The rapidly growing popularity of electric bicycles is becoming more and more common on the streets, and those looking to buy a new bike are undoubtedly faced with an endless supply. Probably each of us thinks about what to look for when buying, which model to choose, how much to invest in a quality bicycle and asks many other questions before finding the right solution for ourselves.

Today's review is about a bike that will help answer at least a few questions. The Duotts E26 is an electric mountain bike in a unique color, with a high-quality motor, a long-lasting battery and excellent shock absorption, promising a fun riding experience. Is this a bike worth considering? Maybe this is the bike for you? Let's take a closer look.

Unpacking and preparation

Usually, bicycles are partially disassembled in transport boxes. So is the Duotts E26 - the handlebars, front wheel, seat, pedals, light, mudguards have been removed. Everything is packed separately, but carefully (even if the box falls over, the probability of damaging the frame paint or other components remains low). We also found all the necessary tools for its assembly in the kit. Also, a phone holder and a hand pump were additionally included.

Assembling the bike wasn't difficult, and if we had any questions, we used the included assembly instructions. Those who like visuals can also see the assembly on the manufacturer's website. The process itself took more than an hour, but we're including the time spent taking photos here.

First impressions

The Duotts E26 is a big bike. This impression didn't disappear when I saw the box, opened it, and fully assembled the bike. With its 26×4.0-inch tires and headlight design, this bike somewhat resembles a motorcycle, and its frame type corresponds to the shape of a mountain bike (MTB). Looking at the whole, even after many days of testing it, the Duotts E26 remained in my mind precisely as a hybrid of a motorcycle and a mountain bike.

Perhaps the most striking design element is the unique color of the frame. It uses a “chameleon” paint that changes color depending on the viewing angle or lighting. The model I tested is a blue-violet color and to my eye, the “chameleon” effect looks simply amazing.

Another eye-catching element is the holes in the rims, through which the tire (tube) part is visible. This reduces the weight of this bike a little, but I couldn't find any information on whether this provides any additional benefits. However, I admit that these rims look interesting - in a good way.

The components used in the Duotts E26 are certainly not the worst. On the left side of the handlebar you will find the signal, on/off and PAS (pedal assist system or electric motor assist system control). The latter are easy to press and are pleasant to the touch.

The display in the middle is bright and conveys only the most necessary information. On the right side of the handlebars, there is a USB-A port for charging devices, as well as levers (Shimano) for shifting gears. Effective braking of this bike is ensured by Tektro hydraulic brakes, and the metal levers have no extraneous movement.

This bike is equipped with front and rear shock absorbers. The front fork has 100 mm of travel and its rebound is easily adjustable. The rear features a DNM shock absorber, and in the budget class this manufacturer is known for its reasonably high-quality parts.

The seat seems a bit hard, with minimal padding. In my opinion, the Duotts E26 should have a slightly softer seat for long rides. I may be wrong here, and the shock-absorbing tires and shock absorbers will change my opinion, but before that - this bike needs to be tested.

Ride quality

From the side, the Duotts E26 looks not only big, but also heavy, and we also imagine heavy bikes as requiring more physical strength when pedaling. The first ride and your opinion changes radically. Pedaling without using PAS is not difficult - moving from a place is relatively easy even in 5th gear, and this bike rolls just fine.

The wide tires make it a bit more difficult to take a sharp turn. This is not due to the steering angle, but to the perceived balance on the bike itself. After 100 km, the habit has not formed - narrower tracks with turns or maneuvering on the street among people at low speed is quite difficult.

When driving calmly on any poor surface, the shock absorbers and tire thickness work together flawlessly. Shocks are absorbed, there was no shaking or beating felt through the steering wheel, and during all the tests there was not a single time when I had to take my hands off the steering wheel and rest.

Those who like a bit more challenging off-road riding will be disappointed with some aspects of this bike. The Duotts E26 has a sporty-style seat, which is quite hard. It becomes a bit awkward and uncomfortable when riding longer distances. Cycling pants or shorts with padding might help here, but if you don't want them, you should probably change the seat to a softer one.

The pedal hits the rear brake disc when riding over potholes or roots, causing annoying extraneous noises. The mudguards are also too weak and have too much movement, and after a long ride, an extraneous noise appeared in the front (maybe the cables or shock absorbers are rubbing). Perhaps the most disturbing thing is the pedal axle on one side that keeps loosening, which constantly needs to be tightened.

When riding only on forest trails, there was a lack of instant power to overcome medium and steeper hills. Also, there is a lack of comfort, i.e. I would like the ride to be softer. Shock absorbers with a larger travel than the ones on this bike could help. Of course, all this is based on the price, and for a perfect bike you would need to invest at least several times more.

Maybe the whole thing sounds like a bad experience, but it's not - the Duotts E26 gives you additional emotions that you probably won't be able to experience with a regular bike. You can confidently reach higher speeds, maintain them for longer sections, and focus all your attention on the riding trajectory and route. It's great that even after extremely bad sections of the road and shaking, the bike didn't fall apart and everything stayed where it should be.

