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May 10, 2024
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Super long range, great looks and folds up easy!
At first glance, I was impressed by the Mokwheel Slate. It has modern design colors, skin-side 20×3” tires and frame integrated turn signals. But, then I took a look at the specs and immediately thought it might underperform due to the smaller 500W motor.
Boy, was I wrong.
The motor has SERIOUS kick when you hit throttle, but it tested out to be surprisingly efficient. On our range test, the Mokwheel Slate got a result that placed it in 11th place across the hundreds of e-bikes we’ve range tested. So, with that surprise to kick things off in our testing, I was pumped to see what else the Mokwheel Slate had in store for us.
Mokwheel also included a full color HD display, a nice departure from clunky, duo-tone displays of the past. However, the display is a slim, compact design that can be quickly detached and placed into your pocket or bag, effectively disabling the bikes power. Little thoughtful features like that just add to our piece of mind when it comes to e-bike ownership.
It’s not without flaws. The included torque sensor isn’t the most refined I’ve pedalled, and while it folds down just fine there are ways they could make the processs more practical.
But good looks, solid performance and unique features, we’re off to a pretty good start. So, let’s jump into all the details and testing results we got in this Mokwheel Slate review.
Bike Category:Folding E-Bike
E-Bike Class:Class 1 (pedal assist to 20 mph)
Class 2 (throttle to 20 mph)
Class 3 (pedal assist to 28 mph)
Mokwheel Slate Video Review
Pros- Our range test results were HUGE thanks to the efficient 720Wh battery and torque sensing motor.
- Added security on the Slate as the full color display can be easily removed, disabling the bike from powered use when you’re not around.
- A modern, practical look as the turn signals and a brake light are integrated into the frame.
- Easy folding design as the hinge points move very well and folding/unfolding is a breeze.
- The tan sidewall of the Chaoyang 20×3” hybrid tires look great, roll quietly, and add to the bike’s comfort.
- Great pedaling range of gears thanks to the solid range of gearing with a 52T chainring and the Shimano Tourney 7-Speed drivetrain with a 14-28T cog in the rear.
Cons- Although the bike folds easily, it lacks a strap or mechanism to keep it securely folded, and it’s awkward shape can make lifting difficult, even at 67 lbs – a two-person lift might be necessary.
- While the torque sensor feels very good at lower PASS levels, in the higher range (PAS 4, 5) the acceleration feels more abrupt and less natural.
ELECTRICAL SPECS & FEATURES
- Battery:48V 15A, 720 Wh
- Display: Full Color LCD thats detachable for increased security
- Motor: 500W w/ 65 Nm of Torque and motor activation by a Torque Sensor and peaks at 750W’s
- Headlight:Yes
- Taillights:Yes w/turn signals
- Pedal Assist: 5 Levels
- Claimed Range: 50 – 60 miles
- Throttle:Push Throttle
- App:No
- UL Certification:No
Weight & Dimensions
- Claimed weight: 64 lbs
- Tested Weight: 67 ;bs with battery and 57 lbs without battery
- Rider height range: 5’0″ – 6’2″
- Total payload capacity:350 lbs
Components & Accessories
- Brakes:Logan HD-E500 hydraulic brakes
- Fenders: Front and Rear – Metal
- Fork: Unbranded with 90-110mm of adjustable travel and a lockout option
- Frame: Alloy
- Drivetrain: Shimano Index Shifter with a 52T chainring and a Shimano Tourney / 14-28T cog
- Grips: Black synthetic leather Ergo Grips
- Saddle: Black
- Handlebar: Flat Bar
- Kickstand: Rear Mounted
- Pedals: Flat Black
- Tires: Chaoyang tires 20″ * 3.0″ skin side road tires
The riding position of the Mokwheel is upright with a slight lean into the handlebars.
The Mokwheel Slate folds up quick and easy.
The main pivot hinge for folding is very efficient with little effort needed to manipulate the bike.
Mokwheel Slate Review: Speed Test
The Mokwheel Slate performed well in our Electric Bike Report Speed Test. I recorded my maximum speed in each pedal assist setting as I rode the bike along a flat path. Given the bike’s torque sensor, my goal was to maintain a consistent level of effort throughout the test with the hope of removing the variability.
