ENGWE L20 2.0

ENGWE’s L20 2.0 is a low-cost folding e-bike with fat tires. This review will discuss the specs, performance in our standardized tests, ride quality, and key pros and cons. To conclude, we provide our assesment of the bike’s overall value.

About ENGWE

ENGWE is a global e-mobility brand that has been in operation for almost ten years. The company has built a sizable presence in the USA, Europe, and the UK, with a wide range of e-bikes and electric scooters. Its moped and commuter-style bikes have been particularly popular, but it also offers folding bikes, cargo bikes, and hybrids, all with fat tires.

We recently tested the ENGWE EP-2 Pro, but there are more than a dozen ENGWE bike reviews at at BikeRide.com.

What Is the ENGWE L20 2.0?

The L20 2.0 is a folding electric commuter and light recreation bike with a 750W motor, 676Wh battery, and 28mph top speed.

ENGWE calls the L20 2.0 a comfortable and powerful utility e-bike, and it has a step-through frame, suspension fork and seatpost, cargo rack, fenders, 3”-wide tires, and integrated lights, so on paper, it seems like it will fulfill that promise.

The ENGWE L20 2.0 in Detail

As the name indicates, this is the second iteration of the L20. The older version has the same fundamental ingredients, but the updated version brings several changes.

Jump to Full Specs List

Frame and Fit

The L20 2.0 has the same easy-to-mount step-through frame layout, but the 2.0’s frame folds. The 2.0 also has a folding stem and pedals to achieve a more compact package when the frame is folded.

The fork is a basic coil suspension unit with 65mm of travel, lockout, and preload adjustment.

Our test bike comes in Onyx Black paint with a matte finish, but the bike is also available in Sea Green and Rose Pink.

ENGWE says the L20 2.0 weighs 68.3lb, and we measured it as 68lb. This makes it several pounds lighter than most folding e-bikes with 750W motors, 20” wheels, and fat tires. However, 68lb is still quite heavy, and it’s not easy to lift or carry.

The frame has mounting points for an optional front cargo rack and bottle cage, and the L20 2.0 comes with a rear cargo rack rated to carry 55lb. ENGWE says the bike can carry 264lb, but it’s not clear if that includes the weight of the bike based on the vague documentation.

As with most folding bikes, the stem folds and has a quick release for easily adjusting the height of the handlebars. Overall, the riding position is upright and relaxed, and most riders should find it comfortable, but the frame only comes in one size. ENGWE says this bike fits riders from 5’4” to 6’2”, and I found the bike a good fit, but the seatpost was at its max insertion point, so riders much taller than me at 6’ might struggle.

E-Bike System

The L20 2.0 has an unbranded rear hub motor rated for 750W of continuous power and 75Nm of torque. This bike uses a 52V system, so it should have plenty of grunt. A cadence sensor manages pedal assistance, and a twist throttle is integrated into the right grip.

The 676Wh battery is slightly smaller than we’d like to see with a 750W motor, and the 2A charger means a full charge requires close to seven hours. However, these complaints are excusable given the L20 2.0’s low price.

ENGWE includes a small mechanical bell on the left handlebar, and there’s a 3” color display in the middle.

The battery is mounted to the back of the seat tube, and the saddle flips forward to give access for removal. A key-operated lock on the non drive side fixes the battery in place to prevent theft and unauthorized use of the bike. The charge port is located on the drive side, and a rubber cover protects it.

The L20 2.0 is certified by a Chinese test lab to meet the UL 2849 standard for e-bike electric system safety. That’s the only safety or durability standard this bike definitely meets. It’s reasonable to expect a utility or commuter bike like this to handle wet weather, but it isn’t clear exactly what waterproofing, if any, the bike has. When asked about this, ENGWE’s reply wasn’t particularly impressive.

The user manual says the battery pack is IPX4, which means it can withstand limited water splashes from any direction. The test certificate ENGWE supplied for this bike appears to say the battery complies with IP54, which means it’s also protected from dust. This lack of clear and consistent information characterizes the ENGWE experience.

Classification

ENGWE says the L20 2.0 can be set up for e-bike Classes 1, 2, or 3. It ships configured with a Class 3 28mph top speed for pedal assist. The throttle is limited to 70% of PAS speed (20mph).

The pedal assist max speed can be adjusted between 25km/h and 45km/h in 1km/h increments, but the process isn’t simple. The throttle can be disabled via the display, but this process also isn’t obvious, and there are no instructions in the user manual for adjusting the speed limit or toggling the throttle on or off.

Wheels and Tires

The old L20 had one-piece mag wheels. The 2.0 has traditional spoked wheels with 20” aluminum rims and 3” tires with an XC-style tread pattern. The tires are unbranded, but ENGWE says they have puncture protection. The front wheel is secured to the fork with nuts: no quick-release or thru-axle here.

Drivetrain and Brakes

On the right handlebar, there’s a Shimano TX50 shifter, which operates a Tourney derailleur at the rear.

