EVELO Aurora Limited Review - $4k

[@lucadya]

How’s the bike to peddle with the motor off because the shifter is electronic so r u stuck in what ever gear you were in or does it go to the easy gear when there is no power 🤔

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Yeah, if the bike is powered off you cannot shift gears. The cool thing about the way they set it up is that the ebike battery powers the shifting. Some other electronically shifted ebikes (with Shimano) have a completely separate battery that can sometimes be difficult to find. To your point however, the bike stays in the same gear as you left it when powering off. I really should have explained this more thoroughly during the review. I'm sorry, and thanks for the good catch!

[@lucadya]

No problem I like ur reviews ur the reason I bought my volt bike Yukon 750 😄 yes there are better bikes out there but nothing that I needed and the laws where I’m from I couldn’t turn it down so keep up the good work

[@copiernerds]

I have had one of these for 1 year and I absolutely love it. The price was high at first but with the 4 year warranty and the belt drive. I feel like i got my moneys worth. Support from Evelo has been fantastic.

[@john7435]

Due to your review, I just placed an order for this ebike. It will be my fifth ebike I have ordered. Three mid drives and two rear hub models. I have found that the mid drives have the most power when climbing hills or moutains whereas the hub drives are best suited to flatter ground although they can climb hills but not as efficiently as the center drives. The hub drives can be drivin home with a broken chain whereas the mid drives are dead when the chain breaks. This bike being a belt drive, I will most likely never have to worry about breaking the belt drive.

[@jimsimpson2393]

I purchased this identical model in July. It was for my wife. She is 5'-10", 190#s and 74 years old. She has back issues but wanted to engage in more excercise. This bike adjusts very well for her height, allows her to place her feet on the ground at stop signs and be in a comfortable posture while riding. She is absolutely not a techie. She never enjoyed traditional 10 speed bikes with chains. I chose this Aurora Limited specifically for the step-through design, the Gates carbon belt and the Enviolo IGH to make riding as simple and secure as possible for her. We live in the Sacramento area and have access to miles and miles of great paved and dirt track riding along the American River and Folsum Lake. She has taken to this bike like a duck to water. I built an e-bike for myself by adding a TSDZ2 motor kit to my older Specialized 10 speed bike. Its a 48 volt, 750 watt motor similar to hers. My bike weighs 49 pounds. Hers is 72 pounds. Her bike outperforms mine. She loves this bike and always has a big smile on her face as she passes me going up hills. She finds the Enviolo shifting, the throttle, and the PAS system very easy to use. My only negative comment relates to the weight. At 74 years old, lifting a 72 pound bike onto a bike rack is becoming a challenge; however, the added weight makes the bike very stable while riding. I found all of your comments regarding this e-bike match our own experience. On top of that, EVELO's customer service has been excellent and they seem to genuinely care about our ongoing experience - they have sent personal, non-marketing inquiries to ensure everything is working well and we are enjoying our new bike. In searching for a bike, I found very few that combined all these features. Many were substantially more expensive, made in Europe and limited in motor power and maximum speed because of European e-bike laws. None had the same level of warranty or 21 day no questions asked free trial. I am quite pleased with the outcome of this purchase decision - I succeeded in getting my wife back out riding with me...and she is enjoying it immensely!

[@rivergladesgardenrailroad8834]

Too heavy

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hi Jim, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with the bike. I'm so glad that you and your wife are out enjoying rides together. You made my day :)

[@norcal773]

Hope you are taking battery out before lifting and putting on rack.

[@_skud]

Late reply but you outlined the same reasons I'm interested in evolo. Also I enjoyed your story 😁 Thanks for sharing

[@GaryFujiokaSr]

Handsome bike with nice feature set. I think some of the commenters on this and other vids lamenting the lack of suspension on this bike, and bikes with similar tires, should learn about the concept of pneumatic suspension. In the early 2000's Schwalbe postulated that high air volume tires would make expensive and complicated mechanical suspension hardware redundant. A study at a German university confirmed their findings and the "balloon bike", "fat bike" "big apple" era was born. Higher volume + lower pressure = less need for mechanical suspension.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

True! You can adjust the PSI based on your weight and the conditions, and the bike will tend to weigh less and be more responsive (less bob). That said, EVELO did include a suspension fork for the Aurora Limited here, just not the Galaxy 500.

