Easy Motion Evo City+ Review

The Evo City+ is so named because it has a more powerful motor than prior genrations, offering 500 watts nomial vs. 350. It’s an electric bike that can handle commuting in all sorts of conditions thanks to fenders, a chain cover, integrated lights, and reflective tires. The two sizes allow for a wider range of riders to fit… but they will probably have to be tall riders because the 20″ and 22″ is on the larger side, and the wheels are 700c 28″ vs. 26″ on some of the others. This lifts the bike up, offers good pedal extension, and thanks to the diamond frame (with angled top tube) you get responsiveness and stiffness but can still stand over easily due to the angle in the top tube. Keep in mind, if you have a trunk bag on the back, this could still be a bit tricky to mount and might require more hip and knee flexibility and just general balance. I love the adjustable angle stem, swept-back riser bars, ergonomic locking grips, and suspension fork for comfort, especially considering the higher pressure efficient tires, but noticed that the fork also has lockout so you don’t have to sacrifice stiffness and efficiency if you don’t ride on bumpy terrain. This is a bike that’s going to perform well on a range of urban street settings and it can really be ridden in a range of different ways. Having 24 speeds (an 8×3 drivetrain) you don’t even need to use assist to pedal comfortably, climbing or maintaining a quick pace. This is one of the few electric bikes that offer more than 10 or 11 speeds and that’s because it adds a bit of weight and complexity. More electric bike companies are thinking that people don’t want the additional gears because they have a motor to help them… but the other little secret is that many ebikes are starting to switch to mid-motors (and Easy Motion offers some of those) but that makes having a front derailleur even more complex. And the mid-drive motors pull the same chain you do, which can cause additional stress and wear. It’s actually pretty cool to have a hub motor because it feels zippy no matter how you’re pedaling, and you don’t even have to pedal at all if you don’t want to! The Easy Motion Evo City+ offers throttle on demand operation… but I was bummed out that you have to be in assist level zero to use it. Many other throttle powered ebikes (that also have assist) let you override with the throttle. And to me this makes sense, you can use it as needed without having to click up or down on a button pad. Some of the highlights on this latest model are alloy/composit fenders that are quiet, stiff, and lightweight, a display readout showing battery percentage for more precise feedback, traditional quick release skewers on both wheels, and a slightly lower price.

Driving the bike a 500-watt planetary geared hub motor, mounted in the rear wheel. It’s black, just like the spokes, and fairly compact given the power output, up to ~700 watts. You get a peak torque output of roughly 42 Newton meters, which is less than a lot of mid-drive systems these days, but that torque isn’t dependent on which gear you’re in. Instead, the motor feels zippy most of the time, all on its own. For the video review, I was able to hit the top speed of 20 mph fairly quickly in the flat cement parking lot and it felt great. A half-grip twist throttle is mounted on the right side and blends in with the black ergonomic grips. The motor is manufactured by Dapu, the same maker which supplies some Pedego ebikes, and is known for being high quality. I love that they moved the power cable to the left side of the motor and tucked it in nicely between the frame tubing and disc brake rotor. This way, if you’re ever riding through a tight space or let the bike tip over, the cable won’t get snagged or bent as easily. If you look up at the cockpit handle bar area of this bike and then back at the left wheel hub area, you’ll notice that Easy Motion has packed a lot of systems into a relatively small space without having it look busy or seem crowded. I noted in the video that the right trigger shifter was difficult to press because of the right brake lever mount, but that just needed a minor adjustment to work properly. All in all, I feel like they have done an amazing job with proven hub-drive technology, really pushing the limits of bicycle and ebike.

Powering the bike, the backlit display panel, and the front and rear LED lights is one of the best looking batteries in the business. It offers 48 volts and 10.5 amp hours for a 504 watt hour total capacity. That’s a big step up from the 360 watt hour I’d call “average”. And because it’s running at 48 volts vs. 36 volts, the electricity flows more efficiently. Inside the pack are Lithium-ion cells that are known for being long-lasting and relatively light weight. At 7.2 lbs, it’s not the lightest battery I have seen, but it is compact and you get a good battery management system inside. This helps to extend the life of the battery which may contribute to the excellent two year warranty (you get five years if you register the bike but I don’t think it includes the battery at that point). It’s a beautiful looking battery and one that can be protected and boosted in cold environments through the use of an optional neoprene cover. We showed how this worked in the video review, it’s like a wetsuit for the downtube and it can be a pain to get on… I would probably leave it on the bike if I didn’t have to park outside in the cold. But even then, it could reduce wind chill and just keep the downtube looking clean. And this is where some trade-offs come into the picture. The battery can be charged on or off the bike but the plug is different, so you need an adapter cable, and that can be easy to misplace. The charging port, locking core, and kickstand are all positioned near the left crank arm and can all get bumped if the cranks are turned (which happens automatically when the bike is backed up). I see this in shops frequently, a bike needs to be moved several feet but the kickstand is left down for convenience. The crank arms start moving and bang into the stand which takes a bit of lifting and pedling to fix. Minor gripe, but I’d love to at least see the charging port moved up and out of the way, the battery charger cable end piece is plastic, and it would be a bummer if that piece got bent or cracked. Note that the battery charger puts out a standard 2 Amps while some other ebikes have 3 or 4 Amp quick chargers.

