To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by NCM. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of NCM products.
NCM is a new company to me, but they are using reliable and proven systems in their ebikes, so in someway, there is a nice familiarity to it. Today we are checking out their Moscow Plus, the big brother to the Moscow. The Moscow Plus features a nicer suspension fork, hydraulic brakes, more comfortable saddle, and an upgraded derailleur with more gear ranges. There is also a better battery coupled with a nicer display. Because they share the same frame however, you will find a lot of parallel information in this review if you read the write up on the regular Moscow. So the Moscow Plus here is an aluminum alloy frame hard-tail ebike that comes in 2 sizes. Each size also has tire options as well, so basically there is a 19” frame and a 20.5” frame and you can choose either 27.5” tires, or 29” tires. Today we have the 19” frame with the 27.5” Schwalbe Smart Sam knobby tires. Overall the bike weighs about 56.1lbs, (about 1.4lbs lighter than the regular Moscow) and costs $1,899 USD and $2,399 in CAD. As I mentioned before, it is a bit of a hard-tail setup, so you do get this nice SR SunTour XCM30 spring suspension fork. It has 80mm of travel, larger 30mm stanchions, and includes compression adjust, lockout, and preload adjust. Pretty standard hub spacing in the front, 100mm, and there is a 9mm quick release skewer in the front, but none in the back since this is a hub-drive. I am told that it has a maximum weight capacity of 275.5lbs, which is higher than standard. This might come in handy since the bike does have bottle cage bosses, rack bosses, and even fender provisions, so you could really load it up with accessories and it should handle it very well. I like that there is an adjustable length kickstand included, but it is center mounted. That means that you could have the pedals strike the kickstand when down and reversing, an annoying occurrence sometimes referred to as ‘pedal-lock’. The seat post here is a rigid post, which is normal, but since it is 30.9mm, you could swap that out with a nice suspension seat post to get some more cushion on top of that front suspension fork. Other features include ergonomic Velo grips, Wellgo aluminum alloy platform pedals, and one of my favorites, a slap guard that will protect the bike frame and paint from getting nicked by the chain and scratching the paint.
Driving the Moscow Plus is a 500 watt nominally rated planetary geared hub motor. I love that it is fairly compact given the high power output. Power wise, it can deliver up to 80nm of torque, which is quite high, but it cannot leverage gears the way that a mid-drive could. The upside is that the motor always feels zippy, it doesn’t matter which of the gear combinations you are pedaling with. And, the motor can deliver instant power with the minimalist throttle. Hub motors are a great fit for hardtail mount bikes because there is no rear suspension to interfere with. As you shift gears, there won’t be increased mashing or forces applied to the drivetrain because the motor operates completely independently of the chain and sprockets. Moving the bike is done here with either the throttle or the cadence based pedal assist. Of course, this motor will use more power if you’re constantly starting with the throttle, but that’s a worthwhile trade for someone like myself, who has a knee injury. I love being able to override assist with the throttle at any time. I also love that the throttle is easily disabled by removing a cable in case you need to make the bike legal for other trails or local laws. Mechanically, you have 3 rings in the front (48,28, and 28), but sadly, there is no chain cover to protect your clothing. In the rear you have an upgraded 11-32 tooth setup, so a bit better range than the standard Moscow. All in all, it is a Shimano Acera system, and you also get 8 speeds, trigger shifters, and a couple of display windows that tells you what gear you are in. There is a derailleur guard here too, something I love since it protects the derailleur during shipping, or if the bike takes a spill some day. Stopping the Moscow Plus is a set of hydraulic brakes. This was one of my grips on the regular Moscow, so I am happy to see they are offered here in a set of 180mm rotors for both the front and rear. Another upgrade here on the Plus is motor inhibitors in both brake lines. The regular Moscow only had it on one lever so I am glad it is here as it helps cut power to the motor when stopping.
