As bike-to-work initiatives continue to grow in availability and popularity, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of e-bikes aimed solely at commuters. And if the hypothetical Joe/Jane Bloggs needs it to hit the office dressed to impress in the boardroom, there are a few important design considerations.

The bike should be comfortable, it should fit a variety of shapes and sizes, it should be safe and easy to maneuver in traffic, and most importantly it should at least look stylish. This, of course, is a tough set of priorities to balance at any budget, and so the likes of the Eskute Polluno Pro have their work cut out for them.

Aimed at those who want to ditch the car and get to work in style without breaking the bank, the Polluno Pro emphasizes a ‘silent’ design, torque sensor and long range of up to 80 miles as its main selling points. of sale.

But with serious competition at this price, does it do enough to earn our recommendation? Keep reading for the full commentary.

Features and design

• Step by step design
• Bafang mid-drive motor

The first thing you see is the Polluno Pro’s step-through frame design, which makes it easier to ride than a “normal” bike, and it’s something you’ll appreciate if you’re in your work clothes.

The recommended height range is 160-200cm, so shorter riders under around 162cm (5ft 3) might find it difficult or impossible to ride, and there is no option for a frame smaller. This is the first compromise, them.

The second thing you notice is the big motor between the pedals. That’s because it’s a mid-drive bike: the motor isn’t in the rear wheel hub like it is with most e-bikes.

Eskute opted for the M200 system from Bafang, a well-respected manufacturer in the e-bike world.

The Polluno Pro comes in any color you want (as long as it’s black) and is not a bike that will turn heads for its sleek looks. Like some of its rivals, including the Eleglide T1 Step-Thru, there’s a huge battery, which is bulky and gives the frame a chunky, unsleek look.

The massive battery contributes to the bike’s high overall weight, which at 27.5kg is difficult to carry up stairs. This could be a problem for those who live in an apartment and cannot store the bike outside.

Fortunately, the battery can be removed and/or locked in place using the supplied keys, and a full charge takes around 5 hours on average.

We found in general use that the Polluno Pro was comfortable to ride. The saddle had enough padding to make even extended rides a breeze, while the front suspension soaked up bumps and bumps in the road well, working particularly well on cobblestones.

The disc brakes also felt tight and responsive, even at higher speeds.

There is a control panel mounted on the left handlebar, with a power button, buttons for power assist levels and an on/off button for the headlights. Although there was no way to tell the buttons apart by touch alone, the layout lent itself to quick and easy changes on the fly.

The display is separate, in the middle of the handlebars. It only displays distance traveled, remaining power and current speed. There’s no app or Bluetooth, which can be a good thing depending on your preference.

The Polluno Pro has nine-speed gears, which worked smoothly and were welcome for tackling steep hills in particular. But we would have liked an indicator to show in which report we are.

Performance

While many e-bikes “groan” when the motor is working hard, the Polluno Pro promises not to. And in general, this turned out to be true. Where you might not hear the whine of many rival bikes in traffic, you’ll struggle to hear the Polluno Pro even when there are no cars at all.

The engine makes noise, but it is so minimal that it is completely insignificant.

Whether this is a real benefit in everyday use really depends on where you ride and how important it is to you. I certainly enjoyed the quiet.

More important is the use of a torque sensor in this mid-drive motor assembly. In many budget e-bikes a cadence sensor is used, but a torque sensor means the motor will try to match the pressure used while pedaling to apply power, making the ride much smoother in general.

The advantages of this configuration are evident on the road, in traffic in particular. Where cadence sensors can cause jerky movements, the Polluno Pro leaves the rider feeling completely in control, a big win for a bike intended for use on the commute.

Five power settings are on offer, and thanks to the 65Nm of torque on offer – far more than you get with most e-bikes at this sort of price – there’s plenty of hill-climbing assistance.

One of the benefits of having a massive battery is greater range. Eskute says “up to 80 miles” (130km) but – as always – this will vary depending on rider weight, cargo weight, temperature, incline of your route, level of assistance electrical you use and other factors that all fight to bring that figure down.

In general use, I found the range to be about halfway, mixing hill riding and more challenging terrain. If you commute to work every day, this is a bike that will need to be charged at least twice a week, depending on how long said trip is.

However, it’s not bad at all, and the Polluno Pro has better range than many rivals.

Price and availability

Eskute is a direct-to-consumer company, so if you’re tempted by the Polluno Pro, head straight to their website where prices start at £1899. You get a two-year warranty as standard.

There’s also a Polluno – minus the Pro – which is nearly identical, but lacks a mid-drive motor and instead uses a rear wheel hub motor and cadence sensor. It’s £1299, so that’s a bit cheaper and shows how much premium you’re paying for the Bafang M200.

Unfortunately, Eskute does not yet sell e-bikes in the United States.

Naturally, there are several alternatives you could consider. One is Eleglide’s T1 Step-Thru which offers the same frame design but at a significantly lower price, but without the high-end (and powerful) Bafang mid-drive motor.

At £1595 the MiRider One might appeal to a different kind of ride. Although it has a shorter range (45 miles), it is lighter and therefore will be easier to take on public transport if needed, not least because it folds up.

For the same price – £1595 – the Raleigh Array offers a more traditional look, but also lacks the finesse of the mid-drive motor.

And Eskute has other models you might like too, including the Netuno.

Find out more in our roundup of the best electric bikes.

Verdict

There is no shortage of e-bikes designed for commuting. It takes a certain mix of features to be successful and while the Eskute Polluno Pro doesn’t have them all, it does do enough to merit attention.

With a comfortable ride, a sophisticated torque sensor and essentially silent operation, it’ll be a reliable workhorse for anyone looking to get to and from the office hassle-free.

But it’s exceptionally heavy, and the large frame isn’t suitable for smaller riders. If neither of those things bother you and you can afford the price, the Polluno Pro is a great choice.

In this context, that will mean a bike that works well and without individual components that feels like a compromise.

Features

• MAXIMUM LOAD: 125 kg
• DIMENSIONS: L190 x W65 x H77cm
• RANGE: 80 miles
• BATTERY: 36V/714.5AH Samsung INR-18650 2900mAh
• CHARGING TIME: 5-7 hours
• MOTOR: 250W Bafang M200
• MAX TORQUE: 65Nm
• POWER ASSISTANCE LEVELS: 5
• MAX SPEED: 25km/hour
• CHAIN: KMC E9S
• PEDALS: Big M195DU
• SADDLE: S1 529E without clip
• FRONT LIGHT: 36V1.5W
• REAR LIGHT: Integrated rear brake light
• USB PORT: No
• DISPLAY: LED display
• CHARGER: Standard UK 3 pin plug
• WHEEL DIAMETER: 115 cm
• TIRES: KENDA K935
• BRAKE TYPE: DB-330
• BRAKE LEVER: BL-06E-L/BL-06E-R Electric Bike Brake
• SPEEDS: 9-speed, 16-53
• FRAME: 6061A aluminum alloy