I haven't paid much attention to electric bikes for quite some time. I have an old, time-tested bicycle at home, which is used for physical exercise or a leisurely ride to distract myself after a hard day.

This summer I had to photograph two electric bikes at NiuxTech, and when the third one appeared I wanted to try it too. Perhaps you will be able to understand why the latter are making their way on the market so quickly? If you are also taking the first step into the world of electric bikes and don't want to spend a lot of money, this review is for you.

Duotts electric bicycle manufacturer is relatively new on the market, but already has a fairly large selection of models. Today, Duotts C29 is with us, and we share its impressions, advantages and disadvantages with you after more than 100 kilometers covered.

What's in the box?

A preliminary tip for people buying this bike - its box is quite heavy and large, and it is best to carry it with two people. The Duotts C29 is boxed carefully, perhaps too carefully. The whole box is not only glued together, but a lot of staples are also used, so it is best to carefully cut the box at the edges.

Inside the box, part of the bike is already assembled, and separately you will find the front wheel, trunk, pedals, mudguards, seat and battery. In addition to the bicycle parts, the set includes a 2A charger, and as an additional gift, a pump and a phone holder mounted on the steering wheel. Tools are needed to assemble the bike as well as inside the box.

The entire assembly, taking pictures during unpacking and assembly, took about an hour and a half, of which at least 10 minutes was spent cutting the mounting straps (there were an infinity of them). The included user manual tells you how to assemble this bike, but the pictures are small and difficult to understand, so sometimes it's best to just use logic.

First impressions

After spending quite a bit of time putting this bike together, I wanted nothing more than to get on and ride, but first, what is its quality? Let's start with the steering wheel, on the left side of which you will find the lighting and signal buttons, a little further on the screen with the control buttons. Between them is a brake/rail switching mechanism for switching the front sprocket unit. 

These stars have three on the front, so it's a bit of a strange choice to see - and + instead of numbers 1, 2 and 3 on the gear display. The brakes on our test bike are disc mechanical, and the brake levers are very simple and look quite cheap.

The right side of the steering wheel is occupied by the shifting mechanism of the bicycle cassette (or rear sprockets), where the rails are already represented by numbers. Unlike the left side, which is controlled by a single lever, the right side is controlled by a lever and a button. The speed lever is controlled by rotation and it takes up a little more than a third of the space where the hand is held. It's not the nicest or highest quality lever, but it doesn't feel like it's going to break anytime soon.

Large, 29-inch wheels and sufficiently thick tires give this bike the impression of massiveness and comfort. The front fork has adjustable shock absorbers that can be fully "locked" or "unlocked". After unlocking and pressing the steering wheel while simulating driving, a hiss of air can be heard from the shock absorbers.

The seat feels very soft and comfortable to the touch. It has a built-in ventilation grill in the middle, which should help keep you from sweating. The seat post is marked, so it is easier to return it to its previous position if several people ride the bike.

The mudguards included in the kit are extremely cheap and easy to bend. The mounting plate of the rear mudguard is too light, and the mudguard itself is too long, so if you shake the bike lightly, it "wobbles". When the boot is on, this mudguard snaps in place. The trunk itself seems sturdy enough and the bars don't bend or creak when a heavy backpack is attached.

Knowing that the battery is usually the most expensive part in electrical devices, it is obvious that the manufacturer tried to save costs with the selected parts. The Duotts C29 battery sits right through the center of the bike, occupying the space where we usually keep our water bottles attached.

When installed, it does not move, and the position can be locked with a key, so it is relatively safe to leave it attached to the bike. On/off button on the side of the battery and battery level indicator on the top. It's a pity, but there is no convenient handle for carrying the battery, only one place at the top where you can "insert" your fingers.

Electric motor / helper / assistant

There are several types of electric bicycles on the market, and the most common types are two types - some add a certain amount of engine power for easier riding, while others transmit the full engine power when you start pedaling, regardless of the strength of the pedaling. The Duotts C29 is the second type of bike, where when you start cycling, the motor will start and spin the wheel at full power until you reach the set speed, or for a few seconds before it stops cycling.

You need to get used to these bike features and ride. When driving slowly, I had to be in a dangerous situation more than once (obstacle in front), when you start to think about going around the obstacle, and then the engine starts up and going around becomes an extreme task due to sudden acceleration.

The most liked one is mentioned without an electric motor, and the latter is controlled only using the speed knob. It was this way that made cycling a real joy. With the knob, you can think and add as much engine power as you turn the knob. It's a great compromise for physically exhausting yourself or relaxing while driving with just the electric motor.

Ride quality

The Duotts C29 bike is designed for people 170-200 cm tall, and my height is 175 cm. Sitting on this bike is comfortable enough, but the handlebar position seems a little too low. I noticed that due to the forward lean, a fairly large part of the body weight falls on the arms, which is tiring when driving. The height of the seat can be easily adjusted without any tools, so it is not difficult to find the height that suits you.

Large, 29-inch wheels, fairly thick tires and a high seating position provide a reasonably secure feeling on any road surface. The front shock absorbers are soft enough and absorb stronger shocks.

