Eskute C100

The C100 from Eskute is a budget commuter e-bike with a 36V e-bike system. How will this compare to the 48V systems used on most of the electric bikes we test, and how will the C100 perform in our standardized testing? Keep reading to find out!

What Is the Eskute C100?

Eskute was founded in 2019 and has a lineup of five e-bikes in its US store at the time of writing. The company sells budget-level electric bikes directly to consumers or through Amazon. Eskute doesn’t have a physical store, so all customer support and warranty claims must be processed online or over the phone, and maintenance and repairs must be done at a third-party bike shop.

The Eskute C100 is a step-through commuter with a rear rack, fenders, and lights. Its brown grips and saddle and tidy integrated battery give it a clean appearance.

The bike has a 350W nominal rear hub motor, a 36V 10.4Ah (375Wh) battery, and UL 2869 certification. This system is only suitable for short-distance commuting and recreational riding, as it doesn’t offer the speed or range required for long-distance commutes.

Pros

Pricing

The Eskute C100 is one of the cheapest bikes we’ve tested. Given its price tag, I’m impressed with the included accessories, UL certification, and clean looks. It includes a rack, fenders, and lights. Additionally, it’s UL-certified, unlike many bikes at this price point.

Range

The C100’s 375Wh battery delivers reasonable range. In our PAS 5 test, we covered 20.3 miles and 919 feet of elevation at an average speed of 12.5mph. Using PAS 3, we covered 29.3 miles and 1,325 feet at a slow speed of 9.4mph.

Cons

Budget Components

The C100’s low price is reflected in the quality of its components. It has a budget 7-speed drivetrain and TX50 shifter, mechanical disk brakes with small 160mm rotors, and a low-power motor.

The bottom bracket and cranks make a lot of noise, with creaking noticeable from the first ride. I also noticed flex in the low-step frame while riding, and the cheap suspension fork can make the bike feel unstable while cornering or riding over uneven ground.

Motor Power

As mentioned above, the motor lacks power. It delivered the worst times we’ve recorded in our short, steep hill climb and longer but less steep climb.

This low-power motor isn’t ideal for those living in hilly areas, as climbing with the C100 is slow. Additionally, riding uphill using high pedal assist drains the battery quickly.

Riding Position for Taller Riders

At 6’0″ tall, I didn’t find the C100 comfortable. Its high, narrow handlebars draw your elbows in while keeping your hands high, causing a cramped feeling that resulted in some back pain after the 20-mile range test.

The bike is rated for heights from 5’1″ to 6’1″, but it’s better suited to shorter riders below 6′.

What Does It Do Best?

The C100 is a budget-friendly commuter with a sleek design uncharacteristic of this price point. It also comes with lights with brake activation, fenders, and a rack.

It’s not a fast bike, but the 10.4Ah battery returns decent range, covering 20 to 30 miles on hilly terrain. The bike is also UL-certified, which isn’t a given at this price.

Reasons to Look Elsewhere?

The C100’s low price means low-end components. These include a budget Tourney drivetrain and unbranded mechanical brakes with small rotors. The budget suspension fork doesn’t improve the ride, easily bottoming out on bumpy pavement.

The bike feels cramped for me at 6’0″, and the low-voltage e-bike system and 350W motor mean it struggles on steep or sustained hills. Consider increasing your budget if you plan to travel long distances or want more performance or durability.

Conclusion

The C100’s biggest draw is its low price. However, this means lots of trade-offs in performance and quality. If you have a very low budget and need a light-duty e-bike to get around town, the C100 is worth considering. Look elsewhere if you need to go far or fast or want a bike to last.

Specs

Electric Bike Class: Class 2
Warranty: 2-year limited
UL Certification UL 2849
IP Rating IPX4
Total Weight: Claimed: 57lb – Actual: 60lb
Motor Brand: Unbranded
Motor Type: Rear hub
Motor Nominal Output: 350W
Max Torque: 50Nm
Battery: 36V 10.4Ah (375Wh)
Range Claimed: Up to 40 miles
Range Tested: PAS 5 – 20.32mi – 919 ft.-  12.5mph / PAS 3 – 29.73mi – 1,325 ft. – 9.4mph
Max Speed: 20mph
Throttle: Half-twist throttle
Pedal Assist: 5 levels
Charger: 2A output
Charge Time: 6 hours
Display: 2.5″ LCD B/W
Frame: Steel
Fork: 60mm coil suspension
Brake Levers: Mechanical brake lever, unbranded
Brake Calipers: Mechanical caliper, unbranded
Brake Rotors: 160mm
Crankset: 170mm – 44t
Derailleur: Tourney 7-speed
Shifter: TX50 Tourney
Freewheel: 14-28t
Rims: Aluminum 26″
Tires: 26″ x 1.75” Seyoun NJK
Fenders: Included, plastic
Lights: Included front and rear, brake indicator
Grips: Faux leather slip-on
Saddle: Faux leather Selle Royal
Pedals: Plastic, platform
Handlebar: Cruiser-style, riser
Kickstand: Single-sided
Max. Total Capacity: 275lb

