MOD BIKES City+ Review

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Mod Bikes City Plus Electric Bike Review
Mod Bikes City Plus
Mod Bikes City Plus 350 Watt Hub Drive
Mod Bikes City Plus 48v Battery Pack
Mod Bikes City Plus Cockpit View
Mod Bikes City Plus Cast Rims Integrated Headlight
Mod Bikes City Plus Reflective Tires Plastic Fenders
Mod Bikes City Plus Comfort Gel Saddle Suspension Seat Post
Mod Bikes City Plus Sealed 12 Magnet Cadence Sensor
Mod Bikes City Plus Rear Rack Comfort Saddle
Mod Bikes City Plus Shimano Altus System
Mod Bikes City Plus 2amp Battery Charger
Mod Bikes City Plus Stock Folding Black
Mod Bikes City Plus Electric Bike Review
Mod Bikes City Plus
Mod Bikes City Plus 350 Watt Hub Drive
Mod Bikes City Plus 48v Battery Pack
Mod Bikes City Plus Cockpit View
Mod Bikes City Plus Cast Rims Integrated Headlight
Mod Bikes City Plus Reflective Tires Plastic Fenders
Mod Bikes City Plus Comfort Gel Saddle Suspension Seat Post
Mod Bikes City Plus Sealed 12 Magnet Cadence Sensor
Mod Bikes City Plus Rear Rack Comfort Saddle
Mod Bikes City Plus Shimano Altus System
Mod Bikes City Plus 2amp Battery Charger
Mod Bikes City Plus Stock Folding Black

Summary

  • A full featured folding ebike that is supported by a passionate company, comfortable, capable and comes in 2 colors and many optional accessories
  • Great 7 speed Shimano Altus setup as well as hydraulic brakes, thumb throttle, cadence pedal assist, smooth Hengtai hub-drive motor, and a powerful 48v 12ah battery
  • A lot of nice features like the front suspension fork, comfort saddle, password protected display, suspension seat post, fenders, rack, efficient tires, and bottle cage bosses
  • A bit of a limited drive train, seat post has to be removed to get battery in and out, keys must stay in while operating the bike electrically

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

MOD BIKES

Model:

City+

Price:

$1,990 (Free Shipping in Continental US)

Body Position:

Upright

Suggested Use:

Urban, Commuting, Travel

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1), Throttle on Demand (Class 2), Speed Pedelec (Class 3)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

18 Months Comprehensive

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2019

Bicycle Details

Total Weight:

58.8 lbs (26.67 kg)

Battery Weight:

9.8 lbs (4.44 kg)

Motor Weight:

5.6 lbs (2.54 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

14.25 in (36.19 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Unfolded: 14.25" Seat Tube, 22" Reach, 21.5" Stand Over Height, 32.5" Minimum Saddle Height, 24.25" Width, 65.5" Length, Folded: 26.5" Height, 18" Width, 36.5" Length

Frame Types:

Mid-Step, Folding

Frame Colors:

Gloss White, Matte Black

Frame Fork Details:

RST Capa, 50mm Travel, 25mm Steel Stanchions, 100mm Hub Spacing, 10mm Threaded Axle with 15mm Nuts

Frame Rear Details:

142mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Threaded Axle with 10mm Flats and 18mm Nuts

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack, Fenders, Bottle Cage Bosses

Gearing Details:

7 Speed 1x7 Shimano Altus Derailleur, 11-28 Tooth DNP Nickel Plated Cassette

Shifter Details:

Sun-Race M4 Trigger Shifters on Right (Two-Way High, Three-Shift Low)

Cranks:

HDL, Forged Aluminum Alloy, 170mm Length, Square Tapered Spindle, 52 Tooth Steel Chainring with Alloy Guide

Pedals:

Wellgo F-278DU Plastic Platform, Folding with Reflectors

Headset:

Threadless, Internal Cups, Sealed Bearings, 1-1/8" Straight

Stem:

Aluminum Alloy, Folding, Telescoping Height (290mm Base, 170mm Upper Slide), Quick Release

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, Low Rise, 600mm Width

Brake Details:

Tektro HD-E350 Hydraulic Disc with 160mm Rotors, Dual-Piston Calipers, Three-Finger Tektro Levers with Motor Inhibitors and Adjustable Reach

Grips:

Padded, Faux Leather, Stitched, Ergonomic, Locking

Saddle:

Selle Royal LookIn, Gel Comfort, Oversized with Rubber Bumpers

Seat Post:

EXA Form 525 Suspension Seatpost, 40mm Travel, Preload Adjust

Seat Post Length:

400 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

27.2 mm

Rims:

Cast Aluminum Alloy, 37mm Outer Width

Spokes:

6 Cast Supports

Tire Brand:

Kenda K1093, 20" x 2.125" (57-406)

Wheel Sizes:

20 in (50.8cm)

Tire Details:

40 to 65 PSI, 2.8 to 4.6 BAR, Reflective Sidewall Stripe, K-Shield Puncture Protection

