Been looking at ebikes for a couple years. I always kept coming back to your Evelo Omega review. Finally took the plunge and ordered an Omega. Received it today and found it easy to assemble. First ride was a good time! Thank you for your detailed unbiased reviews!
@@mike_majora So far, the bike has been running great. No problems with anything mechanical or electrical. Haven't ridden up any long, steep hills but the smaller hills around my area have been no problem. Maybe someone in a place like Seattle or San Francisco might be able to chime in on hill performance.
I went with this over the specialized turbo 5.0. At $2,800, (this bike is commonly on sale) the features and build quality are unbeatable at this price point. It easily compares to 4 and 5k bikes in terms of ride feel and features. I really wish this bike had a nicer taillight, and maybe front suspension but you cant have it all and evelo definitely put their money where it counts.
A very nice bike indeed. One thing to mention about lower tire pressure v. suspension fork. Lower tire pressure will have a negative effect on the mileage range relative to the battery. It may be only 3 or so miles less in range, but it's there. At this price point as well, I would want the rack to be included. The rack adds another $150 to the price of the bike, and I would suspect most customers would want the rack. As a consumer, I always feel like companies are playing games with me when they leave out certain pieces of equipment and call it an "accessory," then charge for it. A rack is not an "accessory;" it's an integral part of what makes any bike a useful method of transportation. Finally, nothing is mentioned about the rear light, only the front light. On the website the rear light appears to be some tiny little light or maybe just a reflector, but with the rack there appears to be a larger rear light. What's the story there? Another "accessory" upgrade?
Excellent point about how low tire pressure will impact rolling efficiency and range! The rear light is included but kind of blocked by the fender in my opinion. If you get the battery rack, it includes a nicer 2-LED light since the rack blocks the default one. You can see more pictures, including the stock image, back at the site: electricbikereview.com/evelo/2022-omega/
@@ElectricBikeReview Not just the battery rack. The plain rack featuring the wood also has a light on the rear. Not just a light but a brake light also. You simply unplug the light on the seat post & plug in the rack once installed.
The first comment left says "Not sure the auto gearbox is worth another 2k". I have to agree and frankly, I can't help but be skeptical of any e-bike that costs nearly Five Grand. I am certain this a nice bike and a very satisfying riding experience. What concerns me is the cost to repair or replace these "proprietary" parts....and what local bike repair shop would be willing to do them and will they be readily available in 3-5 years time? My ol' 2020 Rad Fat Tire beast will likely be road worthy for 20 or more years with easily sourced, inexpensive, user-replaceable parts....regardless of whether or not RAD is still around. EVELO has likely been around for awhile but will they sell this model in sufficient quantity to ensure their own parts suppliers will offer replacement drivetrain and other components? Who knows....maybe it will never break. 😬🇺🇦
The Enviolo CVT drivetrain is not proprietary to Evelo, Enviolo work with over 100 bike brands, and parts are stocked in the US by bike shop warehouse parts supplier QBP, also by Modern Bike, and Universal Cycles. Automatiq is the second generation of auto-shifters for Enviolo, following the Nuvinci Harmony which Evelo has offered as an option since 2013 when Court reviewed a 1st generation Aurora NuVinci model. A Shimano Inter-5e IGH would be slightly less expensive with automatic Di2 shifting, however it is rated to approximately 70 Nm so it's not as strong, >2020 Enviolo Heavy Duty CVT hubs are rated to 100 Nm for the Cargo, 120 Nm for the Sportive models, so are better able to cope with the torque forces of higher power mid-drive motors. I had my local bike shop convert my Bafang BBS01 DIY ebike with an Enviolo cargo CVT this spring, they ordered the parts through QBP, and with the manual shifter it cost about $850, Automatiq would have cost about another $150. Rohloff and Kindernay hubs offer a wider range of gearing but are more expensive.
It's really nice seeing practical things like The Automatique and the laid back geometry. You can get a suspension stem, but those balloon tires are plenty of cush. It will be more stable than the suspension fork and he is dead on correct about how suspension forks work. If he can get something stem mounted from Knect, that will be a game changer. Just wish they had used better components, butted and round tubing as well. Not only more comfy, but way lighter. Really no excuse not to have a color display as Dapu offers them with USB access. Have been really happy with The Dapu motors we have sold with G20 cargo bikes.
Thanks for the input Mark! EVELO offers unique products, this one rode nicely during my tests and they had specifically set it up with lower tire pressure to feel more comfortable. It was fun to hear directly from John O'Donnell and see him adjust the AUTOMATiQ with the app.
