EG Milan 500 EX Review

The EG Milan 500 EX is capable of high speed 28 mph top speeds in pedal assist mode, uses a torque sensor so assist feels fluid and responsive (but requires more effort) and also comes with a throttle that overrides assist up to 20 mph. It’s a winning commuting platform with full length fenders, a chain guard, rear carry rack and LED lights… but the rear light runs off of batteries vs. being wired-in. At just over $2k it’s not exactly cheap but I’d still classify it as affordable considering what you get for the money. For a step-thru design, it’s not exactly small at 19″ but the short adjustable stem and low-rise bars help to bring it back and up for people with shorter arms. This is a mid-step that’s easier to approach and stand over and given the downtube-integrated battery pack it feels well balanced but there is some frame flex. I really appreciated the suspension fork even though it offers limited travel, the ergonomic grips and plush saddle make a noticeable difference at higher speed.

In short, what you get here is an ebike that trades a bit of beauty for a larger battery pack, faster motor (that isn’t geared for torque at low speed and stuttered on me a bit starting out) and lower price. EG has been around for several years and most of their bikes aim for that value mark. I’m torn on the battery integration here because it sticks out on the left, possibly compromising balance and creating some of that frame flex mentioned earlier. You can choose from white or silver frame colors but the battery is always silver. The rack is super useful and they chose a wide one, probably in order to fit with the disc brakes. I like the 180 mm rotors here and am glad they chose the larger size vs. 160 mm considering the mechanical action requires more effort and the pads and calipers just felt average. Shifting also felt average even though the derailleur is a few steps up in the Shimano line. I had to push harder on the little triggers and felt that the cockpit was crowded since there’s a break-out button pad to adjust assist as well as the trigger throttle… I like having these options but it means more wires and in the case of the right grip, a shorter grip. The display is large and easy to use, it’s fixed so you can’t take it off when parking at the office or school but the battery is removable and that’s great for moving the bike (along with the quick release front wheel). At 62 lbs this isn’t a light bike but you should get solid range due to the torque sensing assist and larger battery capacity. Lots of trade-offs to consider here, I didn’t love that the key had to be left in the ignition when riding because it jingled around a bit and even taking the pack out felt tough (and requires a separate key slot to be unlocked). There’s definitely room for polishing but when the next option is $500+ more these compromises could be worth it.

Pros:

• I love that they offer two colors and both are highly visible and reflective for safety (white and silver), you also get front and rear lights though the back are stand-alone and require AA cells
• Great accessories… basically everything you need for commuting in most conditions (fenders, chain guard, lights and a cargo rack), nice that the front wheel has quick release for easy flat fixes or reduced length when porting in a car
• Suspension fork offers some comfort and give which is great at higher speeds… it’s not super high end or long travel but it does have lockout to conserve energy on smooth flats, ergonomic grips and soft saddle are nice too
• With a nine speed Shimano Alivio derailleur in the back and three speed chainring cluster you get an impressive 29 gears which is great for slow climbing rides or maxing out the top speed of this bike
• Solid one year comprehensive warranty on the Milan, EG has been around for years and offers a wide range of models, they used Samsung cells in the battery here that should last well
• The hub motor is small and efficient but definitely takes you up to higher speeds! it’s kind of hidden behind the 180 mm disc brake rotor on the left and 9 speed cassette on the right so the bike could blend in with regular unpowered bikes
• Higher gauge (thicker, stronger) spokes designed to handle extra weight and the forces associated with high speed riding
• I’m glad they went with 180 mm disc brake rotors because the mechanical setup here (vs. hydraulic) wasn’t as responsive, overall they seemed to work well for city use
• Decent value here given the ~$2,200 price point, you really get a lot of utilitarian extras and the bike looks solid, it just runs a little on the large size vs. some other step-thru commuters
• Adjustable angle stem helps to dial in fit, it’s pretty short which reduces reach (great considering the bike is already on the large side), make sure you keep the stem tight so it doesn’t get loose over time
• I love that you get torque sensing pedal assist as well as trigger throttle and that throttle mode overrides assist! it’s a good combination of higher effort responsiveness and sit-back power on demand

Cons:

• Key must remain in the ignition slot while riding, it’s mostly out of the way up on the top tube near the head tube but it can still jingle or get bumped vs. being able to take it out
• This is one of the heavier electric city style ebikes I’ve tested at over 60 lbs, the battery is over 7 lbs and I felt a bit of frame flex when riding, it does have a higher capacity battery and the fenders, rack and lights all contribute weight
• The size on this ebike is fairly large at 19″ considering it’s a step-thru… I hate to generalize but since EG also has a high-step version I figured they would have made this one a bit smaller and more approachable for ladies
• The battery pack is more visible than some (considering it’s frame-integrated) the color is the same on both models so it stick out a bit on the white… the battery is also tight and can be tricky to get off
• The motor is geared for speed so it can feel a bit sluggish at start but is capable of 28+ mph when you contribute (it uses a torque sensor)
• No room for a bottle cage on this bike, consider using a trunk bag like this with bottle holster or getting a bladder for your backpack
• The rear light runs off of two AA battery cells and is easy to forget to turn off (or on), would be nice if it was integrated but that means higher cost and more wires
• Two key ports (one for ignition and one to release the battery) and I noticed the battery pack kind of stuck into the frame… at least it doesn’t flop right out! just be careful when removing
• The shifters felt a little stiff, it took extra effort to activate them and the small triggers were a bit small and tricky to reach
• The cockpit is a little crowded since there are shifters on both sides… On the right the trigger throttle is extra and on the left the electronics buttons are extra so just a bit of reaching and more wires going on, the grip on the right is also cut down to make room and doesn’t look as nice or provide as much area
• The fenders and chain guard rattled around a bit, not sure if it was just the model I had or if they would all do that but it was distracting, the key also bounced around some

Resources:

• Official Site: http://egbike.com/EGUSA/index_files/Page977.htm
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/Z4HSxcp8vCgguUZDA