Ready to discover which e-bike rules the road for couples—and solo riders too? We put two top models through their paces, testing comfort, battery, and high-tech features! Whether you want power, style, or practicality, you'll find your perfect ride. Watch till the end for our surprising pick! Subscribe for more fun reviews, and let us know in the comments which bike you liked most! #ebike #tech #review #bikes #cycling
👉 This channel was created in collaboration with https://www.youtube.com/@techmaniachd
0:00 - Introduction and Video Overview
1:27 - Assembly and First Impressions
3:16 - Design, Size, and Rider Fit
6:39 - Tires, Suspension, and Riding Comfort
11:15 - Motor Designs and Technical Comparisons
15:54 - Motor Laws, Power, and Gears
20:01 - Real-World Riding and Battery Range
26:08 - Security, Extras, and Final Recommendations
👉 This channel was created in collaboration with https://www.youtube.com/@techmaniachd
0:00 - Introduction and Video Overview
1:27 - Assembly and First Impressions
3:16 - Design, Size, and Rider Fit
6:39 - Tires, Suspension, and Riding Comfort
11:15 - Motor Designs and Technical Comparisons
15:54 - Motor Laws, Power, and Gears
20:01 - Real-World Riding and Battery Range
26:08 - Security, Extras, and Final Recommendations
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00Today we're testing two electric bikes for couples. One for him, one for her, but if you're
00:04looking for equipment just for yourself, this video will be even more useful. It will help you
00:09choose a machine perfectly suited to your needs, because even though both bikes are from the same
00:14manufacturer, in reality they're worlds apart. The Engine Pro 3 Zero Boost model is a typical
00:21fat bike, which means it has very wide tires, allowing it to be more forgiving off-road and
00:25providing much greater comfort on uneven surfaces, including those in the city. Wide tires mean
00:31ridiculously good grip and excellent braking, but because of that and the increased weight,
00:36it has a slightly shorter range. The higher frame isn't as comfortable as in the other model,
00:43but I have to admit, the engine's appearance is really muscular, maybe even aggressive. On the
00:49other hand, the L20 model seems almost delicate compared to it, but don't be fooled by its
00:54appearance, because it actually hides an even more powerful, yet I emphasize, still legal drive
01:00system. Even a person who is 152cm tall can get on it and ride comfortably. However, the biggest
01:07difference between them is hidden deeper, in the drive system itself. One has a hub motor, the other
01:13has it in the middle of the frame, and believe me, that really changes a lot. From the way you
01:18ride
01:18uphill, through gear selection, to how long your chain will last. In this video, I'll break down
01:24both designs so you can make an informed decision. We tested both bikes on trails, in parks, on local
01:30streets, off-road, and on hills, squeezing the last percent out of the batteries. We want to answer one
01:36but crucial question. Which of these bikes is for you, and which are for both of you? This is Powell,
01:42and you're
01:42watching the Tech Maniac HD channel. Welcome! You can watch this video thanks to the support of the GVG
01:48Mall platform. If you're still struggling with that annoying message reminding you to activate, visit the
01:54link in the description right now. You'll receive the purchased key within a few minutes, and all you
01:58need to do is paste it into the activation settings. This will not only make your copy of the system
02:02legitimate, but also allow you to upgrade to Windows 11 without any problems. You can activate and assign
02:08the office suite to your account just as easily, and with the code TMHD, you'll get an extra 20%
02:14discount, which can increase to 30% during various holidays and events. Stop overpaying and visit the
02:20website now. We have several practical tests coming up, but first we need to assemble the bikes. I want
02:29to quickly reassure you here. Even if you've never done this before, assembling these two machines won't be a
02:34big challenge for an amateur. The engine model manual is in English, but the pictures explain
02:39everything. On the other hand, the L20 Pro model came with two booklets, one in English and one in
02:45Polish, so I'm convinced that anyone can handle it. We have a lot to discuss here today. After all,
02:51these are two completely different models, so I won't dwell too much on the assembly process itself.
02:56However, if after watching this video you want to learn more, in the video dedicated to the older
03:02L23 ZeroBoost model, I show the assembly process in more detail. I'll leave the links in the
03:07description, but let's save that for the end. So, let's get to the point and start with the bigger
03:12model, which is the Engine Pro 3 ZeroBoost. As you can see, this is an absolute tank in this lineup.
03:19The tires are 4 inches wide and the frame is cast from an alloy, magnesium alloy. Thanks to this,
03:25despite such a massive build, the whole thing weighs you could say only 35 kilograms.
