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EVELO Galaxy 500 Review

Evelo Galaxy 500 Gates Carbon 55 Tooth Cog Chainring

Evelo Galaxy 500 55kg Rear Rack With Battery

Evelo Galaxy 500 Greenway 36 Volt 13 Amp Hour Removable Battery Pack

Evelo Galaxy 500 Swept Back Handlebar Riser Stem

Evelo Galaxy 500 Ergonomic Rubber Grips Trigger Throttle Button Pad

Evelo Galaxy 500 Enviolo Automatic Electronic Twist Shifter

Evelo Galaxy 500 Spanninga Kendo Led Headlight

Evelo Galaxy 500 Spanninga Lineo 2 Led Rear Light

Evelo Galaxy 500 Cst Cyclops 24 2.4 Inch Tires

Evelo Galaxy 500 Aluminum Alloy Step Thru Frame With Bottle Cage Bosses

Evelo Galaxy 500 Selle Royal Springer Comfort Saddle

Evelo Galaxy 500 180mm Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brake Front

Evelo Galaxy 500 Enviolo Automatic Electronic Cvt Drivetrain

Evelo Galaxy 500 Enviolo Continuously Variable Transmission Hub

Evelo Galaxy 500 Mid Frame Kickstand 160mm Rear Disc Brake

Evelo Galaxy 500 Rigid Aluminum Alloy Fork With Quick Release Wheel

Evelo Galaxy 500 Keys Tool Set 2 Amp Charger

Evelo Galaxy 500 Wellgo Pedals And Qr Skewer

A small, approachable, city-cruiser electric bike with 24 inch wheels that bring the frame closer to the ground and comfortable 2.4 inch wide tires that improve stability and reduce vibration. The deep step-thru frame is easy to mount and stabilize but still very strong. It offers a maximum weight capacity of 300lbs! You get advanced pedal assist, trigger throttle, and it has brake lever motor inhibitors.
The included plastic fenders are durable and fairly quiet. The sturdy rear rack provides extra space for hauling cargo on top and doesn't block the seat from going extra low. Integrated lights help keep you visible at night, and the metallic silver paint job also stands out. Overall, great aesthetic here that could work for guys or girls.
The comfortable sprung saddle, swept back handlebars, and elongated 45-degree stem provide an upright relaxed body position. The bike is approachable, easy to ride, and adjustable enough to fit riders 4ft 9in to 5ft 10in according to their website. I'm 5ft 9in and it worked well for me. Hydraulic disc brakes and electronic automatic shifting is intuitive and easier to actuate than mechanical. The bike can go up to 25mph if you change the speed for 'off road' use, which might appeal to some people.
Rear heavy design with the battery positioned high and at the back, but the rack protects it well and the bike did not suffer from speed wobble or too much frame flex. The display is fairly simple, it doesn't include as many readouts and it doesn't have a USB charging port built in. EVELO sells mostly direct, so there's some effort and assembly required to get things going. Only one frame size option here, consider the EVELO Aurora for a larger, more powerful, fairly similar product.

Make:

EVELO

Model:

Galaxy 500

Price:

$3,999 (Free Shipping to the Contiguous US)

Body Position:

Upright, Upright Relaxed

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Cruising, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

21 Day At-Home Trial, 4 Year Comprehensive (20,000 Mile)

Availability:

United States, Canada

Model Year:

2020

Total Weight:

59.3 lbs (26.89 kg)

Battery Weight:

7.4 lbs (3.35 kg)

Motor Weight:

9 lbs (4.08 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 High-Strength Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

15 in (38.1 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

38cm Seat Tube, 56cm Reach, 40cm Stand Over Height, 74cm Minimum Saddle Height, 66cm Width, 175cm Length, 109cm Wheelbase

Frame Types:

Step-Thru

Frame Colors:

Gloss Metallic Dark Grey with Metallic Light Grey, White, and Orange Accents

Frame Fork Details:

Custom Rigid 6061 Aluminum Alloy, 52mm Offset, 100mm Hub Spacing, 9mm Axle with Quick Release Skewer

Frame Rear Details:

Frame Split on Right Seat Stay for Belt Removal, Enviolo Sliding Dropout, 135mm Hub Spacing, 10mm x 1mm Pitch Threaded Keyed Axle with 15mm Nuts

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack, Fenders, Chain Cover, Bottle Cage, Cafe Lock

Gearing Details:

1 Speed 1x∞ Enviolo Automatic Continuously Variable Transmission 380° Gear Range Equivalent to 11-42T Cassette (Fully Automatic Electronic Shifting System), 22 Tooth Rear Cog

Shifter Details:

Enviolo NuVinci Optimized Half-Grip Twist Shifter on Right Bar (Electronic Shifting, Choose Adaptive Cadence or Fixed Cadence with Silver Button) (Optional NuVinci Grip Twist on Right Bar)

Cranks:

Forged Aluminum Alloy Crank Arms, 170mm Length, 55 Tooth Gates Carbon Drive CDX Belt Ring Chainring

Pedals:

Wellgo C235 Aluminum Alloy Platform, Rubberized Grip

Headset:

Integrated, Sealed Cartridge, Straight 1-1/8" (44mm Outer Diameter)

Stem:

Satori Stargazer Aluminum Alloy, 45° Angle, 15mm Base, 110mm Length, Three 10mm Spacers, One 18mm Tapered Bottom Spacer, 31.8mm Handlebar Clamp Diameter

Handlebar:

Promax HBM-301, Swept Back, Aluminum Alloy, 80mm Rise, 20° Back Sweep, 640mm Width

Brake Details:

Tektro Auriga E-Comp Hydraulic Disc with 180mm Front Rotor and 160mm Rear Rotor, Dual-Piston Calipers, Tektro Auriga E-Comp 3-Finger Levers with Motor Inhibitors and Adjustable Reach

Grips:

Velo, Rubber, Ergonomic, Non-Locking

Saddle:

Selle Royal RoyalGel Springer Comfort Saddle (Optional Upgrade Program)

Seat Post:

Aluminum Alloy, Single-Bolt Forged Head

Seat Post Length:

350 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

27.2 mm

Rims:

Aluminum Alloy, Double Wall, 45mm Outer Width, 36 Hole, Black

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 13 Gauge, Silver with Adjustable Nipples

Tire Brand:

CST Cyclops, 24" x 2.4" (61-507)

Wheel Sizes:

24 in (60.96cm)

Tire Details:

35 to 65 PSI, 2.5 to 4.5 BAR, Aramid Puncture Protection Belt

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Mid-Mounted Single Side Adjustable Length Kickstand, Aluminum Alloy Rear Rack with Pannier Blockers (25kg / 55lb Max Weight), Spanninga Integrated Kendo+ LED Headlight (30 Lux Output), Spanninga Lineo Integrated LED Backlight (10 Candella Output, Bright Mode when Braking), Plastic Fenders (70mm Width)

Other:

Locking Removable Rear Rack Mounted Battery Pack, Sans 1.3lb 42 Volt 2 Amp Battery Charger, 350lb Max Weight Rating, Gates Carbon Belt Drive with CDX:EXP, 110 RPM Max Motor Cadence Support

Motor Brand:

Dapu MD-250 with Custom Controller for Higher Output

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

500 watts

Motor Peak Output:

600 watts

Motor Torque:

90 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Panasonic or Samsung (A Rated Cells), Greeenway (Battery Assembler), 18650 Cells (Optional Panasonic)

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

13 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

468 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

6 hours (Up to 6 With Larger Pack)

Estimated Min Range:

30 miles (48 km)

Estimated Max Range:

50 miles (80 km)

Display Type:

Dapu, Fixed, Adjustable Angle, 3.25" Color Backlit LCD

Readouts:

Current Speed (MPH/KMH), Odometer, Trip Distance, Battery Charge Level (5 Bars), Assist Level (0-5)

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad on Left, Buttons: +, -, Set, Power, Walk Mode: Hold -, Lights: Tap Power when Powered On, Settings Menu: Hold Set when Powered On

Drive Mode:

Advanced Pedal Assist, Trigger Throttle (Combined Cadence, Torque, and Speed Sensor)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)(Unlockable 25mph Off-Road Mode)

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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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To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I regularly charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by EVELO, who sent me the bike to keep. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of EVELO products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the EVELO electric bike forums.

Observations:

EVELO launched the Galaxy series with the Galaxy ST in 2017 and then followed it up with the Galaxy 24″ in 2019/2019. That model came in two different versions, including a “fully loaded” setup with premium touch points and brakes. EVELO has simplified with their latest Galaxy 500, which resembles the “fully loaded” Galaxy 24″ except it now uses a Dapu mid-drive motor vs. Bafang. They said that the reliability of the motor and display has been improved, and my experience riding the bike has been great.
EVELO is one of the few ebike companies that I’ve seen using belt drives, continuously variable transmission systems, and electronic shifting. When you consider their mid-level price points, these components really stand out and set them apart. The company is also widely recognized as offering some of the best customer service, including a trial period where individuals can buy and test a bike and then receive a full refund if the product is not a perfect fit. They offer an outstanding four year warranty, and they have been in business since 2011. This makes them one of the oldest dedicated electric bike companies in North America.

