iGO Discovery Atwater Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs

The new high-tech and feature rich iGO Discovery Atwater step through is in for testing and review!

The Atwater features a smartphone app for ride performance customization and haptic feedback from the control pad. 

It features a hydroformed aluminum frame with internal battery and a low step through area for easily getting on the bike. 

The specs are impressive with a high capacity (672 Wh) lithium battery, 750 watt (500 Canada) motor, Shimano components, aluminum fenders & rack, LED lights, and much more! 

This commuter style eBike is priced at $2,299 USD with free shipping.

In this first part of the review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications.

Part 2 of the iGO Discovery Atwater review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this e-bike.

Alright, let’s get into the details!

The iGO Discovery Atwater is a powerful easy get on and go step through that is well equipped for the daily commute and weekend rides.

There is also the iGO Discovery Bonaventure that has a triangle frame with similar components and accessories. 

The Atwater features the new iGO Connect App connectivity. The home screen of the app shown here provides the speed, current riding profile, battery voltage and current, pedal assist level, motor power output, and the battery level. 

Within the settings you can select 3 different riding profiles: 

Economy – Lower motor reaction time between power assist levels. For those who are either learning to ride an eBike or prefer slower transitions in order to maximize battery.

Standard – Standard reaction time between power assist levels. For those who desire a balanced amount of quickness vs battery economy

Sport – Increased reaction time between power assist levels. For those who demand a quicker ride.

Each profile can be fine tuned to your liking using the ‘advanced’ button and then saved as your own custom profile.

This is the Advanced setting where you can customize the acceleration delay and save the profile. 

There is also the “Off-Road” Mode that will make the Atwater a Class 3 eBike with pedal assist up to 28 mph. iGO states this “should always be used in accordance to state/provincial regulations.”

This app also provides diagnostic information including motor health, sensor operation and connection faults.

The new Atwater features a sleek looking hydroformed 6061 aluminum frame with the battery integrated into the downtube. 

At 17″ above the ground the low step through area makes it very easy to get on and off the Atwater. 

The Atwater uses iGO’s Ergofit design that will accommodate people of either gender from 5′ to 6’2″.

There are a lot of adjustments that can be made to the seat height and handlebar height and fore/aft position to fit you and your preferred riding style. 

The headtube to downtube connection has a large weld area that has been smoothed to create a refined and cohesive look.

Also in this view you can see the internal cable routing for a cleaner look and cable protection. The same type of cable routing is found on the other side of the frame. 

The Atwater frame houses the high capacity 48V 14ah 672 Wh lithium battery (Samsung 18650 cells) within the downtube for a clean look and protection of the battery. 

This is a good location of the battery for the overall balance and handling of the bike. 

There is a charge port on the upper right side of the downtube for charging the battery when it is installed on the bike.  The battery can also be charged when it has been removed from the bike. 

The battery lock is on the upper left side of the downtube. 

Once the battery is unlocked there is an external lever that releases the battery. 

Here is a look at the downtube of the frame with the battery removed. 

And this is a closer look at the lower battery connection point within the downtube. 

Here is the battery removed from the bike with the charger plugged in. 

It takes 6 to 7 hours to fully charge the battery from empty. The battery can be charged on or off the bike. 

The battery weighs 8.3 pounds. 

Here is a look at the low 17″ step through area that is reinforced with a gusset to provide extra strength at this high stress area. 

At the crank area is something that looks like a mid-drive motor but it actually houses the controller for the eBike system. 

In this view you can see that the side plate can be removed for access to the controller if needed.

iGO describes it this way “the new in frame electronics access port allows anyone to easily access the controller and wiring in seconds. Even if the worst happens, a controller can be swapped out in minutes. Plug in components with twist locking weatherproof connectors makes it incredibly easy for anyone, anywhere to change any electronic component in minutes.”

There is an attachment for a water bottle cage or lock holder on the seat tube of the frame. 

iGO electric bikes are designed and tested in Montreal Canada.

Here is a look at the clean weld details at the seat stays connecting to the seat tube. Also visible is the seat post quick release for easily adjusting the seat height. 

A Suntour Nex suspension fork with 2.5″/63mm of travel helps to take the edge off of rough roads. 

There is a lock out dial on the upper right side of the suspension fork for a more efficient ride on smooth roads. 

The Atwater comes with a full coverage chain guard to keep your pant legs clean and it adds a nice style to the bike. 

The Wellgo platform pedals have an aluminum body with a rubber grip surface on both sides with reflectors front and rear. 

A Shimano Altus rear derailleur shifts through the Shimano 8 speed 11-34t cogset

This is the iGO 750 watt (500 watt for Canadian market) geared rear hub motor that provides pedal assist or throttle up to 20 mph.

