Name: eVox City Review
Item: eVox City
Author: Court Rye

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eVox City Review

Evox City 20 Magnet Cadence Sensor Chainring

Evox City 96 Volt Mid Frame Removable Battery Pack

Evox City Backlit Fixed Display Stem Integrated

Evox City Rst Single Shock Fork And Fender

Evox City 8 Speed Shimano Acera Drivetrain

Evox City Belt Drive Rear Sprocket Flywheel

A sturdy city style electric bike with easy to mount frame and an extra low seat tube for petite riders, it uses an RFID card to activate for added security
Very unique mid-drive system with a completely separate drivetrain, it uses a belt and flywheel cog that operate independent from the chain and eight speed cassette
The bike is quiet, surprisingly light given the double tube frame, rack and fenders and it comes in multiple battery configurations to hit a low price or go the distance
While you do get pedal assist and throttle mode, the throttle can’t override assist and is limited by power steps so you have to tinker with it more at times

Make:

eVox

Model:

City

Price:

$2,699 (Up to $4,199 with Larger Battery)

Body Position:

Upright

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

1 Year Computer, 2 Year Battery, 5 Year Motor

Availability:

United States, Canada

Model Year:

201520162017

Total Weight:

52 lbs (23.58 kg) (58 lb with Large Battery)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

17 in (43.18 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

17" Seat Tube Length, 22.5" Stand Over Height, 24" Reach, 75" Length

Frame Types:

Step-Thru

Frame Colors:

Blazing Red, Bold Saphire, Lava Grey, Moonlight White

Frame Fork Details:

Aluminum Alloy with RST Single Shock, 9 mm Quick Release Skewer

Frame Rear Details:

9 mm Axle

Attachment Points:

Bottle Cage Bosses, Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses

Gearing Details:

8 Speed 1x8 Shimano Acera, 11-34T

Shifter Details:

microSHIFT Grip Shifter on Left

Cranks:

Forged Alloy, 170 mm Length, 42T Chainring with Alloy Guide

Pedals:

VP Alloy Plastic with Rubber Tread

Headset:

VP Semi-Integrated

Stem:

eVox Alloy, 65 mm Length, Integrated Display and LED Headlight

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, Mid-Rise, 26" Length

Brake Details:

TRP Spyke Mechanical Disc with 160 mm Rotors, 5 Star Levers with Motor Inhibitors

Grips:

Flat Rubber

Saddle:

Velo Comfort

Seat Post:

Aluminum Alloy

Seat Post Length:

550 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

31.6 mm

Rims:

Alexrims DP17, Double Wall, Stainless Reinforcement Eyeletts

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 14 Gauge, Black

Tire Brand:

Maxxis Roamer, 700 x 42c

Wheel Sizes:

28 in (71.12cm)

Tire Details:

50 to 75 PSI, Reflective Sidewall Stripe

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Aluminum Alloy Rear Carry Rack, Fabric Trunk Bag, Plastic Fenders, Adjustable Length Rear Mount Kickstand

Other:

Locking Removable Battery Pack, 2.8 lb 4 Amp Charger

Motor Brand:

DynaMe

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

350 watts

Motor Peak Output:

1000 watts

Motor Torque:

85 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung

Battery Voltage:

96 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

4.38 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

420 wh (Optional 780 Watt Hour)

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

35 miles (56 km)

Estimated Max Range:

85 miles (137 km)

Display Type:

Integrated, Monochrome, Backlit

Readouts:

Speed, Battery Level (1-5), Assist Level (0-5), Odometer, Trip 1, Trip 2, Mode (Throttle, Assist)

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad, RFID Card

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Twist Throttle (20 Magnet Sensor)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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The eVox City is an approachable city style electric bike… Approachable because the frame is lower and the seat post can slide way down to accommodate petite riders. The bike appeared to be very sturdily built but did rattle a bit during my urban test ride. I think the primary culprit was a plastic handle connected to the battery pack. It could have been partially due to the fenders as well. I was confidently told by the rep, who I randomly encountered at a bike shop, that the eVox City is the most popular electric bicycle in Canada! That surprised me because I’ve visited Toronto and Vancouver but had not seen it before. Perhaps it’s used as a bike share platform or I just missed it on prior visits? In any case, I can see why it would be popular given the utilitarian extras and range of battery choices. This is a bike that just feels like it will hold up. It has mechanical disc brakes which are harder to pull but won’t get stuck in sub freezing temperatures. It has an RFID control panel that’s built right into the stem and a four LED headlight that isn’t especially bright or adjustable (thought it does flash) that is also built into the stem. And while it comes in several color options, I’m not sure it would win a beauty contest. It’s strong, offers enough gears to climb or pedal comfortably at speed and is driven by one of the most unique motor systems I’ve ever seen on a mainstream bike.