03:29Alright, compared to regular bikes that's not exactly light, but for a beast like this,
03:35capable of handling huge loads, the result is really impressive. And this weight also means
03:40stability, which you won't get from any other lightweight bike. The standover height is 68
03:46cm and the frame geometry is designed for people between 165 and 190 cm tall. The declared load capacity
03:54is 150 kg. So, if you're taller, heavier or planning to carry a week's worth of groceries in panniers,
04:02you're looking at your future bike. Next to it stands the L23 ZeroPro. This model looks like a
04:09pallet jack next to a wrestler. The tires are narrower, 3 inches wide and the frame is set so low
04:14that you
04:15get on it like a chair, just 38 cm from the ground. The manufacturer states a height range from 155
04:21to 190
04:22cm. This model is made of aluminum, which is an alloy much heavier than the magnesium used in its
04:29bigger brother. Although the engine model has more of that real heft, the L20 weighs only 2 kg less,
04:35which is just under 33 kg. And don't be fooled by that sleek silhouette. It has the same load capacity
04:42as its bigger brother, which is 150 kg. This is by no means a bicycle. The step-through model is
04:48a
04:48machine for anyone who simply values easy mounting. Both of the models we're testing today came in matte
04:54black. Earlier, I tested the older L20 Boost model in the champagne version, and although it's just a
05:01subjective feeling, I like that color much more. Black, of course, goes with everything, but the matte
05:06finish easily picks up fingerprints and immediately shows road dust. Choosing a color is, of course, a matter
05:13of taste, so don't dismiss these machines just because you see them here in black. Besides, the L20 Pro is
05:19also
05:19available in a champagne shade, and the model engine comes in an interesting midnight blue. Honestly, I think I
05:25would probably choose the latter myself. Alright, alright, but let's pause for a moment on height itself, because
05:31that's a key factor when buying any bike. You have to remember that the height from the manufacturer's chart is
05:37just a starting point, just a rough guideline. What really matters is your leg length and if you can
05:43reach the ground from the saddle. See, she can reach the ground. Look at my fiancé. Although she
05:48doesn't formally meet this requirement, since she's only 152 cm tall, she gets on and off without any
05:54problem at all. Sure, when she's stopped she has to be on her tiptoes, but once she's sitting properly,
06:00her riding position is completely comfortable. The seat was set to the absolute minimum for her, and it's worth
06:05adding that, in this model, you can adjust it not only vertically, but also a few centimeters
06:10horizontally, meaning forward and backward. As for me, I'm 178 cm tall, and I still have the
06:17handlebar height set to the minimum here. On the other hand, in the engine model, I have the seat
06:22pulled out only 6 cm, but I could extend it up to 22. At least that's where the official numbering
06:28on the
06:28seat post ends, because the tube itself is even longer. So you can safely assume that the 190 cm,
06:35given by the manufacturer, is not really a final limit. Let's examine the tires, because this is
06:41where you really see how huge the difference is between the two bikes. In the smaller L20,
06:46the recommended pressure is from 1.7 to 3.1 bar. A lighter person can easily aim for the lower
06:53value,
06:53but since we were testing this model alternately, for safety I inflated it to 2.8 bar. On the other
07:00hand, for the wider tires of the massive engine, the manufacturer recommends inflating them to just
07:051.4 bar. This makes them big, ultra ultra comfortable air cushions, with absolutely gigantic grip.
07:12And here, listen, an important note that you won't find in the specifications. The difference comes not
07:18only from the width of the tire, but also from its profile, which is the distance from the rim edge
07:23to
07:23the top of the tread. In the L20, this profile is 7 cm, while in the engine it's already 8
07:29.5 cm.
07:30That extra 1.5 cm means a much larger air chamber, which physically works for you on every bump.
07:37That's why such low pressure is enough in the engine, but technology isn't everything.
07:42The 3-inch tires on the L20 still pack plenty of rubber, providing incomparably more comfort than a
07:48regular city bike with 28-inch wheels. However, the fat bike phenomenon doesn't come out of nowhere.
07:54In my opinion, those 4-inch tires look a bit, well I have to admit, but in my opinion, silly.
08:00I'm not going to hide it, but that's just my subjective opinion. At least, that's how it was
08:04at first. Because it only takes a moment of riding it to understand that the comfort and fun you get
08:09are so great that after a while, the way it looks just stops mattering at all. Someone might be put
08:16off
08:16by that. But honestly, I have to point out that the tread on both tires is pretty shallow. It's more
08:22than enough to shed water on wet asphalt, but it's still tires meant for paved roads and cobblestones.
08:28In deep mud, the tread gets clogged instantly, so no off-road craziness. But both tires have
08:35something that every cyclist is afraid of. The Kaoyang brand equipped them with a 3mm Kevlar
08:41anti-puncture insert, the so-called hyposkin, which in Polish means hippopotamus skin.
08:47Broken glass or a sharp stone, well, with such a layer, you really have a lower chance of getting
08:52a flat tire. I'm sure you're glad that the tires absorb smaller bumps very well, but in reality,
08:57it's the proper suspension that truly determines comfort in the city and on light off-road terrain.
09:02And here, both models differ significantly from each other. The front fork travel in the L20 is about
09:086cm, and the rear shock absorber, well, let me just say this. It's there and it works, but in the
09:14footage, you can see it barely moves. The bigger brother also has a more robust fork. The travel
09:19here is as much as 9cm, and indeed, off-road it totally outclasses the smaller bike, and in the
09:25footage, it's a pleasure to watch it in action. But let's be realistic, admit it, who really needs
09:31that much travel, especially in a city bike. Look, even the shorter fork on the L20, even when riding
09:38over grass with my weight on it, handles really well. It absorbs bumps beautifully and greatly
09:44increases comfort when riding off-road. Sure, with my 83kg, you can see that sometimes it bottoms out,
09:51but that's only in typical off-road situations. But that's with me on board. But in this recording,
09:56you can see that a woman weighing over 20kg less than me when riding on grass in the park uses
10:03only
10:03about 30-60mm of travel. But the front is only half the story. Since the rear suspension in the
10:09L20 barely exists, in the engine model this aspect is much better. The rear shock absorber used in this
10:16model is much larger and thicker. I have to admit, it was really hard for me to record its movement
10:22up
10:22close while riding. Even though I tried hard, you can barely see it moving when pedaling. But all I
10:27have to do is bounce on the saddle, and you can immediately see that this part, well, it's not
10:33just here for show. It's also tuned pretty stiff, so even a heavier rider shouldn't be disappointed.
10:39And what about the saddle? It's very wide and super soft, but I have to admit, the first day on
10:45it
10:45wasn't super comfortable. But that's absolutely normal if you haven't ridden for a year and suddenly
10:50spent 5 hours on it in one day. After a few such rides, it's fine, and I wouldn't replace it
10:56at all.
10:56The grips are also nice, soft and comfortable. Let's set aside these technical details for now.