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Plastic Fenders with Rubber Mud Flaps, Integrated Star Union QD228 LED Headlight, Integrated Star Union WD129 LED Backlight (2 LED), Aluminum Alloy Bolt-On Rear Rack (25kg 55lb Max Weight), Flick Bell on Right, Center-Mount Adjustable Kickstand, Zippered Cable Wraps

Other:

Locking Removable Seat Tube Mounted Battery Pack with 3 LED Charge Level Indicator, 1.5 lb 2 Amp Charger, 265lb Maximum Weight Rating

Electronic Details

Motor Brand:

Hengtai

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Geared Hub
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

350 watts

Motor Peak Output:

450 watts

Motor Torque:

42 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Unbranded, Pouches

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

12 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

576 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium Polymer

Charge Time:

5.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

25 miles (40 km)

Estimated Max Range:

45 miles (72 km)

Display Type:

KEY, Fixed, Adjustable Angle, Backlit, 3" Grayscale LCD, Integrated 5 Volt 2 Amp USB Type-A Port Below Display

Readouts:

Battery Charge Level (5 Bars), Lights Indicator, Assist Level (0-5 or 0-9), Power Output (Watts), Current Speed (MPH or KMH), Trip Distance, Odometer, Maximum Speed, Average Speed, Ride Time

Display Accessories:

Independent Control Pad on Left, Buttons: +, i, -, Walk, Lights: Hold +, Walk Mode: Hold -, Cycle Readouts: Press Power, Settings: Hold + and - (Clear Trip, Set Unit, Wheel Diameter, Speed Limit, Set Voltage, Set Power, Current, Assistant num, Speed Sensor, Set Backlight, Set Password)

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Trigger Throttle (12-Magnet Sealed Sensor)

Top Speed:

25 mph (40 kph)(20mph or Lower in Settings Menu)

Written Review

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Mod Bikes. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Mod Bikes products.

Mod Bikes is a new company to me, and I can’t help but admire their vision. EBR began in Austin, Texas out of a need to save the environment and money. To my surprise, that need has grown so much that Austin now is home to Mod Bikes, a company based here that sells locally as well as online. Their fonder tells me they plan to expand too. It is easy to see why they are doing well with a combinations of great bikes, commuter options, and a customer centric approach. Make sure to check out the video review to meet him and the team at their flagship store in Austin. Today we are checking out the City +, a hub-drive folding cargo bike with many options and a capable system. Now the name City + might raise the question as to if there is a regular City model. There is, but the + gets upgrades like cast rims, hydraulic brakes, and a 48v system versus a 36v system. The bike comes in 1 frame size and 2 colors (matte black and gloss white) and there is quite a bit of adjustability thanks to the seat post and telescoping stem. The frame itself weighs 58.8lbs, so a little heavy for a folding bike, but that weight does give it an impressive 265lb max weight limit. The tires are nice and efficient with kind of a hybrid tread to them. These are 20” x 2.125” and feature not only reflective sidewalls, but also puncture protection. You also get these nice plastic fenders to keep you dry and they even have mud flaps making them even better. There is a lot of creature comforts here too, like the comfort gel saddle with rubber bumpers, ergonomic grips, suspension seat post, and suspension fork up front. The seat post and fork both have preload adjust and the seat post has 40mm of travel while the front fork has 50mm of travel. I love the battery integrated lights here, they have them both in the front and the rear. The front is this super bright large single LED in the middle while the rear has 2 LED lights. 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. You also get fenders and a rear rack taking that commuting aspect even further. The rear rack is rated for 55lbs of cargo, has standard gage tubing for panniers, and has the ability to fit a child seat. Other features include bottle cage bosses, branded cable wraps, adjustable length kickstand, bell, and folding plastic pedals.

Driving the bike is a 350 watt Hengtai hub drive motor in the rear. This features a thumb throttle on the right as well as a pedal assist via a 12 magnet sealed cadence sensor. The bike is rated for about 23mph and it is a bit faster than the regular City counterpart that is only 20mph. Mechanically, the bike has a 7 speed Shimano Altus (so a nice step up from entry level), but a somewhat limited drivetrain. It is using an 11-28 tooth cassette, but you do get a 52 teeth chain ring up front for good pedaling with an aluminum alloy guide. Stopping the City + is a set of Tketro Auriga 160mm rotor hydraulic disc brakes. These feature dual pistons and motor inhibitors. With a mechanical advantage via the smaller wheel size, this makes for a very capable stopping system.

Powering the bike is a lithium-ion battery pack rated at 48v 12ah mounted behind the seat. The battery has an LED charge level display read out on the body and even a handle to get the battery in and out or carry it around easily. I do have some gripes about the battery and those include a key which has to remain in when riding and the fact that the saddle does not flip up for battery removal like other bikes using a similar system. I wish this thing didn’t have to have the seat post removed each time and that the key did not have to be left in because that introduces the possibility of snags or jingling keys on a keychain. However, these are minor grumbles and don’t really effect the overall experience much and likely won’t bother you too much either. Charging here is done with a bit more basic 2amp charger, but at least it will maintain the battery cycles a little better than burning it out with a super fast 5amp charger. 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.

