E-bikes are truly the future of urban commuting. They’re fast, easy to use, and, unlike e-scooters or EUC , they still provide you with enough exercise to stay fit. But how to choose the right e-bike for you? Well, that depends entirely on your needs and experience.
Today we’ll be looking at the Star folding fat tire e-bike by Eskute. This bike is a perfect commuter, with a whopping 74 miles max range and thanks to the 20-inch fat tires, it’s suitable for riding on almost any type of road and in any season.
If you’re looking for a city commuter that can take you anywhere, while at the same time you can take it anywhere (Star is a folding bike after all), check out our review of the Eskute Star to see if this is the right e-bike for you.
Eskute Star Folding Fat Tire E-bike: First Impressions & Specs
When you first look at the Eskute Star electric bike and its specs, it promises a superior riding adventure with a blend of power and features. Let’s have a look at the full list of specifications before we move on.
- Package dimensions: 46.8 x 17.7 x 31.1 (119 x 45 x 79 cm)
- Total length: 66.1 in (168 cm)
- Handlebar height: 48 in (122 cm)
- Weight: 74 pounds (33.5 kg)
- Frame: 6061 Aluminium
- Motor: 500W Bafang rear hub motor (US version), 250W Bafang motor 65 Nm torque (EU version)
- Top Speed: 22 mph / 40 km/h (US), 15.5 mph / 25 km/h (EU)
- Pedal assist: 5 assist levels
- Transmission: Shimano 7 speed
- Suspension: hydraulic front fork
- Brake: hydraulic disc
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs
- Tyre: CST, 20 x 4.0″
- Display: color backlit LCD display
- Recommended rider height: 5’2″-6’5″
- Battery: 960Wh removable battery (US), 36V 25Ah(900Wh) lithium-ion removable battery with Samsung/LG cells (EU)
- Range: up to 80 Miles (US), up to 100km (EU) on a single charge
- Charger: 54.6V 3A
- Lights: StVZO compliant LED anti-glare headlight, integral reflectors and rear light
- Warranty: two-year warranty
- Color: black, matcha green
- Price: from $1399 on the Eskute website on sale and $1299 on Amazon (US version), €1799 on the Eskute website (EU version).
For the purpose of this review, I had the EU version of the Eskute Star bike in black color. The following review will refer to that version of the bike.
At its core is a robust 250-watt Bafang hub motor, smoothly integrated into the rear wheel for efficient propulsion. Powering this bike is a 36V 25Ah battery, boasting a substantial total capacity of 900 watt-hours (36V x 25Ah).
However, such a big battery means a substantial increase in weight. This bike weighs 74 pounds (33.5 kg) and you’ll feel it every time you need to carry this bike over an obstacle or when you need to load and unload it from your car. It’s safe to say this is not a bike you hope to carry up and down the stairs.
As a 5’2″ girl, I can feel the weight of the bike every time I need to start pedalling. And without the pedal assistance, there would be no way for me to use this bike to go uphill. Luckily, with Eskute Star there’s no need for that.
One of the standout features of this bike is the torque sensor pedal assist system, which responds intelligently to your pedal force with the appropriate electric motor boost. Coupled with a Shimano 7-speed gear system, gear changes are seamless and precise and you can ride the bike uphill just as easily as you would on a flat road.
It’s clear that Eskute paid a lot of attention to rider comfort and control. The Eskute Star comes with front suspension and the 20″ x 4.0″ fat tires which offer impressive traction and stability across different riding conditions. Hydraulic disc brakes ensure reliable and responsive stopping power.
Currently priced at $1,399.00, down from its regular $1,599.00, the Eskute Star seems like an attractive deal for someone looking to get an e-powered commuter.
In summary, there’s a lot to love about the Eskute Star e-bike, including the powerful motor, the battery capacity, torque sensor pedal assist, Shimano 7-speed gear system, front suspension, 20″ x 4.0″ fat tires, and hydraulic disc brakes, and of course the price. If you’re a cyclist looking for a high-performance versatile e-bike, the Star model is definitely worth considering.
That said, if you’re an MTB rider and want an electric mountain bike, Eskute Star won’t satisfy your needs, but we’ll touch on that later in this bike review.
Design and Unpacking
The Eskute Star electric bike merges impressive features with practical design. Straight out of the box, you’ll find your Eskute e-bike carefully packaged, with each part covered in protective foam, bubble wrap or cardboard sheets.
What’s in the Box
Here’s everything you’ll find when unpacking your Eskute Star folding e-bike:
- ESKUTE Star Electric Bike
- Battery Charger
- Tool Kit
You’ll notice there’s no user manual included in the package contents. I guess Eskute made the choice to leave it out for environmental reasons. However, I advise downloading the PDF version of the user manual from the website before you assemble your bike. Otherwise, you may run into certain difficulties when putting the bike together.
