Review it – Many types of electronic devices are reviewed on Gadgeteer and when I ride a scooter sometimes, electric bike It’s my favorite tool to review. I think they could be a game changer for a lot of people because they are quick and convenient for short trips, especially in areas like Los Angeles where the climate makes them available year round. I’ve been using the VanPowers UrbanGlide-Pro electric bike for about a month now and I have to say it’s probably the smoothest electric bike I’ve ever ridden.
What is it?
The VanPowers UrbanGlide Pro is an electric bike tricked out and built for the city.
What’s in the box?
- VanPowers UrbanGlide Pro, mostly assembled
- Front tire
- The pedals
- A set of protective measures
- Bell
- Light in front
- A pile of weapons
- Screen
- Battery keys
- Paying line
- Other highlights
- A manual and other documents such as a quick start guide
Explanations
- Colors: remy green, lava red, zircon gray (I also checked remy green)
- Frame size S/L (I reviewed the sizes)
- Weight: 70.55lbs
- Motor: 500W brushless hub
- Sensor: torque sensor
- Distance: 65-70 km
- Mode: pedal assist / throttle
- Rear Derailleur: Microshift RD-M26L 8 Speed
- Brake: hydraulic disc brake / 180mm rotors
- Stem: Adjustable stem, 90mm, 0-90 degree
- Seatpost: Zoom suspension seatpost, 30mm travel and quick release brake
Preparation and appearance
The Vanpowers UrbanGlide-Pro electric bike usually comes fully assembled and half the work is removing the mounts. My son and I worked together on this project, installing the front wheel and fenders and I attached the seat, handlebars and accessories (lights, lights and bell). It really came together with a bang but we met with ropes. This was pre-sale, so if you buy this bike I’m sure they’ll make it clear but there are a lot of cables and all you have to do is connect them together. You’re supposed to have the cables attached to the cables coming out of the handle base, but (probably because we work together) we somehow found a light cable attached to the light cable causing the error. We didn’t notice because when the cables are connected, you can’t see the color and there are multiple cables. Customer support was great and we had it fixed in no time. I’m still working with customer support to get the headlight working, though. I may have damaged the connectors when I attached them to the brake cable.
After the error code disappeared I rode it a bit and I have to say the Vanpowers UrbanGlide-Pro is a very smooth bike. On other e-bikes I’ve tried, you pedal and the electric assist comes on when you step on the accelerator…you take off like a rocket. Not on this bike. The power assist is there, but it feels slow and natural. I looked in the books and apparently, there are sensors that measure the speed and power of your movement to determine the amount of support you receive from the car and I think that any ratio or algorithm that they used to make that makes a difference. Even if you use the throttle itself on the UrbanGlide-Pro, it’s very tight and you can control the acceleration more easily than I have with other bikes. I can’t explain it, but it gave the bike a great feel. It was also much safer than other e-bikes I have reviewed. This bike goes up to 20mph and I went too fast a few times on the go, but I never felt like I was out of control or like I was going “too fast.” It was a tough journey.
I love a bike that comes with accessories, and the UrbanGlide-Pro came complete with front and rear lights, a rack that holds up to 55 lbs, a bell and fenders. It’s really ready to go if you’re using it as a passenger. The tires are very large and the adjustable suspension provides a smooth ride, which is good because the seat is a little stiff. If you buy this bike, make sure you set aside a little bit of your budget for replacement. The Vanpowers UrbanGlide-Pro seat is stylish yet simple.
I found the aesthetics of this bike very interesting. The battery is well integrated into the frame and makes the VanPowers UrbanGlide Pro electric bike look very sleek. I like to take it slow because getting my leg up and onto a loaded rack isn’t always easy – I’m no Rockette. I shopped a few times with the bike and had no trouble hauling my grocery bags to the rack.
VanPowers UrbanGlide Pro comes in three models: UrbanGlide-Standard, which weighs less and has a range of 60-65 miles. The company sent me the Pro model, which has a larger battery (with a range of 65-70 miles) and hydraulic disc brakes and a slightly different derailleur. Mine are in remy green which is bright and cheerful. It also comes in red lava and gray zircon and two sizes. I also reviewed the large, which is suitable for 5’6″ to 6’3″ riders. The top model is the UrbanGlide-Ultra, which has similar specs but different brakes and a different motor. There’s a comparison chart on the product page that explains the differences between the three models in more detail if you’re interested. I’m happy with my Pro model – it’s a fun alternative between the other two models and it’s fun to ride.
I rode the UrbanGlide-Pro in my neighborhood in Los Angeles and handled a variety of situations during my evaluation. I thought it was easy to remove the battery to charge it but at first I thought there was a problem because I was riding the bike and sometimes it wouldn’t turn on. It happens that the battery goes to sleep if you haven’t used it for a while. It’s as easy as pressing a button to wake it up, but I had to read the user manual to figure it out. I hope VanPowers makes this a little more visible or customer support will be filled with people who, like me, see this book as a “last resort”. I don’t think I’m alone in that club.
I found the gear shifter on the UrbanGlide-Pro difficult to get used to. It has a speed switch that I’m having a hard time turning off and I just found the whole thing to be a pain. I’m used to bikes with nice controls, so maybe “bike enthusiasts” don’t find it as difficult as I do. I’m sure I’ll get used to it after a while.
The UrbanGlide-Pro tracker gives you your speed and distance traveled along with the battery status and if you go into the settings you can adjust the display and set a password for the bike. The VanPowers app gives you access to everything related to the bike, such as tire size, maintenance information and access to customer support if you need it. It also allows to add, remove and save the history of different passengers and even in the navigation system. There are also rankings if you want to compete with your friends and guests. There will also be software updates through the app so I look forward to seeing what they add.
Which I like
- Smooth trip
- A larger version
- Accessories included
What I would change
- The chair can make me sick
- Good writing on strings
Final thoughts
Overall I think the VanPowers UrbanGlide-Pro electric bike is a great commuter bike. There were a few select features that bugged me but hopefully I’ll get used to it over time or fix it (like the chair). This is a very good bike that is strong and smooth.
PricePrice: $1899.99
Where to buy: Van Powers
Source: An example of this review was provided by VanPowers.