G4i

robb-dorr
Written by Robb Dorr
Co-founder, Cycling Enthusiast
kristy-snyder
Edited by Kristy Snyder
Professional Editor

Ratings

4/5
4
4/5
4
4/5
4
4.5/5
4.5
5/5
5

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More About the G4i

Year
2021
Class
Type of Bike
Types of Riders
https://ebikes.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/gocycle-g4i.webp

50 mi

RANGE

20 mph

TOP SPEED

3.5 hrs

CHARGE TIME

37.7 lbs

WEIGHT

Front Hub

MOTOR TYPE

G4i Review: Takeaway

An ultralight, modern folding electric bike, the Gocycle G4i is simple to use from folding to riding. Though it’s pricey, you get what you pay for in every way. It’s nimble, comfortable to ride, and ideal for keeping in small spaces.

Ideal For...

Multimodal commuting
Boating
RVing
Camping
Small space city living

E-Bike Overview

An ultra-modern and technologically advanced electric bike, the Gocycle G4i is built from the ground up as an e-bike. This differs from the brand’s British rival Brompton, which simply updated its folding traditional bike to have a motor on it.

Made of three lightweight materials — a carbon frame, hydroformed aluminum fork, and magnesium rear — the Gocycle G4i is just 37.7 lbs, even with the battery.

This e-bike is also filled to bursting with cutting-edge tech. It has a predictive automatic transmission system that makes it extremely easy to ride. Unlike other electric bikes, you don’t need to think of what gear you’re in to adjust the electric power settings. This makes it very much like riding a traditional bike.

The fixed, single-sided fork gives the bike a very modern look, as does the carbon monocoque frame. An integrated LCD screen rounds it off, and all parameters can be tuned and adjusted with the Gocycle Connect app on your phone. It even has a USB phone charging port.

Reasons to Buy

If you want a small, light, folding electric bike that can be used for multimodal commuting or travel, this should be high on your list alongside a Brompton folding e-bike.

We like the fact that it rolls on its wheels when folded. This takes the downside of carrying folding e-bikes out of the equation.

It’s also extremely simple to use thanks to the automatic transmission — meaning even e-bike newbies can enjoy it. Thanks to its carbon monocoque main frame, it’ll also cut a dash wherever you ride.

Things to Consider

The chief issue with the Gocycle G4i is that it’s pedal assist only and lacks a throttle. If you want a folding e-bike with a throttle, you can buy one for a third of the price or less from Lectric. But, the XP 3.0 is much heavier and doesn’t roll when in a folded configuration.

A final issue is that it lacks a rack as standard, meaning you’ll likely have to carry all your gear on your back. This is an optional extra we recommend ordering as part of the package.

Specs

Motor
Front hub Gocycle 500W motor
Battery
In-tube, 375 Wh battery
Controller
Integrated cockpit on front handlebars
Suspension
Mid-frame hydraulic
Transmission
3-speed automatic
Wheels / tires
20” x 2.25”, Gocycle tires with silica-infused compound
Brakes
Hydraulic disc
Frame material
Aluminum, carbon, magnesium
Accessories
Automatic day/nighttime lights, fenders
Optional extras
Lock, rack, cover, frame armor

The specs above come from the manufacturer and may vary from what you’ve experienced. Notice something that needs correcting? Let us know.

Ratings

Power
4/5
4

This is a Class 1 e-bike, limited to 20 mph. The U.S. models have a 500W front hub motor that can, if anything, give a bit too much power when pulling away. It’s pedal assist only, so you won’t be able to relax and allow the throttle to do the riding for you. Being very light, it’ll accelerate very quickly and get you to top speed with minimal effort.

Power is also augmented by the silica-infused tires that have added grip to the road as a result. This will mean quicker uphill starts and better stopping power when you engage the brakes.

Range
4/5
4

The 375 Wh battery offers a claimed range of 50 miles. That’s more than enough for a daily ride on a small folding e-bike. Most shorter journeys in the U.S. are no more than six miles, so that could allow for up to eight of those trips.

Range is affected by the nature of the terrain, payload weight, and weather conditions. A heavier rider on a hilly route will get far fewer miles than a lighter rider on a flatter route. By our estimate, an average-sized man might get a realistic 30 miles out of a battery charge.

Comfort
4/5
4

Sat in an upright, city bike position, you won’t have much pressure on your upper body riding this e-bike. Comfort comes from the mid-suspension system beneath the seatpost that will smooth out road bumps well. The high volume tires add to the overall comfortable riding feel of this e-bike, too.

Durability
4.5/5
4.5

With its sealed, automatic transmission, this is a bike with few serviceable parts that could go wrong. You’ll likely have to replace the brake pads every 1,000 miles or so. Gocycle offers a three-year warranty on the frame and two years on the battery and all other components.

Style
5/5
5

If you want an ultramodern spaceship of an e-bike, there are very few out there that quite match the look of the Gocycle G4i. With its Mag wheels, clean lines, and unarguably modern look, this bike is anything but traditional. We love the black or white color scheme and its overall appearance as something that could almost have been brought back from the future in a time machine.

Our Research Methodology

We personally research and test every e-bike featured in our reviews and guides to provide accurate, data-driven recommendations. Learn how we review.

About Our Editorial Team

robb-dorr
Written by Robb Dorr
Co-founder, Cycling Enthusiast
Robb is a massive cycling enthusiast who has more than 20 years of non-motorized cycling experience. He started eBikes.org to lower the barrier of entry to cycling and reduce the intimidation people can experience when getting into the cycling world.
kristy-snyder
Edited by Kristy Snyder
Professional Editor
Kristy Snyder is a professional writer and editor living in Pittsburgh with over 10 years of content creation experience. When she's not contributing to eBikes.org, Kristy enjoys reading, practicing yoga, drinking beer, and hitting up rail trails.

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