That makes this a Class 2 electric bike. The Off-Road mode provides assist to 28 mph. 

In this view you can see that the motor has a relatively compact size that is almost hidden by the cogset and disc brake rotor on the other side. 

Now let’s take a look at the Atwater handlebar area. In this view you can see the swept back handlebars and adjustable stem that is in the higher position.  

In this view you can see the stem has been adjusted to place the handlebars lower and further out. There is a lot of adjustability in the handlebar location so you can fine tune the bike to fit your riding preferences. 

On the left side of the handlebar is a faux leather ergonomic grip, thumb throttle, front Tektro hydraulic disc brake lever, and the LCD display/control pad.

The Tektro hydraulic brake levers have reach adjustment to fit the size of your hand and there are sensors that will stop the assist as soon as either brake lever is engaged. 

A high-tech highlight for the display and control is haptic feedback that vibrates when you push any of the buttons on the display/control pad.

You can really feel it and it is similar to how some smartphones vibrate when you push a virtual button on the screen. 

The TFT color display features the following information: 

• Current Speed
• Max Speed
• Average Speed
• Odometer
• Trip Distance
• Ride Time
• Motor Watts
• Battery Level
• Pedal Assist Level
• Light Indicator
• Diagnostic Info

The thumb throttle to the left of the display allows you to ride with or without pedaling and it can add a boost to the lower pedal assist levels. This is useful if you want a boost of power to get through an intersection quickly. 

There is a walk mode that provides assist up to a few mph and it helps when you are walking the bike up a steep hill or stairs. It is activated by holding the + button on the display.

On the right side is the faux leather ergonomic grip, Tektro brake lever, Shimano Altus 8 speed trigger shifter, and bell. 

Here is a closer look at the Shimano Altus 8 speed shifter. The lower paddle shifts up the cogset and the upper lever shifts down. 

This is the front Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brake with 180 mm rotor.

And the rear Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brake with 180 mm rotor attached to the motor. 

The Velo saddle has a mid-width profile for a comfortable ride.

There is a handle on the back of the saddle to help with maneuvering the bike around. 

Maxxis Re-Volt 700×47, 28″x1.75″ tires are used front and rear. They are designed for eBikes and feature the SilkShield puncture protection.

These tires have an efficient smooth design with channels for dissipating water.

A big highlight in the accessory package are the full coverage front and rear aluminium fenders. They have a very sturdy look and feel that adds to the quality feeling of the Atwater.  

The rear aluminum rack has a sleek design and the front connection point is the rear aluminum fender! It is a pretty cool design. 

The rack is capable of carrying a wide variety of bags, panniers, or baskets for commuting or touring.

Here is a closer look of the rack connection point to the aluminum fender. 

And a closer look at the rear fender connection to the frame at the seat stays. 

This is the Front BUCHEL Shiny 50 lux LED Light that is powered by the eBike battery so you don’t have to worry about charging separate batteries for the lights.

The rear BUCHEL Edge LED Light is housed in the rear rack and runs off the main eBike battery pack. 

The kickstand is bolted to the left side of the frame and it has an adjustable length so you can set the angle of the bike when it is parked. 

iGO Discovery Atwater Electric Bike Specifications

Frame: 6061 aluminum frame with 17″ low step through design and internal battery. Multi adjustable Ergofit system to fit riders from 5 ft tall to over 6 ft.

Fork: Suntour Nex suspension fork with 2.5″/63mm travel and lock out dial

Motor: 750 Watt (500 Canadian market) geared rear hub

Battery: Integrated frame lithium battery pack with Samsung 18650 cells. 48V 14Ah (672 Wh) lithium battery. The battery weighs 8.3 pounds. 

Assist Options: 9 pedal assist levels with fine tuning of 3 riding profiles (Eco, Standard, Sport). Cadence sensor pedal assist. Also a thumb throttle.

Display: Color TFT display/control pad with haptic feedback and information on: pedal assist level, speedometer, max speed, average speed, odometer, trip odometer, trip time, battery level with voltage reading, watts motor is providing, light indicator, and error diagnostics. 

Drivetrain: Shimano Altus 8 speed

Brakeset: Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc front & rear 180mm rotors

Tires: MAXXIS Re-Volt 700×47, 28″x1.75″ with SilkShield puncture protection

Sizes: Ergofit will accommodate people of either gender from 5 ft tall to over 6 feet

Accessories: Front & rear BUCHEL LED lights powered by the bike battery, front & rear aluminum fenders, rear aluminum rack, chain guard, bell, and kickstand.

Weight: 62.6 pounds total. 54.3 pounds with the 8.3 pound battery removed. 

Price: $2,299 USD with free shipping

Here is a link to the specifications page of the iGO Discovery Atwater electric bike.

Now checkout part 2 of the iGO Discovery Atwater review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts!

-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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