This Chinese E-Bike Shows Up With the Most Unbelievable Stats, So Don't Believe It

Folks, anytime we think of a full-suspension MTB, there are some things you expect. One of them is a smooth ride, and in the case of an XC design, another is its ability to handle multiple types of terrain. Well, Shengmilo's rather affordable and 'mountain-worthy' S26 promises that sort of experience, but does it deliver? Time to find out what around $1,400 (€1,300 at current exchange rates) can get us.

Before we hop onto the S26, let's take a closer look at Shengmilo as a whole. That way, we have some idea as to what we're up against here. Funny enough, and as no-name this brand sounds, according to sources, Shengmilo has been in the business since 2010 and, by 2014, had its first product on the market. Oh, and just in case the name doesn't say it all, they are clearly Chinese.

Fast-forward to today's lineup, and four EVs are available from this manufacturer, but it's the S26 that comes in looking somewhat normal; all the other machines in this brand's family are fat-tire monsters. The S26 is the only one sitting on 27.5x2.1-inch tires, and this is really where I feel the S26 starts to fall apart in terms of a solid e-MTB. Those tires just look a little out of place in comparison with the rest of the frame.

As for the frame of the S26, it's crafted from nothing more than aluminum, but by the looks of those tubes and rear triangle assembly, this is not the sort of full-suspension MTB that can handle too much pressure. It may be one of the main reasons why even the model riding it in the video below is keeping both those tires on the ground at all times.

The downtube is so disproportionate to all the other tubes that I could tell you precisely where this bike would break if you were ever to crash on it. The presence of a massive battery integrated into this tube gives this machine its overall demeanor, but it may just be too much to handle for the remainder of the bike.

Then there's the rear triangle and linkage Shengmilo drops on this bike. Here, we see the most rudimentary cross-country design, with the rear shock being connected to the top tube. Once the front fork is added to the bike, Shengmilo states that you'll have "Zero Vibrations," an action which, if you ask me, is not happening in the ride video.

Now, the magic of e-bikes lies in their electric components, and the S26 isn't lacking in those, for sure. For example, the rear hub comes to the game with a 500 W nominal motor from Bafang, one of the godfathers of the e-bike component industry. With it, Shengmilo brags about it being able to tackle 35-degree hills, made possible by 80 Nm (59 lb-ft) of torque. In my experience, that's not gonna happen, and I've ridden e-bikes with much more powerful motors.

As for that massive battery I mentioned, Shengmilo brings 840 Wh of the stuff to your motor's disposal, and under the full-throttle mode, they state that around 50 km (31 mi) of range is possible. That number nearly doubles to 90 km (56 mi) if you help that motor with some leg power. We're also told that this Samsung battery pack will hold at least 80% of its charge up to 18 months after you begin using it.

Regarding the remainder of the drivetrain, it's nothing but some low-end Shimano gearing that's bound to snap, crackle, and pop as you try to shift under any amount of pressure, so play your ascents and descent properly, but my real problem is with the braking system.

The manufacturer's website mentions that this bugger is equipped with nothing more than mechanical disk brakes. Sure, that sounds fun and all and is a surefire way to keep prices down to a minimum, but Shengmilo mentions that the Bafang motor can attain a top speed of 42 kph (26 mph), and that's just not safe if you ask me. Imagine one of those cables coming loose or snapping while you're trying to stop a 300 kg (661 lbs at full load) machine to a halt.

Hang on a second, 661 lbs!? Yup, according to the manufacturer's website, these babies can be loaded up to 661 lbs of total weight, rider and all. That has to be a typo, though, because the bike itself is said to weigh just 28 kg (62 lbs). Can your average rider only weigh an extra 70 kg or so more? That means you can bring along three more of your buddies for a ride or nearly 200 kg (441 lbs) of extra cargo.

Coming from someone who rides a bike nearly every day, has friends who own bike shops, or are frame engineers and builders, I wouldn't recommend ever throwing this much weight on the S26 or any other bicycle that isn't actually designed to handle cargo.

All this brings me to my next and final point: The S26 just looks a whole lot like countless other bicycles to come out from under China's umbrella, leading me to believe that it's no different or special than any other e-bike on the market. If you're ever in the market for an e-bike, be sure to really weigh your options and do the research as to what makes a great, powerful, and safe machine.

[YOUTUBE-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kiD7lZsVTI]