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Increasing competitors within the e-bike market has pushed costs down considerably, however it’s nonetheless troublesome to seek out high quality choices for lower than $2,000. At $1,449, the Engwe Engine Professional shines within the finances class.
I rode this bike as my on a regular basis about-town commuter for six wintry weeks, and regardless of a number of workable flaws, it impressed at each battery-boosted flip.
In brief: Engwe’s Engine Professional is nearly as good because it will get for an e-bike beneath $1,500. The brushless rear hub motor is responsive and zippy. Although not the best high quality, the entrance and rear suspensions had been soft sufficient to soak up impression and vibration on gravel paths and pothole-laden metropolis streets.
At 83 kilos, it’s an absolute heifer — however the collapsible body and handlebar riser offered some portability. All folded up, the Engine Professional match into the again of a small hatchback with out trouble.
Engwe Engine Professional E-Bike Assessment
Meeting and “All-Terrain” Claims
Engwe manufactures e-bikes out of Shenzen, China. Although it shipped partially assembled, it took about an hour to liberate it from its field and make it ridable. The setup was easy, although most people will encounter minor trial-and-error frustration.
The Engine Professional is billed as an “all-terrain” e-bike. It dealt with modest roughage however don’t purchase it if you happen to’re purchasing for an e-MTB.
The unbranded entrance shocks supply about 2.5 inches of journey. They had been higher than nothing, however I often bottomed out on excessive curbs and pace bumps. Within the rear, an HLT-100 shock with a single inch of journey is mounted vertically straight under the seat. Mixed with the bike’s 4-inch extensive tires, the suspension system offered a easy experience on graded surfaces.
I examined the Engine Professional in Wyoming, the place November storms reworked the roads right into a sea of icy bumps. I deflated the tires to 18 psi from the beneficial 20, and the bike was comfy to experience throughout the total spectrum of city terrain.
For thorough testing, I rode the Engine Professional down a number of stretches of steep, rocky single monitor. I maintained management at low speeds because of the squeaky-yet-responsive hydraulic disc brakes. At larger speeds, it was troublesome to maneuver the 83-pound Engine Professional on technical trails. The slim handlebars, solely 22 inches end-to-end, restricted maneuverability when the going acquired powerful. Moreover, the rugged terrain introduced out a symphony of squeaks and groans from the bike’s seat, fenders, and drivetrain.
Stick with the pavement, gravel, and delicate filth on the Engine Professional. It’s in the end a commuter bike with suspension.
Equipment Included
Most important equipment are included with the Engine Professional. Entrance and taillights got here semi-installed, they usually had been simply shiny sufficient for infrequent metropolis commutes. Frequent midnight riders will want extra lights, particularly within the rear, the place the inventory taillight was first rate at finest. It brightened whereas braking, which was a pleasant security function, however in the end it was beneath par. The only-bulb headlight got here on routinely in low gentle, and it was simple to activate and off by way of the cockpit controls.
Different equipment embrace a sturdy kickstand (which required minor adjustment), entrance and rear fenders, and a heavy-duty rear storage rack. I mounted a regular milk crate onto this rack as an affordable cargo service, and it labored like a appeal for grocery runs and journeys to the submit workplace. The Engine Professional’s whole weight capability is 300 kilos, so a baby seat (and passenger) can also be attainable.
Engwe’s e-bike fleet consists of six distinctive fashions. The Engine Professional is likely one of the top-tier choices, although all the vary shares related aesthetics and plenty of core elements. For $100 much less, Engwe’s Engine X is much like the Engine Professional, with a barely much less highly effective motor, non-LCD show, and a distinct throttle mechanism.
Electronics, Motor, and Specs
For the spec nerds, the Engine Professional’s battery possesses 16 Ah {of electrical} cost, which allows the rear hub motor to ship as much as 1,000W of energy at any given time. Engwe used to promote the Engine Professional at 750W, however now it claims 1,000W at its peak — though the precise elements haven’t modified. Based on the show, I often pulled greater than 750W whereas driving, however I maxed out at round 900W. In comparison with different similarly-priced e-bikes in the marketplace, the Engine Professional’s on-paper stats are aggressive. The ensuing efficiency was at the very least nearly as good because the specs recommend.
