Mapfour Roam Review

The electric-bike market has reached a stage of maturity where riders no longer settle for basic urban machines. The trend is towards hybrid and trekking bikes, categories that link everyday commuting to longer weekend rides through the countryside and the forest.

That is exactly the space Mapfour targets. The brand emerged as a spin-off from its parent company Engwe and now operates independently, aiming at a considerably more demanding European customer base. The stated goal is to move away from an entry-level image by relying on more standard, recognised and better-quality components while keeping pricing highly competitive.

The Roam is the machine chosen to embody that move upmarket: a full-suspension electric trekking bike that sets out to be connected, powerful and capable of covering long distances in comfort.

At first glance the Mapfour Roam commands respect. Its massive stance, almost that of a two-wheeled SUV, immediately reassures on solidity. The manufacturer offers two frame options, a classic frame — the version covered here — and an open frame. The latter is particularly practical for getting into position quickly without lifting a leg over, which counts in an urban setting where stops at traffic lights are frequent. The overall line is well judged, and the general standard of finish is very good. One detail rarely lies about a manufacturer's high-end ambitions: the frame shows no visible welds. The whole thing is remarkably smooth, evidence of real care taken in manufacturing.

That visible robustness is paid for on the scales, however. The Roam is a very heavy electric bike, recorded at 35 kg. That is a colossal figure for a bicycle, even an electric one, and it is difficult to manoeuvre day to day. The weight is partly forgotten once the bike is rolling, thanks to the electrical assistance, but it makes itself known the moment the machine has to be parked or pivoted in a cramped bike store.

That sometimes frustrating ergonomic picture extends to charging for anyone without a socket in the garage. The bulky battery is removable, but the operation is carried out from underneath the frame. In use, the system proved awkward to handle: it requires contorting to support first the cover and then the weight of the pack in order to extract or refit it, which, given the size of the bike, is short on fluidity.

Where the Roam lands a serious blow is on its standard equipment list. It arrives very well equipped, with effective mudguards and a solid rear rack as standard. The rack is designed for touring and city use, although it lacks MIK HD or QL 3.1 compatibility, so a separate fitting has to be added for the latter. It can be complemented by an optional front rack.

One point to qualify concerns the front light. It is certainly powerful enough to illuminate the road properly, including in peri-urban surroundings. But when the adjustable stem is raised to adopt a comfortable riding position, the light can no longer be angled down far enough and ends up illuminating the sky. The only workaround identified was to mount it the other way round, at the cost of the optical refraction, which no longer lights the road as effectively.

In the centre of the handlebar sits a large control screen whose brightness stands out, even in full sun, making speed and remaining range readable at a glance. The one regret is that in navigation mode the Mapfour application only displays directions on the screen rather than full mapping. That forces the rider to use a smartphone alongside it, when the large integrated display would have been perfect for working on its own with the phone in a pocket.

Mapfour has also invested heavily in software security and connectivity. Aware that theft is the main brake on buying an electric bike above a certain level, the manufacturer includes protection based on a real-time GPS tracker. The companion application proved very complete, with detailed and effective navigation that suits long trekking outings. On the security side, the system allows locking from a smartphone and triggers a motion alarm if the bike is disturbed. It also allows geographic authorisation or exclusion zones to be defined, a function more usually associated with professional fleets.

On pure mechanics, the effort to use components from recognised brands that are easy to source is very welcome, and it is a major reassurance for future maintenance. The transmission, for example, abandons the traditional chain for a Michelin belt paired with a Shimano Nexus 5 integrated hub gear. That choice is extremely relevant for ease of use and low maintenance: it is a clean, quiet system that needs no lubrication, and it suits everyday commuting in a suit as well as muddy weekend excursions. The wheels are shod with sturdy, wide 2.35-inch Kenda tyres with an anti-puncture system, ready for dirt and gravel.

It is in the saddle that the Roam reveals its character. Its defining feature is a trekking architecture with full suspension. At the front there is a Zoom Vaxa 32 fork with 100 mm of travel, working alongside a DNM DV-22 rear shock offering 60 mm. Both suspension elements are adjustable for firmness. On the ground that translates into a very comfortable bike, appreciated as much on poorly surfaced city-centre roads as on the tracks used for weekend rides. The bike absorbs impacts with Olympian calm, isolating the rider from unwanted vibration.

To move the 35 kg of the Roam, Mapfour selected the Mivice X700 motor, and the specification does not lie: with 100 Nm of torque this motor is seriously powerful. The assistance provides strong, confident support that suits steep climbs, and in practice it shifts the bike's mass without faltering, erasing gradients with disconcerting ease.

That abundance of power does not come without minor flaws. Although the manufacturer promises quiet performance, the recorded testing found the motor to be noisy, and it is very audible in Turbo mode, where the electric whine becomes prominent. For calm rides through woodland, where quiet and immersion are usually the point, the noticeably more discreet Tour or Auto modes are the better choice.

Despite the motor's health, the bike's considerable weight is felt in its behaviour. The machine is not especially lively. Stability is a given at cruising speed, but the frame proves much less reassuring through quick changes of direction than the lighter full-suspension references it targets. The dynamics are ponderous and demand that lines be anticipated.

That inertia raises the question of braking. Mapfour logically opted for 180 mm disc brakes supplied by Tektro. They proved effective in most situations, but the recorded testing noted a lack of bite under emergency braking, which is unsurprising given the mass involved; the levers simply have to be squeezed firmly.

Finally, although the standardisation effort is commendable, some doubts remain about the long-term durability of the fork and rear shock, which are not high-end units. ## Long range and rapid charging

If there is one area where the Roam settles the argument, it is endurance. Built for trekking and long escapes, the bike hides a large 720 Wh battery in its imposing down tube, and the brand quotes long-distance performance of up to 150 km.

Those theoretical figures are usually obtained in unrealistic conditions — a very light rider, a tailwind, minimum assistance — but the recorded testing confirms that the Roam has excellent range. On a mixed route alternating climbs and flowing sections, it covered 100 km in Tour mode, 70 km in Auto mode and a little over 50 km in the most power-hungry Turbo mode. Those are high-level scores, well suited to multi-day touring or to charging only once a week for commuting.

When it is time to refill, Mapfour plays a final card: an 8 A rapid charger, an extremely rare piece of equipment when the norm sits at around 2 A to 4 A. Thanks to it, the battery recharges in a little over two hours, which genuinely changes the picture on a long ride by recovering almost all of the range over an extended lunch stop.