e-Joe Epik Carbon Review

  1.  Home
  2.  Reviews
  3.  Brands
  4.  e-Joe Reviews
  5.  e-Joe Epik Carbon Review
E Joe Epik Carbon Electric Bike Review
E Joe Epik Carbon
E Joe Epik Carbon 48 Tooth Chainring Plastic Guide
E Joe Epik Carbon Folded Top View
E Joe Epik Carbon Shimano Revoshift Lcd Display Bell
E Joe Epik Carbon Suspension Fork With Lockout Preload Adjust
E Joe Epik Carbon Tektro Mechanical Disc Brakes 180mm
E Joe Epik Carbon Comfort Saddle Adjustable Kickstand
E Joe Epik Carbon 7 Speed Shimano Tourney Derailleur
E Joe Epik Carbon Folding Electric Bike
E Joe Epik Carbon Folded Battery Compartment
E Joe Epik Carbon Removable 48 Volt Samsung Battery
E Joe Epik Carbon 2 Amp Sans Ebike Charger
E Joe Epik Carbon Compact Electric Bike Charger
E Joe Epik Carbon Folding Black
E Joe Epik Carbon Folding Tangerine Orange
E Joe Epik Carbon Electric Bike Review
E Joe Epik Carbon
E Joe Epik Carbon 48 Tooth Chainring Plastic Guide
E Joe Epik Carbon Folded Top View
E Joe Epik Carbon Shimano Revoshift Lcd Display Bell
E Joe Epik Carbon Suspension Fork With Lockout Preload Adjust
E Joe Epik Carbon Tektro Mechanical Disc Brakes 180mm
E Joe Epik Carbon Comfort Saddle Adjustable Kickstand
E Joe Epik Carbon 7 Speed Shimano Tourney Derailleur
E Joe Epik Carbon Folding Electric Bike
E Joe Epik Carbon Folded Battery Compartment
E Joe Epik Carbon Removable 48 Volt Samsung Battery
E Joe Epik Carbon 2 Amp Sans Ebike Charger
E Joe Epik Carbon Compact Electric Bike Charger
E Joe Epik Carbon Folding Black
E Joe Epik Carbon Folding Tangerine Orange

Summary

  • A sturdy folding electric bike with wider 2.25" tires for comfort and stability, a highly-adjustable suspension fork with lockout, sturdy cast alloy rims that won't go out of true, and powerful 180mm mechanical disc brakes
  • Internally mounted battery pack stays clean, dry, and positions weight at the center of the frame for improved balance, 48 volt power delivery system makes the bike feel zippy and is a bit more efficient than 36 volts, the 500 watt motor felt powerful and gets a mechanical advantage from the smaller 20" wheel size
  • Available through a sizable dealer network who can help with test rides and post purchase support, solid one-year comprehensive warranty, available in two colors, can be wheeled around and sat on in the folding position
  • No fenders, rack, or lights on this folding ebike, the internally routed cables look clean but can get stretched and pinched when folding and unfolding... so use care, the wider frame is sturdy but could bump your knees easier (especially at the folding joint), no derailleur guard or folding clasp systems but the chain guide helps to reduce drops while riding or transporting

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

e-Joe

Model:

Epik Carbon

Price:

$1,399 (Free Shipping in Contiguous USA)

Body Position:

Upright

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Urban, Travel

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

1 Year Comprehensive

Availability:

United States, Canada, Columbia, Brazil

Model Year:

2020

Bicycle Details

Total Weight:

58.8 lbs (26.67 kg)

Battery Weight:

6.9 lbs (3.12 kg)

Motor Weight:

7 lbs (3.17 kg)

Frame Material:

Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

14.25 in (36.19 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

14.25" Seat Tube, 23.5" Reach, 27.25" Stand Over Height, 30.5" Minimum Saddle Height, 24" Width, 66.25" Length, Folded Dimensions: (39.5" Length, 17.5" Width, 28.75" Height)

Frame Types:

Mid-Step, Folding

Frame Colors:

