Europe has an electric bike problem. Direct-to-consumer e-bikes from inexpensive Chinese brands like Engwe and countless others can be easily purchased online despite openly flouting EU restrictions. They feature throttles and powerful motors that can be easily unlocked to far exceed the 25km/h (16mph) legal speed limit no pedaling required.Here in Amsterdam, cheap Super73-knockoffs ridden at almost twice the legal speed have made the citys renowned bicycle lanes increasingly chaotic and dangerous. Across the Netherlands, over 10,000 of these electric fat bikes were seized in 2024. Engwes new Mapfour lineup is the companys attempt at going legit by expanding from souped-up electric fat bikes and foldables into premium commuter e-bikes. And because theyre the first e-bikes that Engwe has designed exclusively for European roads, the company swears they cant be unlocked for more speed.Ive been riding the new Mapfour N1 Pro model for the last few weeks. It lists for 1,899 (almost $2,000), or 1,799 during the initial launch a price that brings heightened expectations. The N1 Pro is slathered in premium capabilities like GPS/GSM tracking for which some bike makers charge subscriptions. The monocoque frame and fork are made from carbon fiber supplied by Toray the same high-quality carbon fiber as Trek and Specialized, claims Engwe. Theres even turn-by-turn navigation built into the full-featured app, a large colorful display integrated into the handlebars, and a built-in mechanical lock in the rear wheel hub that automatically engages when the bike is turned off and stationary. My review bike was missing a fender bolt, occasionally flashed a strange error code, and the solar-powered rear light wont turn on. Still, its likely the highest quality electric bike Engwe has ever made.6Verge ScoreEngwe Mapfour N1 Pro$1714$199414% off$1714The GoodLooks and rides sportyLong list of features for priceRemovable batteryCant be speed hackedThe BadStrange error messagesServicing parts likely an issueDoesnt support height range claimedCant be speed hacked$1714 at EngweHow we rate and review productsI have lots of experience with assembling direct-to-consumer e-bikes and the N1 Pro was ready to ride in about an hour, which is typical. Even with a carbon-fiber frame it weighs 20.1kg (44lbs) fully assembled according to my scale, which is heavy for an e-bike just not Veloretti-heavy.I had to raise the saddle higher than recommended despite Engwe claiming support for riders much taller than me.In the box youll find a basic toolset that includes everything needed for assembly and instructions written in stellar English unlike some previous Engwe tutorials Ive read. I had to assemble the pedals, front wheel, kickstand, handlebar, and fenders, and fish out a replacement fender bolt from some spare bicycle parts I had lying around. I then went to adjust the saddle to my height only to discover that I was too tall for the N1 Pro.The saddle stem has a marked safety line that stops well before the height needed for my 6 foot (183cm) frame, despite being sold in the Netherlands where Im considered a short king. Nevertheless, exceeding the line by about 2.5cm (one inch) hasnt made the saddle feel insecure, even when riding over rough cobblestones. Engwe claims the N1 Pro supports riders from 165190cm, and is considering offering the option for a longer saddle stem at checkout based upon my feedback.The N1 Pros geometry puts the rider into whats essentially a mountain bike stance: a moderate forward lean with hands spread wide out in front of the body. That wrist and body angle combined with a rather stiff saddle are not ideal for riding long distances, especially in combination with a backpack thatll put even more weight on the hands and derrire. I do like that fun, sporty posture over short distances, but if youre looking for a more relaxed ride then Engwe has the upright 1,399 MapFour N1 Air available in both step-over and step-through frames.The battery can be unlocked and removed. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThe smart lock is reminiscent of the VanMoof kick lock. It automatically engages when the bike is turned off and stationary. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThe wires are mostly hidden and the lighting is integrated. The light bar can be customized with colors and animations that make it breath, pulse, or flow. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThe integrated display (pictured at startup) shows battery remaining, speed, light status, distance travelled, and direction and distance to next turn when using Engwes navigation. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The VergeThe 250W mid-drive Ananda motor on the N1 Pro is nearly silent under the din of road noise, and the integrated torque sensor provides an intuitive pedal-assist at all speeds. It produces up to 80Nm of torque that lets me easily start from a dead stop in fourth gear (of seven) on flat roads, but testing on a hill with a gradient of about 15 percent required a start from first gear. Typically, I only needed to shift to a high gear when I wanted to use my leg power to propel the bike at speeds above the 25km/h motor cutoff. Despite claiming a range of up to 100km from its modest 360Wh battery, my first test performed over a few weeks yielded just 23km off a full charge in near-freezing conditions. I usually rode in power setting three of five on mostly flat roads. The second test performed on a single warmer day improved the range to 27km with 28 percent charge remaining or an estimated 36km if I had time to run the battery dry for a below average 10Wh consumed per kilometer travelled. The bike battery seems to suffer from idle battery drain of about 1-2 percent per day when parked inside my house.Worrisome for a premium e-bike: on two occasions I saw an 09 error message flash on the display which Engwe is still diagnosing. Once, while starting the bike after it had been sitting outside in the rain for a few hours. Another time after riding home on a rain-soaked street while switching between the N1 Pros regular and high-beam lights. In the first case, a simple reboot cleared it and I was able to ride away fine, but the other time required riding home under my own power before it inexplicably cleared the next morning.Other observations:The bikes integrated display is readable in all lighting, and shows the remaining battery level, speed, power level, and even distance and direction of next turn if using the navigation built into the useful but overwrought Engwe app. I didnt find Engwes turn-by-turn navigation very useful as the guidance presented on the display wasnt informative or urgent enough for me to make confident decisions when traversing the dense network of crossroads in Amsterdam.It has a very loud alarm that can ward off thieves and help locate the e-bike in large parking garages.The daytime running lights are fun and help with visibility, but also dorky if you choose the animated options.The solar-powered rear light never worked on my review unit.Engwe provides a chain guard on shipping units.The hydraulic disc brakes from an unspecified vendor provide good controlled stops.Includes a 1-year warranty on electrical components, chassis, and battery.1/19Some parts are standard and easy to source.There was a time when premium e-bikes had list prices around 2,000 / $2,000. Those days are as gone as the free venture capital propping up e-bike startups, pushing premium prices up to a starting price closer to 3,000 / $3,000. The 1,899 (about $1,960) Engwe N1 Pro is therefore priced about right. Its not a bad e-bike, but its also not great despite checking off lots of features on a marketing sheet.Just remember, servicing a direct-to-consumer e-bike can be a problem as it requires the ready availability of spare parts and the knowledge to replace them. As with any electric bike exposed to the elements and regular road use, the N1 Pros motor and any proprietary electronics like the controller, display, battery, lights, buttons, and integrated lock will eventually need servicing. So youd better be on very good terms with your local bike shop or be handy with a wrench and oscilloscope to prevent your mail-order e-bike from quickly turning into e-waste.Photography by Thomas Ricker / The VergeSee More: