2022 AddMotoR E-53 Review

Video Review

Written Review

Well hello again, awesome peeps and welcome to Electrified Reviews! On today’s episode we’re looking at the AddMotoR E-53 Citypro, and let me tell you this is the perfect value-buy electric bike for anyone looking for a long-range commuter. We’re talking a 125-mile max estimated range, which is just bonkers. 

The AddMotoR E-53 Citypro has a staring price of $2,099 USD, but at the time of this review it’s on sale for $1,499 USD — a pretty significant discount of $600 bucks. While the Citypro only comes in one frame size, it does have four different colors to choose from: Olive Green, that’s the color we’re reviewing today, Khaki, Pearl White and Neptune Blue. The Citypro only comes in one frame size, but it is offered in a step-thru version too which is pretty cool.

AddMotoR is offering a 1-year warranty on the E-53 Citypro, a 14-day return policy and free shipping to the contiguous United States. 

So with that, let’s take a look at what makes the E-53 Citypro such a pro in the city. 

For starters, the E-53 Citypro has a really interesting AddMotoR-branded 500 nominal watt hub motor in the rear wheel. This motor has a higher-than average peak output of 907 watts. So that in itself is impressive, but more than that, this engine is remarkably torquey and responsive. There’s absolutely zero motor latency when you twist that throttle, and once you do, the E-53 Citypro snaps off the line. It may be a 500-watt motor, but it feels more like a 1,000-watt motor, and I think another reason for that is the lower-than-average 20 mph top speed, which you can reach using the half-grip twist throttle or the cadence sensing pedal assist.

This motor feels like it’s custom wound for higher torque and a lower top end, which is perfect for super long commutes. Lower speeds make for longer ranges. 

But here’s the thing, the battery is just as impressive as the motor. The E-53 Citypro has a jumbo-sized 48 volt, 20 amp hour battery with Samsung cells that offers a max estimated range of more than 125 miles… when using the lowest pedal assist setting, on flat pavement, with no wind and a 165 pound rider. In other words, in ideal conditions. And look, even if we only get half that range for real world riding, 62 miles is still a long, long e-bike ride. That’s about half the 112 mile distance in the bike portion of the Iron Man triathlon. 

The E-53 Citypro feels light and nimble. It’s surprisingly easy to throw around on the trails, even though it’s not really geared for anything too technical. But, if you did want to take it on some green or maybe even easy blue trails, you could. And one of the reasons for that is the frame geometry. 

That sloping top tube makes for a comfortably low standover height of just 21.7 inches. I’m 5’10” and was able to easily put my feet flat on the ground while straddling the frame. This low standover heigh also makes it easier to put a foot down in the turns without colliding with the top tube. 

The only downside with this frame is the relatively low weight capacity of just 250 pounds. When the rear rack is loaded to the max capacity of 55 pounds, you’ve only got 195 pounds left for the rider. It’s funny too because the E-53 Citypro has bosses drilled straight into the head tube for the optional front basket, which is the perfect mounting point, but you’ll really have to watch how much weight you load onto this e-bike. Still, for light, bulky items, like grocery bags, these storage options are going to work perfectly. 

Another great feature of the E-53 Citypro’s frame is that it accommodates internally routed wires. This keeps the wires and connectors safe from snagging and damage, and it also keeps the ride looking clean.

The front AddMotoR-branded oil suspension performed better than I expected. There’s 100 mm of travel in these forks and they did a surprisingly good job while I was goofing around off-road. Look, again, the E-53 Citypro is a commuter, and it’s not designed for anything too technical, but what can I say? It’s light, it’s nimble, it’s torquey and it’s really fun on the trails. 

At the back of the E-53 Citypro we’ve got a Shimano Altus derailleur with a 7-speed cassette, and that’s paired with a Shimano SIS Index thumb shifter on the handlebars.

To bring the E-53 Citypro to a stop we’ve got AddMotoR-branded hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors in the front and rear wheels. These brakes are strong, on the point of over-powered, especially when we consider the relatively low top speed of 20 mph. And that’s exactly what we want to see here at Electrified Reviews. Safety! And with these brakes there’s plenty of it. On top of stopping power, the E-53 Citypro also has motor inhibitors, which instantly cut power to the motor whenever you hit the brakes. Double bonus. 

The E-53 Citypro has front and rear lighting, but neither of them are particularly bright, and the tail light is pretty difficult to see when the sun’s out. The best feature of the headlight and tail light is that they help you to be seen by other traffic. 

There’s also turn signals on this bike, and a horn, which is just perfect for when you’re weaving through crowded areas. 

The AddMotoR-branded display on the E-53 Citypro is fantastic. It’s easily visible even in direct sunlight and has all the pertinent info you need. You can control the display with the button pad, which is on the left side of the handlebars, and you can also control the lights and turn signals from there as well.

On the right side of the handlebars we’ve go the SIS Index Thumb Shifter and the half-grip twist throttle.

Overall, the AddMotoR E-53 Citypro is a superb value-buy at that $1,499 sale price and it’s a great choice for serious commuters who need tons of range. That 20 amp hour battery has enough juice to get you far. And if you’ve got big hills on your commute, then this ride gets even better. That extra torquey motor is exactly what you’ll need for hill climbing.