Elelgide M2 is a budget class electric bike up to €800. In this price range, you can find other models with similar parameters, so let's take a look at whether this M2 is unique in any way, what are its pluses and minuses, and is it worth buying?

Unboxing

The bike came from Geekbuying. As usual, the shipping from the EU warehouse was fast and without any problems, it took 5 working days for the delivery by the courier to the door. The box itself, without major damage, was not damaged too much during transportation.

Inside the box we found an electric bike, a manual, a charger, assembly tools and bike accessories. At the beginning, we put the front wheel, then the steering frame, the seat and screwed the pedals. Unfortunately, there were no mudguards in the set, so you will have to find a place to buy them separately.

Quality

The design of the Eleglide M2 is quite simple. The black frame with a few red and gray accents looks quite nice, gives a bit of a "sporty" vibe. The rims themselves and the tires with the KENDA white lettering also add an extra zing. The assembly quality itself is good, I couldn't really stick to something.

It's nice that the manufacturer decided to choose components of a slightly higher class than is usually seen in such a budget segment. Hydraulic XOD brakes, Shimano Altus shift knobs, possibility to connect to the bike through the Eleglide APP.

Driving distance

The M2 has an easy-to-remove 36V 15Ah (540Wh) battery, which is twice as large as the one on the Eleglide M1 (7.5Ah) and even larger than the Elelgide M1 Plus (12.5Ah). True, the price of the new model is also higher. In urban conditions, driving mostly "on electricity" I managed to drive ~ 30 km.

When driving with the help of "pedal assist", it is known that it would be possible to drive more. If it happens that the battery is fully discharged while riding, you can continue to use the bicycle, but it should be noted that pedaling becomes much more difficult than when pedaling a regular (non-electric) bicycle.

Ride quality

The Eleglide M2 electric bike has 27.5*2.35" KENDA tires and a front spring shock absorber with 100mm travel. There is no possibility to adjust the softness to your liking, it can only be fully locked or unlocked. The seat / saddle is also more "sporty", it is not soft, so when riding longer distances distances are felt more.

The front rim "out of the box" was not very straight, you need to straighten it yourself when transporting the spokes or take it to a bicycle service to have it done by a professional. The situation was exactly the same with the previously tested Eleglide M1 Plus.

Well, I would say the driving experience is so ordinary. It drives stably, the steering wheel is quite wide, the seat height is adjustable, it is quite maneuverable due to its 22 kg weight, the wider 2.35" gives more grip on the road surface, you can drive more confidently on some forest tracks.

What did we like?

The Eleglide M2 bike has some very welcome updates compared to the first generation M1 / M1 Plus models. Larger capacity 540Wh battery, more efficient XOD hydraulic brakes, higher class Shimano Altus shift knobs, control and settings using APP.

As for the APP, it works smoothly, the control is made convenient. Once connected, it is possible to set pedal assist levels, turn on/off the headlight, lock/unlock the bike, see the distance traveled, set the max. developed speed. By default, it is set to 25 km/h, but with a few clicks it can be increased to 32 km/h. 

This model is quite light, weighing 22kg, considering that it comes with 27.5" wheels and a 15Ah battery. For comparison, the SAMEBIKE LO26 electric bike with 26" wheels and a smaller capacity battery weighs 24kg. True, the latter model has a folding mechanism that the Eleglide M2 cannot boast of.

What could be better?

It seems that Eleglide is targeting the entire EU market and has strongly taken into account some countries' restrictions on engine power, speed, throttle integration. For me personally, a 250W motor is too little, especially when I had to test more powerful models. In order to drive up hills, you will often have to downshift and do a lot of leg work.

Budget class Shimano Tourney rear derailleur. And although the shift knobs on the steering wheel are of a higher class (Shimano Altus), the manufacturer saved money on the rear derailleur. Mudguards are not included in the set, you will have to search and order them additionally.

The screen is small, not very bright, so when driving on a sunny day, it is quite difficult to see the information on it. Also, the battery charging time is quite long, about 8-9 hours. The seat is hard, not very comfortable for longer distances.

Although the distance traveled during the testing period was not great, only about 100 km, but the brake pads were noticeably worn and soon it will be necessary to think about new ones. And finally, maybe a little thing, but there is no STOP LED light at the back, only a standard red reflector is added.

Verdict

In my opinion, the quality, parameters and components of Eleglide M2 fully correspond to its price. Would I personally choose this bike for everyday use - probably not. According to my needs and priorities - motor power is one of the more important aspects, so 250W is too little for me. 

As an alternative for a similar price, I would suggest considering SAMEBIKE LO26 II model, although with somewhat smaller 26" wheels, but with a more powerful 750W motor, which will provide more pleasant acceleration, higher developed speed and significantly better traction on more serious hills.

Do you want to know more about the best electric bikes of 2023 under €1000? NiuxTech has compiled a personal list of TOP scooters and a comparison with other models! 

The best electric bikes of 2023!