Thinking of ultra-fast e-MTBs really does define about ugly-looking beasts, weighing a heck of a lot and though very fast-moving, often losing quite some playfulness.
The Nireeka Mega 1500 is set to break that mold by retaining the fun factor on trails while managing to hit those big figures with the electrics.
That’s quite a challenge to achieve, with chunky batteries and motors often equalling extra kilograms on the scales.
If Nireeka manages to pull it off-they could have a market leader in the ultra-fast corner of the market.
Do they achieve it? Let’s find out in our Nireeka Mega 1500 review.
Nireeka Mega 1500 Review
Price: $3,299
Peaks:
- Motor power
- Battery performance
- Handling
- Price
- Versatility
Troughs:
- Weight
- Sometimes too powerful
- Drivetrain
Weight/Frame
The Nireeka Mega 1500 tips the scales at a somewhat lumpy 31.8kg. On paper that sounds like a clumsy nightmare, but when we drill down the electrics figures later you’ll soon see it isn’t of greatest concern.
The bike is aluminium framed and looks the part, with a gleaming silver finish and sporting design.
That sporty design carries over into the geometry – the bike has a playfulness that we didn’t expect from a heavy-weight bike.
It’s made to fly and there’s a suppleness in the handling which allows you to feel quite confident on tricky terrain.
Of course, there’s a clear caveat here, that it’s a 31.8kg bike, so if you want to be launching down gnarly downhill terrain, this isn’t really the best bike for it and others will be better.
However, as weighty general trail bikes go, you can still have elements of fun on singletracks and moderate-difficulty routes.
Battery
The 840Wh in-house battery comes as standard, so a healthy range of well over 80km.
In our hilly test route, we found the 80km figure stands up to the rough stuff admirably, and it fills the angle of the downtube neatly.
What really impresses, though, is the charge time – the battery’s quite happy recharging from zero to 100% in only 2.5 to 3 hours.
That surpasses much of the competition in the market, especially considering that a bloated 840Wh battery feels less than comfortable.
Motor
This is really where the fun starts – the Nirkeea Mega 1500 comes with a whopper of a motor, 1,500Wh.
A customized model, it can produce a ferocious 200Nm of torque – enough to toss you up pretty much any climb at a pace.
Plus, it makes the bike a complete speed demon, capable of topping out at 60km/h.
It’s as competitive as you get on the flats and no climb offers any real concern on approach.
And it gives a sense to that overall weight figure when you take all that you’ve got at your disposal with the electrics.
Also be careful; this bike can be a handful for the inexperienced rider, just because you’re playing with a large amount of power.
If you’re a lighter rider, I have a feeling you might get the weight and power combination to over face it, potentially leading to some dodgy moments on difficult trails.
ℹ️ Be cautious with your assistance use on hazardous technical sections – the bike’s heavyweight, combined with its immense power, could lead to a nasty accident if you aren’t careful or don’t have the strength to cope with it.
Motor Display
It does, however, come with a Bafang DP C220 display; so, it has its positives and negatives. You can view tons of different data options, from speed, calorie consumption, distance covered, tim, and more.
However, you don’t get your percentage of battery life left displayed as a figure – instead, you get a 5-stage power bar design. That can leave you uncertain about the true amount of battery life you have left.
It does offer a remaining distance figure as an option, but this depends on a lot of factors (such as riding ability, terrain, etc.) and isn’t as accurate as we would like.
You also get five modes of assist, plus a walk assist function, so you can modify the effort to suit your needs pretty well.
You tend to only need to engage the top, hardest assist mode in really bad terrain – otherwise, that is a bit of overkill and does too much to drain the battery.
The display can be an optional upgrade, but this costs more.
Suspension
The Nireeka Mega 1500 has 150mm travel at both the front as well as the rear.
All parts are made in-house, thus performing exceptionally well and offering enough cushioning for just enough playful trail riding.
Bike flows well through lumpy terrain and suspension copes well with the heavy weight of the bike.
On paper, at 150mm it sounds like a pretty spongey rear end, but the motor power will see to it that you lose just enough forward momentum while climbing.
It’s a pretty damn good suspension set-up for how heavy this thing is. Well-balanced ride experience.
Wheels/Tires
The Nireeka Mega 1500 is a beast of an all weather machine thanks to a monster pair of fat tires underfoot and a strong pair of rims.
The Kenda Gigas model comes with a four inch wide tread, which makes sure you have enough cushion to take all the weight from the bike but still allows you to travel in all the bad wet conditions and deep snow.
