Customer Reviews

A2B Lithium Ion 7 Speed Electric Bicycle By Ultra Motor 500w/36v **Upto 40 Miles on a Charge

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have had the A2B Bike for 5 days and find several negatives that come with it which should be considered before you purchase one. Have just had the privalege of walking my A2B 7 miles after being stranded with it. The tires on it are very cheap and cheesy. They puncture easily and after being deflated they are very soft and mushy. Walked to the bus terminal to take it home thinking I could just drop it in the rack like a normal bike rider could do but NO!! It does not fit. Tires are too fat and the bike is longer than a normal bike and does not fit, hence I was refused to load it and had to walk. Another observation is the power does not always activate when you applicate it. Was at a stop light and after it had turned green at times it had taken 4-5 tries to get it to kick in. I believe the A2B is still too much in it's infancy to be at least dependable.

I bought two of these bikes for commuting...and two extra chargers to keep at each of my offices, so that way I can charge for the ride home. The second battery is very expensive, but the second charger is not. I had a flat tire from letting the tire go too low and then taking a curve...the bike shop called it a "slider" flat...otherwise, I ride long distances and don't have trouble. It needs to have rack accessories, inlcuding panniers, that you can actually get...they don't seem to sell them even though they have pictures. You will experience the motor cut out the other reviewer talked about if you "ride the brake"...as long as you let go of the brake before you engage the throttle, that doesn't happen. These bikes are so zippy they are a blast! My biggest problem has been with the brakes...they do seem to need adjustment often, and new pads. I try not to use the brakes, but let's face it, the disks are tiny and the bike weighs 75 pounds. Still, the world would be a better place if everyone rode these bikes. I also own several Segways and an electric boat (DUFFY), so I like electric stuff. As with all the other electric things, it is best to keep charged...the lower half of "the tank" always seems to go faster than the 1st half...so you may have to pedal if you run out...and if you do, it will probably be on a hill! But the good news is that you CAN pedal...and it's good for you. Great product. And I'm sure it will get better.

I've had my A2B for over a year. I commute with it every day, riding it about 7-8 miles total and charging it at work. It's been excellent overall -- really study and reliable.

On the brakes: the bike is *heavy*, so stopping it at top speed often is of course going to wear them out. But even so, the brakes are long-lasting. I used to think they were terrible, until I realized they are adjustable - basically you turn a knob to extend the brake pads, and your brakes are back. There were several times when I thought my brakes were dead and brought it in, but the bike shop guys just made some minor adjustment and suddenly the brakes were back, without any replacements. So don't believe it if people tell you the brakes don't last. I weigh 200 lbs, and ride in the hills of bay area. The brakes last.

The battery has been good too. I was worried that after a year or so the thing wouldn't keep a charge well, but I've only gotten myself stranded once, and that was because I forgot to charge it.

One thing I don't like: the motor disengages when you tap the breaks and doesn't come back for a few seconds. This can get you in a jam when you are in the middle of traffic. I have also gotten two flats, though I don't know if I can blame the bike for that.

Overall I give this bike high marks. It is expensive, but you do get what you pay for.

I have had this bike for over a year and all it does it break down. They work great for the first few months and then everything just starts breaking. The tires are thin and cheap and i get flats every couple of weeks. Costing me about $35 each time. Also, the break pads are terrible. I have had the bike for 11 months and they have had to been replaced 3 times each already....Very costly on that. The warranty is bogus too. Do some research...Don't buy this bike. You will end up putting hundreds into it,

I have owned this bike for a 18 months. Overall I'm quite pleased. When new, with fresh main and auxiliary batteries, it has a real world range, with out any pedaling, of 35+ miles. I've cycled both batteries about 300 times each and I'm still getting about 30 miles out of them. I have two rear collapsible baskets for groceries so it's very utilitarian. The extra range with the auxiliary battery gives some peace of mind when traveling extended distance's. Now the downsides. First the standard tires are soft and weak. I had four flats in the first two months I owned the bike. I replaced them with 16" moped tires (they're the same size as a 20" bicycle tire) and haven't had a flat since. If you travel in hot weather for long distances a heat sensor often shuts the motor down. It takes about an hour for the motor to function again. So, after 15 to 20 miles you should stop at a place of your own choosing and let the engine cool a bit. Also the key is placed in a awkward place and you have to be careful not to kick it when mounting/dismounting the bike. The brakes do need frequent adjusting and I've replaced the pads three times thus far. And at 75 pounds this bike is heavy. So pedaling far without power may be problematic for some. This is a heavy duty bike designed to take a lot of wear. I've traveled through heavy rains with no ill effects and actually Got hit by a car (at low speed) and it suffered only a little cosmetic damage. The A2B is an expensive bike. So if you plan only to bike around the neighborhood, say no more than 5 mile radius from your home, there are less expensive quality electric bikes available. Be cautious though there's a lot of junk out there. So be very wary of any bike that cost less than $1,000.

I have two 2009 A2B Metro with a few thousand miles on them. I use my bike in St Augustine, Florida (flat and wet). I make a commute to work about 9 miles one way and charge my bike at work. I gave it 4 stars because of the upgrades I had to make (mainly tires). Otherwise, I would say it is a 5. I'm writing this review because I buy a lot of stuff on Amazon and I appreciate others taking the time to share their experiences.