Satin Black, Tangerine Orange

Frame Fork Details:

Unbranded Spring Suspension, 80mm Travel, Compression Adjust with Lockout, Preload Adjust, 100mm Hub Spacing, 10mm Threaded Axle with Nuts

Frame Rear Details:

135mm Hub Spacing, 10mm Threaded Keyed Axle with Nuts

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses

Gearing Details:

7 Speed 1x7 Shimano Tourney Derailleur, Shimano 14-28 Tooth Cassette

Shifter Details:

Shimano RevoShift Half-Grip Twist on Right

Cranks:

Prowheel Forged Alloy, 170mm Length, 48 Tooth Chainring with Alloy Guide

Pedals:

Folding Plastic Platform with Alloy Core

Headset:

NECO, Integrated, Sealed Bearing, Straight 1-1/8"

Stem:

Aluminum Alloy, Folding, Telescoping Height (20mm to 160mm), 270mm Base Height, One 10mm Spacer, 25.4mm Clamp Diameter

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, Flat, 600mm Length

Brake Details:

Tektro Mechanical Disc with 180mm Rotors, Three-Finger Levers with Motor Inhibitors

Grips:

Rubber, Ergonomic

Saddle:

Generic Comfort

Seat Post:

Aluminum Alloy

Seat Post Length:

400 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

33.9 mm

Rims:

Cast Aluminum Alloy, 6 Support Arms

Spokes:

Six Support Arms

Tire Brand:

Kenda, 20" x 2.25" (56-406)

Wheel Sizes:

20 in (50.8cm)

Tire Details:

40 to 65 PSI, 2.8 to 4.5 BAR

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Center-Mounted Adjustable Length Kickstand

Other:

Locking Removable Downtube-Integrated Battery Pack with Color LED Indicator (Green, Yellow, Red), Sans 1.5lb 2 Amp Charger

Electronic Details

Motor Brand:

e-Joe

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Geared Hub
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

500 watts

Motor Peak Output:

750 watts

Motor Torque:

40 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung 2300Ma 18650 Cells

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

10.5 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

504 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

4 hours

Estimated Min Range:

25 miles (40 km)

Estimated Max Range:

55 miles (89 km)

Display Type:

KD58C LCD, Fixed, Adjustable Angle, Grayscale, Backlit

Readouts:

Battery Capacity (5 Bars), Current Speed, Assist Level (0-5), Trip Distance, Odometer, Ride Time, Average Speed, Maximum Speed

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad on Left, Buttons: -, M, +, (Hold Up for Backlight, Hold Down for Walk Mode, Press M to Cycle Trip Readouts, Hold Up and Down for Settings Menu)

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Twist Throttle (Sealed 12-Magnet Sensor)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)

Written Review

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

Observations:

  • Not actually carbon! I asked the founder of e-Joe Bikes what the name meant, and he said that the bike was a continuation of their standard Epik SE model and was similar to other products on the market… like a carbon copy, so that’s why he named it that way

Pros:

  • Some ebikes with internal batteries suffer from rattling because the pack is just surrounded by tubing, but the e-Joe Epik Carbon has a slide-track so the battery is very secure… just be sure to align it properly when inserting the battery
  • I like the wide 2.25″ tires because the additional air volume will improve stability and comfort (especially on smaller 20″ wheels), it’s a nice go-between from city tires that are 1.25″ and fat tires that are 3″+ that create drag and noise, you get stability and comfort on bumps and gravel here but it’s more compact, quiet, and efficient
  • Cast rims aren’t as comfortable or light as spokes, but they never go out of true which means they require less maintenance, given the suspension fork, wider tires, and soft saddle here, I feel like they’re a great choice… especially for larger riders
  • In the folded position, the bike was very stable and had a metal support arm, we wheeled it around forward and back because only the front wheel touches when you tip it… many competing products can only go forward because the rear wheel touches and that causes the cranks to rotate if you back it up, anyway, Sam also sat on the saddle while the bike was folded, so it could be used as a portable chair while waiting for public transportation at a bus or train station
  • Pretty good value at roughly $1.4k here considering that e-Joe sells through shops (50+ in the USA), offers a comprehensive one year warranty, and has been in business for many years, I trust them more than some of the brand new generic branded folding ebikes
  • The suspension fork that was chosen for this model offers multi-step compression lockout and preload adjust, this is great for heavier riders who don’t want to bottom out, lighter riders who don’t want a bouncy feeling, or those moments where terrain is really smooth and there’s no need for a shock
  • Plenty of saddle height adjustment (and they used a sturdy wide seat post) and handlebar stem adjustability so you can fit the bike to many body sizes, and I like the ergonomic grips that they chose
  • The hub motor felt zippy and could be activated through pedal assist or throttle on demand (even at zero! so you get full control starting or zipping up to speed beyond a lower assist level), I like how you get a mechanical advantage from the smaller wheel size on a hub motor powered ebike, it makes the bike feel zippier and climb better
  • The chainring has a double-sided guide to keep the chain on track, which is especially useful and relevant for folding electric bikes, they could have used metal but that would increase weight and I feel that the plastic is fairly protected by the metal bar stand just below
  • Twist shifters are very intuitive and less likely to get damaged on a folding bike than triggers, it’s unique to see a grip shifter like this and might be a selling point for certain riders, I like the window that shows your current gear
  • I believe that the bike comes in two colors, and the orange is especially beautiful and bright… which could improve safety given that there are no lights and no reflective accents on the tires
  • Sealed high-resolution 12-magnet cadence sensor is less likely to get bumped out of position, lose signal due to dirt or mud, and it is physically smaller than the older versions
  • The display is easy to read, includes backlighting, and offers a bunch more settings than some of the other compact LCD units I’ve seen (including password protection!), the smaller housing is probably going to be less vulnerable on a folding ebike
  • Even though I complained about the folding pedals being a bit tricky to fold and unfold in the video (because they were brand new), they are name-brand, offer some good surface area for your feet, and do have reflectors built-in so ultimately I do see them as an “upgrade” on the bike
  • Power deliver feels smooth and the lower levels of assist aren’t so overwhelming even though the motor is very capable if you press the throttle or arrow up to higher levels of assist
  • Some of the other e-Joe folding bikes have used integrated bells, but that’s only possible with specific brake levers, I like that e-Joe still specced this bike with an aftermarket bell for fun and safety, they looked at the details and didn’t just skip it
  • Both folding points (on the stem and the middle of the frame) have a plastic locking mechanism for safety, so you don’t have to worry so much about it when riding

Cons:

  • I’m mixed on the internal cable routing for this folding ebike because it seems like there’s some potential for the wires to get stretched and then pinched within the frame. We show and talk about this at 2:46 in the video
  • Weighing in at 58.8lbs, this is a heavier folding electric bike considering that it doesn’t ship with fenders, a rear rack, or lights like the comparable 51.5lb e-Joe Epik SE (the battery capacity is very similar, but the cast rims, bigger tires, and beefier frame add weight here)
  • Mechanical brakes can stretch over time and require more hand strength to actuate (especially the right lever for the rear brake) but they keep the price down, and at least e-Joe opted for larger 180mm brake rotors for better stopping power, and both brake levers have motor inhibitors for safety
  • Entry-level derailleur with limited 7-speed drivetrain having 14-28 tooth cassette, this means you trade some of the climbing and higher speed cadence options that an 11-32+ cassette would offer, I also would have liked to see a derailleur guard to protect the derailleur on this folding ebike
  • There’s no magnetic clasp or rubber strap to help keep the frame folded, that means it could rattle around and scratch itself if you don’t take care folding and maybe using a towel or shirt between the bike frame parts, consider a basic bungee cord to secure it during transport
  • The center-mounted kickstand is adjustable and works well for standing the bike, but is not far enough back to avoid pedal lock (which happens if you back the bike up while the kickstand is down)
  • The rear dropout area does have threaded eyelets for adding a rack, if you’d like, but I didn’t see additional bosses on the seat stays but there are seat clamps with eyelets that could be used here… I didn’t see any bottle cage bosses, but I understand why they skipped it due to the flat top tube
  • The extra-wide main tube that encloses the battery and adds strength here has one drawback, which is that the width of the folding joint makes it easier to bump on your knees, just be careful when mounting and pedaling
  • In its fully extended position, the kickstand would bump the large 180mm disc brake rotor in the back and kind of “ding” which was a bit annoying and also had me concerned about bending the rotor… this may be solvable by adjusting the kickstand mount and angling it out a bit
  • Unlike some of the other e-Joe electric bikes I’ve reviewed, this one didn’t have a USB charging port on the display or the battery pack, which is something I found convenient
  • Minor gripe here but the charger isn’t especially compact, lightweight, or fast, I would call it very average… and now with the larger battery capacity it can take longer to completely charge the bike if it is completely used
  • As with most internally geared hub motors, you can hear this thing a bit as you accelerate in the higher assist levels or use the trigger throttle at full power

