As some of you know, I like to review outdoor gear and equipment and pass along my recommendations to save you all your time and money. Today’s review is all about my new e-bike: the KBO K2, part of the K Series line of new E-bikes from KBO.
First Impressions
The title says it all; this bike is actually pretty good considering the low price point ($700). Shipping was fast, setup was simple, and my first ride was better than expected. The bike is solid, the tires are wide and grippy, and there’s even a front suspension to lessen the impact of cracks and such in the road.
The bike’s main feature is the foldability which I’ll talk about a little later on. This is great for me because I have very limited space in my one car garage, and so will likely be storing the bike inside my mudroom/entryway often. I’ll be using the bike mainly to run errands to limit the number of trips I take in my car. The power this bike provides is already making my rides easier and safer.
Breakdown of Components
According to their website, the main parts KBO used in the construction of this ebike include the following:
Battery: 48V 10.4 Ah Lithium Battery, Integrated, removable
Motor: 500W Brushless Geared Hub Motor
Derailleur: Shimano 7-speed Gear Derailleur
Brakes: 160mm Mechanical Disc Brakes
Frame: 6061 Aluminum frame (mine is in the pearl white color)
Lights: LED Front Light
Tires: 20" x 3" CHAOYANG Tire
These components are all a little higher quality than I expected for this price, which is part of what sold me on the bike. I figured as long as these parts were put together well, there wasn’t any risk to this purchase.
How to Fold/Unfold the K2
A neat feature of this folding E-bike is the simple folding mechanism they’ve incorporated. From the locked position of the normal extended frame, all you do is apply a little pressure to the clamp and press the switch which is on top of the clamp to allow the frame to fold in half. Inside is the battery which can be remove with the key that came with the bike. It’s a slick design for those of us who don’t mind riding in a little rain as it protects the battery and make the bike easier to carry around.
This foldable frame with a hidden battery strikes me as a rare feature in bikes at this price level, and was the main reason I bought it.
Top Speed
The fastest I can get the bike to go is 20mph by itself. If I pedal fast, or am going downhill, I’ve seen I can go faster according to the screen attached to the handlebar. KBO’s website claims this is why the bike can be consider a Class 2 e-bike. A range of 45 miles is also advertised on the website but I was getting closer to 35, mostly because I don’t pedal as much as I could, and I think I probably weigh more than the average rider (I am 270lbs. for reference).
Pedal Assist vs. Throttle
This bike has 5 levels of pedal-assist, or you can simply use throttle only. You can also use the throttle to provide extra juice even when in one of the pedal-assist levels. This part is a lot of fun, I can tell you. Hills, bumpy road, and grass are easier to ride through with this extra power.
I’ve noticed the battery lasts a lot longer when I use the pedal-assist as opposed to throttle only.
Conclusion
I wouldn’t call this bike a beast by any stretch of the imagination, but it isn’t trying to be one either. It’s a simple, affordable, foldable electric bike for first time riders or people like me just looking for a simple option for getting around town. For the low price, decent parts, and name brand, you can’t go wrong.