The seat is soft and comfortable, and after covering the first 30 kilometers, you did not feel tired while sitting. However, the same cannot be said about the steering wheel - the steering wheel itself has a straight shape, so the hands are held in a not quite natural position, bending at the wrists. After the first few kilometers, my hands got tired and I had to stop to rest.

It's easy to use this bike without any assistants, because you don't feel the resistance of the engine when pedaling, and this bike rolls perfectly. However, you will really feel the weight of the bike when going uphill - it weighs about 30 kg.

Duotts C29 is equipped with front and rear lights for safe driving after dark. The front light is not the brightest, but its lighting angle and illuminated distance are sufficient. The rear light is mounted on the trunk and when it is removed, there is no illumination, so those looking for safety should consider a separate rear light.

I mentioned at the beginning that the parts used in the Duotts C29 bike do not give the impression of quality or comfort, and after riding it for a while, this bike caused certain emotions when riding. It is a mistake to think that these are negative emotions - these are slightly different emotions.

When I started my journey to work or just going for a ride, I always took a longer, unexplored road, which has more challenges, mountains and is much longer than the usual routes. These are the kind of roads I wouldn't even think about on my regular bike. It is the desire to get to know the environment where you have not been that tells the most about riding this bike.

Battery, distance traveled and maximum speed

Traditionally, NiuxTech tests everything powered by a motor and electricity to the maximum. So, how far did you manage to go without any engine and using only the engine, using its full power? 39.92 kilometers is the distance traveled with a weight of 78 kg, the maximum recommended tire pressure, at an outdoor temperature of 24 degrees on a light windy day.

The average speed is 26.4 km/h and the maximum speed reached is 54 km/h, going downhill (data using the Strava app). On level ground, the maximum speed is 48 km/h.

Driving uphill

Želvo st. Vilnius has one of the steepest streets in the city, which is a real challenge for electric vehicles. The latter turned out to be a bit too difficult a task for Duotts C29, who gave up on this mountain at the very top. Driving along Ukmergės street to the mountain of Šeškinės district, the average speed is about 30 km/h, while the Narbutos street hill is covered at a speed of 35-40 km/h.

What we didn't like?

Controller settings are a key part of an electric bike. In them, we can adjust the basic functions of the electrical parts, but the manufacturer of the Duotts C29 seems to have programmed it in a hurry. Most of the settings functions work well and are useful, but there are a few settings that do not change anything, or the desired setting simply does not exist.

The P11 setting is supposed to change the sensitivity (or how quickly it kicks in) of the assist when using the pedals, but there is no difference between maximum and minimum sensitivity. One of the more important settings, P12, allows you to change the power of the assistant during mining, but this function does not work - the electric motor will always work at 100% power.

It would be ideal to have a setting that allows you to adjust the maximum speed and power of each assistant level, for example: level 1 - 100W and a limit of 10 km/h, level 2 - 200W and a limit of 20 km/h, level 3 - 300W and a limit of 30 km/h hour limit, etc

Duotts also has a mobile app to connect to the bike. It's a pity, but there is not much functionality here - you can adjust the level of the assistant, change kilometers to miles and cruise control, and the battery level is only displayed every 20% (only divisions are displayed on the bike screen), so we will know the exact battery level only by looking at the voltage.

Again, all controls on the steering wheel are not of the highest quality. While driving, the pointer on the track shift lever started to crackle, and the buttons for changing the assistant level are a bit too far for easy shifting while driving, so you often have to release the steering wheel with one hand.

The lighting and signal buttons are closer, but the screen does not show when the lights are on, and when driving during the day (it's safer on the road) you can only guess whether you managed to turn them on. The horn button is easy to press, but its position makes it very easy to press when trying to switch assistant levels. This is not bad, but the signal is particularly loud and accidental clicks when stopping at the crossing scare passers-by.

The mechanical brakes are one of the more serious problems with this bike - they are simply too weak for quick stops. The installed discs are misaligned out of the box, and the unevenness is noticeable when braking. While the brakes are easy enough to calibrate, it's just an added concern.

Those who intend to use mudguards and a trunk will have to figure out how to attach the rear mudguard to the trunk, because the latter bangs loudly against the trunk from the larger pothole it has driven over.

Verdict

It seems that there are far more negative comments than positive ones in this review. But that's not the whole story of the Duotts C29. When you look at the price-performance ratio, the bike's engine power and battery-only range, you probably won't find a better option. Yes, most of the components on this bike are cheap, but after riding well over 100 kilometers, nothing has broken or broken.

The advantage of the bike is that it is easy to find spare and additional parts, so improving the braking system and raising the handlebars would make it a great everyday vehicle, both for commuting or going for a ride. The best thing is that even with additional investment in quality parts, the price of this bike would not reach 1000€.

Would this electric bike replace a personal ordinary bicycle? It really is. During testing, I rode in places that I wouldn't dare to go to on a regular bike, and the most pleasing thing is that the last hill home does not become a challenge.