EVRYjourney E-Bike Review: A First-Time Rider Takes the Hills

Why a First-Time E-Bike Rider Was the Right Tester

Some of the most useful rides we film don't come from people who already love e-bikes. They come from people who were never planning to buy one. That's Mika. Before this video, Mika had never owned an electric bike and wasn't shopping for one. By the end of the ride, the verdict was simple: if we'd allow it, this bike was going home with Mika.

I want to walk you through that ride in detail, because a first-timer notices things that experienced riders stop seeing. They notice whether the controls make sense on the first try. They notice whether the bike feels heavy when you're standing next to it. They notice the moment the motor kicks in, and whether that moment feels exciting or startling. And they're honest about the stuff that doesn't go perfectly, like a slightly awkward hop back onto a sidewalk.

The bike in question is the sixthreezero EVRYjourney, and this one is finished in a blue metallic paint that Mika loved from the first second on camera. If you've been browsing our electric bike lineup, you already know the EVRYjourney name. It's our touring cruiser platform, and the electric version keeps the same relaxed, upright personality as the pedal-only bikes while adding a motor for the hills and the long days.

It doesn't look like a typical e-bike

The first thing Mika talked about wasn't the motor or the battery or the top speed. It was the look. A lot of e-bikes on the market today are, in Mika's words, very industrial looking. Big boxy down tubes, exposed wiring, chunky components bolted on wherever they'd fit. They look like machines first and bicycles second.

The EVRYjourney goes the other way. The battery sits back behind the seat, over the rear of the bike, rather than strapped to the frame in the middle. That keeps the main frame clean and open. Mika's description was that it looks like a regular bicycle that just happens to have an electric motor, and I think that's the best way to put it. From across a parking lot, you'd see a classic cruiser before you'd see an e-bike.

That matters more than people think. A lot of riders I talk to want the help a motor gives them on hills and headwinds, but they don't want to roll up to brunch on something that looks like it belongs on a construction site. If the style of a bike makes you excited to grab it out of the garage, you ride it more. And riding more is the whole point.

The color and the cruiser feel

Mika came back to the blue metallic color more than once during the ride. Early on it was "I love this color," and near the end, coasting down a hill on a sunny afternoon, it was a beautiful bike on a beautiful day, especially because it's blue. It's a small thing, but it tells you something real: the bike made the ride feel like a treat rather than a chore.

The handlebars add to that feeling. They sweep back toward the rider, beach-cruiser style, so you sit tall and relaxed with your hands coming to you instead of you reaching for them. Mika pointed this out at the start and again late in the ride, describing how the bars come out and back like a beach bike. If you love that laid-back posture, our cruiser bikes collection is built around it, and the EVRYjourney carries the same DNA into an electric frame.

What this review covers

I've broken the rest of this article into the same order Mika experienced the bike. First, the hardware you notice standing next to it: brakes, suspension, the rear rack, the grips, the gears, and how heavy it feels. Then the controls, because the display, throttle, and pedal assist levels are where most first-time e-bike riders get confused. After that, the ride itself, from flat paths to bumps to a climb Mika said would have been too hard on a regular bike. I'll finish with who I think this bike is really for, based on what Mika's ride showed.

One quick note before we get into it. I've kept the honest moments in. There's a small wobble Mika joked about, a curb that called for a careful approach instead of a jump, and an admission of getting a little lazy once the pedal assist was cranked up. Those moments are useful. They show what owning this bike actually feels like, not just what it looks like in a showroom.

If you're a first-time e-bike buyer yourself, I'd encourage you to read the whole thing rather than skipping to the verdict. The details in the middle, especially around pedal assist level one and why you need to keep the system on it, are the kind of thing that will save you some frustration on your own first ride.

Before riding anywhere, Mika walked the camera around the bike and pointed out the parts that stood out. I like this approach because it mirrors what you'd do in a shop. You look the bike over, squeeze the brakes, lift it a little, and get a sense of whether it feels solid. Here's what Mika found on the EVRYjourney.