Upon assembling the Engine Professional, I eliminated the battery from the foldable body and charged it from 55% to 100% in about 4 hours. Charging the battery didn’t require elimination from the body, however it was good to have the choice. The included charging cable has a built-in fan to stop overheating, and it makes a mildly annoying buzzing noise.
Engwe claims that the Engine Professional will get 75 miles per cost in pedal help mode. In the end, each e-bike’s vary fluctuates relying on the way it’s used.
The Engine Professional affords three modes: Eco, Regular, and Sport. Once more, these are pretty customary choices for e-bikes. Every mode consists of ranges 0-5. Whereas driving on 0 in any mode, the Engine Professional labored like a pedal bike. Arrow-shaped toggles shifted between ranges. Beginning in stage 1, a delicate pedal help is turned on routinely.
I rode the Engine Professional on largely flat metropolis streets, primarily at an off-the-cuff pedal-assisted tempo. I tended to hang around in sport mode on ranges 2 and three, which was a protected but environment friendly combo.
My first full cost lasted 40 miles unfold out over three weeks. On my second full cost, I tried to pedal continuously and make the most of much less help from the battery. I rode 55 miles earlier than the battery absolutely depleted. As soon as the displayed battery share dropped under 10%, there was a noticeable drop in efficiency. Pedal-assist mode nonetheless labored when the cost was low, however energy ranges 4 and 5 started to really feel like ranges 1 and a couple of.
I examined the Engine Professional throughout winter in Wyoming, and the constantly freezing air hindered the bike’s efficiency. Lithium batteries are notoriously susceptible to the chilly. On one bitter 12-degree Fahrenheit experience, the battery share stage dropped from 100% to 0% in only one mile. The Engine Professional’s performance plummets in sub-30 F temps based mostly on my testing. In the event you plan on commuting or wish to experience in winter, make sure you issue this in.
All informed, this bike had a good vary. The Engine Professional had a reliable set {of electrical} elements for short-trip commuters keen to pedal actively.
I used to be impressed by the spokeless 20-inch wheels, which simply rolled over tree roots and offset sidewalk panels. They had been additionally sufficiently small for smart portability— bigger wheels would have been a trouble to suit right into a automotive. The hydraulic Larsen disc brakes had been responsive. I appreciated that Engwe outfitted such a heavy bike with an appropriate braking system. The eight-speed Shimano transmission shifted easily, even when caked in mud and ice. A USB port is integrated into the cockpit for telephone charging on the go.
The Engine Professional has exterior braking and electrical cables. It’s unreasonable to anticipate internally routed cables on a $1,500 e-bike, however the girthy bundle that runs alongside the body and handlebar riser was a hazard and eyesore. I used to be involved that the floppy uncovered cables may catch on one thing whereas driving, so I used zip ties to streamline them.
Show Particulars, Throttle, and Pedal-Help Modes
The cockpit display shows battery life as a share. This was a useful function, however it was additionally erratic and unreliable. As soon as, the show all of the sudden dipped from 90% to 18% whereas climbing a steep hill. After I crested the hill and returned to stage floor, it shot again as much as 75%. When the battery is absolutely charged, the show will learn 100% for 4-5 miles, though 5 miles is about 10% of the bike’s precise vary. The displayed share was an okay reference level, however it was removed from an correct studying.
The display was simple to see in all gentle situations and user-friendly. There’s a button to alter modes and up and down arrows to regulate ranges. The digital horn made an terrible noise and wasn’t very loud, however it was simple to entry and labored every time I wanted it.