I put a Kinekt suspension stem and seatpost on mine. The seatpost probably wasn't necessary in retrospect. The semi-fat tires are good at smoothing out small bumps, but it was absolutely not enough for Boston potholes. My hands were getting rattled really badly and the Kinekt stem totally cleared it up. It did lower the handlebar position from that big riser stem though, which shifted the ride position a bit. I'm just seeing now that they're selling the higher rise version, Evelo has it listed as "Kinekt Comfort Suspension Stem".
Looks like a great bike in so many ways ... impressive. I guess ive been riding and shifting a bike since around 1970 and still healthy enough that it is hard to see changing. Maybe someday I'd love to find someone in my area so i can try it. I do currently have a good ebike but the big issue is it is about 65 pounds so getting it on my car rack is the most difficult thing about 'riding' my current ebike. Oh .... great thorough review! Thanks!
Find the automatic shifting perfect for my wife. We bought the Aurora Limited with similar function and it has been very good functionally. Her model is a bit heavy which has posed a bit of a problem for us as older adults. A motorized lifting bike carrier is almost a must.
Thanks for the testimonial Wendell! I agree that it would be great to see lighter ebikes that still had all of these cool features. Interesting to see a whole new generation of car racks specifically for heavy ebikes :D
The best ebike reviews, a lot of important info. Thank you. I would like to see a list of the most competent belt drive ebikes in a video or on the site.
What a nice looking bike Court! It even looks like a regular bike. I imagine this would be a great car replacement option for someone who lived in a city with good bike infrastructure.
That's a great suggestion Matthew. This one is setup to be almost maintenance free. The battery is completely hidden and the motor doesn't stand out much. It rode well and seemed very sturdy to me.
I've used the pickup services before, where a company would ship a package and I'd drive across to get it from a holding warehouse in Washington. Never tried it for something this big though :D
Court, do you think the Evelo Omega or the Specialized Turbo Como is better bike? They seem pretty close in comparison but seems the Como little more expensive when you figure the IGH for the Turbo Como is equivalent to the Evelo Omega.
They are pretty close, in my opinion. I do like the options of throttle and open source battery (that can be re-packed eventually) along with the optional second battery pack. These all set EVELO apart, but they don't have the same dealers as Specialized, so that could be a factor. I prefer the style and finish of Specialized, and their app is great, but EVELO has done a great job too. It's pretty close :)
Court, thanks for letting me pick your brain between Evelo Omega and Turbo Como! The latest edition Turbo Como 5 IGH is $5700 but you could order the Como 3 or 4 which are less expensive if you think the tech on those is about the same? The tires on the Omega a little wider but the Turbo Como has different color options? What to do :)
@@ElectricBikeReview I too am between the Como and this Omega, your reviews are so helpful since it is almost impossible to demo anything these days. I would prefer the Como LBS support but Specialized does not even offer a way to buy a replacement battery according to LBS (for now) and the stem is beautiful but what if it does not fit… no way to adjust and forums are 50/50 if you can replace… and who want to replace it after spending $6k!. So I lean Omega just 12k (2 bikes w/extra battery) is a lot to risk for me without LBS support… so I remain undecided… Anyone have a feel for supply of Specialized bikes… does it get better in fall/winter?? Cheers!!
One thing to note is that the Omega has a good bit more motor torque to work with. You would need to get the Como 5.0 to come close to the Omega. As a heavier rider, that was a big selling point for me. That's also another thing where the Omega really shines -- I weigh 285 pounds, so the 350 pound max spec made it an easy choice. I was originally going to buy a Gazelle, but they wouldn't give me a maximum weight spec at all.
Yeah, it's a good point. Maybe they are just too fragile during shipping and in the showroom? Not mandatory, like car mirrors. Maybe we will see more as ebikes continue to catch on and people use them to commute :)
Prolly because it would be either ugly or cheap and most people would just replace it with something they like better anyway. Like what most do with seats.
Can't believe where they put the bottle cage on a step through bike! Totally defeats the whole point of it. Have a look at riese & Muller for bottle mounts.
Fair enough, it probably is not for many people... but it's neat to see the technology. I'm glad some companies are experimenting with it. Definitely cleans up the handlebar and allows for more focus on steering and riding. My Mom has had a couple of cycling accidents and still feels a bit uncertain when it comes to shifting. I could see people like her appreciating this. She takes care of stuff, so might rationalize the price if it becomes her "forever" bicycle.
