⚡ My Electric Bike Journey in Metro Manila: Brands, Mistakes & Buying Tips

🚲 The E-Bike Boom in Metro Manila

Due to the pandemic and limited public transport, many commuters like me started looking for alternatives. Depending on your budget, options range from bicycles and scooters to electric bikes (e-bikes).

They’re not just a cheaper alternative to motorcycles, they’re also eco-friendlier and easier to maintain—but they’re not perfect either. Let me walk you through my electric bike journey and what I learned along the way.

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🔍 Choosing an E-Bike: Known Brands to Consider

If you're just starting, here are 3 well-known electric bike brands in Metro Manila:

• 🛵 NWOW
• ⚡ ROMAI
• 🛴 Gogo E-Bikes

They're more expensive than marketplace options, but you're paying for warranty, store support, and peace of mind.

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🤔 Our First E-Bike: A Lesson Learned

We took a chance and bought from a Facebook seller for ₱13,500. The specs looked okay:

📊 Specs:

• 600W motor
• 48V / 12Amp battery
• With pedal & signal lights
• 35 km/h top speed
• 50 km range

But there were red flags. The pedal didn’t actually work and the battery seemed used. After a month, the battery died.

💡 We replaced it with a ₱3,500 battery (₱3,000 with trade-in).

🛠️ Battery Stores in Pateros:

• Gold Wheels Electric Bike Trading
• Chepard E-Bike Store ☎️ (02) 8280-6217

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💕 My First E-Bike: "Rosy"

Eventually, I wanted my own. I bought a sleeker e-bike online for ₱12,000 + ₱500 delivery via Lalamove. It didn’t have pedals but ran smooth. No issues at all!

Until I felt like... I outgrew her. 😅

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🔁 The Upgrade Journey: Alibaba vs. Local Stores

We found a bigger e-bike locally for ₱77,000—but on Alibaba, the same model cost ₱56,250 (including tax and delivery!). We risked it—and it paid off.

⚠️ We burned the charger (voltage switch was at 110V). But guess what? The seller replaced it for free. ✅

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🚴‍♀️ Meet Louie-Louie: My Dream Ride

After lots of scrolling and scrolling, I finally got my dream e-bike from Gogo E-Bikes: the Paris 2.0.

📊 Specs:

• 800W Brushless DC Motor
• 60V 20AH Lead-Acid Battery
• 45 km/h top speed
• 60–70 km range
• Front Disc / Rear Drum brakes
• 12-Tube Sine Wave Controller
• Tubeless tires, 10x3.0
• Load Capacity: 240kg

🎨 Available Colors: White, Black, Gray, Maroon, Navy Blue, Light Pink
💰 Price: ₱36,999 (with free delivery!)

🛡️ Warranty:

• 2 Years – Motor
• 1 Year – Parts
• 6 Months – Battery
• Lifetime service support (home service available)

This one lets me ride to Antipolo and back without stopping to recharge. No more struggling on uphill roads!

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✅ Advantages of E-Bikes

🅿️ Free or low-cost parking
🪪 No license/registration needed (as of now)
💸 Lower cost than motorcycles
🚴 Can use bike lanes

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⚠️ Downsides of E-Bikes

🔋 Limited range (based on battery)
🐢 Slower than motorcycles (~45 km/h max)
⛽ Few charging stations (some gas stations refuse charging, even for a fee)

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🛍️ What You Should Look For:

• ⚡ Wattage: Go for 800W to 1000W if you can
• 🔋 Voltage: Higher = longer range. 72V is better
• 🛡️ Warranty & Store support
• 🔧 Spare parts availability

At the end of the day, e-bikes with similar frames have similar performance. The brand, after-sales support, and your riding needs matter most.

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We love taking our eBikes on mini adventures, especially to nearby nature spots and scenic stops around Antipolo, Tanay, and Marikina. Whether it’s a sunrise ride to a mountain café or a spontaneous trail trip, here are our top tips for a smooth and stress-free ride:

🔌 1. Book a Place That Lets You Charge Your eBike
Whenever we travel overnight with our bikes, we make sure to stay at a hotel or Airbnb that allows charging—even if it means paying a small fee. We usually say the max we’ll pay is ₱100, since one full eBike charge really only costs about ₱8.00 in electricity.
💡 Tip: Mention this when booking so it doesn’t become a surprise later.

🔌 2. Bring Your Own Extension Cord

Not all places have a plug point in the parking area or near your room. To be ready for anything, we always bring a reliable extension cord—sometimes it’s the only way we can reach a power outlet from the bike area.
🧰 You’ll thank yourself for packing one!

🌦 3. Be Ready for Weather—Rain or Shine
We’ve learned this the hard way—don’t forget a raincoat (or better yet, a bike sunshade)! Weather in the mountains can change fast, and we’ve been caught in light showers and blazing sun within the same ride.
☔ Raincoat for the downpour, sunshade for the midday heat.

😎 4. Don’t Forget to Enjoy the Ride
Sometimes we get too caught up in schedules or destinations, but the best part of every ride is the unexpected views, friendly locals, and quiet roads. Whether you’re heading up to a coffee shop in Antipolo or chasing waterfalls in Tanay—slow down and take it all in.
📷 Some of our best moments happened in places we didn’t plan to stop!

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📌 Would I recommend e-bikes? Absolutely. Just be careful who you buy from, check the specs carefully, and invest in a good brand if you can afford it.

It’s a small step toward sustainable, stress-free city commuting. Plus, it’s fun. 😄

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📣 Thinking of buying an e-bike in Manila?

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