Motto Test 2022: Beautiful e-bike with no commitment but with flaws

Joining the thriving sector of electric bike rentals in Paris, Motto offers a model at €75 per month, charming but with some youthful errors. Here is our full review.

At the start, there are Antoine Mouttier and Driss Ibenmansour. The two co-founders initially launched the adventure in 2021 under the pilot project Bloom with 100 bikes. But with such a surge in electric bike rentals, they accelerated their growth. Bloom became Motto, with a larger scale. At the end of April 2022, the brand new shop in the Marais district in Paris received its first e-bikes under the new identity. And the flow is steady, despite various challenges: sourcing parts like brakes, delivery delays, rising transportation costs.

Customers are there and keep coming, with 1,000 subscriptions received this spring. The company has had to adapt, with already 15 employees and soon 20 by summer. In the shop, Motto welcomes new users, while others receive their bikes at home (for a fee). Customers are given a comprehensive introduction to their bike, including model specifics and the mobile app.

But let’s get to the main point—our Motto. We wanted to test this new gadget that aims to compete with Véligo, and especially the Dance or Red-Will in the same price range. Here is our experience after one week.

Bike Overview

The aesthetics of this Motto clearly follow current modern trends. Unlike the generic look of Véligo or the vintage style of Red-Will or the “hollandism” of Swapfiets, it draws inspired by Vanmoof for its silhouette: minimalist handlebars, thick frame tubes, and monochrome appearance.

Details-wise, the e-bike isn’t black but in a very dark green, especially noticeable in bright light, with a battery located inside the seat tube. The finishes are impressively high quality, with hardly any visible welding. Two frame options are available: the classic Original and the open Comfort.

The design is well-suited for urban riding, especially with the wide, heavily padded saddle, although the riding position is somewhat active. No suspensions, as the suspension is entrusted to the large 28-inch Innova tires. These narrow tires provide only average comfort and are more exposed to water drainage grates and potholes. Also, the pedal crank gives a feeling of looseness and a metallic noise constantly.

The biggest flaw is undoubtedly the handlebars, too wide and awkward for city riding, missing wrist rests. The rear brake cable and boost button wires are even exposed for several centimeters, which is disappointing given the care taken with the frame. However, it features a very powerful integrated lighting bar, providing genuine illumination for night riding.

Regarding accessories, we couldn’t test the front basket, which costs an extra €2/month and was not yet available.

On the Handlebar of the Motto Comfort: 2/5

We tested the Comfort, the more versatile open-frame version of Motto. With the weight at the rear, one would think the bike would be agile at the handlebar, but it’s not that easy to control. The motor is like on the Original, located in the rear hub. Very bulky, it’s not as responsive as suggested. This motor doesn’t specify torque, but our tests indicate it’s probably no more than 50 Nm. Not very powerful, the electric unit is also very linear, with no sudden boost at start, but it still allows reaching 25 km/h without issue on flat terrain. Uphill, maintaining 20 km/h is more challenging.

We refer here to the most powerful mode of the three: Eco, Comfort, and Sport. Eco mode feels very limited, Comfort is enough for flat daily riding, but Sport mode is necessary when facing an incline. The problem is, these modes are only switchable via the app, so you must be careful at the start of your ride. However, Motto offers a solution: the handlebar has a single button, a small boost button. It’s useful in Eco and Comfort modes to get out of a red light or handle minor elevations without switching to Sport. In Sport mode, the boost is barely noticeable.

Driving this urban bike is fairly easy, thanks to the use of a flexible belt instead of a traditional derailleur. No more gear shifts. Another feature of Motto is its reverse pedal function. Fortunately, it’s not as abrupt as on Swapfiets but very light, allowing you to slow down smoothly when approaching a red light or intersection. On the downside, braking lacks power, limited to the 180 mm front disc. The motor braking works well but jerky, disturbing the riding sensations. An emergency stop at an intersection gave us a scare, nearly ending on the hood if the driver hadn’t reacted quickly. Without assistance, the bike’s weight over 21 kg is noticeable, and the single speed hampers its city use.

Battery, Range, and Charging: 3/5

The rare battery is integrated into the seat tube, similarly to the Voltaire. Here, it’s glued to the saddle. You can fully remove it, but with some effort. You must disconnect the small connector underneath the crankset. This choice is peculiar but understandable, as a connector at the bottom of the tube would be vulnerable to vertical shocks disconnecting it or causing contact issues. A wire and external connector are a reliability feature but not very aesthetic.

This is also not where the charger connects. It’s under the saddle— a small connector no bigger than a jack plug allows direct recharging on the bike. Expect around 5 hours for a full charge, visible only via the app. Luckily, this raised port exists. Handling the battery for recharging at home or in the office is complicated: you need to disconnect it first, then remove the long tube. It’s heavy, with the 504 Wh capacity in addition to the saddle.

This capacity provides a decent range, but only if you remember to remove the connector after each use. Forgetting this quickly drains the battery. For example, if left for a weekend without charging at 25%, the battery was empty by Monday morning. Oops, despite the consumption being just about 1% per kilometer in Sport mode with boost (on flat ground). Overall, we estimate about 75 km per full charge on our route, while Motto claims 80 km in theory.

App, Connectivity, and Security: 4/5

There’s no screen here. The handlebar only has brake levers, the boost button, and a ring-shaped bell. Oh, and at the stem, a phone mount allows using the Motto app as a display. No surprise, you see your route, speed, and can only toggle driving modes. Without a button on the handlebar or frame, starting or stopping the electric assistance requires using the app.

Another menu shows trip history for the current week, last week, and month. You can view summaries for these periods, as well as trip details (excluding monthly), including total distance, average, average speed, duration, and average battery usage per trip.

The third menu relates to included assistance. You can send a message to request information or report theft. A phone number is also available Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., along with a FAQ.

The brand also provides theft insurance, as the e-bike is geo-locatable by the team and the app. However, certain rules must be observed when parking the bike. Locking it with a chain lock is necessary according to the usage conditions, as well as removing the battery. In that case, the service promises a response within 14 days and reimbursement of travel costs. Without recovering the bike, Motto charges a €100 franchise and replaces the bike within 24 hours. Currently, in Paris, the offer covers within the city and in the inner suburbs (92, 93, and 94).

Price, Availability, and After-Sales Service: 3/5

attractive and sleek, with large range, the e-bike is not very powerful and offers average comfort. However, Motto is a good option for starting your e-bike journey. The subscription is a no-commitment plan at €75 per month. Slightly cheaper than the Red-Will (€79), which is more performant but not connected, and more expensive than the Dance (€69), which is more convincing. You need to go to a shop in the 3rd arrondissement for your bike, as the €69 delivery fee is off-putting. At the end of the rental, you simply return the bike before 30 days, or the contract is automatically renewed. This formula has attracted some.

The bike’s manufacturing is primarily in Asia, according to Driss Ibenmansour, but Motto designs and performs final assembly in Paris. While component choices are complex, other parts like the frame might eventually be relocated to France.

Thanks to its success, CEO Driss is already planning a second phase. He mentions that the no-commitment rental will have an option with a minimum commitment — similar to Swapfiets — which could lower the price. He also notes that a longer cargo bike (extended) will be available in the future for parents and children.

Final Score: 12/20

Also read: Angell Cruiser: the French smartbike, comfortable and lockless