EVELO Delta Electric Mountain Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]

After putting the EVELO Delta to the ride test it has proven to be a fun and versatile electric mountain bike with impressive power and a smooth ride feel.

The combination of the 750 watt mid drive, NuVinci continuously variable transmission, and the 3″ wide off road tires creates an eBike that can handle almost any terrain. 

The EVELO Delta can turn daily rides into a fun adventure!

The Delta starts at $3,499 and EVELO has regular promotions throughout the year. 

EVELO also focuses a lot on taking the worry out of buying an eBike online. They offer a 10 day at home trial period, free shipping in the US and Canada, 0% financing (if you qualify), 4 year/20,000 mile warranty, and support for service and repairs. Plus they have their “Perfect Seat Guarantee”.

In this second part of the full review you will get an idea of the ride characteristics, range test results, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this electric bike.

Make sure you check out part 1 of this review with large pictures and specifications to get a detailed look at this e-bike.

What you can expect from the EVELO Delta:

The Delta in this review is the Fully Loaded model that is priced at $3,899. The Premium model has some component differences and is priced at $3,499. EVELO does have regular discounted promotions. 

To get acquainted with the EVELO Delta, checkout this video:

Riding the EVELO Delta:

Overall there are some characteristics of the EVELO Delta that really stand out when riding this Plus tire size eMTB. To summarize they are: 

• Powerful 750 watt mid drive with pedal assist & throttle
• The NuVinci N380 continuously variable transmission
• Stable, comfortable, and fun ride feel of 3″ wide off road tires

The Look & Feel of the EVELO Delta

The Delta is one of the new EVELO eBikes that shows their attention to detail in the frame design. 

The hydroformed 6061 aluminium tubes have been shaped to provide strength in the right places, integration of the Bafang mid-drive system, and a bike that can fit a wide range of rider sizes, all with some unique styling. 

The integration of the battery on the downtube of the frame blends the battery in with the overall look of the frame and it is a good place for weight distribution. 

Just below that is the where the 750 watt mid drive motor is housed for a clean look and it provides a solid connection point for the downtube. 

The combined low and centered location of the battery and motor balance the EVELO Delta well for overall bike handling. 

EVELO built in a reinforcement tube at the downtube to seat tube connection for added strength. They keep the downtube low while providing the added strength and style of this reinforcement tubing. 

There is some internal cable routing that provides for cable/wiring protection and a clean look.

The large 27.5″ x 3″ wide Schwalbe Nobby Nic off road tires fit comfortably within the frame and fork with plenty of clearance for when the ride gets muddy.

The curved seat and chain stays contour around these large volume tires very well.

The EVELO Delta comes in 2 different frame sizes to fit a wide range of riders. This is a nice feature because not all electric bikes come in multiple sizes.

Small: 15.5″ frame

Large: 19″ frame

The EVELO Delta I tested was the Large 19″ frame size in the Fully Loaded model.

Riding the EVELO Delta gives you the feeling of stability thanks to the 3″ wide Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires. They provide a solid platform for riding on almost any terrain. 

The Delta is an eMTB that can handle hard pack trails, sand, mud, and moderately snowy terrain. It’s a great bike for zipping around town connecting paved and gravel roads for a fun and adventurous commute!

3″ wide tires provide a very stable ride feel with their large surface area and the large volume of air in the tires. Plus size tires can run lower pressure (+ or – 20 psi) than traditional mountain bike tires because of the large volume of air that they contain.

To take full advantage of these higher volume tires it is very important to find the right air pressure for your weight and riding style. There is a bit of trial and error to to get it right and I know some riders are using a digital pressure gauge because the difference between a few psi can make a big difference in the overall ride performance.

With the right tire pressure the 3″ wide Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires are able to absorb a lot of rough terrain and they create a bit of a suspension effect.

And that suspension effect is very noticeable on a hardtail eMTB like the EVELO Delta. You can ride over some pretty rough terrain without getting thrown around too much and they grip very well because they are able to mold around rough terrain (rocks, roots, etc.) in the road or trail.

The Plus size tires (~3″ wide) have created a sweet spot between the normal 2″-2.4″ wide traditional mountain bike tire and a 4″+ wide fat bike tire.

They have a similar “monster truck” feel of a fat bike that rolls over almost anything while mostly avoiding the sluggish turning and cornering affect that fat bikes have.

Plus size tires pick up more of the agile cornering and turning feel of a traditional mountain bike tire. 

Here is a good video comparing the attributes of a Fat bike vs. Plus bike:

27.5″ Plus size tires have a diameter that is close to a traditional 29er tire so they pick up some of the big wheel ability to roll over a lot of obstacles well. 

Pinch flatting the tube is less of a concern at these relatively lower pressures because there is so much air volume for the tires to absorb impacts from rocks, roots, etc.

And pinch flatting is almost eliminated when running a tubeless system with Plus size tires. The EVELO Delta comes with tubes but it can be converted to a tubeless system. This is a great way to run the lower pressures and almost eliminate flats from thorns, glass, and other small objects because the sealant closes the holes. 