Powering the NCM Moscow Plus is a high capacity Lithium-ion battery pack, offering 48v 16ah hours of capacity! I would say that’s a nice upgrade from the 48v 13ah of the regular Moscow…that means you can go further or ride at higher speeds. I love that they use a sealed external controller, this allows a lower cost for replacement batteries, and keeps the controller protected from harsh elements. Where as some companies are $800-$1000 range for a new battery, this keeps the NCM battery cost to around $500. Note that whenever you’re operating around or above 20 mph, air resistance is going to cause exponential energy draw and range will be decreased. This pack delivers electricity to the motor, but also the backlit display panel (hold the + icon to turn on backlighting), and even a full sized USB charging port on the top right side. You could use this port to maintain phones, GPS, or music devices as you ride or when parked at home or a camp site. My friends recently took a bikepacking trip using another electric bike, and this sort of charging-on-the-go feature would be really handy. If you’re excited to charge while riding, I recommend using a right-angle USB adapter like this, just to keep the wires tucked in and out of the way while you pedal. The battery pack weighs more than average at 9.2lbs, but the alloy casing is sturdy and most of the weight is kept low and center on the bike frame. I took the pack off when moving the bike to our review location, to reduce load on my car rack. If you live up stairs, removing the battery is a great idea, and for those who need to leave the bike in a cold, hot, or wet locations… being able to protect and charge the battery inside is a great thing. It’s best to maintain the pack above 20% and avoid extreme temperatures. It’s going to take a bit longer to fill this battery because of the higher capacity, and the charger is more basic, offering 2amp output vs. 3amp or 4amp. So expect 6 to 7 hours for a fill recharge if you go all the way down to zero. One quick warning about charging the battery while mounted to the bike, be careful with the left crank arm because it passes directly in front of the plug port on the left and could bend or snag the charging plug and cable.
The display on the Moscow Plus is upgraded, nice and large and easy to read. To begin, just hold the power button on the little control pad near the left grip. It activates the display and you get several readouts including assist level, current speed, and battery capacity. Pressing power one time will activate backlighting on the LCD display and holding the down arrow constantly will activate walk mode (which can be handy if you need to to ascend a ramp, make your way through a walk-only space, or even climb stairs). The display can show different menus if you press the set button, a nice feature to dive in a little more. I like the size and position of the display, you can even angle it forward and back to reduce reflection glare, but it is not removable. For those who plan on commuting, it might be worth strapping your helmet over the display to keep people from noticing or scratching it, and also protecting it from the sun, while parked at racks. Overall, I would still call this display panel and accompanying button pad above average, I love that it can be angled to reduce glare and feel that it looks beautiful and is well sealed against water… but to clean the bike it is recommended to use a damp cloth vs. spraying it. Don’t ever submerge the bike components or spray them hard. Also, consider storing the battery pack away from extreme heat and cold to protect the cells. The only other thing I would mention is that the display is large and center mounted, taking up a lot of valuable surface area on an already crowded handlebar, so it may be difficult to add accessories.
