E-Cells AWD Bike Review: Get To Your Hunting Spot Quickly, Quietly
I was anxious to test this E-Cells AWD bike because its design, build quality and performance make it perfect for hunting. But you could just as easily use the E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500 Crown Off-Road E-Bike for daily commuting, errands around town, or simply for fun jaunts on and off pavement.
E-Cells AWD Bike With Dual Power Plant
I tested the HE II (Hunter Edition) version of this bike recently with the camo paint job. This is one heavy-duty e-bike. It features two motors – one in each wheel hub for lots of power and all-wheel-drive traction. It features two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries – one on the down tube of the frame and one under the rear rack. Charge them together onboard or remove them and charge them separately. The charger is included.
E-Cells AWD Bike: Bicycle Or Motorcycle?
You can pedal this e-bike as you would an ordinary bicycle. With nine levels of pedal-assist power, I found you can power up any hill with little effort. Because the motors are in the wheels and not the crank, you don’t have to keep pedaling and turning the chain for the motors to help. This bike has a throttle. So, if you decide you don’t want to pedal – or if you were injured and couldn’t — you can simply turn the throttle and you’re cruising along at a top speed of a bit over 30 mph.
Load This E-Cells AWD Bike With Gear
The E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500 Crown Off-Road E-Bike has carry racks front and back. The bike is rated to carry up to 400 pounds of people and gear, not counting the weight of the bike.
The fat bike 4.25-inch tires provide lots of stability for riding when the bike is loaded with gear and it handles well through mud and snow. Adjustable suspension front and back helps to smooth out the bumps.
Equipped With Everything You Need
This bike features a 10-speed gear cassette on the rear hub. Together with the nine pedal-assist motor levels, you have enough combinations to handle just about any trail conditions. Hydraulic disk brakes front and back ensure you can slow or stop when needed. The wide, comfortable seat is adjustable for height with a quick-release clamp. A headlight and taillight are included. The USB charging port for your cell phone or other devices is a nice touch too.
There’s a computer screen front and center on the handlebars – your dashboard display — that tells you all you need to know.
There’s a speedometer with current speed, maximum speed and average speed settings.
The odometer also includes a trip set mode. An indicator displays the levels remaining in your batteries. The estimated remaining range in miles can be displayed and there’s a clock too.
The wattage output display is key. It allows you to monitor how hard your motors are working, which affects the charge on your batteries.
E-Cells AWD Bike Includes Many Accessories
E-Cells includes a large number of accessories at no extra charge. You get a bike helmet; small taillight that fits on the helmet; two rearview mirrors that fit in the ends of the handlebars; stretchable cargo strap and cargo net to use with the front and rear racks; complete tool kit; two clip-on panniers; rechargeable electric air pump; and two aluminum heat sinks for the controller.
The tool kit includes everything you need to complete assembly of the bike and to maintain it. The bike is shipped mostly assembled. Attach the handlebars, pedals, front wheel and rack and your bike is just about ready to ride. You don’t need to be an expert mechanic to do it. The tool also includes an innertube repair kit included and a small manual air pump too. It all fits in a sturdy case with straps so you can secure it to either of the racks.
The soft-sided panniers clip to each side of the rear rack. They’re made of heavy duty nylon and feature shoulder straps. Park the bike, detach the bags, loop them over your shoulder and head off on foot.
These would be especially helpful when commuting to work or doing errands. In addition to locking your bike, you can program the computer to require a password to operate the motors. The rechargeable electrical air pump makes it easy to inflate those fat tires in a few seconds.
The Range Depends On How You Ride
With two motors and two batteries, the motors don’t work as hard and the batteries run cooler, increasing your range capabilities compared to other bikes. I found that if you use your gears and pedal assist modes wisely, you can go a considerable distance on a single battery charge. On one ride for instance, I traveled more than 40 miles and used only about half the charge. And that was with considerable horsing around with the power levels to see how the bike would perform. Being more conservative, I have no doubt I could go well over 100 miles on a single charge. Normally, I found I was using level 2 or 3 for flat terrain and turning it up to level 4 or 5 on the hills. The upper levels beyond that I reserved for extreme terrain and top speeds.
A Perfect Off-Road Vehicle For Hunters
While I’m certain to use this E-Cells AWD bike around town, it really is equipped for off-road use with hunters in mind. I found that my Voodoo Tactical shotgun scabbard attached easily to the rear rack, allowing me to carry either a rifle or a shotgun. Because it’s much quieter than a motorcycle, I can see using this to cover more ground when scouting before the season. During the deer season, I can see using this bike to get to and from my base camp to different hunting locations. Park the bike off the trail, chain it to a tree, and the camo paint will make it more discreet. During the turkey season, I can see moving from location to location, stopping to call, and then moving on until I get a response from a tom.
If you’d rather not have the camo paint, the bike is also available in shiny black, candy apple red, and metal flake blue. The 19-inch (large) frame size is standard, but you can special order a medium (17-inch) or extra-large (20-inch) frame.
This top-of-the-line E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500 Crown is $4,195. But with this bike’s performance and capabilities, together with all the extras that are included, you won’t find a better deal. That’s why I ended up buying the one I tested. Shipping is free in the U.S. and zero percent financing for 12 months is available. For more information on this E-Cells AWD bike, go to www.ECells.com.
Key Features: E-Cells Super Monarch AWD 1500 Crown HE II
Type: E-bike, pedal assist or throttle drive
Motors: Twin 750-watt, 52-volt Bafang geared hub motors
Batteries: 52-volt 17.5AH front battery with USB phone charge port and charge indicator; and 52-volt, 14AH rear rack battery using SAMSUNG 35E 18650 3500mh matched batteries with an on/off toggle switch and built rear taillight
Frame: #6061 Aircraft Aluminum Alloy
Rear Cassette: 10-speed Shimano Deore CS-H650-10 Hyperglide
Suspension: Front fork RST Air Suspension Shock with 96 mm of travel includes a lockout feature and adjustability for weight of rider; RockShox Monarch RL Rear Shock
Wheels: Double-wall aluminum rims
Tires: Vee Bulldozer is a 26 x 4.25 inches
Brakes: Tektro Dorado HD-E730 hydraulic disk brakes with four pistons
Cargo Capacity: 400 pounds
Weight: 95 pounds
MSRP: $4,195
Steven Paul Barlow is a retired sergeant/station commander and former firearms instructor with the New York State Police. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and enthusiast with all things related to firearms, knives, and survival. He has been writing on outdoor topics for more than 35 years. His collections of outdoor humor stories are available at BriarHill Books.