Engwe P26 Hybrid City E-Bike Review vs ADO D30C | Raider Tech

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Engwe has primarily specialised in foldable electrical bikes lately. I’ve beforehand reviewed the Engwe Engine Professional and the Engwe C20 Professional, being impressed with each bikes.

They’re now increasing the product vary with the M20 full shock mountain motor e-bike that has a 750W motor cable of 1000w peak and a most pace of 28MPH (45 KPH). It could possibly deal with 10° inclines, and there may be an choice for a twin battery which may present as much as 150km vary.

They’ve additionally launched the extra smart Engwe P26, which is their first hybrid bike. That is street authorized within the UK, having a 250W motor and on the time of writing, it’s that can be purchased for £1,049.

I’ve beforehand reviewed two hybrid e-bikes, the ADO D30C and Eleglide T1 Step By. I believe the Engwe P26 is a superb different to the ADO.

Specification

UK Highway Legality & Learn how to Allow the Throttle

All the Engwe e-bikes I’ve reviewed have arrived as street authorized for the UK.

The bikes shipped to the UK and EU all include a 250W motor, whereas the US mannequin is bought with a 500W motor.

The UK/EU fashions have a throttle inbuilt, however that is disabled as customary, and the pace is proscribed to 25km/h (15.5mph).

It’s doable to take away the pace limitation and allow the throttle. You need to solely do that for those who plan to make use of the bike on personal property/off-road.

To allow the throttle and modify the pace restrict, do the next:

1. Rotate the throttle to max
2. Press and maintain the brakes
3. Press the Energy button to activate the bike
4. Maintain on to the brakes and throttle, Await 10 seconds.
5. Launch the brakes and throttle
6. Press BOTH the PLUS & MINUS buttons to get into setting mode
7. Use the PLUS & MINUS buttons and prime facet button to enter the passcode  (it appears prefer it’s 1818)
8. Press & maintain prime facet button and MINUS till the phrase “Ld” begins  to blink
9. Press MINUS as soon as, and the display screen now reads LS, you are actually within the pace restrict settings
10. Use PLUS & MINUS button to set the pace restrict
11. Press & maintain the highest facet button TWICE to save lots of the settings and exit.

Construct

In concept, this could have been a straightforward construct, there may be not a lot to do, and the directions are clear sufficient. The bike can be well-made, so there have been not likely any points right here.

Nonetheless, there have been some points setting it up.

That you must rotate the handlebar stem round and align it with the wheel, then use the Allen key to tighten it and repair it in place. Throughout my preliminary set-up, irrespective of how a lot I attempted to tighten the stem, it could nonetheless be unfastened sufficient that the handlebars and entrance week would come simply out of alignment.

Finally, I eliminated the handlebars utterly and pulled out the complete entrance stem and reaffixed and aligned the bolt it hooked up to. Then after I re-inserted the stem and tightened it, I used to be ultimately in a position to get it tightened correctly. Even on this situation, I needed to discover an extra-long Allen key, so I might apply sufficient drive to tighten it correctly.

Then, with the mudguards on the entrance, the Allen key bolts have been over-tightened, so it required plenty of drive to unscrew them.

This bike has solely just lately been introduced, and I believe each of those issues are teething points with the preliminary pre-assembly.

There have been a few different minor points that are widespread with e-bikes.

When becoming the entrance wheel, you should be certain that all of the washers are on the skin; there may be one washer that has a little bit hook that inserts right into a gap within the fork. The bolts then have to be tightened with even drive, or you could discover that the disk brake rubs in opposition to the brake pad. You’ll be able to open up the brake pads a little bit utilizing the Allen bolt on the facet of the brake.

The mudguard additionally suits fairly carefully with the entrance tyre, which is sweet for decreasing splashback from a moist floor, however you could have to fiddle with it as it might catch on the tyre whereas driving.

Aside from my problem with fixing the entrance stem in place, all of the above issues are straightforward to repair and simply want a little bit little bit of widespread sense. The entrance stem was additionally a straightforward repair, however it simply took a bit longer to work out. If it wasn’t for that, this could have been a fast and simple construct.

Rider Peak

Engwe could be very optimistic about who that is appropriate for, claiming you will be from 5ft (152cm) to 6ft 8 inches (210cm).

