EMotorad ST-X (W) Review: A Teenager’s Dream?

When I was in my best days, I mean school days, my mother used to take me everywhere— basketball practice, coaching classes, tournaments, even to my friends’ houses. And that did give us a lot of time to spend together. But now when I think about it, it was more fun for me and a responsibility for her. She had to plan her day around my schedule, leaving little time for her own interests or hobbies. I realise this now and often in hindsight I wonder if I was to go back and change things to help her, what could I do differently? 

Maybe, be more independent and get to these places alone? However riding a cycle there was not an option as the distances were a lot. And riding a scooter, that would have been illegal. However, spending time with the E-motorad ST-X last week opened my eyes to a very practical solution. A cycle with an electric motor to help reduce effort while commuting while still being perfectly safe to use by an early teenager. Perfect? Well, there are a few things that my past self would have surely appreciated if they were better. Let's explore a day in my teenage years if I had an electric cycle.

Pedalling? Not Tiring Anymore.

The first commute of my day is the 7 km ride from home to school. Keeping in mind that my uniform has to be neat and tidy by the time I reach school. And here, the pedal assist system (PAS) of the ST-X works wonders. It essentially uses the electric motor to assist paddling force. This reduces the effort you have to put to get the cycle moving and you can cover a lot more distance without tiring yourself. All I have to do is start paddling and the PAS automatically engages which eases the load on my legs. It even stops the moment I stop pedalling which feels safe. 

The ST-X offers five levels of assistance, where Level 1 helps you upto 14 kmph and speed gradually increases with each level to Level 5 assisting up to 25 kmph. What you will need to get used to is that the assist - or acceleration from the assist can feel a bit sudden, especially when making u-turns or crossing the road. A smoother, more gradual acceleration would certainly make it safer. Thankfully, the PAS and long fenders on both the front and rear wheels keep my uniform sweat and stain free.

A True E-bike

If you are not in a mood to paddle, then you can use the throttle and use the ST-X like an electric scooter. It works like any other e-bike and rolling the throttle on the right handlebar starts moving the cycle. This is very easy to use and often to take the load away from starting the cycle from a stop, I would get it up to speed and then start paddling. This also helps when you have other vehicles on the road next to you and you want to get up to speed quickly just to maintain pace with traffic and not become a hazard on the road. What I would have liked though is a smoother throttle experience. The first 20 percent of the throttle is dead play. It does nothing. A more consistent throttle with a smoother initial power would have made the experience feel a lot more polished and easy. 

Another thing I really appreciate about the ST-X is its range. EMotorad claims it gives up to 45km. However, in my real world usage with level 5 assist and throttle usage, I got about 28km of total range. This is absolutely fine for nearby travel and daily commuting. You can detach the battery and charge it at home like your smartphone. It takes 4 hours to charge, so I put it on charge overnight and get my ST-X ready for the next day.

Inclines Are No Joke!

After school, I head to the stadium for basketball practice, which is about 4 km away. On a regular cycle, I would have had to push myself to maintain a good speed, which would result in me arriving at practice exhausted - not ideal. But with the ST-X, I’m able to maintain a speed of 25kmph on the way which is its top speed. However, there is a catch. 

The real test comes when I approach a flyover on the way. As soon as the incline hits, the motor starts to struggle. The power is not enough to pull me uphill. I have to help out by pedaling harder to assist the motor -- which helps. The experience is still less tiring than going uphill without any assistance. By the time I reach the stadium, I still have enough energy left to go through 2 hours of running and jumping on the court.

An Easy Walk With ST-X

After such a long and tiring day, the 6 km ride home is where comfort becomes important. While riding back is convenient - it could have been more comfortable. Unfortunately, the ride is a bit stiff. The front suspension feels firm, and the lack of a rear shock makes the ride uncomfortable on bad surfaces. So, on the really bad patches, I would prefer the walk mode. It lets the cycle roll automatically at a low walking pace (3-4kmph) so you can simply walk with it rather than having to pull it. 

Beauty Lies In Its Simplicity

The more you look at it, the clearer it becomes that the ST-X is thoughtfully designed for a modern girl. The design is practical and sober. A big plus is that it doesn't come with a crossbar which makes it convenient to ride while wearing outfits like frocks, skirts, palazzos, or even a saree. The adjustable seat height adds to its convenience for riders ranging from height 4’8” ft to 5’6” ft. At 5'7", I personally didn’t face any discomfort while riding. 

The lightweight build makes it extremely easy to handle—whether you’re riding at slow speeds or walking it out of tight parking spaces. An LCD display shows essential information like speed, distance and level of PAS. To enhance its practicality you can opt for additional accessories like- headlamp, handle-mounted basket, rear carrier and under-seat reflector—making the ST-X well suited for everyday use.

A Genuinely Good Solution For Some

That’s how a typical day would have looked with the E-Motorad ST-X in my teenage years. Now, as an adult, I use it for running errands around the neighborhood or chill evening rides. While it's perfect for short trips, I’ve noticed a few areas for improvement, especially when it comes to safety, like adding indicators and brake lights would definitely increase visibility at night. And to make it more practical you can opt for a rear carrier which is an optional accessory. 

However, given its price of Rs. 34,999 - it's hard to see many use cases of this cycle. It is not as cool as the other cycles in EMotorad's portfolio like the Doodle and Ranger which make for much better lifestyle options for adults and it is not affordable enough for it to be adapted by daily house helps or girls in their first jobs - before they can afford a scooter. That said, if I’d had the E-Motorad ST-X in my teenage years, it could have made me more self-dependent and allowed my mom to reclaim some much-needed time for herself. And I would happily recommend this to school going girls who are looking to be more independent.