NCM Prague Electric Mountain Bike, electric bike, E-Bike 250W, 36V 13Ah 468Wh Li-ion Battery, 26"/27,5"/29"

After struggling with a few stubborn hills on my commute I was interested in exploring an ebike. I wasn't familiar with this brand and would probably have not considered it but after a recommendation from a German friend I decided to take a punt on the NCM Prague. Whilst the Whytes and Specialized ebikes had caught my eye, the potential saving from the NCM was worth a gamble - and it paid off.The bike arrived quickly after ordering and was easy to assemble, the package contained a handy little toolkit for every fixture on the bike although the only assembly required was fitting the bars and front wheel. The build quality is excellent and the matt white finish looks really nice. The level of spec is impressive for this price point with Schwalbe tyres, Tectro mech disc brakes and Shimano Tourney components. The shifters are indexed and precise and didn't even need tuning on set up. The front brake cable had come loose during transit but the mechs are such an easy job to fix compared to hydros.The battery was also fully charged so I could get it straight out on the road. With the assistance off the bike is heavy but not unmanageable but with the assistance on there is an instant feeling of weightlessness and comfortable power. The motor is silent and kicks in after a pleasing half second-ish delay. As I'm mainly using on the road I had the tyres up to 40psi and the ride is comfortable and smooth without feeling too spongy. The Suntour forks are firm and responsive but soaked up all the crappy potholes my local road provided. I haven't yet tried it on an MTB trail - the weight distribution is slightly different to normal so I need to get used to that but as I got this primarily for roads / bridle paths that will not be an issue at the moment.If you've read this far - you're considering buying one. I have to be honest and say that as soon as that silent but powerful little motor kicked in I had a stupid grin on my face that lasted an hour. It feels like a giant hand reaching down and giving you a shove from behind. Just when your head would normally drop as you hit a hill and your speed drops to 4mph as you start hauling on the bars; instead the cheery little motor kicks in and you are effortlessly coasting uphill - past the huffing and puffing MAMILS and their 4k road bikes who double take at you cruising by without breaking a sweat.It makes every ride feel like a gentle downhill coast. The roads are nearly clogged entirely, the environment is in trouble - I can genuinely see the future being e-bikes powered by renewable electricity.

I ordered the bike on a Sunday and got it delivered the next Friday, so that was pretty quick (and ahead of the estimated time of delivery I saw on Amazon); I got a ring the day before advising me of the delivery and asking whether I was going to be available. Of course I was... couldn't wait to ride this baby!!So I got a large package which I opened hastily, to be pleasantly surprised by the nice smell of the brand new tires. Straight away I noticed the quality of frame, wheels, saddle, etc. which was a big relief and validation of my purchase. This is quality stuff; everything looked professional and sturdy. I assembled the bike fairly quickly, in about an hour - counting the time it took me to read the manual; it is an E-bike after all!Assembly is pretty straightforward, and the few tools needed were provided in the box. At first, I mounted the handlebars on the steering axis; then affixed the front wheel to the forks, by inserting the quick release skewer through the axle of the wheel. The pedals and saddle were next; the saddle is malleable and feels quite comfortable, which is always good!All I had to do was then to mount the battery, which I realised was already fully charged (I tried to charge it at first but the LEDs were already all green, so it was good to go right away). Handling is pretty good, and of course the assist is awesome. It's just great to have a silent "push" when you feel like it (you can also spin the bicycle without it). You can select the level of the assist, which will affect the power delivered by the battery; and it stops as soon as you hit the brakes, so you don't have to worry about a separate command. Aside from the normal assist, used while peddling, there is also a walk-assist, to help push the bike while walking beside (push the up button for 3 seconds to activate it).Aside from its function as assist selector, the display also features current speed, max speed, total distance since first use, trip distance and time, battery status, and also error codes apparently, which is pretty cool, although I hope I won't have to use that one anytime soon!All in all a very good sturdy bike with special powers - good buy.