The Propella Mini from US-based Propella Bikes is a stylish and lightweight E-bike with a tumbler-sized battery on the downtube and very noticeably smaller 20-inch tires. In this review, we’ll cover everything from the LCD down to the color of the chain (and everything in between).
I’ll also tell you my personal thoughts on the Mini after riding it around for a few months, reveal my range and speed test results, and I’ll even answer a few common questions along the way.
Design of the Propella Mini:
First off, we can’t look at this e-bike and not immediately recognize the shorter wheelbase and ultra-tiny 20-inch tires. These two features work in tandem to create a nimble ride great for cruising around town or even riding at your local skatepark!
The next thing that stands out to me is the design. With specialized blue anodized trim on the hubs, battery, seat, and handlebar grips, this ebike has a unique look that makes it stand out from the sea of cookie-cutter ebikes on the roads these days.
Propella Mini Has No Suspension
The next thing to note is that there is no suspension on the Propella Mini. The front fork is rigid aluminum alloy with 100-millimeter hub spacing and a 9-millimeter axle with a quick-release skewer, while the rear of the frame has 126 millimeters of hub spacing and a 12-millimeter slotted axle.
Now, that isn’t a lot of torque sure, but thanks in part to how light this e-bike is, the total weight is a mere 35 pounds after all, the power has been adequate for my riding needs.
But, if I was much heavier than 190 pounds, or if I lived in a super hilly area, this bike might not be the best fit.
252-Watt-Hour Removable Battery
And the battery, besides just looking cool (and lighting up when you press it), is a 36-volt 7 amp-hour lithium-ion Samsung battery, totaling 252 watt-hours of usable juice! We’ll review just how much range this gets you in a moment, but one of my favorite things about this bike is just how easy its battery is to remove and take inside for charging! This is great if you have a situation where you just can’t get your bike to a plug, and you need an e-bike with easy battery removal and transport, then the Mini would more-or-less be my top choice.
The range on the Mini, however, and as is the case with a lot of these smaller 36-volt e-bikes, isn’t much; with the brand stating between 15 and 35 miles. Having this said though, stick around to see the results of my personal real-world testing.
The top speed is 18 miles-per-hour which feels plenty fast enough especially considering the smaller-sized tires.
How are the Brakes on the Propella Mini?
On the flip-side of that, the braking power feels phenomenal; the second you engage the brakes the bike just stops. I think this is largely due to the quality components the brand went with including Shimano Mechanical Disc brakes with larger 160-millimeter Rotors and Shimano Tourney Calipers.
What Class E-Bike is the Propella Mini?
Propella also opted “out” of a throttle for this particular model making the Mini a class 1 ebike; great if you need full access to ride your Mini nearly “anywhere” regular bikes can ride! However, it’s bad if you like to do throttle donuts like I do!
The pedal assist is controlled by a sealed twelve-magnet low-profile cadence sensor which is located on the opposite side of the crankset. The sensor doesn’t always match the pedal speed and, with it being a single gear, that can sometimes be noticed when pedaling.
And speaking of pedal power, the Propella Mini is a single-speed freewheel bike with a sixteen-tooth free wheel in the rear and a large 50-tooth chainring up front. The pedals are aluminum Neco cage style which I like as they really stick to your feet more than plastic pedals do.
Blue Anondized Rims (and trim)
The rims are that “anodized” blue with stainless steel spokes and the wheels are 20 by 1.75 inch e-bike rated CST tires with Schrader valves. The tires are definitely on the small side, but that’s the point. They handle great and the rubber really grips the road!
And while we’re talking about the tires, it should be noted that there are no fenders (or lights for that matter!), keeping up with the brand’s “less-is-more” minimalist aesthetics!
Up in the cockpit, the steering is handled by extra-wide 6-hundred-60-millimeter Zoom handlebars that really give the Propella Mini a “ride feel” that I’d compare to that of a BMX. You can even lift up on the handlebars and do little bunny hops! The handlebar grips are grippy and feel high-quality in your hands, not cheap or plastic-y.