I’m 6ft 1, and the bike feels too small for me. With the seat top at its most, I get nowhere close to a full vary of movement with my peddling, which I discover to be a clumsy expertise.

I believe the bike would have been improved if the seat submit was longer and subsequently supplied a wider vary of adjustment.

I would say it’s no worse than any of the foldable e-bikes I’ve reviewed, however I believe with these, there’s a sure expectation that they will really feel a bit small and cramped.

Relying on how you intend to trip the bike, you could not have a problem. In the event you solely need to peddle evenly, counting on energy help or predominantly use the throttle, then the driving place is completely sufficient for my top and certain riders even taller.

Trip Expertise

Despite the fact that I discovered the bike a little bit small for my lengthy legs, the general trip expertise was good. Specifically, I discovered it to be a easy and quiet trip.

The geometry of the bike has the handlebars fairly excessive compared to the seat, and this offers you a cushty sitting-up driving place which is nice for metropolis bikes because it gives a cushty driving place.

Much like a lot of the different bikes I’ve reviewed, this makes use of a pace sensor slightly than torque. It isn’t very best however it works nicely.

The Shimano Tourney 7-speed gear system might be the most typical gear system for these inexpensive Chinese language E-bikes. Like all different bikes that use this, it really works OK, offering fundamental gearing, however the 9-speed Shimano Altus on the ADO D30C was far superior if you’d like to have the ability to present extra peddle energy.

The entrance suspension fork is adjustable, and I personally choose to have it locked when I’m driving on roads, however it gives an excellent stage of absorption for any bumps when unlocked.

The motor has a 40Nm torque, and I discovered that it was good for reasonable inclines, however steeper inclines would require a bit extra peddling energy. The ADO D30C wasn’t a lot better, with a torque of 42Nm, I believe the ADO was higher on hills because of the superior Altus gears. The Eleglide T1 Step By had a wonderful 50Nm torque, however in hindsight, I’m a little bit sceptical, I do not bear in mind it being that a lot better than this.

The lights work nicely, and the rear gentle is wired, so you do not have to fret about switching it on.

Battery / Vary

Engwe gives particular ranges for the bike in several modes and gears

Electrical mode (KM): 65km at full pace in fifth gear

• 1st gear: 78km
• 2nd gear: 74km
• third gear: 70km
• 4th gear: 68km

Most with pas mode (KM): 70km at full pace in fifth gear with energy

• 1st gear: 100km
• 2nd gear: 90km
• third gear: 80km
• 4th gear: 75km

Clearly, the above determine will depend upon the terrain you trip and the climate (it is windy the place I reside).

I lined about 20 miles (32km) the place I reside earlier than I put the bike again on cost, and the battery was nonetheless at about half. I at all times peddle, however I’ve the facility help at most.

This has a detachable battery that requires a key to take away it, which lets you take away the battery and cost it indoors for those who cycle to work. It should additionally make changing the battery a lot simpler, do you have to want.

Value and Various Choices

The Engwe P26 has an RRP of £1,199, and on the time of writing, it has been discounted to £1,049.

The Eleglide T1 Step By is an efficient different priced at £900. It’s a step-through design which makes it handy for folks with mobility points and is commonly widespread with ladies. It has the identical vary, additionally features a rear pannier rack and has adjustable entrance handles. It weighs about the identical at 26KG. You too can optionally match the throttle that is included within the pack.

The Elglide T1 has a geometry that is extra much like the P26, and that is priced at £800, the remainder of the spec is identical because the step-through mannequin.

ADO have the Dece 300C (ADO D30C), which is 21kg and has 9-speed Shimano gears. It does not include a throttle as customary, however you should purchase one. my overview, I additionally discovered this to be a little bit small for me, and so they additionally declare a rider top of as much as 6ft 6 (200cm). That is priced fairly a bit increased at £ 1,369 RRP or £1299 on the time of writing.

Total

I believe the Engwe P26 is an efficient hybrid e-bike and positively a wonderful first try from Engwe.

I would say this makes a wonderful and inexpensive different to the ADO D30C.

As a result of lower cost, it’s onerous to disregard the Eleglide T1, I believe the general construct and efficiency from the Engwe feels higher, however I’m not certain whether it is £150+ higher.