[@timpreston1609]

This was the bike I finally decided on. The Dost was my other main consideration but the Aurora has the enviolo harmony cvt transmission which shifts smooth (no breaking chains or clunky derailer that needs constant adjustments), torque/cadence sensor, gates belt drive, 4 year warranty were worth the additional $. What I would really love to see are reviewers compare bikes side by side on specs and performance as done in auto reviews.

[@elevenAD]

i agree 100%, i think in the future we will start to see more side by side comparisons!

[@ElectricBikeReview]

I hear you Tim, my review model has been kind of focused vs. compare because I frequently travel to dealers and manufacturer HQ to get the full scoop. Comparing is something I love to see in the comments and forums, some people post videos and stuff as they have time and exposure. I'm always torn about taking on more costs and responsibility which adds time delay and means I won't be covering a broad swath of products. My goal is to stay as independent as possible while still getting by personally. My team is pretty small and my goal is to only have one or two bikes on hand at a time which has made the comparison approach very difficult for now.

[@ScottSchapiro]

Tim, did you order yet? If not, wait until Nov 1.

[@woodsculptor675]

Great review! Nice bike, I like the powerful mid drive and the belt drive. I think it's a fair price for all that quality! Keep up the good work!

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Sweet, I feel the same way. Thanks for the positive comment, Tom :)

[@vincentsalerno]

Great review. I purchased the Aurora limited for myself and the Galaxy 500 for my wife. We love our bikes and while they were expensive we love the simplicity of the system. Also Evelo sales and service were great when I had any questions.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Awesome! That's a great setup, thanks for the quick testimonial, Vincent!

[@holsteincowboy]

Wow A 50% cut in range if it’s cold.Had no idea that low temp’s affected E bikes to that extent

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Yeah, it's a rough estimate that I haven't tested... but that's what I've observed in places like Colorado (where I grew up).

[@VideoNOLA]

Your reviews are always quite thorough, but one thing you almost never touch upon is "How hard is this bike to pedal once your battery depletes to 0%?" I imagine this is something that's bound to happen to every rider one day, and it'd be hand info to know in advance.

[@mshayashi]

That's what I've always concerned with the e-bikes.... I would only choose the light models, so that it's easier to pedal with Power off.

[@mcalaryr]

Bike looks fancy. I decided to get a rad mini to pull my 2 seater Burley Encore X with my 2 and 4 year old. I already had a lot of experience pulling them with a regular old rigid frame mtn bike and they were getting very heavy to tow uphill. If anyone is thinking about the best way to get into Ebiking with kids in tow, I can recommend going the trailer route. It’s great because I can still use the bike as a folding commuter bike without having mounted seats on it. The rad mini 4 handles the extra weight of the trailer and kids perfectly well. Cruised up a big hill today leaving road bikers in our dust! Really fun.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Sweet! That sounds like a lot of fun, good for you getting out with your kids on rides :D I used to ride in a yellow Burley trailer as a kid, along with my Sister. It was a blast... I miss those days :)

[@DoReMeaCulpa]

I am really interested in this bike as it is probably the most perfect bike for me that I have seen so far. I am in the Vancouver area and would love to borrow it for a test ride it. Heck, I'd probably even buy it from you since they don't ship to Canada. I guess they shipped to you because you are an e-bike reviewer.(?)

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hey! Yeah, I'm up to meet for a test ride or something. You can message me at electricbikereview at my gmail address. My name is Court, what's yours?

[@bryanduncan6255]

Nice review. I'm shopping for a bike with the Enviolo hub/belt drive system and found this bike. I'd almost settled for a Gazelle C380+ but taking another look around before pulling the trigger on a bike. I know I'll spending the range 4-5K. In your opinion which bike should I be comparing to the Gazelle? Do you have any suggestions for bikes with the Enviolo hub. And do you still have this bike and how might it compare to the Gazelle?. Just looking for some advice from someone who's really been around the different brands and rides several with Enviolo hubs for advice. I'm 6'1" 240lbs, My riding style will be more casual paved and gravel trails. Thanks for your opinion.

