Credit:
Eric Bangeman
Past and present: the Moto parked next to an old-school moped at the local Dairy Queen.
Credit:
Eric Bangeman
The front shocks are adjustable, so one day, I tweaked the compression and rebound for the smoothest possible ride and took it off-road. I chose a rough gravel trail nearby, one that was pure bliss on a different e-bike. On the Moto, the succession of bumps, roots, and depressions was jarring as I struggled to steel myself against the jouncing and jostling.
Credit:
Eric Bangeman
I had no visibility worries riding the Moto at night with that headlight.
Credit:
Eric Bangeman
Riding the Moto around town was a blast, however. Even with the assist maxed out, acceleration feels natural, with the bike adding to my effort to reach cruising speed. In the highest gear, I could reach 30 mph by pedaling furiously. Less strenuous efforts topped out at 26–28 mph, which I decided was fast enough for my purposes. Nighttime rides are a blast with the motorcycle-style headlight. It even has a 170 lux high-beam setting. On the back is a combo brake light/running light with turn signals to boot.
Credit:
Eric Bangeman
There are footrests for a passenger.
Credit:
Eric Bangeman
There are some minor quibbles with the Moto. First is the assist. Like the Trek FX+ 2, the Moto motor would occasionally give me the sensation of being pushed from behind. It’s not unsettling—more of a gentle reminder that I wasn’t doing all of the work. Second, the Moto’s moped-like design means the e-bike has a large turning radius. Keep that in mind if the bike needs to be maneuvered or stored in tight quarters.
Lastly, the Moto really isn’t good for much other than commuting or riding around for fun. That may not be a dealbreaker for some folks, but a rack or some sort of cargo-carrying capacity would make the Moto much more useful. Pedego will offer a sissy bar with a built-in rack as a $100 add-on for the Moto, but it is not yet available.
But those are quibbles. What really sets the Moto apart from the competition is the build quality. The difference between Pedego’s offering and, say, the Heybike Tyson is night and day. There’s a reassuring solidity to the Moto—it’s a well-engineered and well-built e-bike, which it ought to be, given the $3,995 price tag. You can readily find cheaper and more practical e-bikes, but finding one with the build quality and fun quotient of the Moto will be tough.
