ENGWE Engine Pro 2.0

The Engine Pro 2.0 is a budget-friendly electric folder with fat tires that ENGWE says is designed for “outdoor adventure.”

In this review, we’ll put ENGWE’s claim to the test, share the bike’s pros and cons, discuss how it compares to the previous version and competing models, and find out how it performed in our tests. To finish, we’ll provide an assessment of the Engine Pro’s overall value.

About ENGWE

ENGWE is a Chinese e-bike brand that has been operating for around 10 years. It has a large presence in the USA, Europe, and UK. The company’s folding bikes, such as the EP-2 and Engine Pro, have been particularly popular, but it also offers motorcycle-style e-bikes, cargo bikes, and hybrids, all with fat tires. We’ve also tested EP-2 Pro and L20 2.0 and reviewed a dozen other ENGWE bikes.

What Is the ENGWE Engine Pro 2.0?

The Engine Pro 2.0 is a folding e-bike with full suspension, fat tires, and a large 750W motor. Version 2.0 has a similar look to the original.

For the Engine Pro 2.0, ENGWE changed the electrical system from 48V to 52V, added a motor with more torque and a higher peak output, and swapped the cadence sensor for a torque sensor.

Again, ENGWE calls the Engine Pro 2.0 an “outdoor adventure folding e-bike,” but does it live up to that label?

Pros

Comfort

The Engine Pro’s suspension setup makes for a comfortable ride over broken pavement and smooth trails. The suspension fork and rear shock handle light repetitive bumps and chatter well.

Overall, the Engine Pro 2.0 was more comfortable over this kind of terrain than the other full-suspension folding bike we’ve tested, the Fiido M1 Pro. The M1 Pro’s stiff shock results in a harsh rear end.

Powerful, Responsive Pedal Assist

The Engine Pro 2.0’s pedal assist is very responsive thanks to the torque sensor’s tuning. This quick power delivery makes it easy to get moving from a stopped position. The power output is also smooth and matches pedaling input, making for a natural pedal feel.

The bike also provides plenty of power in pedal assist mode, making it possible to cruise at 20mph with a pleasant cadence and minimal effort, and by putting more power through the pedals, the bike quickly accelerates past 20mph. In PAS levels 4 and 5, the motor also provides enough kick for climbing hills.

52V E-Bike System

The combination of a sensitive torque sensor and above-average 52V e-bike system gives the Engine Pro 2.0 fast acceleration, and the bike’s results in our 0-20mph test support this. The Engine Pro’s range also benefits from the move from a 48V to 52V battery, with excellent results in both range tests.

Cons

Lacking Product Information and UL Certification

There isn’t much information available online for the Engine Pro 2.0, with ENGWE’s website lacking key product specs. For example, it doesn’t list information about UL certification or the bike’s water ingress protection rating.

To get this information, we had to contact ENGWE, who said that the UL 2849 and UL 2271 certifications are in progress, which is disappointing. E-bike brands should acquire this certification before the product is sold to customers.

The website and manual also offer conflicting top speeds. Issues like these are simple to fix, but many entry-level e-bike brands get them wrong over and over again.

Advanced Menu and Control

The advanced settings menu uses alphanumerical labels with no description of the function. The display manual, which isn’t easy to find online, and the user manual are needed to decipher the menu. The display manual we found was also for the old version of the bike, so not all the information was relevant.

Noise

The Engine Pro 2.0 is a noisy bike, especially when riding off-road. The most alarming noise was the loud clunk from the suspension fork every time it rebounded. The impacts are so loud that I stopped to check that the headset wasn’t loose.

The drivetrain is also noisy, with lots of chain slap when traveling over obstacles and bumps due to the lack of a clutch.

The Engine Pro 2.0 in Detail

Frame, Fit, and Suspension

The Engine Pro 2.0’s folding aluminum frame looks typical for the fat-tire folding category, with a bulky single tube and the battery held inside.

The bike folds at the stem, the frame folds in the center, and the pedals fold. Unfortunately, the bike doesn’t have a mechanism to hold it together while folded.

The Engine Pro 2.0 supports a payload of up to 330lb, and the rear rack is rated for 55lb.

Buyers can choose from three colors: Space Black, Midnight Blue, and the Mountain Green. However, the frame is one size, which has a claimed height range of 5’4” to 6’2”. I didn’t need the full seatpost extension, so the max height of 6’2 seems reasonable. The riding position is straight-backed, and the handlebar’s height is adjustable to quickly find the right fit.

The suspension components include a 90mm-travel coil suspension fork with lockout and preload adjustment, and a non-adjustable 30mm rear shock.

