We all know that the public transport system in Metro Manila is a mess. Taking taxis or using ride-sharing services all the time can be expensive. Car users have to deal with rising fuel costs, bad traffic, and parking problems wherever they go. While owning a motorcycle can get you places fast and isn’t as expensive as owning a car, riders still regularly get discriminated against and still have to go through the tedious process of dealing with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to get a driver’s license and vehicle registration and renewal every year.
One of the best gifts you can give yourself is a bicycle since it offers both mobility and a leisure activity without the hassles of dealing with LTO. However, those who bike to work everyday know that biking can get pretty tiring, especially if you live far from your workplace or need to pass high-traffic routes and areas with a lot of uphills.
If you don’t want to get a driver’s license but need transport for regular commuting in the 40-60 km range daily and don’t want to physically bike everyday, one option for you would be to get an electric bicycle.
Klook.comI recently had the chance to use the Nakto Ranger Premium All-Terrain Electric Bicycle, the top of the line e-bike of Nakto, a brand that originated from the U.S. that’s available in the Philippine market.
The Nakto Premium Ranger All Terrain E-Bike uses the Nakto Ranger as a base model, but with upgrades designed to provide further the best riding experience. Like the base model, this electric all-terrain bike is designed for riders who want to power through city streets and have something to use during chill weekend adventures as well.
Design
From afar, the Premium Ranger looks like a traditional mountain bike with its rugged wheels, low handlebars, and overall sporty design. But when you see it up close, you can see that the downtube is angular and thick because it contains a pretty hefty removable and rechargeable battery.
The battery is seamlessly integrated into the bike, and does not stick out like those seen in other e-bike models, which gives it an overall appearance of a traditional bicycle.
It comes in either grey, black, or custom colors. One tone jobs requires a lead time of 2 weeks, while custom 2 Tone paint job requires a lead time of 2.5 weeks with added costs.
The Ranger X is readily available only in the 27.5 size (ideal for those 5.5” and above), but Nakto can also build these in 26ers (ideal for those below 5.4” in height) for those who are willing to wait for customized units. For reference, I’m only about 5” tall, so the demo unit I used is a 26er.
Optional accessories include a rear carrier rack, front and rear fender, and LED headlight.
Features
Like a scooter, the pedal assisted e-bike comes with a key that you use to turn on to power the battery. The left side handlebar has a digital instrument panel that displays gear, power, speed, and the odometer.
To turn it on, you have to insert the key on the right side of the down tube near the top of the battery, then turn the e-bike on with a long press on the power button until the panel lights up.
The default setting of the e-bike turns to first gear, which gives you a regular boost. On higher gears, this can help you power through city streets with ease. However, if you’re not in a rush and just want to take it slow, you can turn off the power completely and just use this as a regular bicycle.
Here are some of the key upgrades from the base Ranger:
- Upgraded to: Suntour Epixon Alloy Fork
- Upgraded to: Suntour NCX Suspension Seat post
- Upgraded to: Lite-Pro 46T or 50T narrow-wide chain ring
- Upgraded to: Shimano DEORE 10 speed Rear Derailleur and Shifter
- Upgraded to: 180mm Disc Brake Rotors
Specifications
The Nakto Premium Ranger Body comes with an Alloy frame with integrated battery, front suspension fork, either 27.5 or 26er x 2.1″ tires and Kamros (Full Hydraulic Disc Brakes).
- 500w rear hub motor
- 48V10AH Integrated battery
- 10 Speed Shimano DEORE Gears and Shifter
- IP65 water resistant rating
According to the UK-based cycling blog Discerning Cyclist, the average non-electric bicycle typically weighs about 10.15kg, with road bikes being the lightest bikes available and mountain bikes the heaviest, weighing on average 12.88kg.
This Nakto Premium Ranger e-bike I used, which uses parts from MOB, roughly weighs around 20-21 kg, with the battery pack alone weighing about 3kg, so it can be pretty heavy if you use it without the motor on.
In terms of distance, the range is about 30-40 km on full throttle, while you can get 60-80kms using the pedal assist. It takes about 4-6 hours for the hefty battery to charge fully. For charging, you can remove the battery pack completely when you need to charge it. While I charged it at home, in the cities, you can now recharge from charging stations such as those found in McDo or outside select malls. E-bike users usually just recharge at restaurants or resorts they visit when they travel.
Field test notes
For short rides on mainly flat routes, the Premium Ranger e-bike felt very smooth and easy to use. The default setting is on the first gear, so once you turn it on and start pedaling, the motor kicks in. It regularly boosts you forward while biking even if you don’t pedal, which feels like you’re surfing and waves are pushing you without any effort on your part. This makes accelerating and overtaking very easy when pedaling fast on higher gears. Top speed is 30-35 kph.