11:02Of course, they are very important, but a bike, at least for many of us, is not just a simple
11:07means
11:08of transportation from point A to B. Many would agree that a day off spent on two wheels is the
11:14essence of life. We sit cooped up at home in front of TVs and computers, and when the weather is
11:19nice,
11:20relaxing on a bike is truly a wonderful thing. Nothing improves your mood like the sun on your
11:25skin and a bit of exercise. Riding together is a way to stay active and create new memories.
11:30You visit corners of the city you haven't been to before. But even if you're single,
11:35a Sunday trip to the park can pleasantly surprise you and help you meet new, interesting people.
11:41But before we come back down to earth and take a look at the drivetrains of both models,
11:46let us know in the comments which of these two bikes appeals to you more.
11:49A massive, comfortable tank or maybe a nimble, low-slung city bike? Be sure to let us know now,
11:55because by the end of the video you might still change your mind.
11:58Already left a comment? In that case, it's time to take a look at the hearts of both bikes,
12:03meaning the drivetrain. Each bike uses a completely different setup. On one hand,
12:08we have a powerful motor hidden in the wheel hub, and on the other, an advanced mid-drive motor that
12:14works with the gears. This raises the question, which solution is better? Well, that depends on
12:20where and how you're going to ride. But before we get to climbs and newton-meters, let's start with
12:26a simple experiment that you can repeat in any bike shop. I lift the rear wheel of the engine model,
12:32the one with the hub motor, and spin it. The wheel spins freely, just like on a regular bike.
12:37Why is this so important? Well, some of you might remember my test of the powerful Anyoki,
12:42that one used direct-drive motors. The rotor is rigidly connected to the wheel, with no gears at
12:48all. The result? Constant magnetic resistance. That bike was braking itself, even with the power
12:54off. That's why it was so hard to pedal without assistance. Here, it's completely different.
13:00There's a planetary gear with a one-way clutch inside the hub. The motor drives the wheel,
13:05yes, but the wheel never drives the motor. The bike just glides. And that's very important.
13:11If you've never had an electric bike before, you probably worry that riding it without assistance
13:16will be terribly hard. And sure, wider tires and more weight require a bit more pedaling,
13:22but thanks to that little clutch, the motor never makes riding harder for you in any way,
13:26even when the bike is completely turned off. I mention this for a simple reason,
13:31because cheaper or older electric bike designs didn't have this mechanism at all.
13:36There, unfortunately, the wheel was constantly braking, which made any pedaling much harder,
13:41but here, here you just roll along, like on a regular bike.
13:44Now here's the main difference between these two, that you likely won't hear about elsewhere on YouTube.
13:50Every electric motor has its own preferred narrow RPM range where it works most efficiently,
13:55the problem with a hub motor is that it's directly coupled to the wheel. On a steep climb,
14:00we ride slowly, so the motor also spins very slowly, far outside its optimal range.
14:06It then draws a huge amount of current, but instead of turning that energy into motion,
14:10a large part of it turns into heat. And the hub is a small enclosed metal can hidden inside the
14:15wheel,
14:15that heat simply has nowhere to escape. Imagine you're driving a car uphill in fifth gear,
14:21with the tachometer barely showing 1000 RPM. Flooring the gas pedal just floods the combustion
14:27chambers with fuel. The engine chokes, vibrates, but not much really happens. The same thing happens
14:33with an electric hub motor, which, unlike here, doesn't have additional gears. It only has one.
14:39Paradoxically, for a hub motor, slow, exhausting crawling up a steep hill is worse than a dynamic climb
14:46with the boost button pressed. Higher speed means higher motor RPM, which is closer to the optimal
14:51curve and provides more cooling airflow to the hub. Choking it with low speed on steep, long climbs is
14:58the number one enemy of this type of motor. And this is where the solution from the L23.0 Piero
15:04model
15:04comes in, which has the motor mounted at the crank. This motor doesn't drive the wheel directly,
15:10it drives the chain. And that means, well, it uses the gears together with you. You shift to a lower
15:16gear going uphill? Great! The motor also gets a lower gear and keeps spinning in its efficient range.
15:21That means greater energy efficiency and less heat generated. And even the heat that does build up
15:27in this kind of setup quickly spreads through a large section of the aluminum frame, which acts like
15:32a huge heat sink for the motor. That's why, on long climbs that stretch for kilometers,
15:37the mid-drive motor has a real advantage here, especially on those slower ascents.
15:42However, it also has a serious drawback, which we'll of course discuss in this video,
15:47but what you need to know now is that the two design solutions are simply different and should
15:52be used differently. A hub motor handles hills pretty well too, but only as long as you're riding
15:58at a reasonable speed. If you crawl up the hill like a turtle, you'll use up a huge amount of
16:03energy
16:03from the battery. What's worse, if the hill is steep and very long, the temperature of that motor
16:09housing will rise dangerously, which can shorten the lifespan of the equipment. That's why it's
16:14important to understand these differences. If you go up the same hill at 15 kilometers an hour,
16:19even using boost, it'll actually be more energy efficient for the motor and battery,
16:24and better for temperatures too. Surprising, isn't it? So if you appreciate me sharing these technical
16:30facts and explaining them simply in my videos, please give this video a thumbs up right now.
16:36My videos are longer than most others because I make sure that my viewers learn something new with
16:42every video. Because we're all here to learn something new. But when talking about climbs,
16:47we can't forget to mention torque. The motor has 90Nm of torque. That's a powerful figure,
16:56but to make things more interesting, the L20 model generates a massive 100Nm from its mid-drive motor.
17:03And here, right away, a question comes to mind that anyone even slightly familiar with the topic
17:08would ask. If both bikes have a sticker on the frame that says 250W and are fully legal according
17:14to European Union law, then how on earth do they generate such high torque? A typical 125 only generates
17:2210-12Nm, and here we're talking about an electric bicycle. That's physically impossible. So where's the catch?
17:29The answer lies in one word, continuous. 250W is the power that the motor can deliver continuously,
17:36without overheating and without the risk of burning out the windings. Contrary to what it might seem,
17:42the law does not require this to be its maximum power. It's a common myth that comes from the fact
17:47that hardly anyone reads the EN15194 standard all the way through, and it clearly states,
17:54250W is the maximum continuous rated power of the motor, and that totally changes things, doesn't it?
18:01Take a look at this recording I made on the L20 model. Here I'm riding up a fairly long hill
18:06on the
18:07seventh, hardest gear with the pedal assist set to the highest fifth level. The screen on this model
18:12shows the current assist in watts. We can see that this 250W motor is actually pumping up to 730W
18:19into the crank at times. Of course, it all depends on how hard I press on the pedals. I deliberately
18:25didn't press super hard, so I wouldn't go over 25KM because that's when the assist cuts off,
18:32but I can tell you that this model can support the rider on climbs with more than 800W of power.
18:38Shocking, right? And it's 100% legal in Poland, just like everywhere else in Europe. That's exactly
18:44why those 100NAM are achievable. With 250W it would be bogus, but with over 800 it's definitely not.
18:52However, remember that this power is only available for short bursts, for example. When you're starting
18:57off at a traffic light or, like here, attacking a steep climb, you can only maintain that kind of power
19:02for a few dozen seconds before the controller cuts it off for safety. And according to the regulations,
19:07the power is completely cut off after exceeding 25KMh. But what then? Does the motor completely limit us
19:15and we can't go any faster than that? Well, no. A lock at 25KMh would be totally absurd. It's just
19:23the point from which we're relying solely on our own muscle power. If someone has serious power in their
19:28legs, the law doesn't forbid them from breaking a sweat. In this recording, you can see that I started
19:33pedaling harder and instantly broke the 25KMh barrier riding a bit over 30KMh on flat ground.
19:40And downhill? Well, going downhill will easily accelerate to much higher speeds. On the L20 Pro,
19:47I managed to get just under 50KMh, but above that, it just lacks a higher gear.
19:53It's also worth noting that both machines deliver power through excellent, precise torque sensors located
20:00in the crank. If you press lightly, they move gently. If you push harder on the pedal, they surge forward.
20:06You may have encountered this before, but cheap or older electric bikes often work in a simple
20:11on-off manner. You start pedaling, and the bike suddenly takes off as if someone floored the gas
20:17pedal. It's really annoying and honestly makes no sense in city traffic. Here, that problem doesn't
20:23exist at all. Of course, for these bikes to be fully legal, they can't have any kind of throttle either.
20:29The only allowed way to get them moving is by turning the pedal crank, although the same law allows
20:35for one exception, the so-called walk mode. We hold down the minus button on the handlebar,
20:41and slowly, really very gently, the bike starts to accelerate by itself up to about 5KMh. You can walk
20:48like this and comfortably talk next to someone walking, but this mode is also useful in other
20:53situations, for example, when we want to push a heavy, loaded bike with groceries up a hill,
20:59or when we're pushing it out of the basement or pulling it up the stairs.
21:04Now, let's talk about something that seems totally abstract to many first-time e-bike buyers. After all,
21:10it's an e-bike, right? The motor does the work on its own, so why would we need any gears?
21:15Many people
21:15think they're just here for decoration. It turns out, however, that this is actually one of the most
21:21important components of the entire drivetrain, and using it on an electric bike is quite different
21:26from using it on a regular bike than you might think. Earlier, I asked you to write in the comments
21:30which of these two appeals to you more, which one you would choose for yourself, right? So let me tell
21:36you,
21:36this part of the video might totally change your perspective. As you know, the mid-drive motor in the
21:42L20 transmits all its power through the chain and gears, and which derailleur did Engwe install here?
21:49Shimano Tournee. The cheapest and most basic model in their entire lineup, and here's where the
21:55engineering problem lies. The Tournee is a mechanism designed for city bikes, powered solely by human
22:01leg strength. It is designed to handle the loads generated by the muscles of a typical cyclist,
22:06which is around 20, maybe 30 newton meters, while the motor in this model can hit it with a torque
22:12of 100 newton meters. And add to that what comes from your legs, so that's an additional 20 or 30
22:17newton meters. It turns out that this derailleur has to handle a force four to five times greater
22:23than what it was designed for. That's basically a recipe for disaster. You've likely shifted gears
22:29under full load while standing on the pedals climbing a hill. You can do that once or twice until you
22:34learn, but it's obvious that it's not good for the chain or the gears. If someone shifts gears while
22:40climbing hills, using strong support from the electric motor, the snapping of the chain and the
22:45grinding of the gears will be heard from a mile away. And the strain on the bike? Guaranteed.
22:51If this is your first e-bike with a mid-drive motor, the next 40 seconds will save your drivetrain
22:56and
22:56hundreds of zlotys in repair costs. Rule number one. Shift down before the climb, not during it.
23:02See a hill ahead? Shift gears in advance, while the chain is only lightly loaded. And what if the
23:08climb surprises you and you're already going uphill in too heavy a gear? That's when plan B
23:13comes into play. Pedal harder for a few seconds to gain a bit of momentum, and then, using that
23:18momentum, almost completely ease off the pressure on the pedals. Keep pedaling, but very lightly,
23:24just enough for the mechanism to move, and that's when you change gears. The chain will shift smoothly,
23:29without any clatter or banging. After a few tries, you'll definitely get the hang of it. See?