The drivetrain comprises 170mm crank arms, a 48t chainring with double chainring guards, and a narrow-range 14-28t cassette. The derailleur is protected by a guard.

The L20 2.0 has unbranded mechanical disc brakes with 180mm rotors. The brake levers are also unbranded.

Touchpoints

The handlebar is straight, with a slight rise. The rubber slip-on grips have an ergonomic flair. The K.SAN padded comfort saddle is mounted on a suspension seatpost with 30mm of travel.

This bike also comes with folding plastic pedals. These are on the small side, especially for big feet, and the anti-slip pegs are small, too.

Testing the ENGWE L20 2.0

Hill Climb Tests

In the climbing tests, the L20 2.0 performance average. In the small-elevation hill, the L20 2.0 showed good acceleration and maintained a decent speed all the way up. Its time of 2 minutes and 36 seconds puts it ahead of the Velotric Fold 1, Vtuvia SN1000, and Heybike Mars.

On steeper slopes, the L20 couldn’t maintain a high speed, despite its 52V system and 75Nm of torque. As a result, it loses out to the Fiido Titan, which climbed the small hill 21 seconds faster than the ENGWE at 2 minutes and 31 seconds. Part of the reason for the L20’s slower speed on steep climbs is the 14-28t rear cassette. The relatively small 28t cog gear makes pedaling uphill difficult, forcing reliance on the motor.

Overall, the L20 2.0 performed reasonably well in the climbing tests, especially for a bike at this price point, but it is limited by tall gearing.

Acceleration Tests

As seen in the graphic above, the L20 2.0 is one of the slowest in the 0-20 acceleration test, but the difference is only one or two seconds. The L20 maintains high speeds well, at least on shallower climbs, which helps make up for the slower acceleration.

0-20 PAS: 10 seconds
0-20 Throttle: 11 seconds

Range Tests

Unfortunately, the L20 2.0’s range proves underwhelming. In the PAS 5 range test, the L20 2.0 managed just 22 miles and 854 feet of elevation at an average speed of 16.5mph. All comparable bikes we’ve tested did better, including ENGWE’s own EP-2 Pro, which managed nearly 30 miles in this test despite being 8lb heavier and having 4” tires.

The ‘real-world’ PAS 3 test wasn’t much better. The bike lasted 30.1 miles and climbed 1,276 feet at an average speed of 14.3mph. Again, all other bikes traveled at least a few miles more. The Fiido Titan managed 44.5 miles. But, it does cost more than twice the price of this bike.

Brake Tests

The L20 2.0’s mechanical disc brakes stopped the bike in 19 feet, which is roughly on par with the older bikes we’ve tested but nowhere near the 15-18 feet we regularly see from bikes with newer braking systems. Additionally, as with most mechanical disc brakes, these brakes needed regular adjustment and never felt as powerful or confidence-inspiring as hydraulic disc brakes.

It’s worth noting that this is the one test where the L20 2.0 outperformed Fiido’s Titan.

Riding the ENGWE L20 2.0

In general, riding the L20 2.0 feels similar to any other folding step-through e-bike with an upright riding position, suspension fork, and fat tires. There is some flex in the frame, but unlike some fat bikes we’ve tested, there was no speed wobble.

The L20 2.0 handles fine on pavement and light trails, and the tires offer adequate traction. The suspension components reinforce the bike’s budget feel. The cheap suspension fork easily bottoms out, and the preload adjustment has little to no effect. The suspension seatpost also bottoms out easily.

That budget feel is reinforced by the mechanical disc brakes, which require regular adjustment to maintain feel and control and suffer from longer stopping distances than hydraulic brakes.

The motor feels peppy and responsive, but it’s very loud, emitting a high-pitched whine at high speeds and when climbing hills. Also, the drivetrain is generally noisy, and there’s a lot of chain slap over bumps and when riding on light trails.

The riding experience is worsened further by the narrow gearing range, which is limiting on steep hills and results in so much ghost pedaling at higher speeds that there’s no point in trying to pedal beyond 20mph.

The L20 2.0 folds like most folding bikes, and it’s easy to do. Unfortunately, there’s no way to stop it unfolding, which makes it very difficult to lift or carry and further underlines the budget feel.

Finally, the L20’s included headlight isn’t very bright. In our testing, it was much weaker than both our reference front light and the headlight on the new Rad Power Bikes Radster Trail.

Pros

Motor

The L20 2.0’s motor feels powerful and provides good assistance, especially when climbing hills. It’s easily capable of 28mph on flat ground and offers decent acceleration.

Space Savings

Thanks to the folding frame, stem, and pedals, the L20 2.0 folds down to a relatively compact package that is 31.5” long, 17.7” wide, and 40.1” high. Also, the 20” wheels and 3” tires take up less space than the bigger wheels and tires found on some competing bikes. As a result, the bike easily fits in most car trunks or vehicles and should be easier to store at home or work. However, a velcro strap or bungee cord is required to stop it unfolding.