I guess it's all relative. I try to present the information with accuracy and not pass judgement because I don't want to alienate people with different needs and budgets. I wouldn't get to look at the fancy bikes if I was constantly saying "oh man, this is such a ripoff" and then I wouldn't get exposed to the latest technologies like automatic shifting. I realize it costs a lot, but eventually it might show up on cheaper models too. Some people spend more because they are replacing a car and need reliability, others spend more for performance like you'd get from a Tesla, others spend less for value like a Nissan Leaf or Honda Civic. It's nice to have so many options :)
John talked about how the tires have a lower pressure range, so they will absorb vibration well. It sounds like they are also working on a suspension stem option. The rigid shock prevents dive, improves stiffness, and reduces weight. So they chose to go that way given cruiser neighborhood application of this model.
Been looking at ebikes for a couple years. I always kept coming back to your Evelo Omega review. Finally took the plunge and ordered an Omega. Received it today and found it easy to assemble. First ride was a good time! Thank you for your detailed unbiased reviews!
How's the bike holding up? Also, how do you find it on hills?
@@mike_majora So far, the bike has been running great. No problems with anything mechanical or electrical. Haven't ridden up any long, steep hills but the smaller hills around my area have been no problem. Maybe someone in a place like Seattle or San Francisco might be able to chime in on hill performance.
I went with this over the specialized turbo 5.0.
At $2,800, (this bike is commonly on sale) the features and build quality are unbeatable at this price point. It easily compares to 4 and 5k bikes in terms of ride feel and features.
I really wish this bike had a nicer taillight, and maybe front suspension but you cant have it all and evelo definitely put their money where it counts.
Made the same switch; from enviolo manual to automatique: a really great system (after some time to getting used to not gearing anymore)
Nice, it's great to hear from someone who has tried both and is liking the enviolo setup. Thanks for the feedback Tom!
I got the blue tooth manual shifter. Decided the automatique works so well never installed it.
@@peach495 yeah, some getting used to letting go of idea of gearing, but then all good 🙂
A very nice bike indeed. One thing to mention about lower tire pressure v. suspension fork. Lower tire pressure will have a negative effect on the mileage range relative to the battery. It may be only 3 or so miles less in range, but it's there. At this price point as well, I would want the rack to be included. The rack adds another $150 to the price of the bike, and I would suspect most customers would want the rack. As a consumer, I always feel like companies are playing games with me when they leave out certain pieces of equipment and call it an "accessory," then charge for it. A rack is not an "accessory;" it's an integral part of what makes any bike a useful method of transportation. Finally, nothing is mentioned about the rear light, only the front light. On the website the rear light appears to be some tiny little light or maybe just a reflector, but with the rack there appears to be a larger rear light. What's the story there? Another "accessory" upgrade?
Excellent point about how low tire pressure will impact rolling efficiency and range! The rear light is included but kind of blocked by the fender in my opinion. If you get the battery rack, it includes a nicer 2-LED light since the rack blocks the default one. You can see more pictures, including the stock image, back at the site: electricbikereview.com/evelo/2022-omega/
@@ElectricBikeReview
Not just the battery rack. The plain rack featuring the wood also has a light on the rear. Not just a light but a brake light also. You simply unplug the light on the seat post & plug in the rack once installed.
The first comment left says "Not sure the auto gearbox is worth another 2k". I have to agree and frankly, I can't help but be skeptical of any e-bike that costs nearly Five Grand. I am certain this a nice bike and a very satisfying riding experience. What concerns me is the cost to repair or replace these "proprietary" parts....and what local bike repair shop would be willing to do them and will they be readily available in 3-5 years time? My ol' 2020 Rad Fat Tire beast will likely be road worthy for 20 or more years with easily sourced, inexpensive, user-replaceable parts....regardless of whether or not RAD is still around. EVELO has likely been around for awhile but will they sell this model in sufficient quantity to ensure their own parts suppliers will offer replacement drivetrain and other components? Who knows....maybe it will never break. 😬🇺🇦
also 400 lumen light is fairly weak by current standards also $4,500! bizarre
The people buying this are not going to be around in 20 years. The bike is aimed at a 65 year old retired millionaire to put on the back of their RV
The Enviolo CVT drivetrain is not proprietary to Evelo, Enviolo work with over 100 bike brands, and parts are stocked in the US by bike shop warehouse parts supplier QBP, also by Modern Bike, and Universal Cycles. Automatiq is the second generation of auto-shifters for Enviolo, following the Nuvinci Harmony which Evelo has offered as an option since 2013 when Court reviewed a 1st generation Aurora NuVinci model. A Shimano Inter-5e IGH would be slightly less expensive with automatic Di2 shifting, however it is rated to approximately 70 Nm so it's not as strong, >2020 Enviolo Heavy Duty CVT hubs are rated to 100 Nm for the Cargo, 120 Nm for the Sportive models, so are better able to cope with the torque forces of higher power mid-drive motors. I had my local bike shop convert my Bafang BBS01 DIY ebike with an Enviolo cargo CVT this spring, they ordered the parts through QBP, and with the manual shifter it cost about $850, Automatiq would have cost about another $150. Rohloff and Kindernay hubs offer a wider range of gearing but are more expensive.
