A2B Metro

overlander

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 22, 2009
532
42
There seems to be very little real life info on this bike, tons of glossy reviews but no real owners.

What is the maximum seat height of the A2B Metro as the bike looks very small. Also can you adjust the handle bars up and down.

Just curious really why its not popular as it does look neat.
 

simonbarnett

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 26, 2007
338
25
West Hampstead, NW London
There seems to be very little real life info on this bike, tons of glossy reviews but no real owners.

What is the maximum seat height of the A2B Metro as the bike looks very small. Also can you adjust the handle bars up and down.

Just curious really why its not popular as it does look neat.
I've ridden one - short trip.

Very heavy, quite quick but useless for pedelec mode- so really a low power scooter. I'd worry about range but they look good.
 

overlander

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 22, 2009
532
42
Same as you, like the look of them but they do look very small.

I looked at your bike for sale but unfortunately way too small i'm 6ft 4" so looking at the larger framed bikes. But the A2B is a curiosity, would not buy it for everyday commute. I need a range of about 34 miles so need a bike with decent range, and i do expect to cycle 90% of the time as i do want to get fit :D
 

simonbarnett

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 26, 2007
338
25
West Hampstead, NW London
Same as you, like the look of them but they do look very small.

I looked at your bike for sale but unfortunately way too small i'm 6ft 4" so looking at the larger framed bikes. But the A2B is a curiosity, would not buy it for everyday commute. I need a range of about 34 miles so need a bike with decent range, and i do expect to cycle 90% of the time as i do want to get fit :D
A2B is not a runner for your commute but fun for a quick blast :D I'd seriously revisit the Kalkhoff/Raleighs if you really want to pedal.

The bigger frame hub bikes are the Alpino and (illegal) Aurora types, but the pedal requirement is less and range could be an issue if you don't input as much as you expect.

Heresy it may be here, but 34 miles a day would lead me to a real motorbike.
 

eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
I like bicycles...I dont think the A&B can be classed as such, and would draw to much attention.

If you want to make a serious statement get an Optibike!:D

 

Oxygen Bicycles

Trade Member
Feb 18, 2010
304
20
www.oxygenbicycles.com
not like other ebikes

I several times tried A2B Metro is it's certainly a new concept for electric bike. A2B Metro is hitting different segments in the market and it's certainly not the best bike for long run commuting. It is however very comfortable for shorter trips. does a short range but it does not matter if you move 5 miles away from home. If you looking for a funky fun and comfort then A2B Metro is the one.

all the best

Andrew
Oxygen Bicycles
 

overlander

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 22, 2009
532
42
Heresy it may be here, but 34 miles a day would lead me to a real motorbike.
Hi Simon, already a step ahead of you :) , been riding bikes for years current steed is a 1200 GS Adventure.

But i am getting seriously concerned about my weight pushing 19 stone now and showing no signs of stopping. I eat like a sparrow but it still creeps on, but if i go to the gym it falls off. But i really do not have time to go to the gym hence why i would like to commute. When i say 34 miles thats a round trip with a chance to charge, but this cannot be guaranteed so would like the round trip distance.
 

Mussels

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 17, 2008
3,207
8
Crowborough
Hi Simon, already a step ahead of you :) , been riding bikes for years current steed is a 1200 GS Adventure.

But i am getting seriously concerned about my weight pushing 19 stone now and showing no signs of stopping. I eat like a sparrow but it still creeps on, but if i go to the gym it falls off. But i really do not have time to go to the gym hence why i would like to commute. When i say 34 miles thats a round trip with a chance to charge, but this cannot be guaranteed so would like the round trip distance.
That's not a huge distance on a hub motored bike, I do a bit more than that on a Wisper 906 and gind it works very well as a commuter. Incidentally with parking issues in central London and all the cycle lanes I found a motorbike wasn't much quicker.
I usually charge both ends but have easily done round trips on a single charge.
 

Ultra Motor

Esteemed Pedelecer
Hey Guys

Great to see a post about the Metro on here!

The Metro range (with no peddaling on the flat) is 20 miles. You can install a secondary battery which will double your range.

Whilst it is heavier than most, it is a hell of a lot of fun and very comfortable. A lot of our customers do use them for their commute as you can arrive fresh as a daisy and still get some work out of it as you please.

I recommend a test ride!!

Cheers
Mark
 

overlander

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 22, 2009
532
42
Hi Mark,

But what height can it accommodate as it looks very small?
 

overlander

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 22, 2009
532
42
When you say you can install a second battery, it was my understanding that the UK does not get the internal battery. So given that the rack on the UK versions has a battery already where does the second battery go ?
 

Ultra Motor

Esteemed Pedelecer
Hi Overlander,

Its larger than you think.

Our CEO and company president both use them daily for commuting to the office in London. The CEO is about 6ft2" and he seems to ride both the Metro and Hybrid with no issues.

The bikes can come with either configuration. Either they can have the internal battery as standard or the rear rack battery. You can then take the option (as many do) to install the battery thats missing!

Thanks
Mark
 

zakmann

Finding my (electric) wheels
Sep 11, 2010
7
0
Wimbledon, London, UK
Hi, I own an A2B Metro and I'm 6'2" tall and the seat can be raised so I'm sure that any one who is 6'4" could ride and peddle one in comfort.

The bike is not cheap specially by the time I brought the extra battery and all the things to go with it. I've had my bike since June and have only seen one other on the road at a distance. So, there are probably are not many around yet.

As for the pedelectric side of it I would say the bike excels in this mode quite simply because if you want to go fast peddle more and I love going fast and if I get tired the bike can take over (it rarely happens).

