Easy Motion Evo City Wave Review

The Evo City Wave is one of Easy Motion’s most popular electric bikes because it’s very approachable (thanks to a low-step frame design), feature rich (fenders, lights, carry rack), comfortable (suspension fork, gel saddle, ergonomic grips and adjustable stem) and reasonably affordable at $3,099… It’s $100 more than the 2015 model in part because the motor has been upgraded from 350 watts to 500 watts and the battery has been raised from 36 volts to 48 volts. It feels more powerful and is capable of going a bit further than the older model, depending on how you operate it.

Easy Motion electric bikes are known for their beauty, with an integrated color-matched battery pack that practically disappears in the downtube and wires that route internally through the frame there’s nothing tacky about it. It’s easy to miss the subtle details but take note of the black rims, spokes and motor casing that help the ebike features blend in. the motor itself is pretty quiet but being geared, you do hear an electronic whir in the higher assist modes and when using the twist throttle. I LOVE that the bike actually has a throttle but wish that it could override assist for those moments when you need to start from standstill at a stop sign or get some extra boost up a hill. As it stands you need to arrow down on the LCD console into zero mode where the throttle becomes active. This might be a safety feature, designed to avoid accidental throttle activation, but it’s still inconvenient in my mind and a throttle-specific on-off could offer the same safety benefits.

I’ve said a lot of positive things about this ebike and I absolutely love that it comes in two frame sizes (three if you include the high-step Evo City which has the same drivetrain and accessories) but it’s not perfect. For one, it weighs and costs more than some competing products from smaller companies… You’re getting that awesome warranty and beauty but it comes at a price. Building the frame strong enough for such a low-step design requires reinforcement and having 28 gears means more shifting hardware and sprockets. Honestly, I think 24 speeds is way more than you really need considering it’s an electric assist bike and this means there’s more to tune up and fix long term. I love that the battery is removable to reduce weight or charge separately from the frame but don’t like the different charging slots (that require you to use a dongle adapter that could get lost). As mentioned in the video, if you are charging the battery while it’s mounted to the frame, the dongle is exposed and vulnerable next to the crank arm… so to is the kickstand which was dinged on the demo bike I tested. It all just feels crowded and delicate which is frustrating considering how frequent charging is (after every ride or two).

All things considered, the display panel is easy to understand and use. I love that it’s backlit (hold down for a few seconds while it’s on) and that it too can be removed for safe keeping. The bike is very safe with integrated lights (no more replacing wasteful AA batteries) and reflective tires. It looks great, rides well and could be used for relaxed neighborhood rides, urban commuting or grocery getting. I’ve commuted to work with another Easy Motion model for over a year and really enjoyed the experience. People didn’t notice that it was electric so I wasn’t questioned frequently (which can get old after a while). I highly recommend the Evo City Wave and think the upgrades for 2016 are well worth the small price bump. There’s nothing wrong with the 2015 model and am excited for further incremental improvements in the future but wouldn’t hesitate to buy what is already a solid bike. I’ve listed other questions and possible improvement ideas in the cons section below :)

Pros:

• Extremely easy to mount, handle at stops and walk-over which is great if you’re legs aren’t super long or you plan on carrying a child seat or cargo with the rear rack, notice that there’s a mini top tube to keep the frame stiff even though it’s a deep step-thru design
• The stem can be adjusted without any tools for an upright or more active forward body position, the bars have a nice rise and backward sweep for improved comfort almost like a cruiser bike
• the Evo City Wave is available in two frame sizes so it should accommodate petite and average sized riders, especially with the adjustable stem and bars
• Wonderful safety / visibility features including front and rear LED lights (the headlight runs off of a Shimano dynamo hub so it runs at all times even without the battery), reflective sidewall stripes, standard plastic reflectors on the wheels, carry rack and bars and a glossy white frame which is easier to spot at night
• Very comfortable to ride even though the tires are somewhat narrow for efficiency, you get a basic suspension fork (with lockout), basic ergonomic grips (that match the paint job of the bike) and a gel saddle from Selle Royal, consider a 31.6 mm Thudbuster or Body Float for even greater comfort
• Considering that this e-bike has a front and rear light as well as motor inhibitors on the brake levers (as well as standard shifting, brake and power cables), the wires are very well managed, hidden from view thanks to internal routing in the frame
• Nice utilitarian features like an adjustable length kickstand, full-length plastic fenders (that don’t rattle much, have reinforcement struts with finger adjust and mud flaps), a plastic chain guard to keep your pants or dress from snagging or getting dirty and a sturdy rear mounted carry rack for use with a trunk bag or cargo panniers (has a pre-installed bungee cord with click in slots)
• With three chainrings up front and eight sprockets in the rear cassette you get 24 gear combinations to ride with and that’s plenty for climbing or reaching the 20 mph top speed if you shift correctly, I tend to leave the front gear in the middle and only shift with the rear
• Considering how many gears this bike has (and the two shifting pods up front to control them) along with brake levers, a flick bell and LCD display panel with accompanying twist-throttle, the handlebar area looks pretty clean and functions well
• The rims, spokes and motor casing are all painted black to blend in, they look great and because the brakes are disc vs. caliper style the black paint on the rims won’t be marred over time
• The battery locks securely to the frame and doesn’t seem to rattle as much as older models, the pack may be charged on or off the frame for convenience and has a small LED readout built in so you can see how full it is off the bike
• Unique ratcheting quick release systems on the rear wheel and torque arm (where the hub motor is), makes changing flats and doing maintenance easier… just be careful to align properly and not over-tighten since it uses a TMM4 torque sensor
• The power cable running to the rear hub motor is tucked in behind the quick release arm and disc brake rotor which is much better than coming out the end of the axle… this is important if the bike tips or is parked close to other bikes at a rack
• Hydraulic disc brakes offer smooth, powerful stopping performance even for people with smaller or less strong hands, integrated motor inhibitors give you full control over the drive system by overriding it and cutting power to the motor
• The battery uses high end 18650 Lithium Manganese cells from Samsung that are light weight and long lasting, excellent energy density here (lower weight, more power)
• Solid warranty offering two years of comprehensive coverage and the option to upgrade to five if you simply register, good network of dealers and lots of compatible batteries out there if yours dies eventually (since most of the EVO models share the same design… but not necessarily the same color)

Cons:

• No quick release levers on the front wheel, this surprised me because most of the other Emotion Evo models do have quick release and this make changing flats on the go or transporting them in a car trunk easier and tool-free, it may have to do with the dynamo hub being wired in there
• Because this is a step-thru frame, you might need a platform hitch rack to transport it by car (this one fits 2″ and 1.25″ receivers and doesn’t clamp the top of your wheels so it would work without bending your fenders) or consider taking the front wheel off or get a crossbar adapter like this but keep in mind it’s not a super light bike so consider taking the battery off
• The shifters (especially the small trigger on the right) felt difficult to push in, this might be due to the longer distance the cable has to go to move the derailleur (and since they are internally routed, maybe more bends through the cable tube) or maybe it was just the bike I was riding?
• The in-frame charging port and kickstand are directly in the path of the left crank arm which means if you back the bike up (and the cranks naturally rotate backwards) they will collide and could cause damage as shown in the video review
• It would be nice if you could activate the throttle and override assist, as it stands you have to arrow down to zero then use the throttle independently before arrowing back up to assist… it’s distracting and inconvenient when you’re stopped, trying to pass someone or need extra power briefly when ascending a hill
• Not super light weight… with the larger frame and all of the extra accessories (fenders, rack, dynamo hub and lights) the bike is ~58 lbs
• I love that you can charge the battery pack on or off the bike with the EVO series but it requires a special dongle adapter because the plugs are different and the bike-frame plug is positioned very close to the left crank arm which can collide with it and break it off if you back the bike up while charging BE CAREFUL!
• If you purchase the optional Bluetooth module it completely replaces the LCD display but doesn’t have a display of its own so you have to use your phone… and that’s okay but there’s no charging port to keep your phone from draining rapidly as you use it for GPS etc.
• No bottle cage mounting points on the downtube or seat tube which means you’ll need to add one to the seat post or saddle rails, wear a CamelBak or use a trunk bag like this one with a bottle holster built in
• The controller on this bike lets the motor run a second or two long after you’ve stopped pedaling, this reduces “surge” (the jerky feeling of power going up and down with each pedal stroke) but makes the bike feel unresponsive at times, thankfully the motor inhibitors in the brake levers are near-instant

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/en/bicycles/ebikes/evo-city-wave-uv416-us.html
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/jFxU6K8rJRB663jJ7