Axon Pro eBike Review

Last updated on March 22nd, 2022 at 01:39 pm

Intro, Price, Options and Verdict

Introduction

Ebikes can enable people who wouldn’t consider cycling to work to make this their regular mode of commuting. An electric bike can provide a healthier, cheaper and more convenient journey without risking too much fatigue (or sweat) in transit. However, if your commute also involves public transport, or you have nowhere outside that's safe to store your bike, a regular e-bike won't be viable. This is where folding bikes have become popular, and electric versions can give you the best of both worlds. Axon Rides specialises in this area, and we took at a look at the Axon Pro in top-of-the-range Max form.

Price and Options

Axon makes three different versions of the Pro. There's the Axon Pro Lite, the regular Pro and the Pro Max, the one we tried out. Although Axon Rides also makes a few other bikes including an Eco version, the main ones the company is currently marketing are these three. They’re not cheap, either. Where an entry-level folding e-bike costs £5-600, the Axon Pro Lite costs £1,665, the regular Pro is £1,850, and the Max is £2,280 (our video states it is £1,995, which is the price of another Axon Rides model with similar features).

On the other hand, a top-end Raleigh will be more like £2,500, Brompton e-bikes are around £3,000, and there are a few even more expensive specialist brands. So the Axon Pro is towards the top of the price range, but it’s not the most pricey folding e-bike on the market. It's also worth pointing out that the Axon Rides bikes are available through the Green Commute Initiative, which is a cycle to work scheme that doesn't have a £1,000 price limit. Otherwise, the Axon bikes wouldn’t qualify. You can also buy online direct from Axon Rides as well as from select retailers.

The bikes come with a two-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee. They all have basically the same design, but with some subtle feature differences that justify the variety of prices. The Pro and Pro Lite have a 5.2Ah battery, whereas the Max has 7Ah. All use a 36V system, so the batteries are 187.2Wh and 252Wh respectively. All three models have disc brakes, but the Pro and Pro Max have hydraulic systems whereas the Lite's brakes are just mechanical.

Design, Ride Comfort and Storage

Design

One thing that remains the same across all three versions of the Axon Pro is the folding system, which has been mostly well designed to make it quick to dismantle for jumping on the train or storing inside at your workplace. The handlebars lock upright with a two-part catch, and the front and rear frame sections connect together using a double-locking system that also inspires confidence. One of Axon's headline features is the magnetic hub, which holds the two halves of the bike together when folded.

The seat pole provides plenty of height options, and locks into place firmly, but sliding it up and down is a little stiff. The seat pole also appears to integrate the battery, and in theory could be removed, but in practice this wouldn’t be a very convenient system for portability compared to some e-bike removable batteries we have used.

Like most foldable bikes, the Axon Pro isn’t the prettiest vehicle, as the long handlebar and seat poles plus small wheels seem out of proportion. This is the price you pay for the folding ability, but the Axon Pro isn’t the lightest of foldables, weighing 15kg. A non-e-bike Brompton can be under 10kg, but most folding e-bikes are heavier, with many over 20kg, so the Axon Pro is actually quite light in this category.

Nevertheless, 15kg is a lot to carry around for long periods and this is one area where Axon has missed a trick compared to the best options in this class. Brompton bikes come with a small set of wheels when folded that facilitate rolling them when folded, but the Axon Pro doesn’t have anything like this. So you will either have to carry it or wheel it unfolded, which is less convenient if you are taking it some distance inside your workplace.

Ride Comfort

The Axon Pro has small 16in wheels – some foldables are as large as 20in – but the tyres are reasonably fat, which helps smooth the ride. This saddle is well padded so should be comfortable enough for a daily commute.

The ride height adjustments offer a wide range of options. Axon officially states this range to be from 150 to 190 cm, which is 4 foot 9 inches to 6 foot 2 inches. That will cater for most riders. There’s also a side-stand to hold the bike vertically.

Storage

If long-distance portability is one downside with the Axon Pro, the other is that it doesn't come with any kind of cargo carrying ability. It might be possible to install something on the front, but panniers aren't going to be an option, and there’s no facility for any kind of rack above the rear wheel. You will need to carry your bag on your back while riding instead.

Controls

The Axon turns on with a switch underneath the seat. This enables the electric system but doesn't switch on the motor. For this, a second step is required – pressing the middle button on the right of the LCD screen. There are further two buttons either side for increasing power, with three levels available. The small LCD panel shows current speed, odometer, battery level and power level.

There are also buttons on the left-hand side of the handlebars to turn the integrated front and rear lights off and on, plus triggering a digital horn. One thing you won’t find on the handlebars, however, is a any way to change gears, because the Axon Pro is single speed. This would be a limitation on a regular bike, but on an e-bike you can use the motor instead. The standard gearing is about right for a flat ride with the lowest power level or no motor at all, and you can simply add more assistance to help with any steep hills.

The controls are easy to get the hang of, and there’s a quasi-throttle control you can trigger with your thumb to give a temporary boost when pushing off without needing to pedal first.

Performance, Running Costs, Range, and Safety

Performance and Riding

Like most e-bikes in the UK, the Axon Pro’s motor provides a maximum 250W of assistance and top powered speed of 15.5mph. These are the legal limits for e-bikes in this country. The motor is in the rear wheel hub.

Without gears to worry about, this is a very easy bike to ride. Just push off and pedal, or if you need a little help there’s the thumb-operated throttle on the right. If you don’t use this, there is a notable delay before the power kicks in as you pedal, and this is also evident if you freewheel for a bit and then start pedalling again. The delivery is nowhere near as immediate as the Mark2 ebikes we have tested, for example.

This is fine once you get used to it, though, and there is plenty of push from the electric motor, particularly at top power mode. We tried the Axon Pro on reasonably steep hills and the assistance made light work of them. The steering is precise, and the bike feels reassuringly solid. The brakes are also potent (of which more later).

Range and Charging

The range of the Axon Pro depends which version you buy. The basic Pro and Lite models, with their 5.2Ah batteries, can deliver up to 25 miles. The Max's larger 7Ah battery extends this to 30 miles. Either will be fine for most daily commutes in a city, although the Max just gives you that little bit more if you need it – or more opportunity to use the top power setting if your journey includes lots of steep hills.

Since the battery is integrated into the seat pole, though, you won’t be able to carry a spare with you. This also means you charge the bike directly and can't leave it somewhere while you charge the battery on its own somewhere more convenient. For charging, a 13-amp adapter is supplied, which will take around 3.5 hours from empty to full for the 5.2Ah battery, and more like 4 hours for the Max's 7Ah battery.

Running Costs

Because e-bikes assist rather than providing all the power from the electric motor, they are extremely cheap to run (unless you factor in feeding the rider…). The Axon Pro, assuming our usual 14p per kWh, costs around 0.1p per mile, so even as electricity rates double (or beyond) the running costs will be negligible.

Safety

Disc brakes are standard on all versions of the Axon Pro, which is reassuring and one of the reasons why this bike warrants a higher price. Cheaper foldable ebikes usually use rubber friction pad V-brakes. The hydraulic system on the Pro and Pro Max is even more confidence inspiring.

We also appreciate the built-in lights front and rear, ensuring you will be visible in the dark. The built-in horn is a bit weak, but it's still better than the old traditional bells from bikes you used to ride when you were a kid.

Key Specifications

*based on electricity costs of 14p per kWh