23:34This problem affects the L20 model, and even though the Engine Pro 3 Zero Boost has exactly
23:40the same Shimano components, it doesn't have this problem at all. The motor is in the hub,
23:45so it drives the rear wheel directly, completely bypassing the chain. The bike will shoot forward
23:50regardless of the gear you're in, and the drivetrain will forgive almost any mistake. It's the opposite with
23:55the L20 model. Your strength and the motor's power are combined on the same chain, so if you pedal hard
24:01and charge up hills, the factory drivetrain will wear out in no time. I'll sum up exactly who should
24:06choose which model and why at the end of the video. However, if you already know that the L20 is
24:12your
24:12favourite, and you plan to ride hard, in the description and pinned comment I've linked, reinforce
24:17chains and more durable alternatives that are worth installing during your first service. But before we
24:23move on to the next tests, I want to explain to you why I'm going into so much detail about
24:27these
24:28technical aspects. The reason is that I want you to still feel great about your equipment a year,
24:33two or even five years from now. An electric bike isn't a one-time purchase, it's something that's
24:39meant to give you joy for many years to come, and it's even better when you can share that joy
24:43with
24:43someone close to you. When I was a kid, I used to ride dozens, if not hundreds of kilometres every
24:48week.
24:48Today, even though I'm older, my fitness is still pretty good, but I'll tell you that a few years
24:53ago we rented bikes in the mountains and my fiancé managed to ride 500 metres, after which it just
24:59wasn't possible to go any further. The bike was too heavy, the climbs were too steep and the
25:04difference in our fitness levels meant that instead of a shared adventure there was only disappointment,
25:09returning the rented bikes, and that was the end of the fun. I'm bringing up this story because I
25:14know how it goes. The fact that you're at different fitness levels doesn't have to mean you can't spend
25:19time together on bikes. The L20 model with its powerful torque, low step-through and super easy
25:25operation meant that together we could ride over 30km a day, relaxed and without stress. And even bigger
25:32hills, instead of being an unpleasant experience, brought us both joy. The biggest advantage of an
25:38electric bike is that it evens out the difference in fitness levels. No one gets left behind, no one has
25:43to
25:43wait for anyone, and no one comes home disappointed. And that's exactly what all those newton meters,
25:49gears and watts are for, so you can just ride together. But before you set out on long rides
25:55together, you have to face the most important number for every e-bike. Battery range, because on
26:01paper everything looks great, but in real life only one thing matters. Will you make it home, or will you
26:06end up pushing your bike uphill? First, let's take a look at these two 48 volt batteries. You might assume
26:13they come from the same manufacturer, but they don't. The engine model is equipped with a battery
26:18made by LG. Meanwhile, the L20 frame houses cells produced by Samsung. In theory, the difference
26:25is supposedly small, especially since both have a nominal capacity of around 720 watt hours. Well,
26:31with a slight difference, LG allows for a slightly larger margin of error. Samsung guarantees that even a
26:37weaker unit has at least 705 watt hours. LG allows units with as little as 686 watt hours. If you're
26:44feeling confused here, let me quickly explain that battery capacity is not the same as the capacity of
26:50a water bottle. Here, it depends on the chemistry and the reaction of the metals, so every battery will
26:55always differ a bit in capacity. It's the same with your smartphones. You might get a unit that has 5
27:01watt hours less than the average spec. Your friend with the same phone, even bought in the same store,
27:07might actually have a capacity that's 5 watt hours higher. It just depends on what you get. With such
27:13big batteries, a few watt hours more or less is totally standard. If you didn't know about this,
27:19let me know in the comments. Anyway, the differences in batteries aren't just about the guaranteed
27:24minimum capacity. Both have a different BMS system that monitors voltages and temperatures,
27:30which actually changes the way the bike can deliver power to the motor. That's why it's time to sum up
27:35how far these machines can actually go. Let's start with the engine model. Moment of truth. There's one
27:41bar left on the battery. I'm shifting into fifth gear. The odometer shows 83 kilometers covered. I'm
27:49riding in fifth gear. The hill is pretty steep. I don't know the percentage, maybe 20. Between 15 and 20,
27:56of course, you can't really see that on camera. But there's still power all the time. One, even though
28:02it stayed. Yeah, it's harder. Let's add some boost. Well, the boost has already faded, I'd say. But just a
28:12moment ago when I was riding uphill, I had 3% because I'm doing laps here. It definitely helped a
28:19lot.
28:20Well, I see that I'll probably have to switch to the third gear. It's much easier. I'm keeping boost
28:26on the whole time. And now we're at 0%. But it still helps. I can even feel and hear it.
28:34So it's good to be close to home. There's still assist. Nice. On the manufacturer's website, we can read
28:42that depending on the assist mode we use, the bike can go 80 to 130 kilometers. But below, we can
28:49see
28:49that the measurements were taken with a 75 kilom load. Together with my backpack, water for both of
28:56us and recording equipment, I have about 12 kilom more. And even though I used level 1 most of the
29:02time on flat terrain, I really didn't hold back on the boost button when accelerating. On the climbs, I also
29:09set the third or even fifth level of assistance, just to experience that power. And let's not ignore
29:15the fact that for all the other tests, I also did a lot of totally silly, unnecessary climbs up steep,
29:21unpaved hills, just to have fun and go wild. I also rode a few kilometers on such unpaved terrain,
29:27and not on beaten paths, but like a complete idiot, I waded through deep grass that drains energy from the
29:34battery 10 times more than riding on smooth asphalt. So, yes, in short, I'm definitely satisfied with
29:40the result of 84 kilometers. If I hadn't ridden like a total nut, accelerating for no reason and
29:47wasting energy just to speed up and brake again, even with my weight and extra load, I might have managed
29:53a dozen or so more kilometers. And what about the L20 model? This one is lighter and has thinner tires
29:59inflated to a higher pressure, which automatically increases the range, so to see how much I managed
30:04to get out of it, just check out this footage from the ride. Now we're doing an end of battery
30:09test for the L20 model. Same hill, here it's already showing 6%, but I'm shifting to fifth gear, of course
30:16there's no boost, and it's really damn hard. Let's shift. Let's speed up. Let's shift. Assist.