Overall, I'm happy with this bike. It has a sturdy frame and well designed motor battery system. The bike will be enhanced by some upgrades and I'd recommend doing some research on various forums.

[...]

(do a search on "metro" or "ultramotor")

First, the original motors had problems and needed to be replaced. This was done under warranty. I also needed to upgrade the chargers, also under warranty. I think these issues have been resolved on the newer models.

The bike gives me a 20 mile range, more if you get the additional battery. I have seen reports of range up to 50 miles with two batteries. I like to pedal and use the accelerator at the same time. This keeps me at about 20mph. Some people have changed the crank to enhance their pedaling and I may consider this. It will go just as fast with pedaling or without. My wife is usually ahead of me and she rarely pedals her bike. I'd prefer a top speed of 30mph, but I think the laws have limited the top speed and motor horsepower.

I replaced the original soft Kenda tires with Shinko SR714 DOT approved tire, 2,25x16. This works well, but you may want a scooter store to do this, as it is a tight fit. I had had two flats with the original tires. This upgrade made my bike feel more solid and the rear suspension seemed to work better -- no chain rattle. I don't think I will have another flat. If you don't want to be stranded this is the most important change I'd make.

The brake pads need to be replaced often. Semi-metalic Disco Brakes have been reported to wear better. It is a heavy bike and you need to watch the brakes.

Ergongrips have been reported to work better and give your hands a rest. I have these on order (from Amazon).

Chain noise had been an issue until I changed the tires. Some have recommended flip flopping the upper pulley and metal stay. I'm not sure about this. There may be a better chain tensioner solution.

My rear fender cracked, I sawed the back half off. It works fine and looks like it was designed that way. On the other bike I removed it completely. I hear the newer bikes have made improvements on this issue.

Make sure you upgrade the rear shock. This may already be upgraded on newer bikes. The elastomer rod and spring combo shock is needed if using an additional battery. Some have found an airshock that works well. Be careful not to carry a person on the rear as the weight could crack the weld.

I should mention, that I disconnected a wire that delayed acceleration after I braked. This means that you can ride it in traffic with instant response after braking. The newer bikes don't have this long delay.

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Overall, I give this bike good marks. It has replaced a second car. I gave it to my son. My wife got the Mercedes, but to be honest, I'd much rather use the bike around town.

I cannot recommend this mike. It does looks great and the ride is fun but you will be buying new batteries quite often at $600 a pop. I rode the bike no more that 600 miles and I needed a new battery ! Save your money, buy something else. Again, if they ever fix the battery problem and lower the price this can be an amazing bike.... but it's not there yet

I bought three of these. Two for my Maui home so my teenagers could get to the beach without driving a car, and kept one in California. These bikes have been so much fun for our entire family. Yes, they are a little heavy. However, I really appreciate the tires and wheels as they feel very stable over all terrain. I constantly get questions from people when we ride our bikes. My husband likes to ride his road bike long distances. I could never keep up with him before, (he rode in the Tour de France). Now, I ride past him and have to wait for him for a change! I love my A2B Ultras and so does everyone else that has ridden ours. Highly recommended and a total blast!

This bike is total garbage. Frankly, I'd like to use profanity to describe it, but don't want to violate Amazon TOS.

They say it gets up to 40 miles per charge. In fact, I can't get more than 12 miles from it. Sometimes, the battery dies after just 3 blocks. And, the battery can't hold a charge for more than a few hours. They say you should not leave it plugged in, but if you don't leave it plugged in, the battery will end up being dead within 2 days.

They say it's powerful enough to go up hills, yet when I try to go up a hill, it comes to a complete stop, and I have to use my body strength to push 70 pounds of metal up a hill.

The manufacturing quality is terrible, it has a brutally loud screeching noise when moving.

And, A2B is arrogant and hostile and rude and won't take any responsibility for the product.

Anyone who buys this product after reading this review would have to be certifiably insane.

I really enjoy my A2B. I have had it for roughly two months, and am commuting roughly four miles each way to work, as well as odd errands around town.

First, the caveats. I titled my review "Great Little Vehicle", because it's not exactly a bicycle. Like the other review mentioned, you probably can't put it on a bike rack on the front of a city bus. I have trouble lugging it into the bike coral at work, and can just barely get it into a bike locker.

Before buying, I switched to knobby tires, rather than the more traditional tires that it comes with standard, and I'm glad I did. Changing a flat tire on the back is somewhat non-trivial, due to the electrical wiring, etc. Luckily, I bought the bike from a good local shop, and their repairs are fast and reasonably priced. The comment about pannier is also valid -- it won't work by default. My solution is in the next paragraph.

I bought the A2B from a wonderful electric bike shop in Boulder, CO, called "Pete's Electric Bikes". Not only do they provide inexpensive repairs, but they sell a custom pannier adapter, which I am very happy with. If you are able, I highly recommend buying from them. They have locations other than Boulder: check petesebikes.com for more locations.

At Pete's, I test rode the A2B along with a more traditional electric bike. The other bike really was a bicycle, and had the advantage of light(er) weight. But luckily I tested it going up a hill, and the A2B did much better. Since I'm wanting to partially replace my car, I chose the A2B. It gets me to work without needing a shower, so I'm less hesitant to ride it than I would be with an ordinary bike. And on the way home I can get as much exercise as I wish, by laying off the throttle.