After unboxing the Star e-bike, the first thing that grabbed my attention was the foldable frame, which adds convenience and portability. Crafted from lightweight yet robust 6061 aluminum, the frame effectively balances strength and weight.
Speaking of weight, with the massive battery inside, Eskute Star isn’t a lightweight bike. At 33.5 kilograms (74 pounds), the bike may be considered relatively heavy for some, particularly in terms of carrying and manoeuvring. Because of the weight, it’s definitely not a bike you’ll want to carry up and down the stairs. However, thanks to its foldable nature, the bike is quick and easy to collapse if you need to store it or put it in the trunk of your car.
When you unfold the bike, you’ll find quite a few things sitting on your handlebar. There’s the pedal assistance control with the on and off switch, the LCD display that you can use to check your current speed, pedal assistance level, mileage, and battery level, the Shimano gear shifter, a little bell to alert other people on the road, and the brakes.
While the LCD display is very useful when you’re riding in the dark, I have to admit that in bright light you’ll wish the display was LED and of better quality, as it’s hard to see the stats sometimes. Safety during night rides is prioritized with strategically placed reflectors as well. These elements maximize visibility without causing discomfort to other road users.
One big design point of the Eskute Star is comfort. You can see that this bike was designed with the rider’s comfort in mind. The step-through frame is one of the most comfortable frames I’ve ever tried and the shock-absorbing bike seat ensures you don’t feel in pain after riding for an extended period of time. The seat is made of shape memory material, which molds to your body contours, distributing weight evenly and reducing pressure points.
While comfort is important, personal preferences can vary, so I recommend trying out the seat for yourself before making the decision whether it’s suitable for you.
The Star model comes with hydraulic disc brakes which not only look cool but also ensure reliable and efficient stopping power, aiding both your safety and enjoyment. And of course the 20″ x 4.0″ fat tires, provided by Kenda, are the ultimate finish in the bike’s design. These tires offer exceptional grip and stability on various surfaces. Thanks to the added width, these tires provide a larger contact patch with the ground, which in turn enhances traction, grip, and results in your better control over the bike.
These massive tires are finished with mudguards – essential for any off-road riding – and a bike rack, suitable for carrying some extra weight. Overall, I can say that the Eskute Star e-bike brings together thoughtful design and quality components, and promises a satisfying and enjoyable riding journey. Now let’s see how this bike performs on the road.
Performance on the Road
The Eskute Star is a great commuter. This bike is built for extended journeys, and you won’t regret taking this bike on a long road trip. Thanks to the 90-degree upright riding position, you’re unlikely to feel any tension or pain when riding this bike. I felt the same level of comfort after an hour-long ride as I would after a short 10-minute trip on this bike.
Equipped with a potent 250W Bafang hub motor, the Eskute Star excels in performance, and will propel you through diverse landscapes. The top speed you can reach on this bike using pedal assistance is 15.5 mph in Europe and 22 mph in the US (in accordance with local laws and speed limits).
15.5 mph may not seem like much, but in my experience it’s the perfect speed to keep things under control and maintain your own safety as well as the safety of other people on the road.
The Bafang hub motor is known for its durability. During the month I spent testing the Eskute Star, I haven’t experienced any problems with its maintenance. And I’ve already gone over the 200 km mark. This powerful motor helps the Eskute Star generate a maximum torque of 65 Nm, as well as conquer inclines and challenging terrains.
I tested the Star e-bike on flat streets, on off-road muddy tracks, and mountain roads with serpentine or reverse curves. The e-bike handled the first two conditions very well, the fat tires can effortlessly run on sand and mud, without compromising the stability of the bike and your safety.
The bike also handled most mountain roads fine. However, if you continue going uphill while also using the maximum pedal assistance level (5), the bike will start acting funny after about 500 m of elevation gain. In my experience, the pedal assist simply stopped working after a while and I had to make a stop and allow it to cool down before I could continue riding.
Outside the mountain road and steep inclines, I barely ever need to use the max 5th level of pedal assist support. On a flat road, you’ll most likely be fine with level 1. When you get tired of riding, you can select a higher level to relax your legs and preserve energy.
At the core of the pedal assist system lies the torque sensor, a pivotal component. It measures your pedal force and communicates with the motor to tailor assistance to your exertion.
This torque sensor-driven pedal assist system can significantly improve your cycling experience. The motor engages as soon as you put pressure on the pedals. As a result, the pedal assist system propels you forward and makes your ride more relaxed and enjoyable.
