The surge in e-bike popularity has overtaken traditional bicycles for all the right reasons. Electrically assisted pedaling has brought physical effort, a big impediment to cycling long distances, down to a minimum.
The accessibility provided by e-bikes for riders of all fitness levels and ages is unparalleled. The freedom, confidence, and pure joy of bicycling have been revived with e-bikes serving many applications in today’s world. Commuting, fitness, and outdoor exploration are made easier for everyone without struggling for oxygen.
There is an e-bike suited to everyone out there. But the best e-bikes blur the lines that separate various categories of e-bikes: mountain, road, cargo, hybrid, and city. These all-purpose e-bikes, like the ENGWE EP-2 Boost, are all-rounders serving all the abovementioned purposes on just two wheels.
This article is your ultimate guide to buying a versatile e-bike that performs every purpose of riding a bike.
Things to consider when choosing an e-bike
The right e-bike will strike a balance between budget, goals, design, specs, and features. Here are some key factors to consider before making your purchase:
Budget
E-bike prices start from $1,000 and go all the way up to $8,000 and more. But, e-bikes on both ends of the price range have small differences when it comes to performance and utility. Inflated prices usually cater to shiny bells and whistles that consumers demand, such as carbon fibre frames and beefed up motors and batteries.
You should focus on value instead of being caught up on luxurious features that will never be used.
Motor type
There are two main motor types on e-bikes: hub and mid-drive motors. While hub motors are lightweight, simple, and affordable, they lack the performance of a mid-drive motor, which excels in challenging climbs and difficult terrains with its higher efficiency and torque.
Motor sensor
A cadence sensor, while cheaper, is less intuitive and sensitive to the detection of pedal patterns than a torque sensor, which adjusts power based on your pedaling patterns in real-time to provide a smoother experience with greater performance.
Battery and range
If you are planning to explore the outdoors, you will need a heavy-duty battery on your e-bike, which is large enough to be housed externally. Well-integrated, compact batteries that are housed in the frame provide smaller ranges, but are ideal for city e-bikes for weight distribution
Displays and controls
Most e-bikes come with integrated displays that show real-time speed, battery level, and distance travelled.
Speed and regulations
In the EU, regulations dictate that an EU legal not requiring a license will have a maximum 250 W motor that electrically assists pedaling up to 25 km/h. These e-bikes fall in the pedelec category belonging to Class 1 of e-bikes, and do not require licensing and registration.
Stability and control
Since e-bikes are designed to go faster and longer than traditional bikes in the city and outdoors, you want extra control when riding them. Wider tires, soft front suspensions, gearboxes with many speed settings, and solid disc brakes are necessary safety features every e-bike should possess.
ENGWE EP-2 Boost: The best road e-bike
The ENGWE EP-2 Boost ticks all the factors we mentioned above with flying colors. It is extremely affordable at only €1,099.00. The 250 W Brushless Motor delivers electrical assistance up to 25 km/h, which satisfies EU regulations for e-bikes that do not require licensing and registration. The innovative motor features an EU-compliant Boost mode, which is activated through a Boost button that generates an instant power surge of 55 Nm when you face steep inclines.
The EP-2 Boost comes with a Smart Torque Sensor with intelligent power assist to deliver a smooth riding experience that is responsive to your pedaling efforts.
Apart from the amazing performance, range anxiety is not in the EP-2 Boost’s dictionary, as it offers a whopping range of up to 120 km, which is 50% higher than its competition, which averages 80 km of range.
For a comfortable experience with convenience, the EP-2 Boost comes with a rear rack that can hold up to 150 kg of storage. Carry all the load with sheer comfort with its 180 mm disc brakes. The Shimano 7-speed gearbox provides seven speed calibrations for graceful all-terrain riding. And the soft, shock-absorbent front suspension devours pesky bumps and rough terrain like a champion.
That is not it. The 20 x 4.0-inch one-piece all-terrain wheels perform well on every surface: asphalt, sand, gravel, and dirt.
A minimally integrated LCD color display shows real-time speed, battery level, and distance travelled.
The EP-2 Boost does not compromise on safety, as it comes with bright rear and brake lights for low-light conditions, and a portable and detachable battery for easier storage of the e-bike while preventing theft of the expensive battery.
It is easy to carry and store, as the e-bike weighs only 37.8 kg while being completely foldable to a compact shape.
|
Motor |
250 W Brushless Motor |
|
Speed |
25 km/h |
|
Brake |
180 mm Front & Rear Disc Mechanical Brake |
|
Torque |
55 N.m |
|
Tires |
20 x 4.0 Fat Tires |
|
Battery |
48V13Ah Removable Internal Lithium-ion *1 |
|
Key features |
55 Nm Boost Button, Intelligent Torque Sensor, 120 km range, 20 x 4.0-inch all-terrain one-piece tires, Shimano 7-speed gearbox, 150 kg cargo storage with rear rack |
Final thoughts
E-bike popularity was bound to surge due to their performance, comfort, and convenience over traditional e-bikes. With so many e-bikes to choose from, it is important to understand the key factors that make a good e-bike. Budget, motor type, and battery range are just some of the factors that one should consider before buying an e-bike. The ENGWE EP-2 Boost is the undisputed champion in its class, and we can not recommend it enough for being the complete package.
