Engwe T14 Mini Foldable Electric Bike City E-bike Review – Can a £499 e-bike be good?

I have reviewed a few Engwe e-bikes now, with the Engwe P26 being my most recent review last month.

The Engwe T14 is something a little different from the standard foldable e-bikes I review. While it is still foldable, it is the smallest (not lightest) bike I have reviewed and is by far the cheapest.

At just £499, this is £400 cheaper than the next affordable bike that Engwe.

It is so cheap you have to accept that this is not going to be the best e-bike. But, factoring in the price, I think this is a good bike for its target audience.

Specification

• Acceleration mode: Sensor-assisted
• Motor: 250-watt motor
• Mileage: 35KM (electric mode)/55KM (moped mode)
• Max climbing: 10°
• Seat to Floor (Lowest):660mm
• SeattoFloor(Highest):900mm
• height (CM):155-190 {5.0~6.2ft(ft)}
• Battery: 48V 10ah
• Range: 30-40km
• Front Shock: Mechanical shock
• Tyre Size: 14*2.125
• Gears: Single
• Max Load: 100kg
• Weight: 28.46kg

Assembly and Features

I have often criticised the poor instructions that get supplied with these Chinese e-bikes. In this case, there are none, which was a bit concerning at first. However, there is very little for you to do to complete the build, and this was the easiest e-bike to put together that I have reviewed.

Off the top of my head, I needed to:

• Unfold the front stem and insert the handlebar section clamping them firmly in place with the toolless clamps.
• Tighten the handlebar grips. The left one was affixed in place, but the right was completely loose. There is a small hex screw that needs tightening with the included tools.
• Insert the seat post, set it to your desired height and clamp it in place.
• Attach the pedals.
• Remove the wheel protectors.
• Fit the bike bell if you want to use it.

That’s about it!

Normally you have to fit the front wheel and front mudguard, and this can sometimes be a bit tricky as the brakes can scrape.

This is the first bike I have reviewed that has two sets of keys, and I think it is quite good. You have one set to lock the battery in place and then a second set for the ignition. This gives you a bit more reassurance when locking it up in public.

It is worth noting that the maximum load of this is classed as 100kg, which isn’t unusually low, but most bikes state up to 120kg. 100kg is only 15 stone and 10 lbs, which is not hard for many people to go over.

Ride Experience / Rider Height / Comfort

This is advertised as a mini e-bike, yet advertise the rider height is up to 190cm or 6ft2 with a maximum load of 100kg.

I am 6ft 1 (185cm) and 79.5kg. It will come as no surprise that this is a bit cramped for me to ride. The marketing picture has a woman riding it in what looks like a comfortable riding position. For me, with the seat and handlebars at max height, my knees stick out below the handlebar. The handlebar is high enough that I don’t bash my knees, so it is usable, but it does feel like I am riding a child’s bike.

The ride experience isn’t the best I have experienced, but you should factor in the fact that this is almost half the price of any other e-bike I have reviewed.

There is only one gear, and there are no power options for the power assist. It just goes as fast as it goes. In my case, that’s well below the advertised 25km/h (15.5mph) speed. I got closer to 12mph, and due to the gearing and small wheels, providing additional power via pedalling wasn’t much help.

In hindsight, my speed will have been reduced slightly due to the partially flat rear tyre, but I doubt this is going to be able to hit 15.5mph very easily. I am also well under the maximum load, so you can’t blame me for being overweight (anymore).

That being said, it is a comfortable ride, the seat is more like a moped seat, and it is heavily cushioned. I predominantly used the throttle, so pedalling wasn’t too much of an issue, and 12mph is still considerably faster than walking somewhere. Many people (my partner) can’t even sustain 12mph on a normal pedal bike.

The weight of this is listed at 28.46kg, which seems very heavy, and I can’t understand how this can weigh more than the much larger Engwe P26. While it does feel heavy lifting it up, I find it much easier to deal with than most other e-bikes. I think because it is so small, it’s just much easier to move around as you are not bashing into things as you try and take it indoors or onto public transport.

Flat Tyre / Spare Parts

After riding this for a few miles, I noticed the rear tyre wasn’t fully inflated, and it eventually went flat. At first, I thought it was a puncture, as inflating it did not work. So I assumed I would need a new inner tube.  

This highlighted a problem you have with a lot of e-bikes. Spare part availability and the cost of them.

Engwe barely has any accessories in the UK. They have spare batteries for this bike, the C20, EP-2, EP-2 Pro, Engine Pro and Engine x.

It is not the end of the world, as you can normally source components from various websites, but you need to know what to order.

At first, I thought I could just order a 14″ inner tube with a bent valve, which would cost around £12.50, available from Amazon.

However, double checking the spec, this comes with a 14″ x2.125″ tubeless tyre which is proving more difficult and more costly to find. It looks like my best bet would be to buy a normal tyre and inner tube, with the cheapest I can find is about £35 on Amazon. Alternatively, Aliexpress have a 14*2.125 tubeless tyre for £17 + £15 shipping.

Hopefully, I don’t actually need a new tyre, I just need to work out how to seat and inflate it properly. At the moment the whole tyre is very loose and therefore won’t hold air. There also doesn’t appear to be any sort of sealant.

Battery / Range

This is rated for 35 km in electric mode and 55 km with the pedal assist moped mode.

Due to my flat tyre issue, I didn’t fully drain the battery, so can’t provide an accurate estimate of the range I experienced.

Due to the single-gear design and overall design of this bike, I would say that you are going to be heavily reliant on the throttle/electric assist. For me, I would think the range would be on the lower end of the spectrum. Which, to be fair, is fine by me; I wouldn’t expect a tiny and affordable bike like this to be used for long distances.

Price and Alternative Options

The Engwe T14 is priced at just £499, making it the cheapest e-bike I have reviewed by far, and it appears to be one of the cheapest options on the market.

The DYU S2 is cheaper at £400 but only has a 240W motor and tiny 10″ tyres. It looks like it is made for children.

The HITWAY BK5 foldable e-bike is very similar to the Engwe T14, using the same design and a very similar spec, but it costs £100 more.  

The Whirlwind C4 costs £100 more. It has a similar spec but doesn’t look as nice, in my opinion.

Overall

Considering the incredibly affordable price, it is hard to criticise the Engwe T14 too much.

I think it is a good bike for what it is trying to be and who it is aimed at.

It’s tiny size makes it much easier to deal with than most other bikes. That could be for general storage at home, putting it in your car, or going on public transport.

It is a bargain price as well, so I’d be much less paranoid about locking it up in public and thanks to the lockable, removable battery and ignition key, it seems like it would be much harder to steal.

One example of who I think this would be perfect for is people living on/using canal boats. My mother has one and inevitably has to park up somewhere, sail down the canal somewhere and then find a way to retrieve her car. This bike is perfect for canal towpaths, and it is small enough to store easily on a canal boat. She’s tiny, too, so the size of it probably won’t be an issue.

Originally posted on mightygadget.com – Follow on Twitter – Instagram – Facebook – Mighty Gadget Latest Reviews

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.