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With kids, with cargo, or when solo, the Momentum Cito E+ rides nice and easy with a few tricks up its sleeves not all utility/cargo e-bikes have.
If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that many of the biggest names in cycling are quietly fighting for supremacy in the cargo/utility e-bike space. The Momentum Cito E+ (whose parent company is Giant Bicycles) is another of the middle-price-tier cargo-carrying e-bike options that have steadily increased in number.
We appreciate a lot of the Cito E+’s strengths. Its motor is highly effective at moving heavy payloads or producing fast speeds if necessary. Its battery efficiency is decent, but it thoughtfully provides a higher-capacity charger for quicker “fuel-ups.”
There are several ways to outfit the Cito E+ to get the most out of it. Despite a relatively modest wheelbase, it can attach two child seats, a sizeable carrying basket, or an elongated saddle for a comfier ride. It’s also one of a sadly small number of cargo options that comes with some storage built in, thanks to the compartment tucked behind the seatpost.
The Cito E+ is simple to operate. It has a low step-over height that’ll accommodate the majority of riders, 20” tires that make the bike feel like it moves quickly and give it nimble handling, and three different power levels and an intuitive pedal system that makes every ride a breeze to control.
Alongside a handful of nicer-than-most included features like the suspension fork and 4-piston brakes, part of the reason it has a higher price tag is the backing of Giant’s large dealership network. Many riders will appreciate the peace of mind that comes with knowing there is someplace local that can service their ride.
Overall, it feels like a rock-solid entrant into the market – we were virtually complaint-free when riding on the bike. There are only a couple of wrinkles to smooth out that you encounter when the bike is parked that hinder the otherwise positive “Momentum” the Cito+ has. Read the full review below for all the details.
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E-Bike Category:Utility / Cargo
E-Bike Class:
Class 2 (throttle to 20 mph)
Class 3 (pedal assist to 28 mph)
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Momentum Cito E+ Video Review
ELECTRICAL SPECS & FEATURES
Battery:EnergyPak 780Wh 48V Panasonic 22700 Cell Battery Display: RideControl Dash, high-angle visibility, full color LCD display Motor: SyncDrive Move S 80Nm torque 750W Rear Hub Motor Headlight:Hi /Low 1900 Lumen, Daytime running lights Taillights:Brake lever activated tail lights, Turn signals Pedal Assist: Torque sensor, 3-PAS level assist (Eco, Active, Power) Claimed Range:PAS: 30-75 miles
Throttle: 25-45 miles
Throttle:Twist grip App:Giant Ride Control UL Certification:N/A
Weight & Dimensions
Claimed weight: 86 lbs. Tested Weight: 87.5 lbs Rider height range: 4’9” to 6’3” Total payload capacity:Up to 408lbs
Rider limit 242lbs
Rack limit 132 lbs
Front rack 33 lbs
Components & Accessories
Brakes: Tektro DORADO HD-E730, 4-piston, hydraulic disc, 203mm [F&R] Fenders: Steel, front & rear Fork: RST GUIDE MNL Coil, Mechanic Lock-out 60mm travel Frame: ALUXX Aluminum Drivetrain:microSHIFT Acolyte 11-38T, 8-speed, 56t chainring Grips: Momentum comfort w/ clamp Saddle: Selle Royal Vivo Ergo Moderate Unisex Handlebar: Alloy high-rise with cross bar Kickstand: Included (dual-leg kickstand upgrade available) Pedals: Friction Top platform type Tires: CST CTC-06, 20 x 4″
The Momentum Cito E+ was great maneuvering all around town.
The motor works well and has the power you need for moving heavy loads.
The display is small, but bright and easy to see.
The graph above is the type of distribution I’m always hoping to see from this test.
The three speed modes feel distinct and appreciable. Each successive mode has a little more push off the line, and makes it a little easier to reach faster speeds.
The SyncDrive motor works off a torque sensor, so the amount of pressure your legs can put down does matter when attaining those higher Class 3 speeds. The 8-speed Acoloyte drivetrain has the range needed for Class 3 riding—just know that hitting the top speeds of Power mode will require a quicker cadence to keep the necessary pressure. It’s like a speed walk vs. a normal pace stride—nothing major.
Momentum also programmed the bike with a unique throttle quirk. It won’t activate unless the bike is going 3.5 miles per hour. It’s likely a thoughtful safety measure since this bike can be used to bring children along with the right accessories, but it is a bit of a hindrance if trying to get across a road from a dead stop with a heavy payload. Not a turnoff for us per se, but having the ability to toggle that would have been nice.
The final thing to note, this test was done without cargo, but even when we did load the bike up with cargo it didn’t seem to change too much. We were able to hit roughly the same speeds at slightly lower acceleration levels. It’s a testament to a good motor that extra weight doesn’t hold you back from top speeds.
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Class 3 cargo bikes aren’t as common as you might think, but the Cito E+ handles the speed well.
