Video Review
General
Frame and Contact Points
Electronics
Bicycle Components
Featured Accessories
Written Review
Power — Ontro geared hub, 500 nominal watts, 960 peak watts, 55 Nm torque (45 Nm for 28 mph version)
Speed — 20 mph, upgradable to 28 mph ($49 USD)
Battery and Range — 48 volt 10.4 ah, 40 miles, upgradable 14 ah ($99 USD)
Pedal assist sensor — Torque sensor and speed sensor
Display — LCD
Frame and weight — 6061 Aluminum alloy, 60 pounds
Suspension — RST Omega, 60 mm
Gearing — Sram X4, 8 speed
Brakes — Tektro Auriga, hydraulic disc, 180 mm rotors
Warranty — 12 month comprehensive
Price — Starting at $1,249 USD ($2,199 USD MSRP)
Today we’re reviewing the Ontro A1 electric bike, which is essentially Ontro’s more affordable hub drive version of the G1. The A1 has a starting price of $2,199 USD, which actually feels pretty justified, and Ontro is also offering an early-bird adopter price on their Indiegogo campaign for $1,249 USD. That price is just laughably cheap, especially since the A1 has most of the same high-end components found on the more expensive G1.
The A1 comes in three different frame sizes that can comfortably accommodate riders from 5’2” all the way up to 6’5”, and comes in quite a few different color options — we’ve got Matte Pearl White, Matte Pearl Black, Gloss Black, Matte Mineral Grey, Matte Galaxy Violet, Matte Galaxy Violet Blue Limited Edition (that one cost an extra $100 by the way) and Matte Industrial Red. Told you there was a lot.
The A1 is comfy. Suspension aside, the geometry of the A1 makes for a relaxed, pretty upright riding posture that keeps stress off the back and shoulders. And while the A1 isn’t technically a step-thru, it’s basically a step-thru. The Y-frame allows for a super low standover height, and that translates to an approachable, easy to ride electric bike. It’s noticeably easier to get on and off the A1 compared to a traditional half diamond frame. But more than that, it also means you can keep your feet flat on the ground when at a stop, which is great for stop-and-go city riding.
Right then. Let’s dive into the specs.
The A1 has a NHD hub motor with 500 nominal watts, 960 peak watts and 55 Newton meters of torque. It’s a surprisingly powerful motor for 500 watts, and the power and acceleration curves feel really well tuned.
This motor will bring the A1 up to a top speed of 20 mph out of the box, or if you want spend an extra $49 USD you can upgrade to the 28 mph top speed version. Now what’s interesting is that the motor on the 28 mph version of the A1 has only 45 Newton meters of torque, not 55 Newton meters like on the 20 mph one. That seems to indicate that Ontro is custom winding their motors to optimize their performance based on top speed, which is actually pretty great.
With both versions of the A1, you can reach that top speed with the throttle or the torque sensing pedal assist. And this is probably the coolest feature. Look, you know how obsessed we are with torque sensors, and there’s good reason for that! Torque sensors figure out how hard you’re pedaling by measuring the precise amount of pressure placed on the cranks, and then it uses that info to match the power output from the motor. So if you pedal lightly, like when you’re maintaining speed, you get a little bit of extra oomph. If you pedal hard, like if you’re going up a hill or just accelerating, you get a ton of extra oomph. At the end of the day, it just makes for a smoother, more enjoyable ride compared to a cadence sensor.
The A1 comes stock with a Sram X4 derailleur with trigger shifters and an 8-speed cassette. It's a solid, high-quality component, but unlike the G1, there’s no way to upgrade to the Nuvinci continuously variable transmission, or CVT. Remember, we’ve got that hub drive motor in the rear wheel on this ride, so there’s just no room for the CVT.
To power the A1 we have a stock 48 volt, 10.4 amp hour battery with a max estimated range of around 40 miles. But if you plan on hitting tons of big hills, or if you just want more range, there is an upgrade option for 48 volt 14 amp hour battery for an additional $99 USD. And that’ll get you about 16 more miles of range
The battery itself is locking and removable, and instead of sliding off a mounting bracket like most ebike batteries, this one kind of pivots out. But the coolest part about the battery is that you can use it on any of the Ontro bikes. Nice.
To bring the A1 to a stop we’ve got Tektro Auriga dual piston hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors. The brakes provide plenty of stopping power, but the version of the A1 we received for review did not have motor inhibitors, and while you don’t really need them with a torque sensor since there’s almost no latency, it would still be nice to see them just for an extra layer of safety. It’s also worth noting here that this A1 is a prototype and the final version will have a few small changes. Hopefully the addition of motor inhibitors will be among them.
The A1 has a curb weight of about 60 pounds, and the Y-shaped frame is made from 6061 aluminum alloy. The front basket on the A1 will help add some versatility to this ride, and Ontro did a great job with attaching the basket to the head tube. This makes steering noticeably easier and helps keeps stuff from spilling out when you make turns.
And since the Y-shaped frame dips downward, it keeps that standover height really low. It’s almost like a step-thru frame and it makes the A1 super approachable. And that low standover height means it’s easy to get on and off. It also makes it easier to stand over the top tube with your fleet on the ground, and for those of you who have done any stop-and-go city riding, you know exactly how nice that is.
The A1 we’re reviewing has unbranded suspension, but the production version of the A1 will have RST Omega front suspension, probably with 60 mm of travel. There’s also a seat-post suspension, and a comfy Selle Royale gel saddle. Combined with the frame geometry, the A1’s a pretty smooth and comfortable ride.
The A1 has an integrated headlight attached to the front of the basket, so the beam won’t be obstructed by anything inside the basket. There’s also an integrated tail light, and together with the reflective sidewalls on the Schwalbe Big Ben tires, the A1 has good visibility all around.
Ontro did a good job with their wire management and practically everything is internally routed, but it would be nice to see the wires grouped together and wrapped. Having the wires internally routed is great not just because it looks good, but it also helps protect the wires from getting snagged and potentially damaged.
The handlebar setup on the A1 is clean and organized with the display/button pad/throttle combo on the left side of the handlebars, and the shifter on the right. The display is pretty easy to read in direct sunlight, but the throttle feels a little off. There’s a bit too much play and the activation isn’t particularly smooth. Maybe some WD-40 would help, who knows?
The A1 is a huge value buy at the early adopter Indiegogo price of $1,249 USD, and even at the full MSRP price of $2,199 USD it’s a fair deal. The A1 will excel at city and neighborhood riding, and the front basket adds some nice versatility to the ride. Where the A1 really shines though is the various options for frame size and color, and the fact that it’s overall just super approachable, easy to ride and comfortable.
See more of the A1: https://ontro.bike/,
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