Last Updated on October 29, 2023 by Igor Karni
Nakto is another California-based e-bike brand known for its budget-friendly offerings. Its main headquarters and warehouse are located in Placentia. That said, it’s not exactly an American brand, as the company itself is actually based in China – Hangzhou City, to be exact. In fact, the brand is also widely recognized as a top e-bike manufacturer in its home country.
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It’s a company that’s been around for more than a decade, having been founded in 2010. It slowly gained ground over the years for its philosophy of guaranteeing maximum affordability and the best possible quality. 2016, in particular, marked the year when it entered the US market after it opened its first warehouse in Los Angeles.
It has an apparent casual vibe and obviously targets the masses with its plethora of e-bike offerings. Other than that, and despite the company’s notable longevity, it’s not too keen on revealing much about its history as a full-fledged e-bike company.
Nakto e-Bikes Review: Model Lines
| E-Bike Line | Type |
| Fat Tire Mountain | Mountain Fat Tire |
| City Commuter | City, Commuter, Cruiser |
| Step Through | City, Commuter, Cruiser |
| Folding | City, Commuter, Cruiser |
Nakto offers 12 distinct e-bike lines and models at present. More or less, they fall under the city, folding, cruiser, commuter, and fat categories. Most are built with casual rides and rider convenience in mind. Certainly, these models don’t fall out of place among e-bikes that you can rely on for regular short commutes, leisurely rides, and light off trailing.
Nakto Classic E-Bike Line
The Nakto Classic cruiser doesn’t get any more entry-level than its current incarnation. It’s a great introduction to the kind of affordability you can expect from the Nakto brand. The battery and motor, at best, seem generic, but the former can still manage a total of 25 miles (40 km) of range. For your daily, short commutes, that’s arguably more than enough.
The 250W hub motor provides the adequate support you need to get you going with minimal to zero pedaling. It’s great in that it doesn’t have excessive power, making it highly recommended for those who are only starting out on e-bikes. It manages the standard 20mph (32 km/h) top speed regardless.
The step-thru frame is another plus, and the traditional cruiser, European-inspired handlebars along with the soft saddle do well to tick the comfort checkbox. The rear seat and basket are bonuses we’re more than willing to take, considering the price range. The overall build and size of the frame make it amenable to smaller riders, even children.
It’s now at least $50 more expensive than a few years ago, but at its current price of $819, it’s still a good option for anyone who wants a reliable commuter and cruiser e-bike.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Classic electric bike model line.
Read also: How to select the best cruiser e-bike? And, How much does a good cruiser e-bike cost?
Nakto Camel E-Bike Model Line
Another popular, terrifically budget-friendly line in Nakto’s catalog, the Camel, offers both men’s and women’s variations. You can choose between 250W or 350W motors, depending on whether you need more motor assistance or not.
Regardless of what you choose, know that it’s the same rear hub motor as the Classic’s, although the models in this line are a bit more affordable.
In fact, the two are relatively similar. The Camel weighs a bit heavier at 60 pounds (27 kg). It also integrates the same curved or swept-back handlebar that encourages the rider to assume an upright, relaxed sitting position. The step-thru frame of the women’s variety is an added bonus to comfort when mounting and dismounting.
Other notable components include the chain guides, suspension fork, and fenders. And who doesn’t love getting the front basket and rear seat post for less than $800? As the brand claims, this is indeed a value-priced e-bike that stands out for the e-bike experience you get out of it relative to the cost.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Camel electric bike model line.
Read also: How to select the best city e-bike (with examples)? – also in this article, and this article. And, How much does a good city e-bike cost?
Nakto Elegance E-Bike Model Line
This is a fairly new cruiser and commuter offering from the brand. Notably, it’s far more affordable than the other two mentioned above. And the icing on the cake is that it has a host of nifty accessories that come with it.
Specs-wise, it’s just as good as the Camel and Classic. You can expect the same range and torque from the hub motor, as well as rider-friendliness with regard to height. Its minimum height limit is 5’1”. The same can be said for the fenders, suspension fork, etc.
Standout features include the cushioned seat post, which makes it readily passenger-friendly. Notably, this comes with an LCD headlight, which is a really terrific perk to have if you prefer riding at night. It doesn’t use the same swept-back handlebar as the Camel but does still encourage an upright position, which complements the included saddle well. Lastly, it throws in a helpful kickstand.
Overall, this is a good option, considering the cheaper price tag and the great accessories you get. It’s especially recommended for women and anyone who struggles with taller models.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Elegance electric bike model line.
Read also: Which electric bike to buy? Making your educated e-bike selection choice – also in this article, and this article. And, best folding e-bikes for women, reviewed and compared.
Nakto Pony E-Bike Line
The Pony essentially combines the Camel and the Skylark lines. It’s a family-friendly e-bike that’s more versatile in a way that it can accommodate heavier and taller riders despite its relatively smaller overall frame.
That said, it pretty much supports the same riders as the Elegance, Classic, and Camel supports, so it’s practically an e-bike for all ages (at least, as long as they’re already fit enough to ride an e-bike).
You can expect the same specs from it as you would from its cousins mentioned above. It reaches top speeds of 15 to 20mph (24 – 32 km/h) fairly easily and can give you as much range as its predecessors. The only difference is that we see a more solidly built front rack.
It uses the same handlebar and display as the Elegance, as well as its cushioned rear seats. It has a kickstand, too, but minus the headlights.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Pony electric bike model line.
Read also: How to select the best cargo e-bike (with examples)? And, How much does a good cargo e-bike cost?
Nakto Santa Monica E-Bike Product Line
The Santa Monica is what you’d expect most heavier-duty city e-bikes to be. It’s far more dynamic with its specs, using a 500W hub motor and 48V lithium-ion battery. It’s the biggest model in the brand’s city e-bike category and manages to push its riding range limit to 35 miles (55 km).
It uses the same carbon steel frame, though a bit thicker on the portion that houses the battery. It’s heavier than the others, but its loading capacity is actually lesser at 110kg (240 pounds), unlike the 250kg (550 pounds) average of the other models.
There are no fenders or other welcome accessories like a kickstand. However, it does have a high-quality suspension fork, LCD headlights, and more durable tires amenable for some minor offroading.
All in all, the Santa Monica is a different beast and obviously caters to riders who want more power when cruising. The comfort is maintained thanks to the handlebar and sitting positions, and more importantly, it still falls under the “wallet-friendly” category.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Santa Monica electric bike model line.
Read also: Here is why e-bikes are really cool. And, How to select the best city e-bike (with examples)?
Nakto Cruiser/Super Cruiser E-Bike Line
When discussing this line, it’s infinitely better to focus on the Super Cruiser for its more complete setup. It’s closer to the Santa Monica line specs-wise.
It uses the same Aoma hub motor but brings more of the right stuff support-wise with its 500W capacity. You can expect to get 35 miles (55 km) maximum range from it, too. In general, these specs rarely figure in models that only sell for a little more than $1,000, so these are big pluses.
The other obvious strength of the Super Cruiser is the wider fat tires. You’ll get more stability out of it, and won’t let you down when riding through rougher than normal terrain. The fenders are also remarkably wider, offering more protection against mud. It’s obvious this e-bike exhibits more road versatility.
It’s taller than most models but can still accommodate shorter riders. It throws in headlights and a kickstand, too. It’s tough to beat models that have this combination of perks while selling for jaw-dropping, low prices.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Cruiser and Super Cruiser electric bike model line.
Read also: How to select the best cruiser e-bike? And, How much does a good cruiser e-bike cost?
Nakto Discovery E-Bike Model Line
The Discovery is quite similar to the Super Cruiser with all the specs and overall look considered. This model opts to integrate the 48V li-ion battery in the frame instead and actually lacks the fenders found in the Super Cruiser.
That’s an obvious downside and convinces us that the Super Cruiser delivers the best value for money. You also get only 25 miles (40 km) from the Discovery instead of the 35 one, though this is obviously up in the air since it uses the same battery, and this parameter depends on a lot of factors.
The Discovery does come cheaper by more than $100, and you get most of the perks of the Super Cruiser, though with some obvious limitations.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Discovery electric bike model line.
Nakto Mini Cruiser E-Bike Product Line
This step-over, BMX-style Mini Cruiser e-bike is slightly less powerful than the other models that belong to the fat group. It uses a 36V li-ion battery with at most a 25-mile (40 km) range and a 300W hub motor, which is one of its unique aspects.
It’s pretty decent with its performance, as it can accelerate quickly and reach 20mph (32 km/h) top speeds with relative ease.
It charges in 3 hours, which is faster than other models. We like the relative wideness of the tires, which has a nice 4” coverage. It incorporates the standard Shimano 6-speed derailleur found in almost all Nakto models, front headlights, fork suspension, and kickstand, so we can say that it’s a line that doesn’t really stand out.
It’s basically what you expect from a Nakto cruiser but with the obvious advantages of fat tires. With everything considered, it’s an e-bike that’s geared toward younger, more speed-hungry riders who like to explore.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Mini Cruiser electric bike model line.
Read also: Why fat tires are good news for electric bikes? And, How to select the best hybrid e-bike?
Nakto Folding Mini Product Line
The folding mini combines the benefits of fat e-bikes with a conventional folding e-bike. You practically get the best of both worlds with the ready conveniences of folding models coupled with the versatility of fat tires. It functions as your average cruiser as well but sticks more to the traditional folding e-bike design with its frame.
The 48V li-ion battery gives 25 miles (40 km) of total range. They opted for a 350W brushless motor that’s more suitable for fat e-bikes. We like that it’s a bit lighter at 47 pounds (21.3 kg), though that’s still quite a load to lug around with you while folded.
We like that it is exactly $999. Overall, it’s like a slightly more powerful and foldable version of the Mini Cruiser since they share a lot of accessories. And what’s good is that it’s also just a few dollars more expensive.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Folding Mini electric bike model line.
Read also: How to select the best folding e-bike (with examples)? And, How much does a good foldable e-bike cost?
Nakto Folding Ox E-Bike Model Line
The Folding Ox is more like a traditional cruiser counterpart of the Folding Mini. You can see this in the step-thru frame and curved handlebar. The rear seat post and soft saddles complete the setup.
We definitely love that this line doesn’t skimp on the accessories like others. You get the same LCD headlight, wide fenders, and fat tires, as well as a kickstand. We’re not really that much of a fan of the disc brakes Nakto integrates, but they feel adequately safe and easy to control. You can expect the same from the Folding Ox and other e-bike lines in its catalog.
For the price, which is only slightly more expensive than the less accessorized Folding Mini, this e-bike packs more punches with its 500W rear hub motor. You also get a faster-charging 12Ah 48V li-ion battery, although it does fall short on the range, which only tops at 15 to 20 miles (25 – 32 km).
This is another e-bike line that apparently seeks to combine as many of the main benefits of different e-bike categories. We think it succeeds in doing that.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Folding Ox electric bike model line.
Read also: Best city e-bikes for women, reviewed and compared. And, Best folding e-bikes for women, reviewed and compared.
Nakto Fashion Product Line
The Nakto Fashion line, as well as the Skylark, pretty much rival each other and are two of the most popular lines in Nakto’s folding e-bike catalog. It’s a little over $50 more expensive than the latter and has a noticeably distinct look overall.
It uses a rear hub 250W motor combined with a 36V li-ion battery. You get a good 20 miles (32 km) of range, which is average for Nakto. The 50Nm of torque is satisfactory and is enough to get you over most easy to moderate inclines. It’s similar to other models as well in that it speeds up quickly. Notably, it lacks the Shimano 6-speed derailleur found in most models, but uses a 3-speed one instead.
The almost complete array of accessories like fenders, headlights, rear seat, kickstand, and foldable feature makes this e-bike well worth the dirt-cheap price tag.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Fashion electric bike model line.
Read also: Cowboy 3 vs Vanmoof S3 review, top connected city e-bikes. And, Angell vs Cowboy vs Vanmoof, which one would you choose?
Nakto Skylark E-Bike Line
Last but not least is the extraordinarily cheap Skylark line. It’s the least expensive model in the folding line and one of the most affordable in Nakto’s entire collection. It uses a 250W brushless motor combined with the average 36V 10Ah li-ion battery found in others.
We like that it manages to beat other models range-wise since you get at most 25 miles (40 km) out of it, with pedal assistance.
It’s almost the same as the Fashion, besides the fact that it only uses a single-speed derailleur and a slightly higher riding range. It comes with the same collection of accessories. It’s well worth it if you don’t mind the evident lack of speed modes and prefer an e-bike that’s similar to a scooter or moped.
We invite you to take a closer look at the Nakto Skylark electric bike model line.
Read also: How to use an electric bike? A brief intro. And, How to ride an electric bike? With a few tips.
What Most E-Bike Riders Think of Nakto
That Nakto has close to a global presence already speaks volumes about its popularity. It’s a no-brainer that its bargain-basement prices can turn a lot of e-bike riders’ heads. Of course, that’s only half of its apparent winning formula. It also reinforces this with decent to even above-average quality.
It’s hard to name a brand that offers e-bikes this cheap yet guarantees relatively powerful motors and acceptable riding ranges. In short, Nakto offers the full, pleasurable e-bike riding experience minus the bells and whistles we usually see in US-made and European-made models.
Read also: Check out the most popular e-bike brands.
Many riders are willing to get only that and the innate conveniences like motor support, so it’s no wonder Nakto’s models have gotten numerous highly positive feedback from riders. This is only aided by the fact that Nakto is also known for its outstanding customer support and has a fairly established network of distributors in the US.
What Countries Does Nakto Ship To?
Nakto ships to every state in the US except for Alaska and Puerto Rico. If you reside elsewhere, you may have to e-mail Nakto first regarding your interest in purchasing their models. Otherwise, you can always just buy directly from Nakto stores in your country. They have catered to riders in Canada, Europe, South America, Southeast Asia, Mexico, Korea, and Japan, among others.
Igor is a sustainable mobility and green energy advocate. His mission for Easy E-biking is to help make electric cycling simple, practical, and fun. Follow him on Facebook and LinkedIn.