As you can see from the chart, it is a fairly well distributed amount of speed. Each level has meaning – score a point there for the Slate.
The Slates motor is a 500W rear hub motor with a torque sensor which is always nice to see. In the lower PAS levels, the torque sensor felt surprisingly good, to the point where I thought it felt like a more expensive mid-drive motor. However, in higher levels like 3, 4 and 5, the acceleration becomes more jumpy and less natural.
Overall, the Mokwheel Slate showed a fairly even distribution of pedal assistance, with consistent incremental increases in power across each of the 5 PAS settings. The motor puts out very little noise and overall the speeds we saw in this test were in-line with our expectations, leaving us pleased and ready for the next test!
The step-through frame design fits riders from 5ft to 6ft 2 inches.
A Shimano Index System with a 52T chainring and a 14-28T cog that we found to be a good fit for this bike.
The Mokwheel Slate folds up pretty easily leaving a much smaller footprint for travel or storage.
Mokwheel Slate Review: Range Test
Brands can toss around all sorts of range numbers and expectations, but let’s be honest – it’s the real-world test results that count the most. That’s why we put the Mokwheel Slate’s range claims to the ultimate challenge.
The Mokwheel Slate boasts a 48V, 15 amp hour battery, packing a total of 720 watt-hours to power the rear hub 500W motor. So, we were eager to see how far this ebike could really take us.
Let’s dive into the results. On our minimum PAS level 1 test, we covered an incredible 88.94 miles, averaging 10.7 mph over 8 hours and 20 minutes, all while tackling 1,765 feet of elevation. Switching gears, on the maximum PAS level 5, the Mokwheel Slate still managed a solid 35.16 miles, averaging 16.7 mph over 2 hours and 3 minutes, climbing 655 feet.
These impressive results demonstrate the Mokwheel Slate’s ability to not only deliver, but exceed its range estimations. Its powerful battery, efficient torque sensing motor, and lightweight design work together to give you what we think is a highly efficient e-bike, specifically at the lower PAS settings.
Let’s face it, a long-range ebike opens up a lot of possibilities, and the Mokwheel Slate really did shine in this test – so long as you’re going at a mellow pace of course. Whether it’s epic rides or ditching the car for daily errands, this ebike has the power to take you there.
Mokwheel Slate Review: Hill Test
Unless you live by the ocean, you likely will encounter some elevation changes along your route. So, we here at Electric Bike Report like to get an idea of how any bike we test performs when it comes to climbing hills.
In our hill test (described above), we use this same hill and tester (Justin) to ensure we remain accurate and have solid data to use for comparison purposes. So, with that in mind, how did the Mokwheel Slate perform? Well, pretty good, actually!
When it comes to the Mokwheel Slate, there is a 500W rear hub motor with a torque sensor and 65 Nm of torque. Typically, the higher the torque number, the better the hill climbing ability. At 65 Newton Meters, it’s not low side per se, but it also isn’t pushing the upper limits either, it’s kind of a “middle of the road” torque rating. So, as you can guess, I was eager to see how the Mokwheel Slate performed in our notorious ‘Hell Hole’ hill test here in Southern Utah.
On the first run in throttle only, the Slate made it up Hell Hole in just 1 minute and 29 seconds with an average speed of 12.2 mph. To put that score into perspective, this result, when compared to other folding e-bikes, placed near the top of the pack in 5th place for throttle-only run. A pretty solid performance.
On the second run, when putting some leg muscle into the mix along with PAS 5 the Mokwheel Slate made it up Hell Hole again, this time in 1 minute 40 seconds with an average speed of 10.8 mph. Now, this was slower than expected result, but with the smaller 500W motor compared to more common 750W motors, the score is still a solid performance.
The riding position is mostly upright with a bit of leaning forward to the handlebar and overall, comfortable.
A push throttle is located next to the left hand grip.
The frame integrated 720Wh 48V battery of the Mokwheel Slate.
Mokwheel Slate Review: Brake Test
Ok, let’s hit the brakes for a second – we need to talk about stopping power. Because who cares how fast you can go if you can’t stop safely?
