iGo Elite 2 Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]

After many miles of testing the new iGo Elite 2 it has proven to be a comfortable easy to ride eBike with impressive performance and range.

The low step-thru frame is easy to get on and off and the battery integration gives the bike a clean look.

The Elite 2 has a wide range of performance from fast and powerful to easy going and casual.

Another highlight is the full accessory package that makes the Elite 2 ready for the daily commute. 

At $1,899 with free shipping the Elite 2 offers a lot of value with all of its features and accessories.

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 iGo Elite 2:

To get acquainted with the iGo Elite 2, checkout this video:

Riding the iGo Elite 2:

Overall there are some characteristics of the iGo Elite 2 that really stand out when riding this step thru eCommuter. To summarize they are: 

• Easy get on and off step thru design
• Performance ride with impressive range 
• Adjustable fit for a comfortable ride position

The Look & Feel of the iGo Elite 2 

A big highlight of the 2020 iGO Elite 2 is the new step thru frame design that blends in the battery, creates a solid ride feel, and an accessible housing area for the controller. 

First of all it is very easy to get on and off the Elite 2 with its low step-thru area that is about 17.5″ above the ground. 

It makes the Elite 2 a very approachable eBike that is easy for many riders to get on and go without having to swing a leg over the frame. 

Another highlight is the clean looking battery integration onto the downtube of the frame. 

The downtube has a very flat profile that creates a platform for the battery and the battery housing and attachment points really blend in well with the frame lines. 

This central and relatively low location of the 48V 13ah lithium battery is ideal for the balance and handling of the bike. 

The Elite 2 handles well when cornering and some of that is attributed to the weight distribution of the battery which is one of the heavier components on an electric bike.

And speaking of cornering, some step-thru bikes can exhibit some flex from the frame but the Elite 2 had a solid feel. 

The down tube and seat tube have been shaped to create large surface area connections and there is also some gusset reinforcement at the bottom bracket area. 

Another new feature for the iGO Elite 2 is the access to the controller that is housed in the bottom bracket area.

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.”

Now let’s take a closer look at the ride position of the Elite 2.

First of all the Elite 2 is designed to fit riders of either gender from 5’-0” to 6’-2” with its highly adjustable handlebar and seat positions. 

This is a very comfortable and easy going electric bike with an upright ride position. 

In addition to the comfortable feel the upright ride position also helps with being able to easily see everything around you. 

The height and reach of the handlebars is adjustable with the Promax stem that has a quick release lever system to easily adjust the ride position. 

This is a nice feature for initial adjustments to determine what is your preferred riding position. It is also helpful if the bike will be used by you and someone else in your family. 

The handlebars have a swept back profile that is a very comfortable and stable ride position which gives a nice feeling of control while riding the Elite 2. 

In addition, the handlebars have a couple inches of rise that contributes to that upright comfortable positioning.

The rubber grips have a comfortable cushion feel with solid attachment to the handlebars that also adds to the stable ride feel. 

Smoothing out the road is helped by the Suntour Nex suspension fork that has about 2″ of travel.

It has an active feel that does a good job of absorbing a lot of the bumps and cracks in the road. 

The iGO Comfort seat has a mid width comfortable profile and is a good fit for the comfortable ride style of the Elite 2. 

If you ride on relatively rough roads a suspension seatpost would a good upgrade for the Elite 2.

Now let’s take a look at the drive system. 

The iGO Elite 2 can be fine tuned to provide a wide range of ride performance with the combination of pedal assist and throttle. 

The 500 watt geared rear hub motor with the 48V system can provide a fast and sporty ride feel in the higher pedal assist and/or throttle levels.

At the higher assist levels the Elite 2 can quickly get up to 20 mph and comfortably maintain that speed on moderate inclines. 

In the lower assist levels it is an easy going ride style for casually cruising around the neighborhood or when riding in crowded areas.

There are 9 total pedal assist levels so that you can fine tune what ride performance you want. 

The pedal assist system uses a cadence sensor to activate the assist.  

The transition between adding and stopping assist at the higher assist levels is very noticeable. You can definitely feel the kick from the 500 watt motor as the assist is added to your pedal power! 

At the lower assist/throttle levels the Elite 2 provides a more easy going ride feel and smoother transitions when the assist is added or stopped.

This is a Class 2 electric bike with pedal assist & throttle up to 20mph with less than 750 watts of power. 

Speaking of the throttle, there is a thumb throttle near the left grip and it can be used with or without pedaling.

There is a wide spectrum of power that can be applied using the thumb throttle so that you can dial in how much assist you want.

The throttle can add an extra boost to the lower pedal assist levels for getting through an intersection quickly or for help with getting over a short steep hill. 

Additionally, there is a walk mode that moves the bike at a few mph for help with walking the bike up a steep hill or stairs. It is activated by holding the (-) button on the display.

Like many geared hub motors there is whirring noise from the motor. It is mainly noticeable in the higher assist/throttle levels. At the lower assist/throttle levels you can only hear it when getting started. 

The Shimano Altus 8 speed drivetrain covers the range well for climbing steeper hills and pedaling comfortably up to around 20 mph. 

Typical of Shimano drivetrains it has a light action shifting feel that makes it easy to shift up and down the 11-34 tooth cogset. 

