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The Amego Infinite is an electric bicycle that offers a lot of possibility to its owner… You can haul gear with the rear rack, stay dry in the rain and snow because it has sturdy allow fenders, stay visible at night because of the front and rear light, and remain comfortable because it has a suspension fork and suspension seat post. It can zip around with throttle power and even reach ~25 mph with pedal assist, or be tuned down to 20 mph to comply with Class 1 (if you disconnect the throttle). Priced at $2k, the bike offers a lot of value in my opinion, especially with the two-year warranty, two frame options (high-step or step-thru), and the four color choices. The colors look beautiful and the branding is understated here, this is an ebike that looks more timeless to me, and might appeal to women who prefer a lower step-thru design and appreciate the metallic gold and silver color options. So many times, you just get black or white. The founder of Amego electric bikes has been designing and importing products like this since 2010 (starting with electric scooters then shifting more towards e-bikes in 2012). She chose colors that are similar to what Apple, Samsung, and other tech companies have been using on their laptops and smartphones recently. It’s interesting to think that you could accessorize your bike with your phone or computer… but it works well. Virginia met me in Santa Monica, California, for this review and we rode to the beach together. I dug deep into the details so that you could compare this product to other similar models from competing companies, but noticed that wheel size and display panel were two hardware components that set it apart. The wheels are just a touch larger than the standard 26″ which raises the bike about half an inch, but that also increases the air volume, provides a smoother ride with lower attack angle on bumps and cracks, and delivers some rolling momentum and stability. Many city and road bikes have 28″ wheels, so the 27.5″ is a great compromise. I’ve said a lot here about what I like, but there are some trade-offs being made to hit the price and keep the bike durable. The foremost in my mind include a center mounted kickstand that can get in the way of the left crank arm, a cheaper fork that does not include lockout (but can be tightened for heavier riders by removing the caps and twisting the preload clickers), a rack that may position gear directly below the saddle vs. further back out of the way, and a stem that is highly adjustable but can sometimes get loose and slip if you put a lot of force on it. Interestingly, the step-thru frame does have bottle cage bosses, but the high-step does not. This means you’ll either need an adapter system or a trunk bag with a bottle holster to bring fluids along. There’s so, so much to say about this electric bicycle… the suspension seat post can also be adjusted for different weight by using a bolt at the base, the 180 mm hydraulic disc brakes offer great stopping power and the left lever has a motor inhibitor (Virginia said that eventually both will), and the chainring has a sturdy guard to help keep the chain on track and prevent your pant leg or skirt from directly touching the chain. Yes, a full guide and chain cover would be nice, but the bike would weigh even more and sometimes the cover can make fixing a dropped chain difficult (and make noise on bumpy terrain and get bent if kicked over time). One of the more frustrating aspects of the bike in my opinion, is that both the headlight and back light have to be turned on and off by pressing a button physically located on the housing vs. going through the main display. If you get onto the bike and forget to activate the lights, that means you probably have to deploy the kickstand and get off to press the buttons… and you could forget to turn them off after parking. The upside here, is that the rear light (which runs on independent AAA batteries) is more durable, and since Amego does ship their bikes to regions without dealers (for free) there’s more potential for delicate parts to fail on the way or during unpacking and assembly. So, in that sense, the independent rear light is understandable.
