The Eskute Polluno is an unusual e-bike with a universal frame, thick tyres, and a rack on the rear that’s designed for pleasant travel on smooth infrastructure. It’s as black as Batman’s socks (but also available in a lovely lipstick red).
A 250W hub-drive motor helps the Eskute Polluno eBike provide a pleasurable ride. The bike has a top speed of 15.5 mph, a range of 65 miles, and a payload capacity of 125 kg. However, you may be turned off by concerns with underdeveloped features, missing fixes, and an incomplete handbook.
Want to spend less time driving on your way to work and steer clear of gas stations entirely?
You’re definitely thinking about getting a new bike, but should you choose an electric bike over the more traditional multi-gear, manual pedal ride to enjoy improved power with less effort?
| Brand: | ESKUTE |
| Model: | Polluno |
| Type: | E-bike |
| Color: | Black |
| Battery: | 36V 14.5Ah |
| Charger: | 42V/3.0A |
| Range: | 65 miles |
| Controller: | 36V |
| Hub Motor: | Bangfang 36v 250w |
| Display: | Bafang LED Screen |
| Total Payload Capacity: | 125kg |
| Weight: | 25kg |
| Recommended Rider Heights: | 160 - 200cm |
| Pedal Assist Levels: | 1-5 levels |
| Transmission: | Shimano 7 Speed |
| Max Speed: | 15.5 miles/h |
Eskute Polluno: Design and Build Quality
On one of the driest days of the year, the side-pull block brakes instantly started up a yowl because of their softness. On our test model, tightening the hex nut did not make the handlebars’ lengthy sweep into what looks like bull horns feel more connected to the steering’s actual action. This caused some shaky moments as we pushed off from the kerb, along with the motor’s propensity to turn on a half-second later than we anticipated. The Shimano 7-speed drivetrain, which shifts gears very easily, may also benefit from an additional gear in both directions. The Eskute has an air of almost about it.
The Polluno weighs quite a bit because of the motor and batteries. I had to drag the 147 x 23.5 x 83 cm box out the rear to be assembled in addition to dragging it through the front door.
The pre-assembly parts and tools are all held in place with cable ties, and the bike is shipped in rather thick corrugated cardboard, plastic, and polystyrene packaging. In essence, there is no indication that anything might become dislodged and result in scratches, bend, break, etc.
You will need to briefly glance at the LED display while not paying attention to the road in front of and behind you. It’s quite clear, and the illumination makes it easier to see throughout the day.
Two buttons are located at the display’s bottom. The power button, which is located on the left, starts the display; a second touch turns on the front and back lights. The mode button, which alternates between the motor’s five speed settings, is located on the right. Between them is a rubber disc that appears to be a button but is likely only concealing a fastening screw.
The front fork and wheel need to be attached to the aluminum alloy frame during assembly, which I managed to do backwards before realigning the handlebar.
While assembling the bike was simple in the gadget we were given for evaluation, the manual lacked clarity in a few places. For instance, there is nothing regarding mounting the bike’s mudguards. In other places, connecting the wire to the display was really simple, but there is a mysteriously unattached cable that may be for an optional accelerator, but the handbook makes no mention of it and its absence doesn’t seem to have any repercussions.
Although it appears that everything you need is provided with the bike, ours didn’t come with the nuts or the hardware to secure the kickstand.
The bike is light capable of being lifted with ease, and the frame form has advantages beyond just adhering to Victorian modesty. No matter what you’re wearing, it makes it easy to get on and off, so you can ride it to the office or a pub without worrying too much about the condition of your pants. It’s funny how much you miss a crossbar when you ride a bike with a universal frame if you’re used to one. How can the bike maintain stiffness with nothing in the middle when it feels like there is a gaping gulf ahead into which you are going to fall?Â
Eskute Polluno: Motor and DrivingÂ
We’d want to reiterate what we said about the Harlow here: this is an affordable e-bike with a sizable battery, and it performs well within the constraints of what’s feasible with a budget and a rather tiny Chinese hub motor.
