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NCM Moscow

Summary

A cross country style hard-tail e-mountain bike with 80mm suspension fork, knobby trail tires, and sturdy alloy pedals, includes a trigger throttle up to 20mph. NCM is the chosen Bike for Uber Eats , Slkip The Dishes and other delivery srivera in Ontario.

Lots of adjustability with the display panel, including speed, the 12-magnet cadence sensor is very responsive, motor inhibitor of one of the leverss, large 180mm mechanical brake in the front with a 160mm in the rear.

Sloping top tube makes the bike easier to mount and stand over, rear rack provisions and bottle cage bosses add utility, also has provisions for fenders, so you could really make this quite the commuter.

Mechanical brakes rather than hydraulic, the kickstand works decently well but can block the left crank arm when down, 2amp charing is slow for the high capacity battery, some wires stand out vs. being completely internal

Electronic Details
Motor Brand:Das-Kit X15R
Motor Type:
Rear-Mounted Geared Hub
Learn more about Ebike motors
Motor Nominal Output:
500 watts
Motor Torque:
80 Newton meters
Battery Brand:
Dehawk H12 (Made by DLG)
Battery Voltage:
48 volts
Battery Amp Hours:
13 ah
Battery Watt Hours:
624 wh
Battery Chemistry:
Lithium Nickel Cobalt Manganese (Li-NCM)
Charge Time:
6 hours
Estimated Min Range:
30 miles (48 km)
Estimated Max Range:
65 miles (105 km)

Display Type:
Das-Kit L7, Fixed, Backlit, Monochrome LCD, Buttons: , M, -, (Hold for 2 Seconds for Backlight, Hold for 3 Seconds to Clear Trip Distance, Hold - for Walk Mode, Hold and - for Settings and Enter Code 8018)
Readouts:
Amperage Power Meter, Battery Capacity (6 Bars), Speed, Assist Level (0-6), Total Distance, Trip Distance, Travel Time, Max Speed
Display Accessories:
Full Size USB Type A Port on Right Side of Battery (5 Volt, 500 mA)

Drive Mode:
Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Trigger Throttle
Top Speed:
25 mph (40 kph)
Bicycle Details
Total Weight:
57.5 lbs (26.08 kg)
Battery Weight:
9.2 lbs (4.17 kg)
Motor Weight:
10 lbs (4.54 kg)
Frame Material:
6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:
19 in (48.26 cm) 20.5 in (52.07 cm)

Geometry Measurements:
Medium: 19" Seat Tube, 22.5" Reach, 28.5" Stand Over Height, 33.5" Minimum Saddle Height, 27.5" Width, 72" Length, Large: 20.5" Seat Tube, 22.5" Reach, 30" Stand Over Height, 35.5" Minimum Saddle Height, 27.5" Width, 74" Length

Frame Types:
High-Step
Frame Colors:
Satin Black with Blue Accents
Frame Fork Details:
SR Suntour XCT Spring Suspension, 80mm Travel, Compression Adjust with Lockout, Preload Adjust, 28mm Stanchion Diameter, 100mm Hub Spacing, 9mm Axle with Quick Release Skewer
Frame Rear Details:
135mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Keyed Threaded Axle with 20mm Nuts

Attachment Points:
Fender Bosses, Rear Rack Bosses, Bottle Cage Bosses
Gearing Details:
24Speed 1x11 Shimano RD-RX817 GRX Di2 Derailleur, Shimano CS-M8000 11-42 Tooth Cassette
Shifter Details:
Shimano Triggers on Left and Right (One-Way High Lever, Three-Shift Low Lever)

Cranks:
Shimano FC-M311, Forged Aluminum Alloy Arms, 170mm Length, Square Taper Bottom Bracket Spindle, 48-38-28 Tooth Steel Chainrings
Pedals:
Wellgo B087 Aluminum Alloy Platform with Fixed Pins, Black

Headset:
Neco, Integrated, Threadless Internal Cups, Tapered 1-1/8" to 1-1/2"
Stem:
Promax, Alloy, 90mm Length, 31.8mm Clamp Diameter, One 15mm Spacer, Two 10mm Spacers, One 5mm Spacer