Operating the bike is also a little finicky, you need to be patient because powering on the display takes a few extra seconds and the controller measures the battery capacity and torque sensor readings more slowly than some other systems… which can get goofed up if you’re already pedaling and moving forward. I have had this happen on several occasions and the torque sensor just felt off, like weak and non-responsive. Basically, I contributed to a misread by the controller that thought me pedaling was level zero and therefore did not offer assist support unless I pedaled REALLY hard. Torque sensors are cool because they feel fluid and natural, like an extension of your body vs. a separate on/off system. The downside is that they can get messed up by over tightening the rear wheel, pedaling during the zero-out process, or even chain bouncing on bumpy terrain. Given the urban focus of the Evo City+ I don’t think that last point will be as much of an issue. So the display itself is compact, relatively easy to read, and only has three buttons to learn. There’s the on/off button in the middle (which also cycles through total and trip stats), an up key, and a down key (which also turns on the lights if held down for a few seconds). The display has a backlight and the the headlight has an on/off switch which is interesting to me. I’m not sure when you’d want to ride with just the rear light and display on? Please chime in if you have an idea or if I misunderstood this feature. The headlight has a switch on the back side and the entire unit can be angled up or down to aim the light. This is great for seeing where you’re riding and not just “being seen”, though the reflective tire stripes help in this later regard and I appreciate that. It’s great to have a large visible footprint when riding amongst automobiles at night.

The Evo City+ isn’t a perfect bike but it does build on the same technology Easy Motion is known for, dating back to the 2012 timeframe in the USA. This is an ebike company that is part of a much larger bicycle and fitness company from Spain called BH. They have been around since 1909 and tend to emphasize “cycling” and “blending in” which can be seen in the design and additional gears here. I feel that the Evo City+ weighs more than comparable ebikes at ~59 lbs, but there aren’t too many that come in larger sizes like this, have all of the commuting accessories, and offer suspension forks. And this suspension fork is a coil type vs. air. The benefit is lower price and a faster more consistent operation from what I’ve told. As a lightweight guy myself, the fork felt fine and I just appreciated having the lockout option, though no rebound or preload adjust. The hydraulic disc brakes are a big win, and the levers offer adjustable reach which is nice for people with large hands and fingers. The bike looks great, is sold through a wide network of dealers across the US and in Europe (though it is specced slightly differently in those regions with a lower top speed of ~15.5 mph or 25 km/h). I enjoyed looking at the bike with Mark’s help, he runs a shop in Irvine California now called Ebike Supply but previously worked for Easy Motion and had some great details and perspectives to share in our video. Big thanks to Easy Motion for partnering with me on this post and inviting me to review several models at their headquarters in Foothills Ranch, California. It’s neat to see them branching out into different drive systems like Brose but still refining the original hub motor setup as seen here.

Pros:

• Easy Motion has been pricing most of their Evo models at $2,999 so your choice of product becomes more about the type of bike and how you intend to ride vs. cost savings, I think the Evo City+ is an especially good value with the fender, rack, and integrated LED lights
• The battery is beautifully integrated, it fits perfectly into the downtube and is color matched to the paint on the rest of the bike, notice the smaller hub motor as well which blends in
• Most electric bikes I see use a one-by drivetrain (one chainring with multiple sprockets in the cassette) but you get a 3×8 here with 24 speeds total, that means you can finely tune your pedal cadence
• It’s not the world’s fanciest suspension fork but it matches the black accents on the bike and has lockout for reduced bobbing when the roads are smooth, to me, any suspension is a good thin when riding on electric because I tend to go further and ride at a higher average speed
• I love the adjustable angle stem, swept back bars, and ergonomic grips because this gives you the option for a more upright “heads up” body position in traffic or on crowded paths
• This e-bike is setup perfectly for commuting, the rear rack includes a matching bungee strap and uses standard gauge tubing across the top for clip-on panniers
• The fenders are quite nice, they combine the lightweight durability of plastic with the rigid strength of Aluminum alloy and don’t rattle very much thanks to additional support points
• Fenders are great but with a multi-chainring setup you also need a chain guard… and you get that with the Evo City+, this will keep your pants clean and snag-free
• Pedal assist is nice, and Easy Motion uses a fluid TMM4 torque sensor, but I like having a throttle as well,
  it’s useful for starting at lights and giving your legs a rest, most mid-drive ebikes don’t have throttles so this is a unique benefit of the hub motor design in the Evo series from Emotion
• The bike just looks beautiful, classy paint, matching accents, the custom battery, and internally routed cables reduce clutter and set it apart
• You get a high quality, aimable, headlight and integrated rear light, they both run off the main battery pack and are wired in which saves you time and money vs. aftermarket clip-on lights (which are easier to steal), note the reflective tire stickers as well, the bike is setup to keep you safe
• Note the threaded cable connectors up front (coming from the control panel and brake lines), these have rubber o-rings to keep water out and are an upgrade from the cheaper press-fit cables
• Both brake levers have motor inhibitors built-in to override pedal assist and throttle operation for safety,
  many of the assist-only mid-drive ebikes are foregoing this feature because their motors are so responsive… but I still like having them and see the importance here in case the throttle got bumped or squeezed mistakenly as you slammed on the brakes
• Hub motors are zippy and offer a fun experience that runs separate from the pedal drivetrain, this reduces wear on the chain, sprockets, and derailleur compared to a mid-drive motor
• The frame comes in two sizes but both are on the large side, even the 700c wheels put the frame up higher, this is a great electric bicycle for tall riders but I still appreciate the angled top tube to make it easier to stand over
• The tires are great, but run at a higher PSI (50-85) which means they feel firm, the Selle Royale gel saddle is great but you might consider swapping the seat post out for a 31.6 mm body float or another suspension post if the terrain you ride is rough or you have a sensitive back or neck
• The motor power cable is very well protected on the left side (tucked in near the disc brake rotor), this is a big improvement over older Easy Motion/Dapu designs which came into the right axle and could get snagged or bent if the bike tipped
• The display panel is compact but easy to read and relatively easy to reach when riding without taking your left hand off the grip, I like that you can take it off when parking the bike and that Easy Motion gives you a little woven sack to put it in to help reduce scratches
• Easy Motion offers an optional neoprene sleeve accessory to keep the battery insulated in cold climates, you zip it on around the downtube to help the battery go further by staying warm
• It’s really nice to have a battery percentage readout vs. five or ten tic marks, you also get a range estimate but it isn’t as dynamic or immediate as those found on some mid-drive systems from Bosch and Shimano
• Dapu makes high-quality, powerful but compact, hub motors but they do produce a bit more electronic whirring noise, I found that the delay in assist start and stop was a bit more delayed than some of the advanced multi-sensors on a lot of the newer mid-drive systems

Cons:

• I realize that I listed the 24-speed combinations as a pro earlier but it is also a con because there’s more to keep in tune (a second derailleur up front) and it adds weight and clutters the handlebars with a second bank of shifters on the left
• Adjustable stems are great, especially the tool-free models like the one on this electric bike, but keep an eye on it and tighten occasionally if you feel it loosening up, rough terrain and going off curbs can be hard on these (you could eventually replace it with the ideal length/angle rigid stem for your own ride style
• Hub motors tend to cost less and offer a zippy pedal-independent boost feeling but they aren’t as efficient as many mid-drive motors which impacts range, they also make the bike rear-heavy and clutter the disc brake line and shifter cables making flat fixes and maintenance more time consuming
• I appreciate the fluid feel of the TMM4 torque sensor but noticed that sometimes the Easy Motion controller design (which does not seem to take cadence or wheel speed into account) can surge if the chain is bouncing around, sending a false torque signal to the sensor, this is most relevant to e-mountain bike models
• I wish they would have put bottle cage bosses on the seat tube, I see tons of space there and who doesn’t want the option to bring a water bottle, mount a folding lock, or a mini pump?! At least there’s a rear rack so you could use a trunk bag
• The pedals don’t offer great traction and aren’t very large considering this model is setup for taller riders… who probably have larger feet? Consider swapping them for something like this
• I appreciate having a locking core to secure the battery to the bike but feel that the position of it and the charging port are hazardous, right down by the crank arm on the left side of the bike
• It’s great being able to charge the battery on or off the bike but you need a dongle adapter thing because the plug interface is different, and there’s no leash for this adapter! Consider making one yourself or just keeping a very close eye on that cable piece or you’ll only be able to charge on the bike
• At ~59 lbs, this is one of the heavier electric city bikes I have tested… but the coil fork is more basic (though quite responsive), the frame is larger and it has a bunch of accessories along with a high capacity (half a kilowatt hour) battery pack so that kind of makes sense, at least you can take the battery off and both wheels have quick release
• Be careful with the battery pack, especially taking it off the bike, because it doesn’t have a handle and the paint is sort of thin and easy to scratch off… exposing white plastic underneath, some owners have told me that their old Easy Motion bikes faded in the sun more quickly and the plastic parts didn’t match the metal parts after a while
• It’s great to have a kickstand but they mounted it just beneath the bottom bracket where it will collide with the left crank arm when you back the bike up, many other companies have moved their stands back on the chain stay
• The display panel takes a bit longer to start up and you don’t want to be pushing on the pedals or moving when you power it on because that can cause an error or impact the torque sensor feedback, it’s just a bit more finicky than some of the other bikes out there
• The twist throttle is only active when you’re in level zero pedal assist, to me this is silly because I prefer to override assist or get the bike going and then continue on by pedaling, it requires additional button presses constantly as you ride in order to switch from throttle to pedal assist as desired

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/KfX9bpr2x6bB2FrH6