[@WrecklessSandwich]

I was originally looking at a Gazelle as well. I'm about to pull the trigger on the new Evelo Omega model instead. The dual battery option is a big deal for me to keep things moving in Boston winter weather. It won't ship until (optimistically) May but my current 250W Fuji will do the trick until then.

[@SGriffin597]

I've been admiring Evelo for quite some time but haven't been able to afford the $4k price tag. I imagine you have several bikes at this point. If you're interested in selling, I would be excited to do business with you!

[@leanmighty]

What is the comparison with the Gazelle C380? Which bike would you recommend, please? Thanks, Lawrence

[@Stryford1]

That would be a perfect commuter bike for me. I wish it was a little more affordable though.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hi Stryford, yeah... these bikes do tend to cost a lot. They are so cool, but the technology adds a lot more than I expected :/

[@emma70707]

Check out their open box. I snagged mine at a Christmas sale with an open box--I think it was $3250 or thereabouts.

[@njsarn]

Thanks for sharing. My friend is on his 3rd replacement bike under warranty (he had broken 3 Evelo bikes). Evelo has good warranty they honor. Don't know about product robustness though.

[@emma70707]

This Dapu motor apparently has the lowest replacement rate of any they've used. I've had mine for two years (2019 model) and heard some clanking if I mess with the pedals at a light and then use the throttle to start. They're replacing the motor for free. Definitely worth it for the 4-yr warranty. It's not the same as a Bosch, but Bosch doesn't have a throttle and I needed that.

[@jamesraines2382]

Another great review. Thanks again…

[@TheNewAthensBlockchain]

This looked v. interesting but sadly I had a v. rude experience when I contacted the company. The sales team refused my money when I contacted them. At first they said they couldn't deliver to London then when I said I would take care of delivery with a courier if they could have a unit ready they refused point blank. Never had a worse experience with a company. Sad. Your reviews are v. informative, though. Thanks. Laurenzo.

[@noneyabizz8337]

Why aren't you typing "very"?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hey Laurenzo! I'm glad that you enjoyed the review and so sorry that it's like a temptation you cannot have! That sucks. Perhaps the limited stock and time have made it too difficult to arrange with international shipping or perhaps they had a bad experience with customs and batteries at some point? I cannot speak for them, but I feel your pain because I'm in Canada right now and have had some major struggles with bikes coming up from the States for review... including customs charges and stuff. I hope you can find something else that works for you. Do you think that you could arrange shipping from Canada, because perhaps I could send you the review unit that they gave me?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

I’ll take a look for your message, I haven’t been on LinkedIn for a while and it’s late here now so will look in the coming day or two :)

[@TheNewAthensBlockchain]

@@ElectricBikeReview I don't like linkedin either. sending you an email now.

[@emma70707]

Pretty sure the throttle is banned in UK, no? I expect there are penalties they wanted to avoid. I've always had a pleasant experience with their phone support.

[@KarnageKollectibles]

Please do a review of the new Evelo Dash foldable.

[@ScottSchapiro]

Court, is there anything you would suggest changing via the aftermarket, especially considering I would be riding it on terrain no more difficult that what you rode on in your review?

[@skip123davis]

this looks very interesting - thank you for letting us know they're giving it to you. appreciate that. looks a bit spendy, but i DO like the lower maintenance. i get it. i'd like to see a bit more performance, but realistically i only ride my rad rover at PAS 3 at 18 mph most of the time anyway. do i want to pay $4k to not fuck around with derailers. i dunno. overall, this thing is probably way easier to deal with on a day to day basis, and what i've put into the rover with accessories... might work out.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hmm, I really appreciate your perspective. The way you're balancing costs and the utility this would offer. Nice, thanks Skip!

[@skip123davis]

@@ElectricBikeReview i would really like front bosses. that might close me. all that hydraulic and whatever is a bit much. i REALLY like that about my rover: i can put my two bags of groceries right in front of me. if i had stem bosses for a front rack, i'd prolly give it a go.

