Cheap mini e-bike, Xiaomi M365 scooter upgrade?

[JustM]

I have been riding Xiaomi Scooter almost a year now. And I'm looking to upgrade it to something with more range and comfort for this summer. Thinking about getting my first ebike!

I've watched some videos of Mate bike on youtube.

Looks cool and seems to tick same boxes: small, folds and should fit in the trunk. Which is important for me.
Offers 2-3 times the range of my Xiaomi scooter! Just the price is 3x times too...

So I wonder, if there is something in between of the Mate bike and my Xiaomi 400$ scooter?
I think, suspension and gears aren't essential for me.

Just a regular small, foldable electric bike with good range and price up to 800$?

 

[harryS]

Whole bunch of bikes on the dark and cheap side.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HRJY7Y...&pd_rd_r=79c31bd1-64a2-11e9-bbed-57e65051719f

https://www.amazon.com/SWAGTRON-Swa...e&qid=1555898387&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Aceshin-Fold...ing+ebike+20"&qid=1555898631&s=gateway&sr=8-5

Can't vouch for any of them as I've not seen them. Micah Toll, who writes an ebike blog has written good things about the Swagtron. Well, he took them on as a sponsor, but that must mean they're OK.

I do own two 20" electric folders that I converted. Small tires ride harder. A bike with suspension is more comfortable, so my wife's ebike has full suspension. I remarked to her the other day, there's probably not many 20" electric folders like hers.

Oh yeah. I bought his one for $700 but it's huge. Nice bike though for the price. I've spent $90 to get smaller tires to soften the ride.
https://www.amazon.com/ECOTRIC-Fold...folding+ebike&qid=1555898765&s=gateway&sr=8-2

 

[JustM]

Wow, both ENGWE and SwagCycle EB-5 looks nice. Thanks! I will definetly look more into these two.

 

[Nova Haibike]

Wow, both ENGWE and SwagCycle EB-5 looks nice. Thanks! I will definetly look more into these two.

These won't have any more than range than your scooter.

 

[JustM]

Yes, the design looked cool.

Though upon a closer inspection battery isn't that great and cheap v brakes.

But I have found that it's a rebrand of Chinese Fiido bike.. that has 10.4h battery, disk brakes for the same 500$.
https://www.gearbest.com/electric-bikes/pp_009710786381.html?wid=1433363&lkid=20496586

There is even a model with shocks just 50$ extra
https://www.gearbest.com/electric-bikes/pp_009883161626.html?wid=1433363&lkid=20500892

So D1 10.4h looks the best so far.
And my scooter lists 30km range, in reality I get 20km and it's really those extra 10km that would make the whole difference. Of course 2-3x range would not hurt if it can get anywhere close those 50-90km advertised.

 

[JustM]

I have pulled the trigger on Fiido D1 and I'm more than impressed after the first week of riding!

Surprisingly soft ride this is the biggest upgrade over xiaomi scooter. How comfortable the bike is.

Feels much more powerful, climbs hills much faster, top speed reaches 30km/h.

Got 30km on a single charge pinning throttle to the max! This is totally different than squeezing those 20km out of scooter in eco mode.. and going full throttle on the bike!
So I got way more than expected out of my upgrade.