In this review, I look at the DYU C5 electric city bike, packed full of features that make this e-bike worth considering if you’re after a hybrid e-bike on a budget.
You can buy this e-bike currently for $539.99 from the DYU store directly – http://bit.ly/dyuc5 using coupon code DYU-I for $60 off your order at checkout.
TLDR: The DYU C5 is an affordable $539.99 ($719 RRP) electric bike that offers a range of features for city commuting, including support for riders from 5’2″ to 6’4″ and up to 120kg, a 350W motor with 500W peak power and 15.5mph top speed, and an estimated 40-mile range from the removable 36V 10Ah battery. Assembly is relatively straightforward, though took nearly 2 hours, and the bike has a comfortable padded seat, a large LED display, and a bright front light. However, the DYU C5’s 27kg heavy frame, mediocre mechanical disc brakes, and slow cadence sensor power delivery are notable drawbacks. Overall, it’s a decent budget-friendly e-bike option, but has some compromises compared to higher-end models that urban commuters may want to consider.
The DYU C5 is a feature-packed electric bike that aims to provide a practical and affordable city commuting solution. Priced at $599/£799 on sale ($719/£899 RRP), this 27 Kg electric bike boasts some impressive specifications. However, it also has some notable strengths and weaknesses that you should carefully consider.
The DYU C5 is designed to accommodate a wide range of rider heights, from 5’2″ all the way up to 6’4″. It also has a generous maximum load capacity of 120 Kg, making it suitable for heavier riders as well. A 350W motor powers the bike, providing a top speed of 15.5mph (25kph) and up to 500W of peak power, giving it good hill-climbing ability.
Assembling the C5 is relatively straightforward. All the necessary tools were provided; however, I required a few extras like pliers, a small spanner, and a wrench to adjust its gears and ensure every wheel nut was tightened correctly. It took under 2 hours to fully build the bike, including improving the gears, inflating the tyres to a higher 40psi, from its factory 27psi, and making other minor tweaks. All bolts were tightened well, and I only encountered one missing metal washer on the handlebar stem. Everything was provided, and I found the supplied toolset good enough to fully complete the task of building the e-bike. While not overly complex, with just a few paragraphs of instructions, first-time e-bike builders may want to set aside some time for the assembly.
Positive Features
Once built, the C5 has several positive features that enhance the overall riding experience. For example, the seat is very comfortable and well-padded, providing good support even on longer commutes. Another highlight is the large, easy-to-read LED display. Although it may look fresh out of the 80s, it provides clear information on speed, distance, battery level, and the three levels of pedal assist. The small throttle lever is a handy feature as well, allowing riders to get the 27 Kg bike moving from a standstill, especially when starting on a hill.
The front light is also a nice touch, being both bright and easy to operate with a simple hold and press of a button on the left-hand controller. For those who want to customise the bike’s appearance, the rear rack and fenders can be easily removed for a cleaner look and a slight reduction of weight.
The ability to charge the battery indoors without bringing the entire bike inside is a nice convenience. Its key-locked battery is easy to remove from the bike to charge it separately, or you can use its rubber-covered side port to charge the battery whilst it’s installed on the bike. The bike arrived with a good level of charge already in the battery and didn’t need much charging. Recharging the battery to 100% takes around 4-5 hours from a mains charger and I felt, that once you get to below 50% battery, the battery levels adjusted a little too randomly to rely on its accuracy, and the power performance dropped a little also whilst in this area.
DYU claims the 36V 10Ah battery can provide up to 40 miles of range, though real-world results will vary depending on factors like rider weight, terrain, and level of pedal assist used. I took it out on its first ride for 29 miles, using a mix of pedal assist modes and throttle. The battery only dropped two bars, around 20%, so in certain conditions, the claimed battery life could be a little conservative, or when there’s a big reliance on the pedal assist for hills and the like.
I have already done over 64 miles on a single battery charge and still had 50% of its battery remaining. So, it does depend on many factors, such as route terrain and elevation, rider weight and fitness, to outside temperature and wind. With around 50% battery, the bike tends to play a guessing game with the battery remaining. Depending on the amount of assistance being used, the reading can float between 1 bar and 5 bars out of the total 10 bars on the display. This is understandable when assistance is being adjusted or applied, but it also feels that the battery isn’t as present as when the battery is between 50-100%. So much so that I felt I needed to recharge the battery at 40-50% to be sure assistance was available on rides when I needed it.
