2013 e-Joe Anggun Review

The e-Joe Anggun would be a great rental or fleet electric bike. It’s approachable due to the step-through design but comes in black or red so it can look sleek or a bit more feminine. With only seven gears it’s easy to use and the chain won’t get loose or out of adjustment as easily as a 21+ speed. It offers both pedal assist to extend range or twist throttle for convenience and fun. The price is good and the little extras like fenders, rear rack, lights and the front shock offer utility and safety that comes in handy as the weather or time of day changes. None of the components are designed for high performance but they all work well and are easy to learn and use. I’m especially fond of the computer button breakout panel that sits right next to the left grip and the gear shifter that sits next to the right grip (and is the same one used on Pedego and Motiv cruisers). The controls are all easy to reach and use when riding which makes it easier and safer to use.

The motor driving the Anggun is a basic 350 watt geared design that offers decent torque but doesn’t weigh a whole lot. During my tests it was quiet, smooth and pretty zippy. It’s not designed to carry you up large hills (and could overheat if pushed too hard, but will automatically shut down and cool off). The best way to use it is in one of four pedal assist modes that are activated with the pedalec sensor mounted on the bottom bracket. Some of the fancier electric mountain bikes are using torque sensors these days (which are more responsive and can feel smoother) but I like the pedalec because you don’t have to push very hard in order to activate the motor and this is nice for weaker individuals or those with sensitive knees.

The battery pack on the Anggun is a highlight because it’s mounted thoughtfully behind the seat post tube and is surrounded (protected by) the seat stay tubes on either side. The pack locks to the bike for security but is easy to remove and can be charged on or off the bike (perfect for commuting or when you need to lighten the bike for transport). The seat flips up and the battery pack slides up, it even has a handle attached at the top. The power of the battery is 36 volts which is pretty average but the capacity is 16 amp hours which is quite a bit.

You can go pretty far with the Anggun and the large LCD display really helps you choose the best drive mode, be it throttle for short fun zips or one of the four pedal assist modes to really extend the pack and make it back home with juice to spare. At 54 pounds the Anggun isn’t the lightest ebike around and wouldn’t be a blast to pedal up a hill without power but the seven speed cassette helps a lot. Overall this is a solid electric bike that feels good because of the shock, oversized bars and ergo grips. It only comes in one size but is fairly adjustable with the stem and seat post settings. It would be a great first ebike, transportation at college or fun around town. By the way, Anggun means “grace” in Indonesian and that’s the inspiration for this design ;)

Pros:

• Flip-up seat makes battery pack easy to remove for charging on or off the bike
• Four levels of pedal assist with easy to reach button panel on left handle bar
• Tektro mechanical disc brakes front and rear provide great stopping power, 160mm rotors
• Suspension fork smoothes out the ride but is pretty basic, no lockout
• Kenda puncture resistant tires are solid and offer a bit of give over bumps and cracks because they’re medium sized
• Step-through frame is easy to mount and the chain guard keeps pants or dresses clean
• Ergonomic grips feel good and keep hands from wearing out or going numb
• The seat and grips match and look really nice
• Rear rack offers a bit of extra storage capacity and works with most standard bags or panniers
• Mid-mounted battery keeps weight relatively low and distributed across the frame
• Optional fenders and lights keep you clean and safe
• Metal cassette guard in rear protects the derailleur in the event of a crash or tipped bicycle
• Upright design with swept back handle bars is easy on the back and keeps your head in the alert position for city riding

Cons:

• Rear light requires additional batteries while front light is wired right into the battery pack
• Headlight has to be activated with a switch on the light vs. using the LCD computer
• Adjustable stem requires tool and can get loose if riding over lots of bumps and curbs
• Pedals are small and the rubber strip surface can be slippery if they get wet