The best-selling e-bike only costs 650 euros-but is the bestseller really worth it?

The Milecity1 is currently the best-selling e-bike on Amazon. (Image source: Hillmiles / Amazon / Gamestar Tech)

Just a few days ago, I had classified an Aldi offer for a City E-Bike. The discounter pedelec offers a very strong motor and large battery, but also costs over 2,000 euros.

Only a fraction of this is due for Amazon’s bestseller. The “Milecity1” from the manufacturer Hillmiles takes first place in the “Electric bicycles” category. It only costs 650 euros (even less on ebay) and has sold over 100 times in the last month alone.

Reason enough to take a closer look at this offer. 650 euros for an e-bike? Can that be good at all? And if so, for whom?

Specifications

• Price: Amazon: 650 euros (with discount code), eBay: 579 euros
• Motor: rear engine with 42 Newton meters of torque
• Akku: 468 Wattsstunden
• Range: up to 100 km
• Circuit: 7-speed Shimano, chain circuit
• Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes
• Councilor: suspension fork
• Tire size: 26 inches
• Weight: approx. 27 kg
• Water protection: IP65
• Display: LED display (battery level, support mode)
• Driving modes: 5 support levels
• Special features: no rear light as standard

equipment

At a price of well under 1,000 euros, the Amazon e-bike should not be compared with significantly higher-priced competitive models. However, the Milecity1 leaves a not so bad impression when I keep the price in mind.

Motor

• The MILECITY1 has a rear engine that has a maximum support of 42 Newton meters offers.
• This gives you sufficient power for city traffic and moderate climbs, even if stronger medium engines deliver significantly more torque.
• Compared to medium engines, the Rear drive some disadvantages. Among other things, it ensures poorer weight distribution and can ensure a lower traction on the mountain.

• The manufacturer also does No information about a torque sensorso this will very likely be missing. This means that the engine cannot dose the power over the pedals, but rather receives a constant thrust that depends on the support level. This ensures a less natural driving experience.
• For the level stretches and, for example, use in the city, rear engines are quite suitable. Well-known manufacturers such as Cowboy also use corresponding engines in their significantly more expensive city bikes.

Battery and range

• The battery has one Capacity of 468 watt hours. This is now very little compared to more expensive models.
• According to the manufacturer, the range is included Up to 100 kilometersin my view, it is more likely to be expected 40 to 80 kilometers with normal use – depending on the driving style, support level and route, of course.
• The The battery is integrated into the frame and can be taken for charging or theft protection. This is still a special feature in this price segment. With many cheap pedelecs, the battery sits on the lower tube. Visually, the integrated solution is more beautiful, and it also protects the battery a little better from dirt or damage.

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Circuit and brakes

• The e-bike offers Mechanical disc brakes front and back. These are not as powerful as hydraulic systems. They are also a little less sensitive and maintenance -intensive than hydraulic brakes. For this purpose, they offer better braking power compared to classic rim brakes.
• The circuit is one 7-speed chain circuit from Shimano. This is completely sufficient if you are not exactly in mountainous regions in which you have to switch a lot and need more translation levels.

Other characteristics

• The e-bike has one Suspension fork in front, which ensures additional driving comfort.
• There is only one front light as standard, but no taillight. So you should retrofit this so that your bike is considered to be safe to drive.

• According to the manufacturer, the e-bike is for Driver up to 120 kilograms suitable.
• The pedelec has 26 inch tiresSo it is smaller than models with 27 or 29 -inch tires. According to the manufacturer, it is suitable for people with a body size between 1.55 and 1.86 meters. It would be too small for me personally (1.87 meters), but that is also a matter of taste, after all, for example, 26 inch was the standard size in the mountain bike area.
• The bike comes to 85 percent pre -assembled. You have to grow some things yourself, including the front light, the stem with handlebar, pedals and saddle. The manufacturer provides a video at Amazon in which the assembly can be seen. The assembly should be feasible if you ever had screwdrivers and mouth keys in your hand, otherwise get help from a hobby screwdriver if possible.

Price-performance ratio and alternatives

If we look at the very low price, the offered is not bad and quite comparable to some models that are offered between 800 and 1,200 euros from discounters.

The engine is strong enough to support you sufficiently in levels or slightly hilly regions, the battery large enough to cover more than 50 kilometers.

It is not without reason that higher quality bikes are of course more expensive. For example, they have better engines, a torque sensor for a natural driving experience, better brakes and generally higher quality components.

Finding something better for the price is difficult. However, I would still like to show you more recommendable alternatives that are more expensive, but also better equipped and possibly also more durable.

The Fischer Cita 5.0i costs 1,460 euros at Amazon. It has a brose mid -engine with 50 Newton meters of support. There is also a 10-speed chain circuit from SRAM, a suspension fork, hydraulic disc brakes and a 504 watt hour battery.

With 28 -inch tires, it also offers the widespread standard size for adults. In my opinion, the model is the better choice if you are looking for a long-lasting e-bike that you use frequently-maybe even for longer tours.

Target group and recommendation

In my view, the target group for the inexpensive Amazon e-bike is prospective buyers, where the price is clearly in the foreground. If you want to have an e-bike, but don’t want to or not spend much for it, the overall package of this offer is already okay. It should be enough for small tours, shopping trips and Co. on streets.

I cannot judge how long-lasting the bike is at the end, but before e-bike times I had some bad experiences with the classic, very cheap “hardware wheels”. At least in my case, they had problems or defects relatively often and did not last very long.

So at this price I would be at least skeptical, especially if you look at the prices for engines and batteries – somehow the cheap offer has to come about. It is unclear what the long -term spare parts supply looks like.

On the other hand, the user reviews for the wheel are quite positive. I also know some owners in my environment very cheap e-bikes who are satisfied with their model. Here the pedelec is particularly used for short trips to the supermarket and the like.

Personally, I would still look in the range up to 1,500 euros and choose a model with a medium engine, better gearshift and brakes in order to enjoy it as long as possible.

What do you think of the Amazon bestseller? Would you buy an e-bike for the price, maybe you even have a similar expensive one? Or do you prefer to spend more money to get a high -quality model? Give me your opinion and experience in the comments.