Unlike most of the mid-drive motors I see and test ride, this one pulls a belt on the left side of the frame while your pedaling pulls a chain on the right. Your person-power functions completely separate from the motor and this has some benefits and drawbacks worth considering. The main strength is that your chain and sprockets aren’t undergoing any additional force and thus, won’t mash and wear prematurely as they often do on Bosch, Yamaha and even Impulse centerdrives. Some of those systems have fancy shift sensing software built in to reduce wear but even then, it just happens. So why aren’t all mid-drives like the eVox City? Well, you don’t get the primary advantage of leverage control. Instead of empowering the motor by shifting to a lower gear as you climb, it only has one cog to turn. Sure, the belt is quiet and clean, the cog has grooves to keep the belt on track and the motor itself is low and centered… right where you’d like it to be for balance and handling. But the motor just isn’t getting the same advantages as most other systems and thus your range might not be as good and you end up with additional weight and a wider rear dropout to accommodate the added cog. Ultimately, I feel it worked alright and appreciated how zippy and quiet it was.

Powering the battery is a high voltage pack that sets vertically into the central area of the frame, the same area you’d stand over when mounting the bike. Perhaps the zippy feeling I described earlier is due to the 96 volts here vs. a more standard 36v or 48v. The pack comes in several sizes with more amp hours raising the price and offering longer rides. Each pack fits into the same physical space and locks in at the base near the left side of the bottom bracket. In the video review above I talk about how the key seems a bit vulnerable here but show that it doesn’t actually snag or bend on the left crank arm. The battery box has a built in LED indicator showing how charged up the cells are which is handy if you’re storing and charging it separately from the bike frame. At the very top is a large plastic handle that folds down when riding… and rattles. This could be solved with a bit of tap perhaps? I guess it’s a good sign that one of my major gripes is a bit of rattling but it was very noticeable on the bumpy city streets.

Operating the bike is very quick and easy but different from most other e-bikes. It’s more secure because you first press the button ring to tell the display that you’re ready to go then swipe an RFID keyfob over the screen to “unlock” it. That’s a neat feature but it can become annoying if you accidentally switch the screen off or misplace the fob. So think about that, you’ve got a key and a fob to keep track of. I’m not sure how many fobs you get with the bike but the one I tested was small and light weight. It’s probably what enables bike share programs and did add a sense of security like people at the rack wouldn’t be able to tamper with your bike and wear the battery down on accident by leaving it on or something. The display itself is simple but easy to read and understand. I was a bit concerned about brightness because it appears to be constantly backlit and there’s a large V logo at the base. Rather than impress and remind me of the brand to share with friends it caused annoyance and a strong desire for electrical tape to cover it up with. There are LED lights built into the front of the stem and they can set to constant on or flashing which is nice but they aren’t aimable or much help with spotting terrain, more about keeping you visible as a rider (along with the reflective sidewall stripes on the tires). The one glaring omission was a rear light… as it stands you’d have to add your own aftermarket solution which would require independent charging and be more prone to theft. My Mom recently lost her bike lights after what she says was a five minute restroom break when she had locked her bike at a city rack. To whomever stole her lights… please don’t put someone’s life at risk to save yourself a few bucks. She had to ride home in the dark after that (as it was dusk) and could have been killed. For that reason, I’m a huge fan of sturdy built-in lights and that’s one thing the eVox City falls short of.

One area the bike shines is utility however and the rear rack comes with a large trunk bag where you can store the quick 4 Amp charger and a light or two. The bike also has a bottle cage mount on the downtube so you can bring some hydration or add a lock or mini pump. I felt that the ride was efficient but slightly more comfortable on average thanks to a mono shock up front and an oversized saddle with rubber bumpers. The bike feels tough but handles well again… at just 52 lbs is amazingly light in my opinion. This is how much some simple hub motor powered electric bikes weigh. Many of them don’t have the fenders or rack and aren’t nearly as approachable. I suppose the Aluminum used by eVox was high quality or their frame was just engineered well. It only comes in one size from what I understand but that makes it easier to produce on bulk to keep that price down. I’m not sure this would be the pic for people who want to hang their bikes on the back of a car (you’d need a frame adapter bar) or those who want to ride a lot off-road or those who want the lightest city solutions but it hits the mark for a ready-for-anyone solution. It’s neat to see a unique approach in the market and whether the rep I met was just being confident or this really is a super star up North, I enjoyed using it and am excited to see what their other models offer in the future. Please chime in if you have experience with the bike or other insights to share :)