Disc brakes front and rear

The EVRYjourney has disc brakes on both wheels. Mika called this out right away and came back to it during the ride, first noting that the brakes were good and later, coming down a hill, describing them as progressive. That's a word worth explaining if you're new to bikes. Progressive braking means the stopping power builds smoothly as you squeeze the lever, rather than grabbing all at once. On an e-bike, where you're carrying extra weight and often moving a bit faster than you would on a pedal-only bike, that smooth, predictable feel is exactly what you want.

Mika's other line about the brakes was a little more colorful: "these binders are good." Coming off a descent where the display showed about 17 miles an hour while just coasting, that's the vote of confidence you want to hear from a rider who'd never owned an e-bike before.

Front suspension with a lockout

This EVRYjourney has a front suspension fork, and Mika pointed out that you can lock it in and out. That's a genuinely handy feature. With the suspension active, the fork soaks up bumps, cracks, and the small drops you hit getting on and off paths. With it locked out, the front end stays firm, which some riders prefer on smooth pavement because the bike feels more direct when you pedal.

Later in the ride, after cranking up the pedal assist and cruising along, Mika said it plainly: "Love the front suspension." Combined with the big tires, which I'll get to in a minute, it's a big part of why the bike handled bumps so calmly throughout the video.

The rear rack

There's a rack on the back, and Mika read off its maximum weight capacity as 25 kg, which is about 55 pounds. That's useful room for a grocery run, a picnic, or a bag of gear for the beach. It's also a reminder that the battery lives back here too, which is part of why the frame looks so clean.

If you want to make the most of that rack, we carry panniers and bike bags that clip on and keep cargo low and stable, and you'll find additional rear racks in our accessories section if you're outfitting another bike in the household. Whatever you carry, stay within the rack's rated capacity.

Padded grips that feel like leather

Partway through the ride, Mika mentioned liking the touch of the leather on the handlebars and noted they're nicely padded. It's one of those details you don't think about until you've spent an hour with your hands on a set of hard rubber grips. Soft, padded grips cut down on hand fatigue and just make a long ride more pleasant. Paired with the swept-back bars, they keep your wrists in a natural position.

Seven speeds from Shimano

The EVRYjourney has a seven-speed Shimano drivetrain. Mika noted that the gears come pre-tuned, describing that as one less thing to worry about and something that saves money down the road. Out on the ride, the shifting got some of the most enthusiastic comments in the whole video: smooth shifting, nice and smooth, and simply "gears are good."

Gears matter on an e-bike more than some people expect. The motor helps, but the right gear still makes pedaling feel natural, keeps your cadence comfortable, and stretches your battery further because you're contributing efficiently. If you like the idea of having a range of gears without fuss, our seven-speed bikes hit a sweet spot between simplicity and flexibility.

How heavy does it feel?

This is one of the first questions every e-bike shopper asks, and it's a fair one. Motors and batteries add weight, and you'll be lifting, rolling, and parking this thing. Mika's take after handling the bike was that it's not that heavy and very manageable. Mika guessed at a number on camera, but it was clearly a rough guess, so I'd point you to the product page for the actual listed weight of the version you're considering.

What I'd take from Mika's comment is the feel, not a figure. The bike didn't feel unwieldy to someone who'd never handled an e-bike, and that's a meaningful thing to hear if you've been worried about wrestling a heavy machine around your garage.

Big tires

Mika kept coming back to the tires during the ride. They're big, comfortable, and, as Mika put it, pretty cushy. Over bumps and on a small drop, the tires and front suspension worked together so the bike landed smoothly. More than once, Mika credited the big tires specifically for making a difference on rougher stretches. For a relaxed rider who just wants the road to feel smoother, that combination is a big deal.