Pros:

The EVELO Galaxy 500 is a premium build with smooth welds on the frame, internally routed cables, two-tone metallic paint job, and expertly chosen accessories (fenders, rear rack, lights).
I love how they setup the throttle, it activates from standstill in any of the five assist levels and offers full power based on how far you press the trigger. It’s a great setup that is very empowering, and is an improvement over their older designs.
EVELO switched to Dapu from Bafang in recent years, because it allowed them to offer throttle on demand and has been more reliable (including the display). Pedego is another company that I trust who has used this drive system, and the feedback seems to be very positive. I believe that Dapu is a Japanese brand.
The motor controller is fairly advanced, measuring rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque. This makes the bike feel natural and smooth when starting and accelerating. Both brake levers have motor inhibitors, so stopping is also nearly instant and adds an extra level of control. Many similar products that use mid-drive motors with advanced sensors like this do not have motor inhibiting brake levers or offer throttle mode. That really makes the bike unique.
The main tube is extra wide and flared at the end to add strength, which reduces frame flex. The welding job here is excellent, very smooth and beautiful. Internally routed cables are protected and hidden for a nice aesthetic, once they enter at the top of the downtube and before exiting at the top of the seat tube.
High volume puncture resistant tires give this bike a smoother feel and increased durability. They lower the attack angle, performing and handling more like a 26″ wheel while still keeping the bike frame low to the ground for approachability and stabilizing at standstill.
The combination of high volume tires, 45+mm of spacers and a 45-degree 120mm riser stem, swept back handlebars, ergonomic grips, and sprung gel saddle all make this a very comfortable ebike. This is important, because the Galaxy 500 does not have a suspension fork or suspension seat post. Overall, it works great, and you could add a 27.2mm suspension post aftermarket if you wanted to.
The battery pack is removable for reduced weight when lifting/servicing, and it makes charging and storing more convenient! Avoid extreme heat and cold to help extend battery pack life. Consider using the hidden red toggle switch to disable the battery pack when the bike is locked in public places to deter tampering.
The LCD display panel is large, easy to read, very intuitive to use, and has lots of advanced options such as brightness adjust, max speed adjust (so you could lower it from 20mph or go up to 25mph for “off road” use) and there’s even a password option to further secure the bike when locked outside.
The frame has bottle cage bosses on the downtube, in an easy to reach location! Whether you use them for a bottle, folding lock, mini pump, or other accessory (or none at all), it’s nice to have the option. The frame also has a mounting point for adding a cafe lock to the rear wheel. This is a popular European accessory that is rarely available for North America ebikes. Great job EVELO!
The hydraulic disc brakes are great, notice the larger 180mm front rotor that adds mechanical leverage and cooling ability as weight shifts forward. The hydraulic disc brake levers both have motor inhibitors and offer adjustable reach to better fit different hand sizes!
The Enviolo Automatic is a very cool drivetrain because it allows for shifting at standstill, and provides two shifting modes. The first is blue, which lets you pick a cadence speed that will stay the same even as the bike goes faster or slower (automatically adjusting based on terrain and workload). The second is orange, which lets you choose a gearing ratio that remains constant, this is more like a gear on a traditional bicycle… a low gear will feel comfortable when climbing but may have you spinning fast and feeling slow on flat or downhill sections.
Gates Carbon belt drive is super quiet, lightweight, and durable. I’m told that they tend to last longer than traditional chains, and they don’t bounce around or fall off as easily. Gates has a special CDX center-track design that keeps their belt on track, and it has worked well during the hundreds of test rides and reviews I’ve conducted using it over the years.
The button pad that controls the display is very intuitive. The + and – buttons raise or lower assist and the power button activates lights when pressed after the bike is already on. In doing so, it also changes the display color scheme to be darker, so as not to ruin night vision. Holding the Set button will allow you to change the units, adjust the top speed, and even adjust the brightness.
The battery pack and cells come from a company called Greenway that is said to be very reliable. I believe that many of the production bikes actually come with Panasonic cells inside, which are also known for being some of the highest quality and most reliable. Given the four year warranty from EVELO, I get the sense that they just go for quality all around.
It’s really expensive to develop a frame that can work with belt drives, so that’s a big deal and something that really sets the Evelo Galaxy models apart, they had to engineer a break in the frame (a cutout on the rear right seat stay) for the belt to go through since it cannot be unlinked like a chain. Even with this cut out, it’s impressive that the bike is rated up to 300lbs!
Moving the weight of the bike and riders takes a lot of power, mid-drives tend to be some of the most powerful when combined with a gearing system (the Enviolo CVT in this case), and since the motor is rated up to 90 newton meters, this is actually one of the most powerful ebikes around right now. The larger EVELO Aurora is going to be similar in terms of torque, but has a higher watt rating for the motor.
Interestingly, even though the battery and heavier NuVinci CVP hub are towards the rear of the bike, it balanced out well when we lifted just in front of the saddle. I think this has to do with motor weight being low and center.
I was delighted to learn that the electronic shifting for the Enviolo Automatic runs off of the main ebike battery! If it senses the battery getting low, it will automatically shift to the lowest gear so you can pedal home without struggling if the battery completely runs out.
I love how easy the battery charging port is to reach (at the back left corner of the battery pack). This means you won’t have to bend down to plug it in, and you won’t be running wires near the cranks and other moving parts of the bike.
The rear light turns on and goes bright whenever you pull the brake lever. So, even if the lights are already on, it gets even brighter to help keep you visible! This is due to the motor inhibitors that also send a signal to cut power when braking. It’s a nice setup.