[@Steve-yo5jn]

Court, so it was fairly easy to get to the higher speeds on this bike, with the Enviolo CVT system? You can get to 25mph, even if you didn't unlock the top speed to 25mph? I've heard some people complain, that they couldn't get higher speeds on ebikes with Enviolo CVT. With the Enviolo, you very rarely used in the Automatic mode? How does your girlfriend like the Evelo Galaxy 500 bike so far? Any complaints from her on the Enviolo Automatic CVT? In the settings, with the password option what does it exactly do? Is it just so people, can't change any settings on the bike without the correct password? Or does it require the password, to get all the electronics to turn on(security feature)? I guess you can turn off the password option, if some people find it a hassle?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Yeah, the higher speeds are definitely possible, but it looses some power compared with low speeds. The maximum 110 rpm cadence is a limiter as well. There's definitely a "sweet spot" with this ebike, but it's nice that they allow you to unlock it. My girlfriend LOVES the Galaxy 500. She has tried a few models as they have come in, but she feels that the EVELO is special and loves the electronic shifting and belt drive. I wish she would go on camera, but she's kind of shy and always says "no, no!!" so I respect it. She did crash once on the Galaxy as we rode down a dirt hill, the pebbles at the bottom became almost like ball bearings. She still has a bit of dirt in one of her wrists, but she still loves to go riding. She's more of "fancy girl" that doesn't fall down a lot, so I think it says something that she still loves the bike and enjoys riding :D I haven't actually used the password a lot on these bikes and I don't want to set it and then not be able to remove it... but I think it actually locks everything down, so you need to used the password each time you even want to turn the electronic systems on and use them. Perhaps someone else will chime in about that or you could double check in the EVELO forums here: electricbikereview.com/forums/forum/evelo/

[@vkhiev]

Very in depth review

[@tommylee4751]

Love your review. When will you review the Rad Power bike Rad Runner Plus? Thanks

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hi Tommy! Rad has asked me to hold it until the website is ready because I think it's currently sold out... but you can have a sneak peek if you'd like :D kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGObd3pmh6uBpbc

[@tommylee4751]

@@ElectricBikeReview thank you ! Keep up the good work!

[@ScottSchapiro]

So much hostility in the comments!

[@ElectricBikeReview]

It's all good, I think it's a stressful time for a lot of people and that energy can come out unexpectedly. Perhaps the high price of the bike, nicer weather in the video, or nice neighborhood. As someone who has been pretty poor, lived in my car for a while, and still just rents a room in someone's basement, I just want to help people feel okay and the comments don't really hurt my feelings personally. The truth is that this ebike is expensive and is heavy, but at the end of the day, it's nice to have another great choice out there... especially from such a supportive and creative company like EVELO :)

[@ScottSchapiro]

@@ElectricBikeReview I hear you, but I am still surprised. I swim mostly in the car-enthusiast waters and, even with a car like a Rolls-Royce Phantom (which costs more than double the average cost of a new home), you don't hear car enthusiasts complaining about the cost and deriding the brand. Yes, it is obscenely expensive, but there are clearly many other less expensive alternatives out there. Interestingly, when I mentioned to my brother I was thinking of buying an e-bike, he asked me how much they cost. He suggested $300-$400. I told him you would generally want to double that and go up from there, he seemed genuinely surprised (he owns an entry level Specialized MTB). I think there is some sort of perception, perhaps due to cheap hoverboards, that e-bikes should be some sort of bargain-basement conveyance.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hey Skinney, they gave me the bike. Normally I do reviews for free, but several companies have been offering me the bikes now because it costs money to ship a used bike back. I usually give the bikes away or sell and then send money back to the company.

[@HullioGQ]

Please do a review of the New Evelo Atlas with dual battery and throttle with CVT Enviolo. Thanks!

[@mogeking56]

$4 thousand dollars 💸 and no rear suspension! Please slap me after I wake up

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Wait, wait!! Here, check this one out: electricbikereview.com/m55/riviera/

[@LuminaHealing]

Good review but.... how does the Aurora do on hills ?

[@gheorghestan888]

Between Evelo and Dost which one do you think is better built and more reliable?