Pros:

Apparently this is a very popular electric bicycle in Canada and is even used for some bike share programs! To me, that signals durability and I did appreciate the fenders and rear rack (with included bag for the powerful 4 Amp charger)
Step-thru bikes tend to be easier to mount and this one also has a very low seat tube which means the seat post can slide way down to accommodate shorter riders
Reflective sidewall tape on the tires significantly increases your visual footprint making it safer to ride at night around automobiles
I love that the frame is purpose built with internal cable routing and extra strong tubing, the bottle cage bosses, quality kickstand and multiple frame color options are icing on the cake
Comfort becomes a big deal when you ride at higher speeds and over longer distances (which tends to be very common for people with electric bikes) so I love that they chose a more plush saddle and added a head post shock on the eVox City
The battery pack is very custom and works surprisingly well! It comes in multiple sizes for those who either want to save money or go further and it has an integrated handle for easy removal and separate charging
Mid drive motors bring weight towards the center of a bike frame which improves balance but most of the ones I’ve tested pull the chain and can prematurely wear on sprockets and derailleurs, in this case the motor pulls a completely separate belt and won’t interfere
The bikes seemed average to me at first glance (mechanical disc with 160 mm rotors) but on second thought they would work well in cold environments compared with hydraulic that might start to freeze, the levers are very generic and cheap but have inhibitors to cut power to the motor when squeezed
I was caught off guard by how light this bike is because it looks substantial and heavy (especially with the fenders, rack, double tubing design etc.) my guess was that it would be in the 70 lb range vs. the 52 lbs I weighed
You get an eight speed mid-level derailleur and I love that the chainring has a guide (two plates keeping the chain on track) since this bike offers throttle on demand which seems to bounce chains a bit more than when you’re pedaling along
The motor is fairly quiet, perhaps the belt drive system contributes to this but overall I just didn’t hear the same gear whining sound I do on Bosch, Yamaha and some others
Lots of security with this bike, it cannot be operated without scanning an RFID chip (swiping it over the screen) which is handy if you park in a public spot

Cons:

One of the big advantages of most mid-drive electric bikes is that they can leverage the same gears you’re pedaling with which improves efficiency and climbing power… in this case that strength is missed because the motor drivetrain only turns one cog in the rear that is a fixed size
The single-cog belt drive motor design of this bike adds some complexity as well as weight, you end up with an e-bike that stands alone and might intimidate those who need to transport by car occasionally or bike shops that are standoffish when it comes to unique tech
Throttle power and top speed are limited by the pedal assist level chosen even though you get a variable speed twist throttle… Also, you can’t use the throttle at all when operating in pedal assist. I prefer when you can override assist at full power any time to pass people or top a hill, the way it’s setup there’s just more screwing around to change modes and that’s distracting
In order to get the battery pack off the bike you need a key and the keyhole is very close to the left crank arm so be careful not to pinch your fingers or get it snagged somehow
While riding I noticed that the battery pack handle bounced around a bit and made some noise, a piece of electrical tape underneath might help it fit more snug or at least reduce the plastic rattling noise a bit
The display panel is integrated so you can’t take it off… but it did seem tough! but the actual screen was small… but at least it had some LED lights on the front! but they weren’t especially bright :/ conversely, the display itself (and the big V logo) are bright and tend to shine right in your face when riding so I wish those could be turned down and I’d probably tape over part of the logo just to reduce distraction
I really wish the bike had a rear light… especially if it’s being used for bike share programs, adding one after market diminishes the other security and integration features of the bike
The lower assist levels (1-3) didn’t offer much power or speed, I really started to feel it around level 4 when climbing a small hill, I guess this isn’t terrible because some ebikes offer too much power at level 1 and that can be overwhelming for some

Resources:

Official Site: http://www.evoxbikes.com/
More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/qjZx5AjHpioYSieC8

January 29, 2024 (10 months ago)

eVox KAB 375 Review

MSRP: $2,199
MODEL YEAR: 2017

A very custom engineered mid-drive electric bike from Canada, rather than pulling the chain like other designs, it runs a stand-alone belt drive so as not to mash gears and it is very quiet. Available in four frame sizes and two color combinations but only high-step, at ~45 lbs…...

