Mountain Weekly News Founder Mike Hardaker Out Test Riding the Nakto Ox E-Bike | Photo Connor Burkesmith Mountain Weekly News
Among the best things about e-bikes are their versatility and functionality. Once you start using e-bikes for daily transportation, you won’t want to give up this very good habit when you travel or move to a new place with limited room for a full-size e-bike.
Enter the Nakto Ox folding e-bike, a veritable Swiss Army knife of e-bike functionality and versatility that changes colors as your e-bike needs vary. It’s a fat tire cruiser, a step-thru commuter bike, and a fully-powered rocket of enjoyment that folds away neatly to save space yet gives nothing away by doing so.
Speed
The Nakto Ox is a Class 3 electric bike, with throttle-only speed of up to 20 mph and a pedal assist top speed of 28 mph. This means that the Ox can be ridden on shared-use recreational trails, and can also navigate city streets with aplomb. Power assist is integrated courtesy of a cadence sensor, which generally speaking can often be a bit imprecise, but we found no lag with the Ox’s pedal assist motor engagement. There are five power assist levels that the bike will cycle through depending on the rider’s cadence (pedal revolution speed)
Power
The appropriately-named Ox comes with a powerful 500W rear hub motor that offers 52 Nm of torque For the rider, the 7-speed Shimano Tourney drivetrain features a single 52-tooth chainring that engages well – it’s neither too large nor too small – and the rear cogset accommodates a wide range of ride profiles and surface conditions.
Range
The Ox’s Tianneng 48V, 10Ah (480Wh) Li-ion battery powers a 22-mile throttle-only range, and up to 60 miles of pedal assist range based on the rider and payload weight and other variables such as weather and surface conditions. While it might not be the best option for backcountry bikepacking, for around town use the battery provides ample range before needing to be recharged.
Frame Design
The Nakto Ox is offered in a one-size fits all step-thru steel frame design with either silver or black paint. The battery pack sits neatly behind the seat tube, and being a folding bike, the Ox breaks down easily and will fit in a car trunk or sit tightly in the corner of an apartment. The only thing we didn’t like about the folding mechanism was the inability to turn and collapse the high-rise cruiser handlebars, which measure a full 25” wide. The Ox comes with a Trama 82B sprung suspension fork that offers 60mm of travel.
Accessories
The Ox comes with Shimano mechanical disc brakes that have 160mm rotors. While these provide adequate stopping power, we’d prefer either larger diameter rotors or preferably, hydraulic disc brakes. Durable plastic fenders, a padded comfort saddle with two damping springs, foldable Yongshua PA66 pedals and a kickstand are also standard. The Ox comes with a front LED headlight, and a sturdy rear luggage rack that enables a total weight capacity of 400 lbs., but no rear tail light, which we’d like to see on a bike meant for in-town use.
Fat Tires
The CST 20” x 4″ tires offer a nice plush ride, but also punch above their weight when it comes to performance and puncture resistance. They add greatly to the bike’s versatile nature and prove the old adage that a bike only rides as well as the rubber that connects it to the road or trail.
Versatility
The Ox is, like its animal namesake, a jack of all trades. Need a bike to run into town for groceries? Check. Want to cruise neighborhood trails with the family? Check. Need to attend a meeting an hour’s drive away but still want to get a ride in before sunset? Just load in the foldable 66 lb. Ox to your backseat or trunk and check that off your list.
So is the Ox also, therefore, a master of none? That’s probably unfair to say. Obviously, no bike that wears so many hats can perform at the front of the pack in any one category. But, it accomplishes a number of functions very very well.
Price
With an MSRP of $1,199, the Nakto Ox is a very good value. It’s an excellent first e-bike that will get you hooked because it does so many things so well. As your specific needs evolve, you may want to invest in a more specialized steed, but the Ox is a reasonably priced gateway vehicle to the wonderful world of electric-powered propulsion.
Nakto Ox Folding E-Bike: Electric Chameleon Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Versatile and functional for daily transportation
- Folding design saves space and is portable
- Powerful 500W rear hub motor
Cons:
- Hydraulic disc brakes preferred over mechanical
- No rear tail light for in-town use
- High-rise cruiser handlebars not collapsible
Overall Impression
If James Bond’s gear guru, Q, were to present 007 with a laboratory special e-bike, it might look very much like the Nakto Ox ($1,199). No, it won’t fold out of a briefcase or fire bullets from under the saddle, but it could plausibly fit into the back of a Lotus or Aston-Martin. And while evading evil villains on a forested trail, it would keep the tuxedo-clad Bond looking stylish and cool, which really does matter too.
Nakto E-Bike Discount Code: MTNWEEKLY60
Related Folding E-Bikes