[@ggdeddy]

I wish you had shown how the bike rides in full automatic mode - even if this is not your personal preference.

[@tonylambiasi9162]

Maybe I missed it, but how much weight can you put on the rear rack of the aurora limited?

[@daysofthen]

Which one to go with? Aurora limited or Dost Kope with dual battery?

[@victorlam2064]

Not to be rude, but do you still live out of your car? I have been considering it for some time and wanted to see if you still do it comfortably

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hi Victor! I have ongoing back, neck, and shoulder pain due to some car accidents when I was a kid (and multiple knockouts snowboarding) so the car camping was really hard on me after a while. I found a room to rent from a friend, so I still life pretty modestly, but have a place... and I stay with my girlfriend a lot. When I moved to Canada, I donated my car to someone who I felt could use a boost who lives in the States. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4HclXWwjZyAh6c

[@dukeloo]

Is this bike smooth? Do you recommend a suspension seat post? I commute mostly on bike trails around Denver. Lowry to Union Station. I currently ride a Blix Aveny and I'm looking at this bike. The priority Current, and Gazelle Ultimate 380. What do you recommend Court?

[@gigss3439]

Those are the same bikes I am looking at now. What did you choose?

[@mshayashi]

This bicycle must be heavy to pedal with power off, right?

[@trailguy]

Do any ebikes come with a feature on the display telling the temperature of the motor!

[@FFOGHORN]

I wonder the same thing. I will be riding in Texas with summer temps above 100 sometimes. I also wonder how the ambient temp will impact the battery.

[@trailguy]

@@FFOGHORN I’ve recently learned lots about this. Unless you have an exceptionally high power motor 1500 watts plus ish, it won’t overheat. Having said that, 100 plus in Texas might be different. Your electronics are likely set to shut down the motor before it overheats. Low humidity is good, so unless you’re clipose to Louisiana it’s prolly going to be dry. Other factors are hills and load. If you weigh 200+ and are carrying gear, that’s likely a concern, especially on hills. A way to be safe is to keep your speed closer to 15 instead of 20+, that makes a huge difference. I’m not sure how much heat and cold shortens battery life. I like to ride when it’s 60-85 mostly for comfort. I’d love for you to report back any results!

[@FFOGHORN]

@@trailguy I’ll definitely report when I can. Although we are already nearing 100, I don’t have my bike yet!

[@rajeevdutt835]

Very nice .I want to buy this cycle bike

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Nice! I hope you get the chance Rajeev :D

[@KarnageKollectibles]

Dammit I think I'm gonna buy this bike.

[@sofiaPenxa]

Hi what Camera u recording all u videos is great tks

[@JojoCrazyCat]

I love the back rack. Its looks like it can carry 300 pounds.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Yeah! That thing looks beefy, but also pretty nice. The more I look at this frame and consider how they purpose built it to work with the mid-drive and belt, the more impressed I am :)

[@dehoedisc7247]

Certainly the 21st century has seen the solid establishment of the Fat Tire Era. It was not needed, nor was it inevitable. It began as simply a whimsical variation on the standatd tire size. Comically, the new fat tire bicycles actually have larger tires than Motorcycles of 100 years ago. Of course there is a parallel in the Automotive industry, and I refer to the Obsession with bigger and bigger and bigger mag-style wheels and extreme tires on cars and trucks. This generation is absolutely Big Wheel and Big Tire Crazy. (and no reason for it, just expansion of the market and Big Profits.)

[@stevendonovan9762]

That's a simple broad stroke to dismiss. Anyone who rides a bike with 2.8" will notice a smoother more forgiving ride than with 20th century 1.75".

[@dehoedisc7247]

@@stevendonovan9762 No one has been dismissed. I am aware of the "plus" size of 2.5 to 2.8, as contrasted to Fat and Fatter (4 inches or more). It's a trend, if not a fad, and it could have been done 40 years ago, the technology was there. It just blew in with the wind, and now has ever so many worshipers. Now, the fascination of riding through soft sand has been "discovered". And Promoted, as the next craze beyond MTBs. A few people show interest in beach and sand riding, and the industry goes ape shit with the new trend, and it is Paying Off big-time.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Well, there's definitely something to be said for style. The bigger tires for ebikes seem to have caught on because they add comfort and stability. Fat tire bikes existed before electric, but only the hard core snow and sand riders were interested (and could last with all the extra work required!). Rad Power Bikes was one of the first to really prove the fat tires + electric = awesome, and now it's just expanding outwards.

