ENGWE P26 Review – "Legal" commuter e-bike for the city
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More and more commuters are opting for bicycles. This trend has not gone unnoticed by the Chinese e-bike manufacturer ENGWE, who have launched the ENGWE P26, an e-bike specially designed for the urban jungle.
The 26″ electric bike is equipped, among other things, with a 250 watt hub motor, a Shimano Tourney 7-speed gear system and a 612 Wh battery for the longest possible distance. More about this in the test.
ENGWE P26: Unboxing
Ready for the box! The ENGWE P26 is embedded in a lot of packaging material that makes many a yellow bin sweat. Unfastening all the cable ties and packaging parts not only made the yellow bin sweat, but also me.
ENGWE P26: characteristics and finish
The frame of the ENGWE P26 is made of lightweight 6061 aluminum. You have the choice between a shiny metallic blue or silver.
The ENGWE P26 in chic blue.
When assembled, the bike measures 173 x 55 x 112 cm and weighs 26,2 kg. The manufacturer specifies the maximum load as 150 kg. Ergonomically, the e-bike makes a good impression. The frame height is suitable for riders from 155 cm to 210 cm tall.
The inclination of the stem can be adjusted by loosening the joint screw with an Allen key and tightening it again at the desired position. This also changes the handlebar height, which is a minimum of 115 cm and a maximum of 155 cm above the ground. The saddle is fixed with a quick release. Here the minimum height is 83 cm and maximum 99 cm above the ground.
The stem of the ENGWE P26 is adjustable.
The tires are a 47-559 all-rounder. The mechanical disc brakes on the front and rear wheels are clearly visible. There are also fenders. These are made of metal, which gives the overall impression a little more quality. There is also a luggage rack above the rear wheel.
The luggage rack is permanently mounted.
The stem of the ENGE P26 is sprung with a suspension fork. This can be adjusted and locked as required. The display is located in the middle of the handlebar and provides information about the speed, the support level, the remaining battery and the range (ODO & Trip).
The adjustable suspension fork and the headlight with reflector.
The display of the ENGWE P26 is clearly visible in the middle.
The gearshift lever is located to the right of the display. A Shimano Tourney 7-speed gear system is used, which is more common on inexpensive Chinese e-bikes.
Same with the brake levers. I have come across the WUXING brake levers used here several times in the course of various e-bike tests. They are made of metal and just about meet the quality requirements of a 1000 euro e-bike. If you like to screw, you will replace the parts very quickly.
The Shimano 7-speed shifter is easy to use.
By the way, ENGWE hasn't done without the throttle, because the e-bike is also sold outside the EU. If you order the ENGWE P26 as an EU version, however, the throttle is deactivated. Instructions for unlocking can be found on the Manufacturer's product page.
In addition, the bell and the control are located on the left of the handlebars, which is used to switch on the e-bike and adjust the support level.
This is used to operate the e-bike. Next to it is the bell.
The 250 watt electric motor of the ENGWE P26 is located on the wheel hub of the rear wheel. It requires a voltage of 36V and has a torque of 40 Nm. In general, hub motors are robust and usually require little maintenance.
The 250 watt hub motor is located on the rear wheel hub.
ENGWE has integrated the removable 36V 17Ah battery into the frame tube. As a result, the frame design is hardly disturbed and the battery is also protected from external influences. The battery is locked with a lock. The battery status can be read directly from the battery at the push of a button.
The battery is located in the frame tube.
It can be locked with this lock.
The bicycle reflectors prescribed in the StVZO are (almost) all available. The LED headlight with reflector is located forward. The rear light is located at the back of the luggage rack, also with a reflector and lighting. The two pedals, which are made of metal here, have yellow reflectors at the front and back.
However, the ENGWE P26 only has one reflector in the spokes per wheel. Here, however, the StVZO requires two reflectors per wheel, provided no reflective strips are attached to the wheel or the spokes. A circumstance that can be remedied quickly.
A bicycle stand is already pre-assembled.
The manufacturer offers an EU declaration of conformity for download. According to ENGWE, the currently missing CE marking will be submitted later.
There is nothing wrong with the processing quality. Welds on the frame are visible, but that's common in this price range. The cables running to the handlebars are held in place and protected by a textile covering. Overall, the workmanship of the ENGWE P26 leaves a solid impression.
ENGWE P26: practical test
Press the power button on the handlebars and you're good to go. The electronics of the ENGWE P26 basically work well. The electric motor kicks in after about one revolution with a slight delay and also responds with a slight delay when it comes to a stop. Compared to other e-bikes in this price range, the behavior of the ENGWE P26 is by no means unusual, as it is often a sensorless motor. The engine switches off quickly when you brake.
The top speed of the motor is regulated via a total of 5 support levels, which ends at level 1 at 15 km/h and at level 5 reaches a top speed of 25 km/h. From here the engine switches off reliably. The acceleration is pleasantly soft, regardless of the support level and the gear selected.
In order to test the driving behavior of the ENGWE P26, it went over different road surfaces and dirt roads. In the city, the e-bike maneuvers through the traffic with good maneuverability. The suspension is passable and also sufficient for a short detour over country lanes. However, it gets quite bumpy over hill and dale and you quickly realize that the e-bike was designed for flat roads.
The electric drive already reaches its limits on moderate inclines and you have to pedal properly even at the highest support level. With more powerful e-bikes, such as the ENGWE EP-2 Pro , the ENGWE P26 cannot keep up.
Although the cheap Shimano Tourney rear derailleur usually has little positive to say, it worked reliably in the ENGWE P26 test. It could be shifted cleanly from 1st to 7th gear without any problems while driving.
POSITIVE
Chic aluminum frame
Good workmanship
metal fenders
Pre-assembled luggage rack
High translation
Reliable derailleur
Good brakes with LED brake lights
Battery with indicator light
EU conformity
NEGATIVE
No torque sensor
(Still) missing CE marking
Rather cheap components (WUXING, Shimano Tourney)
