I ride a Big Sur (aka "The Tank") and my wife rides a Big Sur Sport. Honestly, these are the best ebikes we've tested and ridden. We've owned both bikes for almost a year and have put some miles on them. Our only orblem came when I dropped my ebike on the derailleur side and bent the hanger - I have since recommended to Aima that they include a derailleur guard as standard, and I believe that will be included on the new models.
We use these bikes both inloaded and fully loaded (rear panniers + rack basket + trunk) and they shrug off anything we have thrown at them. Rideability is EXCELLENT - my legs are weak (from an injury), yet I can still pedal the ebike without assist (the gear selections, crank and derailleur, are spot on). The controllers are easy to use and the thumb throttle is an added plus.
One thing I REALLY like is the massively oversized 203mm brakes - more than once we've had to depend on great stopping power to prevent an accident! The frame of the ebike is quite rigid, and all welds are well made - and invisible, thanks to the "flat plate" assembly technique. The finish on both bikes is durable - very difficult to mar - and still looks fresh.
One major point - the battery is UL2849 Certified. I never worry about charging fires or battery fires. Aima has taken the time to manufacture their batteries safely, and to ensure they are safe and effective in use. This is something that may not be common on cheaper ebikes, which can bring the risk of catastrophic battery fires. No worries with Aima, though!
The Bafang hub motor is still powerful and quiet after almost a year, and functions as new. Range on these ebikes is about average - 60+ miles is obtainable with pedaling assist and avoiding hills. Without pedal assist, and with moderate climbing, range seems to fall around 37 miles, which is good for a bike carrying 285# of rider and 75# of cargo/groceries!
However, I use Bafang's proprietary app, "Bafang GO+" to modify the assist level for PAS1 and PAS2, reducing the assisst amount to give my legs more exercise. Doing this also increases my range, fully laden, to nearly 50 miles with moderate climbing (mostly lots of highway overpasses).
One thing about these ebikes - neither one could be considered "lightweight". There's a lot of rugged build quality in these machines, and the Big Sur weighs in 7 pounds heavier than its closest competitor. And yet, these bikes are tossable! They are quite nimble, owing to having the front forks set in the "sweet spot" of caster angle. This adds to maneuverability at slow speed (it *does* take a bit of practice, but both ebikes can be ridden at slow walking speed with fair stability) and stability at speed (the maximum legal speed, 28 mph, imparts a feeling of control and stability, without any "death wobble" found on a few inferior ebike frames). At maximum speed, the ebike is still easy to maneuver.
This ebikes are absolutely best overall for whatever role required of them, on pavement, soft sand or rocky trail. Better still is a feature that is largely invisible until needed: Customer Service. Many other companies tout the features of their ebikes, yet all one has to do is visit chats about the bikes to find that their CS was terrible or even nonexistent, leaving the buyers with unusable or unsafe ebikes. Not so with Aima!
To be fair, I bought both ebikes from High Voltage eBikes in Largo, Fl, and I have received near-concierge service from them. But there have been a few times when I needed a question answered, or when I wanted to make a suggestion - and the response from Aima was both rapid and addressed my concerns or suggestions precisely. In two instances, Aimatech USA CEO Angela Chen responded! Now, *that* is customer service, when the CEO responds personally! (Of course, that doesn't happen all the time, but it is a great indication that Aima both takes their customer base seriously, and is in the ebike business in the USA for keeps!)
I suppose this would not be a fair review if I didn't mention what I *don't* like. Okay, here's what I don't like:
- The headlight, at 100 Lumens, is weak. Usable, but weak. I use a bright headlight mounted on my handlebars when I need to see at night.
- The tail light is bright enough, but the brake light is nearly invisible when the tail light is on. This is unacceptable. Again, I use a separate light which incorporates a tail light *and* a BRIGHT brake light.
- No turn signals. I added bar end turn signals, which show to the front and rear. Problem solved.
- Knobby tires are noisy (but almost all "fat tire" ebikes have them). I would love to see a tire selection available at purchase.
That's it. Those are the *only* things I don't like. Aima ebikes are without a doubt the best bang for the buck ebikes on the market. They tick *all* the boxes!
Long review - thanks for reading! See you on the road or trail!