In conclusion, the Moscow Plus was a lot of fun, and as mentioned earlier, is using a lot of nice proven technology that has kept many happy. This is a value priced ebike, so there will be some tradeoffs to consider, so I should make mention of those now… For one, the kickstand is center mounted, so if the kickstand is down and you are reversing the bike, you will encounter pedal lock. I noticed that there is no chain ring cover or guard, so be careful when pedaling with clothing like pants or a dress. The charger is just 2amps, this means charging happens slowly, so matched with that high capacity battery, it could take quite some time. Tradeoffs aside, it is a very well put together bike with a lot of what we have come to know and love about ebikes, and at a price of just $1,899 in the US, will appeal to many customers. I want to thank NCM for the chance to check out the Moscow, and I look forward to reviewing more bikes from this new company.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Other Brands ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- The Moscow blends off-road geometry, suspension, and tires with urban utility because you can add fenders and a rear rack, there are also bottle cage bosses on the top as well
- There are 24 gear combinations to explore here, and that empowers you to climb easier or hit and maintain the top assisted speed, I really appreciate the slap guard on the right chain stay and the steel derailleur guard at the rear which also protects the motor power cable (especially when the bike is being shipped)
- The 500 watt Das-Kit motor is powerful and zippy but completely independent from the the pedal drivetrain, it’s a good choice for a bike with so many gears vs. a mid-motor, it also allows for instant throttle power regardless of which gear you’re in
- One of the advantages of having a front derailleur is that it keeps the chain from bouncing off track, it does usually add more weight and maintenance to the bike however, and if you’re using either of the two smaller chainrings the larger 48 tooth one can snag your pant leg because there is no bash guard plate
- Good weight distribution, the battery is positioned low and center on the frame, it seems well protected and blends in pretty well with the black accents on the fork, handlebar, seat, and chainrings
- Great tires for cross country and street riding, the 27.5″ x 2.25″ size is lightweight and efficient, they steer quickly and Schwalbe products tend to be higher quality, there is also a 29” option as well
- At $1,899 USD and $2,399 in CAD, it is competitively priced and will serve many customers well since it has a throttle, high capacity battery, and suspension
- I’m glad that they chose a trigger throttle vs. twist because it makes the grips more secure and reduces accidental activation, the 12-magnet cadence sensor is also more responsive than 8 or 5 on many other products
- The suspension fork offers compression lockout and preload adjust, this allows it to firm up for smooth riding conditions like city streets, reducing bob and energy loss as you pedal
- You get a flick bell, locking ergonomic grips, and a pair of large sturdy platform pedals that should work well in all sorts of conditions and weather, sometimes these parts are cheaper on value priced ebikes
- I love the high capacity 14v 16ah battery, it even has a USB port on the side to take advantage of it and use it as a power bank, perfect for traveling
- Between the knobby tires and 80mm suspension fork, this bike feels pretty comfortable, but I might recommend a suspension seat post to make things even more cushy for your ride
- The 180mm rotor hydraulic disc brakes are a great upgrade here, they are complimented well by a nicer derailleur, better gearing range, and more gearing options here on the Plus vs the regular Moscow
- The Plus is actually lighter by 1.4lbs despite its larger battery, better fork, upgraded gel saddle, and nicer display
Cons:
- Minor gripe here, but I actually prefer the integrated finger bell on the regular Moscow as opposed to this more generic bell on the Moscow Plus, this was likely chosen to save space on the handle bar since it is using a larger display
- Some of the wires on this ebike are a bit more exposed along the base of the top tube, it looks a bit cleaner and reduces snags when they are completely internal
- This e-bike weighs more than your average trail bike at 56.1lbs because it has a higher capacity battery and a more basic spring suspension fork vs. air, I’d definitely take the battery off when lifting and transporting it
- No chain cover or guard means you need to be careful with your pants or dress, you don’t want it getting snagged and torn up in the chain ring system
- Even though this is technically a mountain bike, it’s nice to see a kickstand for those urban rides, I do wish that the stand was positioned a bit further back however, to avoid pedal lock with the left crank arm
- Another minor grips, but more and more people are commuting with hard tail mountain bikes, I like that this has provisions to add commuting options and already comes with a kickstand, but it should be noted it does not come with any lights in the front or rear
- With a standard 2amp battery charger, it could take a while to completely fill the high-capacity battery (6 or 7 hours), there are other ebikes with 3 or even 4amp chargers but they tend to weigh more
- The display panel isn’t removable and doesn’t swivel easily, as a result, it could get scratched more easily at racks and will take sun and rain wear over time
Resources:
Mark Kohls
5 years agoFirst off, let me say that I really enjoy your thorough reviews. The Moscow Plus is the third e-bike in our family, along with a Specialized Turbo Como 4.0 and Aventon Pace 500. I purchased this from Amego; great value when purchasing from the US due to no tax and free shipping! I am able to use the code to get to the settings, but cannot figure out how to adjust the top speed from 20 mph to 25. All that I can access is wheel size and battery voltage. Can you assist please?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Mark, I called Amego EV today asking for tips on how to update the speed. It sounds like you can only adjust the speed with the larger center-mount plus display. In that case, you’d hold the + and – key to get into settings and use the code 8018 which would allow you to adjust the speed. Perhaps someone in the ebike forums will be able to help further but this is what I go. Sounds like you’ve got a fun fleet of ebikes there and I hope you do find a solution :)
ReplyKim
5 years agoThis might be a bit late, however you adjust the wheel size down and the bike will then up the speed based on that. I.E. adjust a 27.5inch down to 20.00inch and you add 30% speed as the computer reads a smaller tyre… make sense? The only down side is this throws off the odometre reading so you’ll need to factor in the 30% for closer accuracy.
