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VanPowers City Vanture
What if you could build your own ebike?
Starting out as a crowdfunding project, this is the company’s first road bike.
The City Vanture offers excellent value for its features, though there are a few considerations before buying one.
The Vanpowers City Vanture is ideal for riders between 5'8"6'3" heights.
I found that it’s best suited for smooth, flat stretches of road.
Ride comfort and power can quickly become a concern when introducing bumps and hills.
The silver certainly stands out with its complementary light brown seats and wheels.
The bike has a mix of modern and retro styling.
The Infinite Silver is a head-turner for sure.
This goes to show how well the City Vanture conceals its battery.
Vanpowers offers a range of accessories that can be purchased with your City Vanture order.
We did not have the opportunity to test this, so we can only go by the official estimates.
A high-density nylon fabric frame bag for $20 provides additional storage space for smaller personal items while cycling.
Lastly, Vanpowers offers a 125DB anti-theft horn for $16.
Tektro HD-M285 levers and hydraulic brakes offer reliable stopping power, ensuring safety and comfort.
Wellgo pedals ensure a secure grip, providing riders greater control and stability.
I found the seat to be comfortable for shorter rides.
The City Vanture features a Gates CDX chain wheel and a CDN belt drive.
Additionally, the Gates CDN belt drive can be more expensive to replace than a traditional chain drive.
I recommend finding a clean, open spot to unbox and lay out all the pieces.
Vanpowers includes all the tools you need for installation, including Allen keys, wrenches, and a screwdriver.
As a first-time builder, the process was time-consuming and somewhat frustrating at specific steps.
Parts of the instructions could be confusing and vague, which made the build process more difficult than expected.
In total, the assembly process took me about an hour and a half to complete.
I was also building the bike in mid-January while it was 35 degrees Fahrenheit outside.
Needless to say, this did not help with my patience.
Only one part of my frame needed to be re-tightened after my first ride.
Experience and Performance
One of the City Vanture’s best features is its lightweight design.
The Vanture is surprisingly easy to carry, which makes it a great choice for city living.
As part of my test route, I rode about seven miles from Third Ave Bridge to Bryant Park.
I rode almost exclusively in its top power mode, offering reasonable acceleration up to about 10mph.
As such, you won’t find immediate motor assistance, making acceleration more difficult initially.
Beyond 10mph, the other riders quickly caught up and could easily pass me.
Anything faster than 15mph required more energy than I’d like for a relaxing ride.
If needed, I could safely keep speed with vehicle traffic between red lights.
The Tektro hydraulic disc brakes offer excellent stopping power.
Again, without lower gears to assist, I found it rather challenging to tackle steep hills.
NYC isn’t a particularly hilly city, but you’ll encounter a fair bit of moderate inclines.
Moreover, the bike struggles with rougher terrain, even with minor potholes and uneven surfaces.
Its excellent range, combined with its lightweight frame, makes it ideal for city commuting.
Whether buying it pre-built or assembling it yourself, it provides excellent value.