The Microshift Acolyte groupset works nice, and the 56t chainring is massive, put helps provide a good pedal experience.
The 780Wh battery tucks away nicely in the bike’s downtube.
When we tested the range of the Cito E+ we found it had solid battery life.
The Max test had a good upper-tier result. It’s worth noting that we did not let the bike go full boar on this test—our local bike paths restrict speeds to 20 mph, and we try to be good citizens. But for consistency sake, we keep all the bikes at 20ish mph on this test anyway.
The Min test was also solid. I had hoped for maybe a little more distance since the battery is a little larger than most, but nearly 60 miles with a decent average speed is hardly worth complaining about.
Like the other tests, these weren’t done with cargo, so some dip in the range is to be expected depending on the payload you’re hauling.
One thing I really appreciated, though, was the included four-amp charger. E-bikes are no different from other electronics; we want long battery life AND quick recharge times. The larger-than-most charger definitely was appreciated in that regard.
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I’m always a fan of hub motors in real-world applications of cargo bikes. It’s an oversimplification, but they can move heavier payloads more easily than mid-drives can, so they feel like a good tool for the job if you have a particularly hilly commute.
I also appreciated the smoothness of the power delivery here. I think nailing the hub motor/torque sensor combo is trickier than most realize, and on steep hills, you can start to feel if things aren’t in sync. Overall, I’d say this is one of the better-feeling pairings of these drive systems, and it did a nice job in a general sense.
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Overall the ride is comfortable, so don’t be surprised if you take it for several joyrides (even if you don’t need it to load it up with cargo).
4-piston hydraulics on 203mm rotors: a good brake choice for stopping a heavy payload.
The twistgrip throttle works well, but does shorten the grip some.
I’m a proponent of robust braking systems on cargo e-bikes, so I’m glad Momentum picked the parts well here.
The 4-piston hydraulic brakes on 203mm rotors is a highly effective setup on 20” wheels. The result of our brake test was 21’ even. That’s about a foot longer than our current running average of all cargo e-bikes – but well within safe limits and lower than most e-bikes overall.
This is a good brake system for cargo bikes that must stop potentially heavier payloads.
Beyond the raw score, the brakes had a good feel to them. The wheelbase and smaller wheels keep you pretty straight when stopping, so you can ride fishtail-free for the most part.
The high rise cross bar adds to the nice handling.
An add on accessory, the rear basket give you a large platform for taking items with you with the protection of walls.
The storage compartment is a nice included addition. We LOVE when a cargo bike comes with some storage beyond the rack.
Turn signals and a horn come standard. The left hand has a lot of buttons to familiarize with.
The Momentum Cito E+ does handle well. The riser cross bar, wide 20” tires, and shorter (for a cargo-style bike) wheelbase make it feel balanced, responsive, and more nimble than similar bikes.
This is more utility or short tail cargo bike, and the fact that you can get two child seats on here is pretty unique for such a bike style, so it earns extra points there.
The low step-over height and upright positioning feel comfortable, but the bike’s low center of gravity balances that upright posture so you get a solid, planted feel on the roads, with no sore back.
Practical accessories come on the bike like the steel fenders, headlight, and tail light. You even get a turn signal for alittle extra visibility on the roads.
While I do love the included storage compartment behind the seatpost, we did discover a quirk of the optional rear basket we were sent for testing. It did limit the ability to open the top so that feels like somewhat of an oversight in the design stage.
The frame has a nice paint job that comes in two colors. I’m a fan of this shade of blue, but the bike could use a slap guard on the chainstay as we’re already getting some grease build up. Your local bike shop should be able to oblige.
Speaking of a LBS, since Momentum is a Giant brand they don’t sell DTC, but instead you can pick up through a Giant dealer. They’re one of the larger cycling companies in the world, so odds are there is one close to you, and they’ll help with assembly which is nice.
The Giant Ride Control app will work with the cito. It can run diagnostics on your electronics, log trips, show enhanced display settings and more. It’s optional, but kinda nice to have on the phone anyway.
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The RST Guide fork can smooth out the road, or lock it out for more precise cornering.
The saddle is comfortable, but here’s where you can see how the storage compartment will run into the basket.
We’re always fans of brake lights and turn signals. Rear Basket will obscure it slightly.
4” width is comfortable and stable, while the tread pattern rolls well.
Momentum created a good bike with the Cito E+ that I think is worthy of recommending if you want something a little on the higher end.
The advantages of paying that price tag boiled down to a hub motor experience I believe to be a step above most, and just a solid – comfortable handling experience that I appreciated. I still love that this thing doesn’t feel enormous, but can take both my kids if I outfit it right, or can haul tons of weight with the high 408 lbs rating.
You can get a Cito E+ via a Giant dealer which means it’ll be professionally assembled and you’ll know where to take it to come tune up time. If turning wrenches in the bike shop isn’t your thing, you’ll likely value the ecosystem quite a bit.
Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Momentum Cito E+ down in our comments section.
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