E-Bike System, Controls, and Classification

A 52V 16Ah battery is charged by a 3A output charger, and a full charge takes around seven hours. This battery powers a 750W nominal, 1,200W peak rear hub motor with 75Nm of torque. Pedal assist is managed by a torque sensor, and the bike also has a thumb-style throttle. The top speed we reached during testing was 28mph.

IP Rating and Safety Certification

As mentioned before, the Engine Pro 2.0 doesn’t currently have any UL safety certifications, and ENGWE didn’t provide a timeline for completion when asked. They also said the bike has an IPX5 water ingress protection rating, as this wasn’t listed online.

Wheels and Tires

The Engine Pro 2.0 rolls on a set of 20” cast mag rims wrapped in 4” Chaoyang tires with a light off-road tread pattern. These tires do not have puncture protection.

Drivetrain and Brakes

The brakes are unbranded 2-piston hydraulic discs with 180mm rotors. The website says the bike has 160mm rotors (another inconsistency), but customer support confirmed that the bike comes with 180mm rotors.

The drivetrain consists of a Shimano Altus derailleur and trigger shifter, an 8-speed 14-28t freewheel, and a 170mm aluminum crankset with a 52t chainring.

Touchpoints

Finally, the cockpit has locking rubber grips with an ergonomic flair, a thumb-style throttle, a horn, a 3” color display mounted in portrait, and the trigger shifter. The other touchpoints include a well-padded K-San comfort saddle and folding aluminum pedals. These pedals have small metal pegs, but they’re slippery when wet.

Testing the ENGWE Engine Pro 2.0

Hill Climb Tests

The Engine Pro 2.0 performed well in both hill tests. It reached the top of the longer, shallower climb in 3:03, which was faster than Velotric’s Fold 1 and ENGWE’s own EP-2 Pro but slower than ENGWE’s L20 2.0 and Fiido’s M1 Pro.

The higher speeds achieved by the L20 2.0 and M1 Pro are likely due to the cadence sensors on those bikes. With more pedal power, I might have been able to get a better time, but I try to maintain the same level of exertion during all hill climb tests to prevent my input from influencing the results.

On the shorter, steeper climb, the Engine Pro 2.0 was only outperformed by Fiido’s M1 Pro, which was 10 seconds faster.

Acceleration Tests

The Engine Pro 2.0 outperformed the four comparison bikes in the 0-20 acceleration test, making good use of its 52V system and responsive torque sensor.

Range Tests

The results in the range tests were solid. In the PAS 5 range test, the bike traveling over 30 miles, beating all of the comparison bikes by between four and ten miles. However, the Engine Pro 2.0 has a much larger battery, so this makes sense.

The bike also performed well in our PAS 3 real-world range test, covering over 40 miles with almost 1,500 feet of elevation gain. The only bike to exceed this was ENGWE’s own EP-2 Pro, which reached 41.2 miles at a slower average speed of 12.6mph.

Brake Tests

Our brake test involves stopping each bike from 20mph, and the comparison bikes had a stopping distance range of 15.5 to 21 feet. The Engine Pro 2.0 falls right in the middle of this range with its stopping distance of 18 feet, a respectable and, more importantly, safe result.

Riding the Engine Pro 2.0

The Engine Pro 2.0 has a comfortable straight-backed riding position, and I was able to get full leg extension with around one inch of seatpost left before the minimum insertion mark. With the seat set at the right height, I had the handlebar’s height set in the middle of the adjustment range, so slightly taller riders should also find a comfy position, and the 6’2 max height seems accurate.

The full suspension and fat tires make for a comfortable ride over pavement and light trails. I weigh around 175lb, and the suspension feels plush over light bumps, but the fast rebound can give a bouncy feel over bigger bumps.

The combination of soft suspension and fast rebound results in a very bouncy ride over more aggressive terrain. This is accompanied by a loss of traction, making the Engine Pro 2.0 a poor choice for true off-roading. Unfortunately, neither the front nor the rear suspension has rebound adjustment.

Overall, the bike’s upright position and ride quality over pavement and smoother trails were enjoyable, but it’s not suited to chunkier terrain.

The Engine Pro ships as a Class 3 e-bike with a 20mph throttle limit and a 28mph pedal assist limit. As discussed in the testing data, the bike accelerates quickly. Impressively, the acceleration is smooth, not jerky, as one would expect.

The five pedal assist levels offer a good spread of speed. Over level ground, the difference between each level is notable. However, PAS levels 1 to 3 lack the power needed to climb steeper gradients. Using PAS 3, each hill demands considerable effort. Those living in hilly areas would likely use PAS 4 or 5 more often, so the real-world range may be closer to that of our PAS 5 test.

