2020 EVELO Aurora Limited Review

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I regularly charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by EVELO, who sent me the bike to keep. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of EVELO products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the EVELO electric bike forums.

Observations:

• The Aurora and Galaxy products from EVELO have a lot in common, so I want to explore that for a moment and give you some perspective. EVELO first launched the Galaxy series in 2017 with the Galaxy ST and then followed it up with the Galaxy 24″ in 2018/2019. That model came in two different versions, introducing the “fully loaded” setup with premium touch points and brakes. EVELO has since simplified their lineup by only offering one bike, now called the Galaxy 500, which resembles the fully loaded Galaxy 24″ product. In recent years, they switched from Bafang to a new motor provider called Dapu for improved reliability and display options. Benefits include the ability to raise the max speed to 25mph and have a throttle mode that can override each level of assist vs. being capped by it. The Aurora Limited uses the same motor, drivetrain, and has a very similar aesthetic to the Galaxy 500. However, it moves the battery mid-frame for improved balance, offers a welded-on rear rack vs. bolt-on, and utilizes larger 26″ wheels that elevate the bike for taller riders. Although it uses the same motor, the 48 volt battery and customized controller allows this Dapu motor setup to offer 105 newton meters of torque and 750+ watts, which is more than the Galaxy 500. The bike is very approachable due to the mid-step frame design, but supports up to 350lbs of weight and didn’t flex during my ride tests, what you sacrifice here is weight (larger size and additional frame structure for strength add weight to the bike).
• EVELO is one of the few ebike companies that I’ve seen using belt drives, continuously variable transmission systems, and electronic shifting. When you consider the mid-level price point of the Galaxy and Aurora, these components really stand out and set them apart. The company is also widely recognized as offering some of the best customer service in the industry, including a trial period where individuals can buy and test a bike and then receive a full refund if it’s not a perfect fit. They offer an outstanding four year warranty, and they have been in business since 2011. This makes them one of the oldest dedicated electric bike companies in North America.

Pros:

