First ride of an eMTB ever and...

[Boranup]

It was awesome here in Adelaide South Australia on a new 2020 that I hired for the day. After lurking here for a long time and watching every video I could when I found I could hire for the day it was on! And it was as much fun and as comfortable as Rob had stated.
I do have some questions though. How or does the motor disengage? I felt resistance when going over a certain speed consistently and only really got around this by powering the bike off. Also is there a walk mode when pushing the bike up a very steep incline? We have a few here and the bike feels bloody heavy without any assistance on what feels like a 45 degree jaunt.
Gotta say though bike was sooo good and I just cant wait to have one to call my own!

 

[McInner1]

I do have some questions though. How or does the motor disengage? I felt resistance when going over a certain speed consistently and only really got around this by powering the bike off. Also is there a walk mode when pushing the bike up a very steep incline?

The motor disengages smoothly at a given maximum speed - which is different in many countries (Europe: 25 km/h).
Yes, there is a walk-mode, but it's no wonder you didn't find the button. It is ergometrically completely absurd to find on the underside of the Motor-Remote.

PS: nice pictures!

 

[Zimmerframe]

I do have some questions though. How or does the motor disengage? I felt resistance when going over a certain speed consistently and only really got around this by powering the bike off. Also is there a walk mode when pushing the bike up a very steep incline?

@McInner1 says, there is a walk mode, the small button on the underside of the mode selector. Sometimes takes a second to kick in and you hold it down to walk. Also useful if you've stopped /fallen off going up a hill and you're in the wrong gear, so you can change gears whilst it's walking.

It should disengage completely. People often think it's not engaging, but this is normally just the tyre drag and bike weight, though in your case you say it disengaged when powered off, which would be strange, so maybe something not quite right with the bike.

 

[Mabman]

Nice Ute and cute Koala.

 

[KennyB]

I felt this apparent drag on my new levo and was mildly concerned. It was not so apparent of I dropped a couple of cogs and upped the cadence. Then I noticed it on my analogue bike, upping cadence sorted it and I think we are also feeling lack of motor support. I'm reminded of the opposite feeling of carrying a heavy rucsac and feeling like floating when I dropped it off.
I don't find the location of the walk assist button to be an issue. I use mine maybe once or twice a ride, never have to find it in a hurry and I'm quite glad it isn't in a more prominent position on some keypad.