Handlebar:
Flat, Aluminum Alloy, 680mm Length
Brake Details:
Tektro MD-M280 Mechanical Disc with 180mm Front Rotor and 160mm Rear Rotor, Four-Finger Levers with Rubberized Edge, Integrated Bell, and Motor Inhibitor on Left

Grips:
Velo, Ergonomic Rubber, Locking
Saddle:
Velo, Active
Seat Post:
Promax, Aluminum Alloy, Forged Head
Seat Post Length:
350 mm
Seat Post Diameter:
30.9 mm
Rims:
Aluminum Alloy, Double Walled, 25mm Outer Width, 36 Hole, Black

Spokes:
Stainless Steel, 13 Gauge, Silver with Nipples
Tire Brand:
Schwalbe Smart Sam, 29" x 2.25" (57-622)
Wheel Sizes:
27.5, 29 in (69.85cm)

Tire Details:
26 to 54 PSI, 1.8 to 3.7 BAR, Performance, ADDIX Compound
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Plastic Flick Bell, Sticker Slap Guard, Steel Derailleur Guard, Center Mount Adjustable Kickstand

Other:
Locking Removable Semi-Integrated Downtube Battery Pack (Reention Cylinder and Key), 9 Mosfet 18 Amp Current Controller, 1.5lb 2 Amp Charger, Sine Wave Controller, Basic Assembly Toolkit, 275.5lb Max Load

Reader Interactions
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NCM is a new company to me, but they are using reliable and proven systems in their ebikes, so in someway, there is a nice familiarity to it. Today we are checking out their value priced ebike, the Moscow. This is not to be confused with the Moscow Plus which is an upgraded version we will be covering in another review soon. So the Moscow is an aluminum alloy frame hard-tail ebike that comes in 2 sizes. Each size also has tire options as well, so basically there is a 19” frame and a 20.5” frame and you can choose either 27.5” tires, or 29” tires. Today we have the 19” frame with the 27.5” Schwalbe Smart Sam nobby tires. Overall the bike weighs about 57.5lbs, and costs $1,499 USD and $1,899 in CAD. As I mentioned before, it is a bit of a hard-tail setup, so you do get this nice SR SunTour XCT spring suspension fork. It has 80mm of travel, 28mm stanchions, and includes compression adjust, lockout, and preload adjust. Pretty standard hub spacing in the front, 100mm, and there is a 9mm quick release skewer in the front, but none in the back since this is a hub-drive. I am told that it has a maximum weight capacity of 275.5lbs, which is higher than standard. This might come in handy since the bike does have bottle cage bosses, rack bosses, and even fender provisions, so you could really load it up with accessories and it should handle it very well. I like that there is a adjustable length kickstand included, but it is center mounted. That means that you could have the pedals strike the kickstand when down and reversing, an annoying occurrence sometimes referred to as ‘pedal-lock'. The seat post here is a rigid post, which is normal, but since it is 30.9mm, you could swap that out with a nice suspension seat post to get some more cushion on top of that front suspension fork. Other features include ergonomic Velo grips, Wellgo aluminum alloy platform pedals, and one of my favorites, a slap guard that will protect the bike frame and paint from getting nicked by the chain and scratching the paint.

Driving the Moscow is a 500 watt nominally rated planetary geared hub motor. I love that it is fairly compact given the high power output. Power wise, it can deliver up to 80nm of torque, which is quite high, but it cannot leverage gears the way that a mid-drive could. The upside is that the motor always feels zippy, it doesn't matter which of the gear combinations you are pedaling with. And, the motor can deliver instant power with the minimalist throttle. Hub motors are a great fit for hardtail mount bikes because there is no rear suspension to interfere with. As you shift gears, there won't be increased mashing or forces applied to the drivetrain because the motor operates completely independently of the chain and sprockets. You could lose the chain, and the motor would still operate and keep the bike going with pedal assist (because it uses a cadence sensor), or the throttle. Of course, this motor will use more power if you're constantly starting with the throttle, but that's a worthwhile trade for someone like myself, who has a knee injury. I love being able to override assist with the throttle at any time. I love that the throttle is easily disabled by removing a cable in case you need to make the bike legal for other trails or local laws. Mechanically, you have 3 rings in the front (48,28, and 28), but sadly, there is no chain cover to protect your clothing. In the rear you have a more basic 14-28 tooth setup, so really not the largest range. All in all, it is a Shimano Altus system, and you also get 7 speeds, trigger shifters, and a display window that tells you what gear you are in. There is a derailleur guard here to, something I love since it protects the derailleur during shipping, or if the bike takes a spill some day. Stopping the Moscow is a set of mechanical disc brake rotors with 180mm in the front and 160mm in the rear. Mechanical brakes are great for maintenance and easy adjustability, however, they do lack the immediate stopping power that hydraulic brakes have like the ones found in the Plus version. Interestingly enough, there is a motor inhibitor, but just one on the left brake. Typically, you see them in both brakes, again, a feature found on the Plus version, but I am still glad it is here as it helps cut power to the motor when stopping.

