To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by M2S. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of M2S products.
The M2S All Terrain M600 FS name describes the bike well. It is an all terrain ebike with a Bafang M600 mid-drive motor with full suspension. But what it really encompasses is a do it all feeling along with premium components and a powerful setup. Starting at the tires, you have a capable set of Kenda Havok plus size tires, so these are 27.5” x 3”. In the front, you have a SunTour AION fork with an impressive 130mm, lockout, preload adjust, and this really cool sturdy q-loc through axle. The rear suspension is a DNM air setup with 35mm of travel and compression adjust. The overall layout is more on the aggressive side with the active saddle and flat grips, but it is still somewhat comfortable too since the saddle is made of gel and the grips are locking. I love the battery integrated lights here, they have them both in the front and the rear. Safety has always been a priority for myself and other cyclists, so it’s nice to see that more and more companies are including these on ebikes. The bike only comes in one style, this high-step frame, but does come in a multiple sizes. Today we rode the large and it came in at 60lbs total including the battery and everything, so not bad.
Driving the bike is the Bafang M600 mid-drive motor. I think this is a great choice for the active and engaging style of riding that M2S is going for. Bafang has made a name for themselves in the industry with its ubiquitous conversion system; the BBS02, which uses only a cadence sensor to engage pedal assist. Cadence only systems like the BBS02 offer a very “easy-going” sort of ride in which rotating the cranks, at any level of tension, spars the pedal assist. The M600 operates principally using an integrated torque sensor built into the motor housing, and even employ’s Bafang’s own particular set of cranks for precise torque input from the rider. Torque based systems read the amount of torque the rider is putting into the pedals, and delivers pedal assist based on those readings. The riding position of the bike really makes use of the M600 motor, allowing the torque sensor to really get a lot of positive engagement from the rider. The system kicks in very, very quickly when tension on the pedals is expressed, but it’s not so instant that it feels as though it should be tamed. The high top speed is greatly appreciated too. I felt right at home building speed on this platform. At a higher speed, the system seamlessly fades from relying on the torque sensor, to relying more on the cadence sensor (as the mechanical gearing begins to cap out). This torque based system would definitely be the choice for cycling enthusiasts or super commuters alike, looking to utilize the bicycle for the sake of cycling as well. Since the All Terrain M600 FS is using a mid-drive motor, the rider will need to change mechanical gears as the bike gains momentum, in order to maintain a steady build of speed. This is one of the surprising features of the motor; and active shift detection. While I’m not certain the methodology, the M600 cuts power to the motor during shifting which relieves excess tension on the chain and allows the rider to shift gears at full throttle without stressing the drivetrain. Mechanically, the bike is rounded off with a nice 9 speed Shimano Alivio system with trigger shifters. It has an 11-34 tooth cassette and a 40 tooth chain ring up front. Stopping the bike is this great set of 180mm rotor Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. These have 3 finger levers as well as dual pistons and really offers great stopping power for such a speedy bike.
Powering the bike is a frame integrated lithium ion battery at 48v 14ah. This is a very high capacity battery and should last most riders for longer than they care to sit on a bicycle seat. The battery is easy to get in and out of the housing and is protected by lock and key. It also has an LED light on it that flashes blue, green, and red, for respective power levels if you are wondering how much juice is left without needing to turn on the bike. The battery here weighs about 6.8lbs and comes with a portable charger that can get it full in about 3 hours. To really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells. Try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry.
Operating the bike fairly easy and is done through this protected backlit grayscale display. I say protected because of the placement between the handlebar and the stem, this surrounds it a bit better if the bike takes a spill, a lot more so than if it were mounted out in the open in the middle like other displays. It shows the speed clearly and in the top right it has a battery info graphic as well as battery percentage. I love this since it leaves the guessing work of how much battery you have. For example, some bikes just show 4 ticks on a battery icon, so when you get down to the last tick, you don’t know if you have 25% battery left, or 1%… really quite a difference, so I am glad they included the percentage here. The buttons also provide vibration when you touch them, AKA ‘haptic feedback’, much like a cell phone would. This is a nice feature, but to be honest, I found the vibration a little loud and annoying, so I turned it off. The controls are on the left and are navigated with a +, -, and power button. To turn the power on, simply hold the power button with the battery in place. While + and – will cycle through the 0-5 modes of pedal assist, pressing the power button will change the status on the on screen display. You will start out showing speed in MPH, but pressing that power button each time will take you through trip, odometer, max speed, calorie counter, range estimator, average speed, ride time, and power output. If you press and hold + and – for a couple seconds, you get a deep dive menu. Here you can adjust some finer settings as well as turn off that haptic feedback if you wish as I did.
If you get a chance to check out the video review, I recommend you take a look at the ride test since it shows me really going off the beaten path and what this bike is made to handle. I think the high quality components match the $3,499 price well. However, let’s look at the tradeoffs. The minimalist display I think might be too small for certain riders, and even the backlight wasn’t very bright, so some may consider it hard to read. Another tradeoff would be the lack of a throttle. I guess this is normal for mountain bikes like this, especially those using Bosch, Brose, and Yamaha systems. The Bafang does great and hangs out well with the competition, but one of the benefits to a Bafang mid-drive is that it can handle a throttle. Some manufacturers add this and it is kind of a neat feature to have there, but the All Terrain M600 FS goes without it, so keep that in mind if it is something you were counting on. That being said, this is probably one of my favorite M2S offerings and I think anyone that picks one up would be pretty happy with it. I would like to thank M2S for sending me the bike and look forward to reviewing others.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own 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 M2S ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- The Bafang M600 is an impressive mid-drive motor that shows it deserves to hang with Bosch, Yamaha, and Brose thanks to its powerful 120nm of torque and shift detection
- The full suspension is capable with lots of adjustment in both the front and rear as well as decent 130mm for the fork and 35mm of travel in the rear
- I love the battery integrated lights here in both the back and the front, they draw power off the main high capacity battery
- Great components like Shimano Alivio derailleur and a big win are these Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brake with 180mm rotors each
Cons:
- The minimalist display I think might be too small for certain riders, and even the backlight wasn’t very bright, so some may consider it hard to read
- One of the typical standout features of the Bafang M600 motor is that it is a mid-drive that can handle a throttle, M2S has decided to go without, still a great system, but some will miss having a throttle
- The motor can get loud in the higher levels of assist, this may not be a big deal to some, but I wouldn’t say this is a quiet bike
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