Biking has really boomed during the pandemic, both for daily commuter use as people face problems with public transportation, and as one of the few allowable socially distanced leisure activities you can do outdoors. However, with the sizzling summer heat, daily commuters and employees who rely on pure pedal power to get to and from work may find biking regularly too tiring.

Buying a scooter or motorcycle may not be an option for some people because of the added expense and the hassles of having to get a driver’s license, yearly registration requirements, and fuel costs.

For those looking for a more sustainable option for mobility, electric bicycles or e-bikes combine the joys of and eco-friendliness of traditional biking, with the perks of additional support and speed.

The Nakto Ranger All Terrain E-Bike is an electric all-terrain bike designed for riders who want to power through city streets and tackle chill weekend adventures as well.

Nakto is a U.S. brand that has recently been brought into the Philippine market. Nakto Philippines, based in Quezon City, is an official distributor and service center of Nakto E-bikes for the Philippines. The bikes themselves are made in China but reassembled in the Philippines.

I had a chance to test out a demo unit of the cool-looking e-bike for one week and here’s what I can share.

Design

Nakto Philippines currently has three e-bike models in their local catalogue: the Rugged Electric Folding Fat Bike, Steady Electric Folding Fat Bike, and Ranger All-Terrain Electric Bike.

The model I got to test was the Ranger All-Terrain Electric Bike. At first glance, the Ranger looks like a traditional mountain bike with its rugged wheels, low handlebars, and overall sporty design. But the bike actually holds a pretty hefty removable and rechargeable battery on the down tube to give users a boost whenever they need it.

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.

Like a scooter, the pedal assisted e-bike comes with a key that you use to turn on to power the battery.

The Ranger All-Terrain Electric bike comes in two colors: black and grey, which both look very classy and respectable for city use. The model comes with an old-school rear rack on the back that you can use for carrying stuff. It also has a front and rear fender and integrated light and horn.

Features

The e-bike comes with a 5-pedal assist system with throttle, integrated battery in-frame design and disc brakes with integrated motor cut off.

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, than turn the e-bike on with a long press on the power button until the panel lights up.

From here, you can can adjust the gear with S+ and S- minus buttons. The “Cur” button controls 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 for when you’re dismounted and you have to walk the bike up steep ramps or uphill roads without the proper momentum. The motor will do all the work for you, you just have to guide the bike and can cut the motor anytime with the brakes. There’s also a built-in horn below.

The right side of the handlebar looks like a typical mountain bike, with gears you can manually adjust when you’re using the bike without the assistance of the motor.

According to specs, the e-bike is powered by a 48V10.5ah battery by Tianneng, which has a battery life of 1000 charge cycles and a charging time of 4 to 6 hours. The rated distance is 100 km if you just use level 1 and 65 km on level 3.

Theoretically, this means that you could travel roughly the distance from Kilometer Zero in Luneta to Jariel’s Peak in Infanta, Quezon one-way (94.4 km based on Google Maps) on a full charge if you just stuck to level 1 ASSUMING the roads were all flat. However, the e-bike consumes more power the higher the gear you use, so that distance may not be accurate.

NOTE: I haven’t tested this out myself. The number of kilometers is just mean to give a rough idea in terms of of distance, but does not reflect actual performance and other factors like wind resistance & slope, etc.

Field Test Notes

On smooth and flat pavement, driving the Nakto e-bike is literally a breeze and requires little to minimal effort on your part. Companions on traditional bikes will be eating your dust as you effortlessly tackle uphill ascents with ease.

Most cyclists can achieve a speed of 15-18 kph on the average with limited training, which is the roughly the same average speed on EDSA for Metro Manila car owners (16 kph) due to traffic congestion.

This e-bike has a top speed of 35 kph, so you can easily overtake other bikers while still having the benefit of using dedicated bike lanes and sidewalks if needed. E-bikers will benefit from the new bike lanes and infrastructure currently being developed in various cities.

Riding around on the e-bike kind of reminded me a lot of surfing. The pedal assist comes like waves with gentle, but sometimes surprising boosts, propelling you forward once in a while. Because it’s heavier than most bikes, starting can feel a little sluggish, but once you’ve achieved cruising speed, it’s smooth sailing.

Unlike e-kick scooters or motorcycles where you manually control the throttle to achieve speed, this offers a bit of a mix. While pedaling, you’re given bursts of extra power that sometimes come unexpectedly even if you don’t press the thumb throttle. For those used to manual biking, it may take some getting used to.

You have to be extra careful when turning and driving in high-traffic areas. Always set the gear to zero when you brake, so you don’t get surprised by the sudden burst of power when you start again.

