Image Credit: Engwe.
If there is one thing I love more than a perfect cup of coffee, it's a piece of technology that makes suburban Karens twitch their window blinds in distress. Just like the Engwe M20 3.0. I've seen some "electric bicycles" before that were essentially just heavy beach cruisers, but this? This is no bicycle. It's a rebel in a leather jacket that just happen to have pedals because it's trying (and failing) to blend in at the local park.
Engwe has been flirting with the line between "bike" and "motorcycle" for a while now, but with the M20 3.0, they haven't crossed the line - they've done a burnout over it. This machine is a full-blown electric moped masquerading as a toy. It gets a beefy 3,300W peak-rated rear hub motor that kicks out 88.5 lb-ft of torque. In human terms, that means it'll go up a steep hill faster than a teenager heading toward a "Free Pizza" sign.
Image Credit: Engwe.
The real headline here, and the reason your local HOA president is already drafting a strongly worded memo, is the speed. Once you unlock the "off-road mode" (first thing everyone does after unboxing), this thing hits 40 mph. At that speed, you're basically a low-flying aircraft. To keep you from vibrating into another dimension, the M20 comes with a full suspension system, including a dual-crown fork and direct-linkage rear suspension. It weighs about 102 pounds for the single-battery version, so it's got some literal gravity to it.
You can get it with one or two 60V 20Ah batteries. If you spring for the dual-battery setup, Engwe claims a range of up to 180 miles. Even if you're riding it like you're escaping a cinematic explosion, you're still going to get plenty of distance. And thanks to the 8A high-power charger, you can top it off in about 2.5 to 3 hours. That's just enough time to have a nice lunch and a nap before heading back out to terrify the neighbors.
Image Credit: Engwe.
The price is where I actually fell off my chair. The single-battery version starts at $1,399, and the dual-battery beast is $1,699 - I've seen designer handbags that cost more and they don't have 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes or 8-inch rotors. The M20 also sports 20-inch tires that are 4 inches wide, giving it that "I can go over a curb and not die" look that we all appreciate.
The techy bits include a 3.5-inch color display and proximity unlocking from your phone - it's all very much "future is here." There's only one thing - my inner skeptic is politely asking: please, for the love of all that is sensible, do not give this to a 14-year-old. It's a light electric motorcycle, and it deserves some respect (and a helmet). It's an absolute riot to ride, but let's be adults about it. Or at least, let's pretend to be adults until we're out of sight of the neighbors.
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