30:25I can hear that it's still subtle, but it's there just a little. At this point, I'd say 6%
30:33is basically
30:34the end of the battery, whereas the engine model, as you just saw, was still running even at 0%. So,
30:42you could say that's it. Oh, now I think it has completely disconnected. Well, I think I'm about
30:47to stop. Even though it's in first gear, well, it's the end. At 6%, you could say it's basically gone,
30:57unless maybe the motor overheated, but I doubt it. No, I don't think so. Oh my, I'm about to run
31:06out
31:06of breath. No, I can still ride up that hill myself. It's a pity there's no lower gear, but
31:15there's definitely no charge left either. At 5, I have to stop again.
31:22So 5 is where it ends. But still, listen, how much is it? 112 kilometers.
31:30And I'll cover about 30 kilometers of that. The rest, my fiance.
31:36So I officially declare that this battery is done. But actually, over 80 kilometers of that distance
31:44was driven by my fiance. She's over 20 kilograms lighter than me. Even though she used the third
31:49level of support most of the time, I think the L20 still came out on top over that distance. But
31:56you're probably wondering, what's the deal with this battery level? Why did the LG battery keep supplying
32:02juice to the motor even when its level was practically zero, while the Samsung goes out
32:07of commission even when it still has 6% left? Let me tell you more. The L20 model with the
32:13Samsung battery slightly reduces the level of support as soon as the battery drops below 20%.
32:18Very subtly, but still. LG and Samsung have entirely different philosophies on cell protection.
32:26Samsung's battery management system does everything it can to minimize cell degradation and generally
32:31speaking, just like with your phone battery, you shouldn't discharge these below 20 or 30% either.
32:38It's just that the battery wears out and ages faster then. That's why Samsung's BMS or battery
32:44management system doesn't care at all whether we're being chased by a pack of angry dogs.
32:49Simply going below that charge level is not welcome. So Samsung gradually reduces the amount of energy
32:55delivered to the motor and reserves the last 5 or 6% for the battery's health. LG,
33:01in the larger model, approaches this completely differently. It gives power right up to the end,
33:06even at the expense of cell health. Which approach is better? Well, from a purely technological point
33:11of view, Samsung is absolutely right here, but if you happen to be in need, such a conservative policy
33:17can be a bit frustrating. And which battery would you prefer? Write in the comments. You don't necessarily
33:23need a key to remove both batteries, but pay attention to the ports themselves. In the L20,
33:28it's located low, behind the front wheel, and this rubber cap is mostly for show.
33:33If we don't make sure it's seated properly, water and mud can get in there when it rains.
33:38There shouldn't be a problem with the engine. The charging port is positioned high,
33:42and the cap itself is definitely much sturdier. I also noticed some subtle differences during charging.
33:47When charging the LG battery from zero, the power draw from the socket started at around 370W. After
33:5445 minutes, it increased to 403W. After an hour, it dropped to 23W. And in the final phase of charging,
34:01the power was significantly reduced. This is standard overcharge protection for the cells. The whole
34:07process took exactly 2 hours and 10 minutes. The charger drew a total of 760W from the socket,
34:13and that makes perfect sense, because to the nominal 720W in the battery, you have to add the
34:19losses of the charger itself, which are generated as heat during such a fast charging mode. The L20
34:25was charged from the remaining 5%. It took 2 hours and 12 minutes to reach 100%. The charger drew exactly
34:31710W from the socket. The process took a bit longer than with its bigger brother, even with 5% still
34:38remaining because Samsung reduces the power much earlier and more drastically in the final phase
34:43than the electronics in LG. This is again due to cell protection and longer lifespan. As I mentioned
34:49before, it's best to charge such batteries from around 20 to 30%, up to about 80%, just like with
34:55smartphones. Even if you think that the folding option for the bike isn't necessary for you, I advise you to
35:02think about it once again. Maybe right now you don't plan to travel by car with your bike, or with
35:08both
35:08of them, but once you start enjoying riding, you might actually feel like putting your bikes in the
35:13trunk and taking them to the mountains or to the seaside, because after all, why not? Thanks to the
35:19folding frame, you can fit your bikes even into a small, compact car with folding seats, but I want to
35:24emphasize that this will probably only work with a 3 or 5 door car, it might not work with a
35:30sedan.
35:30There's no need to worry that the bikes will fold up on their own while you're riding. In both models,
35:35you first have to unlock the mechanism with a slider. It's the same for the frame as it is for
35:40the
35:40handlebars. It folds to the side at an angle so the front wheel stays straight. The only thing that
35:45will stick out are the pedals. It's a pity that these don't fold, but you can unscrew them in a
35:50minute.
35:51Folding it is an extremely simple process. Here in the video, you can see my first attempt with the
35:56engine model. You can tell it's going just as you'd expect for a first try. I also forgot about the
36:02kickstand, but even so, it only took a moment and the bike was already folded. And of course,
36:07the handlebar. And now we have a bike that would fit even in a tiny car trunk. Unfolding it is
36:13even
36:13easier. Handlebar, click and pull the bike out. Then lock the tension and you're ready to ride. And it
36:20literally takes just a few seconds. In a comprehensive review, we can't skip discussing
36:26the brakes and about these, I can say they're damn good. Both got two 180-minute discs. Hydraulic
36:32brakes instead of cable-actuated ones mean excellent modulation. You can feel when the pads touch the disc
36:38under your finger and control the force, similar to using a car's brake pedal. I never squeeze the
36:44front brake all the way because even with such thick tires, it would have ended up locking the wheel.