Read Review

Josh Charron

8 years ago

Hello Court,

I was wondering whether you would ever get to try an Evox. These bikes do enjoy some popularity here (in Montreal), but from what I’m seeing in the streets, the BionX system is far more popular, which is not surprising since it is also made in Canada. I don’t know whether Evox bikes are being used in bike share programs, but if the bike’s appearance feels somewhat familiar, it is because it was designed by the same guy who designed the bike that’s currently used in bike share programs across the continent (Montreal, Toronto, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Minneapolis, etc.) you can see for yourself if you visit this site: https://www.pbsc.com/cities/.

I tried an Evox last fall and decided that it wasn’t for me. I am already an avid cyclist and the Evox struck me as an ebike that was more suited for people who haven’t been on a bike for a while or people who want something that is a cross between a bicycle and a scooter. After reading your reviews and watching your videos, I ended up trying a Felt SportE (Bosch) and a Raleigh Misceo Sport (Shimano StEps) and I bought the latter. Something about it felt more natural to me. I felt the assistance, but it blended nicely with my pedaling style. Also, as you pointed out in you review, it comes well-equipped.

I found your website to be an invaluable source of information and I hope that you’ll keep it going for a long time. Many thanks for your work. One last suggestion, if I may: when you review mountain ebikes, you often pick trails located in splendid areas. It would be nice to know exactly where they are located, just in case your viewers happen to visit California. Best regards.

Court Rye

Hi Josh! What a great comment, I enjoyed hearing your views on different models of ebikes and your perspective on Canadian preferences and trends. BionX is a great company and one of the few that has done regenerative braking well in my opinion. Glad EBR has been useful to you and yes, I plan on keeping it going for a long time. Great suggestions regarding the trails callout, I’ll keep that in mind so people can “ride along” if they visit the areas ;)

Mark

Ninety six volts! Whoa!

These Canadian folks don’t mess around :P

Ned

6 years ago

Hi , I have evox city 420 lost my fob recently retailer more bikes asking 500 – 600 $ for replacement display and new fobs . Just for the future buyer know don’t buy this peace of crap made in Canada / China

Court

Bummer! I’m so sorry to hear this Ned… That does seem like a lot of money to spend just for a display and new fobs. Thanks for sharing so other customers and potential buyers can keep a close eye on the parts. I wish I could do more to help :(

John

Hi! I like your reviews on different subjects. I have two 2017 EVOX electric bicycles. One has no problems, but the other one with 1,000km on it is a pain. Here is my review:

Had to change a motor, a metal part took off from the rotor
Had to change the battery
Had to change the controller board
Had to change 2 top display, the bike cannot run without it
Rattle in the big rear strap gear

The company in Quebec has stop producing the bike during the 2018 summer (I wonder why ???) Too bad for me, my wife’s bike is running perfectly. Very powerful motor. More than 100km on battery and greater on the bigger one. I like the low step. I love the class 2 assistance when I am tired I just turn the handle and come back home smiling. Too bad at this price they did not included a suspension seat post. It does exactly what I want from an E-bike (if mine could only work) I got excellent service from the dealer. (lucky me) Extended warranty help a lot. I tried another brand this week (Moustache from France) Did not like the feeling. Hope they trade my old donkey for a new pony. Please continue your good work my friend.

Hi John! I appreciate your comment, it sounds like the eVox City has been inconsistent for you. On the one hand, it’s great that you’ve been able to ride with your wife, and her’s has worked okay. The problems you listed in your review are pretty serious, I’m sorry that you’ve had to go through so much difficulty and waiting for fixes… I feel sorry for your local shop too. Probably best that eVox is discontinuing. I sincerely hope that your next electric bike is better, and yes! I will continue reviewing ebikes here and welcome your feedback and input so people know what works and what has problems. Thanks again.

Here is the follow up on my Evox.

The company wanted my Evox bike to rebuild it completely. I told them that I would not trust it anymore and that I wanted a brand new bike.

They agreed to my request and even if my bike had 14 months of usage, they gave me this morning a brand new bike.

My buddy has 2000km on his bike and still going strong. So thank you Evox for your great service even if the company is close.

John.

Cool, I’m glad it all worked out for you John!