I have to disagree with one of the posters here - the bike is certainly great for longer rides mine is set up with both the external and the internal batteries, rear panniers (from Ultra Motor) and a bag on top of the rack as well. I also have the new updated shock that is elastomer packed it's a black unit that is fully enclosed by a plastic and rubber housing covering the spring. I weigh about 77 kgs and with the panniers loaded there can be between 90 and 100 kgs on the bike (occasionally 110kgs). The load distribution is always somewhere around 40kgs on the front forks with the rest sitting on the rear. This sounds heavy but with the updated shock the bike rides well. The ride is smooth and controlled at any speed - my top speed reach so far going down a steep hill is just over 38 miles an hour the bike handled very well and the brakes are great though they do need to be keep correctly adjusted.

Note - I don't use my bike on dirt roads or tracks the tyres are NOT suitable as they are very slick (watch out for dry loose sand and gravel on paved roads!!!) in my opinion, the bike is in reality not meant for off road/dirt road use - different tyres may alter my opinion on this later.

I have have found that with the two batteries fitted and the panniers the bike is ideal for everyday use and and for longer rides on the weekends. The bike and its battery, motor combination give plenty of power when not peddling but I always use the peddles as I love riding and for me a side benefit is this gives me extended range for my longer rides. I've have done just under 50 miles on both batteries being fully charged and the orange light was still on (three lights indicating charge (Green full, orange half full, and red you're on your last third of battery).

I do think for the price a speedo, lights and better power/charge/power use indicator would have been nice.

Before I brought the A2B metro I test rode a few other e-bikes. However, none of other bikes had the power, the speed, the comfort, the look and the "fun" factor that the A2B gave me.

The A2B is great for zipping around the city and into the village (I live in Wimbledon) but, more importantly for me the A2B is the ideal long range commuter or "country cruiser" lots of power, good speed and good range and heaps of fun.

One last thing it's cool! It looks great and I have not been out on the bike once with out another cyclist stopping me on the road to ask about it! Comments from the younger generations - "its sick man totally sick".
 

eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
Hi Mark,

But what height can it accommodate as it looks very small?
It is not small! quite big in fact and a heavy beast. very ugly and not a bike by any stretch of my imagination, more like a stripped down scooter ...Horrible:p
 

Jonah

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 23, 2010
882
246
EX38
That's not a huge distance on a hub motored bike, I do a bit more than that on a Wisper 906 and gind it works very well as a commuter. Incidentally with parking issues in central London and all the cycle lanes I found a motorbike wasn't much quicker.
I usually charge both ends but have easily done round trips on a single charge.
I've recently started communting a round trip of 45 miles for similar reasons to Overlander. I decided to get a hybrid bike (Globe Vienna) and fit a nano kit to it since I wanted to primarily cycle but not take all day getting there. It's very hilly here in Devon and the motor struggles with the steeper hills but otherwise it is great. Journey time is about 1h20m. Great excercise and good fun at the same time.
 

overlander

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 22, 2009
532
42
Thanks for the info but i decided on the Trek FX, one of the big deciding factors was very friendly local dealer. But already the bike is perfect for what i need, it certainly aint a sit back and let the bike do the work. No way you cycle 20 miles and you know it, but not so that you are a bucket of sweat but you do feel it. I think these types of bikes will become more popular and they do deserve to be. But they really do need to come down in price, the new 2011 Trek is now £1900 and you lose the carbon fork !!
 
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zakmann

Finding my (electric) wheels
Sep 11, 2010
7
0
Wimbledon, London, UK
Have to agree I do think all of the good electric bikes are over priced particularly when options can add up to a couple of hundred pounds short of a thousand if like me you haven't own a bike for some time. The biggest option for me was the extra battery at ₤529 (thats what I call a little expensive!), then panniers, rack, security chain, lights (cheap ones lol), helmet and, gloves etc. Don't get me wrong it was worth it to me. However, as I said before I would have been happier with the price had lights and a better power usage indicator system been built into the bike along with a speedo. Personally I would have thought such items would be pretty standard on an electric bike but then I'm new to all this so still learning. The three indicator lights for the remaining power on the A2B are at best a very rough guide for a ₤2000 bike.

I do wonder if an after market power monitor (like Cycle Analyst or something similar) can be fit without voiding the guarantee/warranty if it was fitted by ultra motor?
 

Ultra Motor

Esteemed Pedelecer
It is not small! quite big in fact and a heavy beast. very ugly and not a bike by any stretch of my imagination, more like a stripped down scooter ...Horrible:p
Eddie-

Is there something particular you don't like about Ultra Motor or Urban Mover? Your posts are always so negative?
 

eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
Eddie-

Is there something particular you don't like about Ultra Motor or Urban Mover? Your posts are always so negative?
Mark its surely all about opinion from a personal perspective.....As a motor home owner and a cyclist, I want as light an ebike as possible, and an e bike that is still a bicycle at heart? The A to B failed my lifting it off the floor test in a dealers the other week, plus I thought it looked horrible, in fact laughable from a cyclists perspective.

and it really did remind me of the stripped down lambretta and vespa (skeletons) that we had in my youth

I dont really have an opinion re The UM, unless you are referring to the recent post where I wondered why someone was considering changing from a Wisper to one...I still dont see the point in that either.
 
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NRG

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 6, 2009
2,592
10
Eddie if you are after an E-Bike as light as possible then surely the UM44S is a move in the right direction and a Wisper is not... ;) :D
 
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