Reviewer: Aaron Campbell
Purchased From: Phil @ Powerpedals
Purchase Price: £1200 via Cycle 2 Work scheme
Time Owned: 3 days as of 04/10/12
Local Terrain: Moderate Hills
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Introduction:
The Tonaro Enduro is the very first e-bike I have ever owned. I bought the bike from the good reviews alone; I did not test ride the bike first. Having previously ridden only conventional bicycles both commuting to work and recreationally, I decided to try an e-bike to see if it could make the morning commute a bit more enjoyable (nobody enjoys getting to the office with a back full of sweat lets be honest!)
I would like to give a special mention to Phil at Powerpedals before I start on the bicycle. His service has genuinely been the best I have ever received, anywhere, period. I first enquired about any finance packages he may have available, which is where he mentioned that he participates in the Cycle 2 Work scheme. He wasn't a member of my particular scheme, but amazingly he got in to contact with my provider and signed himself up so I could purchase a bike from him on my scheme. From Phil joining up to my provider to me receiving my bike, was all done in less than 3 weeks!
Now on to the bike itself...
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Strengths:
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Weaknesses:
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Summary:
Overall I really like the bike. The build quality of the bike feels excellent, and as some describe 'bomb proof', this of course is attributed to the weight of the bike. After replacing the brakes, the tyres and the saddle, the speed, comfort, stability and braking performance has all be dramatically increased so I would recommend doing these upgrades just to bring out the true colours of this remarkable bicycle.
If the bike was just perhaps even 5kg lighter I would rate this as high as a 9, even a 10 perhaps. When you're used to riding bicycles that are as heavy as the Tonaro's battery alone, it takes some practise before you feel safe and stable on the road! The bike is just so heavy... That is the only major downfall that you can't do something about.
If you're after an affordable e-bike that will swallow up hills and provide a fun, enjoyable ride, then I would definitely recommend the Tonaro Enduro.
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Overall Rating (out of 10): 8
Purchased From: Phil @ Powerpedals
Purchase Price: £1200 via Cycle 2 Work scheme
Time Owned: 3 days as of 04/10/12
Local Terrain: Moderate Hills
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Introduction:
The Tonaro Enduro is the very first e-bike I have ever owned. I bought the bike from the good reviews alone; I did not test ride the bike first. Having previously ridden only conventional bicycles both commuting to work and recreationally, I decided to try an e-bike to see if it could make the morning commute a bit more enjoyable (nobody enjoys getting to the office with a back full of sweat lets be honest!)
I would like to give a special mention to Phil at Powerpedals before I start on the bicycle. His service has genuinely been the best I have ever received, anywhere, period. I first enquired about any finance packages he may have available, which is where he mentioned that he participates in the Cycle 2 Work scheme. He wasn't a member of my particular scheme, but amazingly he got in to contact with my provider and signed himself up so I could purchase a bike from him on my scheme. From Phil joining up to my provider to me receiving my bike, was all done in less than 3 weeks!
Now on to the bike itself...
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Strengths:
- The pedal assistance coupled with the throttle is excellent. It does take a few minutes to get used to if you have never ridden an e-bike before (as was the case with myself) but once you get the hang of it, it is a breeze (literally). I find that I ride it constantly in High Assist mode. I have read that some people can ride it on Low and Medium assist; they must have hydraulic legs. High Assist kicks in after 2 and a half pedal strokes I believe, so if you are setting off from the traffic lights or up a hill, I find it is best to use the throttle until you have enough momentum to safely pedal the required strokes until the motor kicks in; then you can let go of the throttle.
- The crank drive is remarkable. On hills that would usually reduce me to a sweaty mess, I have absolutely breezed up them as though they were flat.
- The magnet is easy to remove, so if you find that you want a bit more top end (illegal, I must add) speed, then this is easily done.
- The service from Powerpedals, as mentioned in my introduction, is just first class. If you are worried about bicycle aftercare, or warranty issues or anything like that, then these issues simply do not exist with these Tonaro bikes.
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Weaknesses:
- The bike is very heavy. Not really much you can do about this. If you require a bike that you can lift on to your shoulder and carry up a few flights of stairs, then unless you are very strong, I recommend looking elsewhere right now. This bike is not for you unfortunately.
- The brakes are Tektro Novela mechanicals and they are not the best at all. They are rather hard to adjust to prevent them from rubbing, and even then they make very loud squeaks and squeals whilst braking and sometimes whilst cornering too. Quite easily solved, I have ordered some Avid BB7's which I will be replacing the Tekro's with.
- I am not a fan of the Kenda tyres. The tyres are 1.75 semi slicks; a (not so) smooth ridge in the centre with knobblies on the outer edge. They feel heavy, clunky and rather cheap. I have ridden both on and off road, over tarmac, cobbles, grass, mud and gravel, and they really don't feel good on any surface. They just feel so slow. I am replacing these with a pair of 1.6 Marathon Supreme's. The rims that come with the bike hold tyres from 1.5 to 1.95 so you have quite a large selection of tyres to choose from.
- The saddle is not the comfiest if you plan on riding more than 10 miles. If you only plan on riding to work and it is a few miles, then it will do, but if you have a slightly longer commute then you might want to invest in a better, more comfortable saddle.
- This is not really a weakness as such, but it isn't a strength and it is worth mentioning. If you change gears whilst the motor is assisting you, you will hear a very loud clang from the gears. This is solved by feathering the brake slightly (only very slightly is enough to cause the motor to cut out which is great). If you ride a motorbike, imagine it as a clutch!
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Summary:
Overall I really like the bike. The build quality of the bike feels excellent, and as some describe 'bomb proof', this of course is attributed to the weight of the bike. After replacing the brakes, the tyres and the saddle, the speed, comfort, stability and braking performance has all be dramatically increased so I would recommend doing these upgrades just to bring out the true colours of this remarkable bicycle.
If the bike was just perhaps even 5kg lighter I would rate this as high as a 9, even a 10 perhaps. When you're used to riding bicycles that are as heavy as the Tonaro's battery alone, it takes some practise before you feel safe and stable on the road! The bike is just so heavy... That is the only major downfall that you can't do something about.
If you're after an affordable e-bike that will swallow up hills and provide a fun, enjoyable ride, then I would definitely recommend the Tonaro Enduro.
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Overall Rating (out of 10): 8
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