According to its features "on paper" this electric bike looks very attractive. With my favorite torque sensor, a motor that develops up to 500W of power, a 14.5Ah battery and weighing only 22.5 kg, this little one is going to win my heart before I even unpack it. So, with me I invite you to get acquainted with a real city bike PVY Z20 PRO EVO.

Unboxing

Judging by the size and not knowing what's inside the box, you wouldn't really be able to guess that there's a bike inside. It's packed neatly and securely, and it folds up for transport. One of the best things is that it's practically assembled - just take it out of the box, put on the handlebars and seat, screw in the pedals, inflate the wheels and tighten the mudguards, and this little guy is ready to go.

The kit includes instructions, a few washers, the purpose of which could not be determined, a speed knob, and tools. True, we were missing one wrench for attaching the mudguards, which could have fallen out through the hole in the box. It may take 10 minutes to fully prepare this bike.

Assembly quality

The small wheels and small frame of the Z20 seem like a great combination for a small electric bike. The wires running through the frame are nicely hidden and you won't find anything obtrusive here.

The display on the handlebars is monochrome, but it conveys all the necessary information. You will also find the lighting, turn signals and signal buttons here. Yes, this bike has a turn signal lever, and the latter are visible from the brake/turn signal light mounted on the trunk.

Somewhat differently from other manufacturers, the mechanical drive system is not Shimano, but microNEW. The brakes are mechanical disc, but due to the low speed, this should be enough. The seat is made of softer materials. The height-adjustable handlebar and seat allow for a comfortable fit.

The folding mechanism, both the attachment and the hinges look high-quality. The bike, due to its light weight, is easy to fully fold and remove the battery. However, when folded, I missed a support on which to place the bike, which turns on the front sprocket.

Overall, I have nothing bad to say about the quality of this bike. Everything seems neat and well thought out (except for the kickstand when folded), but I will only be able to partially assess the durability of the parts until testing is underway.

Ride quality

I would like to start this section with a bit of a preconceived notion. The PVY Z20 is a real joy to drive. Of course, it's not designed for high speeds or extreme driving, but the torque sensor is one of those aspects that immediately gives me a big plus.

These sensors are speed-insensitive and adjust the assistance of their electric motor based on the force being applied. This encourages you to pedal and move on your own, without having to struggle when going uphill or starting from a standstill.

The Z20 PRO EVO has 5 assist levels, the lowest of which adds minimal assistance, and with the highest you won't even feel that you're pedaling. Those who want to ride only with the electric motor can do so with the rotary speed handle. This bike has cruise control, which I was able to activate right out of the box by lifting the bike and holding the speed lever at the same speed for a few seconds. Unfortunately, I couldn't do this while riding, even after changing various settings.

What about the microNEW shifting system? I was surprised here. I have tried many of the cheaper Shimano systems, but none of them shift gears as smoothly. Brakes? The distance between the handle and the lever could be a little smaller, but the braking force is more than enough for the speed you can reach.

Maximum speed and range

If you are a speed enthusiast, you can skip this paragraph. As I mentioned earlier, this bike is not designed for speed. Nevertheless, the manufacturer declares a maximum speed of 32 km/h. Fully charged and weighed with clothing (85 kg), according to the Strava app, I managed to reach a speed of 30 km/h on a flat surface.

What about the distance covered? The declared distance of 50-60 km seems optimistic, and I managed to cover 34.32 km. This is far from the manufacturer's promises, but I think that this distance is just right for this little one.

Driving uphill

I didn't expect miracles from the PVY Z20 PRO EVO when driving uphill. However, the Narbuto g. hill was overcome at a speed of no slower than 18 km/h, and the Želvo g. hill became an insurmountable task. With a fully charged battery, I managed to overcome only half of the hill.

Verdict

Personally, I had never heard of PVY as a manufacturer before. Maybe it's a prejudice, but I expected much less from this product than I got. The Z20 PRO EVO is a bike that you always want to ride, with which you want to travel everywhere in the city and take your time to see everything around you.

The unheard of gear shifting system also left a good impression, and controlling the motor with the twist grip is a pleasure. If you've read my other reviews, you know that I really like the cruise control that this electric bike has (but I never got to use it). The strangest thing is that I didn't need it at all here, because during all the tests I enjoyed the calm pedaling.