When you combine the power of the 750 watt mid-drive and the 3″ wide Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires with lower tire pressure, the EVELO Delta can handle a lot of steep and rough terrain! It is also a solid bike for navigating the daily commute and errands. 

Now let’s take a closer look at the ride position of the EVELO Delta.

The Delta has a performance mountain bike ride position that is slightly hunched over but it is more upright than a typical mountain bike. It is upright enough to see around you pretty well and it feels comfortable both on and off road.

An FSA stem is spec’ed on the Fully Loaded model and the Premium model uses a generic aluminum stem.

If you are looking for a more upright position an adjustable stem can help to dial in your preferred handlebar height and fore/aft position. 

The Fully Loaded Delta model comes with 740mm wide FSA handlebars (w/ 38mm rise) that offer a comfortable and stable ride feel. Wider bars provide leverage for easily steering the front wheel with the Plus size tire. 

The Premium model has 660mm wide generic aluminum handlebars. 

The Velo grips have collars that tighten to the handlebars for a solid and stable grip.

The EVELO Delta Fully Loaded comes with the high quality Rockshox Reba RL  suspension fork with 120 mm (4.7″) of travel. 

The lockout on the right side of the fork provides a more efficient ride on smooth roads by preventing the fork from moving up and down when you are standing out of the saddle and pedaling hard. 

It is an air spring suspension fork that also has adjustments for the damping so that you can fine tune the fork to your riding style. The 15mm thru axle offers solid side to side stability for the front wheel. 

The Premium EVELO Delta model comes with the more economical Suntour XCM 100mm travel suspension fork. 

The Selle Royale Astro saddle has a mid width profile that makes it good for all around riding.   

EVELO also offers their “Perfect Seat” Guarantee which is very unique! “If you find another seat that you prefer at a local shop, purchase it, and we will reimburse you up to $40! This is just one of the ways we strive to ensure that you are 100% comfortable and satisfied with your bike.”

The Fully Loaded Delta model comes with an FSA seatpost and the Premium model comes with a generic aluminum seatpost. 

The Plus size 3″ wide tires do a good job of providing some suspension effect but if you want to take more of the edge off, a suspension seatpost is a good option. 

Another option is a dropper post that is useful if you ride a lot of rough and steep terrain. A dropper post moves the seat down and out of the way so that you can lower your center of gravity and move the bike around in challenging terrain. They also make a big difference when cornering by moving your center of gravity down so that you can really carve into a corner. 

Now let’s talk about that power! 750 watts of power from a mid drive motor provides a lot of punch. 

The Bafang mid drive motor has 5 levels of pedal assist that are activated by your pedaling cadence. The pedal assist levels are adjusted with the up and down arrows on the control pad on the left side of the handlebars. 

Levels 1 and 2 give you a pretty mellow ride and they are nice for easy cruising rides around the neighborhood or when riding technical terrain.

Levels 3 through 5 definitely pack more of a punch and they quickly get you up to speed. They offer a very sporty ride feel with a lot of acceleration and speed but that also comes with draining the battery quicker.

There is also the thumb throttle that can be used for a quick boost to the pedal assist or you can choose to cruise along without pedaling. The thumb throttle has a lot of variability so that you adjust it to provide exactly the amount of assist that you want. 

In addition to the 5 levels of pedal assist there is also the walk mode that helps with moving the bike up stairs or up a steep hill while you are walking. It provides assist up to a few mph and it is activated by holding the down arrow on the control pad for a few seconds. 

Like most mid-drives the Bafang motor does created some noise and you can mainly hear that at the higher pedaling cadences. It is in the low (slower pedal cadences) to medium (faster pedal cadences) range of noise when compared to other electric bikes. 

One of the unique features of the EVELO Delta is that it comes with the NuVinci N380 continuously variable rear hub that creates a very simple drivetrain experience.

Instead of specific gears, this continuously variable transmission (CVT) can be fine tuned from the low end to the high end to fit your exact riding cadence preferences. It has a 380% gear ratio range from low to high.

The N380 can be easily adjusted with the grip shifter on the right side of the handlebars. A good comparison is that you can dial in the gear ratio with the grip shifter like adjusting the volume dial on a radio.

Another advantage of the NuVinci CVT hubs is that you can shift under a lot of power and it won’t harm the hub. With combined power of over 750 watts (motor+pedal power) the N380 handles changes in gear ratios with ease. 

The NuVinci N380 ride feel is very smooth and it allows you to make multiple quick adjustments to your cadence as you ride up and down hills or cruise along flat roads.

In addition, you can “shift” the CVT while at a stop, you don’t need to be pedaling to “shift”. This is helpful when you want to get into the best gear ratio for accelerating from a stop. 

Here is a video from NuVinci with more info on their system:

According to NuVinci, the N380 hub doesn’t require any maintenance and it is a self-contained system.

