Montague M-E1 Review – 2024

In-Depth Review

Frame

The Montague M-E1 frame is built primarily with 6061 aluminum, the same alloy used for making automobiles, aircraft components (and many other eBikes as well). 6061 aluminum provides excellent durability without excessively weighing down the eBike, which is why the M-E1 weighs only 54 lbs fully assembled.

While this weight is more than you’ll find on your standard traditional bike, it’s quite a bit lower than what you typically find on a standard eBike.
The primary draw of the Montague M-E1 is that it’s a folding bike. Other folding bikes we’ve reviewed have been in the 60 to 70+ lbs weight range. With great frame and pedal folding, the M-E1 is easier to store in your car trunk or closet than many other eBike models on the market.

However, we would like to see more frame sizes for the Montague M-E1. Currently, Montague recommends the M-E1 for those within the 5’4’’ to 6’4’’ range, although thanks to a few customization options we think 5’2’’ to 6’6’’ would be more accurate.

Even so, younger riders, or those who are especially short, will probably struggle and find the M-E1 isn’t comfortable enough to ride. While most adults should feel fine on the M-E1, we would like to see at least one or two smaller frame sizes made available for smaller, lighter bicycle riders.

Motor & Battery

The Montague M-E1 is a class 1 eBike, with pedal activated motor assistance up to 20 MPH.

The Montague M-E1 has a Shimano STEPS E6100 mid-drive motor, with a 500 W/60Nm of torque. We typically prefer mid-drive motors to hub-drive motors. Besides having a far greater functional lifespan, they also provide a more natural riding experience closer to a traditional, motorless bicycle.

At 60 Nm of torque, the M-E1 eBike has enough pushing power to provide motor assistance to tackle even steep hills within the city. This bike is meant for urban commutes or tours along paved roads. As long as you stick to asphalt and gravel, the Shimano motor will be plenty strong to get you where you want to go.

Complementing the motor is a compact Shimano STEPS 418 Wh battery, mounted on the M-E1 electric bike’s central tube. Despite how compact the battery is, it has an impressive range, traveling up to 90 miles on a full charge and with optimal riding settings.

Just as impressive is the powerful 4 amp charger included with the M-E1. While some might not like how big the 2 lbs charger is, it more than makes up for it with its rapid charging time. From 0% to 100%, you can fully recharge the eBike battery in just two or three hours, making it a fantastic battery for those who want to top off their charge while shopping or visiting a restaurant. The battery is straightforward to remove as well, allowing you to charge it indoors or while it’s still mounted directly on the eBike.

Display/Assist Modes

Mounted on the handlebar is a small LED display you can use to track your riding metrics and set your pedal assist level. The 1.5’’ display is backlit so that it can be easily read during the day or night. The menus themselves are controlled with buttons located around the M-E1, with a few buttons being a bit tricky to reach without taking your left hand off the handlebars.

Outside of some odd button placement, though, it’s effortless to use the display mount, and it’s compatible with the Shimano E-Tube smartphone and computer application. With E-Tube, you can customize your motor settings, get advanced performance readouts, update your motor software, and make use of other helpful features. You can even use the E-Tube application with a cell phone mount while riding the M-E1 electric bike.

Montague M-E1 Shimano Display Riding Readouts, Metrics, and Settings:

• Assist Level (Three Settings + Walk Mode)
• Battery Level (Five Bars)
• Current Speed
• Average Speed
• Max Speed
• Cadence Pedal RPM
• Trip Distance
• Range Estimate
• Odometer
• Trip Time
• Clock
• Lights

As a class 1 eBike, you can travel up to 20 MPH before your motor shuts off. The reason why the M-E1 has a speed cap on its motor is so you can ride this eBike almost anywhere around the world without needing additional licensing or registration. If you want to go over 20 MPH, you can accelerate to the speed cap and continue to pedal, with the motor activating if you fall below the 20 MPH threshold.

For the M-E1 eBike, ignoring any personalized settings you change via the E-Tube application, you have three standard pedal assist options along with a walk mode. Lower pedal-assist levels provide less power and acceleration but minimize battery drain to help you travel the maximum 90+ mile range.

Alternatively, the higher pedal assist levels provide more power for more significant acceleration but drain the battery much quicker and lead to a smaller overall riding range. Switching between pedal assist settings requires just a button tap, so familiarize yourself with all three pedal assist modes for dynamic riding performance with the M-E1 electric bike.

Handling

• On Streets- The M-E1 electric bike features tall 28’’ tires, a rare inclusion for folding bikes, along with a 63mm of travel suspension fork. As a result, you not only have steady riding over flat, pristine roads, but good shock absorption for the occasional cobblestone, dirt, or gravel path as well. Stick to the city, and you’ll find that you’ll have a great time handling the M-E1 as you dodge traffic, pedestrians, and other obstacles in your way.
• Turn Radius- The taller tires make it a bit harder to turn, but the tires are just 1.75’’, so you still have a very narrow eBike with a mostly tight turn radius. You won’t have any problem getting the M-E1 through a door, and it is easy enough to turn that getting through an alleyway will be a breeze as well. This eBike is quick, though, so be careful when performing a tight turn, as you may end up overcorrecting and potentially crashing because of it.
• Low Speed Handling- Weighing about 54 lbs, the Montague M-E1 isn’t too difficult to handle at low speeds on its own. If you would like to get some additional help from your eBike motor, you can use the Eco pedal-assist mode or choose to dismount and use walk mode instead. Both of these settings will help push your eBike along without making it so much that you find yourself going too fast. Eco and walk mode both require battery power to use, but they are small drains that will barely impact your bike ride’s overall distance.