Driving an e-bike can be compared to driving a clutch vehicle instead of fully automatic, that requires the right “timpla.” If the gear is set to 1 or 2 and you suddenly start, you could lose your balance.

Without the help of the motor, manually pedaling also feels a tad heavier over trails, rough roads and areas with gravel, but performs well on smooth pavement. With some adjustments, it could probably be taken on light mountain bike trails, but it’s more suited for paved city streets and chill weekend rides. Aside from daily commuting, the e-bike is practical for neighborhood errands, urban exploration and leisurely food trip or coffee rides.

Because of the built-in battery and motor, the e-bike weighs much heavier than traditional bicycles. If your route involves regularly crossing overpasses with stairs or you live in an apartment without an elevator, bringing the bike up multiple flights of stairs will be pretty challenging. Extra padding on the seat would probably make longer rides more comfortable as well.

As a full frame bike, this particular model is also a bit on the bulky side and may not fit inside smaller elevators. You could just make use of ramps and park in basement buildings along with other bicycles. Just be sure to lock it up properly and don’t forget to take the key. Nakto’s other models are folding e-bikes, so that addresses the size and space issue.

An interesting aspect about recharging it, is the battery is completely removable. With the push of a key, you can just take the whole battery out and charge it indoors while the bike is parked elsewhere. This is great for employees working in offices who need to recharge their rides during office hours. However, like the battery, the charger itself is also pretty large to lug around, so it’s just better if you have enough juice for the day.

Specifications

Here are the detailed specs of the Nakto All-Terrain e-bike for reference.

• Motor: 500W Geared Hub motor by CZJB motors
• Top speed: 35 KPH
• Battery: 48V10.5ah Battery by Tianneng
• Battery Life: 1000 Charge Cycles
• Charging time: 4 – 6 Hours
• Rated distance: 100K on Level 1, 65Km on Level 3
• Brakes: ZOOM XTECH HB100 MTB Line Pulling Hydraulic Disc Brakes (upgradeable to Shimano MT200 Hydraulic brakes)
• Brake levers with integrated motor cut off sensor
• Controller / LCD
• Integrated inside the frame
• 5 modes of Pedal Assist (Cadence based) with Throttle function
• 25A Sine Wave controller
• Frame: Aluminum Alloy – 17.5” Seat tube length – 29.5 standover height
• Tires: CST 26er x 1.95”
• Drive Train: Shimano Tourney 6 Speed
• 53T chain ring with alloy square tapered crank
• Suspension: 26er Coil Fork straight steerer tube. Accommodates 27.2 suspension seat posts
• Service Warranty: 1 year from purchase date or 3,000 KM Odometer
• Accessories: Rear Rack, Front and Rear Fender, Integrated Light and Horn

Price

The Nakto Ranger All-Terrain Electric Bike currently has a promo launch price of P49,000 in the Philippines, down from regular price of P55,000. If you’re considering buying a unit of any of the Nakto models, please use my code TRAVELUPxNAKTO for a special discount.

The Steady Electric Folding Fat Bike costs P41,000 while the Rugged Electric Folding Fat Bike is P39,000.

Verdict

The Nakto Ranger All-Terrain Electric Bike is a good choice for daily commuters who want to power their urban adventures. Compared to many e-bikes in the market, this model looks more like a traditional mountain bike rather than an e-bike. You don’t need a driver’s license or registration to drive an e-bike. You can use this on bike lanes but have the speed of a slow scooter to beat traffic.

While electric scooters rely solely on battery power to operate and traditional bicycles require human power all the time, e-bikes are a hybrid of the two. You can use the motor for power, but the bike also has pedals that you can use to power it manually. But it can still fully function even on a dead batt.

However, e-bikes do weigh heavier than normal bikes and can take some getting used to especially in high-traffic situations. While it can withstand light rain and drizzle, because of the electric parts, it’s not recommended for use in heavy rain and through floods.

P.S. As pointed out by a reader in the comments section below (please read for additional input), replacing the battery after the warranty period runs out on e-bikes can be pretty expensive, so that should also be taken into consideration of potential buyers.

E-bikes like the Ranger are a good choice for those who want to make their daily commute in the city easier and less stressful. The Ranger could also be a good option for newbie bikers who want who want to keep up with stronger rider buddies during leisure rides without feeling like they are slowing down the whole group, and older bikers who could use the extra boost now and then.

Thank you to Nakto Philippines for lending this demo bike for this ride review! For inquiries, please get in contact with them directly regarding other technical concerns. Again, if you’re buying a Nakto bike, please use my code TRAVELUPxNAKTO for a special discount.

• Website: https://naktoph.com/
• Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/naktoph/
• Address: Unit 5, Fransisco Court, No. 14 1st St., Quezon City, Metro Manila, 1500, Philippines