For a lot of first-time e-bike owners, the controls are the most intimidating part. You've ridden a bicycle before. You probably haven't had a screen, a throttle, and a set of power levels on your handlebars. Mika walked through each of these on camera, and I want to slow it down here because getting this right makes your first ride far more enjoyable.

Powering on the display

The EVRYjourney has a small LED screen mounted on the handlebars. To turn it on, you hold down the power button. It's a press-and-hold rather than a quick tap, which is a nice detail because it keeps the system from switching on accidentally when you brush against it. Once it powers up, you'll see a few key readouts.

Mika pointed out three of them. There's your energy level, so you know how much battery you have left. There's the speedometer, so you can see how fast you're going. And there's the odometer, which tracks your total distance. For a new rider, the battery readout is the one to watch at first. Once you've done a few rides, you'll get a natural feel for how much a typical route uses, and you'll stop thinking about it.

The thumb throttle

The EVRYjourney has a thumb throttle. Mika described it as something you can push to go, and it's simple: press it with your thumb and the motor drives the bike. This is great for getting rolling from a stop, especially on a slight incline or with a loaded rack, when the first few pedal strokes are the hardest.

If you've never used a throttle before, my advice is to try it in an open, quiet spot first. Give it a gentle press and get a feel for how the bike responds before you take it anywhere busy. The motor's help is real, and it's easier to enjoy when you already know what to expect.

Pedal assist levels

Here's the part I most want first-time riders to read carefully. The EVRYjourney has multiple pedal assist levels, and you step through them with the controls on the handlebar. Mika went up through them on camera and believed it went up to five, then confirmed it did.

Pedal assist is different from the throttle. With pedal assist, the motor adds power while you pedal, so you're still riding the bike, just with help. Lower levels give a gentle push. Higher levels give more. You pick the level that matches the terrain and how much effort you want to put in.

The key thing Mika stressed is this: you have to have the system on at least level one or you won't get any pedal assist. If it's sitting below that, Mika warned, you'll be pedaling like crazy, meaning the bike will feel like a regular, heavier bicycle with no motor help. So if you climb on, start pedaling, and wonder why it feels like hard work, check your assist level before anything else. Mika's recommendation was to leave it on one whenever you want pedal assist.

What each level felt like

Over the course of the ride, Mika used several levels and described each one in the moment. Level one turned out to be the workhorse. On a climb later in the ride, Mika was on pedal assist one and said the bike was handling the grade with ease. At another point on level one, Mika joked about cheating, riding along with feet out to the sides while the bike kept moving.

Stepping up to two gave a noticeable boost. Mika's reaction when moving from one to two was an impressed "Oh, look at that," followed by "Very nice. Very smooth." Going up to three, Mika said there was hardly any need to pedal at all. Later, stepping through two and three again, Mika noted the bike picks up speed nicely.

And here's the honest moment I love: after flipping between two and three a few times, Mika admitted to getting too used to it and getting lazy. That's the thing about good pedal assist. It's so easy to lean on that you have to decide how much of a workout you actually want. The flexibility is the point. You can ride hard on one, cruise on two, or take it easy on three when you're tired or the hill is steep.

Riding with the motor off

Early in the ride, Mika turned the assist off for a stretch just to see how the bike pedals on its own. The verdict was that it pedals nicely. That's worth knowing. If your battery ever runs low, or you simply want a bit more exercise, the EVRYjourney still rides like a proper bicycle. Then, switching assist back on, Mika's reaction was immediate: "Whoa, look at that. That's nice."

A simple starting routine

Based on Mika's walkthrough, here's how I'd suggest a new owner start every ride:

• Hold the power button to turn on the display and glance at the battery level.
• Set pedal assist to level one so you get help as soon as you pedal.
• Pick a comfortable gear, then start pedaling, or use a light press of the thumb throttle to get rolling.
• Step up to two or three for hills or when you want to cruise, and drop back to one on the flats.

That's genuinely all there is to it. Within a few minutes on the bike, Mika was changing levels on the fly without thinking about it, which tells you the learning curve is short.

