An efficient electric-assist city bike with sturdy tubular fenders, a rear cargo rack, puncture-resistant tires with reflective paint and a removable battery pack
Large 180 mm mechanical disc brakes provide smooth controlled stops and stay cleaner in wet or muddy conditions but use mechanical levers that aren't adjustable
Available in three frame sizes for improved fit and three colors to personalize, note that the fork and fenders are paint-matched, several good comfort upgrades
The battery can be charged on or off the bike but requires an adapter cup to do so which could get lost more easily than if it just used one plug type, entry-level derailleur
The Emazing Bike Artemis 73h3h and 73h3r are electric-assist city bikes with beautiful paint matched fork and fenders. The difference between the h and r models is the addition of a throttle, the R stands for rental and are sold without a throttle to simplify the experience and perhaps help to extend range. During the review, I was actually riding an R unit, but decided to focus this review on the more prevalent H design because I have tested other Emazing bikes which do have it and I don’t want to leave people guessing as to how it might work. The 73h3h naming convention here is 7 (for seven speeds), 3 (for 350 watt hub motor), h (for hybrid bicycle frame and tires), 3 (for 36 volt battery), and finally h (for Hi-Tec battery). This is what I would consider an “active” electric bike because it isn’t as powerful as heavy many others. The pedal assist function is satisfying, much smoother than other bikes because it relies on a combination of cadence sensor and torque sensor to make power delivery fluid vs. on/off in nature. Perhaps the only thing missing to make this a feature-complete ebike is integrated lights. You do get plastic reflectors and reflective tires (with puncture protective lining) but there are no lights, so consider some USB rechargeable aftermarket LED lights like these. There’s a bit more effort to mount, turn on, and then remember to turn off lights like these. But they tend to be brighter, more durable, and more feature rich than a lot of integrated electric bike lights which usually do not offer flashing mode. Lights aside, I appreciated the rear-wheel cafe lock, sturdy adjustable kickstand, and chainring protector with guide. This bike rides well and should normally be quiet… but the fender support arm on the demo model had been bent during an expo event and was rubbing a bit. The bike easily reaches the maximum supported speed of 20 mph and the large 180 mm mechanical disc brakes stop it with no problem. These are not hydraulic brakes, so the levers can take more hand effort and are not adjustable in terms of reach. They do not have motor inhibitors, but that’s less of an issue given the torque sensor. The best parts of this bike for me were the two suspension points (the minimalist fork suspension and cheap seat post suspension), and ergonomic touch points. You get a softer saddle, ergonomic grips, and adjustable angle stem supporting a more swept-back handlebar. My back, shoulders, and neck felt good on this bike, and the suspension reduced vibration which was not absorbed by the skinnier efficient tires as well as some balloon tire designs. The bike is nimble, sturdy, and relatively lightweight given all of the accessories. Weight is distributed well and the ride quality is good enough… but the battery is not especially large and the twist throttle operation is not my favorite, as I will explain below.
Driving this bike is a compact, lightweight, planetary geared hub motor from Taiwan Hodaka, a brand I’m not super familiar with. Rated at 350 watts nominal, I’d call it average in terms of power. It didn’t produce a lot of noise and would be more of a battery sipper than a battery hog… which is great because the battery pack on this e-bike isn’t especially large. The black motor casing blends in nicely with the black spokes and rims. The motor is small enough that it stays hidden behind the seven speed cassette and large 180 mm disc brake rotor. I like that the rims on this bike have reinforcement eyelets for added strength against cracking over time (or if the bike or rear rack are loaded up). I’d probably use this bike for commuting to work or running errands and the rack is a big draw for me. It’s also black and blends in perfectly with the seat post, stem, handlebar, and other hardware. Anyway, the motor activates as you pedal, or as you twist the throttle in assist level five. But, in order to get the throttle working, you actually need to be pedal ing, you can’t use it when stopped or even if you’re coasting if those pedal arms aren’t moving first. Once it has been activated, you can finally stop pedaling which is a relief. This design choice may be explained away by referencing safety, but I much prefer throttles that can be used from complete standstill and override with full power at all times, for quick bursts of energy when climbing hills or catching up to friends. As it stands, this throttle feels a bit limited, but the motor isn’t super powerful and the battery isn’t super large… so I’m not sure I would use it much anyway. Things are a lot simpler on the R model which does not have a throttle, there’s no guessing as to how to get it to work, you just choose 1-5 levels of assist and pedal. I guess I’m glad that there is a throttle option at all, but the half-grip twist can compromise the stability of the right grip and add complexity to the system. Perhaps they will update how this works on future models.