Gears/DriveTrain

Regarding the drivetrain, you can expect a Shimano 10-speed 11-32 T cassette connected to the Shimano STEPS SM-CRE61 44 T chainring with a custom Shimano STEPS chain. As a 10 speed eBike, you have plenty of gear options to choose from as you ride around the city, with additional drivetrain customization available through the E-Tube application.

The Shimano drivetrain is very reliable and has two extra layers of defense to protect it and reduce the risk of a chain drop.

Full aluminum fender coverage is included with the eBike in its base model, with a plastic chain guard also used to help cover the more exposed portions of the drivetrain. While you’re unlikely to ride over muddy or littered terrain, you’ll hardly have to worry about mud, sticks, rocks, and other objects damaging the M-E1’s drivetrain system.

Brakes

The Montague M-E1 bike features premium-level, impressive Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes. The front tires have 180 mm rotors, while the back tires (which don’t get used as often for urban riding) have smaller 160 mm rotors. Taken together, you have plenty of stopping power to come to a quick, reliable stop even when you’ve been traveling at high speeds to keep up with traffic.

Hydraulic disc brakes are typically better regarded by cyclists than mechanical disc brakes since they last longer and are less likely to break if you suffer a bad eBike crash. Overall, it’s an excellent braking system, and it will typically require very little care, just like the drivetrain on the M-E1 electric bike.

Suspension

While primarily a city commuter eBike, the M-E1 electric bike does have SR Suntour NEX spring suspension. This suspension system has hydraulic lockout and preload adjusting, with 63mm of travel and a quick-release skewer. While we wouldn’t rely on this suspension system for any serious trail riding, it’s good support when you hit the occasional uneven patch of the road while riding through the city. If your daily commute has a short stretch of cobblestone or loose dirt, the included suspension fork will make for a smoother, more comfortable ride as you head to your destination.

Pedals

Overall, the MontaGue M-E1 is a great, premium eBike. The one component that doesn’t match the rest of the high-quality frame is the plastic pedal system. As they are, the typical cyclist will find the plastic pedals fine for day to day riding. Still, they don’t provide the same traction level or durability as an average aluminum or metal pedal platform.

However, the one great advantage with the included pedals is that they’ve been designed to fold easily, further reducing your frame’s overall size when it comes time to store it. We’d swap out the pedals for folding aluminum pedals if you can find them, but with their ability to fold, we’d keep the pedals over your standard, non-folding aluminum pedal.

Grips and Saddle

If you fit the recommended height range for the Montague M-E1 electric bike, you’ll find it a very comfortable bike to ride, thanks to its grips, saddle, and handlebars. The rubber grips have an ergonomic design, allowing you to ride for hours without tiring your hands out or worrying about developing blisters.

The swept-back, high-rise aluminum handlebars feature a 600 mm length, so tall riders can be as comfortable as they reach out and grab the handlebars as shorter cyclists.

Lastly, the Montague Branded Velo saddle is comfortable but will fold with the eBike instead of being dismounted before folding like some other eBikes. Whether you want to cruise around the city or have an eBike that’ll help you get to work without ruining your clothes, you’ll enjoy riding the M-E1 electric bike.

Wheels and Tires

We want to highlight the excellent Schwalbe Energizer Plus 28’’ by 1.75’’ tires, with aluminum alloy double-wall 32 hole rims. You’ll have stainless steel, 14 gauge spokes for the front tire, and 13 gauge spokes for the rear one. As to the PSI rating, it’s recommended you keep the tires within the 45 to 70 PSI range, with 45 PSI better suited for rougher roads while 70 PSI maximizes efficiency on flat, pristine roads.

These tires feature G-Guard 5 puncture protection, so you can ride at high speeds to your heart’s content with minimal risk of suffering a blowout. Lastly, we want to highlight the reflective sidewall stripes, making it easier for others to spot you while riding.

Accessories/Upgrades

One great aspect of the Montague M-E1 is that even the base model bike is virtually ready for riding right off the shelf. A headlight, a tail light, full fender coverage, and even reflective taping are all included with the Montague M-E1 electric bike stock version.

If you add a bell, you’ll make it easier for other riders to hear you when you approach. And we know folding aluminum pedals are going to last longer than the plastic pedals that come stock. Otherwise, if you’re still looking to make the Montague M-E1 even better, here are a few official accessories from Montague we recommend for your electric bike:

• Montague RackStand
• Montague Carrying Case
• Montague Station Wheels
• Montague Replacement Frame Collar

Recommendation

Folding electric bikes are becoming more popular by the year, but making them easy to store means essential features are often cut or fail to offer genuinely exceptional performance. With the Montague M-E1 electric bike, you have a folding eBike you can easily throw into the back of your car and is just as good–if not better–than many other eBikes on the market.

The 90-mile range gives you plenty of mileage as you commute around the city. A 60 Nm mid-drive motor that provides a powerful push while emulating the feel of a traditional bicycle.

Shimano creates some of the most reliable eBike components within the industry, so we’re glad to see the 10-speed drivetrain and powerful hydraulic disc brakes included with the M-E1 as well. The saddle, grips, and handlebars are all comfortable to hold. You have reflective taping on the tall Schwalbe tires, a headlight, a tail light, and full fender coverage, along with a plastic chain guard for safety.

If you want a fantastic eBike you can navigate the city with and easily to store in your home closet at the end of the day; we would highly recommend looking into the Montague M-E1 electric folding bike!

Thank you for reading our spec review of the Montague M-E1 electric bike! If you would like to see a full performance or video review from our team, be sure to request one by leaving a comment below.