Once the walkthrough was done, Mika's line was "Let's take this bad boy for a ride." What followed was a long, relaxed outing that covered flat paths, a few bumps and drops, sidewalk transitions, a steep climb to a lookout, and a fast coast back down. Here's how the EVRYjourney handled each part.

The first pedal strokes

The very first reaction to the motor was pure surprise and delight. Pedaling off with assist on, Mika said, "Oh, look at that assist. Wow, that's amazing." For a rider who'd never owned an e-bike, that first surge is the moment that sells the whole idea. It's not a lurch. It's a feeling that someone is giving you a steady push from behind.

There was also a small wobble early on, and Mika owned it with a laugh, calling it professional. I'm keeping that in because every new rider has a moment like that while they get used to a new bike. It passed in seconds, and the rest of the ride was smooth.

Shifting through the gears

On a flat stretch with assist on level one, Mika shifted up through the gears and described it as nice and smooth. A little later came the comfort comments: a very comfortable ride, pretty cushy. Then, rolling along, the simple verdict, "This is nice." Mika also noted that the bike coasts really well, which is something you appreciate on longer rides when you want to ease off and just roll.

Handling bumps and a small drop

Mika deliberately went looking for some rougher ground to see how the bike would handle it. Going over a series of bumps, the comment was "Nice and smooth. The big tires really, really help." Then came a little drop, and Mika called it a nice landing. Later in the ride, over another bump, the bike handled it just fine.

This is where the combination of big tires and front suspension earns its keep. Real roads and paths aren't perfect. There are cracks, root bumps, and curb cuts. A bike that absorbs those calmly means you can keep your eyes up and enjoy where you are rather than bracing for every imperfection.

Getting on and off sidewalks

At a couple of points, the route meant stopping, getting off, and moving the bike over a curb or onto a sidewalk. At one of those spots, Mika chose not to jump the curb and instead took it carefully, turning down a helping hand with "I think I got it." I like this moment because it's realistic. Most of us aren't hopping curbs on any bike, let alone an e-bike. The fact that Mika could manage the bike over the transition without help lines up with the earlier comment that it feels manageable.

The climb

The standout part of the ride was a climb up to a lookout. This is exactly the kind of hill that makes people leave a regular bike in the garage. Mika's comment partway up was that the bike handles the grade with ease, followed by "And I'm only on pedal assist one." At one point, Mika said it was hardly necessary to pedal at all, and then decided to pedal a little anyway.

At the top, the view was the reward. Mika called it beautiful and absolutely stunning, and then said the thing that I think sums up the whole case for an e-bike: Mika was glad they took this bike and wouldn't ride up there on a regular one because it might be too hard. That's not a knock on regular bikes. It's a recognition that a motor opens up routes you'd otherwise skip. If routes like this appeal to you, browse our bikes for adventure for more ideas.

Looking around from up there, Mika spotted all the different roads and little pathways branching off and said it was time to come back and explore more. That's the real effect of a good e-bike. It doesn't just make your current route easier. It makes you curious about the next one.

Coming back down

The descent was where Mika really relaxed. Cruising downhill, the display showed about 17 miles an hour while just coasting, and Mika said the bike cruises nicely. This is also where the brakes got the "progressive" and "these binders are good" comments, and where Mika returned to how much those swept-back beach bike handlebars added to the comfort.

A little later, back on flatter ground, Mika ran through the assist levels again, up to three, back to one, a little pedaling, then up to two, with the joke about getting lazy. Mika also said the bike handles really well, especially with these tires, and that the grips were nicely padded. At one point the comment was simply that Mika could be out there all day riding it around.

Stopping and restarting

Near the end of the ride, Mika came to a stop, then took off again with a bit of assist and a gear change, stepping through levels two and three and noting how nicely it picks up speed. That stop-and-go sequence is worth highlighting. Starting from a standstill is one of the hardest moments on any bike, and it's where pedal assist and the thumb throttle make the biggest difference for new and returning riders alike.

