Easy Motion Evo Snow 29″ Review

Even though the price is the same… and the images on the official website are exactly the same, the Evo Snow 29” (being reviewed here) and the Evo Snow 29” Pro are not the same bike. The most obvious difference is an upgrade to 48 volt battery with the Pro but the drivetrain is also slightly different. Perhaps in an effort to support the weaker 36 volt battery found on the 2015 standard model, you get 30 gear combinations instead of just 20 on the Pro. What I discovered reviewing and comparing the two bikes over the course of a two week period (at different locations) was that the Pro felt zippier and also seemed to weigh ~1 lb less. Maybe the cells used for the battery on that bike were heavier, it could be the extra derailleur hardware or some other detail I missed but there is a slight difference.

If you can find a good deal on the first Evo Snow 29” I’d say it could be worth choosing, especially if you’re not a super heavy rider. The “all wheel drive” feature definitely helps in slippery terrain where the front wheel actively pulls forward and improves steering. I was surprised with just how adjustable the drive systems are… you can choose between rear wheel drive, front wheel drive, eco (which lets the system activate the front motor as it sees fit as you need more power) or all wheel drive. I spent most of my time in two wheel drive mode and got to fully experience its benefit using the Pro model later. Going into this review I felt disappointed that I didn’t have actual snow or sand to test in but even on hills, I noticed the extra power and traction. Some other electric bikes will call themselves “all wheel drive” offering only a front motor and relying on your pedal power to move the rear. With this truly “all wheel motorized drive” I felt empowered and excited.

One concern going in was the added weight of a front hub motor, how would this impact steering? In practice, the motor is fairly light and well placed so steering felt pretty normal. I did notice the slight vibration and sound of the motor during heavy operation (when climbing) but that was a good thing because I could also feel the added speed and control. Amazingly, both wheels still offer a proprietary quick release for doing trail maintenance or fixing flats on the go. There are quick disconnect cables going to both motors and they are painted black to match the spokes and rims. BH and Easy Motion have this slogan “The electric bike that doesn’t look like one” and they achieved this look well on the Evo Snow. The battery weight is low and centered, the pack can be charged on or off the frame but you do have to deal with an extra little dongle attachment since the plug interfaces are different. My biggest complaint is the lack of a bottle cage boss on the seat tube or downtube (which I realize would require custom design work on the battery which is also used by many of the other Easy Motion models). Also, plug and key ports near the battery on the left side of the bike are directly in the path of the crank arm which becomes a huge deal if you move the bike backwards while charging. You can literally break off the charging plug and even the kickstand (for models that have one). It’s annoying and potentially hazardous so be careful.

Pros:

• This is one of the only truly two whee drive electric bikes I’ve ever tested (the others are also from Easy Motion), I love the stability and steering control offered through the pull of front wheel operation
• You can adjust the settings for which wheel is active including rear wheel drive, front wheel drive, eco (where the front wheel only comes on when the bike thinks you need help) or all wheel drive
• This e-bike, along with most of the other Emotion Evo series, is super stealth meaning that the battery and motors blend in and are almost unnoticeable, they also operate fairly quietly
• You get 30 gear combinations with this model, they drop that to just 20 for the 2016 Evo Snow in part because it offers a more powerful 48 volt battery system (likely sending higher amps to the motors)
• The display is removable which helps reduce exposure to weather, vandalism and theft… same with the battery pack so you can store and charge it inside away from harsh freezing cold conditions if you are actually riding in snowy environments
• Easy Motion offers a solid two year warranty and has many dealers across the USA to order through and get support from, The parent company BH has been in business since 1909 and is a leading bicycle manufacturer in Europe
• The orientation of the battery pack and motors maintains balance and distributes power appropriately (more at the rear vs. front) the front motor is relatively light which lessens the impact on steering
• The display panel, battery pack, suspension fork and hub motor are all painted to match the bike, wires are routed through the frame to reduce snags
• Tektro Auriga E-Comp levers have motor cutoff switches built in and are easy to activate with just a finger or two, the large 180 mm front rotor and standard 160 mm rear rotor offer great stopping power for trail and mountain terrain
• The motor power cable enters the hub at the lower left side between the disc brake rotor and frame drop out which protects it from snags and bends if the bike falls over or is crashed
• 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)
• Quality grips from Velo (that match the paint scheme here) with locking rings to keep them from twisting as you bear down on rough terrain, I like that the bar on this bike is longer and the components are higher quality like the Shimano Deore XT derailleur

Cons:

• Compared with the latest iteration of the Evo Snow 29″ Pro this model is one pound heavier and has a weaker 36 volt battery pack but still costs the same, you do get 10 extra gears (30 speed vs. 20 speed)
• The TMM4 torque sensor is smooth and responsive during starts but takes a moment to cut out, it can also be more finicky when you tighten the rear axle and when riding over rough terrain if the chain is bouncing (I’ve experienced unexpected surges and delayed cut-out)
• The Evo Snow 29″ is only available in one medium frame size at 18″ but given the larger tire diameter (which lifts the frame higher) I’d call it a medium/large
• As with most of the other trail and mountain models from BH for 2015/2016 the Evo Snow 29er does not offer twist throttle operation, you have to pedal
• 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 or wear a CamelBak
• No kickstand to help support this bike when stored, easier to tip over accidentally (you can lean it against a wall using the rear tire for decent balance), difficult to find aftermarket kickstands that will fit
• The charger has two different end connector types to fit with either the battery or the frame socket, this means you have an extra piece of wire to keep track of in order to fit both designs and it could get lost more easily… it’s also just less convenient to pop this thing on or take it off depending on how you want to charge the bike
• There are bosses on the seat stays and near the dropout at the back of the bike for adding a rack, that means you could use a trunk bag or panniers for commuting or just hauling gear while trail riding

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/en/bicycles/ebikes/evo-snow-29–uv826-us.html
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/V5eahwdgZhER9EtQ8