Vanpowers City Vanture

Many e-bikes require some assembly, especially those from direct-to-consumer brands. But today, we’re looking at the Vanpowers City Vanture, a bike sold flat-pack for you to assemble at home.

The City Vanture is a stealthy urban e-bike with an aluminum frame inspired by road bikes. This unique frame comes in several pieces and uses mortise and tenon joints to link them together, rather than traditional welding.

This method allows you (and Vanpowers) to save money by assembling the bike at home. However, you can pay $50 for the company to assemble and ship it in a standard bike box.

We’re curious about how well the joints will hold up, given that it reaches over 20mph. Likewise, we want to find out if self-assembly is worth the trouble to save $50.

First, we’ll document the assembly process and then move on to testing. Let’s ride some bikes!

What Is the Vanpowers City Vanture?

At first glimpse, the City Vanture’s sleek profile doesn’t reveal the hidden electronics that power it. A small battery pack integrated into the downtube and a tidy 350W rear hub motor hardly give it away.

The bike is also lightweight at 40lb, thanks to its slim aluminum frame, similar to modern entry-level road bikes. It also has 700c wheels, high-pressure 28mm tires, agile handling, and hydraulic disc brakes, so it’s fast and maneuverable with the stopping power to slow down quickly in urban traffic.

The City Vanture also has a Gates Carbon CDX belt drive, which vastly reduces maintenance and has a much longer lifespan than traditional drivetrains. We’ve seen similar models from other brands, and the City Vanture is competitively priced in comparison.

Now, let’s discuss the pros and cons and see how it stacks up against the competition.

Pros

Lightweight and Maneuverable

The first things I noticed about the City Vanture were its slim footprint and low weight. In a world of monster e-bikes, it’s refreshing to ride a model that offers similar qualities to a traditional bike, just with extra power.

It’s pretty light at 40lb, with a low-profile frame and slim tires on 700c road rims. These attributes make it feel like a standard bike, one you can lift onto a rack or carry up stairs.

When you start riding, the same lightweight attributes deliver an excellent ride quality on pavement and hardpacked gravel, quickly accelerating, with the ability to dip and weave around obstacles or through traffic; the City Vanture is fast and fun to ride.

Stylish and Discreet

The City Vanture’s minimalist design looks good and draws admiring glances on the road. I love the hidden battery, which gives the bike a sleek and discreet appearance. This stealthy, non-electric bike look may help keep it safe from thieves.

Overall, I was impressed with the aesthetic of the bike and how the touchpoints blend well with the image and operate seamlessly. I also appreciate the option to add a second battery disguised as a water bottle. Again, stylish and discreet.

Pricepoint and Features

The City Vanture offers similar specifications and performance to more expensive bikes. It doesn’t have the most advanced materials and parts, but with features like the Gates Carbon belt drive and integrated color display, you’re getting quality, style, and value.

Cons

Misleading Battery Indicator

The battery level indicator on the City Vanture is displayed as a five-bar icon, similar to many other e-bikes. As I progressed through the range test, I was initially impressed with the power, and the battery level seemed slow to drain.

Around the 14-mile mark, I was surprised to see the indicator showing five bars. However, I was concerned that this was inaccurate. Before long, the battery fell to three bars. At this point, the difference in power was noticeable, and when faced with a hill, the bike was sluggish compared to the initial performance. Over the next few miles, the power output continued to dwindle.

When I reached the final bar, I hardly noticed any assistance, but the last battery bar did not flicker or disappear. Finally, at 24 miles, the battery was empty, and the motor ceased to provide assistance despite displaying one bar.

This inaccurate reading would likely result in a lot of range anxiety from a user. With no clear way to determine exactly how much juice you have left, this isn’t a bike I would push to the limit.

Loss of Power at Low Battery Levels

The bike performs similarly to its competitors, with a total range of 24 miles on pedal assist level five. However, it’s tuned in a manner that is frustrating on longer rides.

The controller offers good power at higher battery voltages, so when you start your ride, you zip at a reasonable speed. Then, as the battery dwindles, the bike falters. It’s already ill-equipped to climb hills with a single-speed drivetrain, but it’s almost useless at low battery levels. Even on flat ground, the difference in motor output is noticeable and discouraging.

Hill Climbing Ability

The City Vanture has a limited ability to climb steep gradients. Its best chance is with a full battery, as it conquered our medium hill climb. That said, I was pedaling out of the seat and applying power to get the bike up the hill.

This bike is best suited to gentle terrain and areas that do not have steep hills. Bikes with 500W to 750W or high-torque motors are better suited to hilly areas.

What Does It Do Best?

As mentioned, the City Vanture performs best in places with relatively flat terrain. It offers style and discreet power to your daily rides.

With a lightweight design, it’s maneuverable and fast, and it is a pleasure to pedal in flat urban areas. Again, it won’t power you up steep inclines, but it provides a decent kick.