It's really nice seeing practical things like The Automatique and the laid back geometry. You can get a suspension stem, but those balloon tires are plenty of cush. It will be more stable than the suspension fork and he is dead on correct about how suspension forks work. If he can get something stem mounted from Knect, that will be a game changer. Just wish they had used better components, butted and round tubing as well. Not only more comfy, but way lighter. Really no excuse not to have a color display as Dapu offers them with USB access. Have been really happy with The Dapu motors we have sold with G20 cargo bikes.
Thanks for the input Mark! EVELO offers unique products, this one rode nicely during my tests and they had specifically set it up with lower tire pressure to feel more comfortable. It was fun to hear directly from John O'Donnell and see him adjust the AUTOMATiQ with the app.
I put a Kinekt suspension stem and seatpost on mine. The seatpost probably wasn't necessary in retrospect. The semi-fat tires are good at smoothing out small bumps, but it was absolutely not enough for Boston potholes. My hands were getting rattled really badly and the Kinekt stem totally cleared it up. It did lower the handlebar position from that big riser stem though, which shifted the ride position a bit. I'm just seeing now that they're selling the higher rise version, Evelo has it listed as "Kinekt Comfort Suspension Stem".
@@WrecklessSandwich just add a riser ahead of it.
Looks like a great bike in so many ways ... impressive. I guess ive been riding and shifting a bike since around 1970 and still healthy enough that it is hard to see changing. Maybe someday I'd love to find someone in my area so i can try it. I do currently have a good ebike but the big issue is it is about 65 pounds so getting it on my car rack is the most difficult thing about 'riding' my current ebike.
Oh .... great thorough review! Thanks!
Find the automatic shifting perfect for my wife. We bought the Aurora Limited with similar function and it has been very good functionally. Her model is a bit heavy which has posed a bit of a problem for us as older adults. A motorized lifting bike carrier is almost a must.
Thanks for the testimonial Wendell! I agree that it would be great to see lighter ebikes that still had all of these cool features. Interesting to see a whole new generation of car racks specifically for heavy ebikes :D
There are bike racks made for the weight of electric bikes that include a ramp. No lifting involved. Look into a company called 1-UP.
The best ebike reviews, a lot of important info. Thank you.
I would like to see a list of the most competent belt drive ebikes in a video or on the site.
What a nice looking bike Court! It even looks like a regular bike. I imagine this would be a great car replacement option for someone who lived in a city with good bike infrastructure.
That's a great suggestion Matthew. This one is setup to be almost maintenance free. The battery is completely hidden and the motor doesn't stand out much. It rode well and seemed very sturdy to me.
Beautiful and capable bike which should appeal to upper income riders.
Yeah, it's pricier, but neat to see this combination of parts working so well together :)
It definitely has all the features that I would want on my next eBike. The price is the only thing stopping me from pulling the trigger.
Love a comparison between the Atlas and the Omega. Same price point, would really appreciate a comparison of the feel, etc.
Great Review, I appreciate it. I have been considering this bike and this review was so needed. Off to your forums :)
My dream bike...❤
To bad no shipping to Canada this is the 1st mid drive I would consider buying
I've used the pickup services before, where a company would ship a package and I'd drive across to get it from a holding warehouse in Washington. Never tried it for something this big though :D
Court, do you think the Evelo Omega or the Specialized Turbo Como is better bike? They seem pretty close in comparison but seems the Como little more expensive when you figure the IGH for the Turbo Como is equivalent to the Evelo Omega.