Cons:

The kickstand performs well, doesn’t rattle a lot, and didn’t feel loose at all, but it can create pedal lock if left deployed while backing the bike up (or if the pedals are rotated backwards). This is because it’s mounted behind the bottom bracket vs. further back on the left chainstay. Keep this in mind if you’re baking the bike out of a tight space like a garage or other storage area, because once it’s locked, you’ll need to move the bike forward and push the pedals simultaneously to stow the stand… and that can be tricky.
EVELO chose a rear rack battery mount for the Galaxy 500 because it frees up the center of the frame and allows the length to be shorter (creating a shorter reach for upright body position). I’m not a huge fan of this battery position because it can increase frame flex and lead to speed wobble, it also changes handling. Ideally, battery weight and motor weight would be low and center. Overall, they did a good job with the rack and overbuilt the frame to address performance, so this is only a minor issue and a reasonable compromise to improve approachability.
I like how the tires are just black; there’s no big flashy busy branding going on. However, they do not have reflective sidewall stripes, which could enhance your visual footprint and overall safety. Considering the silver frame and integrated lights, this is still a very visible product compared to most.
There are LOTS of wires at the front of the bike because this ebike has so many systems and sensors going on. Additional wires include brake motor inhibitors, throttle, and independent button pad (along with standard brake lines, display panel, and shifter cable). These extra wires join together in one big bundle which passes very close to the headlight, and sometimes bumps it. This could impact the positioning of the light, so keep an eye on the bolt that secures it.
Since EVELO mostly sells direct (aside from a few dealers and their flagship Seattle warehouse, where you can test ride and buy in person), most customers will perform some assembly. The bike is fairly heavy and that requires extra time and strength to deal with… there’s also some foam and cardboard to deal with. It’s less convenient than going to an ebike shop, and that goes for maintenance service as well. Thankfully, this mid-drive motor, belt drive, and CVT hub should be extremely reliable.
It would be nice if the display had more readouts like average speed, max speed, estimated range, and showed battery percentage vs. five bars (representing 20% increments). I would also love to have a USB charging port to fill my phone from the ebike battery if it was being used for GPS or other apps. The button pad + and – buttons required a more intentional press during my reviews, and occasionally didn’t respond; requiring additional presses.
The Enviolo NuVinci continuously variable transmission hub is intuitive to shift with, but it’s not as efficient as a standard cassette. It also weighs more because it’s full of traction fluid, and it costs more. For an application like this, I think it’s a great fit, but these are all still considerations to make.
The rear rack is positioned well, and it protects the battery pack and rear light, but some of its weight capacity is used up by the 7.4lb battery pack. There’s room on top for a trunk bag and possibly panniers (especially the kind that hang over the top), but the rack tubing doesn’t offer a lot of space for clip-on panniers due to the battery pack. There is a bungee loop at the bottom of the rack, which could be used to secure lightweight items. I suspect that some chid seats would work, such as the THULE Yepp! Nexxt.
Since the bike only comes in one frame size, it might not fit larger riders. I’m 5’9″ and had to raise the seat as far as it would go to get full leg extension while pedaling. They recommend the Galaxy 500 for riders 4’10” to 5’10” tall and have the EVELO Aurora for larger riders.
This is a minor gripe, but the bike does not have a suspension fork or suspension seat post. Most of the comfort is addressed by higher volume tires, the swept back handlebar with ergonomic grips, and the sprung gel saddle… and it feels pretty good. You could always add a 27.2mm suspension seatpost aftermarket if you wanted to. By skipping the suspension fork, they matched the fork better to the frame color, saved money, reduced weight, and reduced frame flex.
Considering that EVELO is smaller and less well known than Trek, Specialized, or Giant, this ebike is priced fairly high. I think the components, quality of the build, and excellent customer service justify this price, but it is still on the expensive side, and that’s a consideration.
The Galaxy models are definitely on the heavy side, this one weighs about 59.3 pounds, and some of that is due to the reinforced frame, fenders, and rack, as well as the continuously variable transmission hub. For this reason, it’s nice that the battery can be removed to reduce weight by 7.4 pounds
Make sure that the battery is actually locked into position before you ride away, it doesn’t automatically lock in without you turning the key so I’d probably double check it before riding