[@dehoedisc7247]

@@ElectricBikeReview Well said, and I understand your ebike perspective, even though the fat-tire and huge wheel Phenomenon literally has swept the world across all rolling machinery. I will try to restrict my further comments to e-bikes. Enjoy the expanding ebike experience.

[@justinwilliams2522]

Are you going to review the Juiced Hyperscorpian ?

[@elevenAD]

they already reviewed that bike

[@justinwilliams2522]

No this guy hasn’t reviewed that bike

[@elevenAD]

@@justinwilliams2522 i know but EBR has, Court is not going to personally review a friggin HyperScorpion himself because the motor and top speed on that bike are way beyond legal limits

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hi Justin! It looks like a great product. I actually paid for two Juiced Bikes for Tyson to review, and then they ended up giving us a couple more so we could get most of the new ones... everyone had been asking. elevationAD is correct that I tend to avoid high powered ebikes, and since I'm in Canada right now and the laws are even more restrictive, I left it to Tyson (who is very good and has a motorcycle license). I hope this helps you, even though it's not me personally electricbikereview.com/juiced-bikes/hyperscorpion/

[@jhonathancardozo1592]

Excelente bici, lastima en Colombia no traigan de ese tipo de bicletas eléctricas,

[@yogeshnaik9276]

Very nice in detail revenue

[@dukeloo]

I like this bike, but not sure how the rear hub works since you use the throttle in your review and barely use the CVT pedaling. I'm also looking at the Priority Current which is around $3k

[@954brent954]

I would just wait for the new sondors models, cheaper an faster!

[@ElectricBikeReview]

I'm excited about the stuff SONDORS is working on too! Considering how they started, with the Indiegogo fat bike, they have really stuck around and done a lot in the space. The guy seems passionate and is putting a lot of time and energy in :)

[@mrbubetube]

no need to wait. here you go gramps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGG9gn9qiLFmoJo

[@jjboohoo9641]

Maybe someday they will develop the perfect ebike but they have not done so yet.

[@TheSkskitey]

A bit pricey , i think your paying for the electronic gears and weird designed frame which is a girly frame after all , yes i know good for oldies of any gender . Seeing they gave it to you you can give us an update on how it's going after 12 months :-)

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Sure! I'm not set on keeping it, I like to give stuff away if I'm traveling a lot or not using it. We will see... a couple of people in Canada have messaged me because they really want one and EVELO is out of stock right now.

[@josemariass]

too expensive

[@ElectricBikeReview]

I feel like the price is actually pretty great, considering the technology. If it had a chain instead of a belt, basic cassette and derailleur instead of electronic shifting and enviolo hub, and generic frame vs. custom with integrated battery and mid-step then yeah... but hardly any companies out there offer anything like this. It's extremely unique and very well done, but that comes at a price :/

[@josemariass]

@@ElectricBikeReview Yeah, you right

[@manny3918]

Overpriced

[@MrRailfan]

For 4k just get an onyx

[@dowhill1956]

"Chain Guard will keep your pants from getting greasy"? It's belt drive...

[@ElectricBikeReview]

That's a great point. Even though these belts aren't as greasy or snag-prone as chains tend to be (in my experience), they usually still ship with a bit of oil or something on them, and the hard rubber/plastic can still rub on pant legs and kind of rough them up. I should have been more specific, but the chain cover is still doing its job here and adding a bit of value :)

[@dehoedisc7247]

Any belt (or chain) will accumulate a certain amount of dust, grit or other air-borne contaminant in the groove, and it could be transferred to a pant leg or other appendage. Common sense, David Harkness. They will not remain as clean as when they were built.

[@mrbubetube]

please keep swinging your hand in front of the camera lens more. that REALLY helps with the review. and try not to let the bike obstruct the view of your face and hand swinging back and forth in front of the camera lens.