Engwe Engine Pro review: Powerful fat tire foldable ebike
If you are looking for an affordable fat tire ebike that can propel you forward more than 30 mph then the Engine Pro may be for you
Hyperdrive Hits
5/5 Medals of Yavin: If you need power to get up hills and along trails, this foldable gets it done. May be the best available in this specific category.
750W motor helps you exceed 30 mph
Dual suspension and big seat for ride comfort
Foldable for easier storage and transport
Heavy at 83 pounds
Over the past couple of years I moved from just looking at ebikes for my commute on to checking out bikes for recreation on trails and gravel logging roads. Given that I weigh 250 pounds and live on a hill, I need a powerful bike to help me get to where I need to be.
While I have tested many different ebike brands, this is the first time I’ve had a chance to try out an Engwe bike. I was sent an Engwe Engine Pro and given that I was not familiar with the brand, I had not expectations about the bike.
I unboxed the bike and was immediately impressed by the lovely blue color, high quality build, solid rack, mag wheels, large padded seat, and presence of two shock absorbers on the frame. Check out my YouTube video review and please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.
Rating:
As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding the Engwe Engine Pro five (5) Medals of Yavin. It is a heavy bike to put in a trunk for transport or carry for a train commute, but it is a beast that gets the job done and is priced less than most all other competitors for this type of bike.
The Good and the Bad
It’s pretty rare for me to not find something that can be improved with a product and for things like electric bikes the pros and cons can depend on your riding needs.
Pros
Affordable price
High-powered pedal assist and throttle, 30+ mph speed
Folding for more compact storage and transport
Large color display
Cruise control
Hydraulic disc brakes
Dual suspension system
Leather hand grips
Cons
Heavy at 83 pounds
One charger to share between two batteries
Experiences
Commuting was the primary purpose of my bike riding for a few years, but as the electric bike market continues to grow there are more options available to fill in other areas of transportation. The Engwe Engine Pro can certainly be used as a commuter bike, especially with its speeds, lights, range, and rear cargo rack. However, it is optimized for cruising across various terrain and is a fun bike for trails, gravel roads, and makes a perfect RV companion.
The Engwe Engine Pro is available in Black, Blue, Gray, and Aurora (although I have never seen that cool color available). Engwe sent along the Blue model that is a very dark, deep blue and looks amazing. The bike has a matte finish with classy Engwe branding and colored logos too.
Other than the lovely color, my first impression after opening up the box was that this is a heavy ebike. It weighs in at 83 pounds so it is not a bike you are going to carry easily on a commuter train or just pick up and throw in a trunk. The weight is really the only con I had for the bike, but there is a reason the bike is heavy.
The handlebars feel great with the handgrips having a leather grip with lovely ergonomic palm rests. This is important for a cruiser bike, especially one that propelled me along at more than 30 mph. There is a thumb throttle on the left side with one of the best bike controllers positioned to the right of the throttle.
The controller has five buttons with a silicone rubber covering. The buttons rise above the controller module and have excellent tactile feel with icons on each that indicate what each button is used for. When you are moving along at a nice clip, it is great to have easily accessible buttons that you can manipulate without even looking at the handlebars.
A large color display is centered on the bike with large numbers so you can easily see the status of the bike. There is an eight speed shifter on the right side of the handlebars. There is a quick release mechanism so that you can fold down the handlebars for storage and transport.
The bike folds in half along the main frame while the pedals also fold for better storage. There is a handle to hold on to as you fold the bike, but be aware it is a heavy bike to move. A small stand is also present so you can rest the bike on this when it is folded.
The seat is also well cushioned and comfortable for cruising around. It can easily be raised and lowered. A stout rear rack is present so that you can carry gear along with you on your adventures.
The bike is very well built and feels rock solid. The five pedal assist levels and eight speed transmission are great for getting up steep hills, but this bike is optimized for throttle use. Most of the time I cruised along with the throttle. It was also nice to find that cruise control kicks in after you hold the throttle for a bit so you don’t have to tire your thumb out for extended riding.
Make sure you are comfortable at the level you set on the bike when you enable cruise control. I was impressed to find the bike propelled my 250 pound body forward at more than 30 mph with level 5 selected. I was hitting 30 consistently with peaks of 31 and 32 mph showing up on the large display. Hang on and enjoy the ride!
With a dual suspension system on the front forks and below the seat post, along with the cushioned seat, the bike is built for comfort too. I took the Engwe Engine Pro out on some local trails and it handled the bumps in the trail perfectly. The all-terrain fat tires also did well at maintaining grip on the trail.
Specifications
Specifications alone don’t mean much, but they are useful for comparing similar devices and checking that you are getting value for your money.
Frame: 6061 series aluminum alloy
Motor: 750W rear hub, peak 1000W, 55Nm torque
Bike weight: 83 pounds
Bike capacity: 330 pounds
Pedal assist: Five levels with throttle and cruise control
Max speed and range: 30+ mph and up to 62 miles (terrain, rider weight, and assist level dependent)
Transmission: 8-speed
Brakes: Hydraulic disk brakes, 160mm rotors
Tires/wheels: 20 x 4 inch all-terrain tires and mag wheels
Colors: Fog Gray
Bottom Line
I did not use the Engwe Engine Pro as a part of my daily commute since that commute mixes in bike riding and a commuter train where I need to haul my bike up and down three flights of stairs. While I am still fairly strong, lugging 83 pounds of bike up and down isn’t something I want to do in my work clothes.
However, the bike was awesome for riding on trails, down to the store and back for errands, and cruising on bike rides with family and friends. It’s an affordable option when you consider the folding design, power, and features that Engwe provides. The bike is available now for $1,499.99 with a $100 off code currently on the website.
Engwe also offers several accessories for the bike, including an affordable replacement battery. $300 for a replacement battery is great and for those who may take very long trips with the bike you might even consider an extra.