To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Amego. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Amego products.
While in Toronto, I had the opportunity to catch up with some of the Amego bikes, among them, the Amego Infinite Step-Thru. The Infinite is a popular bike, thanks to its $1,999 USD $2,399 CAD price point and commuter friendly options like rack, fenders, and lights. As we jump in, I should mention that I have also reviewed the high-step version earlier. You will see a lot of parallel information between the bikes if you have read the other review, but there are some slight differences, so I will try to call those out as we go along. As just mentioned, the bike comes in a high-step as well as a step-through. The step-through comes in a 26” tire version while the high-step comes in a 26” and 27.5” version. The step-through also comes in a 17.5” frame and a 19” frame Today we are covering the 17.5” step-through frame in 26” wheel size with the space gray color (also available in rose gold). As I said before, the bike comes commuter ready outside of the box, this combined with the price and customization has made it very popular with companies to use as fleet or delivery vehicles as well. It is a very comfortable ride thanks to this SR SunTour NEX front suspension fork with 63mm of travel and preload adjust hidden under these rubber caps. Assisting that comfort is this Selle Royal gel saddle and Schwalbe Marathon 26” tires. These are a little wider and have reflective sidewalls as well as puncture protection. Taking things a step further is this tool-free adjustable angle stem that allows you to adjust the geometry of the handlebars on the fly! Great for switching positions if you are carrying a load or switching riders. I also love the aluminum alloy fenders here, they even have mud flaps on the tips to alleviate toe strikes if you graze them during a tight turn. So if all that comfort wasn’t enough, Amego also added a suspension seat post! This is normally an expensive add-on bike accessory that people have to add to their bike. It makes a world of difference though, so I am glad Amego included it for free with the bike. It has 40mm of travel and when you combine it with the front suspension and comfy tires, you get a really relaxed ride. The bike also comes with lights in both the front and rear. I love that the front light is integrated to run off the main battery, but the rear light sadly is independent and runs off of 2x AA batteries. Both lights have to be manually turned on and off via a button on the light itself, not so much an annoyance as a potential problem… if you forget to turn them off, it could drain the batteries. There is still a lot to cover on the bike like the included rear rack (rated for 55lbs), thick aluminum platform pedals, slap guard, bottle cage bosses, and Velo locking ergonomic grips. Overall, the bike weighs 58lbs with the battery on, so not bad considering the higher capacity battery and front suspension fork.
Driving this bike is a zippy 500 watt Das-Kit geared hub motor. I’m told that it peaks out well above 500 (possibly 750+ watts?) and that it offers up to 80nm of torque, which seems like a fluffed up spec. I cannot easily measure this, but I can say, qualitatively, that the motor is powerful. In some ways, it’s a bit too powerful at assist level 1 (the lowest option) because pedal assist relies on a basic cadence sensor. Actually, the sensor itself is well protected and compact (located near the left crank arm around the spindle at the bottom bracket), it’s as responsive as any 12-magnet cadence sensor, but perhaps the powerful controller is just setup for a strong boost vs. smooth. Anyway, you can get a nice start by actuating the variable speed trigger throttle gently. The throttle is active at all times, even zero, so be careful whenever the bike is on… or consider removing the throttle. But that is not to say it is in the way. Amego uses a new throttle now that is slimmer and mounted up high so it stays out of the way of the trigger shifters. You can enter into the display settings to lower the top assisted speed by holding + and – once it has been turned on, then enter the code 8306 to get into the different areas. This is what I was referring to early on, talking about making the bike Class 1, 2, or 3 depending on what you choose. I’m told that many delivery riders who work for Fadora and Uber Eats are using Virginia’s Amego electric bikes in Toronto. These riders may want to disable the throttle for certain areas or increase the speed for riding on streets. And, I can only quote Virginia, but she said some have amassed 20k+ miles of riding during a single year-long season, including rides in the cold wet and salty snow. It’s a testament to ebike technology in general, but it looked like the motor casing and connectors were well sealed. This motor is fairly compact and lightweight, it does zip audibly when being operated at high power and higher speeds, and it feels secure in the wheel because thicker 13 gauge spokes were used. Mechanically, the bike has a Shimano Acera system with 11-32 tooth cassette in the rear with a 48 tooth chain ring in the front. I love the steel derailleur guard here, trigger shifters, and the aluminum alloy bash guard at the chain. Stopping the bike is a wonderful set of hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors in the front and in the rear. I am not sure why the high-step version has smaller 160mm in the rear, but I am happy the step-through gets 180mm for both. You get a motor inhibitor brake here too, but just one, built into the left brake handle.
