Electric Bike Outfitters EBO Mountaineer Kit Review

Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Review 1
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit 48 Volt Battery Pack
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit 750 Watt Direct Drive Motor
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Battery And Controller Box
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Closeup Of Led Console
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Console
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Five Magnet Pedelec Ring
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Installed
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Oversized Spokes
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Review 1
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit 48 Volt Battery Pack
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit 750 Watt Direct Drive Motor
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Battery And Controller Box
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Closeup Of Led Console
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Console
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Five Magnet Pedelec Ring
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Installed
Ebo Mountaineer Electric Bike Kit Oversized Spokes

Summary

  • A high power, high speed electric bike kit capable of 30 mph top speeds, can be operated with pedal assist, trigger throttle or optional twist throttle
  • Heavier but sturdy 750 watt gearless hub motor, can be mounted in the front or rear wheel (I'd recommend front) and works with 0, 6, 7, 8 or 9 speed cassettes
  • Custom 25 Amp controller is built into a metal box that attaches to seat tube bosses so you need to make sure your bike has them there
  • More basic LED console with limited readouts, five magnet pedelec sensor isn't as responsive, decent warranty and overall low price for this much power and speed
Warning, in some configurations this electric bike kit is classified as a moped or motorcycle and may not be ridden on cycling trails or paths. It may require licensing, insurance and lights when used on public roads.

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

Electric Bike Outfitters

Model:

EBO Mountaineer

Price:

$1,180

Suggested Use:

Urban, Trail, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Moped or Motorcycle (Class 4)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

30 Day Return, 1 Year Comprehensive

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

20152016

Bicycle Details

Battery Weight:

7 lbs (3.17 kg)

Motor Weight:

12 lbs (5.44 kg)

Gearing Details:

9 (Single Speed or Shimano 6 or 7 Speed Cassettes or SunRace 8 and 9 Speed Cassettes)

Brake Details:

Mechanical 5 Brand Levers with Motor Inhibitors

Rims:

Aluminum Alloy

Spokes:

13 Gauge Stainless Steel, 36 Spoke

Wheel Sizes:

26 in (66.04cm)27.5 in (69.85cm)28 in (71.12cm)

Accessories:

Female USB Charge Port on Battery Pack, EBO Quick Connect Anti-Water Wiring, Optional Black or Silver Motor Color, Optional Black or White Battery Color, Optional Wuxing Twist Throttle

Other:

Compatible with Disc Brakes or Caliper Style Brakes (Clamp Diameter 22.2 mm), Compatible with 100 mm, 120 mm, or 135 mm Dropout Sizes, Compatible with 26", 27.5" or 700C Wheel Size and 26" x 4" Fat Tire Rim, 25 Amp Controller

Electronic Details

Motor Type:

Front-Mounted Gearless Direct Drive Hub, Rear-Mounted Gearless Direct Drive Hub
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

750 watts

Battery Brand:

Samsung

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

11.6 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

566.8 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

25 miles (40 km)

Estimated Max Range:

40 miles (64 km)

Display Type:

Fixed LED Console

Readouts:

Mode (Low, Med, High), Speed (5-33 MPH), Charge Level (1-4)

Display Accessories:

LED Console

Drive Mode:

Trigger Throttle, Twist Throttle, Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist

Top Speed:

30 mph (48 kph)


Written Review

The EBO Mountaineer electric bike kit from Electric Bike Outfitters is a bit of a misfit! I can’t help but appreciate the power and speed it offers (especially at such a low price) but I also feel a bit wary and concerned about how it might be used. There’s a gray space where this 750 watt kit that can reach ~30 mph might classify as a speed pedelec if the throttle is disengaged but the truth is that it likely peaks out above 750 and most other Class 3 ebikes only reach ~28 mph with rigorous pedaling. The Mountaineer is really a Class 4 kit because it includes the throttle and offers higher speed and power than what is legally permitted in most states. That’s no big deal if you’re riding on private land or off-road environments (not including most bicycle trails with single track). The risk is that you could injure another cyclist or pedestrian (or their property) and be held accountable for riding an unlicensed “vehicle”. So be careful ;)

Getting back to the actual kit here, this thing is impressive for the money. While you don’t get regenerative braking or a fancy LCD screen you do get a tough gearless motor that comes laced into one of three wheel sizes (standard 26″, 27.5″ or road sized 700c). You can also choose from a single speed freewheel or a 6, 7, 8 and 9 speed cassette (which I recommend for being able to pedal along at those higher top speeds). The motor itself looked generic to me and weighs more (as with most direct drive options) coming in around 12 pounds. For this reason I’d probably choose a rear-mount design vs. a front wheel replacement which would impact steering. You could probably get two of these kits and make an all-wheel-drive electric bike! But where would you put all of those batteries…

That’s the second double edged feature of this kit. The battery is powerful at 48 volts, allowing you to take full advantage of the motor’s potential, but it requires a larger 25 watt controller to handle the juice and the design is a bit ugly and uncomfortable in my opinion. It’s a metal box that sits just above the battery and attaches to the seat tube bosses (so yeah, all of your bottle cage spots are used up and you must have two sets of bosses on your bike frame to use this kit). I found that the controller box was a bit wider than the battery itself and that the metal corners were abrasive if they came into contact with your knees and legs when pedaling. Not really a huge issue in practice but worth noting… I do appreciate that the box is tough. This is the “Mountaineer” after all and it truly handles rough and steep terrain. In the video above you can see me blasting down hills as well as speeding back up them without issue. I do like that the battery uses Samsung cells, is included with the one year warranty and has a USB charging outlet (even though I probably wouldn’t use that while riding due to risks of snagging extra wires protruding from the side).

