EMotorad EMX+ Electric Cycle Review: Can It Be Your Everyday Commuter?

Words: Sahil Sheikh Siddiqui

Photos: Vikrant Date

I have had four different cycles in my childhood, but all my cycles were single-speed. So it was only after joining ZigWheels that I got my hands on a “gear wali cycle.” And the cherry on top is that the EMotorad EMX+ is not only a geared cycle but electric too. Finally, a cycle which could satisfy my unfulfilled childhood dream!

What Is It?

The EMX+ is the flagship electric pedal-assisted cycle from Indian e-cycle maker EMotorad, and comes with a mountain bike-style frame and Kenda all-terrain tyres. The cycle is built on an aluminium frame but still weighs around 21kg – which is still quite a lot – because of the heavy battery. It has a 250W hub-mounted motor paired with a removable IPX5-rated 13Ah lithium-ion battery, which can be charged at your home or office like any other electronic device. With its top speed restricted to 25kmph, it doesn’t require a licence to ride. The cycle can either be ridden in one of the five available levels of pedal assist, entirely with the throttle or you can just ride it around as a normal geared cycle as it also has a 21-speed gearbox, with 3 front and 7 rear Shimano Altus gears.

The EMX+ features a small digital display with a speedometer, odometer, pedal assist level and battery level indicators along with other details, it also has a USB charger, placed on the bottom of the display. EMotorrad claims a range of over 80km with the pedal assist and about 60km on the throttle. And we got about 50km of range, with mixed riding on level 3 pedal assist and throttle, which is quite decent for an e-cycle. Moreover, the 21-speed Shimano gearbox also helps you reach home (with relatively less effort) in case you fully drain the battery.

How Is The Riding Experience?

The EMotorad EMX+ looks pretty sporty, especially in this neon and black colour. It attracts a lot of attention on the road, and multiple people even asked me about it after I parked it. I used the e-cycle for a couple of weeks, mostly for running errands and daily office commutes as I live just 2.5km from the office. However, I took the cycle a couple of times on leisurely rides too.

The EMX+ gets 2 different keys: one locks/unlocks the battery and the other works as an ignition key. In addition, you will need to carry a cycle lock to secure it wherever you park. Starting the bike requires you to turn on the ignition key and battery switch, and press the power button for about three seconds. 

The switchgear and gear levers are of good quality and the rubber grips on the brake levers feel premium. The padded seat feels comfortable even on comparatively long rides. The cycle also has a horn which is integrated into the headlight housing, and while it may not be audible to car drivers, it is quite useful when honking at pedestrians and bikers. The LED headlight has a good throw and helps a lot while cycling at night.

Using The EMotorad EMX+ Everyday In The City

The motor feels powerful while riding on the city streets and reaches 25kmph very quickly. The pedal assist actively helps whenever you need it. As mentioned, the bike has five levels of pedal assist, and while changing between the first three levels might not feel very different, the difference between the first and fifth levels is noticeable in the amount of assist offered. The assist senses the pedal rotation, and kicks in with sufficient power when it senses the slowing of the pedals to ease the ride. Moreover, when you stop pedalling  and want to slow down, it senses that too and stops the electric assist. But the pedal assist takes half-a-second to register the pedal movement, both when kicking in and fading out. 

When on pedal assist, I used the cycle mostly on the lowest front and highest rear ratio. And despite it being the hardest gear setting, it felt very easy with pedal assist. I mostly used the pedal assist on level 3, in which I was able to reach the highest speed of 35kmph, and with the level 5 assist the speedo even reached 46kmph! I also tested out the gear mode which worked quite well on the EMX+. However, it is important to learn to use the correct gears based on the road (flat/incline/decline) and terrain type. 

Riding entirely on the throttle, the EMX+ even touches 28kmph sometimes when going down on a decline, with my weight of 50kg. However, when it reaches the top speed, the motor instantly cuts power which only comes back on when the cycle slows down. The motor's power usually kicks back in at around 21-22kmph within 4-6 seconds, but there are times when it not only returns at 18kmph, but also takes longer to re-engage. This can be disappointing, especially when you are on the throttle, as the unresponsive motor can lead to sketchy situations in the middle of the traffic.

The EMX+ has disc brakes on both ends, which work efficiently. The rear wheel slides out when you brake hard but the front brake ensures reliable stopping power when and where needed.

How Does It Perform Off-Road?

My leisure rides with the electric cycle included riding it off-road too. I rode it to the nearby hill a couple of times, and the e-cycle was impressive there as well. The fork absorbs bumps and undulations efficiently, and the monoshock also works nicely. It even rides over small rocks effortlessly. If you know how to control the sliding rear wheel then you will definitely enjoy riding the EMX+ off-road.

Verdict

EMotorad is providing a discount of Rs 10,000, on its actual price of Rs 74,999. But even at 64,999, the EMX+ is a bit pricier than the other electric cycles in the market, but it also provides more features than most of its rivals. Whether we talk about looks, range, or power, the EMX+ shines as an impressive electric cycle in all these categories. The pedal assist works super smooth and riding on the throttle is also enjoyable. 

With such a good range, it generally doesn't get discharged easily on the city runs. However, if the cycle runs out of charge, you can cycle in your preferred gear to reach home and charge it again. That means, if you live near your workplace, then this cycle can easily handle your daily commutes and grocery runs. So if you are looking for a reliable electric cycle to accompany you on your daily commute, then the EMotorad EMX+ is a good option for you.