Asim
5 years agohey Mark, how is the Moscow plus treating you thus far ? Is it a better purchase compared to the Aventon 500?
ReplyJohn - Sydney, Aus
5 years agoJust bought one of these awesome machines! I haven’t been able to take it on a serious ride yet, but on a quick test ride one thing that surprised me was how easy it was to foul the front wheel with toes when turning – is that a regular thing?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHey John! Yeah, I’ve experienced “toe strikes” when riding bikes like this, especially with larger shoes. They’ve gone with the “one size fits all” here but are using fairly large 27.5″ wheels with trail tires, so the clearance between the pedals and the front tire isn’t as much as it might be on a larger frame. This being a cross country frame style, with less rake on the fork, the wheel is fairly close to the frame and it can lead to the situation you’re describing. Yes, it is a regular thing with certain frame sizes and wheel/tire combinations. You might be able to reduce it by pedaling with the pad of your foot vs. the middle or heel.
ReplyJohn Liversage
5 years agoHi again, I’ve been riding the bike a couple of months now and enjoying great battery life and plenty of power (and thankfully the toe strike thing is no real problem). However, there’s is a significant defect in the power system – if you are stationery and adjust the pedals by turning them back even a small amount, occasionally (say 1 in 10 times) the power comes on, possibly at full power. As you can imagine, that’s extremely dangerous – it has once shot my bike onto the road while waiting at lights to cross a busy road, and once into the side of my car while parking the bike in my garage. I’ve reported the issue to the bike shop I bought the bike from (Leon Cycles here in Melbourne, Australia), and although initially they were responsive (even confirming it is a known fault), they have stopped responding, despite my best efforts. I did send a video I’d taken that graphically shows the issue. Even apart from that fault, the power is also very slow to come on when going from downhill (above the speed where power is provided – here in Australia that’s 25KPH) to a steep uphill, taking upwards of 5 seconds to respond (I tested a different e-bike and response was almost instantaneous). On your review ride it was largely flat, so I’m thinking you would not have picked that up. Is that a common issue with other ebikes? Any suggestions?
Mat B
5 years agoA few rectifications:
Hope this will be helpful. This bike is amazing btw, and if you’re commuting, going faster than that would absolutely drain your battery anyway. For exemple, a bike going 50km/h will need to draw 1500W of power and you run continuously for only 40 minutes with a 1000Wh battery. This has been my experience with the Rize Rx, which I decided to resell because of that.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Mat, thanks for the updates! Great point about the freewheel. I didn’t think there were any 11 tooth freewheels and only recently learned more about the distinction between a cassette and freewheel. I really appreciate you sourcing that part! Your second point about not being able to “around” makes sense. Perhaps they did change something from 2018/2019 when I covered the bike. The wheel size hack is something I’ve heard about before, so thanks for explaining that more thoroughly and posting your results for top achievable speed. I’m hoping to cover more RIZE ebikes in the future, so glad to get your insight about why you switched to NCM here. Great comment! Thanks again :)
ReplyMathis Bourcier-Laurin
5 years agoConcerning the link I put in my comment, these appear to be cassettes after all… I might have got this wrong. I’m sending an email to NCM to know more. There doesn’t seam to be any 11-32 freewheels accessible on the market.