The only reason this kit isn’t getting a harsher rating is that it comes in so many flavors and is so affordable. I would recommend the more-legal EBO Front Range kit but the 500 watt motor seems wasted given the 36 volt battery. Both kits have a mid-level LED display that approximates speed, charge level and assist setting and a standard trigger throttle which is nice for bumpy off-road riding. You can upgrade to a twist throttle but the company was using full-grip throttles when I did this review and I much prefer a half-grip for improved stability. I realize motocross bikes have full grip throttles but they also weigh more and have massive full suspension so the ride is smoother. Depending on your bicycle frame, that’s probably not the case and bumps are more directly transmitted to your hands which could impact your throttle handling. At the end of the day, this kit is powerful, affordable and versatile but also quite heavy and potentially illegal. Ride safe!

Pros:

  • One of the few high-speed electric bike kits available for under $1,500 the Mountaineer can reach ~30 mph and offers both pedal assist and trigger or twist throttle drive modes
  • Can be used as a single speed wheel in either the front or rear or you can opt for a multi-speed cassette setup with 6, 7, 8 or 9 gears (useful for pedaling along at a range of speeds)
  • There’s a built-in female USB port at the top right portion of the battery pack and this can be used to power a phone or other mobile device while riding the bike or as a backup source of power off the bike
  • Not only does Electric Bike Outfitters offer a one year comprehensive warranty, they also provide a 30 day money back guarantee and use quality battery cells from Samsung vs. generic
  • Great wiring hardware (color coded makes it easier to setup and repair), the 5 Star brake levers are more generic but they do include motor inhibitor switches to cut power whenever you barke
  • Pedal assist is great for conserving the battery and getting some exercise and three modes is nice for moderating the different speeds but I love that you’ve also got a throttle that can override at any time to help power up a hill or accelerate towards a jump
  • The hub motor design on this kit is compatible with disc brakes but you can also use standard rim brakes as well, the one thing that requires a changeout is hydraulic brakes because the included levers only work with mechanical systems, you could use hydraulic levers of your own but if they don’t have electronic brake inhibitors built in you won’t be operating as safely (especially given the “all the time” pedal assist design and higher power 750 watt motor)
  • The kit comes in several configurations to replace a 26″, 27.5″ or 700c wheel, to fit a 100 mm, 120 mm, or 135 mm dropout, and to work as either a front or rear wheel drive kit (though I’d highly recommend rear given the weight and power of the motor so as not to adversely impact steering)
  • The battery pack snaps on and off easily and quickly for convenient charging or lighter weight transport (though it’s a bit tighter than the EBO Front Range due to the unique controller box here), you also get a solid locking core built into the battery for when it’s mounted to the frame
  • Especially for high speed trail and mountain use the default trigger throttle works very well as it does not compromise your grip though it might take more space on your bars than the twist throttle (I just don’t like full-grip twists that they were offering at the time of this review)

Cons:

  • The controller box is custom designed and made with metal to be tough but I think it requires downtube bottle cage bosses to work (at least how I saw it installed) and it’s just not as polished and professional looking, it may also have sharper edges than curved plastic like the one used on the Front Range kit, this controller offers 25 Amps vs. just 22 Amps on the Front Range kit
  • Because this kit is capable of achieving higher speeds (above 20 mph in throttle mode) it may not be classified as a “low speed electric bike” and could create a liability issue if ridden in restricted environments like trails and bike paths (even streets without a license and lights etc.), if using only pedal assist mode at these higher speeds the legal aspect becomes more gray as it may qualify as a “speed pedelec”
  • I like the USB charging port but it’s positioned on the side of the battery which makes it easier to bump with your leg when pedaling or to snag the wire… would be better on the top or front end of the pack vs. the side
  • The controller unit for this kit is built into a separate black box which adds clutter to the frame and means more wires have to be dealt with, it is also slightly wider than the battery which might make bumping and scraping legs easier
  • On the demo bike I filmed and photographed above the battery was mounted to the downtube using the stock water bottle cage bosses and the controller box was fit onto the seat tube bosses so there wasn’t anywhere to add a bottle… Consider an aftermarket saddle rail adapter, a rear carry rack with bottle bag or using a Camelbak
  • The LED console offers several readouts (mode, charge level and speed) but is still more basic than an LCD which could show trip distance, time, max speed etc. the unit they chose is fairly small, tough and more affordable so it’s not too bad
  • The battery pack has an independent on/off button built into it which has to be activated before the display panel is turned on, this extra step makes the pack easier to leave on accidentally and can be confusing if you forget and try to activate the bike just using the display
  • There are no lights built into this kit and I think it would be difficult to wire them in, I like when I can run everything off of one battery but you can always get some aftermarket lights that are rechargeable if you ride at night a lot
  • While the cadence sensing pedal assist worked alright, it only uses a five magnet system vs. 12 on a lot of newer builds and kits I’ve seen which means it is less responsive (especially in higher gears where pedal rotation can be slower at low speeds)
  • Gearless motors are very durable and operate without producing much noise but they do weigh more and this one is ~12 lbs, the 48 volt battery is also a bit heavier at ~7 lbs
  • Sometimes gearless motors offer regenerative braking which can extend rides by ~10% but that feature was not included with this kit (likely to keep the price and complexity down)
  • There is no throttle-only mode with this kit, you have to enable one of three pedal assist settings in order to use the throttle and this means that any pedal movement can also activate the motor which could cause instability for some applications
  • The pedal assist sensor is not a clip-on design so you actually have to remove the crank arms in order to mount it, once it’s on however it feels solid and is actually quite responsive

Resources:

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