2020 iGO Electric Core Extreme 3.0 Review

This review was provided for free, but iGO and Cap’s E-Bikes did organize delivery of a temporary demo bike to test. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of iGO Electric products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the iGO Electric bike forums.

Observations:

• iGO Electric has been selling ebikes since 2006, way before EBR had even launched! I considered their products when I bought my first ebike in 2011 because they used purpose-built frames, offered free shipping in the US and Canada, and were available to answer questions via email and phone. They still do a great job with support, and have expanded the lineup quite a bit in recent years. The Core line is their most affordable, and the biggest trade-off is that the batteries and displays tend to be more basic, they don’t have a smartphone app for this bike and the display is greyscale vs. color.
• There are several Core models, all of them used to use a semi-integrated battery pack. Now, they’ve moved to fully integrated (which looks great) and introduced an upgraded display panel with USB charging port. Compared with the Core Extreme 2.0, the 3.0 has a lower stand-over height, shorter reach (for improved control and comfortable body position), larger 4.5″ fat tires vs. 4.0, and lighter punched out rims that are easier for the motor to turn (somewhat offsetting the heavier tires). It’s about two pounds heavier but is actually less expensive by $100 in USD and CAD.

Pros:

• 100% feature-complete with everything you’d need to ride in the rain, mud, snow, sand, or commute to work… day or night! Sturdy and extra wide 110mm aluminum alloy fenders, above-average integrated lights with side windows, and a custom rear rack with pannier hangers and positioning that maximizes carrying space without colliding with the saddle in the lower positions.
• The fully integrated downtube battery pack provides lots of space mid-frame, so you could add a triangle frame bag. iGO included a set of bottle cage bosses on the seat tube which could be used for fluids or accessories like folding locks or mini pumps, because you might not always want to bring a trunk bag or panniers… or wear a backpack.
• iGO was definitely trying to keep this product affordable, but none of the parts are entry-level. The Shimano Altus drivetrain is one step up from base, the 8-speed drivetrain uses a nickel plated cassette with respectable 11-34 tooth spread, and the Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes utilize large 180mm rotors and top-end rubberized brake levers with an integrated bell. I love these brake levers because they keep your fingers warmer than all metal, the bell is durable and happy sounding, and both levers have motor inhibitors for extra safety when stopping.
• Even though the frame only comes in one size, the adjustable height seat post and adjustable angle stem provide a wide range of options for different body sizes. Overall, the diamond frame is sturdy and stiff, which is what you want for off-road riding, but the sloped top tube makes it fairly approachable and easy to stand-over.
• At first, I thought that maybe this was a mid-drive electric bike because of the black box thing at the bottom bracket. This is actually just a storage compartment for wires and the powerful 22 amp battery controller which iGO calls the Electronics Access Port. Separating the controller like this makes it easier to replace, keeps the battery cooler, and makes additional battery packs much less expensive because the electronics in each pack are simpler.
• Inside that bottom bracket box is 32 pulse cadence sensor that is VERY responsive and durable. Most of the cadence sensors that I see and test on competing products utilize 6 or 12 magnets. They can get bumped around more easily because they are external… but the electronic sensor that iGO chose seems like an upgrade, and it worked well during my tests.
• Great hardware choices on the Velo locking grips and adjustable suspension fork. You get lockout and preload adjust which helps to dial things in for your body weight (pre-load the spring for heavier loads, lock out the suspension to reduce bobbing and perform more efficiently on hard or paved surfaces). That said, the suspension fork is a bit heavier as a spring fork vs. air and felt kind of bouncy during my test rides.
• The shorter reach on the 3.0 vs. the 2.0 combined with a highly adjustable stem allows for a more upright body position that feels commanding and can be more comfortable for casual riding. For me, it also allows for reduced back and neck pain. Note that iGO also upgraded the seat post from 27.2mm to 30.4mm diameter, which is sturdier, provides more options for suspension posts and dropper posts aftermarket.
