Having a travel blog and writing a weekly travel column, Beyer's Byways for USA Network, folks sometimes ask us to visit a certain place to experience what travelers may experience, or offer us a product to review (not buy or given) that may make certain types of travel a little easier.
One such thing was the new ENGWE L20 2.0 peddle assist electric utility Ebike - John agreed to put it to through some tests and then review it.
Again, in all transparency, we do not receive any remunerations from ENGWE and just agreed to review their new mode of transportation.
And here is that review.
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| ENGWE L20 2.0 |
When receiving anything via land delivery, the first concern is how the item was packaged by the manufacturer, especially if assembly is required. Thus with the receipt of the new ENGWE L20 2.0 peddle assist electric utility Ebike, it was comforting to see how well-secured every aspect of the bike, in the carton. Styrofoam surrounded all essential parts with all parts were wrapped tightly with plastic bands and cardboard boxes – there have been times in the past when we have had to return parcels due to incorrect packing techniques which quickly sours a buyer on the purchase.
With the easy-to-read instructions and all tools needed supplied by ENGWE, the actual time from removing the bike to full assemblage is less than 45 minutes. And one of the unexpected features on this specific Ebike, was that a handle is placed on top of the battery pack below the seat post. With any foldable Ebike, and with the weight of the L20 2.0 hovering at nearly 69 pounds, this handle made if far easier to hoist the Ebike into the rear of an SUV.
I was interested in trying out this new Ebike on the road and knew with its 750W motor (peak delivery at an estimated 1125w) it should be fast enough to serve any cyclist’s needs. Also, with the adjustable front suspension forks, the ride can be adjusted for most terrain and for the comfort of each individual rider’s weight.
The range for the L20 2.0 is stated at 80 miles in peddle-assist mode but this would probably be under a perfectly paved flat land with a rider not tipping the scales too high. This range though would be suitable for the majority of people who desire an Ebike with a distance which would carry them around town, off-road adventures, or simply cruising down a beach boardwalk.
There are two metal racks on the L20 2.0 – one over the rear fender and one over the front fender allowing this utility bike to be just that, an all-around Ebike for grocery shopping, or packing items for a day’s outing.
Living in a rural community in the Southern California desert, I took this Ebike through some pretty challenging roads, paths, and steep sandy terrain. Impressive was the quick electric assist when needed as I peddled through a rather deep dry sand wash – in fact, I stopped peddling and allowed the electric motor do the job of getting through the deep inches of fine, silty ground. With the throttle located strategically on the right handle, adjusting the speed was simply accomplished by a slight turn of the wrist. Also, with the large knobby fat tires the L20 2.0 had no issue accomplishing the feat and soon a harder packed road was found. A few days after a rare heavy rain, the path was marked by multiple deep hardened ruts, but the front suspension seemed to handle it well with just a slight pounding which would be expected from such a surface, no matter the mode of transportation involved.
On a relatively flat asphalt roadway the Ebike ride was comfortable, especially with the wide, fully adjustable ergonomic cushioned seat, front suspension and fat tires. Shifting gears was smooth with a flick of the left thumb and I did not notice any hesitation from one gear either shifting from low to high or high to low. With the standard Disc brake system, the stopping distance was clean, straight, and quick. With the peddle assist and geared up, the L20 2.0 matched the 28 mph that is advertised.
The easy-to-read 2 ½ by 3 ½ LCD display allowed me to visualize the speed, distance traveled, and battery level at a quick glance.
One small negative was the placement of the headlight which is attached to the front rack. This would take some getting used to when turning in the dark with the light not focused where the front wheel was turning.
Overall, the new ENGWE L20 2.0 seemed a well-constructed, sturdy peddle-assisted electric utility bike for the average rider. And with many electric bikes tipping the scales in the thousands of dollars, the starting price of $799.00 puts this Ebike as a very reasonable choice for the consumer.
Again, we are not promoting ENGWE but just wanted to post the review.
For more information: https://engwe-bikes.com/products/l20-2-0
