Fazua Evation
“Make a move man!” seems to be the English translation of the German FAZUA name. With their compact, removable Evation motor, the Munich-based company is taking it to a different level and have pretty much created their very own eMTB niche.
“Is this thing even switched on?” The lack of background noise even at full load makes you think you’re riding without support, in a very good way! The Fazua system offers a superbly natural ride-feeling in all support levels. However, compare the FAZUA to the other motors in our test and you can clearly feel the difference in performance. The strongest support level (Rocket Mode) is roughly equivalent to Bosch’s Tour Mode. This means steep ramps call for the right choice of gearing and lots of leg power. In other words, the FAZUA drive can’t quite deliver the same powerful e-bike flow that other motors provide. On the other hand it still offers superb modulation and control even on challenging terrain. With a capacity of just under 250 Wh the battery is half the size of its competitors, yet the “economical” motor gets you further than a Bosch or similar motor would with the same 250Wh capacity. In any case, the compact and lightweight 1.3 kg battery allows you to carry a spare in any backpack. If you look at the entire drive-system (motor, battery, wiring harness, display, etc.), the weight difference to conventional motors is striking and the Fazua’s low weight has a positive effect on the bike’s handling.
The Fazua concept is nothing short of superb. If you fancy riding motorless from time to time, the innovative Fazua system allows you to ride your eMTB like a conventional mountain bike.
The battery and motor of the FAZUA Evation are integrated in a separate, removable housing which sits in the downtube of the bike. The housing, clicks out easily and leaves you with just the bottom bracket, gearbox and sensors on the main frame. This means you can ride your bike like a “normal” mountain bike. If you decide to do so you can replace the motor/battery unit with a cover and use the empty downtube as a handy (and huge!) storage box for all your trail essentials – goodbye backpack! The battery must be removed for charging and if you don’t use the bike for more than 8 hours, the battery will go into a deep sleep-mode and you won’t be able to switch it on with the remote. Instead you’ll have to unclick the motor/battery-unit before every ride to access the power button. FAZUA forewent a display and chose to use only a handlebar remote instead. This reports the battery-status and support-level via LEDs. The remote communicates with the smartphone FAZUA app which displays all navigation informations and important technical data, as well as the battery status.
Conclusion
Although the FAZUA Evation is the least powerful motor in our test, it shines with a very natural ride-feeling and superb versatility. This smart concept opens up a whole new eMTB sector that lies right in between non-motorized mountain bikes and all the most popular motor models.
Motor weight 1.91 kg
Riding modes 3
App management yes
Walk-assist yes
System closed
Tops
- Very compact and light
- The bike can be used as a “normal” mtb
- No pedalling resistance
Flops
- Small battery
More information at fazua.com
