Engwe Mapfour N1 Pro e-bike evaluate: the brand new ‘premium’

Europe has an electrical bike drawback. Direct-to-consumer e-bikes from cheap Chinese manufacturers like Engwe and numerous others might be simply bought on-line regardless of overtly flouting EU restrictions. They characteristic throttles and highly effective motors that may be simply unlocked to far exceed the 25km/h (16mph) authorized velocity restrict — no pedaling required.

Here in Amsterdam, low cost Super73-knockoffs ridden at virtually twice the authorized velocity have made the town’s famend bicycle lanes more and more chaotic and harmful. Across the Netherlands, over 10,000 of those electrical “fats bikes” have been seized in 2024.

Engwe’s new Mapfour lineup is the corporate’s try at going legit by increasing from souped-up electrical fats bikes and foldables into “premium commuter” e-bikes. And as a result of they’re the primary e-bikes that Engwe has designed solely for European roads, the corporate swears they will’t be unlocked for extra velocity.

I’ve been driving the brand new Mapfour N1 Pro mannequin for the previous few weeks. It lists for €1,899 (virtually $2,000), or €1,799 throughout the preliminary launch — a value that brings heightened expectations.

The N1 Pro is slathered in premium capabilities like Global Positioning System/GSM monitoring for which some bike makers cost subscriptions. The monocoque body and fork are comprised of carbon fiber provided by Toray — “the identical high-quality carbon fiber as Trek and Specialized,” claims Engwe. There’s even turn-by-turn navigation constructed into the full-featured app, a big colourful show built-in into the handlebars, and a built-in mechanical lock within the rear wheel hub that routinely engages when the bike is turned off and stationary.

My evaluate bike was lacking a fender bolt, often flashed a wierd error code, and the solar-powered rear gentle received’t activate. Still, it’s doubtless the very best high quality electrical bike Engwe has ever made.

I’ve plenty of expertise with assembling direct-to-consumer e-bikes and the N1 Pro was able to experience in about an hour, which is typical. Even with a carbon-fiber body it weighs 20.1kg (44lbs) totally assembled in line with my scale, which is heavy for an e-bike — simply not Veloretti-heavy.

In the field you’ll discover a fundamental toolset that features all the pieces wanted for meeting and directions written in stellar English in contrast to some earlier Engwe tutorials I’ve learn. I needed to assemble the pedals, entrance wheel, kickstand, handlebar, and fenders, and fish out a alternative fender bolt from some spare bicycle components I had mendacity round. I then went to regulate the saddle to my peak solely to find that I used to be too tall for the N1 Pro.

The saddle stem has a marked security line that stops properly earlier than the peak wanted for my 6 foot (183cm) body, regardless of being offered within the Netherlands the place I’m thought-about a brief king. Nevertheless, exceeding the road by about 2.5cm (one inch) hasn’t made the saddle really feel insecure, even when driving over tough cobblestones. Engwe claims the N1 Pro helps riders from 165–190cm, and is contemplating providing the choice for an extended saddle stem at checkout based mostly upon my suggestions.

The N1 Pro’s geometry places the rider into what’s primarily a mountain bike stance: a average ahead lean with arms unfold vast out in entrance of the physique. That wrist and physique angle mixed with a fairly stiff saddle are usually not perfect for driving lengthy distances, particularly together with a backpack that’ll put much more weight on the arms and derrière. I do like that enjoyable, sporty posture over brief distances, however for those who’re in search of a extra relaxed experience then Engwe has the upright €1,399 MapFour N1 Air accessible in each step-over and step-through frames.

The 250W mid-drive Ananda motor on the N1 Pro is sort of silent underneath the din of highway noise, and the built-in torque sensor gives an intuitive pedal-assist in any respect speeds. It produces as much as 80Nm of torque that lets me simply begin from a lifeless cease in fourth gear (of seven) on flat roads, however testing on a hill with a gradient of about 15 p.c required a begin from first gear. Typically, I solely wanted to shift to a excessive gear after I wished to make use of my leg energy to propel the bike at speeds above the 25km/h motor cutoff.

Despite claiming a spread of as much as 100km from its modest 360Wh battery, my first take a look at carried out over a number of weeks yielded simply 23km off a full cost in near-freezing situations. I often rode in energy setting three of 5 on principally flat roads. The second take a look at carried out on a single hotter day improved the vary to 27km with 28 p.c cost remaining — or an estimated 36km if I had time to run the battery dry for a under common 10Wh consumed per kilometer travelled. The bike battery appears to undergo from idle battery drain of about 1-2 p.c per day when parked inside my home.

Worrisome for a “premium” e-bike: on two events I noticed an “09” error message flash on the show which Engwe remains to be diagnosing. Once, whereas beginning the bike after it had been sitting outdoors within the rain for a number of hours. Another time after driving dwelling on a rain-soaked avenue whereas switching between the N1 Pro’s common and high-beam lights. In the primary case, a easy reboot cleared it and I used to be capable of experience away superb, however the different time required driving dwelling underneath my very own energy earlier than it inexplicably cleared the subsequent morning.

There was a time when premium e-bikes had record costs round €2,000 / $2,000. Those days are as gone because the free enterprise capital propping up e-bike startups, pushing premium costs as much as a beginning value nearer to €3,000 / $3,000. The Engwe N1 Pro is subsequently priced about proper. It’s not a nasty e-bike, however it’s additionally not nice regardless of checking off plenty of options on a advertising and marketing sheet.

Just keep in mind, servicing a direct-to-consumer e-bike generally is a drawback because it requires the prepared availability of spare components and the information to exchange them. As with any electrical bike uncovered to the weather and common highway use, the N1 Pro’s motor and any proprietary electronics just like the controller, show, battery, lights, buttons, and built-in lock will finally want servicing. So you’d higher be on very good phrases together with your native bike store or be helpful with a wrench and oscilloscope to stop your mail-order e-bike from rapidly turning into e-waste.

Photography by Thomas Ricker / The Verge