Powering the bike is a compact, lightweight, tube-style battery pack. I’m told that it contains Lithium-ion batteries from Panasonic, one of the top rated suppliers. They should last a long time if you store the battery in a cool, dry location and keep it at 50%+ capacity when not in use. Weighing in at ~4.5 lbs, this thing is easy to remove and store in a backpack and then charge at your desk at work or inside your home. The all-black design matches the accents on the bike and looks okay, but not quite as integrated or sleek as some of the mainstream designs from Bosch, Yamaha, or Shimano. The battery locks securely to the downtube mount and is easy to charge there, but if you take it off the bike, you’ll need a special adapter cup thing because the port on the base of tube is different than that on the battery mounting plate. This additional adapter dongle is not affixed to the charger, so be careful not to lose it. I prefer battery designs that only use one plug interface design, and it’s nice to have a faster charger like 3 or 4 Amps, but given the smaller capacity here, I think the standard 2 Amp charger works fine. Expect a full charge to take around four hours. The first half of the battery may only take an hour and fifteen minutes because the cells aren’t having to balance (which slows charging towards the end). There are no USB charging ports or other accessories on this bike that take advantage of the battery pack, it just supplies the motor and control panel.
Operating the bike is very simple once that battery is charged and mounted correctly. Just hold the mode button on the pad near the left grip (this is the center button). I have seen this same King Meter display used by many electric bike brands over the years and it does fine… but is not as fancy or consistent as a lot of the newer models. The primary readouts are battery capacity, which only uses a four bar infographic for 25% increments, assist level (1-5), and speed. Clicking the up or down arrows on the button pad will provide you with more or less power, but the torque + cadence sensor design requires a bit more pedaling effort regardless of which assist level is chosen. I tried to demonstrate this during the ride test in the video above. This is a more active electric bike, if you enjoy pedaling and want a predictable feeling of muscle enhancement vs. scooter “carry me” then it’s a great choice. I found that the higher levels of assist felt the most satisfying and enjoyed the throttle feature, once I got it figured out. So, as you might have guessed, the control panel/display setup is a mixed experience to me. It’s not especially large or advanced, it’s sort of simple if you leave out the throttle, and there are no special charging plugs or integrated light options. A few quick tips are to hold Up and Mode for backlight, hold Down for walk mode, hold Up and Down for settings menu.
This is a challenging bike to review because I love how the motor responds and how the ergonomics and sizing options can improve comfort. It’s really a joy to pedal once you’ve gotten a feel for how the display works and maybe just skipped the throttle. I don’t want to complain about having the option of a throttle, but it’s not super useful in this configuration. There a lot of great choices on components here including the kickstand, chainring protector and guide, beautiful tubular fenders, and even the disc brakes. The derailleur isn’t the world’s greatest, but seven speeds is enough for most types of riding and I appreciate the trigger shifters vs. the large Shimano thumb shifter often associated with the Tourney groupset. It would be easier to celebrate this electric bike if the price were lower but I understand that offering three colors and three frame sizes adds expense. These bikes are sold through a limited number of dealers on the West coast of the USA and Emazing Bike is based in the Bay Area near San Francisco. They have been around for many years, seem to have great relationships with frame builders, and offer a unique warrant with 1 year comprehensive, 2 year motor and 5 year frame. If you get a chance to try it out, I recommend giving the bike a chance and experience the smooth assist before ruling it out based on the funky throttle setup. Big thanks to Emazing Bike for partnering with me on this post and working with ELV Motors in Santa Clara to do some back to back reviews so I could get a better feel for the bike. One final note, depending on your foot size and climate, the rubber pedals might slip when wet but will not scrape your shins the way that a metal ridged pedal might. I prefer the solid alloy platform design like this from Wellgo but there are many other choices. I say this, because the larger frame sizes might be suited to people with larger feet and the included plastic pedals could leave something to be desired in that case.