Road bikers, in particular, will appreciate the 700c wheels and body-forward riding position. This is an efficient geometry style. If you are looking for an e-bike that doesn’t show it, this could be the one for you.

Who Should Buy This Bike?

The City Vanture is an efficient and sleek package at an affordable price. The lightweight and slim silhouette makes it easy to move around obstacles.

It’s most suitable for city dwellers who enjoy cycling or have used a traditional bike for transport. The bike’s ability to add speed and assistance would be welcome in the city. Additionally, with the belt drive, maintenance requirements are drastically reduced.

Whether for pleasure or commuting, the City Vanture is ideally suited to urban environments. I loved being able to move and ride it in the same way I would a traditional bike.

Reasons to Look Elsewhere

A limited range and hill-climbing ability will deter users who value these attributes. If your current commute includes multiple steep gradients, you will want to look at other options.

The main issues I faced with this bike were the battery level indicator, poor hill-climbing ability, and reduced power after just a 50% discharge. Given that, you should look for other options if you plan to do longer rides in hilly areas.

Conclusion

The Vanpowers City Vanture is a lightweight and maneuverable urban e-bike. It’s affordable, with some great features for this price point, but it loses too much power as the battery drains.

Despite some drawbacks, this bike offers a great way to electrify your urban ride without breaking the bank.

Specs

Electric Bike Class: Class 1
Warranty: Up To 6 Years (Based On Part)
Model Year: 2022
Battery Weight: Integrated Into Downtube
Total Weight: 40.20 lb
Motor Brand: Unitek G250R
Motor Type: Brushless Rear Hub
Motor Nominal Output: 36V – 350W
Max Torque: 40Nm
Battery: 36V 7Ah – 252Wh LG Cell Lithium-Ion Downtube Battery
Range Claimed: Up To 50 mi
Range Tested: 24.10 mi
Speed: Up to 25mph – As Shipped 20mph
Throttle: No
Pedal Assist: 5 Level
Controller: 36V Unknown
Charger: 100-240V – 1.8A input | 42V – 2A output
Charge Time: Claimed 2 hours – Actual 3 hours
Display: TFT Color LCD Display
Frame: 21″ 6061 Aluminum Alloy Tenoise-mortise construction
Fork: Rigid Aluminum Alloy Front Fork – W Thru-Axle
Brake Levers: Tektro HD-M285
Brake Calipers: Tektro HD-M285
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Chain: Gates CDX Belt
Crankset: Gates Carbon CDX
Derailleur: NA
Shifter: NA
Cassette: Gates Carbon Drive 18t
Rims: 700c Double Walled Aluminum
Tires: 700 x 28c Kenda
Fenders: Not Included
Lights: Not Included
Grips: Generic Straight Lock-On Rubber
Handlebar: Aluminum With Integrated Stem Display
Kickstand: Single Sided
Pedals: Wellgo Flat Pedals
Max. Load Capacity: 264lb

Unboxing and Assembly

The City Vanture can be sent to you in a flat-pack box, requiring complete assembly, or, for $50, you can receive it mostly assembled. We received the disassembled version and took on the challenge. Be sure to check out the full video to follow along.

The bike is labeled well and stored in a box with protective material. It comes with complete instructions and the tools needed for the job. I completed the assembly in about an hour. Assembly required simple Allen keys and wrenches and is relatively straightforward despite having over 25 steps.

The assembly would be easy for anyone with experience using tools or working on bikes. Whether or not it’s worth the $50 is up to you. By assembling the bike, you learn how it is built, and if you ever have a problem, you will likely know how to fix it.

Frame and Geometry

The City Vanture frame uses mortise and tenon joints for its construction. Vanpowers claims this reduces the number of frames that are rejected in the construction process and offers superior durability. It also means they can deliver the bike in a smaller package for you to assemble at home.

The assembly would be straightforward for those with advanced knowledge about bikes. When assembled, it’s solid and feels as secure as a traditional welded frame.

While testing the bike, I didn’t encounter any issues with the construction style or its ability to withstand the abuse of riding. The bike is light and performs well in its intended environment, so the design gets a thumbs up.

Motor

The 350W rear hub motor lacks the power and torque to climb hills efficiently, given the inclusion of a single-speed drivetrain.

The tuning means the beginning of your rides will be peppy, but the City Vanture disappoints over distances as the motor quickly loses the initial kick as the battery voltage drops. On flat ground and mellow hills, it operates just fine, but when you hit a serious incline, you will quickly discover the bike’s limits.