Using the display is pretty straight forward. The display is grayscale, backlit, but I don’t think it is removable. Once the battery is in place, press ‘i’ on the controls to turn it on. You will notice the display come on and ask for a password. That’s right, this bike is password protected, meaning others can’t activate the system unless they know the code. A great feature and I wish they had it on more bikes. Once you see the main screen, it will show battery read out in 5 bar infographic, mode of assist you are in (0-5) wattage read out and speed. If you press ‘i’ it will cycle through readouts from trips, max speed, average speed, and ride time. To turn on the lights, hold +. Now if you turn those lights off and on 3 times in a row, it will active a flashing mode for the front headlight. Pretty cool! Holding + and – together will take you to a settings menu where you can change things like the max speed or even how many levels of assist you want (can go all the way up to 9). Once in this menu, hold the ‘i’ button to save the settings and exit. There is a walk mode too, with a button on the bottom, just underneath the main controls. Finally, I love that they put a 2v charging USB port on the display so you don’t have to charge off the battery down below. It is in a much better spot for charging a phone or GPS and has the right amount of juice to charge new devices like current generation iPhones.

At the end of the day, the City + is a wonderful bike that features a lot of utility to make it very appealing. The wide range of accessories and customization Mod Bikes offers really takes it to another level. I wanted to call out a couple of tradeoffs though to be fair. As mentioned before, many using this battery design allow for a forward reclining seat so you can pull the battery out easily. On this bike, that is absent, so you must use the quick release lever to remove the seat post to get the battery in and out. Not a big deal, but maybe a consideration for some. Also, this battery design means the keys have to stay in while you ride. If you keep them on a key ring, it means it could jingle around and annoy you or scratch the bike. But these are minor considerations. A couple of bonuses I wanted to mention is that Mod Bikes has an optional velcro strap to keep the bike folded up tight when moving it around. When folded, you can also cart it around on the wheels by holding on to the post and walk it around as shown in the video. I love that Mod Bikes works hard to bring ebikes to not only their flagship store in Austin, but around the country via free shipping to the contingent United States. I want to thank Mod Bikes and look forward to working with them again.

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 Mod Bikes ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)

Pros:

  • A fully featured folding ebike that is supported by a passionate company, comfortable, capable and comes in 2 colors
  • Uses a Hengtai hub-drive with 350 watts, 12 magnet sealed cadance sensor based pedal assist, and a thumb throttle
  • Commuter ready with rear rack, fenders, lights, suspension fork, suspension seat post, adjustable kickstand, and comfort gel saddle with rubber bumpers
  • Mod bikes focuses on commuting so they have a lot of available accessories, they also have an 18 month comprehensive warranty and free shipping in the US
  • Features a 50mm travel RST suspension fork in the front, makes the ride comfortable and aesthetically clean too
  • An included suspension seat post with 40mm of travel and even preload adjust, a great addition to any bike
  • I love that they included battery integrated lights in the front and rear for safety, the front light is a super bright single large LED and the rear is an active brake light
  • A nice 7 speed Shimano Altus system with trigger shifters, 11-28 tooth cassette, and a 52 tooth chain ring up front
  • A folding bike like this should be easy to stop for both safety and performance, luckily, they added a great set of 160mm rotor Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with motor inhibitors to handle the job
  • The 48v 12ah battery is removable and even has a USB port on it if you want to use it to power devices or as a portable power bank
  • The display is easy to read, backlit, can password locks the bike, adjust many settings, and even has a 2v USB for charging all sorts of devices
  • Mod Bikes has an optional velcro strap to keep the bike folded up tight when moving it around, really a nice convenient way to keep things together, some folding bikes don’t have solutions for this
  • When folded, you can cart it around on the wheels by holding on to the post and walk it around as shown in the video
  • Local customers in Austin get some free tune-ups as well as a government rebate just for buying an electric bike

Cons:

  • Others using this battery design allow for a forward reclining seat so you can pull the battery out easily, the City + doesn’t have that, so you must use the quick release lever to remove the seat post to get the battery in and out
  • The 5 bar battery infographic is getting long in the tooth, now-a-days, a lot of displays have battery readouts in percentages so you don’t have to guess if you have 1% or 20% battery left at 1 bar, a minor gripe, but an electric upgrade some bikes are not picking up on
  • This battery design means the keys have to stay in while you ride, if you keep them on a key ring, it means it could jingle around and annoy you or scratch the bike, something to be aware of
  • The high capacity battery and smaller 2amp charger means charging can take a while, however this is actually better for the battery in the long run
  • I love that it includes a kickstand, but it is mounted near the crank arm so you can get annoy pedal lock when reversing and the pedals rotate backwards getting stuck on the kickstand

Resources:

Review Updated On

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