When it comes to commuting, ebikes are a game changer. One of the best decisions I think anyone can make is to get an affordable ebike and use it as a car replacement vehicle as much as possible. That’s why when Mokwheel reached out to me about testing the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0, I jumped at the opportunity.
The MokWheel Mesa Lite 2.0 is an affordable, entry-level commuter ebike from Mokwheel – an update from their original Mokwheel Mesa Lite. It has some nice features that make it a good ebike, and with the low price point, it’s one that most people will be able to get their money’s worth.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0, discuss my experience using this bike, and consider whether this is the right ebike for you.
If you want to see my full video review of the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0, you can check it out here:
Quick Overview
First, here are the general specs of the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0:
- Top Speed: Up to 28 mph with pedal assist
- Motor: 350-watt rear hub motor
- Range: 40-50 miles of advertised range
- Tires: 27.5″ x 2.4″ tires
- Battery: 36v, 14.7 Ah LG battery
- Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes
- Shifter: 7-speed Shimano shifters
The Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0 comes in two frame options – a traditional step-over frame and a step-through frame. I was sent the step-over frame, which has the advantage of looking like a traditional bike and makes it easier to carry. The downside is it’s more difficult to get on and off the bike since you have to step over the bike frame.
The bike itself looks great. It comes in a nice teal color that really makes the bike pop. The battery is a removable integrated battery, which gives the bike a nice, sleek look. If you weren’t paying attention, you might not even notice that it’s an ebike.
For power, the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0 doesn’t have a huge motor at just 350 watts. That being said, the bike is plenty powerful. The top speed on the bike is 28 mph, although, in practice, I didn’t reach those speeds consistently unless I was going slightly downhill. Still, under my normal usage, I would get over 20 mph easily, which is fast enough for me, especially for commuting in a city.
The bike uses regular, mechanical disc brakes and has a 7-speed Shimano shifter, all of which is pretty standard stuff for an ebike. I do wish it had hydraulic disc brakes, but I understand the trade-off to keep the price down.
For tires, the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0 uses 27.5″ x 2.4″ inch tires. These are thinner tires which helps reduce rolling resistance when riding. The thinner tires, however, mean you probably won’t be riding this bike in icy conditions or taking it off-road.
The main upgrade with the Mesa Lite 2.0 vs. the Mesa Lite 1.0 is the addition of a front-suspension fork. The original Mesa Lite had a solid fork, so the addition of a suspension fork is nice. That being said, there are advantages to a solid fork (mainly less maintenance to deal with), but most people would probably prefer having a suspension fork.
So with the basic specs out of the way, what’s been my experience with the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0?
My Experience With The Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0
The Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0 has made for a nice commuting bike and you can tell that Mokwheel put some thought into how the bike would work as a commuter bike. It comes with a rear rack and fenders, both of which are indispensable for a commuter bike. The fenders help to avoid splashing mud and dirt on yourself and the rear rack gives you additional cargo space.
The Mesa Lite 2.0 uses swept-back handlebars as well, which is good for a commuter bike. I like this style of handlebar because it gives you an upright riding position, which makes for a more comfortable ride for commuting.
The bike also comes with integrated lights, which I like a lot. It has a bright front headlight and three integrated taillights (two on the frame that are visible from the back and side, and one on the rear rack that’s visible from the back). Having these integrated lights is very important for commuting since it helps with visibility.
The power on this bike is also very good. I was easily able to get it up to 20 mph or more when pedaling, although it did slow down a little bit when riding uphill. This makes sense since it only uses a 350-watt motor, so you’re not going to get insane power when you’re pedaling. Weirdly enough though, the bike does seem really fast on flat ground and on downhills because the motor doesn’t seem to shut off when you get to high speeds. I’m not sure if that’s in my head or if the motor really was still pushing me along, but I found when I was going downhill, it felt like the motor was still moving me.
One slightly odd thing I noticed is that there is a slight delay in how fast the motor kicks in when you start pedaling. This takes a bit of getting used to, especially when you’re used to riding bikes that move quickly from the jump. That being said, there is a benefit of this slight delay because it makes it so you don’t suddenly jolt forward when pedaling.
The throttle is also pretty gentle compared to other bikes I’ve used. It’ll get you going, but it doesn’t take off quickly, which again, is good if you want to avoid sudden jolts when riding. The bike uses a thumb throttle which is fine. I generally prefer twist throttles because I find them easier to use, but most ebikes I use seem to use thumb throttles.
For range, the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0 advertises 40-50 miles of range. That seems pretty accurate to me based on my usage of the Mesa Lite 2.0. I’ve been able to spend most of the day biking around and delivering food with DoorDash and Uber Eats with and never had any range anxiety.
Is The Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0 Right For You?
So who is the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0 best suited for? This is an entry-level bike that comes in at around $1,000, so it’s definitely on the more affordable end. For most people, getting a bike like this will likely be a winning proposition simply because it’s hard not to get your money’s worth from a bike this cheap.
Commuters are the obvious target for the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0. If you’re someone looking for a bike to get yourself to work or nearby places around you, this is a good bike to get.
I think that the Mesa Lite 2.0 can also be a good option for people delivering food on a bike with DoorDash and Uber Eats. Since it has a rear rack, you can put a basket or use panniers on the back to hold things. The low price tag also means it’s easy to earn your money back too. If you’re on a budget, I’d definitely look at this bike.
The big thing to think about is maintenance and how you’ll deal with any issues you might encounter. I haven’t ridden this bike long enough to encounter any issues, so I can’t say how long the bike will last or what the customer service experience is like.
Since Mokwheel is a direct-to-consumer brand, you’ll have to either find a bike shop that can work on your bike or be comfortable doing some of your own maintenance. In my experience, more bike shops are willing to work on ebikes from any brand now, but you’ll have to do research in your area to make sure you can find a shop that can help you out. If you’re not comfortable with doing your own maintenance, you’ll probably want to consider getting an ebike from a local shop that you know will be able to service your bike and get you replacement parts if needed.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I find the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0 to be a well-built bike, especially for the price point. Getting a good commuter ebike for $1,000 is a good deal and I don’t think many people can go wrong with a bike like this.
Just be aware that the Mesa Lite 2.0 only uses a 350-watt motor, so the power isn’t going to be as strong as more expensive bikes. You’ll also want to make sure you can either handle your own maintenance or find a bike shop willing to help you out.
But if you’re comfortable with buying a direct-to-consumer bike, I think the Mokwheel Mesa Lite 2.0 is a good buy and offers good value for the price.
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