Steve
5 years agoHi! Nice review! I am considering the NCM Moscow Plus or Eahora AM100. Can you please make review Eahora AM100 or/and compere Moscow Plus with Eahora AM100! Will be very appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Steve! I’m more familiar with NCM, but I will keep an eye out for the Eahora products and possibly do another review this year. That said, it could be many weeks or months from now. I recommend asking for feedback in the EBR forums in the NCM section here. I hope this helps you compare the two… and the list of specs here on the Moscow Plus review, you can compare them with the specs for the Eahora AM100 based on their website :)
ReplyJohn W.
5 years agoHi, in your video review the topic came up about using the NCM Moscow in snow conditions with regards to how it would hold up in salted roads and in wet conditions.
How do these bikes do in rain and puddles? I can see where you might want to avoid those but sometimes you get caught out on a ride where you have to ride through some conditions like that.
Thanks
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi John, my experience riding in rain has been that most ebike products, even the cheaper ones, are highly water resistant… they should hold up alright in rain, just don’t submerge. One time, I had ridden in a heavy rainstorm in Austin, TX (big heavy drops) and then parked my bike outside in the sun. The LCD fogged up inside because the water somehow got inside due to humidity or splashes or something. That fog stayed for a long time and was annoying. I’ve considered wrapping displays with plastic during extra rainy days. I also never flip an ebike upside-down to wash them (with a hose gently) because the cables and holes and electronics are all designed to drain downwards and if you flip them, water can pile up inside instead of draining. I learned that washing with a hose, some car soap, a rag and chamois is alright, even using car wax on bicycle paint seems to work well and protect any steel parts from rusting as quickly. I usually go for synthetic spray wax that works on metal and plastic, and I just coat everything. Final tip, I also use biodegradable spray cleaner for bicycles more often than car cleaner products before the wax, and I regularly lube my chain but dry it off after vs. leaving it greasy. This reduces the chance of dust and debris sticking to the chain and wearing down your sprockets. Sorry that these tips aren’t formatted perfectly, I’m in a hurry ;)
ReplyJohn W.
5 years agoHi COURT,
Thank you for your reply in answer to my questions. That helps me a lot.
Kipper
4 years agoQuestion for you on the Moscow plus mountain bike. The specs for that bike from Lyon cycle says it has 55 NM and I was reading your review and in it you say it has a NM. Can you tell me the difference between the measurements?
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Kipper, I hope I’m understanding your question correctly. It sounds like you want to know what NM stands for? This is an abbreviation for Newton Meters of torque. It’s a measure of how strong a motor can be, how much force it can create (which is good for starting and climbing). I hope this helps! Many of the stats that I provide here for motor power (watts and newton meters) are provided by companies. There are different ways to measure these things and I suspect that some companies are exaggerating the power of their products. That’s why I try to leave comments open and also show how the bike rides on camera, so people can make their own judgements :)
ReplyDavid
4 years agoWhat I think Kipper was saying is that you list the torque at 80nm… All other specs I’ve seen list it at 55nm
Ron
4 years agoHad the bike for about 6 weeks now and have 600k on the odometer. Overall a solid bike with great range and speed. Have encountered the following problems. The battery gets loose after a while and starts to knock. This can be remedied with some strips of duct tape to act as spacers. I broke a spoke on the rear wheel. When I tried my local bike shop, they said it was an unusual size and ended up having to order one online from Germany. The screws holding the rear brake disc fell out. The seller has promised to send me a new set at no-charge but it’s odd that they all fell out without much warning. No big issues so far, and I am still pleased with the purchase.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHey, thanks for chiming in with these notes about the Moscow Plus. I’m glad that overall, you’re still happy with it. It’s also reassuring to hear that NCM has provided some support and your local bike shop went to such great lengths to help you get a new spoke! Good on them, and thank you for taking the time to share :)
ReplyJohn
4 years agoHi there, I really enjoyed your review. I have a NCM Moscow 27.5″ Plus here in the UK. Leon cycles tell me they no longer provide thumb throttles for the Eurorean market so I guess my questions are can you tell me the details of the throttle so I can source one which is compatible and will I be able to fit it on to my model? Does the cable from the throttle go into the back of the display (there are no spare holes) or does it go directly into the control box somehow. Hope these questions aren’t too technical and that you can help in a small way.