The bike easily cruises at 20mph using PAS 5, requiring a steady pedal cadence and minimal effort. The 8-speed Altus trigger shifter works well, but the gearing range isn’t ideal, as I experience ghost pedaling above 22mph despite the bike being rated to reach 28mph.

I found the motor to be pretty quiet throughout testing. It produced the typical whine of a hub motor, but it doesn’t make the same high-pitched whine at full power as many other e-bikes.

During the PAS 5 range test, the first two bars of the five-bar battery indicator disappeared very quickly, but the final two bars lasted a long time, causing some range anxiety. The same thing happened in the PAS 3 test, where the first bar was used up after just two miles, even though the battery lasted over 40.

The battery also fluctuates annoyingly. For example, turning the bike off and on again causes the battery indicator to jump from four bars to five. Then, over the next few minutes, it drops to the previously displayed level. The battery display has a final low battery warning, which is an empty flashing battery bar, but the bike lasted an additional four miles after this warning appeared. Motor output slowly drops until the battery is completely dead.

Conclusion

The Engine Pro 2.0’s powerful motor, comfortable ride over light bumps, and great range impressed throughout testing.

However, the suspension’s rebound is too fast, which was notable on rougher terrain as it resulted in a bouncing effect and loss of traction as a consequence.

The bike is also very noisy when riding off-road, which, when combined with the suspension’s limitations, means this isn’t quite the outdoor adventure bike that ENGWE makes it out to be. The lack of UL certification is also worrying.

Those looking for a folding e-bike with a budget-friendly price, plenty of power and speed, and solid range may find value in the Engine Pro 2.0, but the drawbacks we’ve outlined should be carefully considered.

Score Breakdown

• Build quality: 72
• Performance / Innovation: 80
• Design: 70
• Ride quality: 90
• Price / Value: 90

Overall: 80

Detailed Specifications

Electric Bike Class: 2, 3
Warranty: 1 year
UL Certification: No
IP Rating: IPX5
Total Weight: Claimed: 69.6lb – Actual: 71.2lb
Motor Brand: Unknown
Motor Type: Rear Hub
Motor Nominal Output: 750W
Max Torque: 75Nm
Sensor: Torque
Battery: 52V 16Ah (832Wh)
Range Claimed: 30-68 mi
Range Tested (PAS 3): 40.29 mi – 1,447 ft. – 2h 44m – 14.7mph avg.
Range Tested (PAS 5): 30.26 mi – 1,037 ft. – 1h 54m – 16.7mph avg.
Max Speed: 28mph
Throttle: Thumb-style
Pedal Assist: 5 levels
Charger: 58.8V 3A
Charge Time: 7 hours
Display: 3” color LCD
Frame: 6061 aluminum
Fork: Coil suspension, 90mm travel
Frame Travel: 30mm
Brake Levers: Unbranded hydraulic
Brake Calipers: Unbranded 2-piston hydraulic
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Crankset: 170mm aluminum, 52t
Derailleur: Shimano Altus 8-speed
Shifter: Shimano Altus 8-speed
Freewheel: 14-28t 8-speed
Rims: Cast mag 20”
Tires: Chaoyang 20” x 4”
Fenders: Aluminum, full coverage
Lights: Front and rear
Grips: Lock-on rubber, ergonomic
Saddle: K-San padded
Pedals: Aluminum folding platforms
Handlebar: 620mm wide, 20mm rise
Kickstand: Single-sided
Payload Capacity: 330lb
Rack Capacity: 55lb

Geometry Details

Seat Tube: 17“ (432mm)
Reach: 16.9” (429mm)
Stack: 19” (483mm)
Stand Over Height: 27.1” (688mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 25.5” (648mm)
Min Saddle Height: 33.8” (858mm)
Max Saddle Height: 40.1” (1018mm)
Min Handlebar Height: 47.2” (1199mm)
Max Handlebar Height: 51.1” (1298mm)
Wheelbase: 44.6” (1133mm)

Folded Dimensions

Height: 33” (838mm)
Length: 40.9” (1039mm)
Width: 21.6” (549mm)

The Engine Pro 2.0 is a great, affordable, folding-style e-bike from ENGWE.

The mag rims are a big draw and make this e-bike stand out on the road. My biggest gripe though is the torque sensor. It really takes a lot of effort to get this e-bike going.

… this thing runs really well… there are only a couple of things that I would change with this bike.

… if you guys are into pedaling, get the 2.0. You’re going to like it, especially if you don’t need to go 28mph all the time.

The performance is pretty average, but [it] might be really good for a new e-bike rider. [It’s] not super powerful, but [it’s] powerful enough to get you around without pedaling.

You cannot maintain 28[mph] because it’s going to bump you down to 26mph… then you go up and down, so it does take some of the enjoyment out of that. But I do like the very refined torque sensor.