A well priced, well put together city style electric bike that's comfortable and versatile with fenders, rack and lights
Sturdy integrated racks can carry 25 kg each (~50 pounds) and the front rack benefits from head tube mounting design and deflopilator spring for stability when loading and riding, it's also removable
Shorter seat tube allows the saddle to be mounted lower for petite riders, adjustable stem also improves fit, comfortable saddle and semi-ergonomic grips improve ride quality
Tektro Aries Mechanical Disc with 160 mm Rotors, Alloy Levers with Motor Inhibitors
Grips:
iGo Rubber, Semi-Ergonomic
Saddle:
iGo Comfort
Rims:
Alloy, Double Wall
Spokes:
Stainless Steel
Tire Brand:
Kenda, 700 x 38c (28" x 1.5")
Wheel Sizes:
28 in (71.12cm)
Tire Details:
Reflective Sidewall Stripe
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Front and Rear Cargo Racks (25 kg Max Weight on Each), Triple Bungee Strap and Panier Blockers on Rear Rack, Front and Rear Fenders with Mud Flaps, Plastic Chain Guard, USB Charging Port Integrated on Display and Battery Pack, Integrated Front and Rear LED Lights, Deflopilator Spring, Bell, Kickstand
Other:
Ergofit System Allows the Seat to Reach Lower Positions and the Stem and Handlebars are Ajustable to Fit Riders from 5 ft to 6 ft Tall Comfortably, Locking Removable Battery Pack
Speed, Odometer, Trip Odometer, Trip Timer, BMS Voltage, PAS Level (0-8), Battery Level (four bars), Diagnostics with Error Code Detection
Drive Mode:
Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Twist Throttle
Top Speed:
20 mph (32 kph)
Written Review
The Metro E or “Ergofit” finds a sweet balance of utility, affordability and fit for a wide range of riders. It’s a unisex frame available in handsome metallic gray with silver accents. The shorter than average 16.5″ seat tube allows the saddle to be mounted much lower and the stem is also highly adjustable so petite riders will have an easier time reaching the pedals and grips. If your taller, like myself, then the seat can still go high and the swept-back handle bar provides a “heads up” ride as shown in the video (I’m ~5’9″ for reference and iGo estimates up to 6 foot riders will fit well). This is really a nice bike in my opinion and it’s their second generation after the original Metro which came in high step model T or step-thru model S. It’s refined in just about every way and the company offers a solid year long warranty. Compared to some other ebikes I’ve tested it’s not the lightest weight at ~57 lbs or the most balance (most of the weight is at the rear) and it’s not super powerful feeling (especially in throttle mode) but it works. The front rack is removable if you’d like to reduce weight or don’t have a need for it but it’s not just for show, the design is really sturdy and benefits from a deflopilator spring to keep the wheel straight when loading.
Driving the Metro Ergofit electric bike is a standard 350 watt internally geared hub motor mounted in the rear wheel. It blends in perfectly with a matching silver finish and is relatively small and light weight. During my ride tests it provided a noticeable zip but was also very soft and gentle in lower modes. More than any other geared hub design I’ve tested this one felt smooth and highly adjustable with the control system. The peak output is ~500 watts and you can achieve this by going to the highest power mode and top level of pedal assist which confused me a bit at first, I’m not used to having two power selection settings but once I figured out that you have to hold the set button and use the up and down buttons here I got it where I wanted it and then left it alone. One thing I did notice is that the twist throttle on this bike only works in pedal assist mode, it would have been nice to have a throttle only option. It also seems to be restricted by the level of assist you choose so for the most powerful throttle use you’ll need to be in the highest level of assist. Even then, the throttle felt a bit mushy and slow compared to assist and this may be a design choice to help maximize range?
Powering the drive system and the integrated LED lights is a nice 36 volt 10 amp hour battery pack. This is the most common size for mid-level electric bikes I’ve seen over the past few years and it performs well here, striking a balance between weight, cost and power. It’s mounted high and towards the rear which isn’t my favorite choice but they had good reason here which is to keep the downtube open and make stepping over the frame easier. They didn’t use this extra space to add a bottle cage mounting point but that may be due to safety concerns about tripping riders. You could always get a saddle bag to carry your water and use one of the two racks. The rear rack is super sturdy and seems to protect the battery well inside larger tubing rails. The battery slides in from the back and can be charged either on or off the frame. One neat little extra here is an integrated USB charging port outlet located at the end of the battery (near where it connects to the bike). It’s not usable while riding but if you were charging and storing the battery inside (which is ideal to avoid extreme temperatures) you could rely on this 360 watt hour battery as an emergency power source to keep your phone going (for reference, the iPhone 6 plus has an 11.1 watt hour battery while the standard 6 is 6.91 wh). I like that the Metro E offers a keyed lock for securing the battery but that you don’t have the leave the keys in during operation. The pack has a nice plastic end cap with an integrated handle for easy handling and this helps to reduce drops and makes it easy to pull out.
