"More power and stability than its competitors"

Category: A2B Launch | Date: 20 October 2009

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The Road Test: ON TRIAL : THE ULTRAMOTOR METRO A2B

AS THE rider of a featherlight pedal bike, at first glance I was less than convinced by this beast. It looks like a full-suspension mountain bike, and the heavy lines just didn't float my boat. Coming to e-bikes as a cyclist looking for a boost, I thought I wanted something that looked like a bike with a battery.

But Ultramotor (ultramotor.com) has approached e-bikes from a new direction, taking the best elements of its scooters and streamlining them into a bike. While I initially recoiled at the meaty frame and chunky wheels, it's these features, as well as a high-performing Sanyo lithium battery (which give a 20-mile range and slides off easily to be charged at any plug point), that give the bike more power and stability than its competitors. The Metro is power-on-demand, so you pedal as much as you like, supplementing your efforts with a burst of the throttle when you tire or, if you prefer, relying entirely on the motor. As with all road-legal e-bikes, the A2B is limited to 15.5mph, but this one has an off-road booster button that takes it up to 20mph, giving it a real oomph.  At 31kg, I was worried the A2B might be cumbersome, but it felt like any normal mountain bike and has the same manoeuvrability. The extra weight is irrelevant on the road. On the flat, I didn't need an energy boost, but as I approached a slope, I twisted the throttle to get a perfectly silent power surge that helped me cruise up the hill with outh breaking sweat. I'm sold. The only obstacle to me buying one, predictably, is the £1,999 price tag. See ultramotor.com

Deborah Arthurs, London Lite.