Powering the NCM Moscow is a high capacity Lithium-ion battery pack, offering 48 volts and 13 amp hours of capacity! I'd call 500 watt hours average for the season, but this pack offers 624 watt hours, and that means you can go further or ride at higher speeds. It looks like between this and the Plus version, there are 2 battery options, so you could get an even larger 16ah. I love that they use an external controller, this allows a lower cost for replacement batteries. Where as some companies are $800-$1000 range for a new battery, this keeps the NCM battery cost to around $500. Note that whenever you're operating around or above 20 mph, air resistance is going to cause exponential energy draw and range will be decreased. This pack delivers electricity to the motor, but also the backlit display panel (hold the icon to turn on backlighting), and even a full sized USB charging port on the top right side. You could use this port to maintain phones, GPS, or music devices as you ride or when parked at home or a camp site. My friends recently took a bikepacking trip using another electric bike, and this sort of charging-on-the-go feature would be really handy. If you're excited to charge while riding, I recommend using a right-angle USB adapter, an inexpensive accessory you can find on Amazon, just to keep the wires tucked in and out of the way while you pedal. The battery pack weighs more than average at 9.2 lbs, but the alloy casing is sturdy and most of the weight is kept low and center on the bike frame. I took the pack off when moving the bike to our review location, to reduce load on my car rack. If you live up stairs, removing the battery is a great idea, and for those who need to leave the bike in a cold, hot, or wet locations… being able to protect and charge the battery inside is a great thing. It's best to maintain the pack above 20% and avoid extreme temperatures. It's going to take a bit longer to fill this battery because of the higher capacity, and the charger is more basic, offering 2 amp output vs. 3 amp or 4 amp. So expect 6 to 7 hours for a fill recharge if you go all the way down to zero. One quick warning about charging the battery while mounted to the bike, be careful with the left crank arm because it passes directly in front of the plug port on the left and could bend or snag the charging plug and cable.
Operating this electric bicycle is very straightforward, but the cockpit handlebar area is a bit more crowded. This is because there are two trigger shifter units (one on the left for the front derailleur, and one on the right for the rear derailleur). You've also got the hydraulic brake lines and motor inhibitors connected to each lever. You've got the display panel cable, and finally, the trigger throttle cable. Considering everything that's going on up there, the bike actually looks pretty good. Not all of the cables are internally routed through the frame, but the upside is that servicing the bike will be a little bit easier for you or the local shop. Anyway, when you've charged and mounted the battery, simply press the M button on the control pad for a couple of seconds to boot up the computer unit and get the LCD online. All of the standard readouts are listed including current speed, average speed, assist level (1-5), and battery charge level. The cool thing is, the battery infographic is a bit more precise here, showing six bars vs. just five on many other units. Das-Kit makes nice stuff, and while this display is not removable and doesn't swivel very easily, the screen is large and easy to read. You can change the units from miles to kilometers and back by going into that setting mens (hold and -) and these are the same keys that raise or lower the pedal assist level. At any time when the bike is on, the throttle will be active… even in level zero. I personally enjoy this configuration, but it does make it easier for accidental starts when mounting and dismounting the bike. Approach carefully, consider turning the bike on once you are already seated, and turn it off before dismounting. The display unit incorporates the control pad buttons, simplifying things, and they were moderately easy to reach. All in all, very straight forward and streamlined.
In conclusion, the Moscow was a lot of fun, and as mentioned earlier, is using a lot of nice proven technology that has kept many happy. This is a value priced ebike, so there will be some tradeoffs to consider, so I should make mention of those now… For one, the kickstand is center mounted, so if the kickstand is down and you are reversing the bike, you will encounter pedal lock. I noticed that there is no chain ring cover or guard, so be careful when pedaling with clothing like pants or a dress. The charger is just 2amps, this means charging happens slowly, so matched with that high capacity battery, it could take quite some time. Probably the biggest tradeoff is the mechanical disc brakes with a motor inhibitor only on the left side. However, if you opt for the Plus version of this bike, you will get more responsive hydraulic disc brakes, with both the front and back having motor inhibitors. Tradeoffs aside, it is a very well put together bike with a lot of what we have come to know and love about ebikes, and at a price of just $1,499 in the US, will appeal to many customers. I want to thank NCM for the chance to check out the Moscow, and I look forward to reviewing more bikes from this new company.