The Mokwheel Slate comes equipped with Logan HD-E500 hydraulic disc brakes paired with 180mm rotors. This combination of hydraulic disc brakes paired to 180mm rotors is well-known for providing strong and reliable braking performance.
Over 3 runs, it stopped at an average distance of 19′ 3″ – a seriously impressive 2nd place result out of folding e-bikes we’vetested! This performance can be attributed to both the quality hydraulic brakes and the bike’s low center of gravity on it’s 20″ tires.
The Mokwheel Slate’s brakes offer more than just impressive stopping power. They also deliver a smooth and confident feel. This means you have precise control over your braking, allowing you to navigate your route with ease.
It’s always reassuring to have powerful brakes on an ebike, especially with the potential for increased speeds. So, whether you’re navigating busy city streets or exploring scenic trails, the Mokwheel Slate’s brakes will give you the control and confidence to ride easily.
180mm Rotors for the Logan Hydraulic Disc Brakes.
Black synthetic leather ergonomic grips.
Chaoyang 20” x 3” tan sidewall tires with a commuter tread pattern.
The 2 piston caliper of the Logan Hydraulic Disc Brakes.
Mokwheel Slate Review: Ride Quality
Riding a folding bike feels a bit different than that of a traditional frame. It’s not bad at all, just different. The riding posture is upright, however you still need to lean forward just a bit to reach the handlebar up front. This is because the handlebar design needs to fold down and stay close to the rest of the bike when you fold it.
The rider sizing of the Mokwheel Slate is advertised as ranging from 5ft to 6ft 2in, largely due to the low step over height of 15.6 inches and the adjustment range in the seat post and handlebar. Being 5’ 11”. I find the Slate to be comfortable with room to go in either direction of that range.
The Mokwheel Slate does have suspension with a front hydraulic fork that has an adjustable travel range between 90mm and 110mm. During my rides, I lowered the o-ring on the stanchion to be at the base so I could see how much the suspension was actually doing on my rides and was pleased to see the ring move up about a inch and a half during my rides, showing me it was in fact eating up the bumps.
Down below the tires are a trendy “skin-side” or tan sidewall on 20” x 3” Chaoyang hybrid tires. I found these tires to not only look good, but have a little road noise and rolled with very little resistance. It’s been pretty dry here in Southern Utah, so I was not able to get an idea of the tires in wet conditions.
The Slate has a new feature we have not seen yet, and it’s not just the fact that it’s a full color display. Now, the display can quickly be removed and is small enough to be dropped into your pocket or purse, effectively disabling the bikes power adding another layer of security. Little security features like this or hidden air tag placement is one of those little things that gives me a bit more piece of mind.
Commuters will appreciate the practical add-ons like front and rear metal fenders, a head light, tail light, and now they have integrated turn signals in the rear light that are operated via the controls on the handlebar.
Pedaling the Slate is reassuring as Mokewheel did a great job of using a 52T chainring and a 14-28T cog in the rear. This gear combination gives the rider an actually useful range of gears that can bemused through all pedal assist levels and in a pinch, a dead battery ride home.
A flat handlebar with Mokwheels new full color LCD display.
The seat post has a fit range from 29.9” to 36.2”.
Frame integrated tail and brake lights are a practical upgrade for most.
A front fender over the commuter Chaoyang Tire.
Mokwheel Slate Review: Summary / Where to Buy
As you can probably see, we were impressed with the new Slate from Mokwheel. It performed well in speed and range tests, demonstrating a surprising amount of power and range despite the smaller 500W motor.
The integrated features like turn signals, rear rack, lighting, and fenders add significant value for the price point, making it a compelling option for commuters and casual riders alike.
However, like anything, there’s room for improvement. The torque sensor programming could be smoother at higher speeds, and the folding mechanism would benefit greatly from a strap or latch for easier transport when folded.
Overall, the Slate is a strong and versatile entry into the folding e-bike market from Mokwheel. It offers solid performance, practical features, and a competitive price that should make it a popular choice for those seeking a convenient and capable electric bike.
Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Mokwheel Slate down in our comments section.
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