Two minute review
The Mate City is a new revision of the original Mate Bike electric bike, first released in 2016. Its powerful 36V 250W battery, which when charged can travel 50 miles, is ideal for commuting or road trips. in your area. We found the five-stage electric assist particularly appealing as we climb hills and reach speeds of around 20mph on flatter roads, cutting our travel time dramatically.
(Image credit: Sarah Finley) The clean-lined Danish design gives it a unique look, and our pink version has definitely turned heads. The LCD screen was easy to use, with control buttons on the side, and the nonstick handlebars gave it a stable feel. However, if you want a lightweight bike that you can easily fold and climb stairs, you don't need this. Its weight, at nearly 50 pounds, is remarkably heavy for a commuter bike, and the main frame was difficult to fold for one person. If you're looking for a powerful bike that turns heads and don't mind spending a little more, the Mate City is perfect for you, but it's not a great model for limited storage or if you expected it. .
(Image credit: Sarah Finley)
Price and release date
The Mate City electric bike was first released in 2016, with the updated model here released in 2021. Prices start at €999 / £1,299 (about AU$1,300). It is available directly from Mate Bike and from various third party retailers.
Integrated
Mate Bike is a Copenhagen-based startup, founded in 2016 by siblings Christian Adel Michael and Julie Kronstrom Carton, to address traffic congestion and climate change. This Danish heritage is reflected in the design of the Mate City, with its clean and elegant finish. The brand is popular with celebrities and we can see why; The hot pink frame of our tester (also available in three other colors) turned heads when we examined it in London, and we were delighted to stand out from the crowd. The frame is made of aluminum alloy, which while lightweight, isn't when you're trying to carry it up the stairs, while overall the bike weighs almost 50 pounds.
(Image credit: Sarah Finley) The Mate City is a folding bike, it took a few tries to balance it, due to its weight. The handlebars were easy to fold, with a twist of the lever, but the same can't be said for the main body of the bike. It took two of us to fold and unfold to begin with, with the clip to squeeze it a bit sticky. If you want to get around with this bike and you lack arm strength, you will have a hard time folding and carrying it. When folded, it's also relatively big, so you'll need some space to store it. However, Mate City is easy to install. We easily changed the grip and seat height, but while the padded black saddle was also comfortable for a short ride, it started to get uncomfortable on long rides.
(Image credit: Sarah Finley) The non-slip grips were great for keeping us steady, but extra padding would mean less friction on the thumbs. The clever little LCD computer screen, which sits to the left of the handlebars, was rather unobtrusive, but easy to use, displaying battery life, time, and distance traveled. The battery, which is located in the frame, can be removed after the bike is folded, it can be charged through a small hole in the frame, just below the saddle, which means there is no need to unfold the bike to charge it.
(Image credit: Sarah Finley)
Powerful and stable driving even without the power supply: It performed well on all terrains and in different weather conditions. Turning on was very easy; Simply press and hold the power button on the flashing LCD screen.
(Image credit: Sarah Finley) The screen auto-starts when you ride your bike, with your speed being the highest on the screen, while the throttle level buttons are positioned perfectly to the side of the screen, making it that allows you to change the speed as you go. downhill. We tested the bike on roads we normally had a hard time riding, and with its five levels of pedal assist, we were surprised by how quickly it accelerated us down the hills. One of the most powerful and impressive motors we've ever used on an e-bike—we had to be careful, at full power, not to accidentally accelerate on the park's heavily trafficked roads.
(Image credit: Sarah Finley) The bike has a 250W motor and a 36V battery, which has a capacity of 13Ah. When fully charged (which takes around two hours), we found the battery to last a long time, up to 50 miles, allowing us to go on long bike rides without worrying about running out. We only charge the battery once, but we assume that if we use it more regularly, to go to work, we will have to charge it once a week. If you run out of battery on a ride, the seven manual gears, in the right grip, were also easy to use, but like most bikes, they don't let you climb hills quite as easily. We loved the power of its Tektro disc brakes, which performed well under quick stops and downhill to maintain our speed.
(Image credit: Sarah Finley) The pedals on the bike could be snapped on for storage, but we sometimes found it difficult to snap them back into place. Overall, we found this to be a powerful e-bike and one of the best we've tested, with an impressive battery and motor. First reviewed June 2021
Buy it if
You want an electric bike that will propel you up the hills
The Mate City's five levels of pedal assistance help you climb hills effortlessly. You want a long battery life
Once charged, the Mate City keeps going for hours, so even if you forget to charge it every time you take shorter trips, you don't have to worry about it falling over. you want to stand out
With bright colors like pink and blue, you will catch the eye of other riders.
Even if you don't buy it
You want a light bike
Weighing in at 22,5kg with battery (that's almost 50lbs), the Mate City isn't easy to carry up the stairs, folded or not. You need a small bike to store it.
Even folded, this bike takes up a lot of space, so you'll need a dedicated space or a spacious apartment. You want a cheap electric bike to get around
The Mate City isn't cheap, but we hope it will last for years, and if you use it daily, it's a great investment.