36:49But the brake light won't surprise anyone here, because it's supposed to work, but sometimes it
36:54just doesn't. At first, I got the impression that something was wrong with it, because sometimes it
36:59turns on and sometimes it doesn't. I think anyone would consider this a defect, but my friends,
37:05nothing could be further from the truth. It turns out the brake light doesn't react in a simple on-off
37:10way when you press the lever. The built-in accelerometer constantly measures speed and only
37:15turns on the light when you're actually slowing down. If you're going downhill with the brake
37:20slightly pressed, but you're maintaining a constant speed, the light won't turn on at all,
37:24and as you can see in this footage in the forest, when going uphill, the light suddenly turns on.
37:30And that's not because the brake was pressed, but because the bike physically slowed down on the
37:34climb. Brilliant, isn't it? If you think so too, let me know in the comments.
37:40As for the braking tests, I didn't bother with any super precise measurements, because a lot depends
37:45on skill, confidence, and most importantly, the rider's weight. A person weighing 60kg will have
37:51a much shorter stopping distance than someone weighing over 100. One thing is certain, the wider
37:57tyre on the engine has more grip, but even the 3-inch one on the L20 sticks to the road
38:01incredibly well.
38:02While testing the engine at 25kph, I squeezed the brakes before the sign, I locked up the rear wheel,
38:09and the stopping distance was about 2.5 bike lengths. In the L20 test, the stopping distance
38:14is shorter, probably because I didn't hold back on the front brake. I squeezed it so hard that it
38:20actually lifted the rear of the bike. That shows how powerful these brakes are. My everyday advice,
38:25apply them carefully, especially in the wet. Your physical safety is one thing, but what about the
38:32safety of the bike itself? What if a random passer-by likes the look of your bike parked outside a
38:38store?
38:38The most basic protection against theft is, of course, a lock. I've left links to some interesting
38:44ones at various price points in the description of this video. But, as we all know, there's no metal
38:50or lock that can't be cut or opened. That's why everyone who didn't do any research before turning
38:55on this video will soon fall to their knees in disbelief. What you saw here in both models,
39:00that thing that sometimes blinks red, is a built-in GPS tracker.
39:06Yes, you heard that right. To put it simply, there's an eSIM card in the frame, which allows the
39:13bike to read its position from satellites and report it through the 4G network straight to your app.
39:19It's a much better solution than trackers like AirTag, which need other people's smartphones nearby with
39:25location sharing enabled. Does it work? Let's take a look. Thanks to the GPS, of course, it's easy to
39:31find the bike. We can see our location here on the map. We can see where the bike is. The
39:36bike is,
39:37of course, turned off. This GPS module works all the time. It doesn't use much power because the
39:42battery is huge. We can see that we're coming around the corner. Around the corner. And that's
39:47where the bike is. Here, of course, I showed you how it works from about 100 meters away from the
39:52bike, but don't worry, you can even be on another continent. It doesn't make any difference. Funny
39:58enough, you can even unlock and lock the bike remotely through the 4G network. Do you see this
40:03in the app? I'm far away from the bike. Here it shows disconnect, meaning there's no Bluetooth
40:08connection, yet I can still unlock the bike. I can't switch the lights or the assist level though.
40:13No, for that I would have to be close to the bike, but I can turn it off and lock
40:17it again remotely.
40:18I think everyone would agree that this is a great solution, but not everything that glitters is gold.
40:23The GPS works in open areas. In the basement, not so much. Fortunately, in the app you will see the
40:30bike's last known location. And if someone stole it and is keeping it on their property or in a house,
40:36I suppose that having such evidence in the form of the last position, the police could help you with
40:41that. But if the thief took the bike to a multi-story apartment building, it might be difficult
40:46to determine exactly which apartment the bike is currently in. Unless the police already know
40:52someone with a lengthy criminal record in that building, and if not, I guess you just have to
40:56wait until someone comes out with it, or catch the culprit somewhere else. And although it's a rather
41:01weak scenario, it's still better than not knowing at all what happened and where your property is.
41:06The second drawback is the price. The price of the annual subscription for this service. After all,
41:12the bike has cellular data transmission turned on 24 hours a day, and this service is provided
41:17by local operators. Of course, Engwe acts as an intermediary here and has contracts in place
41:23no matter where you are. Before you get upset, let me tell you that the manufacturer fully covers the
41:28cost of the first year. This free year starts from the moment the bike is first registered in the app.
41:34Yes, he didn't have to pay anything. And as you can see, I have the service valid from June 19,
41:402026 to June 19, 2027 because that's when he activated both bikes. If after that time you decide
41:47that you like the service and want to extend it, it costs 39 euros per year. Is that a lot
41:53or a little?
41:54Well, that really depends on you. On one hand, if a theft actually happens, it gives you the option
42:00to track the bike, but this service can also be useful if the bike is being used by a child.
42:06Simply, instead of calling and worrying, you can check where the bike is currently located.
42:11Even if your partner or spouse rides a bike to work, what if, knock on wood, there's a traffic accident?
42:18Then, those 14's lotus a month just for peace of mind might be worth it.
42:22It's an undeniable fact that GPS itself doesn't directly protect anyone from theft,
42:28but an alarm and an unlock code probably do. At least it should, because unfortunately,
42:34I have to admit that the alarm on both bikes isn't really impressive. Just take a look at this
42:39recording. We can see that, at this moment, the bike is turned on. I can press the lock button,
42:44so now we can see that it has turned off. And the alarm is also armed, because if we go
42:49into
42:50the app settings, here we can see the information that auto unlock is disabled. At this moment,
42:55I have intentionally activated the movement alarm after locking, which means the alarm will go off
43:00after we touch it. Now, I'll put the phone away and you'll see that I'll try to move it and
43:05what
43:05will happen then. There was a sound signal, and a red light was blinking here. Meanwhile,
43:17on the phone, we got a notification saying that movement has been detected on your e-bike.
43:22Movement, so check what's happening with it immediately. A single sound signal like that
43:28obviously won't impress anyone enough to leave the bike alone. Of course, we have this notification on
43:33the phone, we have navigation, we have GPS, but at this point we can also set an unlock password here.