Useful Resources:

Official EVELO website

January 29, 2024 (10 months ago)

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Brian Hope

4 years ago

Why not buy an Ariel Rider C-Class literally for half price of this one ? Ariel seems to have better specs except drive train.

Court

Hey Brian! I reached out to Ariel Rider to see if we can get a C-Class to do a review. You’re correct, it is less expensive… but I think the frame is larger. The chain and internally geared hub vs. Enviolo CVT here is a big price difference. These parts alone can easily make up that cost difference. For some people, the clean, quiet, reliability and smooth or automatic shifting is worth it. For what it is, I feel that the Galaxy 500 is awesome… but it is a more premium offering for sure :)

Dave

Hi Court,

Outstanding review. Thank you. I’m considering this model for my 5’6″ tall wife and it seems ideal as she wants a step thru ebike. What I’m trying to understand and wasn’t fully discussed during your ride evaluation is the interaction between the PAS modes and the shifter manual or automatic modes. You clearly explain how the shift mode can be adjusted for level surfaces and going up hills but I’m still unclear about how PAS level interacts with this shifter. Could you give a few examples of how PAS level affects shifter mode and when you might adjust PAS and shift mode for various conditions? Having Judy assist you really gave me a great example of how this bike would work for my wife who is roughly Judy’s size. My wife has never been on an ebike, though she has been riding hybrid bikes for years, so Judy’s comments really help since anything that’s over complicated is going to put her off. It’s called the wife acceptance factor, also known as veto authority, something single guys learn quickly once married.

Haha, thanks for the wisdom there Dave ;) yeah, I offer my girlfriend as much support as I can… and then I also compromise. We have a lot of fun. Judy has a lot of enthusiasm and I like her bravery and quick remarks out there (especially on camera, she’s great). Anyway, I think the easiest way to describe the pedal assist levels is that they offer the potential for more power and speed. Since the PAS sensor is advanced, measuring pedal torque, it won’t necessarily provide more power just because it’s higher… but in general, as you apply standard pressure it will tap into the full power of the selected level of assist. That means, standard pressure in level 1 will not be as powerful or fast as level 2, 3, 4 etc. I hope this makes sense! When combined with the gearing of the drivetrain, you unlock higher speeds and then achieve the higher speed with the higher level of assist. If you’re in the highest assist or using full throttle power in a very low gear, you won’t actually end up going that fast… the motor will spin up to its max, and that might only be 10mph. If by contrast, you were in the highest assist or throttle but in the highest gear, you might struggle to get speed and then still only reach 7mph or so because there’s a motor speed cutoff in there. Good luck my friend, I hope this helps more than it confuses! And, enjoy the rides with your wife ;)

Hey Court,

Thanks for your great explanation on how this particular system works. Sounds perfect for my wife. To use her metaphor, she doesn’t want a race horse or a wild pony; she wants a well behaved quarter horse with a calm, easy going temperament. Producing reviews which appeal to a wider aged and multi-gender audience really helps we older newcomers. Among the various ebike review sites yours is first on our list while shopping for new ebikes. Currently there is a huge pent-up demand for ebikes among highly diverse cross section of older bike riders who have the time, funds, and desire to get back into or continue biking.