Pros:
The Artemis is available in three frame sizes and three color options, I was impressed that the frame color is carried throughout the fork and alloy fenders
The fenders are stiffer and less noisy than most plastic or single-sheet alloy fenders I have tested on other bikes, these are tubular fenders with a double layer for improved strength and durability
Comfort is a big deal to me, especially when I’m commuting to work and have to cross bumpy sections of roads or ride on bike trails with a lot of cracks, so the head shock and seat post suspension made a big difference
In addition to the minimalist suspension, a thicker Velo saddle, swept-back handlebars, ergonomic grips, and adjustable angle stem made a big difference for reducing vibration and providing a comfortable body position
Safety and utility are addressed well through full-length fenders, good reflector placement (the rear reflector below the rack), reflective sidewall stripes on the tires, and puncture resistant Silk Shield lining on the tires
Aiding the fenders in keeping you dry and clean is an Aluminum alloy chainring guard that reduces grease and snags on long pant legs, there is also a small plastic chain guide to reduce dropped chains when riding on bumpy terrain
Very nice adjustable-length kickstand that’s mounted out of the way of the crank arms, I like the velcro slap guard to keep paint from chipping if the chain bounces, the included cafe lock is convenient for quick stops
The Artemis 73h3h uses a purpose built frame with internally routed wires and cables, notice the squared design of the lower downtube, this is where the controller is mounted and it seems well protected
You get a higher resolution 12-magnet cadence sensor and strain sensor for fluid pedal assist as well as twist throttle operation at level 5, it’s not a perfect setup for my own preferences however because you need to pedal for a moment to get the throttle to activate
The bike frame feels stiff and weight is distributed well, the hub motor doesn’t weigh a lot and the battery is positioned low and center on the frame which improves stability and handling
Nice wheelset, the black rim matches the black spokes and there are reinforcement eyelets to spread weight out and reduce any potential for cracking… the rims should hold up better over time and just look good
Cons:
I love that the battery pack can be charged on or off the bike frame, but it’s a bummer that you need an adapter dongle to do so, be careful not to lose this cable or you will only be able to charge on the bike
The battery capacity is on the small side in my opinion, rated at 36 volts and 8.7 amp hours, I’m used to seeing at least 10 amp hours, but at least the pack is relatively lightweight at 4.5 lbs
This is a minor consideration but the motor cable protrudes from the right side of the rear axle and that’s where the derailleur cable is also mounted, avoid bumping this side of the bike or getting snags because it’s more sensitive and the power cable isn’t as tucked in as some other designs I have seen, some e-bikes put a derailleur guard here to improve protection
The disc brakes are large and powerful but use mechanical actuation vs. hydraulic (which is easier and often has adjustable reach levers), there are no motor inhibitors built in to cut power when braking
Throttle power is a bit limited because of the moderate motor power, it cannot be activated from standstill which is a bummer because it’s nice to help after stopping sometimes
There are no bottle cage bosses for adding things like folding locks, mini pumps, or a water bottle mount but the rear rack is handy and could be used for a trunk bag with a bottle holster like this
Seven speeds is enough for urban riding and I like the trigger shifter mechanism, but the Tourney derailleur is base model from Shimano and might require a bit more maintenance and not shift as crisply as Altus, Acera, Alivio, Deore or SLX
The display panel seemed more basic, you can’t remove it when parking which means that it could take more sun, rain, and scratching wear over time if you commute and I saw the battery readout drop as I rode and then rise again so it wasn’t as consistent as some other high-end products I have seen and tested
An approachable city style electric bike with sturdy paint-matched fenders, a nice chain guide and retention system, and adjustable handlebars with ergonomic grips. Upgraded tires provide puncture protection and reflectivity, the rear rack increases utility for commuting or…...
A lightweight cruiser style e-bike with classic cantilever frame style, reinforced top tube, good weight distribution, available in two sizes and two colors. Beautiful tubular alloy fenders with matching paint, sturdy chainring guard and plastic guide to keep…...
A lightweight, hardtail, 29er trail style electric bike with efficient motor and battery pack, it offers smooth, dynamic pedal assist and twist throttle. Nice 100 mm suspension fork with lots of adjustability (compression, preload, rebound, and lockout), durable…...
Light weight, urban style electric bike with pedal assist and throttle mode, mounting points for fenders and rear rack (not included). Upgraded 350 watt motor, throttle mode and disc brakes compared with the Emazing Bike Daedalus…...
Well priced, very light weight for a hardtail mountain-style ebike, great 5 year warranty. Drive system uses a combination of cadence sensing and torque sensing for responsiveness...
An affordable, light weight active commuter style electric bike with excellent range. Lithium battery is mounted low and center on the frame for balance, removable for easy…...
Be the First to Post a Comment