My sister and nephew tried it out for a while around UP Diliman and enjoyed using it. My nephew was surprised at how fast it accelerated and said it felt like “it had a mind of its own.” While it can be a bit disconcerting to use at first, you eventually get used to it.
I also tested it out in a couple of places near Metro Manila with uphills. I’m not a morning person and usually wake up late, so it’s usually too hot to bike. On an e-bike, you can go pretty far without feeling too exhausted from the effort and heat, so you can enjoy going somewhere new, food tripping, or simple coffee rides with friends and still have energy to do other things after.
One weekend, we brought it to Antipolo. I found going uphill effortless without losing momentum. The e-bike made ascents very easy. It can cruise from 14-18 kph uphill on second gear with no problem. At one point, I lost momentum when a truck backed out suddenly on the bike line and had a hard time starting again because I was on the smallest rear gear which is meant for going fast on flat roads. But once I switched to a bigger gear meant for climbing, I was able to gain momentum again for the motor to kick in for the pedal-assist.
Right before Holy Week, I also used it on a ride to Church in the Sky and Cafe in the Sky in a hilly area in Taytay (near the boundary of Angono) in Rizal for a Visita Iglesia ride.
The Christ the King Parish Church, dubbed Church in the Sky, is located at the top of the Dela Cuesta Hills, and offers a view of the whole town of Taytay and Angono, as well as Laguna Lake. Given its location, you can expect the drive up to be pretty steep. On full power mode, I managed to get up with the e-bike without breaking a sweat. It felt just like using a slower motorcycle.
After visiting the church, we went to Cafe in the Sky located in Hillsdale Summit Subdivision, which has a row of al fresco dining options. Riders usually come here during sunset and at night to enjoy view of Laguna de Bay and city lights. Again, getting into the subdivision and main restaurant area from the highway involves gradual climbs and a short, but steep ascent.
From the other side of the road, it’s a longer uphill where the grade reaches 24% at one point. Normally using a regular bike, just getting up to the top would feel like a major feat that would leave me out of breath, but the e-bike made such short work out of it that it felt like just an ordinary chill ride even in the noontime heat.
Going back home, we had to cross the Marilaque Highway through a footbridge in Marikina, where I used the Powerwalk function. The “Cur” button controls on the e-bike the controls the lights and Powerwalk function. One press will turn on the lights, while a long press will let the powerful rear wheel move on its own, providing a boost. This is helpful when you’re dismounted and you have to walk the bike up steep ramps slowly. The motor did all the work and you just have to guide the bike up easily up the ramp. This feature is handy in footbridges with steep ramps so you don’t have to carry or push your bike up.
I started the ride with a full charge and on a 50+ km ride, 3 out of the 6 bars on the e-bike were drained by the end of it, with moderate to heavy use. Based on the range, you could use it for roughly 80 kms without having to recharge.
Verdict
The Nakto Premium Ranger is a practical e-bike that’s easy to use both for urban commuting and leisure rides near the city. When used with the motor off, it works as a fully functional bicycle that you can easily use in flat areas. If you need to attend a meeting in BGC or Makati and are not sure of the parking situation, using an e-bike could be a better option to skip the traffic (since you can use bike lanes) and ensure you have a ride home afterwards. Since you won’t sweat so much, you can dress up normally in pants or business attire while using this.
With the motor on, it’s a good option for bike commuters who live and work in hilly areas who need a regular boost. It also offers an easy ride for those who want to go on food trips to uphill areas with good views on weekends.
When outfitted with the rear carrier, the e-bike could be a useful vehicle to use for short bikepacking, camping, or touring rides near Manila, so you don’t have such a hard time carrying a lot of gear like tents, bags, etc. I’d recommend Camp Sandugo as a possible camping area near Manila. For longer rides to Sierra Madre or Tanay, you might want to bring the charger just to be sure, because biking uphill with the motor off can feel very heavy.
This could also be a good option for those who are just getting into biking but want to keep up with the rest of the group. Not everyone is a fan of long and tiring rides and e-bikes make the activity more accessible to more members of the family. Senior riders or older kids who need to do errands or want some exercise can also consider this e-bike so they can travel and be mobile outdoors without feeling super tired afterwards.
Price
The Ranger Premium All Terrain Electric Bicycle currently retails for P79,000.00 in the Philippines. This comes with a one-year warranty for all electrical parts, battery included. Installments plans are available via BDO Credit Cards, with 0% installments plans starting in May 2023. For inquiries, please contact the official Nakto channels below.
- Website: https://naktoph.com/
- Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/naktoph/
Very cool. I love my Rad Rover fat tire ebike, I am in Florida USA, it costs about $2,000 USD but you can get them on sale.
Hi Patrick, thanks! I haven’t come across the Rad Rover e-bike brand yet here in the Philippines, but I looked it up. It looks well-designed and very sturdy. 🙂 This Nakto e-bike would come out to $1,400 in USD if converted from our local currency.