Powering the Amego Infinite, it’s headlight, and the backlit display, is a 48v 13ah hour Lithium-ion battery pack, mounted semi-internally to the downtube. I am also told at time of purchase, you can opt to upgrade to a 48v 16ah, and there is even talk of making a 21ah version available in the future. Super cool! Because this pack fits in from the left side of the frame at an angle, the step-thru was able to be designed with a lower top tube. This is a pack I have seen on many, many, many, other electric bikes. It locks in securely and has a little lever on the left which helps to pop it off the frame and can be used as a fairly secure way to transport. You can charge the pack when it’s mounted to the frame or separately, and I’ve heard that extreme heat or cold can be hard on Lithium-ion cells, so charging in a neutral environment if the bike has to be left outside in a snowstorm or inside a non-insulated garage during a heat wave is advisable. Charging completely from empty may take 6+ hours, but I’ve been told that it’s best to keep batteries from dropping below 20% because that can stress the cells… and you should still be able to get fantastic range with the top 80% of the pack. Of course, it all depends on how much you weigh, what the terrain is like, the wind, even the tire pressure being used. I’m a lighter guy, and I don’t always use the throttle, so I get pretty good range even if I drop the tire pressure (for comfort), and the recommended PSI range is listed above in the stats. The battery has a little rubber button on the top that illuminates a 4-LED charge level readout (handy if you’ve stored the pack away from the bike and cannot remember if it’s charged), and there’s a full sized USB port on the right side of the pack (presumably offering 5 Volts and 500 mA of power for charging phones and other portable electronics). If you decide to tap into the USB while riding, consider using a right angle USB adapter and some zip ties to keep the cables tight to the frame and away from your legs as you pedal. Similarly, the charging port for the pack itself is near the left crank arm, so if you leave the battery on the bike when charging, the cable could get snagged or bent, be careful :)
Operating this bike is the same as each of the other current generation Amego models. There’s a control panel that’s made by Das-Kit (the same company that makes the motor) called the L7. It’s an all-in-one LCD display with three rubberized buttons near the left. To activate the bike, once the battery has been charged and mounted to the frame, just hold the M button in the center. I think this button stands for “mode” and doubles as a screen readout selector once the display is on. The default readouts include battery level, current speed, and assist level (0-6). I really appreciate how the battery infographic has six bars instead of just four or five, this gives you more precise feedback about capacity so you can plan trips accordingly. Many times, ebikes just have four or five levels of assist, but here again there are six. The really cool thing about changing assist levels (by pressing the + or – buttons) is that the levels loop from six back down to zero and also the reverse. This saves you time and finger fatigue. Unfortunately, the display panel is not easily removable, and may take scratches and sun fade over time. It cannot be swiveled easily to reduce glare (and if you leave the mounting bracket too loose, pressing the buttons will spin the display and be frustrating). I hear owners talk about covering their displays with their helmets, and some have used plastic sacks when it rains or snows, but you don’t want to trap water in with the display either because it can vaporize and get inside the electronics as the temperature heats up. I don’t mean to be alarmist, I’m just digging in deeper here since Amego is based in Canada where it snows in more locations, and where it rains in Tornoto specifically. Worst case scenario is that you order a replacement screen, mount it to the bar, and plug it into the quick-connect wire that was used for the original display. Other quick tips here include holding the + button for backlighting (I like that you can run both lights without having the display always being bright and potentially distracting), and holding the – key for walk assist. This can be very useful for a heavier ebike when walking up a hill, through grass in a park where bikes shouldn’t be ridden, or if you get a flat tire and need to walk home.
All things considered, the Amego Infinite is a very cool electric bike that delivers a zippy ride in a beautiful package. I feel like it is a great balance of safety, features, and reliability while maintaining a value priced spot in overall cost. There are some tradeoffs however. For example, the rear light is not integrated into the main battery and both lights you have to turn off by hand which could drain the battery should you forget. Both the kickstand and the charging port are located near the crank arm. Potentially, the crank arm could snag the charging cable, or you could get pedal lock when reversing with the kickstand down. Kind of some minor gripes, but something you may want to consider if you are looking at the Infinite Step-Thru. It is hard to knock the bike however, at $1,999 USD, it really offers a lot from rack, fenders, lights, front suspension fork, and even a suspension seat post! I think this is a great offering from Amego and I would like to thank them for the opportunity to check it out.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Amego Ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- Comfortable and highly adjustable, the suspension fork and seat post are a little basic (keeping them more affordable) but they pair nicely with the gel saddle, tool-free adjustable stem, swept back handlebar, and ergonomic grips for a more relaxed and comfortable ride