Driving this bike is a zippy 500 watt Das-Kit geared hub motor. I’m told that it peaks out well above 500 (possibly 750+ watts?) and that it offers up to 80 Newton meters of torque, which seems like a fluffed up spec. I cannot easily measure this, but I can say, qualitatively, that the motor is powerful. In some ways, it’s a bit too powerful at assist level 1 (the lowest option) because pedal assist relies on a basic cadence sensor. Actually, the sensor itself is well protected and compact (located near the left crank arm around the spindle at the bottom bracket), it’s as responsive as any 12-magnet cadence sensor, but perhaps the powerful 18 amp controller is just setup for a strong boost vs. smooth. You can get a smooth start by actuating the variable speed trigger throttle gently. The throttle is active at all times, even zero, so be careful whenever the bike is on… or consider removing the throttle. You can enter into the display settings to lower the top assisted speed by holding + and – once it has been turned on, then enter the code 8306 to get into the different areas. This is what I was referring to early on, talking about making the bike Class 1, 2, or 3 depending on what you choose. I’m told that many delivery riders who work for Fadora and Uber Eats are using Virginia’s Amego electric bikes in Toronto. These riders may want to disable the throttle for certain areas or increase the speed for riding on streets. And, I can only quote Virginia, but she said some have amassed 20k+ miles of riding during a single year-long season, including rides in the cold wet and salty snow. It’s a testament to ebike technology in general, but it looked like the motor casing and connectors were well sealed. This motor is fairly compact and lightweight, it does zip audibly when being operated at high power and higher speeds, and it feels secure in the wheel because thicker 13 gauge spokes were used. I absolutely love the steel deraulleur guard on the right side of the rear dropout, because it will protect both the derailleur and exposed power cable that sends energy from the battery and controller to the motor itself. This is great if the bike tips or gets smooshed at a rack, but as the guard takes damage, it may begin to rust. Changing a flat tube on the rear wheel is going to take more work because there’s no quick release and additional wires going to the derailleur and motor. There is a disconnect for the motor cable located below the right chainstay, and I’d recommend not pulling the rear brake whenever the wheel is off because without the rotor, the brake pads can get stuck together. With the premium Schwalbe Big Ben tires here, external punctures should be minimized but if you let the tire pressure drop too low, you could get an internal pinch flat or snake bite when hitting curbs or other angular objects.
Powering the Amego Infinite, it’s headlight, and the backlit display, is a 48 volt 13 amp hour Lithium-ion battery pack, mounted semi-internally to the downtube. Because this pack fits in from the left side of the frame at an angle, the step-thru was able to be designed with a lower top tube. This is a pack I have seen on many, many, many, other electric bikes. It locks in securely and has a little lever on the left which helps to pop it off the frame and can be used as a fairly secure way to transport. You can charge the pack when it’s mounted to the frame or separately, and I’ve heard that extreme heat or cold can be hard on Lithium-ion cells, so charging in a neutral environment if the bike has to be left outside in a snowstorm or inside a non-insulated garage during a heat wave is advisable. Charging completely from empty may take 6+ hours, but I’ve been told that it’s best to keep batteries from dropping below 20% because that can stress the cells… and you should still be able to get fantastic range with the top 80% of the pack. Of course, it all depends on how much you weigh, what the terrain is like, the wind, even the tire pressure being used. I’m a lighter guy, and I don’t always use the throttle, so I get pretty good range even if I drop the tire pressure (for comfort), and the recommended PSI range is listed above in the stats. The battery has a little rubber button on the top that illuminates a 4-LED charge level readout (handy if you’ve stored the pack away from the bike and cannot remember if it’s charged), and there’s a full sized USB port on the right side of the pack (presumably offering 5 Volts and 500 mA of power for charging phones and other portable electronics). If you decide to tap into the USB while riding, consider using a right angle USB adapter and some zip ties to keep the cables tight to the frame and away from your legs as you pedal. Similarly, the charging port for the pack itself is near the left crank arm, so if you leave the battery on the bike when charging, the cable could get snagged or bent, be careful :)
