Review: 32 mph Super Monarch AWD full suspension dual battery e-bike

Currently I’ve been driving the 1,000 W Tremendous Monarch All Wheel Drive (AWD) twin suspension electrical fats bike from Ecells. And I’m discovering it troublesome to place into phrases how loopy and enjoyable this e-bike is. However since that’s technically my job, let’s give it the ol’ faculty strive.

I first examined this e-bike in its prototype form earlier this year. And whereas the prototype for the Tremendous Monarch was fairly good, the manufacturing model is so near good that we’re beginning to break up hairs.

Now the very first thing to learn about this journey is that it’s a tank of an e-bike.

We’re speaking twin motors. Twin batteries. Twin suspension. Twin fats tires. Principally, take probably the most enjoyable you’ve ever had on an e-bike and double it, as a result of that’s what the Tremendous Monarch has in retailer for you.

Try my video assessment under, then learn on to get your entire image.

Tremendous Monarch electrical bike video assessment

Tremendous Monarch AWD e-bike tech specs

• Motor(s): 2x geared 500 W hub motors (350 W motors additionally out there)
• High pace: 32 km/h (20 mph) from the manufacturing facility, consumer unlockable (I maxed out at 32 mph)
• Vary: 51-93 km (32-58 miles) with AWD and relying throttle vs pedal help
• Battery: 1x 48V 14Ah (672 Wh) & 1x 48V 17.5Ah (840 Wh) with Samsung 35E cells (1,512 Wh complete)
• Cost time: 8 hours with 2A charger (sooner chargers out there)
• Weight: 41.7kg (92 lb)
• Body: 6061 aluminum
• Entrance suspension: 120 mm adjustable air shock fork with lockout
• Rear suspension: DNM adjustable air shock with lockout
• Tires: 28-inch x 4-inch Kenda Okay-Defend puncture-resistant tires
• Brakes: Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes with entrance 203 mm rotor and rear 180 mm rotor
• Extras: LCD show with speedometer, energy meter, battery meter, PAS stage indicator, odometer, tripmeter, gentle standing indicator, entrance and rear LED lights, left-side thumb throttle, Shimano Deore shifter, Shimano Alivio derailleur, and an elective accent pack together with helmet, gloves, cargo web, rack-mounted device equipment, and two panniers

Getting the complete expertise

One of many issues I liked probably the most about testing out the Tremendous Monarch is how properly it really works each on and off-road.

Whereas I liked driving it across the trails, I nonetheless should take roads to get to a few of my favourite locations to journey. And as an alternative of placing the bike in a automobile or truck and driving to my favourite playgrounds, I simply pegged the throttle and rode straight there. With 1.5 kWh of battery, I knew I may make the 5-10 mile highway journey, journey round on the paths till I acquired drained, then hit the highway to move dwelling – all on a single cost!

Whereas the bike does come manufacturing facility restricted to twenty mph (32 km/h), it’s easy sufficient to enter the show settings and unlock the highest pace. That allowed me to succeed in as much as 32 mph (52 km/h) on the pavement.

Please word although: you shouldn’t journey at these speeds on shared trails the place you possibly can unexpectedly come throughout different bikers or hikers. I hardly ever hit these speeds off-road, and the one instances I did have been after I was on lengthy straight farm trails the place I may see a whole bunch of yards forward and didn’t danger shocking anybody (or myself) with an sudden encounter. Please journey responsibly.

Anyhow, the place was I? Oh proper, the awesomeness. So I may fly down the highway, out accelerating vehicles all the way in which to my vacation spot. They charge this bike as a 1,000 W machine (twin 500 W motors), however that’s clearly steady energy, not peak energy. Primarily based on the ability meter on the digital show, I may see my peak energy hitting simply shy of 1,500 W throughout acceleration. When the lights turned inexperienced, vehicles solely handed me as soon as I hit my high pace they usually may catch up and overtake me at increased speeds.

And whereas on the highway, the twin suspension and fats tires made me really feel like I used to be driving on one thing with the consolation and stability of a motorbike. Potholes, curbs, pace bumps, and every part else have been mere blips to me. If I used to be on my electrical highway bike and even lighter electrical mountain bike, I might have had a a lot more healthy stage of respect for such obstacles. However the Tremendous Monarch simply appeared to erase them from my path. I couldn’t wait to see what it may do with extra technical terrain.