Electric motor

The heart of every electric bike is its motor. The Duotts E26 has a 750W 80Nm Bafang motor, which can reach speeds of up to 55 km/h on its own and help you overcome 30° slopes. Here, unlike cheaper options, the motor's power is distributed via a torque sensor.

Generally speaking, the harder you pedal, the more power is transferred from the motor. The track you ride and pedal on has no effect on this, the power is delivered practically unlimitedly or up to the speed you can reach.

There are 5 levels of assistance, from the least to the most. This assistant can also be turned off. After driving the first 30 km, I felt that level 1 was completely sufficient in the city, and it was mentioned that it made it much easier even when moving off. It is a pity, but there is no possibility to adjust the transmitted power.

Those who want to fully utilize the electric motor can change the handlebar to the one included in the kit, which has a rotating speed lever. Then this bike will become more similar to a motorcycle in its control. When riding with this handlebar, you can use only the electric motor, i.e. you don't need to pedal at all. You can move off from a place, acceleration is fast enough, but it's not one of those that would push you back with its own thrust. In Vilnius, the power of this motor was enough everywhere.

Driving uphill

A test that has become a tradition, in which I try to overcome two Vilnius hills - the steeper Želvos g. and the much longer Narbuto g. For this test, we used only the engine power. So, the Želvos g. hill was overcome at a speed of 10 km/h, slowing down only at the very top. On the Narbuto g. hill, the greatest slowdown occurred at 34 km/h. Both hills were overcome, so I am confident that the power of this engine will be enough for everyone.

Distance traveled and maximum speed

The next test is the distance covered using only the engine. Duotts fairly safely defines the distance traveled in this mode as 40-60 km. So, I inflate the tires to the maximum recommended pressure of 30 PSI, fully charge the battery, weigh myself with all my clothes on (80 kg), check the temperature outside (~15°) and set off on a two-hour journey.

The distance covered was 45.17 km. The average speed during the entire trip was 25.4 km/h, and the maximum speed was 56.7 km/h, but it was achieved while driving downhill. On a flat surface, the maximum speed was 51 km/h.

What we didn't like?

While the Duotts E26 is a truly exceptional bike, I would have liked more for this price. Some things could be included as separate accessories, while others could simply be improved by the manufacturer.

Cruise control, or maintaining a constant speed, is personally one of the most important functions in an electric vehicle. I like to lock the speed at 20 km/h and calmly move along my route. Unfortunately, this bike does not have this. The proposed cruise control is activated by holding down the - (assistant level) button, but it only works sometimes and only at a fixed speed of 6 km/h.

Mudguards - for some, this is not an issue (and the bike only looks better without them), but for me, wanting to ride to work clean, I couldn't do it with the mudguards included in the kit. When riding through snow or wet mud at a slightly higher speed, the rear mudguard only partially protects my back. When I first reached my destination, I was very disappointed to see a dirty helmet, backpack and jacket. There are other manufacturers whose mudguards cover a larger part, are closer to the tire and are stronger. I would gladly buy such ones separately directly from Duotts.. if only they existed.

All the other things I didn't like are just minor things. The battery level could be displayed in more detail, not in divisions or every 20% (in the Duotts app). The bike's display could also have a clock. I also miss the rear light - even if it came with a separate battery, it would be a plus. The battery doesn't have any handles for comfortable carrying, and the bike's kickstand always hits the brake disc when folded. The included handles with the speed lever look and feel cheap.

The weight of the Duotts E26 (37kg) can be a serious challenge if you need to carry this bike somewhere. Lifting it by the frame through the center of gravity is quite difficult due to the position of the rear shock absorber, and when lifting it, its weight is definitely felt. Also, I would not recommend riding this bike on a trail where you need to lift the front wheel frequently - be it tree roots, a curb, lifting the front wheel without getting off the bike requires a lot of strength.

What did we like?

The speed developed by the electric motor alone also requires the ability to stop quickly and safely. Hydraulic brakes with 203mm discs help here - braking is effective and smooth. During all tests, the discs did not warp, the brakes did not squeal and worked as I expected.

Although the mudguards are poor, the Duotts E26 has an IPX4 rating. This means it is protected from light rain and if it starts raining during your trip, you shouldn't worry too much. However, you can't wash this bike with high water pressure.

Perhaps the thing I liked the most is almost all the components of this bike. They are relatively high quality, and everything I touch is solid. The screen is bright and in a convenient place. The gears are switched easily, the synchronization is accurate (ie, it does not shift to other gears than the one set).

Verdict

Duotts E26 - an exceptional bike. It is a mountain bike, with large tires, a good engine and quality parts. In addition, it stands out from other manufacturers' models most of all with its chameleon color effect of the frame. This alone determines that you will get looks from those around you when riding or stopping. Unfortunately, attracting attention is not always good, because I constantly felt stressed after leaving my bike locked up at the store.

Finally, perhaps the most difficult question - is this a good electric mountain bike? On the one hand, wide tires are a real convenience on any surface. On the other, it is an additional weight that requires more energy to move and makes it more difficult to maneuver in tight turns. For my daily ride, which includes bike paths, higher curbs and occasional forest paths, the Duotts E26 was a great fit and I can safely say that this bike will leave me with only good memories.