A 48V 11.6ah lithium battery is housed on the downtube of the frame for central and relatively low weight distribution. The battery weighs 6.5 pounds and it is removed by unlocking it with the supplied key and rotating the battery to the right side of the frame. 

With the battery and motor centered and low the EVELO Delta has a well balanced weight distribution for solid bike handling.

Removing the battery brings the bike weight down to 51.3 pounds which makes it a little easier to load onto a car rack. The battery can be fully charged from empty in 4-6 hours. 

Okay, now let’s take a look at the display on the EVELO Delta.

The LCD display provides information on the battery level, odometer and trip distance, speed, assist mode, and watts.

The display is located in the center of the handlebars for easy visibility during a ride. 

There is a backlit option for riding in low light and it can be turned on by holding the up arrow on the control pad for a few seconds. 

Slowing the Fully Loaded EVELO Delta down is handled by the Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors. 

These brakes have a very solid feel and their stopping power is impressive with a predictable progressive modulation. 

The brake levers have sensors that will stop the motor assist when the brakes are engaged. 

The brake lever reach can be adjusted to fit your hand size with a small allen wrench on the back side of the brake lever. 

The Premium EVELO Delta model comes equipped with Shimano mechanical disc brakes.

Okay, let’s see how the EVELO Delta did out on the open road!

EVELO Delta Range Test Results:

Here is the real world information on how the EVELO Delta electric bike performed on a riding circuit that includes hills, flats, traffic, wind (when available) etc.

While testing these bikes I like to put them through the toughest conditions to see where their bottom line is in regards to range and speed. I tested the EVELO Delta in the highest pedal assist level (Level 5) with average pedaling on paved roads.

Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the EVELO Delta traveled 27.4 miles and did a total elevation gain of around 2,100 ft. Considering that I weigh 190 lbs and I pedaled very lightly this is good range for a 48 Volt 11.6 ah battery pack (557 Watt Hours) with a 750 watt motor assisting up to 20 mph. 

Watt hours are the total energy in a battery pack and it is based on the volts x amp hours of a pack. This is a way to compare the size of the “gas tank” of electric bikes.

Please keep in mind that if you pedal more, weigh less than me, ride slower and/or you use the bike in terrain that is not as hilly you will get more range. These results are from tough testing.

Speed: The EVELO Delta will assist up to 20 mph with pedal assist only and/or throttle.

Weight: The EVELO Delta tips the scales at 57.8 lbs which is a fairly average weight for an electric mountain bike with these components. Removing the battery brings it down to around 51.3 pounds which makes it a little easier to load onto a car rack.

The weight distribution of the EVELO Delta is very good because the battery and motor are low and centered on the bike.

Pros:

Powerful Mid Drive: 750 watts is a lot of power from a mid drive motor and with the 5 levels of pedal assist you can dial in the right amount of power for your riding preferences. The thumb throttle is also a nice option for adding a quick boost of power. 

NuVinci Continuously Variable Transmission: This is a very simple drivetrain to use and selecting the right gear ratio is as easy as adjusting a volume dial on a radio. It is nice to be able to adjust the gear ratio with or without pedaling. It’s maintenance free design is a major advantage over traditional cog and derailleur drivetrains. 

Plus Size Tires: The 3″ wide Plus size tires combined with the powerful mid-drive provide for a very fun ride! The big air volume tires provide great traction, a bit of suspension effect, and they also look cool.

Cons:

Heavier: At 57.8 pounds the Delta is on the heavier side compared to some similar eMTBs in this category. Some of that weight is from the NuVinci N380 CVT rear hub which has advantages over traditional drivetrains. 

Cadence Based Pedal Assist: The cadence sensor adds assist as soon as you start pedaling and in the higher pedal assist levels the 750 watt mid drive motor can be a bit abrupt when adding that assist. 

Conclusion:

Overall the EVELO Delta is a lot of fun to ride with it’s nearly 3″ wide tires and powerful 750 watt mid-drive system! The blend of the 750 watt mid drive with the smooth NuVinci continuously variable transmission makes this eMTB easy to ride in almost any terrain. 

The EVELO Delta is a very capable and versatile off-road eMTB that can be ridden on a wide variety of terrain in addition to being a super stable around town eBike. 

The Delta starts at $3,499 and EVELO has regular promotions throughout the year. 

EVELO also focuses a lot on taking the worry out of buying an eBike online. They offer a 10 day at home trial period, free shipping in the US and Canada, 0% financing (if you qualify), 4 year/20,000 mile warranty, and support for service and repairs. Plus they have their “Perfect Seat Guarantee”.

Please keep in mind that this is a relatively short term test. This testing can’t really give you the long term review of durability and reliability. My thoughts on the quality of this bike are from previous experiences with similar bikes. If you own this bike and have some input on the long term durability, please share your comments with the Electric Bike Report community below.

Where to buy a EVELO Delta? Check with the EVELO website.

Do you have any questions about the EVELO Delta?  Do you own a EVELO Delta?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Thanks!

-Pete

Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you.

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