Xiaomi Himo Z20 eBike Review
Xiaomi's new bike the Himo Z20 combines convenience, comfort, and speed into one smart little machine. eBikes are a legal mode of transports on Sydney streets and it is a fantastic way to get around areas with low-density traffic or highways. The motor makes it unbelievably easy to travel uphill and makes you wonder how you pedalled furiously up hills on a manual bike.
DESIGN
I tested out the beast on the mean streets of Sydney and I found it to be a reliable and well-designed bike which withstood a lot of different terrains.
The bike came folded in a box and it was easy to piece it together by adding the seat and pedals.
The seat is highly adjustable and the bike itself can be folded in-half in the middle of the main body for easy carrying and transport.
The foldable element is a great plus, especially for putting the bike in the car or even travelling on the train without taking up too much room.
The Himo Z20 also comes with a key which you can use to lock the battery while folded, so thieves are less inclined to pinch your bike – but I would suggest getting a bike lock for extra security.
The tires were sturdy with 20″ double-walled alloy rims which are 32h (front) and 36h (rear).
The Z20 is a little heavy at 21.6kg but the foldable mechanism made it easy to carry and store, despite it being reasonably big at 1470 x 610 x 1095mm.
PERFORMANCE
The Z20 is well-built, study and easy enough to use as a manual bike. The bonus of electric power makes it a memorable riding experience.
Starting the electric ride is simple after beginning to pedal manually, you just twist the right handle towards yourself like a motorbike.
It is powerful and fast, with the ability to reach up to 25km an hour.
Uphill, the bike tends to struggle slightly but after a bit of furious peddling it glides along smoothly.
It has three operating modes: normal bike, mixed mode and electric mode and the LCD screen strapped on the handlebars is easy to read and to monitor speed.
The bike is equipped with a powerful battery of 10,000mAh, which means you get around 80km of travel on a single charge. It takes a fair bit of time to fully charge the bike, around 5 hours. But if you're a leisure rider this would last a long time.
Charging it is no issue – you can either remove the battery (which is only 2.5kg) or charge the bike near an outlet through the port on the body.
The 6-speed transmission ensures the gears shift quickly and seamlessly, making it a sporty model or a great bike to just glide through the city on.
The tires have excellent traction for rough terrain, but I wouldn't recommend it for mountain biking.
It also has an air pump hidden in the seat which is great for pumping up tires while on the go.
"It is powerful and fast, with the ability to reach up to 25km an hour,"