They are pretty close, in my opinion. I do like the options of throttle and open source battery (that can be re-packed eventually) along with the optional second battery pack. These all set EVELO apart, but they don't have the same dealers as Specialized, so that could be a factor. I prefer the style and finish of Specialized, and their app is great, but EVELO has done a great job too. It's pretty close :)
Court, thanks for letting me pick your brain between Evelo Omega and Turbo Como! The latest edition Turbo Como 5 IGH is $5700 but you could order the Como 3 or 4 which are less expensive if you think the tech on those is about the same? The tires on the Omega a little wider but the Turbo Como has different color options? What to do :)
@@ElectricBikeReview I too am between the Como and this Omega, your reviews are so helpful since it is almost impossible to demo anything these days. I would prefer the Como LBS support but Specialized does not even offer a way to buy a replacement battery according to LBS (for now) and the stem is beautiful but what if it does not fit… no way to adjust and forums are 50/50 if you can replace… and who want to replace it after spending $6k!. So I lean Omega just 12k (2 bikes w/extra battery) is a lot to risk for me without LBS support… so I remain undecided… Anyone have a feel for supply of Specialized bikes… does it get better in fall/winter?? Cheers!!
One thing to note is that the Omega has a good bit more motor torque to work with. You would need to get the Como 5.0 to come close to the Omega. As a heavier rider, that was a big selling point for me. That's also another thing where the Omega really shines -- I weigh 285 pounds, so the 350 pound max spec made it an easy choice. I was originally going to buy a Gazelle, but they wouldn't give me a maximum weight spec at all.
i was trying to watch to see when you hit the throttle if the crank moved... does it move when you hit the throttle?
Excellent presenter very knowledgeable
They are sold out on their website...
Would you recommend this frame for someone that is 6’3”?
It's interesting bike are adding quite a few things as standard but not a mirror. I'm not saying this is bad or good, just notable.
Yeah, it's a good point. Maybe they are just too fragile during shipping and in the showroom? Not mandatory, like car mirrors. Maybe we will see more as ebikes continue to catch on and people use them to commute :)
Prolly because it would be either ugly or cheap and most people would just replace it with something they like better anyway. Like what most do with seats.
I love this bike.
Why no basic suspension fork?
i like to buy one but company said they dont ship to canada
👍👍👍
Can't believe where they put the bottle cage on a step through bike! Totally defeats the whole point of it. Have a look at riese & Muller for bottle mounts.
I like what Riese & Müller has done putting mounts near the steer tube so they are reachable and keep the downtube and seat tube area clear :)
it makes sounds? So how do these hold up? anyone?$$$
For a bike this streamline and sleek the brake lines look hocky
Is that 4500 dollars? 😧
Not sure the auto gearbox is worth another 2k
Fair enough, it probably is not for many people... but it's neat to see the technology. I'm glad some companies are experimenting with it. Definitely cleans up the handlebar and allows for more focus on steering and riding. My Mom has had a couple of cycling accidents and still feels a bit uncertain when it comes to shifting. I could see people like her appreciating this. She takes care of stuff, so might rationalize the price if it becomes her "forever" bicycle.
👍👍😎🤟✌️
Casually says it's worth 4600$ like it's nothing lmao
I guess it's all relative. I try to present the information with accuracy and not pass judgement because I don't want to alienate people with different needs and budgets. I wouldn't get to look at the fancy bikes if I was constantly saying "oh man, this is such a ripoff" and then I wouldn't get exposed to the latest technologies like automatic shifting. I realize it costs a lot, but eventually it might show up on cheaper models too. Some people spend more because they are replacing a car and need reliability, others spend more for performance like you'd get from a Tesla, others spend less for value like a Nissan Leaf or Honda Civic. It's nice to have so many options :)
Beaute’! 🚴 🔌
but no front shocks!
Have to keep the weight down so retires can load them up onto bike racks.
John talked about how the tires have a lower pressure range, so they will absorb vibration well. It sounds like they are also working on a suspension stem option. The rigid shock prevents dive, improves stiffness, and reduces weight. So they chose to go that way given cruiser neighborhood application of this model.
unnecessary on paved roads
Cyrusher Kommoda, around 2k with full suspension. Better than this.
But of course, the Cyrusher Kommoda doesn't have a CVT drive train, does it.
No ty, thats a fugly offroading beastie right there. Im looking for an upright cruiser for on pavement.
Nice but, I rather buy a gaming desktop computer.
Fair enough, especially during the winter months :)
and yet here you are on that gaming desktop drooling over ebikes.....