The speed limit of 15.5 mph works on flat terrain, but there’s no speed limit when you’re going downhill. That’s when the hydraulic disc brakes come into play. They’re very responsive and provide equal stopping power with minimal effort. When riding your Eskute Star, you can be confident knowing that you can safely brake and stop at any point of your ride, no matter how fast you’re going.
The Shimano 7-speed chainstay works seamlessly and allows for easy shifting of the gears. The precision derailleur and rust-resistant KMC chain all contribute to a great riding experience across diverse terrains.
This bike doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity. There’s no companion app or ability to control the bike using your smartphone. However, it also means you won’t have to download yet another app on your device.
Off-road Performance
While Eskute Star can go off-road and easily tackle unpaved surfaces like sand, dirt, mud, and snow, this is definitely not a gravel or a mountain bike. Even though there’s a suspension fork with a 50mm travel, and the bike features fat tires, as soon as it hits a rocky trail or a gravel road with some loose rocks, the tires start slipping, and you’ll feel losing control over your bike.
While on a flat road the Eskute Star is nothing but force and stability, on an uneven rocky trek it quickly turns into an uncontrollable bike you’ll be scared to ride. With that said, the Eskute Star was never intended as a mountain bike, and this experience doesn’t take away from how much fun this bike is as a commuter.
Battery Life
Powering the Eskute Star is a robust 36V, 25Ah 900Wh battery. This battery is cleverly placed into the bike’s central frame, which helps to maintain a sleek and efficient design. You can secure it in the frame or easily detach it for hassle-free recharging, thanks to the key-lock system.
This battery’s maximum range is marked at 74 miles or 100 km on a single charge. The actual range varies based on factors like terrain, rider weight, and the level of pedal assist used.
The battery takes about 7-8 hours to recharge from zero to full. Perfect to put it on an overnight charge. When on the road, you can also charge your e-bike using a portable power station .
Should You Buy the Eskute Star Folding Fat Tire Electric Bike?
Eskute Star is a high-quality fat tire e-bike that will definitely turn heads on the road (in a good sense). The folding capabilities as well as a massive battery make it a great travel companion for when you want to put the bike into your car trunk, drive outside the city and enjoy a peaceful ride in the countryside without breaking a sweat.
It’s not a mountain bike, but it’s a perfect city commuter. The only thing to complain about in this bike is its weight. If the Star model seems too heavy for you, check out other Eskute e-bike they have available – like the Netuno or Polluno models – both weighing around 25kg (56 lbs).
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If you don’t have a full-sized printing machine at home and often need to print a document on the go, check out the Newyes portable printer . This wireless printer is lightweight and small enough to fit in your bag. Not to mention it’s environmentally friendly, since it uses thermal paper instead of ink.
Follow our review of the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer to see if it suits your printing needs.
Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal A4 Printer: First Impressions & Specs
When I was a student, I remember my university always required hard copies of documents. Luckily, there was a print shop on campus where I could always pop in to print something.
Then I became a professional, and to my surprise many life spheres still required me to have printed versions of documents with me. Of course you can get your own full-sized machine to print things at home, but if like me you live in a small apartment, you value every extra bit of space and don’t want a massive printer to take it up.
One day, when I was looking for a neighbor with a printer to help me with my event tickets, they introduced me to the concept of a portable printer. Seeing how easy it is to use, I immediately wanted to get my hands on one of those. So here I am, reviewing one of the most useful gadgets I received recently – the Newyes portable thermal printer.
Before we continue with this review, here is the full list of specs of this printer.
- Model: Newyes LD0801
- Dimensions: 10.4 x 1.2 x 2.28 in (265 x 58 x 30.5 mm)
- Weight: 16.8oz (475g)
- Paper format: A4
- Paper width: 210mm or 218mm
- Printing Type: thermal paper
- Resolution: 203DPI
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Charging port: USB type-C port
- Input Voltage: DC 5V / 2A
- Battery: 1200mAh lithium battery
- Charging time: 75 min
- Automatic shut down: after 30 minutes
- Stand-by: about 30 days
- Extra features: LED light, reset, on / off switch button
- Color: white, black
- Warranty: limited one year warranty
- Price: $199 on the Newyes website
If you find yourself in need of hard copies of important documents while on the move, the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer will become your go-to gadget. Newyes calls it “the world’s smallest printer”, and with the weight of under 500g this seems plausible. This mini printer offers a handy solution for those moments when you need to quickly print an important document but don’t have access to an office setup.
