MEELOD DK300

The MEELOD DK300 MAX is a moto-style e-bike with two hub motors and two 20Ah batteries that the brand says will provide “unstoppable power across any terrain.”

With the current price below $2,000, the DK300 MAX sounds like excellent value, at least on paper. In this review, we aim to find out if it actually delivers on MEELOD’s promise.

Unboxing

MEELOD’s DK300 MAX ships in two boxes: one containing the bike and accessories, and the other with the front wheel.

Assembly is straightforward, with just the front wheel, handlebars, headlight, and pedals left to install.

Bike Description

The DK300 MAX is a motorcycle-style e-bike with a steel full-suspension frame. It weighs a hefty 136lb and has a 440lb payload capacity. The suspension includes a 100mm hydraulic coil fork and a coil rear shock with an external air reservoir. Both suspension componenets have some adjustability.

The bike rolls on 20″ x 4″ CST Scout e-moped tires with full coverage aluminum fenders front and rear.

The DK300 MAX is an unrestricted e-bike with a 35mph claimed top speed, meaning it won’t comply with e-bike laws in most jurisdictions. Each hub motor delivers 750W of nominal power. Pressing the power button when the bike is turned on toggles rear-wheel, front-wheel, and all-wheel drive modes.

The motors draws simultaneously from the two 48V 20Ah batteries (1,920Wh). Each battery is removable, but they’re not swappable, and the included 4.5A dual-cable charger fills both at the same time.

The 2.4″ LCD display has an integrated three-button control pad. A separate pad controls the headlight’s high and low beams, the turn signals, and the horn. The turn signals are brighter than those on most of the bikes I’ve tested.

The drivetrain is a basic 7-speed Shimano Tourney setup with a 44t chainring and 14-28t cassette. The brakes are MEELOD-branded hydraulic discs with two-piston calipers and 3.2mm-thick rotors (203mm front, 180mm rear). These performed excellently in our braking test, stopping the bike in just 16 feet from 20mph.

Lastly, the DK300 MAX connects to the BIKEGO app with Bluetooth, giving users access to advanced settings and diagnostics. A second app called iProtector must be downloaded in order to use the built-in GPS tracker and anti-theft features. This app can also initiate turn-by-turn navigation on the display. Both apps are available on iOS and Android.

Riding the Bike

MEELOD says the DK300 fits riders from 5’3″ to 6’2″. I’m 6 feet tall with a 33″ inseam, and it’s too cramped for proper pedaling, but this is common for motorcycle-style e-bikes. However, the top tube-mounted battery is wide, so my knees were forced out at an awkward angle while pedaling. Combine that with the limited gearing range, and it becomes clear that this bike isn’t designed to be pedaled for more than a few seconds at a time.

Riding with throttle power is a much more enjoyable experience. The throttle’s power output is based on the chosen pedal assist level. In all PAS levels, the bike accelerates in a smooth, controlled manner, rather than aggressively like the dual-motor Eahora Romeo Ultra II I tested recently.

I appreciated the throttle’s torque output at higher speeds, providing a noticable boost from, say, 28 to 31mph. In contrast, most bikes lack that torque injection when approaching their top speed.

In testing, the DK300 MAX topped out around 32mph over flat ground. In our hill climb tests in dual-motor mode, it was the second fastest of all bikes we’ve tested, behind the 5,000W Eahora Romeo Ultra II, and significantly faster than Puckipuppy’s dual-motor GoldenR. With one motor alone, the bike was much slower, dropping below the average for the 750W rear-hub e-bikes we’ve tested, likely due to the high weight.

On pavement, the DK300 MAX is comfortable and stable. The high weight and fat tires give it a planted feeling at speed. The frame also feels solid, with no shimmy or flex, and the bike feels well-made overall, although there’s some light rattling from the rear fender and rear suspension.

Off-road, the bike surprised me. It handled washboarding, packed gravel, and dirt tracks at speeds above 20mph. For me, the suspension fork is the weak point. It’s a hydraulic coil fork with 26 compression damping stops, and at 200lb, I had to set it just four stops from fully closed to keep it from bottoming out regularly. Even still, it bottomed out hard on big hits.

The rear suspension performs better. Both the air pressure and preload of the shock’s air reservoir can be adjusted.

For a bike this heavy, the DK300 MAX handled tighter trail sections better than I expected. That said, it’s not a mountain bike, so while it’s possible to push through some tight, rooty trails, it’s best kept to more open roads and paths.

One thing I disliked about riding the DK300 was the battery indicator, which is a single line on the right side of the display.

