we were looking for an e-bike of that size.