Operating this printer is a breeze – a simple Bluetooth connection is all that’s required. Once connected, just fire up the app, choose the file you want to print, and send it over. Efficiency is at the forefront, and you can easily print multiple sheets by inserting new pages back to back.
The only limitation this printer has is that it can only print in black. So even if your original file is in color, the printed document will still come out in black and white. Other than that – you can print a variety of file types including Excel, Word, PDF, JPG, PNG, and web pages – and it only takes seconds.
The Newyes portable wireless printer combines convenience, portability, and efficiency – all the things I appreciate in a modern gadget.
Design and Unpacking
Let’s have a closer look at the design and build of this smart printer, as well as what you get included in the package when you purchase it.
What’s in the Box
Here’s everything you’ll find when unpacking your Newyes portable thermal printer:
- The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer
- Bracket
- USB type-C cable
- Storage/carrying pouch
- 100pcs thermal printing paper
- User manual
You can use the Newyes portable printer right out of the box, as you’re all set with essential accessories. Aside from the printer itself, the package includes a bracket which will make printing more than one page smoother, a convenient storage bag for carrying your printer with you, a USB-C cable for charging, and a supply of 100 pieces of thermal paper to get you started.
One important thing to remember is that this printer only works with thermal paper. While thermal paper is significantly more expensive than normal paper, this printer also uses inkless printing and works without a ribbon and toner. Since you don’t have to spend money on ink, carbon ribbons or toner cartridges, you ultimately end up saving money with thermal paper.
The Newyes LD0801 is a pocket-sized printer that features straightforward design. For the purpose of this review, I had a printer in white color. The printer looks like a small white brick with just two pressable buttons on top – one for switching it on and off, and another for opening the printer’s cover. You’ll also see the paper entry slot on top of the printer.
On the side of the printer, you’ll find a single charging port.
The printer is made of plastic, but the build feels sturdy. I never have to worry about throwing it into my bag or damaging it when traveling. Besides, you can use a nice carrying pouch included in the package for protection.
Performance & Features
According to Newyes, the portable printer has a “handheld size and two times the weight of an iPhone”. This can give you an idea of how portable and convenient this little gadget is. In a month of testing, I used it at home, in a store, and even in a car while on the road.
Using the printer is unbelievably easy. Connect it to your mobile phone via Bluetooth, press the button to turn the printer on and put a sheet of thermal paper into the paper entry slot. Make sure to use thermal paper and not standard paper, and put it with the black marks facing down. Bear in mind that the thermal printer can only print in black and white and only on one (marked) side of the thermal paper sheet.
Then open the iPrint app on your smartphone. If you’re printing an A4 document, you can select one of two options – Photo Printing and Document Printing . Then choose the document from your phone’s files and print it.
The printer is reliable and in the time that I used it the Newyes LD0801 never let me down. The printing quality will surprise you, as it’s sometimes better than what you get from a full-sized printer. The printer supports printing in various formats, and you can use it to print documents from your smartphone (Android and iPhone), iPad, and Android tablet.
When fully charged, the printer can support up to 90 pieces of paper continuously, which is very impressive for a gadget of such a small size.
Software
The Newyes portable printer requires an iPrint app to operate. The app is available for free on iOS and Android. You’ll need to download the app on your device from the App Store or Google Play before you begin printing your documents.
The app has a simple and user-friendly design. You’ll need to pair your device with the printer on the first use via Bluetooth.
Depending on the type of document you want to print, you can choose different options from the app. There’s photo printing, document printing, web printing, and banner printing.
The app also has Materials and Template sections, where you can find various pictures and templates for printing to-do lists, post-its and holiday cards. You can also use the Newyes LD0801 as a label printer using these templates.
Battery Life
The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer is equipped with a decent 1200mAh lithium battery. This high-capacity battery allows you to print on the go without constantly worrying about running out of charge. When I received the printer, I charged it fully once, and it still hasn’t run out of battery after one month of use (I use it to print something almost every other day).
Charging this printer is quick and takes just over an hour to charge the printer from zero to full. The type-C charging cable facilitates a rapid charging experience. And if you run out of battery while on the go, you can quickly charge the printer from a portable power station or a power bank to continue printing.
The printer doesn’t support wireless charging, so I’d recommend always bringing the usb-c cable with you just in case.
Should You Buy the Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal Printer?
The Newyes portable thermal printer ensures high-quality wireless printing while on the go and easy operation. It’s not the most budget-friendly option, but this purchase will save you money and nerves in the long run thanks to its versatility and portable nature.
Personally, I can say that this printer made my life easier. So much that it’s probably my favorite smart gadget of the year. If you’re looking for a portable printer that won’t take any space in your house, I’d certainly recommend considering the Newyes LD0801 model.
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