The set-up is good durability, also not only does it last long, but they also take a lot of pressure off the body during any impacts.
Traction level is grippy too which does add to the spriteliness of the bike on climbs.
Wheel and tire setup are additional features that do help contribute to a bike’s feel like it is well-balanced.
Brakes
The Nireeka Mega 1500 carries a pair of Shimano Deore M4100 brakes.
Sometimes, they feel a bit under-gunned for the nuts pace of the bike in that powerful motor and the overall weight too.
For an upgrad, you can get Bluebrake anti-lock technology installed, which we recommend people do.
We have thrown that added feature into the price of the quote here, which prevents you from having a nasty crash when traveling at the highest speeds at which the bike can ride.
Drivetrain
It came standard with a Shimano Acera group set, which we’re not crazy about.
It only comes with 9 gears, and we always prefer to have a 12-speed setup by choice – given the weight of this bike, it can be a bit of chore at times to get the legs turning.
However, it can be upgraded to most the other models. The best option is the Shimano XT M8000 model, which has 11-gears and feels wonderful while riding.
Drawback: it’s $299 more than the basic upgrade variant.
Price - $3,299
We feel the bike is a steal, even in standard trim.
You’re getting some outstanding electrical components, with motor power above and beyond much of the competition.
It climbs well and remains playful, while being cool for less than $3,299.
There are several upgrades you can add on, but the drivetrain would probably be the one we’d recommend if you opt for any.
The standard model is still a pretty good, high-powered e-MTB on its own, though.
Nireeka Mega 1500 Facts & figures
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Motor | 1500W Rear Hub Motor |
| Top Speed | Up to 35 mph (56 km/h) |
| Battery | 48V 17Ah Lithium-ion Battery |
| Range | Up to 50 miles (80 km) per charge |
| Charging Time | 5-7 hours |
| Frame Material | Carbon Fiber |
| Weight | Approximately 66 lbs (30 kg) |
| Suspension | Front and Rear Full Suspension |
| Tire Size | 27.5″ x 3″ |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc Brakes |
| Display | LCD Display with Speed, Battery, and Mode Info |
| Pedal Assist Levels | 5 Levels of Pedal Assist |
| Throttle | Thumb Throttle |
| Recommended Rider Height | 5’4″ – 6’6″ (162 cm – 198 cm) |
| Max Load Capacity | 300 lbs (136 kg) |
| Price | Approximately $3,000 (varies by configuration) |
How Does it Compare?
In this comparison we’re going to pit the Nireeka Mega 1500 up against another ultra-fast e-MTB.
It’s another bike which also featured in our Fastest Electric Mountain Bikes review guide – the R22 Everest.
R22 Everest
Let’s start by comparing speed – the Nireeka Mega 1500 can hit a top speed of 60km/h, 3km/h more than the R22.
The Nireeka is also lighter in weight, 31.8kg over a whopping 42kg on the R22.
As you can imagine that affects the playfulness of the R22 and the Nireeka is so much more capable trail bike – easier to handle and manipulate.
In the R22, that heavyweight figure we mentioned comes alive in the battery – it boasts a sensational 190km range thanks to the bike’s dual 3,260Wh set-up that dwarfs our Nireeka.
The R22 loses out on the motor department though our Nireeka has 10Nm more at its disposal, with 200Nm of torque over the R22’s 190Nm.
With a weight of over 60kg, the R22 comes with a massive 200mm suspension set-up at either end, which is well suited to coping with the bike’s weight, but doesn’t make it play in any way and our Nireeka feels far better balanced.
The Nireeka also wins in the wheel/tire department, offering a wider tread, but has slightly less efficient brakes, compared to the R22.
Beyond the battery range and brakes, it’s clear that the Nireeka is better and the fuller package, but it’s only when you hear the price that you realize just what a bargain the Nireeka is.
The R22 costs $18,900 to our bargain $3,299 Nireeka – only one winner.
Final Thoughts
The Nireeka defies the norm, as it’s such a heavy, fat-tire, and supercharged e-MTB but remains playful and pleasant to look at.
The motor performance is superb, while the battery performance is impressive, and the suspension and handling complement it well.
There are one or two areas that still need some tweaking: one of them is the motor display and the drivetrain; however, there are upgrades available for an extra price.
The Nireeka stands out in this ultra-fast e-MTB category, and it’s only made more impressive by the price they’re asking for.
All in all, it’s a beauty to ride, delivering versatility and with a well-rounded riding experience.
Pretty good hey? Time you find out for yourselves.
