I am resubmitting my review as I have finally completed the set-up after a hiccup. I received the bike awhile ago but the disc rotor was warped. The seller responded quickly and assisted to resolve the brake issue.
Having tested the bike in manual 3 speed pedal mode, peddle assist, and full e-throttle I can attest that this is a great multi-mode hybrid bike. I say hybrid because it human and e-powered. The build quality is solid and the innovation to place the battery in the frame protecting it from the elements while balancing the weight shows a great deal of thought was put into the design. I also love the adjustable handle bar to fit the bike to the rider.
I originally wanted the Nexus 7 speed hub configuration but am quite pleased with the simplicity and range of the 3 speed Sturmey Archer hub. In manual pedal mode only, the bike shifts great and can climb moderate hills and move quickly on flat terrain.
Peddle assist takes the bike to another level and is where it really shines! There are 5 levels of assist and I was pleasantly surprised with the boost of power, even on level 1, that came on instantly peddling a small incline. I tested the maximum setting 5 and all I can say is wow! With the 350W motor engaged, there is no necessity for double or triple cranks to climb a hill. I felt like I had bionic legs!
I cross shopped this bike against the famous "B" brand folding electric bike and the famous "D" brand folding bike. The "B" owners are quick to say any bike that is not a "B" is a clone, while I respectfully disagree based on the history perspective, it is a good basis of comparison for the other benefit of the iGOGOMi ALPS, the fold.
This bike folds pretty compact compared to other brands that only fold in half. I suppose not quite as good as the "B" brand, given the placement of of the crank and the side that the handle bars fold over, but for my purposes it works. This baby can be folded and rolled or carried onto public transportation, placed under my desk, placed in the trunk of my car. So, for me it is a winner.
Finally, I think overall this bike is a great value. It shares similarities to the "B" & "D" folding bikes at a lower and competitive price, while improving the folding design with the internal battery storage, adjustable handlebars, and a more powerful motor. I am very satisfied with this purchase!
09/11/23 Update:
In two weeks this bike has been a pleasure to ride. I'd like to give my impressions of the bike's capabilities after riding it around the loop road trail at Stone Mountain, GA. This road trail is an approximate 5 mile loop that has many hills, some gradual and some steep. There are also some flat stretches.
I wanted to understand the bike's capabilities with the lowest possible pedal assist combined with each of the three gears and all out pedal assist at level 5. On some of the steepest hills I found that steady spinning at gear 1 or 2 with peddle assist at 3 or 4 was sufficient to climb. My main goal was to conserve battery power.
On the flat stretches I alternated between switching to high gear 3 with zero power assist to adding power assist 1-5 just to compare speed and efficiency. Honestly the bike is fast enough for street riding in zero assist mode. Gear 3 combined with pedal assist 1-5 at a steady cadence incrementally increases efficiency, making the effort less for quick speed. I did notice that the bike takes a pause to sense pedal torque pressure and cadence before kicking in. However, this is not a race bike. I repeat this is not a race bike. It is perfect for leisure riding and short commuting (even better combined with public transportation).
The battery lasted one full charge for 2 weekend Stone Mountain rides (approx 21 miles) hitting zero level battery at the end of my second ride. The great thing is that at battery 100% depletion, I peddled the bike normally with three gears.
