Getting mellow on a MeloYelo

This story first appeared in the December issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

They call me Mellow Yellow – quite rightly,” the Donovan song goes.

And the last verse about “electrical banana… bound to be the very next phase” could apply to electric bikes too.

MeloYelo e-bike sales were founded to help fund EVolocity, a project-based learning programme where student teams design, build and race two to four-wheel electric vehicles.

A wide range of his and hers e-bikes are offered, from the all-terrain The Cross and the fat-tyred FAT20 to urban cruisers and folding bikes.

They’re made in China under specification from carefully selected brand-name components, with 4amp chargers topping up the frame-mounted Samsung battery cells in around two hours.

MeloYelo contracts an independent company of e-bike experts to inspect and test ride the bikes at the factory before shipping them to New Zealand, where they are again checked and tested. Free after-sales service checks are done at two weeks and a year.

So, you’re getting a good, reliable ride for a good cause.

We did our own test on The Cross.
Powered by a rear-hub Bafang 36-volt motor with a 300Watt output, it was zippy on the tarmac.
Its speed is governed to around 32kmh, although The Cross seems capable of much more.

Pedal assist on this goes up to nine so you can use all the muscle power you want or opt for an easy cruise – handy into head winds and on hills. And there’s a thumb throttle for an extra boost when needed.

Disc brakes front and rear ensure plenty of stopping power and using them cuts out the motor (like most e-bikes) so the rider is not pulling against the power assist.

Front suspension forks provide a smooth ride.
An easy-to-read display unit gives you all the gen on battery level, speed, distance and more.
The front LED headlight running off the main battery is nice and bright and a bright rear light runs from its own battery.

The bike’s owner/distributor, Colin Lunt of Tauranga (distributors are called “associates” – usually retired or semi-retired people looking for a part-time income) had been riding the bike for a couple of weeks and loved every moment.

Test rider EVtalk editor Geoff Dobson wore high visibility reflector road bike gear and was trialling a Livall smart helmet, which includes flashing rear lights (even indicators) – see separate review.

The Cross comes in either grey or red (as in this case) and at 27.5 inches has 2.1-inch wide off-road tyres, which do make some road noise, and mudguards over both wheels.

Weighing about 21kg, the bike feels heavy but stable – useful for trail riding.

This one had seven gears. More might be handy but these seem sufficient for the task.
Lunt has used the bike off-road around Papamoa in Tauranga and swears by its trail rideability.

Our aim was to test it on Riverhead or Woodhill forest bike trails northwest of Auckland but miserable Labour Weekend weather put paid to that.

The saddle supplied was wide and comfortable but riders used to narrower racing-style seats could find an hour on the wider one a little tiresome.

Its pedals didn’t have clip-ins either, although these can be fitted if you want to save some pedalling energy.

A drink bottle holder wasn’t fitted to the test bike but these can be easily added, either behind the saddle or – using cable ties – to the frame.

Over a 23km one-way run from downtown Auckland to Swanson in West Auckland, mainly via the north-western cycleway, The Cross could fairly fly in the higher pedal assist range.
Our week-long test added 95km to the 107km already on its clock and it only needed charging twice during that week – doing nearly 70km on one charge.

If anything breaks it should be covered by a two-year warranty on all parts.

“The Cross is one of the most popular of the 90 e-bikes recently delivered,” Lunt says.
“We’ve been selling them consistently and expect sales to increase closer to Christmas.
“Many couples are buying in pairs – a Cross for him and an ST (Step Through) for her or the recently-arrived STX a 26-inch upgraded all-terrain step-through.”

Prices start at $2166, with the entire range – including two folding bikes – all coming in at under $2500.

The e-bikes include a fast 4amp charger and tool kit and a remote-controlled alarm is also available for about $35.

Its battery should last around seven years if looked after and charged up about twice a week, and can be recycled at the end of its life.
Lunt says he got in as a MeloYelo associate because he believes in what EVolocity does and that e-bikes are great for commuting as well as for having fun.

“I love them, it’s not cheating – it’s controlled exercise.”

He regularly does about 30km trips on both the road and tracks between Papamoa and Mt Maunganui.

Lunt says e-bikes are “not just bikes – there’s a lot of sophisticated electronic equipment behind them”.

And if you don’t want to buy a new e-bike, you can get your existing road bike upgraded to an e-bike for around $1700.

Visit www.meloyelo.nz for more information.