• The EVELO Aurora Limited is a premium build with sturdy hydroformed aluminum alloy tubing, extra plates and gussets for improved strength, smooth welds to create a clean quality aesthetic, internally routed cables, two-tone metallic paint job, and expertly chosen accessories (fenders, lights, stem, handlebar).
• I love how they setup the throttle, it activates from standstill in any of the five assist levels and offers full power based on how far you press the trigger. It’s a great setup that is very empowering, and is an improvement over their older designs in my opinion.
• EVELO switched to Dapu from Bafang in recent years, because it allowed them to offer throttle on demand and has been more reliable (including the display). Pedego is another company that I trust who has used this drive system, and the feedback seems to be very positive. I believe that Dapu is a Japanese brand.
• The motor controller is fairly advanced, measuring rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque. This makes the bike feel natural and smooth when starting and accelerating. Both brake levers have motor inhibitors, so stopping is also nearly instant and creates a strong feeling of control. Many similar products that use mid-drive motors with advanced sensors like this do not have motor inhibiting brake levers or offer throttle mode. That really makes the bike unique.
• High volume puncture resistant tires give this bike a smoother feel and increased durability. They lower the attack angle, performing and handling more like a 27.5″ wheel while still keeping the bike frame low to the ground for approachability and stability at standstill. Because they are plus sized, measuring 2.8″ in width, they offer more stability when riding and increased air volume which improves comfort.
• I was really delighted to see that EVELO chose to use a 15mm thru-axle design for the front wheel vs. a standard 9mm axle with quick release. This improves wheel strength and handling, it also keeps the front disc brake rotor straight and easier to alight so there’s less bending and potential for scraping noises when you ride with a heavy load or at speed.
• The hydraulic disc brakes are great, notice the larger 180mm front rotor that adds mechanical leverage and cooling ability as weight shifts forward. The hydraulic disc brake levers both have motor inhibitors and offer adjustable reach to better fit different hand sizes! The motor inhibitors also activate bright mode on the rear light when they are pulled.
• The bike is really set up to be comfortable, providing an upright body position that reduces back and neck sensitivity and allows you to spot traffic and chat with friends. Note the 45-degree 110mm riser stem, swept back handlebars, ergonomic grips, and adjustable suspension fork (offering compression, lockout, and preload). Of course, you could add a 27.2mm suspension seatpost aftermarket if you wanted to further cushion the ride.
• The battery pack is removable for reduced weight when lifting and servicing the bike. It makes charging and storing much more convenient! Avoid subjecting the battery to extreme heat and cold to help extend its life. I have read that extreme heat damages lithium-ion cells and extreme cold stunts them temporarily which reduces your range.
• The LCD display panel is large, easy to read, very intuitive to use, and has lots of advanced options such as brightness adjust, max speed adjust (so you could lower it from 20mph or go up to 25mph for “off road” use) and there’s even a password option to further secure the bike when locked outside. It’s not removable, but it does swivel to allow you to reduce glare.
• The frame has bottle cage bosses on the downtube in an easy to reach location! Whether you use them for a bottle, folding lock, mini pump, or other accessory (or none at all), it’s nice to have the option.
• The Enviolo Automatic CVT hub is a very cool drivetrain because it allows for shifting at standstill, and provides two shifting modes. The first is blue, which lets you select a pedal speed that will stay the same even as the bike dynamically goes faster or slower (automatically adjusting based on terrain and workload). The second is orange, which lets you choose a gearing ratio that remains constant, this is more like a gear on a traditional bicycle… a low gear will feel comfortable when climbing but may have you spinning fast and feeling slow on flat or downhill sections as the bike reaches higher speeds with less effort.
• The gates Carbon belt drive is super quiet, lightweight, and durable. I’m told that they tend to last longer than traditional chains, and they don’t bounce around or fall off as easily. Gates has a special CDX center-track design that keeps their belt on track, and it has worked well during the hundreds of test rides and reviews I’ve conducted using it over the years.
• The button pad that controls the display is very intuitive. The + and – buttons raise or lower assist and the power button activates lights when pressed after the bike is already on. In doing so, it also changes the display color scheme to be darker, so as not to ruin your night vision. Holding the Set button will allow you to change the units, adjust the top speed, and even adjust the brightness or set a password.
• The battery is packed by a reputable company called Greenway and contains A-grade Samsung or Panasonic cells. EVELO spends extra on this and it makes the bikes reliable, which allows them to offer such a long term 4-year warranty.
• Unlike the Galaxy 500, this frame has a single-tube mono stay in the rear instead of seat stays and chain stays. This means that they did not have to cut the frame to get it to work with a belt! That makes it stronger, but it also makes the frame a bit heavier. In general, I feel that they did a good job with the design, reinforcing the rear section by using multiple rack support arms. I like where and how they positioned the kickstand on the left side at the rear vs. in the center of the bike frame where it could have created pedal lock.
• Nobody wants a flat tire, and you can reduce them by running at the recommended PSI pressure levels (20 to 45PSI) but at least removing the rear wheel on this bike is made easy because of their sliding dropout design. You just unplug the Enviolo hub cable and loosen both nuts, then the wheel drops down. The front wheel is even simpler. I appreciate that both tires have a puncture protection liner to reduce flats as much as possible.
• Moving the weight of the bike and riders takes a lot of power, mid-drives tend to be some of the most powerful when combined with a gearing system (the Enviolo CVT in this case), and since the motor is rated up to 105 newton meters, this is actually one of the most powerful ebikes around right now.
• Weight is distributed very evenly across this frame, notice the motor and battery positioning. Even with the heavier rear stay and rack, the bike balances out because of the suspension fork up front.
• I was delighted to learn that the electronic shifting for the Enviolo Automatic runs off of the main ebike battery! If it senses the battery getting low, it will automatically shift to the lowest gear so you can pedal home without struggling if the battery completely runs out.
• This is a minor “pro” that isn’t executed perfectly, but still worth highlighting. The battery pack has a full sized USB charging port built into the side, near the standard charging port. You could use this while camping or as a backup battery for devices when the battery is not on the bike itself. In its current position, the charging port is far from the handlebar (where I’d mount my phone), and could create snags if you run a wire.