I suppose the alternative would be to buy a bike from North America, but suppliers there seem reluctant to ship to the UK – unless you know of one who does!!?? :) Thanks for your time. John H.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi John! Unfortunately, I do not know where to source the part, and am not 100% sure that I’d know the latest display/throttle interface. Perhaps you could post the same question in the NCM Ebike Forums to see if any recent buyers could help. This throttle is fairly unique and highly sought after by some other companies I’ve spoken with, because it’s narrow – allowing the shifter and brakes to not get pushed too far in towards the stem. I think some other companies use it too, like Magnum on their Mi6 model. I hope this helps point you in the right direction!
ReplyGary
4 years agoHi, sorry, but I didn’t catch your name in the video review, but found it to be one of the best reviews information wise. How tall are you so I can gauge how the 29 will fit? You appeared to be in a comfortable upright position. Did you have enough straddle room at a stop? What’s your inseam if you don’t mind saying?
I prefer a larger bike so I don’t have to lean over so much. I’m 5’9″ and currently ride a large Trek Verve+ with 29 inch wheels which works well.
Thanks,
ReplyGary
Court
4 years agoHi Gary! Sorry for the delayed reply here. I’m 5’9″ as well, and my inseam is about 32 inches. The bike felt good to me and I did have room to straddle the top tube when stopping. I tend to raise the seat way up to get full leg extension, and this bike had enough space for me to achieve that and have comfortable reach. We are lucky because many bikes fit people 5’5″ to 6’1″ or so and we’re right in the middle there :D
ReplyCarsten
4 years agoHi, I just got my Moscow Plus 29″.
I’m 6’2″ 245lbs with 32″ inseam and when I stand straight I’m just touching the cross bar, which I find uncomfortable, and zero chance over ever installing water bottle. I wish I had read more reviews before purchasing, as on site said that the 29″ good for 5’9″ to 6’4″ and 27.5 was 5’5″ to 6’1″. I have read now found a few reviews that say the 29″ is too big even for someone my height
I would suggest that 33″ inseam or less go for the 27.5″
Thanks
Saiveer Aushatty
4 years agoHello I recently brought the Moscow plus e-bike but I am not satisfied with the battery because it is getting discharged quickly and when I take the bike from store the bms was 53. Something when it is fully charged. but now when I am charging in the home it is showing 51. Something and also charging of the battery is also discharging quickly can I know what is the reason??
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Saiveer, perhaps it is colder weather? That could explain why the battery isn’t getting the same range but might not explain the voltage drop. Over time, it is my understanding that any lithium-ion battery will begin to lose capacity (especially if the battery is heating up a lot). Maybe NCM is using cheaper cells or your pack was older? I cannot say for sure, but maybe you could buy a replacement battery someday if it continues to drop in capacity.
ReplyLeanne
4 years agoHi, I love the review and currently considering a NCM. Can you comment on the difference between a Moscow and Moscow Plus? Why would you consider the upgrade?