The saddle is comfy enough for short rides and of course features that stellar blue trim.
Simple and Legible 2″ LCD
The two-inch backlit LCD is super simple to use and easy to read; just press up or down to cycle through one of the five pedal assist levels, and the mode button cycles through Speed, Trip, and Odometer. I appreciate how the brand didn’t overcomplicate anything and the simplicity of this LCD is a prime example.
And, frankly, having all this said, this is just a really good looking, unique-looking, electric bike.
We’ll get to the testing results as well as my personal thoughts on the Mini in a moment, but first, here’s a little unboxing and assembly “ASMR” for ya!
Unboxing and Assembling the Propella Mini
What’s in the Box:
And within the box, you get one front tire, one seat, one set of metal cage pedals, one seat post, one 9-millimeter skewer for the front tire, one 2-amp charger, With US plug, a useful all-in-one multi-tool, and, of course the user’s guide!
Assembly:
To assemble, insert the skewer in the front tire. Then, mount it to the front fork. Next, insert both pedals into the crank arms and tighten them with the provided multi-tool (or one of your own). Next up, mount the handlebars and faceplate; and tighten down the screws. Finally, insert the seat and seat post, and voila! You’re good to go!
Pedal-Assist Speed Test
Next up, is our P A S or pedal assist, speed test. We all know the top speed is 18 miles per hour at this point, which is what I saw, but every P A S level has its own top speed. My testing revealed that in pedal assist 1, my Mini had a six-mile-per-hour top speed. In 2 we reached eight. In 3, 11 miles per hour. 4 was right at 14. And, of course, 5 got me right at 17 or 18 miles per hour. All of this was all on flat terrain.
Real World Range Test
As far as range is concerned, I got 14.72 miles on a full charge on my range test. This is slightly less than the stated minimum range, but I’m probably on the heavier side for this bike at a hundred90 pounds and the location I test in has a small to medium amount of hilly terrain. I also spent time in all five assist modes, with the majority of time spent in P A S three. My Strava app also tracked over 642 feet of elevation gain which contributes heavily to battery loss. My max speed was 20.5 miles per hour (downhill of course) and my average speed was 8.7 miles per hour. But, here’s the thing I like the most, I was riding for an hour and 41 minutes and 50 seconds! That’s a “Lot” of riding time.
My thoughts on the Propella Mini:
Having all this said, I really am enjoying the Propella Mini! I enjoyed that I was able to ride it for over an hour and a half on one charge “with” over 600 feet of elevation gain.
I also enjoy the uncluttered, minimalist design of the “Mini,” as well as how light and nimble it is. I like the wide handlebars, the BMX feel, the removable battery, the stealthiness, and a lot more.
Basically, the Propella Mini is an urban “assassin,” built to get you in and out of tight spots with its nimble and compact design. It isn’t perfect, mind you, but with the Propella Mini you aren’t getting a run-of-the-mill experience. You’re getting a unique rideable that stands out against a sea of boring, cookie-cutter e-bikes.
So, here are the 17 pros and three cons of the Propella Mini:
Pros of the Propella Mini:
- Lightweight and compact design.
- Stylish blue anodized trim.
- Nimble handling with 20-inch tires.
- Easy-to-remove and charge battery.
- Strong braking power with Shimano disc brakes.
- Class 1 e-bike for full access.
- Simple and legible 2″ LCD.
- Comfortable saddle with stylish trim.
- Extra-wide handlebars for better control.
- Aluminum Neco cage style pedals.
- Sturdy build with no unnecessary components.
- Adequate power for flat and mildly hilly terrain.
- Unique look compared to other e-bikes.
- BMX feel with the ability to do small tricks.
- Simple and minimalistic aesthetic.
- Good pedal assist range on flat terrain.
- Long riding time on a single charge.
Cons of the Propella Mini:
- No suspension, making it less suitable for rough terrain.
- Limited torque for heavier riders or steep hills.
- Smaller range compared