Cons:

• The rear rack probably works best with trunk bags that sit on top or pannier bags that hang over vs. the kinds that clip onto circular tubing. The rack is made from thicker rectangular tubing and doesn’t have any quick-connect interfaces or pannier hangers like a lot of other racks. It’s also limited in terms of capacity, supporting up to 45lbs vs. 55lbs. It may support the Yepp! Nexxt Maxi child seat, that clamps on from the sides, but EVELO recommends using a child trailer with this ebike instead.
• The all-black tires look clean and professional, but they do not have reflective sidewall stripes which could enhance your visual footprint and overall safety. Considering the silver frame and integrated lights, this is still a fairly visible product compared to most.
• There are LOTS of wires at the front of the bike because there are so many systems and sensors. Additional wires include brake motor inhibitors, display console, trigger throttle, and independent button pad (along with standard brake lines and shifter cable). These extra wires join together in one big bundle that passes fairly close to the headlight, and sometimes bumps it. This could impact the positioning of the light, so keep an eye on the bolt that secures it.
• Since EVELO mostly sells direct (aside from a few dealers and their flagship Seattle warehouse where you can test ride and buy in person), most customers will have to perform some assembly. The bike is fairly heavy and that requires extra time and strength to unpack carefully and then dispose of the cardboard. It’s less convenient than going to an ebike shop, and that goes for maintenance service as well. Thankfully, this mid-drive motor, belt drive, and CVT hub should be extremely reliable.
• It would be nice if the display had more readouts such as average speed, max speed, estimated range, and showed battery percentage vs. five bars (representing 20% increments). I would also love to have a USB charging port built into the display to fill my phone from the ebike battery if it was being used for GPS or other apps. Thankfully, the battery pack does have a USB port built into the side, but plugging in here would create some clutter and a snag hazard while riding.
• The Enviolo NuVinci continuously variable transmission hub is intuitive to shift with, but it’s not as efficient as a standard cassette. It also weighs more because it’s full of traction fluid, and it costs more. For an application like this, I think it’s a great fit, but these are all still considerations to make.
• Since the bike only comes in one frame size, it might not fit smaller riders perfectly. I’m 5’9″ and it felt pretty good to me while pedaling. They recommend the Galaxy 500 for riders who are 4’10” to 5’10” tall.
• Most step-thru ebikes that use a single tube design suffer from frame flex. That is really minimized here, but it’s not as stiff as a diamond high-step frame and it may not be compatible with all car racks without using a crossbar adapter, so keep that in mind.
• Considering that EVELO is smaller and less well known than Trek, Specialized, or Giant, this ebike is priced fairly high. I think the components, quality of the build, and excellent customer service justify this price, but it is still on the more expensive side, and that’s a consideration.
• The Aurora and Galaxy models are definitely on the heavy side, this one weighs about 70.2 pounds, and some of that is due to the reinforced frame, fenders, and rack, as well as the continuously variable transmission hub. For this reason, it’s nice that the battery can be removed to reduce weight by 7.6 pounds
• Make sure that the battery is actually locked into position before you ride away, it was tight and difficult to align for me during this review. It slides out to the left side, not up like similar looking batteries. I actually had to hit and kick the battery to get it back into place and then press down slightly to hear it click. Hopefully this is not the case for every owner! Dropping the pack could definitely cause damage and be expensive to replace, so make sure you handle with care and always make sure it’s locked into place before riding.
• This is a minor thing, but the rear wheel speed sensor is a bit exposed. Be careful not to bump it if you’re riding through high brush or sticks, or if you’re cleaning the frame aggressively with a rag.