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Leanne! It has been too long since performing this particular review to know what the current differences are. Usually, it has to do with upgraded brakes, maybe a nicer derailleur, or a higher capacity battery pack. Perhaps you could ask for some input on the NCM ebike forums to see if anyone there has some insights :)
ReplyCéline
4 years agoHi! I’m considering the Moscow Plus. I watched the review, it was awesome! Thanks. It made me want to by it right away, but over in Montreal is not really good timing with the snow, especially if ebikes don’t like salt (quoting yours truly :) )You mentioned the 29 inch is more comfortable than the 27; according to my height 5,6’’ I should get the 27″. Do you think I should get the 29 and I will be able to adjust it to my body dimensions? Also, how fast does the battery recharge?
Thank you!
ReplyCéline
Court
4 years agoHi Céline! Yeah, this is a good ebike. It’s made to be affordable, but still pretty capable, and it’s nice that they offer two wheel sizes. Yes, I agree that the 27″ wheel is a better fit for you at 5’6″ tall. The larger 29″ wheel diameter helps to smooth out bumps, but raises the frame, adds weight, and just isn’t a great fit unless you’re a taller person. I believe that the 27″ will still be very comfortable for you. As for charging, I’d estimate that a full charge could take 5.5 hours. Note that the first half fill goes much faster than the second half, because the charger slows down in order to help the battery balance (which is easier on the cells, helping them to last longer and be in good condition). I hope this helps!!
ReplyCéline
4 years agoThank you for your reply it helps me and reaffirms my choice for this ebike! Can’t wait to order and try it out!
Hamed
4 years agoI just got a Moscow and its terrible in so many aspects! The controller is awful and the wires running all over the frame is a pain! you cannot easily carry the damn thing and finding a rear rack for it is another nightmare! The common racks that attach to seat post and rear part of the frame wouldn’t work and the compatible ones are unavailable and quite pricy! the bike come with absolute no adjustment and the L and H on the derailleur was so off that you couldn’t shift it to Gear 1 or 7 and the rest was entirely unindexed! The whole things is a mess and Leon Cycle did not even post my review! This is why they have so few reviews for each product!
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Hamed, that really sucks. This is why I created EBR and the associated forums, to let people speak more freely (as long as they are constructive and honest). It sounds like you’re frustrated with the bike and it came damaged or just way out of tune. I’m sorry man, yes, the wires on this ebike are also more exposed vs. internally routed. I hope you got a good deal on it, I think with so many brands being sold out recently, people are left with fewer options and the direct online bikes can be risky and get damaged in shipping. NCM has been around longer, and I feel like the founder is a hard working person (who supplied Magnum and Amego) but I haven’t been in touch or reviewed their products for a while now. Hope you can get it running right and enjoy some rides this summer… or sell it and get another ebike.
ReplyHamed
4 years agoHi Court, I really appreciate both the website and youtube videos! They are really helpful! I fixed almost everything but it took me > 3 hours and was a total pain! I got it for < 1500 CAD so it wasn't horrible but anyway I wish I would have been waitng till June/July to get either a Radpower or Rize which both are looking pretty good but are in the back order! Deciding to bike again after twenty something years you'de assume how unfamiliar everything looks like and that is why I want other folks like me know what to expect! Cheers
dennis morgan
3 years agoI purchased a Moscow Plus one month ago and it has not run with any assistance at consistantlly motor keeps cutting and no speedo reading have checked all connections and they are tight we have at least 8 ebikes in our group now . and many different brands this only one doing this. other experienced riders have ridden my bike and the same thing has happened to them no speedo reading no power motor turn on handle bar switch it runs with assistance for about 30 seconds and cuts out again i am now wishing i did not purchase this bike. you can ring them for help and it takes so long for them to get back to you has any one else had this problem with a moscow plus bike
ReplyCourt
3 years agoHi Dennis, that sounds frustrating. Thanks for sharing with us, I hope you are able to find some solutions or maybe sell the Moscow Plus and try another ebike?
