As one of the largest retailers of electric bicycles in the Canada, Amego has launched many innovative renditions of its trekking, mountain, cargo and folding electric-bicycle line-ups, and the Amego Freedom is no different.
Simply put, the one-size-fits-most step-thru folding bicycle is perfect for all-day city adventures. Featuring six electronic pedal-assist settings, the Freedom comes with a 350W Das-Kit geared rear-hub motor and is powered by 480Wh Lithium-ion battery capable of covering 90 kilometres on Level 1 assist. Everything you could need while riding in the city is found on this bike, as it comes with a front-suspension fork and seatpost, alloy front and rear fenders, a rear rack capable of holding 27kg, rear disc brakes and battery-powered front and rear lights.
After using it as my daily commuter bike for a week, I was surprised to see that it still had enough battery to run a few extra errands around the city. Riding at Level 6 or maximum pedal assist, I was able to average between 31-33kph, depending on how heavily I assisted the electrical motor. Initial seat and bar positioning were done very easily via a quick-release lever, so I was able to set my bike up and get on the road in less than a minute.
On the right handlebar is access to the rear disc brakes, Shimano’s seven-speed grip shift, a bell and a throttle trigger to modulate the six electronic pedal-assist settings. With the throttle trigger, you can easily set the bike to lower levels and give a modulated pull of the trigger to throttle yourself to a speed up to its max. On the left handlebar, I could reach my front brake, as well as the Das-Kit LCD display. This shows your speed, trip distance and assist and battery levels, while it also features a built-in back light for early mornings or late evenings
Putting the Freedom through its paces, I drained the battery to Level 2 and did hill repeats on Ellis Avenue and the notorious Olympus Avenue switchback. These hills are famous among the city’s roadie crowd and can cause even the fittest road riders to come to a standstill. I was suitably impressed when the Amego took me uphill at a whopping 27kph-average speed even while carrying my laptop bag with approximately 15 lbs. of gear in it. Despite gradients of upward of 20%, the electric motor plugged along up the switchbacks and never failed me.
Considering all this was done on a 20” folding bike, I found the smaller, wider tires made the ride zippier and suppler. Also key, the bike felt really balanced. The battery is placed behind the seat-tube, and I was unsure as to whether this would make it feel rear-heavy. But when I rose out of the saddle to punch up a few climbs, I didn’t feel off-balance or experience any side-to-side swaying.
The only downside is that this ride weighs in at approximately 50 lbs., which can make it a bit more cumbersome to carry despite its portable nature. My daily commute from Toronto’s South Etobicoke neighbourhood to the downtown core was easily handled, and I had a ton of fun doing it.
At $1,599, the Amego Freedom is definitely an effective urban commuter. In Toronto’s chronic congestion, constant delays and seemingly insurmountable traffic, you may have found your best friend.
For more information, visit the Amego website here. – YH