The iGo Titan has great intentions and is one of the most affordable full suspension electric bikes around that also uses an efficient mid-drive motor system. That said, it really isn’t designed for heavy off-road use. It’s fairly heavy and most of the weight is distributed towards the rear of the bike and higher up on the rack. The pros and cons are closely related on this bike; the mid-drive offers great climbing ability and extended range (as long as you leverage the gears properly) but can suffer from increased wear on the chain and cassette as well as mashing if shifting is not done carefully. Ultimately, this bike is best enjoyed on smoother terrain and requires a bit of compromise when shifting and pedaling but can work well if you adapt your riding style and learn how to use it.
Compared with more expensive mid-drive systems from Bosch, Panasonic or IZIP that rely on pedal cadence, torque and speed the Titan relies only on a basic five-magnet cadence sensor that tells the motor to turn on or off. While you can control how hard the on/off power is applied by choosing from three different assist levels/modes, the bike can still feel jerky. This is not a deal breaker but something you should consider if you’ve never tested the bike in person. It doesn’t feel as smooth or responsive as a nicer system and there aren’t any sensors built in to listen for gear changes and reduce power to avoid grinding gears. Given that this bike uses a modest, efficient 250 watt motor the grinding and wear is less of an issue. For me, the ride experience on the Titan feels like a compromise to appease the system instead of having it just work well on its own. The motor feels strong but slow and that dictates the cadence with which I can pedal and still receive support. Depending on the gear I’ve chosen, the bike may struggle or barely reach the advertised 20 mile per hour top speed.
Another issue I’ve encountered is the full suspension performance. It looks awesome to be sure but the rear shock is more like a spring and will send the bike bouncing along instead of smoothly absorbing bumps. Exacerbating this bouncy feeling is a bit of rattling noise from the battery pack which is mounted in a plastic tub high up at the rear of the frame. Ideally, this battery would be low and center and rattle a little bit less.
I do like that the bike is available with either a 10 or 17 amp hour battery choice for extending range. The Panasonic cells are very nice on the upgraded version. The fact that this ebike uses both grip shift and pedal assist drive modes is nice as well. The control console is simple, allowing you to power the bike on, activate the lights and change pedal modes but it doesn’t show your speed or range like an LCD display might. The rear rack works like a fender, keeping the stripe off your back, but the front fender is so high above the tire and short that it really won’t protect your shoes or lower legs.
While the Titan looks like an amazing off-road machine and is priced to inspire and sell, it’s just not that satisfying to ride. The bouncy rear suspension, rattling battery case, limited power and unsophisticated drive sensors left me disappointed but that’s not the end of the story. This can be a great bike but the image is much different than the reality. Think of it as a slower, more efficient ebike that’s very affordable. If you stay around 15mph and ride mostly on-road it’s great but I’ve experienced speed wobbles on the front wheel when reaching the 20mph mark. If you’re set on iGo, appreciate the affordable mid-drive and are looking to save money and weight then consider the Urban which relies on the same drive systems but uses a stiffer, simpler frame.
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Faunus
9 years agoAvoid this company. Their customer service SUCKS big time! I purchased an Igo Titan about three years ago. The first bike sent to me was a death trap – twisted frame. Eventually they replaced it and the new one rode well for a year or so.
However a few weeks ago I discovered a serious crack in the frame – at the crank! I called the company, who said that they would get back to me with some ideas about what they could do. It looks like I could have been killed or seriously maimed, had I not spotted the crack. They offered no words of concern at all, their reply was cold and impersonal.
Guess what? No further reply at all – even after several phone calls! Clearly they just don’t care, and what bothers me is that this could be a consistent and serious design defect (look at where the crack is!).
My own thought is that these bikes should all be recalled and all checked, before anyone is killed or seriously injured. If you own one please have it checked for your own safety.
The company owners seem to be completely cold and heartless…. They should replace my frame like any other reputable bike company would. They should also be informing other owners and dealers of the potential danger.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoHi Faunus, I’m so sorry to hear about your twisted and then cracked frame experiences. I hate to say it but I have also had delays in replies received from iGo… I suppose they are busy or maybe just not prioritizing communications with customers. Thanks for sharing your experience, if you wanted to post a picture of the frame and maybe explain this situation further, feel free to do so in the EBR forums for iGo here. You can then leave another comment in this thread with your link to the forums. Ride safe.
ReplyDoug Linton
9 years agoI have owned one of these since 2011. I agree that it is not a serious off-road machine; for my part, mainly because I think I would end up pushing it home. I have had recurring issues with the front crank breaking (3x and counting). There is no service available for these in Canada as far as I know, and the response from the distributor for parts is virtually nonexistent. In all honesty, I would not recommend anyone purchasing one of these bikes because of these issues; other than that, it’s not bad. I have one; I’m stuck with it (at least until the crankshaft breaks again). Anyone have/want one for parts?
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoThanks for the honest feedback about your challenges with the iGo Titan Doug… It sounds like you’re making the best of the situation but the crank issues are no fun. This frame design just feels heavier, flexier and cheaper than some of the other full suspension ebikes I’ve tested. It looks cool but I was concerned about the custom mid-drive and support (given I’ve had difficulties reaching iGo in the past). For the money, it seems like the bike could work as a basic “around town” sort of thing but Evelo offers a very similar build called the Aries and in the US I believe they offer much better support. Still not my favorite but maybe this helps people who are very excited about the design and price :)
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