iGo Discovery Yorkville LE Review

With its 48V, 720 watt-hour (Wh) battery and the bike’s 500W motor, the Yorkville LE struck gold in terms of its range. iGo advertises a range of up to 69 miles with a power source of this capacity, but the bike achieved even better results in our Range Tests (explained in the graphic above.) We measured a bracket of roughly 40 and 72 miles depending on PAS setting – but after evaluating our test data, the bike has the potential to go beyond even that.

Brands often calculate their advertised range based on ideal conditions: riding on flat ground in clear weather and in the lowest PAS setting. Our testing was performed in a real-world environment; we ride on a network of bike paths in most weather conditions (usually very good this time of year) and over quite a few hills. In both of our tests, we gained over 1,250 feet of elevation – so on flat ground, we likely would have had even better results.

In terms of efficiency, the Yorkville LE performed well; based on the motor and battery specs, we anticipated that our Boost mode test would last roughly an hour and a half. We were able to travel for just over two hours, so the bike ended up being 33% more efficient than expected.

Compared to similar commuter e-bikes with 500W rear-hub motors we tested previously, the Yorkville LE gave one of the best low-PAS performances we’ve seen yet! For perspective, even its max-PAS results were great – its roughly 40 miles matched the high end of the bracket on a handful of those other models.

These results place the Yorkville roughly in the middle of the pack when compared to similar commuter-style e-bikes we tested, and is largely related to its motor’s torque rating. The motor’s 55 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque is in the expected range for a city or commuter e-bike, but also falls far short of the 80-90 (or higher) Nm we often see on more robust 750W motors on fat tire e-bikes. As such, commuter e-bikes typically aren’t the best hill climbers, but they usually have enough muscle to get the job done effectively.

That is exactly what we found with the Yorkville LE. In my own personal testing, I rode the bike up an intimidating hill near the EBR office using just its throttle, as this is the best test of the motor’s raw ability. Our max-assist trials typically show much faster times and speeds. With its throttle, the bike slowed significantly – but in a steep section where I expected it to struggle, it surprised me by continuing to power onward confidently.

Ultimately, the Yorkville LE is a capable machine, especially in Boost mode. Its other PAS settings offer an appreciable level of assistance, but as I stated in the Speed Test section of this iGo Yorkville review, they can feel somewhat limited in comparison.

The Yorkville LE is equipped with Tektro E350 hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors, which we evaluated through our Brake Test (described above). Overall, the bike performed decently with these brakes; we measured an average stopping distance of 24’-4”.

This is somewhat slower than expected for the specific make, model, and type of brakes that they are – however, it’s still within our range of expected results. More importantly, I consider these results to still be indicative of a safe and appropriately-specced system.

So why did the Yorkville not perform quite as well as expected? I think the brakes could have used a little tuning-up before our test. Overall, though, the bike handled well when braking; I noticed some slight fishtailing and of course some squealing from the tires, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The bike comes only in a single frame size and color, which I was slightly disappointed about considering its price range, but the adjustable stem and saddle allow it to be adapted to riders between a decent range of 5’-2” to 6’-2”. As someone nearing the top end of that range, I was able to adjust the stem to be nearly vertical. This gave me a comfortable riding position with good visibility.

While I wasn’t the largest fan of the press-fit faux leather grips (they had no clamps to lock them in place, so they moved around a lot), I did like that they were meaty enough for my large hands to be comfortable holding them. These, along with the slightly ergonomic, low-rise handlebars, also helped to give the bike good maneuverability; I was able to use them as leverage points to help me steer and add an extra layer of nimbleness. The handlebars did feel slightly narrow for me, but riders with a narrower frame should not have a problem.

I appreciated the Selle Royal Rio saddle, it was a good shape with a good balance of support and squish. The 27.5” x 2.4” Chaoyang street tires felt stable and their tread gripped well. The bike’s RST Volant suspension fork was a highlight, too; its compression felt more adaptive and fluid than I’m used to.

The bike performed spectacularly in our Range Test with the Tour mode result of nearly 72 miles; this alone makes the Yorkville a worthy choice for a daily ride to and from work. Additionally, we always appreciate the ability to travel up to 28 mph on a commuter e-bike for the sake of safety, and the inclusion of a throttle is another helpful feature when crossing intersections. The bike’s performance was solid considering its specs, and with a complement of quality parts, the Yorkville should fulfill its duties effectively for a significant amount of time.

Of the few elements we’d prefer to see improvement on, the bike’s power in Eco mode was the most significant. The other PAS settings were well-balanced, but Eco mode lacked noticeable power, so we’d prefer to see a boost in that setting with a re-balancing of the others. Additionally, considering the bike’s price of over $2,000, we’d also appreciate seeing a few more color options aside from the standard black.

In conclusion, I think the Yorkville LE would be a great fit for riders looking to travel long distances and who might want a high degree of customization over the feel of their ride. It fills its role as a commuter e-bike excellently, but it would also be great for longer, more casual weekend or evening rides.

If I’m honest, I’m looking forward to seeing more from iGo!

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the iGo Discovery Yorkville LE.