Operating this bike is the same as each of the other current generation Amego models. There’s a control panel that’s made by Das-Kit (the same company that makes the motor) called the L7. It’s an all-in-one LCD display with three rubberized buttons near the left. To activate the bike, once the battery has been charged and mounted to the frame, just hold the M button in the center. I think this button stands for “mode” and doubles as a screen readout selector once the display is on. The default readouts include battery level, current speed, and assist level (0-6). I really appreciate how the battery infographic has six bars instead of just four or five, this gives you more precise feedback about capacity so you can plan trips accordingly. Many times, ebikes just have four or five levels of assist, but here again there are six. The really cool thing about changing assist levels (by pressing the + or – buttons) is that the levels loop from six back down to zero and also the reverse. This saves you time and finger fatigue… Virginia told me that the trigger throttle can be mounted near the left grip or right grip, but there’s probably going to be some crowding and reaching in either case. With it positioned on the left side, you have to reach a bit further to click the control pad buttons. Electric bikes tend to have busier cockpits and more wires up front, and you can expect to see one more with the addition of a right brake lever motor inhibitor on future models. Unfortunately, the display panel is not easily removable, and may take scratches and sun fade over time. It cannot be swiveled easily to reduce glare (and if you leave the mounting bracket too loose, pressing the buttons will spin the display and be frustrating). I hear owners talk about covering their displays with their helmets, and some have used plastic sacks when it rains or snows, but you don’t want to trap water in with the display either because it can vaporize and get inside the electronics as the temperature heats up. I don’t mean to be alarmist, I’m just digging in deeper here since Amego is based in Canada where it snows in more locations, and where it rains in Tornoto specifically. Worst case scenario is that you order a replacement screen, mount it to the bar, and plug it into the quick-connect wire that was used for the original display. Other quick tips here include holding the + button for backlighting (I like that you can run both lights without having the display always being bright and potentially distracting), and holding the – key for walk assist. This can be very useful for a heavier ebike when walking up a hill, through grass in a park where bikes shouldn’t be ridden, or if you get a flat tire and need to walk home.
All things considered, the Amego Infinite is a very cool electric bike that delivers a zippy ride in a beautiful package. I appreciate how adjustable the drive modes and rider fit are. I like the accessories, appreciate how sturdy and quiet the fenders are, and am okay with the heavier weight because of the larger battery. The bike handles well and has upgraded components where it counts, like the 8-speed Shimano Acera drivetrain, Das-Kit motor, Schwalbe tires, and sturdy Wellgo pedals. Do keep an eye on that adjustable angle stem and keep in mind that some assembly will be required if you order online (consider getting a shop to look through and adjust the details once you’ve got it built). For those who want a platform that can be upgraded, it’s nice to know that the tapered head tube will accept fancier (and lighter) air suspension forks with lockout and preload. The little details are there on this bike, be it the paint job, or the slap guard on the right chainstay, or the derailleur guard. The step-thru looks beautiful in silver or gold and quiet handsome in black or space grey… it didn’t suffer as much from frame flex because of the double-tube design but still had a relatively low standover height. There’s a reason that very similar ebikes have been produced by competing companies, but it’s wonderful to have some choice of color and to be able to work with different personalities. Competition is great for consumers and Virginia is both professional and kind in my experience, she has been in this business (in Canada) a lot longer than most, and even worked with the city of Toronto to embrace ebikes as a clean, quiet, and efficient way for food delivery people to work and for citizens to get around without owning a car and having to pay for insurance and parking. A couple more quick details: I like the rubber mud flaps at the end of both fenders (that will flex instead of scraping or bending if curb and foot contact is made), I like how the key cylinder is spring loaded, so working with the battery is simple and secure, and it’s neat that they offer a folding model called the Freedom for people who are shorter than 5 foot who might still love the colors and style on offer. I’ll be reviewing that model separately. Big thanks to Amego and The Bike Shop in Santa Monica for partnering with me on this review and going on camera to share their stories. Please share your comments below and chime in on the Amego forums if you have media and feedback to share.
Pros:
- Comfortable and highly adjustable, the suspension fork and seat post are a little basic (keeping them more affordable) but they pair nicely with the gel saddle, adjustable stem, swept back handlebar, and ergonomic grips for a more relaxed and comfortable ride
- Even though there is technically only one frame size for this ebike, you get to choose from high-step or step-thru, and that provides a lower stand-over height for people with short inseams, the high-step will feel more rigid and responsive and may be easier to hang on some bike racks, otherwise you might need a hitch rack like I had in the video
- The Amego Infinite is feature complete, meaning that it comes with fenders, a rear rack, and lights to keep you safe at night, this product offers a lot of utility and goes above and beyond with reflective tires that are puncture resistant
- For those who want to add an additional light or power their phone on the go, the battery pack has a full sized USB Type A port on the top right and you can use a right angle adapter and some zip ties to connect without having wires stick out too much (getting in the way of your right leg while pedaling)
- The 27.5″ x 2.0″ tires provide great rolling momentum, a lower angle of attack to span cracks, and increased air volume for even more comfort… but they do elevate the entire bike frame by half an inch more than competing products with 26″ tires.
- With a large alloy chainring protector and tough steel derailleur guard, the drivetrain on this bike seems well protected, even the motor power cable is protected on the right side
- Minor pro here, but I love the pedals used here because they are stiff, offer good traction, and provide more surface area than the cheap cage-style steel pedals I see on a lot of other more affordable ebike products
- The display panel is easy to read and reach, I like that it has backlighting and many adjustable settings, it’s not removable but does seem modular and easy to replace if there’s damage over time, Amego has been in business for several years now and offers a decent one year warranty, so I trust them (they even have a shop in Toronto, Canada, so you could test ride or get in-person help if you live nearby)
- It’s neat that you can charge the battery on or off the bike and I appreciate how it seats into the frame partially, to lower weight and provide more strength, the battery charger is more basic and offers 2 amps output vs. 3 amps or 4 amps on some nicer products
- I’m a huge fan of hydraulic disc brakes, especially for powerful ebikes which tend to weigh more, and you get large 180 mm rotors front and rear with the Amego Infinite, as well as motor inhibitors on both brake levers that override power in an instant for safety
- You can choose many ways to ride this ebike including pedal assist, limited speed, throttle on demand (and throttle override of assist), or higher-speed pedal assist for commuting on streets
- You get four beautiful color choices that aren’t cheap looking or exclusively masculine, the metallic gold is unique and seems appealing to women who are often stuck with black, white, or something like pink, purple, or teal
- I like how the branding on this e-bike is understated, it doesn’t have a huge company logo or flashy designs that end up looking cheap, all of the black hardware ties into the small black company logo on the downtube
- It sounds like Amego offers free shipping if you order online but also has a handful of shops in Canada and the US that sell in person, so you can test ride and get a fully assembled product vs. unpacking and setting up yourself
- I like that the level of pedal assist can circle down from 0 all the way up to 6 or go from 6 all the way down to zero without having to click +, +, +, or -, -, -, a bunch of times
Cons:
- The controller box on this bike is a bit exposed at the base of the downtube, it runs higher current and needed to dissipate heat, so functionally it’s a good design and seemed well sealed and protected by the chainring but looks a bit off aesthetically (most ebikes have the controller built into the battery, but the heat can damage the cells and make replacement packs more expensive)
- It’s great to have front and rear lights, but the backlight is independent and runs on disposable AAA cells, you have to remember to turn it on and off for each ride and the headlight also has a physical on/off switch which is unique, usually they turn on when you activate the display backlighting… but at least the headlight is powered by the main rechargeable battery pack
- The kickstand worked well enough, holding the bike up straight, but is directly in the path of the left crank arm, this means you can get pedal locked when backing the bike out if you don’t first stow the stand, the charging port is also in the path of the crank arm and you could get the charging cable snagged or broken if you aren’t careful