And I used to be completely not disillusioned. As soon as I hit the paths, I felt like I used to be on a dust bike flying up climbs. I couldn’t assist however contemplate how a lot much less enjoyable those self same climbs would have been if I used to be pressured to summit on pedal energy alone. Although I didn’t thoughts utilizing the pedal help both, particularly because the PAS may do nearly all of the work for me if I set the extent excessive sufficient. C’mon, I don’t need it to make an excessive amount of of an trustworthy man out of me!

The pedal help makes use of a cadence sensor, not a fancier torque sensor, which implies there’s a little bit of lag while you first begin pedaling. The system takes a couple of second to kick within the energy as soon as your pedals starting transferring, which could be a bummer if you happen to wanted that energy proper then firstly of a climb. However you may at all times blip the throttle if you happen to want fast energy after which your pedal help shall be there a second later.

So whereas a torque sensor would have been a pleasant improve, I in all probability wouldn’t have wished the additional value related to it. And the Tremendous Monarch is already a bit pricy as it’s, no less than in comparison with extra budget-level choices.

There’s a barely decrease energy 700 W model (which is actually in all probability sufficient for most individuals, contemplating this mannequin’s extra energy) which starts at $2,795. If you’d like this 1,000 W model, it will set you back $3,195. Although contemplating the twin motor, twin battery, and twin suspension arrange, that’s really a terrific value. And nobody is paying me to say that (Electrek doesn’t do paid critiques). That’s my trustworthy opinion. We’re speaking about high-end hydraulic brakes, shifters, 1.5 kW of peak energy, triple the battery capability of most e-bikes, and many others, and many others, and many others. Contemplating that this can be a bike that may cowl something and go anyplace, these are some fairly affordable costs.

There’s additionally a cool deal working proper now the place clients get round $150 price of free equipment, together with panniers, gloves, cargo web, helmet, toolkit that mounts to the rack, and extra. So the deal simply acquired a bit sweeter.

Now all of that being mentioned, the Tremendous Monarch nonetheless isn’t good.

For one factor, it’s heavy. Like, over 90 lb heavy. You possibly can take round 20% of that weight off by pulling out the batteries, which could assist when you have to elevate the bike onto a automobile rack or right into a truck, but it surely’s nonetheless a heavy bike.

Should you have been attempting to do jumps and different acrobatics, you’d in all probability discover it extra. I did some small jumps however nothing main, as I used to be largely maintaining each wheels on the bottom. And contemplating the upper energy of the bike in comparison with most e-bikes, I didn’t actually discover the load a lot whereas driving. Sure, the rear battery is mounted pretty excessive up. However as a result of the rack is kind of inflexible, it didn’t have an effect on the dealing with an excessive amount of for me.

Once more, if you happen to’re at competitors stage then this setup may maintain you again. However for many informal riders on the lookout for a leisure journey, the load distribution isn’t going to have an effect on your efficiency a lot. You’ve in all probability acquired a 150 or 200 lb of meat centered above the highest tube – a ten lb battery simply isn’t going to be as noticeable as individuals suppose.

The opposite factor is the bike attracts quite a lot of consideration. Whereas that’s typically enjoyable, different instances I’m attempting to be a bit extra stealthy. I journey in lots of locations the place it’s completely authorized to journey, however that doesn’t imply I received’t get snide feedback or soiled seems to be from cyclists that also look down on e-bikes. And though I make certain to journey respectfully after I’m close to different riders and hikers, they’ll usually assume I’m on the market to be a hooligan.

However on the similar time, I really like the boldness of the bike and I nonetheless suppose it’s enjoyable after I’m driving by means of city and I see heads turning left and proper. And I’ve met a ton of good individuals who come up and ask questions whereas I’m parking and locking my bike. So attention-grabbing e-bikes can go each methods.

Primarily, there’s so much to like about this bike. It’s arduous to discover a extra enjoyable path bike on the market that may match these specs.

What do you consider the Tremendous Monarch? Tell us within the feedback under!

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