The overall impression from the ride is consistent. Smooth power delivery, smooth shifting, good brakes, comfortable handling over imperfect ground, and enough help on hills to make a tough climb enjoyable on the lowest assist level.

When the ride ended, Mika summed it up without any prompting. Mika wasn't in the market for an e-bike, had never owned one, and after riding this one, would take it home if we'd allow it. The closing advice to viewers was to give it a try, because you will not be disappointed.

That's a strong reaction from someone who started the video as a skeptic of e-bikes in general. Based on everything Mika noticed, here's who I think the EVRYjourney is a great fit for.

First-time e-bike riders

This is the obvious one, and it's the whole story of this video. The controls are simple: hold a button to power on, keep pedal assist at level one, and use the thumb throttle when you want a push. Within minutes, Mika was moving through the assist levels without thinking about it. If you've been nervous that an e-bike will be complicated, this ride should ease that worry. Our bikes for beginner adults collection is a good place to start if you're coming back to riding after a long break.

Riders who want comfort above all

Almost every comment Mika made came back to comfort in some way: the swept-back handlebars, the padded grips, the big cushy tires, the front suspension, and the smooth shifting. If you've ever finished a ride with sore hands, a stiff back, or rattled wrists, those details add up. Riders looking for a more relaxed position can also browse our bikes for bad backs, which focuses on upright, low-strain riding.

Riders who want help on hills

The climb to the lookout is the moment I'd point anyone to if they're on the fence. Mika handled the grade on the lowest assist level and said plainly that the same climb would have been too hard on a regular bike. If your neighborhood is hilly, or you've stopped riding certain routes because of one tough stretch, a bike like this changes the math. For older riders in particular, that hill help can be the difference between riding regularly and not riding at all, and our electric bikes for seniors collection is built with that in mind.

People who care how their bike looks

Mika's first impression was about style, and it never faded. The battery is tucked back over the rear, the frame stays clean, and the bike reads as a classic cruiser rather than a piece of industrial equipment. If you want the help of a motor without a bike that looks like a gadget, the EVRYjourney is a great option. And if you love the beach cruiser vibe, take a look at our beach bikes for that same easygoing feel.

Errand runners and short commuters

The rear rack, rated at the 25 kg Mika read off, gives you real carrying capacity for groceries or a work bag. The thumb throttle makes getting going from stoplights easy. And the comfortable, upright position means you arrive less tired. If you're thinking about trading some short car trips for a bike, our electric bikes for commuting are worth a look. Add a solid lock from our bike locks selection, since you'll be leaving it parked outside shops and offices.

A few practical tips if you buy one

• Keep pedal assist on at least level one whenever you want motor help while pedaling. Below that, it rides like an unassisted bike.
• Practice with the thumb throttle in a quiet, open area before taking it into traffic.
• Use the front suspension lockout to suit the surface: active for rough paths, locked for smooth pavement if you prefer a firmer feel.
• Watch the battery level on the display during your first few rides so you learn how far your usual routes take you.
• Stay within the rear rack's rated capacity when carrying cargo.

Finding the right fit

Fit makes a huge difference to comfort on any bike. Before you buy, I'd recommend running through our BodyFit questionnaire, which takes your height, weight, and riding goals into account and points you toward the right size and setup. Comfort starts with a bike that fits your body.

My take

What I value most about Mika's ride is that it wasn't a polished sales pitch. There was a wobble, a careful curb dismount, an admission of getting lazy on pedal assist, and a lot of genuine, in-the-moment reactions. Through all of it, the bike kept delivering: smooth power, smooth shifting, confident brakes, and a ride comfortable enough that Mika said it would be easy to stay out all day.

If you've never owned an e-bike and you've been wondering whether one is for you, Mika's experience is a pretty good preview. Give it a try. Based on this ride, I don't think you'll be disappointed either.