- Comes in a high-step and step-through, with the step-through coming in a 26” tire version and the high-step coming in both a 26” and 27.5” tire options
- The Amego Infinite is feature complete, meaning that it comes with fenders, a rear rack, and lights to keep you safe at night, this product offers a lot of utility and goes above and beyond with reflective sidewall tires that are also puncture resistant
- For those who want to add an additional light or power their phone on the go, the battery pack has a full sized USB Type A port on the top right, potentially, you can use a right angle adapter and some zip ties to connect without having wires stick out too much (getting in the way of your right leg while pedaling)
- With a large alloy chainring protector and tough steel derailleur guard, the drivetrain on this bike seems well protected, even the motor power cable is protected on the right side
- Minor pro here, but I love the pedals used here because they are stiff, offer good traction, and provide more surface area than the cheap cage-style steel pedals I see on a lot of other more affordable ebike products
- The display panel is easy to read and reach, I like that it has backlighting and many adjustable settings, it’s not removable but does seem modular and easy to replace if there’s damage over time, Amego has been in business for several years now and offers a decent one year warranty, so I trust them (they even have a shop in Toronto, Canada, so you could test ride or get in-person help if you live nearby)
- It’s neat that you can charge the battery on or off the bike and I appreciate how it seats into the frame partially, to lower weight and provide more strength
- I’m a huge fan of hydraulic disc brakes, especially for powerful ebikes which tend to weigh more, and you get large 180mm rotor for both front and rear with the Amego Infinite Step-Thru, as well as a motor inhibitor on the left brake
- You can choose many ways to ride this ebike including pedal assist, limited speed, throttle on demand (and throttle override of assist), or higher-speed pedal assist for commuting on streets
- The controller is well protected and Amego will soon be offering controller upgrades so you can get a more dialed in feel of the pedal assist to your licking
- I like how the branding on this e-bike is understated, it doesn’t have a huge company logo or flashy designs that end up looking cheap, all of the black hardware ties into the small black company logo on the downtube
- I like that the level of pedal assist can circle down from 0 all the way up to 6 or go from 6 all the way down to zero without having to click +, +, +, or -, -, -, a bunch of times
Cons:
- The controller box on this bike is a bit exposed at the base of the downtube, it runs higher current and needed to dissipate heat, so functionally it’s a good design and seemed well sealed and protected by the chainring but looks a bit off aesthetically (most ebikes have the controller built into the battery, but the heat can damage the cells and make replacement packs more expensive)
- It’s great to have front and rear lights, but the backlight is independent and runs on disposable AA cells, you have to remember to turn it on and off for each ride and the headlight also has a physical on/off switch which is unique, usually they turn on when you activate the display backlighting… but at least the headlight is powered by the main rechargeable battery pack
- The kickstand worked well enough, holding the bike up straight, but is directly in the path of the left crank arm, this means you can get pedal locked when backing the bike out if you don’t first stow the stand, the charging port is also in the path of the crank arm and you could get the charging cable snagged or broken if you aren’t careful
- The rear rack looks good, seems secure, and offers a triple-bungee for securing small objects as well as pannier blockers to support larger side bags, but it’s positioned in the way of the saddle if you lower the seat all the way, this could impact what kinds of trunk bags you can fit on the bike
- The headlight is attached to the fork arch and will travel up and down as the suspension activates on bumpy terrain, ideally, it would be positioned on the headset, stem, or handlebar to be sprung by the suspension vs. attached to it
- Minor considerations: keep an eye on the adjustable stem and keep it tight because I have seen them slide all the way forward for some larger riders who stopped hard or put a lot of pressure on them, it would be nice if the chainring had two metal plates or a full plastic guide to reduce chain drops vs. a single side guard, the rear wheel is more difficult to get off because of the motor and power cable going to it and does not have quick release like the front wheel (or many mid-drive ebikes)
- This isn’t a huge complaint, it might actually be good for some riders, but the throttle is always active once the bike is turned on, even in level zero, so be careful not to bump it accidentally… always turn the bike off when mounting/dismounting for safety
Resources:
Lena
5 years agoThanks for the review (and all your ebike reviews and videos). I am considering purchasing an ebike. This would be my first so I am becoming familiar with the terms. Right now, I’m considering this bike and the Rad Power RadCity Step-Thru bike. Some questions I have concern my height (I’m a 5’3″) and the overall longevity of the motor and battery of the RadCity and the Amego Infinite. It seems that the RadCity Step-Thru may be a safer bet but any thoughts or considerations for the Amego Infinite Step Thru? The founder in the video mentioned she was 5’5″ and she didn’t have any issues. I would probably need to opt for the 26″ tires. As for the battery and motor, do you have any thought as to which ones might be better quality and long lasting? I know the RadCity battery is made by Samsung and I’ve never heard of the other battery maker for the Amego. I wonder how well both would hold their charge over time. Thanks!