In all modes and settings, the pedal help took about one second to kick in, and it continued for about 2 seconds after I ended pedaling. At first, the ability supply felt abrupt and jarring, particularly in larger settings. After a number of rides, although, it started to really feel pure. It’s attainable to regulate the pedal help supply charge, however I didn’t really feel it was needed.
Whereas climbing hills with a grade of 10% or extra, I needed to ramp as much as Sport mode stage 4 to keep away from breaking a sweat. Stage 5 supplied extra energy and acceleration than I wanted whereas touring in busy city areas, however it was useful on comparatively straight bike paths and wide-open bike lanes.
Eco mode was mild at each stage and was solely my go-to choice whereas attempting to save lots of battery energy. The distinction between Eco, Regular, and Sport was solely noticeable within the larger ranges of three, 4, and 5. Sport mode’s stage 5 felt like a moped — primarily after I used the throttle with out pedaling. On a protracted flat stretch, I accelerated from zero to 25 mph in simply over 6 seconds and managed to hit 30 for a fleeting immediate. The Engine Professional was fairly peppy for an unassuming folding bike.
We’re used to right-handed throttles within the U.S., so the Engine Professional’s lefty thumb throttle required a psychological adjustment. The high-speed throttle-only choice of the Engine Professional makes it a category 3 e-bike, which limits its legality in sure areas. Whereas its marketed high pace of 24 mph isn’t the quickest in the marketplace, it was ample for sensible functions.
Ramping as much as Sport stage 5 and laying onto the throttle was a thrill, however it additionally depleted the battery at lightning pace. Based on the show, one full minute of throttled cruising in Sport stage 5 decreased the battery from 70% to 29%. Extreme throttling on the Engine Professional may lead to a irritating, human-powered experience residence. The Engine Professional isn’t a moped, even when it felt like one briefly moments of glory.
Doable Upgrades and Regenerative Charging
I examined the Engine Professional in November and December and pushed its on-snow functionality to the restrict. Because of the 4-inch-wide tires, I felt safe totally on shallow slush and snow-dusted asphalt whereas driving fastidiously. Regardless of the tire’s beneficiant floor space, the tread is scattered and comparatively shallow. I slid all over in deep snow and dirt with little management. The steel folding pedals don’t have any texture and turn out to be slick when moist. It could want numerous upgrades to remodel the Engine Professional into a correct snow-ready all-terrain fats bike.
Like many different EVs, the Engine Professional has regenerative charging expertise. Underneath particular situations, it’s attainable to ship energy again into the battery and enhance its whole vary. In my expertise, this function was extra of a advertising and marketing ploy than a sensible actuality, although it did technically work.
To activate the regenerative system, I needed to pedal vigorously in pedal help modes 0 or 1. When the regeneration kicked in, the show confirmed how a lot wattage I used to be delivering again to the battery. When pedaling as onerous as attainable whereas driving downhill in Eco mode 0, I managed to enter as much as 400W to the battery briefly intervals.
It was troublesome to know the way a lot I truly recharged the battery, primarily as a result of the displayed battery share fluctuated up and down. Whereas commuting on primarily flat terrain, I not often activated regeneration. People who stay in hilly areas would possible get extra out of this doubtlessly worthwhile function.
Engwe Engine Professional: Conclusions
For folk searching for an on a regular basis e-bike for brief commutes, the Engwe Engine Professional is a superb worth. It’s a category 3 mannequin — you don’t must pedal to experience this bike. Nonetheless, it carried out finest when the motor was mixed with good outdated human pedal energy. It by no means hit the marketed 75-mile vary, however I managed a good 55 miles on a single cost whereas driving in numerous pedal-assisted modes.
The Engwe Engine Professional just isn’t a high-end e-bike however is an efficient choice for beneath $1,500. It fell in need of Engwe’s all-terrain claims, however with a number of improved elements, its utility could possibly be vastly improved for beneath $2,000 spent.
A wider set of handlebars, superior lights, studded pedals, deeper tread tires, and a winterized battery would take the Engine Professional to the following stage.
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