Frame and Geometry

The C100 is fairly lightweight for a fully equipped commuter at this price, weighing only 60lb. The step-through steel frame is simple, elegant, and easy to mount.

The frame is on the smaller side, suiting shorter riders. Eskute lists a height range of 5’1″ to 6’1″, but as mentioned, I found it uncomfortable and slightly cramped at 6’0″.

The bike has a short-travel 60mm coil suspension fork with lockout and preload adjustment. It does not feature attachment points for a bottle cage or a front rack.

Seat Tube: 17 “(432mm)
Reach: 16″ (406mm)
Stack: 25″ (635mm)
Stand Over Height: 18.5″ (470mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 21.5″ (546mm)
Min Saddle Height: 31.5″ (800mm)
Max Saddle Height: 40.5″ (1029mm)
Wheelbase: 43″ (1092mm)
Recommended Rider Height: 5’1″ -6’0″

Display and Control

The C100’s 2.5″ black and white display shows a five-bar battery indicator, current speed, and assist level. The power button cycles through the lifetime odometer, trip odometer, battery voltage, and trip timer. Up and down buttons cycle through the five assist levels. Holding the up button turns on the lights, and holding the down button activates walk mode.

The C100 doesn’t require a key for operation and doesn’t have a lock. Removing the battery is the only way to ensure it cannot be turned on while parked.

Motor

The 350W hub motor has a max torque of 50Nm. This modest unit returned poor results in our acceleration and hill climbing tests.

The C100 took 21 seconds to accelerate to 20mph with the throttle and 15 seconds using max pedal assist. It was also the slowest bike in both hill climbing tests, as shown in the graphics below.

Given this performance, the motor is best suited to riding over level ground or light gradients. It’s not a good choice for long, hilly commutes or high-speed riding.

Battery and Charger

The C100 is UL 2849 certified, which is good to see at this price. Eskute provides a standard 2A charger that takes six hours to charge the 10.4Ah battery.

In our max PAS range test, we covered 20.3 miles and 919 feet of elevation at an average speed of 12.5mph. Considering the price, this is a reasonable distance, but the average speed is low for a max assist test.

In our real-world range test (PAS 3), we covered 29.7 miles with 1,325 feet of elevation. However, the average speed was very low, at just 9.4mph.

Drivetrain

The C100 has a Shimano Tourney derailleur and TX50 overhand shifter that matches the budget pricing. The 44t chainring and 14-28t cassette provide adequate gearing, given the bike’s lower average riding speeds.

Brakes

The C100 has unbranded mechanical brakes with 160mm rotors, which is a cheap, unremarkable setup. This brakeset has a motor inhibitor switch that cuts power to the motor when you brake. However, the rear brake lever on our test bike wouldn’t always trigger the switch.

The average stopping distance of 21 feet is reasonable, though this will likely increase quickly as braking performance is lost with use. 

Wheels, Tires

The C100 has Seyoun NJK 26″ x 1.75″ urban tires with smooth tread. These tires are fast rolling with minimal resistance, but they don’t have puncture protection. I experienced one puncture while testing. The tires are suitable for use on pavement and hard-packed dirt paths.

Accessories

The Eskute C100 comes with the basic accessories needed for urban riding and commuting, including lights with a braking indicator, a rear rack, and fenders.

The lights are integrated with the bike’s electronics and can be turned on with the control pad. The rear rack supports up to 33lb, and the plastic fenders protect you from water and road debris. The C100’s single-sided kickstand worked fine during testing.

Touchpoints

The C100 has faux leather grips that match the saddle. They are simple slip-on grips that look great and are comfortable.

The saddle is from Selle Royal and is pretty comfortable. I didn’t experience any discomfort during the range tests. Finally, the large plastic platform pedals didn’t cause any issues.