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Lena! I think you’ll have a similar experience on both of these ebikes, but the motor on the RadCity is a bit heavier and has some magnetic drag due to cogging. Not a lot, but it is there. That motor is very quiet and very durable… but the planetary geared motor will be slightly lighter and freewheel without the touch of drag. Outside of that, Rad Power Bikes is probably better known by the general public, which could influence resale. I feel that Amego has excellent customer support, but Rad Power Bikes is like the best in the industry… with seven days of staff ready for calls and stuff. Both companies have a presence in Canada but Rad Power Bikes has an actual headquarters in the US. I think Virginia is also in some sort of relationship with a California shop that offers support. If you like the Amego Infinite Step-Thru, I’d consider it a trustworthy and good product. Perhaps you could call Virginia or another employee at the shop to ask any other questions and get that last bit of comfort. I hope this comment helps and doesn’t just add confusion with the details and technical perspective ;)
ReplyFilipe
5 years agoHi! First, thanks for your great reviews and videos. They have been extremely important for the research I’ve been doing in order to buy my first ebike. Well… My doubt is between this new Amego Infinite Step-Thru and the classic Elby Bike. One information: I live in Canada and I will buy from Amego Online Store, no matter the bike I choose. So, Virginia’s store is my only know choice by now :) Anyway, I have seen videos in YouTube, and even Virginia did excellent comments about both bikes (actually she did ads riding both bikes!). This is great, however, it also increased my doubts: which one to buy!?!?! Nowadays, the price difference in Canadian dollars is about 500 to 700. So, Elby is more expensive. The question is: does it worth the difference? As I said, Amego Online Store seems to be excellent (in prices, information and support) and Virginia is also great. But both bicycles are being well commented by her (and also by EBR). Which one should I buy?
For the record, I will use it almost everyday to ride between 20 to 60 km. There is a hill to climb in my daily path, which is steep enough to demand a good engine, but I have tested an Elby there and it was ok (I did a Test Drive). However, even after this test I am still in doubt (in part because I cannot test this new Amego in the same path).
Please, give me some advice!
ReplyTHANKS!
Filipe.
Court
5 years agoHi Felipe! I’d probably go with the Amego Infinite. Geared motors tend to be very zippy and may climb better than gearless (especially if starting from a slow speed). Amego has good customer service and the bike is a great value. I do like Elby, but unless you really want that deep step-thru design, I think the Infinite will be a good choice and I’m sure that Virginia and her team will take good care of you :)
ReplyChristian Beaupre
5 years agoHi guys, Court, I was just wondering how these bikes fare in the rain? I have ridden my Pedego City Commuter in all kinds of torrent with no issue, just a bit of water in the box.
My intention is to retire the Pedego and purchase an Amego.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Christian! That’s a good question. I actually owned a Pedego City Commuter six years ago (right when they first came out), and my experience was that the LCD screen got a bit misty after it rained and got warm in Austin, TX (where I was living at the time). I’m not sure if your display is much different than the one I had… In any case, the Amego products are sold by a dealer who is based in Toronto, Canada where it gets wet and cold. I haven’t used the product in the rain, but the founder, Virginia, has. I think they would do pretty well, and I suspect that they offer replacement parts and provide a higher level of service than some competing affordable ebikes because she runs a physical store. My experience with Amego has been that they do a good job. Just my two-cents, I know that Pedego has great dealers and also provides great support. What’s the big thing pushing you from your existing Pedego City Commuter towards the Amego Infinite Step-Thru?
ReplyChristian Beaupre
5 years agoWell, the Pedego is getting old, and needs tons of repairs, as well as a new battery. The cost of all that would be the cost of a new Amego, more or less. Additionally the Amego has a 500 watt motor vs my 400watt on the Pedego, and a far better battery. On the Pedego I have a 36V 15ah battery.
Finally, the hydraulic brakes and the presence of front shocks on the Amego would be a nice change.
CB
Mark B
5 years agoHi Court and team. So, can’t help but notice, since I just got a Magnum UI6 for my wife… this bike appears to be the Magnum Metro. Same frame, same motor, nearly identical specs. Are they selling under multiple brand names or something?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Mark! Great question, there are several companies selling bikes that use the same Reention battery pack and similar frames and components. Some that come to mind are Amego, Magnum, Surface 604, and NCM. No, the bikes aren’t identical, but the battery packs, frame interface, sometimes the wheels etc. are very close because they are all sourcing from the same value/quality suppliers. If you’re in Canada, you might prefer Amego since it’s sold by Virginia at her awesome store in Toronto. If you’re in the US, there may be a number of Magnum dealers or you could visit their headquarters store in Salt Lake City :)
ReplyFrank Petronis
2 years agoI own an Amego Infinite and I was wondering if you could tell me what company makes this ebike. Is it NCM or Magnum or perhaps someone else?
Thanks,
ReplyFrank
Court
2 years agoHi Frank! I believe that Leon Cycles makes most of these other models including NCM, some Magnum, and Amego. They might make even more ebikes that I’m forgetting. I seem to remember that Virginia, the founder of Amego, mentioned she was impressed with Leon himself and enjoyed working with him. I believe she refined her designs and colors but used some of his frames and base setups.
Reply