• Great attention to detail with the little things: adjustable length kickstand positioned perfectly at the rear of the bike (won’t get kicked or cause pedal lock and will support a loaded rack), rack is far back so it won’t block the seat coming all the way down, rubber bumpers on the downtube reduce damage from oversteer or accidents where the fork crowns could collide with the frame, large aluminum alloy Wellgo pedals feel secure and work well with boots, most of the supporting hardware is black and matches beautifully (rims, spokes, hubs, fork, seat post, cranks, stem, handlebar etc.)
• This is a purpose-built frame with fully internal cable routing. This reduces snags and protects sensitive bits if the bike crashes or is ridden in close proximity to brush and sticks. Having a box at the bottom bracket vs. a bunch of wires protruding exposed seems like a great upgrade that could be overlooked if you aren’t looking really closely. I also like the aluminum alloy bash guard chainring guard that protects the chainring.
• iGO upgraded the chainring for the Core Extreme 3.0 from 42 tooth to 38 tooth with a narrow wide design. The smaller size means you get more leverage and power for starting and climbing, the NW tooth configuration reduces chain drops and allowed the to drop the heavier chainring guide for a more standard chainring guard (bash guard).
• I love that they positioned the locking cylinder and battery charge port up high on the right side (drivetrain side) of the bike. This is EXACTLY where it should be for convenient access and minimized damage if you remove the kickstand and lay the bike down on the left side (non drivetrain side).
• The charger is pretty average, offering 2 amp output, but the fact that you can charge the battery on or off the bike means that you can store the bike in a hot or cold environment (or outside) while taking better care of the battery (store in a cool dry location and keep at least half full). This will help the battery last longer, it also means that you can easily reduce the weight of the bike by ~7lbs if you have to lift it onto a car rack or do repairs.
• The battery connects to the frame without requiring the key, it secures with a click and feels solid. I did not hear it rattling around during my test rides and I found that it was easy to remove when I was done. Considering that this is a custom frame, everything worked well… which is not always the case, especially for more affordable ebikes.
• The display is easy to use and fairly intuitive with only four buttons. Use the + and – buttons to navigate through the nine levels of assist and hold + to activate or de-activate the lights. Hold the – button to activate walk mode if you’re struggling to push the bike up a hill or through grass. Press the shoe button (or possibly an M depending on your hardware) to navigate through readouts like max speed, average speed, odometer, trip distance, and timer, or hold it to get into settings.
• It’s nice to have pedal assist that can go slower and be quiet and efficient as well as throttle override with full power on demand in all 1-9 levels of assist. Overall, I really like the display and trigger throttle operation. For off-road riding, I have found that triggers are less likely to be activated accidentally than twist throttles, which can be twisted faster if you get scared and are just trying to hold on and not crash. You can also completely remove the throttle if you want to convert the bike from Class 2 to Class 1 for riding on certain mountain bike trails.
• The front wheel is connected via quick release, making it easier to remove and stow if you’re limited on space in your truck bed or home etc. I would love to see a 15mm thru axle vs. the standard 9mm quick release skewer, and I’d also love a tapered steer tube and air fork… but that would easily add $500 to the price tag.
• The rear rack was specifically designed to stay out of the way so the seat can drop further down. It’s rated up to 25kg (55lbs) of weight, and seemed securely attached. I appreciate that the rack has standard gauge pannier hangers welded onto the sides (though I wish it had more of a pannier blocker and bungee loop at the base)
• I love that they color-coded the wire connectors at the front of the bike, in case you need to disconnect them someday and aren’t sure which goes to which. The older version of the bike had some threaded sealed connectors that seemed even more durable, so that might have been a slight downgrade for this generation.
• The way that the rear light is positioned on the rack keeps it protected during shipping, it’s under and behind the rack tubing… The bike also ships with a derailleur guard that helps keep the sensitive power cable and derailleur from getting bumped.

