Engwe’s MapFour range of e-bikes are aimed at commuters helping getting you across the city faster and with more ease. The N1 Air is built to be lightweight, durable, has an antitheft system and built to take on the city. At Electroheads we have reviewed a lot of city commuter e-bikes so keep reading to see what this one has to offer and what we thought...
Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price: £1,899.00 / €1,899.00
Good for:
- Hybrid cycling (those who want to ride with and without electric assistance)
- City commuting
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Rapid motor response
- GPS tracking
Cons:
- Clunky app
Expert verdict:
Our expert reviewer Eilis has been reviewing e-mobility for six years and has reviewed hundreds of e-bikes in that time! She took the Engwe MapFour N1 Air out in London so if you want to find out more about this bike and what she thought then you can watch her full video review:
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Specs:
|
Frame |
Carbon fiber: ‘classic’ or step through. |
|
Max Load |
120kg |
|
Weight |
Classic: 15.6 kg / ST: 16.4kg |
|
Motor |
250W MIVICE M070 Rear Hub Motor |
|
Battery: |
36V 10Ah SAMSUNG Removable Battery |
|
Charge Time: |
5-8 hours |
|
Max Speed: |
15.5mph / 25km/h in EU |
|
Gears: |
7-speed Shimano |
|
Range: |
Up to 100km / 62miles |
|
Wheels: |
700 x 38C |
|
Brakes: |
160mm Front & Rear Mechanical Disc Brakes |
|
Waterproofing: |
IPX5 |
|
Display: |
LCD colour display |
|
Mudguards: |
Yes |
|
Lights: |
Integrated front light, rear reflector |
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Components and build quality:
The Air is available in two designs: step through and step over. The frame is an all in one carbon fibre piece which only weighs 1.28kg which is equivalent to TWO ipad airs! Carbon fiber can often mean a hike up in price so a common question is whether it is worth it. Being lightweight can help you get off at the line, improve your acceleration and even climbing ability because the lighter the bike, the less work you’ll need to do. Also if you live up flights of stairs and need to take your bike with you, this could be a huge help in the long run. Carbon fibre also absorbs vibrations better due to its unique structure.
The bike with the battery weighs in at a lightweight 15.6kg and comes with a 250w motor that can punch out 35nm torque. In line with EU regulations - this bike will assist you up to 15.5mph and comes with a chain drive with seven gears to help you tackle those hills which I’ll be testing shortly. The claimed range from Engwe is up to 62 miles on one charge (keep reading for our real world range results!).
If you are looking for something a little more powerful then the MapFour N1 is also available in Engwe’s ‘Pro’ model. This comes with a mid-drive motor and shock absorption, allowing you to tackle more rugged terrain with ease.
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Performance and handling:
The lightweight nature of this bike really does make it a dream to ride and really feels like you are getting the maximum power out of the motor as it has to put in less work just to move the bike. The motor and the torque sensor have a rapid response time so you can get off from the lights quickly and feel the power through your foot as soon as you press down on the pedal.
It performed really well on our hill test! I found that while putting minimal effort out through my legs I was able to maintain a speed of 20km/h going uphill which is pretty good! We also tested it without the motor assistance. It was definitely more of a struggle to get up the hill but as soon as I kicked it up to even level 2 it took a lot of the effort out of it. I would say that this bike is rideable without the motor assistance. It is of course at the upper end of the scale for what a non-electric bike would weigh but if you ran out of rance or wanted to push yourself and get a sweat on then this bike could be just what you’re looking for is you want to be doing hybrid riding.
The app did feel a little basic and clunky when we tested it though it may have improved with updates since then. Despite this the GPS tracking did work which meant that we could leave the bike locked up in public with peace of mind.
Now for the result of our real world range test! Engwe claim that the N1 Air has a range of up to 62miles but of course their test is conducted in perfect conditions: the maximum range is measured in 1st gear with full charge and a load of 75 kg on a flat surface at 25°C and a relative humidity of 70%. Our test was conducted during winter in London in temperatures of 1-4°C and we were able to get 45km/28 miles out of one fully charged battery. This of course is a lot lower than Engwe’s claim and we reckon that in warmer temperatures we would be able to get about 35/40 miles out of the battery while cycling in max assist mode.
Safety and security:
The Samsung battery is removable and lockable for easy charging and added piece of mind from opportunist thieves.
In the Engwe app there’s an anti-theft system with bike alerts for abnormal activity, built-in GPS tracking and automatic SOS emergency notifications.
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Want more from Engwe?
Want to explore other city commuter bikes?