Resources:

Review Updated On

More e-Joe Reviews

e-Joe Epic Swan 350 Review

  • MSRP: $1,499
  • MODEL YEAR: 2019

A value priced and approachable step through electric folding bike with a ton of features and fun, comes in a 350 watt ($1,499) version and a 500 watt ($1,699) version as well. Features battery integrated lights in the front and rear, mono shock up front, locking ergonomic…...

Read Review

e-Joe Epik SE Review

  • MSRP: $1,599
  • MODEL YEAR: 2017, 2018

A comfortable, highly adjustable, value-priced folding electric bike that's a third generation build with lots of little improvements and refinements like a more durable battery connection point. Color-matched suspension fork and swept-back handlebar with adjustable height improves comfort, integrated plastic fenders, a…...

Read Review

e-Joe Gadis Review

  • MSRP: $1,699
  • MODEL YEAR: 2016

An active step-thru electric bike with a stiffer frame, excellent weight distribution and decent price point, great for commuters given the rack integration and fenders. Available in two color choices (black and vanilla) with matching suspension, clean integrated wires and…...

Read Review

e-Joe Koda Review

  • MSRP: $2,199
  • MODEL YEAR: 2015

A well priced urban-commuter style electric bike that offers lots of useful accessories including fenders, carry rack and LED lights. Purpose built frame is light weight and well balanced thanks to a downtube mounted battery…...

Read Review

2015 e-Joe Epik SE Review

  • MSRP: $1,599
  • MODEL YEAR: 2015, 2016

Folding electric bike offering a great combination of utility (fenders, rack, lights, suspension fork) at a low price. Relatively powerful geared motor combined with an impressive battery capacity for good climbing and range...

Read Review

e-Joe Anggun 3.0 Review

  • MSRP: $1,899
  • MODEL YEAR: 2014, 2015

Step-thru frame with adjustable stem, swept back handle bars and high to extra-low seat tube positioning options fits a wide range of riders, including those with shorter inseams. Lots of drive options including five power modes for pedal assist and a twist throttle…...

Read Review

e-Joe Anggun Review

  • MSRP: $1,699
  • MODEL YEAR: 2013, 2014

A well rounded, smooth riding, upright electric bike with both pedal assist and twist throttle mode. Step-through frame design is easy to approach and offers fenders, a chain guard and lights…...

Read Review

2014 e-Joe Epik SE Review

  • MSRP: $1,549
  • MODEL YEAR: 2013, 2014

Affordable, durable, well balanced and smooth with built in front suspension fork. Sporty fenders keep the mud off and stay out of the way but don't offer…...

Read Review

e-Joe Epik Lite Review

  • MSRP: $1,349
  • MODEL YEAR: 2014

Affordable, well balanced with integrated battery and light-weight (37 pound) folding electric bike. Comes standard with fenders, lights, a rear rack, removable battery pack and is available in…...

Read Review

 No Comments YouTube Comments

Be the First to Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.