Is the PVY Z20 Plus a good fat bike? We drove it around for a few weeks to put it to the test.
Electric bicycles come in different shapes and sizes, some more fashionable than others. Fat bikes are a controversial choice, but it is clear that they catch the eye with their fat tires.
Foldable fat bike
This certainly applies to the PVY Z20 Plus: it is an appearance that you cannot ignore. The bicycle is available in striking colors such as green and orange, but even in khaki or gray the full frame and fat tires immediately catch the eye. Of course, it’s up to you to decide for yourself whether you like that: we prefer slim frames that don’t weigh too much. However, with a weight of 29 kilograms including battery, you will not easily take this foldable fat bike on public transport.
It vouw mechanism should rather be seen as a way to store the bicycle in the trunk of your car. The bicycle will not be really small, but there are certainly fewer protrusions that can get in the way. In addition, the folding mechanism provides easy access to the battery. This way you can remove it from the bike to charge it or replace it later if something is wrong with it.
Driving range
Then by bike: how far you can pedal with this fat bike depends on which model you choose. The Plus 500, which contains a 14Ah battery, allows you to pedal up to 50 kilometers. That is also the model we tested ourselves. The Plus 1000 can take you up to 120 kilometers away. These measurements were made in more than ideal conditions: we never made it 50 kilometers with this bike. Although that may be due to the fact that we regularly used the throttle on the bike. This made it possible for our model to move at walking speed (6 km/h), without having to pedal.
Driving experience
This is especially pleasant to start after a red light: as soon as you get going, you can start pedaling. That is a lot more pleasant than just starting to pedal: otherwise you really feel the motor starting, while now it can be done more gradually. About that engine: on the Plus 500 you get a maximum of 60 Nm of torque. The Plus 1000 goes a step further and offers 100 Nm. The entire package also has a CE certificate. The makers thus assure you that everything is in tip-top condition according to European standards.
Furthermore, the PVY Z20 plus is actually very comfortable to cycle. You get Shimano gears with 7 positions and a large cam wheel at the front. The shifters and switching system are not among the best in the Shimano range and that becomes clear almost immediately. The motor support can be set to three levels, so that you can easily cycle with others without overtaking them. The shock absorbers at the front and in the frame also ensure that bumps and potholes in the road surface do not leave too much of an impression on you. Even off the road it is actually quite feasible to cycle with the PVY Z20 Plus, although you should keep in mind that you are less agile than on a mountain bike.
A shot in the foot
This entire review deserves a large asterisk. PVY likes to boast that their bicycles can be unlocked. Customers can boost the motor to peak powers of 500 and 1000 W respectively, depending on which model you choose. This includes a maximum speed of 39 km/h for the Plus 500, while the Plus 1000 can handle a maximum of 50 kilometers per hour. Outside Europe, PVY may offer the bicycles without restrictions, but not in Belgium or the Netherlands. It is therefore quite normal that the bicycle knows how to go up to 50 km/h, but is still limited to 25 km/h.
It is therefore questionable that PVY, the manufacturer of this bicycle, has released a YouTube video to explain how to remove the restriction. To be clear: riding around with an e-bike that goes faster than 25 km/h is not allowed. Many buyers will buy this fat bike because you can easily boost it. That is not exactly good for the image of these big e-bikes, which are therefore disproportionately often put aside.
Conclusion
All in all, the PVY Z20 Plus is a fat bike that is fairly cheaply put together, but still offers value for money. You can get one of the fat bikes for 1099 or 1299 euros, depending on how far it needs to go. The suspension ensures that you always stay comfortably in the saddle. The only thing that is disappointing about riding this bike is that you actually need the throttle to start off in a pleasant way. Are you used to premium shifters? Then you will undoubtedly be annoyed by the cheaper Shimanos on the handlebars. Apart from that, the riding experience on the bike is quite good. However, we cannot simply recommend this bicycle: the manufacturer is a little too loose with applicable laws.