Operating this electric bike is a bit mixed for me because there are four buttons instead of just three on many other models. You get power, set, plus and minus here and for the most part they operate as expected. Once the battery is charged and mounted properly (locked) to the rack in the rear, press the power button and the display comes to life. If you tap power once more the front and rear Led lights come on and in my opinion they are brilliant. both lights are mounted in spots that won’t be obstructed when gear is loaded onto the racks and both are secured to the frame instead of the fenders which could get bouncy. At this point in the display, you might be in PAS level zero which leaves the display and lights on but won’t offer any assist or throttle action. You get to arrow up through eight levels as mentioned earlier and this is nice because each increment offers a more subtle difference than bikes with just three levels. The confusing and perhaps unnecessary part for me is the three addition power levels. I started out in eco here and thought the bike was simply underpowered. Once I held the set button and changed to power mode the ride became more enjoyable. This isn’t a huge deal but I’m not sure I’d ever go back to eco mode given the eight levels of assist? I do like that the display has its own USB charging port outlet and this one can be used while riding the bike. If you have a smart phone for example, you could plug it into the base of the display and get a bit of extra juice for operating your GPS or listening to music while riding (do consider the volume level so that you can also hear cars and fellow pedestrians).
I feel that the iGo Metro E is a superb electric bike, much like the Metro T and S before it. These bikes aren’t your fastest or most powerful but they aren’t the weakest either and considering the low price point you really get a lot of bang for your buck. The fact that you get a comfortable saddle, a basic suspension fork and so much adjustability makes it enjoyable to ride. The safety features are almost completely covered given the reflective tires, lights, fenders and chain guard. There’s even reflective paint on the back of the saddle and a full set of traditional plastic reflectors on the wheels and both sides of the pedals. If this weren’t an electric bike it would still be handsome and useful but not as much fun to ride given the weight. Once you add the little motor and battery here, it becomes a joy to ride around town and very capable for hauling actual loads of groceries, books or other cargo. With a decent eight speed drivetrain by shimano you could easily tackle medium sized hills in pedal assist mode and since the charger is relatively small and light weight you could always bring it along to extend the 20+ mile range. This is one of the best value priced electric bikes I’ve tested and iGo has been a player in the space since 2005.
Pros:
Handsome frame is painted with colors that might appeal to both men and women, cables are all integrated for a clean look and the seat height and bar angle is adjustable for tall or short riders (5 ft to 6 ft recommended)
Front “porteur style” rack is well designed, it’s bolted to the head tube in four places and won’t turn as you steer the bike which helps to keep heavier loads (up to 25 kg which is ~50 lbs) stable, a deflopilator spring keeps the front wheel straight when loading the racks
Two built in USB charging ports (for powering portable electronics), one is built into the battery pack itself and could be used for emergency power and the other is integrated into the display panel near the left grip for use while riding
Sturdy rear rack has excellent mounting options including a triple bungee cord for securing small, light weight items as well as reinforced tubing and blockers for clip-on panniers, it should hold up to 50 pounds (25 kg) just like the front rack
Decent mechanical disc brakes that are easier to service, provide good stopping power, stay dry and clean compared to rim brakes and have motor inhibitors built into the levers for more responsive stops
Full length, wide composite fenders match the paint job and completely cover the balloon tires (along with mud flaps) to keep you dry when riding, work great in combination with the chain guard
Rear rack surrounds the battery pack for protection and includes a top platform (with mounting holes) and side blocker bars for use with panniers (avoid snags in spokes and tires)
Solid one year warranty on bike, drive system and battery from iGo (been in business since 2005)
Free shipping to Canadian customers and +$100 shipping for residents of the United States
Geared rear hub motor is light, relatively quiet and wired in with a quick disconnect for performing wheel maintenance
Cons:
No water bottle cage bosses on the downtube or seat post, you could always use the cargo racks to bring a bag with a bottle holder or use a saddle adapter or CamelBak
Basic suspension fork weighs more and doesn’t offer rebound adjust or lockout, the adjustable stem is also cheaper and requires tools to adjust (may become loose if you ride off curbs a lot)
No throttle-only mode, you have to be in one of the eight levels of pedal assist for it to function, level zero turns the LCD into a cycle computer and lets you use the lights or USB charger outlet
The LCD interface is a bit complex with extra buttons and modes that I’m not sure I’d use and some users might even miss some of the modes and think the bike is weak if left in eco
Rear heavy design (both motor and battery are located at the rear) makes bike less balanced
Suspension fork is more basic, does not include lock out for riding on smooth terrain
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