EMotorad Ranger Review: The Perfect New Year Resolution!
The Ranger has integrated into my life so seamlessly that it is now becoming difficult to imagine one without it.
I’m tired of making a fitness resolution every New Year. But between meetings, targets, and travel, where is the time to diet, exercise or learn a new sport? That’s why I decided that this year, why not commute to the office by cycle — and specifically on the EMotorad Ranger. It’s an electric-assist cycle that reduces your effort so you don’t arrive at the office drenched in sweat, yet you still get some exercise on the way. So, the question is: can this push me toward a healthy lifestyle? And with so many distractions in my life, can this become my go-to choice over my long-term test motorcycles?
The Cool Kid!
The EMotorad Ranger is a good-looking cycle that grabs a lot of attention. It stands out from regular, boring cycles and looks more like a scooter. Its rugged looks courtesy the 4.0" wide tires, the flat seat, and the headlamp grille, give it rugged personality. The quality is also very good. The welds, panels, and handlebar all feel premium. The mobile holder on the front is very useful, and it even comes with a little storage space for your towel, gloves, wallet, or keys. I’ve taken the cycle to the office, the market, grocery shopping, and even on a holiday, and it looks cool everywhere.
Ranger Basics
Let’s understand how this cycle works. There is a hub motor in the rear tyre which is quite powerful. I’ve ridden e-cycles before, but they often fail to support you on steep inclines. This one doesn't stop. It is powered by a removable battery pack which you can carry into your house to charge. It isn’t too heavy, so carrying it isn't an issue. A small suggestion for EMotorad, though, if a handle or a strap could be integrated into it, it would be much easier to carry. Right now, you have to lift it like a dumbbell. It gives you a real-world range of about 50km, but that depends heavily on how you ride. Realistically, expect 35–40km. Charging takes about 7 hours.
You get an LCD display that easily shows speed, battery, odometer, mode, assist level, and all warnings. Whether it's day or night, the display is bright and easy to read. The switchgear is simple: all the buttons are on the left (power, assist, headlamp, horn, mode, etc.), and they are of good quality. The throttle is on the right for riding without pedaling. But unlike scooters where the entire grip rotates, here only a small inside portion of the grip is the moving part. It features front and rear disc brakes which are powerful, a 7-speed drivetrain, and the headlamp, indicators, and tail lamp come integrated with the cycle.
To ride, you can simply pedal. And if you want electric assist, there are 5 levels. At Level 1, you get assistance up to 12kmph, meaning when you pedal, you need less effort to reach and maintain that speed. As you increase the assist level, the cycle assists you up to higher speeds, with Level 5 keeping you at 24kmph with just light pedaling.
If you don’t want to pedal at all, you can use the throttle. It works just like an unlicensed e-scooter and takes you up to a maximum of 25kmph. The levels don't matter for the throttle, but you must be at least on Level 1 (it stays off at Level 0). And yes, if you apply the brake and throttle together, the power won't engage. It also has a "Walk Mode." Suppose you want to walk with a friend or you get a puncture and need to walk the bike; turn on Walk Mode, and it will move at 3kmph on its own. Applying the brake turns this mode off.
The Commuter
Its first job was to be my daily office commuter. My office is 5km away, and I’ve started enjoying riding the Ranger. To start, I use the throttle to reduce the initial effort, then I start pedalling. This makes riding the cycle easy. This is also very useful when you are at a junction and need to cross with the traffic. You don't get left behind, and the traffic behind you doesn't get annoyed. However, the throttle has a lot of free play. You have to twist it quite a bit before the power kicks in. Because of this, it’s difficult to modulate the throttle if you want to stay steady in traffic. This initial free play shouldn't be there. On a flat road, I turn on Level 5 assist so the cycle keeps moving with minimum pedalling effort. This works very well. The cycle runs smoothly at a consistent speed and you can cover longer distances with minimum effort. Because of this, I arrive at the office neither tired nor sweaty.
However, when you have to brake and restart, the power comes in very abruptly and increases speed quickly. This can be scary while crossing roads because of nearby traffic. Even after getting used to it, it can still startle you. It would be better if the power delivery were more gradual. Also, the brakes make some noise, and if the brake cable isn't fully disengaged, the throttle won't work. One thing to note is that this is a fairly tall cycle and you don't have the height adjustment option. With a seat height of 870mm - similar to that of the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure! However, EMotorad has realised this and have launched a smaller seat height variant (830mm) -- which has a seat height close to the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. But because the cycle is much smaller and lighter than these mammoths, it is a lot more manageable.
Speaking of adventure motorcycles -- the Ranger too is relatively comfortable over bad roads. There are lots of them on my way to work and the cycle manages to keep me cushioned in most parts. It only has front suspension, so you don't feel shocks on the handlebars. But despite the thick padded seat, you do feel the impact on your back. This is an issue with most hardtail cycles, but at least the Ranger gives you a thick cushioned seat, making it more comfortable than others. Plus, because the tyres are chunky, they don't slip or become unbalanced on bad roads. Overall, it is so easy to ride that I’ve started preferring it over my motorcycles for the office. It weaves through traffic jams easily, I don't get tired, and I get a light workout. As a daily commuter, it’s a great option.
The Fitness Coach
Cycling is a good way to workout and the moment you start using the Ranger as a fitness tool -- its flaws become visible. I’ve ridden many cycles, and this is heavier than all of them. With the fat tyres, it takes a lot of effort to ride it like a normal cycle. You might do it considering it a "workout," but the seat is not pedal-friendly. Cycling seats are usually narrow at the front so your thighs don't rub. Here, your thighs constantly rub against the seat, or you have to pedal in a very awkward way. The Shimano geartrain is good, and you can manipulate the effort on flyovers or flat roads, but pedaling remains a struggle. Moreover, the brakes get loose very quickly because you tend to ride at higher speeds due to the motor. You’ll need to tighten them every 2-3 weeks. However, my brake pads are still going strong even after 200km.
If you want a cycle purely for fitness, you can get much better cycles at this price -- Rs 57,000. Clearly, this is not a fitness cycle.
Extra Co-curricular Activities
I was going to Alibaug for the weekend and thought, why not take the Ranger along? I just folded the back seat of my car, loaded it, and left. When I reached my Airbnb and needed to get supplies, I realized how easy it is to explore a new city on this cycle. I set the navigation on my phone, put it in the holder, and zoomed off into the narrow lanes and slicing through traffic.
The next morning, we went to the beach and took the cycle there too. It felt like the Ranger was made for the beach. It didn't slip or sink into the wet sand even once. My wife, our 8-month-old son and I, all three of us were on it because we wanted to go away from the crowd, and it carried 160kg of weight on beach sand easily! It made exploring the beach so much fun.
In fact, my son liked it so much that he now goes cycling with us every day in the society and on trails during weekends. Everyone in the society now recognizes this cycle, and many people have asked me about it because it’s a fantastic lifestyle addition. If you want a cycle to use with family or on road trips, the Ranger is an excellent option.
Verdict
The EMotorad Ranger is a wonderful lifestyle addition. It can become your primary commuter, and you will enjoy riding it every day. It will get you to the office without fatigue and burn off the calories from your breakfast. If you travel with it on road trips or picnics, it becomes truly useful. Kids going to school or coaching classes will also enjoy it because they can reach their destination without getting tired, and since the speed is limited, they remain safe.
The only thing it can't do is be a good fitness-oriented cycle. Pedalling it is awkward, the rolling resistance is high, and it’s very heavy. If you are very serious about your fitness journey, this might not be for you. However, if you want a daily-use cycle that the family can enjoy and you can use easily everywhere — this is truly a great option.