A few months ago I had the pleasure of testing one of the most relaxed, stable and fastest e-bikes I’ve seen to date. Engwe’s L20 was that machine, and aside from selling for around €1,150, it’s back – and better and stronger than before.
Ladies and gentlemen, before us is the L20 Boost, one of Engwe’s updated versions of the L20, an e-bike we tested. If you remember that test, we were blown away by the L20’s stability, power, and portability. If you haven’t read that article yet, be sure to check it out.
With the L20 Boost, however, all of that just got a whole lot better, so let’s take a closer look and see what we can expect. That starts with the updated extras Engwe has in store. The Boost, for example, gets its name from nothing more than a little trick it has up its sleeve.
In the cockpit, Engwe has placed a small button, and this button has the function of giving you an extra boost of power to help you climb some of the hills in your city, but who says I can’t press this button on flat ground too?
Photo: Autoevolution
The first L20 already had a throttle function, so the boost button was supposed to put the engine into overdrive. It’s not clear how long we’ll be able to maintain this driving mode, but with it, the L20 can now tackle gradients of up to 17.8% and tap into all the 75 Nm (55 lb-ft) of torque the engine can offer.
Funnily enough, it’s nothing more than a 250-watt power pack strapped to the rear hub that’s responsible for giving you the ability to get going on a whim. This limits European riders to a top speed of no more than 25 km/h (15.5 mph); the L20 Boost is only available to European riders.
But what about range? According to Engwe’s website, the Boost comes with a 624Wh battery pack, good for a manufacturer-stated maximum range of 126km (78 miles). This figure was achieved in a test setting and at the lowest assist setting, so expect a drop of around 20-30% in practice. If for some reason that’s not enough, consider getting a rear-mounted range extender or another removable battery from Engwe.
However, that’s much better than what numerous other manufacturers can offer for €1,150 ($1,260 at the current exchange rate), and it’s a sure reason why the L20 made a lot of people happy. Let’s see if the Boost can achieve the same appreciation.
Photo: Engwe Bikes
To discover the magic of the L20, no matter which version you get, we first need to look at the frame. I’m not going to lie: I didn’t ride many step-through frames before getting on the L20, but when I did, I really saw the appeal. Aside from the ease of getting on and off, it creates a lower center of gravity so you can enjoy one hell of a stable ride.
This lowered centre of gravity is also crucial if you want to carry cargo in the city, a capability that the L20 clearly has. The presence of a front basket and a larger basket at the rear makes this possible. Combined with the remarkable range I mentioned, we have a pretty essential, city-capable machine.
In fact, it can do more than just stick to asphalt, an ability I tested with the original L20. Yes, you can get off the asphalt thanks to the thick knobby tires, providing grip when you want to drive through sand, gravel, and even snow in winter.
Photo: Engwe Bikes
This component also has the added benefit of suspension. To make your rides even smoother, Engwe adds a suspension fork to the Boost, just like all other L20s. While it’s not enough to give the Boost airtime capabilities, city streets won’t be a problem.
Completing the rest of the Boost is a standard Shimano gear system tuned to the sound of just seven gears – thank goodness for that motor and throttle – and mechanical brakes. I don’t like to see the latter, but Europe’s maximum speed regulations for e-bikes mean that mechanical brakes might just do the trick. Still, stopping a 34kg e-bike is no easy feat, especially with the added weight of a rider and groceries.
Let’s say we wrap all of this up in a nice package. In this case, not only are you buying an e-bike that’s affordable and suitable for getting you to work, hauling groceries, and saving some gas, you might still be able to just throw it in your car and spend a day exploring the outskirts of town. There’s also a foldable L20 version, so you don’t need to buy a bike rack for your vehicle. If this model is your thing, you know what you need to do; just be sure to wear a helmet when riding.