Short Hill Climb:

• Time: 03:30
• Distance: 0.96 mi
• Elevation Gain: 85 ft.
• Max grade: 6%
• Avg. Speed:  16.6mph

Medium Hill Climb:

• Time: 03:40
• Distance: 0.63mi
• Elevation Gain:  226 ft.
• Max grade: 16%
• Avg Speed:  10.4mph

Cockpit and Controls

Minimalist is the word that arises when looking at the cockpit of the City Vanture. The brake levers, straight lock-on grips, and three-button control pad are simple and functional.

The color display is also minimalist. It’s small yet readable and integrated into the stem. It has an odometer, trip info, and current assist level, with a simple five-bar battery in the top corner. You can cycle through three trip information screens with the ‘M’ button and move through assist levels with the up and down buttons. The bike also has some advanced settings.

Battery

The City Vanture has a relatively small 7Ah (252Wh) battery with LG cells. This battery is concealed in the downtube and installed on the bike semi-permanently. Removal would require disassembling the entire bike, which is time-consuming.

Vanpowers claims the bike can travel up to 50 miles on a single charge. Our range test showed slightly less than half that (24 miles) on max assist for 24 miles. Given the bike only travels approximately 18mph with the assist set to level five, I don’t foresee many owners willingly riding the bike in the low assist levels (1 or 2) to stretch out that range to the claimed 50 miles.

I also experienced range anxiety due to the battery level indicator. Overall, the battery was underpowered, and unless you intend to add the optional second battery, this bike is dedicated to commutes of around 20 to 25 miles round trip.

Range Test:

• Distance: 24.10 mi
• Time:  1:33
• Elevation: 722  ft.

Charger, Battery Removal, Keys

The charger has a 2A output, which fills the battery from empty in around three hours. The short charge time is due to the small battery size rather than a rapid charger.

Unlike most e-bikes that offer a way to remove the battery for charging away from the bike, the City Vanture requires plugging the charger into the bike’s external charging port, meaning it must be brought inside for charging. Although disappointing, this is key to the stealthy design.

Drivetrain

The key benefits of a belt drive system like the Gates Carbon belt drivetrain used here are reduced maintenance, no noise, and no grease.

The drivetrain is a single-speed, with a geared rear hub motor and cadence sensor. The City Vanture operates well within the speed limit of 20mph on flat ground. It’s also quick to accelerate and pleasant underfoot.

Brakes

The Tektro M-285 hydraulic disc brakes equipped on the bike are reliable. The bike stops quickly with the help of 180mm rotors, which is important for urban roads where conditions change rapidly.

The bike was slower to stop in our braking tests, but this probably has more to do with the reduced tire footprint than the heavy fat tire bikes we usually test.

Overall, the brakes on our test unit worked well and complimented the bike’s performance.

Braking Distance Results

Wheels and Tires

The City Vanture features 700c aluminum alloy rims and 28mm Kenda tires. This setup will be familiar to anyone accustomed to road bikes.

Narrow, high-pressure tires like these are pleasant to ride on pavement and hard-packed gravel and capable of high speeds. However, maintaining traction is more difficult than with the wide, plus-size tires we often see on e-bikes.

The benefits of speed and maneuverability are easy to feel immediately and more than enough to compensate for the few restrictions. The bike and its wheels are intended for pavement, and I can see them struggling to maintain traction in wet conditions, but we did not have the chance to test that out.

Kickstand

The bike features the standard single-sided kickstand, which operates without issue.

Contact Points

The contact points on the City Vanture are minimalist but well chosen.

Grips

Simple lock-on grips are a welcome addition, as they don’t slip on the bars as you ride. Although they are a budget component, they offer decent grip, and I prefer them to contoured leather grips.

Saddle

Our black City Vanture came with the matching black Selle Royal saddle. It is a simple and comfortable seat for short to mid-length trips. It gave no trouble or discomfort on our range test and is a good match for the bike.

Pedals

The City Vanture ships with a simple set of Wellgo platform pedals. They offer reasonable traction but less than pedals with pegs. Again, these pedals are a budget item that could be swapped for more traction.

The City Vanture is a beautifully designed e-bike… Its excellent range combined with its lightweight frame makes it ideal for city commuting… Assembling it yourself can be an exciting process… but it will require a lot of time, effort, and likely some confusion.

The single gear is a little bit tough, especially when you’re going up hills…

Overall, the Vanpowers City Vanture e-bike provides a fairly well-balanced riding experience for commuters… If you’re between 5’8″ and 6′ and in the market for an e-bike to tackle smooth city roads, this e-bike would be a smart, cost-effective option.

The bike itself is really very good. It rides great, and the riding distances match what Vanpowers gives. Yes, some things could be sturdier, like the cabling and lighting…

The modular design, limited low-end torque from the motor, and a relatively higher price tag compared to other single-speed belt-drive e-bikes are all factors that you should evaluate before making up your mind.

Overall, the Vanpowers City Vanture is a fantastic value buy at the Indiegogo price, as long as you don’t mind putting in a little elbow grease to get it put together.