43:40We can change it, we can turn it off. Let's say we set a password. A simple password. We press
43:47done,
43:49and the password has been set. We'll see after turning it off and on what happens, how it works,
43:56when you enter it then. Yes, you can see exactly, the bike won't go anywhere. No changes will be made
44:04until we enter the password. You enter the password with the plus sign. The letter I is next. One, two,
44:11three.
44:14Four. And only at this point will we be able to start the bike.
44:21So, in case of any theft, it's worth setting it up. Entering the code may seem annoying, but in the
44:26app,
44:27you can set it so the code isn't required when you are within Bluetooth range, so it makes sense.
44:32In my opinion, that's already a huge plus, and this option gives you a powerful extra layer of protection,
44:38because there's no way a thief could unlink it from your account, or reset the password on their own.
44:44According to information from users and Engway support, the manufacturer requires the original
44:50proof of purchase to clear the GPS module and remove the lock. As long as the thief doesn't
44:55steal your bike along with the invoice, it basically becomes a brick with a built-in GPS tracker,
45:01which can't be legally or safely resold, or even linked to the app on a new phone.
45:05All of this makes stealing this bike not only very difficult, but actually pointless.
45:10The thief can't start it or sell it, and because of the built-in GPS,
45:15at best he can only ride it by himself in the basement. It's absolutely fantastic,
45:19so now you'll probably be more willing to leave it outside the store, at work,
45:23or by your apartment building, but a bike left out in the open will get dusty, dirty, and wet.
45:27That's why in the video description I've left a link to something I personally consider absolutely
45:32essential. It's a waterproof nylon cover with drawstrings that, during the season,
45:37protects one or even two bikes at the same time from city dust, rain, and wind. Thanks to this,
45:43outside of the season, I can safely keep the folded bikes on the balcony, where they don't
45:47bother anyone. Just remember one thing, it's a good idea to remove the batteries during this time.
45:52At the beginning of this video, I asked you to write in the comments which of these two models
45:57appeals to you the most. I'm curious if you've changed your mind so far, or maybe you're even
46:02more undecided now. Even if you already have your favorite, please stay with me for a moment,
46:08and let me share my point of view. Because even though I wanted to show you both models as thoroughly
46:14as possible in this video, the best way to judge is to ride them yourself, after spending a dozen or
46:20so hours on each of them, and I'm afraid I can recommend one of them much more than the other.
46:25Earlier you heard from me that I just don't like the Engine Pro 3 Zero Boost, at least visually.
46:30The aggressive look of the frame and the really thick tires in my eyes are just a bit too much.
46:36On top of that, the high step over is much less comfortable than what the much sleeker L20 model
46:41offers. But in my opinion, it's the engine model that wins this comparison, and that's the one I would
46:47absolutely recommend to anyone who meets the minimum height requirement of 165cm Y.
46:54Well, it's simple. This bike is more comfortable to ride, the riding position just suits me much
47:00better. The wide tires and better suspension noticeably increase comfort, and thanks to the
47:05hub motor, I'm not worried about breaking the chain or quickly wearing out the gears. After riding it,
47:11the fact that I don't like how it looks stopped mattering to me at all. It's funny because I didn't
47:17share my personal feelings with my son, but he also said that the engine model looks over the top,
47:22and at first he didn't like it either. Despite that, we went for a 25km ride on these bikes.
47:28Here's a recording after 20km, and you can see he doesn't look tired or bored. He said that the
47:35bike is great, and it's much better to ride than he initially expected. I know not everyone will
47:40agree with my opinion, but here it is. Even if you're looking for two bikes for a couple, the initial
47:46assumption that the engine model will be best for him and the L20 for her might not be accurate at
47:52all. I'll boldly say that even for a woman, at least one who meets the height requirement,
47:57the engine will also be a better choice. I know it looks gaudy and might not appeal to all women
48:03at first, but with Benkit, it suits both him and her, and the comfort of those wide tires and better
48:09suspension outweighs how the bike looks. Honestly, once you ride it, how it looks stops mattering
48:15completely. The price of both, at least for now, is exactly the same. What's more, in the description
48:20you'll also find a discount coupon that will let you save 10%, which is actually around 700 Zlotys on
48:27each bike you buy. If you decide to go for it, in my opinion, it's worth spending that money on
48:32fuel
48:32to take these bikes to the mountains or to the seaside. You'll also have enough left to buy a decent
48:37lock and even extend the bike tracking service for a few years. It's also worth mentioning that both
48:43bikes came to me from Warsaw, and even though I live in Ireland, I received them about four days after
48:48placing the order. But what about the L20 3.0 Pro model? In my opinion, the engine model is a
48:55better
48:55choice, but this one also gets the job done. After all, it's more powerful, it has a mid-drive motor,
49:01which has its advantages, but also some disadvantages that I mentioned earlier.
49:05If you're under 165 cm tall, you might feel like you don't have any other choice.
49:10But what would your favorite channel, Techmaniac HD, the one you're definitely subscribed to be,
49:16if it didn't give you some great alternative? That's why if the low standover height and the
49:20overall shape of the L20 3.0 Pro are still more important to you, but the mid-drive motor just
49:27doesn't convince you, then choose the L20 3.0 boost instead. It's almost the same,
49:32but with a hub motor. Yes, there's already a dedicated video about this model on my channel.
49:38The link is in your top right corner or in the description below. Honestly though, I have to admit,
49:43it's not as powerful as the Pro version. It also doesn't have GPS and the battery is a bit smaller,
49:48but on the other hand, it's about 1200 PLN cheaper. If you found this material helpful,
49:55leave a like and a comment, because it really helps a channel like mine.
49:59Also, check out my website www.techmaniachd.pl where thanks to the intuitive menu,
50:04you'll easily find more content. See you in the next one. Bye.
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