Review: Huffy Oslo

The first time I took the Huffy Oslo out for a ride, the handlebars and seat post sank a few inches. My knees approached my chest as I pedaled up and down. Imagine a 6'4" man on a kid's trike. I'm happy knowing I gave someone on the street a good chuckle.  

This is the first piece of advice I'll impart to you if you choose the Oslo as your next or first electric bike: tighten the screws on the quick-release levers (the seat post and handlebar) before you head out. To be fair, this is just about all you need to do when you set up the Oslo. Almost all of it is preassembled when you take it out of the box. The levers are easy to tighten without a tool, too.

The second bit of advice? If you're 6'4" and more than 200 pounds, like me, consider a different ebike. I felt dread every time I had to hop on the saddle, not because it's a bad bike but because my lanky body didn't feel particularly comfortable on the Oslo. Its range is also quite disappointing—two problems you might not have if you're much smaller and lighter than me. 

Photograph: Huffy

The reason why I'm not quick to completely dismiss the Oslo comes down to this: Almost every affordable foldable ebike I've tried is insanely heavy. There's the 63-pound Lectric XP and Retrospec Jax Rev, or the 60-pound Biktrix Kutty X. These range from $1,000 to $2,300. 

I have tried lighter bikes, like the Gocycle G4I (39 pounds) or the Montague M-E1 (54 pounds), and my colleague Adrienne So has tested Brompton's 30-pound foldable bike. But all of these cost $3,500 or more. In comes the Huffy Oslo at a humble $1,100 and a reasonable 44-pound weight—this is an ebike you can fold and carry up a flight of stairs. It packs down into a very small size that can be stowed in a car trunk or a closet. 

It's easy to unfold the thing via a clasp in the middle of the frame and one on the handlebars, but just like how riding it isn't very comfortable for me, carrying it isn't fun either. There’s no handy spot to grab the Oslo when it's all folded up. There's also no hook to keep the front and back wheel together—a feature you'll find on bikes like the aforementioned Montague and Gocycle. Moving it around is a pain in the butt, as the wheels tend to separate midair. You'll end up feeling a lot like Kevin trying to bring chili into the office.

At least it comes with accessories. There's a rear light (but no front light), a bell, enough space on the handlebars to attach a phone mount, a kickstand, and a rear rack to carry some lightweight cargo. The battery, which is oddly mounted under the rear rack, is removable. I had a hard time prying it out with my short nails, so much so that I used a chisel to push it out. (I don't know why I have a chisel in my toolkit.) I ended up just recharging it with the battery on the bike. 

There is a key to lock the battery so no one else can remove it, and you can only check the battery level by hopping off the bike and press the button on the battery. That's … not great. It's too easy to think you'll have more assistance than the bike can actually give. The only other electronic item on this bike is the power button by the handlebars. There's no display, no odometer, zilch. 

Photograph: Huffy

If Lectric’s fat-tire ebike is Batfleck, then the Huffy Oslo is Battinson. It's leaner, mea-… er. Well, let's just say it's leaner. That's a good thing as the Oslo rides pretty much like a normal bike—great for all the times you'll be riding it without any electric assist. Which will happen a lot.

This pedal-assist ebike equips a 250-watt rear hub motor, which does a solid job of providing enough power most of the time; I usually found myself cruising around 15 to 20 miles per hour. Like my experience with most rear hub motors, the electric assist can be inconsistent. Sometimes it's slow to kick in, and other times it goes on a few seconds too long after I stop pedaling. You can't control the amount of power you get, but there is a 7-speed Shimano shifter that helps avoid the “pedaling air” sensation I often get with more powerful ebikes.

But despite the fact that 250 watts is the European standard, a commuter accustomed to more powerful ebikes will find it hard to make the adjustment. Going up the Williamsburg Bridge in New York City was tough, with the Oslo providing just enough to make it possible, but my thighs were not happy the next day. If you're looking for an ebike that can make you feel like you're still getting a bit of a workout, then you might like it. 

That brings me to the Oslo's range. After more than six miles from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, into midtown Manhattan, the 36-volt battery had two bars left. That wasn't enough to last the whole ride home (crossing the bridge was even more painful on the way back). By the 12th mile, as I neared my apartment, the Oslo was practically dead. 

It doesn't help that the saddle is uncomfortable—I'd swap it out if I were you—and the Oslo could stand to offer better suspension. Your butt will feel many of the potholes you accidentally ride over, and the rear battery simultaneously makes loud banging noises that make me feel like it's going to fly out. Thankfully, the brakes are responsive and reliable. 

If you're after a lightweight ebike that's affordable and won't take up much room, and you're not a fan of the hulking, heavy, fat-tire models, then the Huffy might work for you—but only if you're much lighter and shorter than me.