The Vienna is a compact folding style electric bike that comes with lots of features and accessories. You get both pedal assist and throttle mode for riding, the battery is removable for convenient charging and storage and the fenders, lights and handlebar bag come standard which saves money but keeps you clean, safe and functional. It’s one of the only folding electric bikes I’ve seen with full suspension and while the rear shock is more of a bumper, it still makes a difference (especially given the smaller 20″ wheels) and compliments the larger tires well to absorb bumps in the road.
The motor driving the EG Vienna comes in two flavors based on how old the bike is. The one shown in this review is the older one with just 200 watts but the newer version is 250 watts (both are geared). This is fairly standard for a small folding electric bike and given the smaller 20″ wheel diameter in use, the motor benefits from improved mechanical advantage. It’s enough to get you up to speed but for climbing I recommend using one of the four pedal assist modes (note that there seem to only be three levels on the older version). This will also significantly extend your range.
The battery in this system offers 24 volts of power and 10 amp hours of capacity. That’s fairly standard for a smaller drive system and it uses Lithium-ion cells that are light weight and long lasting. Make sure you top them off every couple of months and store them at >= 50% capacity for optimal life. Also keep in mind that batteries like this can be damaged by extreme heat and cold. It’s worth storing the pack (or the entire bike) inside to protect it, unless the vehicle gets very hot. I like that the pack is completely removable but the rear mounted design makes the bike itself rear heavy (when combined with the motor) and there’s no rack or pannier adapter so storage capacity is limited here. You also have to leave the keys in when riding which means they may jingle around but I suppose it also keeps them handy for quick battery removal and makes them harder to misplace.
The display panel on this bike is somewhat limited with basic LED scales to communicate battery capacity and assist level. There are four levels to choose from and the panel is easy to navigate. There’s no indicator for top speed or distance but that’s probably part of what keeps this bike affordable. Note the tiny umbrella icon in the center which I’m told means the panel is water resistant ;)
While the EG Vienna isn’t the lightest folding electric bike around, it gets easier to manage when you remove the battery pack. This thing is perfect for RV trips, yachting or other activities where you’ve got limited space but still want a portable fun mode of secondary transportation. The newer model runs on a stronger motor which makes accelerating and climbing hills easier and the frame is also longer adding comfort for medium and large sized riders.
Pros:
- Battery is removable and can be charged on or off the bike
- Four levels of pedal assist and grip throttle drive mode (the entire grip is the throttle and there is an off switch which is nice for when you don’t want to bump it)
- Front and rear suspension smoothes out the ride, larger 1.95″ tires provide added comfort
- Includes a neat little handlebar bag that mounts in the front (to carry small items along)
- Front and rear fenders keep you clean and dry, front and rear LED lights provide some safety
- Metal derailleur guard in the rear and bottom bracket guard to stabilize when folded
Cons:
- Nowhere to mount a rear bag or panniers, have to rely on the the small handlebar bag or wear a backpack
- Rear heavy design with hub motor and battery pack mounted in the back
- Older version of the bike (shown in this review) is shorter and uses a less powerful motor at 200w vs. 250w
- Somewhat limited availability (may have to order online and finish assembly at destination)
- Heavier than some other folding electric bikes at ~52lbs
- Simple six-sensor pedelec sensor can feel delayed and abrupt when the motor kicks in
Resources:
- Official Site: http://egbike.com/EGUSA/index_files/Page3291.htm
- More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/uZqnEqsxr5NeVabX8
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