Cons

Drivetrain

The L20 2.0’s 48t chainring and seven-speed 14-28t cassette result in gearing that is poorly suited to both climbing hills and pedaling at high speeds. Ghost pedaling starts at 20mph, so there is no resistance when pedaling to reach the 28mph max speed.

The inadequate gearing also forces the rider to use the throttle more, which uses up the limited battery range even faster.

Finally, while the Shimano’s TX50 overhand shifter works fine, it feels cheap and plasticky, and it’s positioned poorly.

Mechanical Brakes

Even though the 180mm brake rotors are a good size and the L20 2.0 achieved reasonable stopping distances in our braking tests, mechanical disk brakes just aren’t powerful or responsive enough for a Class 3 e-bike. Also, the brakes required frequent adjustment to maintain performance.

Noisy Motor

The unbranded motor emits a loud and annoying high-pitched whine when under strain, such as when riding above 20mph or climbing hills.

Weak Lights

ENGWE describes the headlight as high-visibility, but it is not.

The above image shows a comparison to our Cateye AMPP1100 reference light; below is a comparison with the 200-lumen headlight on the new Radster Trail, seen from 100 feet in front of the lights.

Seen from above, the Cateye front light illuminates a traffic cone 100 feet away. It also provides a good spread of illumination along both sides of the road to at least 100 feet.

The ENGWE’s headlight, however, provides minimal illumination up to about 10 feet ahead, and it’s in such a narrow beam that there’s no useful illumination along the sides of the road. To ride the L20 2.0 at night, owners would need to invest in a brighter headlight.

The L20 2.0’s rear light is a similar story. Our Lezyne KTV Pro+ reference light can be seen clearly from 100 feet away. The ENGWE’s rear light does better than its headlight, and it has brake activation, but it’s still not particularly impressive.

Conclusion

Overall, riding the L20 2.0 is a frustrating experience. The motor is powerful, but it makes a horrible noise when it works hard, and the inadequate gearing makes it hard to enjoy this bike when pedaling at speeds above 20mph.

The L20 2.0 doesn’t feel particularly well made. Cheap, low-quality components like the fork, brakes, drivetrain, and lights contribute to a poor overall experience. Yes, this bike will do fine on paved surfaces and light trails, but it’s not a ride to look forward to.

On paper, the ENGWE L20 2.0 offers a lot of bang for the buck, but it has too many weaknesses to make it an attractive proposition in the real world.

For a full walkthrough of the L20 2.0’s controls, display settings, and battery removal, check out our video review.

Score Breakdown

• Build quality: 70
• Performance / Innovation: 65
• Design: 70
• Ride quality: 75
• Price / Value: 90

Overall: 74

Detailed Specifications

Electric Bike Class: Class 3
Warranty: 12-month limited
UL Certification: UL 2849
IP Rating: Not Stated
Total Weight: Claimed: 68.3lb – Actual: 68lb
Motor Brand: Unknown
Motor Type: Rear hub
Motor Nominal Output: 750W
Max Torque: 75Nm
Battery: 52V, 13Ah (676Wh)
Range Claimed: 68 miles
Range Tested (PAS 5): 22 mi – 854 ft. – 16.5mph avg.
Range Tested (PAS 3): 31.1 mi – 1,276 ft. – 14.3mph avg.
Max Speed: 20mph throttle – 28mph PAS
Throttle: Half-twist
Pedal Assist: 5 levels
Charger: 58V 2A
Charge Time: 7 Hours
Display: 3” LCD, mounted in portrait mode
Frame: 6061 Aluminum
Fork: 65mm travel, coil suspension
Brake Levers: Non-branded mechanical
Brake Calipers: Non-branded mechanical
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Crankset: 48t, 170mm, dual-sided guard
Derailleur: Shimano Tourney 7-speed
Shifter: Shimano Tourney TX50
Freewheel: 7-speed 14-28t
Rims: 20” Aluminum
Tires: 20″ x 3″ unbranded – light off-road tread pattern
Fenders: Full-coverage
Lights: Headlight, taillight with brake indicator
Grips: Slip-on ergonomic
Saddle: K-SAN comfort padded
Pedals: Plastic, folding
Handlebar: Riser, adjustable stem height
Kickstand: Single-sided
Payload Capacity: 264lb
Rear Rack Capacity: 55lb

This folding fat tire electric bike comes in at a budget-friendly price.

This year’s version does what is often impossible. It fixes the issues of the previous version, adds extensive new features, and drops the price…

Overall, I think for older people who have mobility problems, this is a good option for you. If you’re shorter, this is probably another good option…

I think you’re looking at a pretty good option. That being said… it doesn’t have a UL certification…

It’s a 750W Motor. It has a slightly higher peak power, but it is street legal…

When you compare it to other e-bikes in this price segment, this is definitely a good performing e-bike.