The 250-watt Bafang G010 rear hub-drive motor, with a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour (24.95 kilometers per hour), is the heart of this e-bike. The 125kg capacity of the Eskute Polluno makes it ideal for most body types. However, keep in mind that anything carried onto the rear pannier rack will add to the overall weight.
This was confirmed by our 0.8-mile continuous road test climb, which had several sections with a 5% slope and a few with substantially steeper grades. Although the Polluno’ time of three minutes and ten seconds was commendable, it fell short of all the mid-drives we’ve tested and some of the more potent hub motor types. However, given that it has a single speed and a modest motor, you wouldn’t necessarily anticipate spectacular hill climbing.
The bike’s backlit LED display, the Shimano seven-speed gearbox, and a bell are all mounted on the handlebar. The motor speed setting is shown across the top of the system, the current speed is shown in the middle, whether the front light is on is shown below that, and the battery life is shown along the bottom.
Last but not least, a USB-C port is positioned in front of the monitor, facing the saddle.
Overall, this would be a fantastic e-bike for someone looking to venture outside for the first time or possibly a long-distance biker returning. It can also handle light off-road terrain, including canal towpaths, thanks to the suspension and high volume tires.
The Polluno appeared to be able to handle anything I threw at it in a purely urban sense. The bicycle is designed for level terrain, solid ground, and slopes less than 15 degrees.
Of course, since this is an eBike, the hub motor is crucial to the voyage. It makes use of a cadence sensor, so the motor won’t start until some pedaling and forward motion are detected. Torque sensors are used in more expensive eBikes, which can start helping nearly as soon as you start pedaling. This is less important in an urban setting that is largely flat.
Eskute Polluno: Battery and Range
The 14.5Ah 36V battery, often used in lightweight electric vehicles, allows for a maximum range of 65 miles on a single charge. There is a mains charger in the box. Normally, the bike’s battery is locked to it, but it can be released and moved somewhere else to be charged.
The Polluno completed 28.4 miles on our usual moderately uphill, all-tarmac test course for city bikes while operating at its maximum power setting. There were 2,398 feet of ascent on the city bike test route. The range was 43.2 miles over the same route when moving between power modes, with the majority of the time being spent at lower power levels for simpler stretches and the bike managing 3,217 feet of ascent.
The battery does lose power when unused. The test device’s full charge dropped by 50% when the bike was kept idle for a week. It’s a good idea to keep it filled up before leaving, unless you want to pedal independently. It only takes a few hours to fully recharge from empty, but it takes about 120 minutes to top it from halfway.
Observe one thing regarding the battery. A small rubber door that covers the charging port is present, however it is difficult to change and falls off too quickly. Leaving it exposed is not a good idea, especially in the British weather, thus a more secure alternative would be preferred here. In relation to rain, it is not advised to ride in a lot of it. It follows that the Polluno is obviously less useful in some regions of the planet than in others.
Eskute Polluno: Conclusions
You could always choose much less expensive city e-bikes from retailers like Decathlon or Halfords, but you wouldn’t have that lovely smooth, efficient power delivery, and the Polluno’s components probably wouldn’t match them. The bikes would also probably be a bit heavier.
Although there are machines available for many hundred pounds less, they typically lack the luxury of the larger battery and have the less desirable back rack mounted configuration with a front wheel hub engine (and may even be steel framed). Some of the less expensive machines will also come directly from foreign factories, whereas Dallingridge has a long history in the UK making e-bikes, which should undoubtedly count for something.
A good street bike for commuting is the Polluno. The lesson is that this is a dependable bike that will get you to and from work or wherever with the least amount of hassle, despite the fact that its controls are simplistic – possibly more so than is practical.
Upon contemplation, I don’t love the Eskute Polluno, but I do enjoy it. Due to missing parts and a gaping manual, it promises more than it can provide, although the mobile app is good.
However, the actual riding experience is excellent, which is about what you would anticipate from a bike.
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