- The rear rack looks good, seems secure, and offers a triple-bungee for securing small objects as well as pannier blockers to support larger side bags, but it’s positioned in the way of the saddle if you lower the seat all the way, this could impact what kinds of trunk bags you can fit on the bike, this one is angled at the front to provide a lower saddle position on bikes like this
- The headlight is attached to the fork arch and will travel up and down as the suspension activates on bumpy terrain, ideally, it would be positioned on the headset, stem, or handlebar to be sprung by the suspension vs. attached to it
- Minor considerations: keep an eye on the adjustable stem and keep it tight because I have seen them slide all the way forward for some larger riders who stopped hard or put a lot of pressure on them, it would be nice if the chainring had two metal plates or a full plastic guide to reduce chain drops vs. a single side guard, the rear wheel is more difficult to get off because of the motor and power cable going to it and does not have quick release like the front wheel (or many mid-drive ebikes)
- The bike weighs a bit more, nearly 60 lbs (~27 kg) because of the high-capacity battery, alloy fenders, rear rack, and suspension elements… but the weight is distributed well and positioned low for the motor and battery
- This isn’t a huge complaint, it might actually be good for some riders, but the throttle is always active once the bike is turned on, even in level zero, so be careful not to bump it accidentally… always turn the bike off when mounting/dismounting for safety
- I love that the step-thru model has bottle cage bosses on the top tube, even though an actual cage or accessory might get kicked there… it’s a nice option, but the high-step doesn’t have any bottle cage mounting points
Resources:
Mike
7 years agoThat sucker is a spitting image of the Ui5. (or rather now the Ui6 with the 500 watt motor, and 48 volt battery). From the exact frame,All the way down to the Das-Kit motor, and the rack. By the way, in the specs you say its Das-Kit, but then in the write up you say Dapu. So which is it?
This ‘white label’ stuff coming from China contract manufacturers is frankly not doing any good for the ebike market growth in the US. You have a total copy cat of a product out on the market already, and they are taking the price the wrong direction. (i.e. higher than Magnum’s)
Oh wow, there are 4 colors. That is one of the very few differences, along with tire size. Some new cosmetics. The price seems a tad high for what you are getting. Instead of Amego, they should have called it Ametoo.
Replycourt
7 years agoHa! I like your play on words there at the end… I think Amego has actually been selling in North America much longer than Magnum, just focused on Canada until recently. Magnum was selling predominantly in Israel before entering the US around 2016. They had been in touch about reviews for a while but I hadn’t visited Toronto, so Virginia visited me during some travels in the LA area. I think her price might be slightly higher because there are more color options and she’s importing from Canada first and has to deal with exchange rates. I think it’s a nice option to have, even with color and wheels being the primary differences. I will fix the Dapu typo above, thanks ;)
ReplyVirginia Block
6 years agoHey Mike,
Magnum and Amego launched our bikes into the US at the same time, back in 2016 at Interbike. Amego is a Canadian brand, est. in 2010, that has pioneered the industry in Toronto and Canada. The Amego bikes are currently equipped with Das-Kit but will be having options to upgrade to an ASI system soon. In 2020, we will also have Bionx technology, which we acquired with our manufacture, Leisger.
Canada has developed some of the best controllers and technology in the global market. The torque assist on a Bionx system has over 12 years of R&D from Canada. Amego has been working closely with ASI, a Canadian controller company, that has 17 years of engineering. We have created algorithms that make a speed-sensor pedal-assist bike feel like a torque system.
Amego has been working hard to offer the most reliable and best performing electric-assist systems, at the best pricing. Please keep following us as we grow. If you do a price comparison of our bikes, I’m sure you will be delighted.
Virginia
ReplyMike
6 years agoVirginia – who is ASI, and where are they based in Canada? Would we know their work on other bike brands ? The Bionx situation is interesting. I have customers who are having a hard time finding anyone that has a battery that will fit as a replacement for their Bionx driven ebike. Do you folks have a way to source a battery for an existing Bionx driven ebike ? If so, I will probably reach out.
I like your 27.5″ tires better than Magnum’s choices of either 26″ or 700C’s. And hopefully your fenders don’t rub against the tires (like Magnums often do right out of the box on their ui6’s and former ui5’s.)