E-bikes are usually expensive because of the technology involved and higher complexity compared to conventional cycles. The ones that are on the budget end of the scale tend to be products with a very basic feature set. But what if I said that there is a cycle that does not cost a bomb and still comes packed with more features than most of its competitors? The Alpha M from Virtus Motors seems to be the answer to that very question. Virtus Motors is a relatively new name and chances are that you might not have heard of them. I reviewed their Alpha M e-bike which had an impressive-looking specification sheet, especially considering the price of the product.
First, let us take a look at all the kit you get on the cycle. There is a lithium-ion battery and an electric motor to aid you in your commute. You get five levels of assist, the ability to run the cycle on electric power only and a removable battery. There is also a light at the front, a horn, disc brakes on both wheels, an adjustable front suspension and even a side stand. So, how well these features work and how the final riding experience is, let us find out!
The competent electrical setup
The Virtus Alpha M comes with a 250 W hub-mounted electric motor that can either be used to reduce the effort required while pedalling or used to propel the cycle entirely. Just like motorcycles and scooters, the right side of the handlebar has an accelerator which can be used to modulate the speed when running solely on electric power. If you are just using the motor for assistance, there are five levels to choose from and you do feel a difference with each mode.
Virtus Alpha M comes with a removable battery
Virtus is offering the Alpha M with an 8 Ah lithium-ion battery as standard but customers can opt to replace it with either a 10.4 Ah or a 13 Ah battery pack to get more range. The battery pack is removable so charging it is not a hassle at all. Plus, you can lock the battery with a key so that no one can steal it when the cycle is left unattended. This is not the same key as the one you need to power up the electric motor so you will have to keep track of both keys. In terms of range, I got around 25 km of mixed usage and the number can change depending on how you ride. Overall, I found the battery charging experience to be easy and the motor also worked without any glitches.
When not using the electric motor, the cycle works just like any other one. It is not the most light product out there but it is not so heavy that you feel like you are carrying extra weight. Yes, if you know that you want to ride without any motor intervention, it is better to remove the battery as it takes a significant amount of weight off the cycle.
The controls
Virtus Alpha M gets a digital display
On the left side of the handlebar is a digital display with three buttons. There is a button to switch the display on and off; it is also responsible for engaging and disengaging the electric motor. Above and below the power button are plus and minus buttons, respectively. These are used to change the level of assistance coming from the motor. The display itself shows your current speed, assistance level, odometer and battery level. I really like how all the information is easy to read and the display is legible even under direct sunlight.
The placement of the keyhole makes it hard to reach the buttons on the other side
Things are not as great on the right side of the handlebar. Here, you have a keyhole where you put the key to start the motor. There are also buttons for toggling the light and using the horn. The problem is that the keyhole sits between your hand and the buttons. So, if you want to use these buttons, you will have to lift your hand off the grip and then press the buttons or perform some thumb gymnastics to reach them.
The light provides decent illumination when riding at night
How does it ride?
Being a mountain bike, the Alpha M comes with wide tyres that can be used on smooth roads as well as rough ones. They were great during all conditions, even when riding on slightly damp roads. The disc brakes on both ends work adequately well and bring the cycle to a halt in a short period of time.
I was not a big fan of the comfort levels though. The front suspension does a decent job of absorbing any shocks and can even be adjusted without any tools. While this aspect of the Alpha M is excellent, it sadly does not come with a suspension at the rear. This, coupled with a hard seat cushion means that going over rough roads is not a pleasant experience. You will definitely have to look into replacing the factory-fitted seats or getting padded shorts.
The e-bike gets disc brakes on both wheels
What about the looks?
The Alpha M sports a fairly conventional and simple design, which is not a bad thing at all. Its main frame and rear-wheel mounting arms are coloured (blue in my case) while the rest of the bodywork comes in black. You even get plastic mudguards at both ends to enhance the look. While the cycle looks good from a distance, getting close does reveal some weld marks and the paint job feels a bit cheap compared to some others. Credit where it's due, the weld marks on this cycle are nowhere as visible as some other more expensive cycles.
Final thoughts
The Virtus Alpha M has been given a price tag of Rs 31,999 and for that money, you do get a lot of features. It is easily one the most well-equipped products out there. However, the only problem is that quantity and quality do not always go hand-in-hand. The small trouble related to the build quality and some ergonomic issues do become apparent after a few days of usage. If the company can manage to iron out these niggles and deliver a product that is more rugged, the Alpha M can be an easy recommendation. However, as the product is now, it still has a lot to offer to buyers looking for a value-for-money e-bike.