ReplyAdrian
3 years agoGot a Moscow Plus and I’m pretty happy with it. The previous owners stating their issues I believe they may have a dud, Mine works well, shifts very smoothly (for the drivetrain in this price range), the pedal assist works well Talking bang for the buck I believe there is nothing that comes close. 16mA batt 500W motor 80Nm torque, hydraulic brakes, decent tires I mean this bike checks all the boxes for a rear hub low cost bikes. Will see down the road for longevity and issues but as it is I would totally recommend this for someone’s first ebike without shelling out big $$ for a mid drive fancier big name bike. As the review already stated the kickstand position is awkward to say the least and the charger could be better, but these are pretty much my only complaints after owning it for approx 1 month,
ReplyCourt
3 years agoThanks for the update, Adrian! Glad to hear that you’re satisfied with the product :)
ReplyRob
2 years agoI bought my Moscow Plus a week ago from a local bike shop in lower mainland of BC. Fully charged the battery (53.7 V reading) and took it out for a total of three rides. Got a total of 135 kms before the last battery gauge bar started to flash. was using PAS 1-2 mainly. The only problem encountered so far is when the front derailleur is in the small sprocket and the rear is also in the small sprocket, the chain would tend to skip. Otherwise a good bike.
ReplyCourt
2 years agoHi Rob! Very fair assessment, thanks for sharing what has worked and what issues you’ve noticed. I covered this model a long time ago, so perhaps things are outdated a bit. Does your bike mostly fit the description and review I made here? It sounds like you’re pretty happy with it overall, I think they are priced well.
ReplyGlenn
2 years agoHi, love the reviews and because yours are far most the best, I purchased the NCM Power Plus and am happy with the bike. Only problems I have had since my purchase I found that the fat tires were rather slippery during the winter riding on city roads and I started to get constant rear flat tires, I had about 3 flats all within 2 months after purchase, I took it into the shop and the bike mechanic could not find anything wrong, so I made the decision to change tires from the original Schwalbe 57-662 to 55-662 and 1,766 km later still no flat tires and mystery was never solved.
The other issue I have that the Leon website key features state – reach up to 150 km (depending on terrain conditions & power level settings) OK well I thought that this seems a little of an over statement, so was hoping for at least 100km range on a full battery but I don’t even get close so I would love to know how this 150km range is achieved – I am 5’11” and weigh 91kg. I usually bike on good flat city roads and the occasional flat fine gravel cycle path using PAS #3 and 18th gear traveling about 23-25 km/h (21 m/hr) and I am lucky to get 65km (40 miles) range before the flashing cell appears on the screen, so if anyone or yourself can tell me what I am doing wrong and how I can achieve more km range without have to weigh in at 60kg I would be very grateful, as at this stage I feel that the 150km statement made by Leon Cycles is a little misleading. Other changers I have made on my bike are just some short plastic guards and a more comfortable seat.
Cheers Glenn
ReplyCourt
2 years agoHi Glenn! I’m glad to hear that your new tires are working better. Regarding the range estimates from NCM, most companies I speak with use a 72kg (160lb) rider on flat pavement with no wind using both the low assist and high assist to estimate a range. Since you are riding with PAS #3 I would expect your actual range to fall somewhere between their estimate. The higher the assist, the lower the tire pressure, the less smooth the terrain, and the more throttle is used will all reduce your range. Another way range is sometimes calculated is to divide the watt hours of the battery pack by 20 so that would be 768 / 20 = 38.4 minimum range. It sounds like you are getting close to that number (you said 40 miles). Over time, battery cells may not provide the same high capacity as they are power cycled, and the parts of the bike could become dirty and less smooth. A tuneup could help increase range. This ebike also uses a cadence sensor, which doesn’t require much pedal input from the rider, so the motor usually works harder than a torque sensor. These are all of my thoughts, I hope they help you :)
Replychris
1 year agobikes crap…. my throttle has already broken the display screen has frozen and won’t let me change pedal assistance settings….. complete angler Gosnells is where i brought it from they scammed me and put 1.95 inch tubes when its supposed to have 3 inch wide tubes…. disappointing
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