An “affordable Super73 alternative” is how Shenzhen-based Engwe markets its new M20 e-bike. True to its word, the M20 mimics the design of trendy California café his racers, flouts European e-bike laws, liberally uses zip ties, and is less than half priced at $1,149.99 / €1,149. But the M20 also has options for his second headlight and his second battery. innovation!
The e-bike in my review — equipped with a twist throttle and reporting a top speed of about 45 km/h (28 mph) from a 750W (1000W peak) rear hub motor — is a Class 3 e-bike in the U.S. A bike, but it goes far beyond the legal specs that the EU allows for regular e-bikes. Nevertheless, it arrived at my home in Amsterdam without any questions from the importer.
You see, from time to time I like to live on the edge and test random mail-order e-bike brands to see how the low end of the market evolves. Last time I did this, electric bikes were recalled due to the non-zero risk of breaking in half.
So the hurdle for Engwe, a brand that stylizes its name with the “EnGUIE” wordmark, is pretty low. Because I quickly realized that attention to detail wasn’t his M20’s strong point.
Despite the Super73’s pricey and unsophisticated e-bike, typically spending $2,000 or more is a sleek one with features like wireless software updates, cables hidden inside the frame, top-of-the-line components and a neat battery. You can get your own e-bike. It is integrated into the overall design and is not bolted down like an electrochemical afterbirth.
Things change dramatically when the price drops to $1,000.This is cheap for an e-bike, but still 1 ton of money for many people. In that price range you usually get basic components that you’ll have to fix yourself if inevitably something goes wrong. can often be serviced in their own stores or through partnerships with local bike shops.
So let’s start this review by looking at Engwe’s warranty. 1 month for basic parts such as tires, 12 months for batteries, motors, electronics, etc. The company operates his two support phone numbers, one for the US and one for Europe. “If a customer discovers non-human damage within the warranty period, we will send replacement parts free of charge,” he wrote.
Shipping to the US, UK and Europe is free, but for US orders I found the following fine print. “Note: He has two types of seats, and the different seats are shipped randomly.” It’s fun.
It took me over an hour to unbox and assemble the M20. It took longer than any of the dozen e-bikes I’ve built so far. With the optional second battery installed, you’ll have to remove the seat (why are the rear bolts so long!?), attach the mounts (easily!), reconfigure the wiring (confusing!), and that It took another hour and fifteen minutes on time. The packaging was adequate to protect the M20 during transport (good!) but the material used was excessive and brutal for its application (bad !). The bundled documentation was a pain to parse, and the included toolkit wasn’t up to the task (sigh).
Assembling the headlights also took too long, and the metal-on-metal mounts are still rickety and will definitely rust in the future. You’ll want to.) It takes two wrenches to adjust the angle of the lights, and after a few weeks of riding I’ve already had to reposition them. The low beams for each light are always on (which I think is a good safety thing), but pressing the assigned button turns on the “bright”. Still, the M20’s light isn’t as bright as the modern bike lights that take up his fifth of the space. The integrated brake/running lights are a nice touch.
Riding the M20 feels stable thanks to its 4-inch wide, 20-inch knobby tires. Engwe says this frame will fit riders who are 6 feet 8 inches tall, but good luck if you have to pedal. I’m 6 feet tall, but compared to the Super73-ZX I reviewed last summer, pedaling still feels awkward, even when sitting all the way back in the seat. Also, unlike the ZX, the M20 can only hold one person, which makes it less fun for those who want to bring a friend.
The power delivered by the M20’s Pedal Assist is delayed and can kick in in high power modes. It also kept the bike moving forward longer than expected after I stopped pedaling, causing panic braking a few times.His entry-level 7-speed Shimano Tourney derailleur shifted just fine, but barely used it. I did. Most of the time I stepped on the accelerator and ran, using the pedals as foot pegs until I met the police.
Wuxel levers and Filel brakes are not suitable for an 89lb (41kg) e-bike with a top speed of 42km/h (26mph) in my testing. The M20’s mechanical brakes are overly grabby and far inferior to the smooth, controlled stops offered by more expensive hydraulic brakes. Also, given the M20’s top speed, the electric horn isn’t loud enough to give a good warning.
The handlebar-mounted LCD display is basic, but works well. Engwe doesn’t offer an app yet, but you can put the bike into custom settings mode by pressing the +/- display buttons simultaneously. That way, someone like a parent can lower her out-of-the-box speed of 45 km/h on the e-bike. He can also configure the M20 to require a passcode to power up the bike, change voltage, current, wheel diameter, and more. (Resizing wheels, while legal on paper, is a common trick the industry uses to allow e-bikes to exceed local speed limits.)
1/16
Relatively cold (average 40F / 5C) flat road conditions with one 48V 13Ah (624Wh) battery installed. Engwe says the M20 has a maximum range of 47 miles (75 km) on a single battery, which is possible when driving in warm conditions with only pedal assistance and in lowest power mode. There is a nature. With the included charger, the battery will be charged in about 5 hours.
The M20 can be fitted with a second 624Wh battery to extend its range. This also brings the price to him $1,449.99/€1,449. Engwe does not intelligently manage power when both batteries are on. E-bikes have more electrical “pressure” at higher voltages, so they will either deplete a full battery first, or discharge both at the same time if the charge/voltage levels are equal. However, you can always control the flow by turning off the battery you want to save. Each battery also comes with a pair of keys to secure it to the frame.
The Engwe M20 is not a bad e-bike. A good e-bike and even better for the low price of $1,149.99 / €1,149. If cost is paramount and you’re just looking to buy a fun two wheeler for play or the occasional errand, this is a good option. You may still have money left over compared to the purchase price of Super73. But if you want a reliable e-bike for use as an everyday rider, you should ask yourself what saving money now will cost you in the future.
All photos by Thomas Ricker/The Verge