During the range test, the battery dropped roughly 50% after just 8 miles using PAS 5 in dual-motor mode. The low-battery warning appeared after 22 miles, but the bike provided full power for another 11 miles after showing. In total, the bike lasted 33 miles in dual-motor mode.

I performed the range test almost exclusively using the throttle at max power, as pedaling is so uncomfortable. Using just one motor or a lower assist level, the max range would increase considerably.

At 136lb, this bike is too heavy to be lifted or transported on a bicycle rack. A rack designed to transport a dirt bike, moped, or motorcycle would be necessary.

Conclusion

The DK300 MAX’s power and stability were the main highlights for me. The bike quickly reaches 30mph, and it feels planted at these speeds, even over light off-road terrain. However, the fork easily bottoms out from sharp hits, and the bike’s heft is felt on tight sections.

33 miles of real-world range at max power in dual-motor mode is a decent return for such a heavy bike, but one might expect more from almost 2,000Wh. As is the case with most motorcycle-style e-bikes, the DK300’s geometry makes pedaling an uncomfortable task, so most users will rely primarily on throttle power.

Buyers should beware that the high weight and inaccurate battery meter make this bike harder to live with, and the 32mph top speed means it’s illegal in most states.

For those willing to accept these drawbacks and looking for a motorcycle-style e-bike for mixed-terrain cruising, the DK300 MAX seems to be a decent offering at this price, with no major flaws experienced from my short testing period.

Score Breakdown

• Build quality: 70
• Performance/Innovation: 75
• Design: 70
• Ride quality: 75
• Price/Value: 85

Overall: 75

Detailed Specs

Electric Bike Class: Unrestricted
UL Certification: UL 2849
IP Rating: Bike: IPX4 – Electrical components: IP65
Total Weight: Claimed: 136lb – Actual:
Motor Brand: MEELOD
Motor Type: Front + rear hub
Motor Nominal Output: 2x 750W (1,500W total)
Motor Peak Output: 2x 1,200W per motor (2,400W total)
Motor Torque: 2x 80Nm (160Nm total)
Batteries: 48V 40Ah (1,920Wh)
Max Range Claimed: 150 miles
Range Tested (PAS 5 Dual Motor): 33.25 mi – 21mph avg.
Top Speed: 35mph
Throttle: Half twist
Pedal Assist: 5 levels
Sensor Cadence
Charger: 48V 4.5A
Charge Time: 10 hours
Display: 2.4” LCD
Frame: Steel
Fork: Hydraulic coil 100mm
Rear shock: Coil shock, air resevoir – 65mm travel
Brake Levers: Aluminum hydraulic
Brake Calipers: MEELOD – 2-piston hydraulic
Brake Rotors: 203mm front – 180mm rear, 3.2mm thick
Crankset: 44t
Derailleur: Shimano Tourney 7-speed
Shifter: Shimano Tourney 7-speed
Freewheel: 14-28T 7-speed
Rims: Spoked aluminum 20”
Tires: 20”x4” CST Scout
Fenders: F+R full coverage
Lights: Headlight, tailight, brake, turn signals
Grips: Plastic
Saddle: Moped-style bench seat
Pedals: Aluminum platform
Handlebar: BMX-style, 740mm
Kickstand: Included
Payload Capacity: 440lb

Geometry Details

Reach: 16.53“ (420mm)
Stack: 24” (610mm)
Stand Over Height: 35” (889mm)
Max Saddle Height: 33” (838mm)
Wheelbase: 49.2” (1250mm)

If you don’t care about having top-of-the-line gear, and you’re just looking for an affordable, cool-looking, powerful, long-range moped-style e-bike, this is the one that I’d recommend.

… it was kind of uncomfortable for me to keep pedaling… I think MEELOD is on to something with this bike. Maybe do some more things, maybe have a better battery, put the pedals further away from the seat…

I like the looks of the bike more than anything, that’s really the biggest pro I like about the bike. But overall, it’s kind of like all the other bikes that look exactly similar to this.

I wish the seat was a little bit more comfortable. This may be a good choice for you if you’re looking for a moped-style e-bike. This isn’t the kind of bike you’re going to be pedaling on a lot.

This is not for tall people. I’m 5’11 and I felt big on this bike, because my legs even without pedaling, just putting them on the pedals, were too scrunched up…

[I] just enjoy riding top speed 30mph with my weight, 215lb. It’s amazing, and it’s a really smooth ride. The frame made out of steel, I’m not really a big fan of.