As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Other Brands ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)

Pros:
The Moscow blends off-road geometry, suspension, and tires with urban utility because you can add fenders and a rear rack, there are also bottle cage bosses on the top as well
There are 21 gear combinations to explore here, and that empowers you to climb easier or hit and maintain the top assisted speed, I really appreciate the slap guard on the right chain stay and the steel derailleur guard at the rear which also protects the motor power cable (especially when the bike is being shipped)
The 500 watt Das-Kit motor is powerful and zippy but completely independent from the the pedal drivetrain, it's a good choice for a bike with so many gears vs. a mid-motor, it also allows for instant throttle power regardless of which gear you're in One of the advantages of having a front derailleur is that it keeps the chain from bouncing off track, it does usually add more weight and maintenance to the bike however, and if you're using either of the two smaller chainrings the larger 48 tooth one can snag your pant leg because there is no bash guard plate
Good weight distribution, the battery is positioned low and center on the frame, it seems well protected and blends in pretty well with the black accents on the fork, handlebar, seat, and chainrings

Great tires for cross country and street riding, the 27.5″ x 2.25″ size is lightweight and efficient, they steer quickly and Schwalbe products tend to be higher quality, there is also a 29” option as well

At $1,499 USD and $1,899 in CAD, it is compeitivly priced and will serve many customers well since it has a throttle, high capacity battery, and suspension
I'm glad that they chose a trigger throttle vs. twist because it makes the grips more secure and reduces accidental activation, the 12-magnet cadence sensor is also more responsive than 8 or 5 on many other products
The suspension fork offers compression lockout and preload adjust, this allows it to firm up for smooth riding conditions like city streets, reducing bob and energy loss as you pedal
You get a flick bell, locking ergonomic grips, and a pair of large sturdy platform pedals that should work well in all sorts of conditions and weather, sometimes these parts are cheaper on value priced ebikes

I love the high capacity 14v 13ah battery, it even has a USB port on the side to take advantage of it and use it as a power bank, perfect for traveling

Between the knobby tires and 80mm suspension fork, this bike feels pretty comfortable, but I might recommend a suspension seat post to make things even more cushy for your ride

Cons:
This bike has motor inhibitor capability, which is great, but it is only on one brake lever (the left brake), where as most bikes have motor inhibitors on both brakes
Some of the wires on this ebike are a bit more exposed along the base of the top tube, it looks a bit cleaner and reduces snags when they are completely internal
This e-bike weighs more than your average trail bike at 57.5lbs because it has a higher capacity battery and a more basic spring suspension fork vs. air, I'd definitely take the battery off when lifting and transporting it

No chain cover or guard means you need to be careful with your pants or dress, you don't want it getting snagged and torn up in the chain ring system

Even though this is technically a mountain bike, it's nice to see a kickstand for those urban rides, I do wish that the stand was positioned a bit further back however, to avoid pedal lock with the left crank arm

As mentioned before, the brakes only have 1 motor inhibitor, and they are also a bit on the basic side since they are mechanical versus hydraulic brakes, however, mechanical brakes are easier to maintain and adjust, so it does have that going for it
With a standard 2amp battery charger, it could take a while to completely fill the high-capacity battery (6 or 7 hours), there are other ebikes with 3 or even 4amp chargers but they tend to weigh more

The display panel isn't removable and doesn't swivel easily, as a result, it could get scratched more easily at racks and will take sun and rain wear over time

Resources:
Official Site: https://ncmbikes.de/

Moscow
Price:
CDN$1899 MSRP , Retail

My price $899 you save $1000!
When you call please mention you found this ad listing on OKz.ca