Cons:

• This is a heavy electric bike, weighing in at roughly 73.9lbs (33.5kg), so it could be difficult to lift. Consider removing the battery and quick-release front wheel to lighten the load a bit. That said, the bike shouldn’t get any heavier because it already comes with fenders, a rack, and lights… which could all be removed to save some weight if you don’t need them ;)
• The tires don’t have reflective sidewall stripes, and I didn’t see any icons for puncture protection. In all fairness, I don’t think there are many options for tires in this size, and the thicker knobs and rubber might be durable enough as-is. The fact that the bike has integrated lights with side cutouts is already a big win for safety.
• Adjustable stems are nice for improving body position, but they tend to be less sturdy than a fixed stem. I spoke with the founder about this particular choice and he said that they researched a bunch of models and chose one that they had seen in use on exercise bikes (which are adjusted daily) that seemed to hold up well in the real world. Still, given the increased weight of the bike and off-road use, I’d recommend keeping that bolt tight and re-tightening if you notice it starting to wobble. If it begins to strip, consider replacing it with a rigid stem that’s the same angle and length you prefer, and look for a 31.8mm clamp diameter to fit the handlebar that comes with this ebike :)
• The integrated headlight is pretty bright and protrudes a bit on a plastic adjustable stand, so it should be visible from the sides and able to aim down towards the road over the front fender. One drawback is that the default mounting position is on top of the suspension arch, so it could bounce around more than if it was up on the stem or handlebar. At least the headlight points where you steer and is wired in to the main rechargeable ebike battery.
• The mechanical brakes are a step-down in terms of quality and usability when compared with hydraulic… and that would have been a great upgrade for such a heavy ebike! However, the larger 180mm disc brake rotors provide a good mechanical advantage, and it’s usually easier for people to adjust their own brakes when they are mechanical vs. hydraulic… still, there is no adjustable reach on these, and the right lever may require more hand effort since the cable goes further to reach the rear wheel. Also, the rear cable housing is angled down so water and dust can collect inside more easily as I point out in the video review above.
• This bike is only available in one color and one size… but I think they chose very well and it looks awesome for the price. The “one size fits all” approach allows the company to keep the price down, and I feel like they chose well and it felt good (I’m 5’9″ and 135lbs). The matte grey paint, metallic red accents, and black matches all of the accessories (including the wires and battery) and won’t show dirt and smudges as much as white… but it’s not as safe if you’re riding at night, especially without reflective tires. Consider a light colored helmet or reflective clothes if you’re using this in the city or near automobiles.
• iGO really tries to support dealers by dedicating online sales to regional dealers. They sometimes ship bikes to dealers for assembly and support… but if you buy direct, there’s some work to do unpacking, assembling etc. These bikes come 95% assembled: just attach the racks, put the stem onto steer tube, add the pedals, the front wheel, fender, and the headlight. This can take some time, and the tools they include are pretty basic.
• This is a very minor point, but the throttle doesn’t work in assist level zero. This means that you’ll have to arrow up to 1-9 levels of assist in order to activate, but then the throttle offers full power! For me, five levels of assist would be enough, it’s a lot of clicking to get all the way up to 9, and the menu doesn’t cycle back to zero, so you click down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down to get back to level 1. Also, the display doesn’t remember your last setting, it always starts in zero.
• The trigger shifter component that iGO chose from Shimano doesn’t offer two-way high shifting, you have to pull back on the lever with your right index/pointer finger. This is a very small consideration, but it’s something I notice because Shimano also sells a two-way trigger that allows shifting with your thumb for high and low, which is more comfortable to me because I can keep my hand gripped more securely at all times while dedicating my index and middle finger to braking.
• The display panel is not removable and doesn’t have a password setup for riders, just for the settings menu. If you park at a public rack, the display could get scratched or tampered with and will take more sun and weather damage in general. You could probably swivel it to reduce glare if you don’t over-tighten the clamp screw.
• This is a very minor gripe, but the trigger throttle is near the left grip vs. right. I grew up riding dirt bikes, jet skis, snowmobiles etc. that all put the twist or trigger throttle on the right. Many ebikes choose not to do this because they put trigger shifters (for the bike gears) on the right side.