The LCD display shows the pedal assist level, speedometer, odometer, trip distance, trip time, battery level, motor power, lighting indicator, and error diagnostics. 

If an error code displays you can use the QR code on the frame for instructions or call/email iGO for support.

It is nice that the control pad is by the left grip for easy access to the + and – buttons for adjusting the pedal assist levels. 

Important info like the current speed and pedal assist level are shown in a large text on the display for easy visibility at a quick glance. A backlit feature makes it easy to see day or night. 

Slowing the iGO Elite 2 down is handled by Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes with 180 mm rotors front and rear.

They have good stopping power and they modulate the power well. It is easy to quickly slow the bike down if need be. 

Each brake lever has a sensor that will stop the assist once either brake lever has been engaged. 

The Tektro brake levers have a rubber grip that provides a comfortable feel while helping with grabbing the brake levers.

Additionally, there is a bell built into the left brake lever! 

There is no brake lever reach adjustment capabilities and it would be nice to have that for riders with smaller hands. 

Schwalbe Energizer Plus tires with Greenguard 5 puncture protection, 28″ x 1.5″ (700C x 38) are used on the front and back of the Elite 2.

The Energizer Plus tires have a smooth profile that gives the Elite 2 a very efficient ride feel. These are a nice quality highlight for a bike in the price range. 

There are reflective stripes on the sidewalls of the tires for help with being seen at night. 

A big highlight of the Elite 2 is the well equipped accessory package to make this a turn key eCommuter and touring eBike.  

The front and rear aluminum racks offer a lot of cargo capacity with solid bolted connections to the frame. 

The front rack can support 20 pounds of cargo with a 10″ x 10″ platform area.

Objects can be secured with a mesh bungie cord net or a basket or bag could also be attached to the front rack.

The rear rack can support up to 55 pounds (25 kg) of cargo with bags, panniers, baskets, etc. on the top and sides of the rack. 

SPANNINGA LED lights are used front and rear and they both are powered by the eBike battery so you don’t have to worry about charging separate batteries.

The dual beam LED headlight is mounted under the front rack and the taillight is housed in the rear rack.

There are full coverage plastic fenders front and rear and they each have a mud flap at the ends.

The rear fender does make a little noise when going over rough roads and it would be nice to have an additional support for that. 

Finally there is the kickstand that has an adjustable height so that you can adjust the lean of the bike as you want. 

iGo Elite 2 Range Test Results:

Here is the real world information on how the iGo Elite 2 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 iGo Elite 2 in the highest pedal assist level with average pedaling.

Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the iGo Elite 2 traveled 35.5 miles and did a total elevation gain of around 2,900 ft. Considering that I weigh 190 lbs and I pedaled an average pace this is good range for a 48 Volt 13 ah battery pack (624 Watt Hours) with a 500 watt motor.

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 iGo Elite 2 will assist up to 20 mph with pedal assist and/or throttle which makes this a Class 2 electric bike. 

Weight: The Elite 2 tips the scales at 63.1 lbs which is on the heavier side for an electric bike. Removing the 8.2 pound battery brings it down to around 54.9 pounds which makes it a little easier to load onto a car rack.

The weight distribution of the iGo Elite 2 is pretty good because the battery is relatively low and centered on the bike with a rear hub motor making it slightly back heavy. 

Pros:

Comfortable & Low Step-Thru: The iGO Elite 2 is a very comfortable eBike with its easy get on and off step-thru design and upright ride position. The position on the bike can be easily adjusted to fit your riding style. 

Powerful & Long Range: The iGO Elite 2 can be a high performance eBike in the higher assist/throttle levels with quick acceleration and good hill climbing capabilities.  It also offers an easy going ride style in the lower assist levels. The 48V 13ah lithium battery provided impressive range with 35.5 miles and 2,900 ft of climbing. You can expect even more range at lower assist and easier riding terrain. 

Fully Equipped: The full accessory package makes the iGO Elite 2 a turn-key eBike ready for the daily commute and longer touring rides. 

Price: $1,899 is a good value considering the well designed frame, large battery (624 Wh), components from Shimano, Suntour, Schwalble, Tektro, and the full assortment of accessories including the front & rear racks. 

Cons:

Heavy: At 63.1 pounds the Elite 2 is on the heavier side for electric bikes.  

Motor Noise: At the high assist/throttle levels the geared rear hub motor does create some noise. 

Brake Levers: There is no brake lever reach adjustment capabilities and it would be nice to have that for riders with smaller hands. 

Conclusion:

Overall the new iGo Elite 2 is a fun and comfortable eBike with impressive performance and range.

Its focus is on an easy to ride step-thru with the highly adjustable upright ride position and it also adds in the high performance capabilities with the powerful 500 watt motor.

The long range capabilities with the full accessory package make the Elite 2 a good eCommuter and eTouring bike. 

At $1,899 with free shipping the Elite 2 provides a high performance and comfortable turn-key eBike for a good price.

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 an iGo Elite 2? Check with iGo for buying options.

Do you have any questions about the iGo Elite 2?  Do you own a iGo Elite 2?  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.

P.S. Don’t forget to join the Electric Bike Report community for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips!