Electric bikes are taking the cycling world by storm, and I couldn’t be happier. They’re encouraging more people to get out of the house and exercise, and by reducing our reliance on cars, helping to cut carbon emissions, meaning every time you choose to ride your e-bike rather than get behind the wheel, in a small but essential way, you’re saving the planet!
For these and many more reasons, the e-bike market is really opening up now, but one of the models that I’ve noticed has been turning a lot of heads in recent years is the Ancheer 350-watt Electric Mountain Bike. So, I decided to see what all the fuss was about.
Ancheer Electric Bike Review
Ancheer 350-Watt Electric Bike: Pros And Cons
Pros
- Easy to put together.
- Simple controller that communicates key information clearly.
- Performs to spec in throttle mode.
- 350-watt motor deals with inclines well.
- Range is decent in pedal assist mode.
- Looks awesome.
- 21 speed Shimano drivetrain.
- Quality mechanical disc brakes.
- 300 lbs weight capacity.
Cons
- The saddle isn’t very comfortable.
- Some adjustments to the pre-assembled parts required.
- No assembly instructions (use YouTube instead).
Where Can You Purchase The Ancheer 350-Watt Electric Bike?
Shop the Ancheer 350-watt Electric Bike here.
Assembly
The Ancheer 350-watt e-bike shows up at your doorstep 85% built and arrives with all the tools you need to finish the job. I put aside the better part of a day to assemble this bike, but it only took me roughly an hour to piece it together, so no complaints on this front from me.
There are also plenty of YouTube tutorials out there if you’re having a bit of trouble putting it together. Rather than trying to figure things out for myself, I went directly to one of these video guides, and it definitely helped streamline the assembly process.
I ended up having to make a few adjustments to the pre-assembled components too, which was a slight annoyance, but it’s understandable that things fall a little out of whack in storage and during shipping.
Motor And Top Speed
This Ancheer design has a 350-watt, hub drive, and brushless motor. Now, it’s that 350-watt part that we’re really interested in, but, for the uninitiated, a “brushless” design brings tons of benefits to the table.
They’re quieter, cooler, and last longer than their bushed counterparts, so, even before we consider wattage, this bike is pulling no punches!
In the world of e-bikes, 350-watts is a low-to-middling rate, but don’t let that put you off, as you won’t find any better at this price point, and, to be honest… you probably don’t need anything more.
During my tests, I found that in throttle mode, it reached the 20 miles per hour top speed on flat areas in 13 seconds. Now, at 147 lbs, I’m not much of a burden, but I got the feeling it could carry a heck of a lot more without dropping spec.
In addition, I live in a particularly varied landscape, and this bike absolutely dominated all the local hills feared by walkers and motorists alike. In fact, it probably handled them a little better than my old car.
Tires And Terrain
The tires are one of my favorite things about the 350; they’re just so versatile!
They’re not too thick, and they’re not too thin, which I was worried was going to give this bike a jack of all trades, master of none type performance, but, on the contrary, it’s pretty great no matter the terrain.
Existing in this Goldilocks zone between beefy and barely-there tires, they’re light enough to keep acceleration snappy on concrete but rugged enough to give you plenty of traction across rocks and wet mud.
That’s not to say I’ll be riding it down a sheer mountainside any time soon, but for average off-road applications, it handles itself remarkably well.
Battery And Range
Battery-wise, you get a 36 V, 10.4 Ah lithium-ion unit that lasts between 22 and 40 miles in a single charge depending on the level of power assist you employ. If you really limit the motorized assistance, there’s no reason it wouldn’t take you even further than the rated 40-mile max.
In terms of mount, you have your standard down tube hub, which makes the battery super easy to access when it’s time for a recharge, and even though it’s more exposed than an integrated battery system, the enclosure is incredibly robust, so don’t hold back on your off-road ride for the battery’s account.
Depending on the depth of discharge, you’ll be looking at between 4 and 6 hours to get the battery topped off to 100%, which is fairly standard. I try to charge it up every time it falls within the 25–50% zone, and it typically reaches 100% in around 4 ½ to 5 ½ hours.
Assist Modes
As a hybrid e-bike, you get 2 modes to play with: pedal assist, and throttle. Throttle takes care of pedaling for you, powering you forward up to that 20 mph top speed incredibly quickly.
Understandably, throttle mode is the most power-hogging of the three, so I try to use it sparingly, mostly just for quick starts to keep up with traffic after red lights; however, the pedal assist mode can also be instrumental in these situations.
It’s insanely responsive — we’re talking a quarter of a pedal turn before it fires up and takes the pressure off your straining legs and feet. There are four levels of assist overall, but even the lowest level can help you really take off from a static position.
The only drawback I can find with pedal assist mode is that it maxes out at 19 mph, 1 mph short of the advertised top speed, which is fairly negligible.
Controls
A lot of manufacturers try to stuff all manner of features into the controls of their e-bikes, and it can all get a little… overwhelming. Is it neat to know your heart rate as you ride, or your current position thanks to an integrated GPS? Yes, but it’s not essential, and all these extras can be kind of distracting.
The controls of the Ancheer 350, on the other hand, enjoy a simple elegance. On the left, you have a small LED display that communicates battery reserve and assist level. It also features a small power button and a “Mode” button for switching between pedal assist levels.
On the right-hand side, you have a little button with a “+” symbol on it. This is the throttle button. Simply give it a push, and off you’ll go, quick as a flash!
It’s a basic setup, but one that allows you to concentrate on what’s important… riding safely, which makes this bike a great option for e-bike newbies acclimatizing to the extra weight and speed of a motorized bike.
Brakes And Handling
Ancheer gives you a mechanical disc brake on both your rear and front wheel. While they’re not as good as hydraulic discs, they’re leagues ahead of the cheaper V brake alternative, and I found them to be incredibly responsive!
You’ll still need to learn to brake earlier than usual to account for the extra momentum and speed of a heavier, motorized vehicle, but once you’re acclimated, they provide great stopping power and impeccable handling.
These brakes are part of the reason this bike is so good off-road. You have the control to turn ridiculously tight corners and thread between trees, even at high speeds. I would, however, strongly recommend that you make sure they’re properly calibrated before taking it for your first spin.
Frame, Drivetrain, And Weight Capacity
Okay, so cards on the table, the frame is only available as a medium, which is bad news for the tall and short riders out there, but the good news is that the medium is deemed suitable for heights ranging from 5’1” to 6’3”, which is the majority of the population.
Crafted from aluminum alloy, the frame is both strong (capable of supporting up to 300 lbs) and lightweight, which helps to reduce the impact of the heavy battery and motor.
The quality 21 speed Shimano drivetrain helps to reduce the burden of the excess weight, too, making it pretty easy to ride this bike without any assistance whatsoever.
Comfort
This Ancheer e-bike is about as comfortable as the average push-bike, which isn’t great considering you’ll most likely be riding it for longer periods over greater distances, so I highly recommend investing in an aftermarket saddle.
Value For Money
I don’t think anybody could argue that this Ancheer model isn’t fantastic value for money, as it outperforms so many other e-bikes you can pick up for around the same price.
You’ll find that it’s lighter, composed of higher quality components, and is more economical than any competing product, which is why it’s thought of as the best!
The Final Verdict
All things considered, I think the Ancheer 350-watt is an awesome electric bike and possibly the best model out there for newcomers to the e-bike world.
The hardware is quality, the battery and motor mostly perform to spec, and there are no unnecessary bells and whistles to draw focus as you come to terms with the manual to electric transition.
Perhaps most important of all, it’s simply a joy to ride. Even though the seat can be a little uncomfortable towards the tail end of a long route, I still find myself not wanting to dismount for the day, and I’m always excited to hop back on as soon as the battery’s done charging.
With this electric bike in your life, you’ll constantly be looking for excuses not to take the car, rather than the other way round, which is why…
I’m giving the Ancheer 350-watt Electric Bike 4.9/5