Some Drawbacks
There’s a lot to like about the C5 for its price. But unfortunately, there are also several drawbacks that you should be aware of. The biggest issue with e-bikes is their weight. This C5 is no exception to this common problem, weighing a total of 27 Kg. This makes the DYU C5 quite heavy to manoeuvre, especially when starting from a standstill or tackling steep inclines. The rear rack, which adds further weight, could potentially be removed to lighten the load, but this would come at the expense of the bike’s utility. There’s little else to lighten the bike; the battery alone weighs a little over 3 Kg, so along with its metal frame and rear hub motor, the majority of its weight can’t be reduced that much.
The brakes are another area of concern on the C5. DYU have decided to use Shimano-branded mechanical disc brakes, which don’t provide the same level of stopping power and modulation as higher-end hydraulic brakes. Something I think is drastically needed for when operating such a heavy bike at speed. Add the overall rider weight of the bike to it and its stopping distance can become an issue for riders who need to make frequent, emergency stops in busy urban environments.
Costs have also been saved on its rather basic coiled front suspension forks, though they should be adequate for handling mild bumps and vibrations encountered during casual city riding. Although the C5 can handle some light off-road or gravel track use, more demanding terrain will likely require a different bike altogether.
I also encountered a few minor issues when the bike arrived. The gears weren’t tuned the best out of the factory, the metal rear rack light mount was bent and required bending backwards, the thin paintwork on the top tube frame had worn down a little from some packaging rubbing, and the handlebar grips felt a bit cheap with palm rests that were too firm and a little small for medium-sized hands.
One final point of note is the bike’s power delivery. The throttle provides a convenient way to get the DYU C5 moving, but the cadence sensor-based pedal assist can be a bit slow to engage, requiring several crank revolutions before the motor decides to assist. However, this is less of a problem when the pedals are continuously turning. After coasting or not pedalling for even a short period, the motor disengages and leaves you without any immediate power when you need it after pausing for a short few seconds. This can also make starting from a standstill a bit more challenging than bikes with torque sensors or a more responsive power delivery.
Upgrades…
I am already looking into how I could upgrade a few elements on the C5. After removing the rear rack, a 680-720mm wide handlebar length would be the next upgrade to add some extra stability when steering the heavy bike. Alongside the wider handlebars would be a grip upgrade, using something more premium and better padded. With no means to attach a water bottle cage to the frame, a fairly cheap cage stem clamp would be required to mount a bottle cage onto, either the front handlebars or the rear seat post.
As for longer-term upgrades. Swapping the mechanical brakes for hydraulic brakes would drastically improve the bike. Adding slightly fatter tyres and air forks will allow the bike to tackle some off-road trails and gravel tracks. Its cadence sensor does limit this bike’s true off-road ability, so upgrading this bike to make it off-road-worthy might lead to failure.
Aside from the brakes, tyres and fork upgrades, all these mentioned tips are relatively cheap improvements that will cost no more than around £80-150, and it would turn this bike into a quite decent ride! I have already removed the rack, upgraded the bars to a 720mm width, and added more padded grips and a bottle cage, and these upgrades alone have greatly improved the bike’s overall feel and comfort.
My Impressions
In summary, the DYU C5 is a feature-rich electric bike that offers good value for its price, especially for riders on a tighter budget. Its ability to accommodate a wide range of rider sizes, decent range, and handy features like the removable battery and front light makes the C5 a viable option for city commuters.
However, the heavy frame, mediocre mechanical brakes, delayed pedal assist power delivery, and other minor quality issues mean it may not be the best choice for everyone. Riders looking for a more refined city commuter experience, with better components and more responsive power delivery, may want to consider spending a bit more for a higher-end e-bike.
Ultimately, the DYU C5 represents a solid entry-level electric bike that provides a good balance of features and affordability. I ride a £4.3K 2022 Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC Race 625W e-bike, and although the DYU C5 may not tackle the steep hills and rough terrain of a fully fledge off-road mountain bike, like my Cube, as a casual city commuter, I was impressed what you get for 1/5 the price of mine. With a few upgrades mentioned above, the C5 can be a very competent e-bike. But you should carefully weigh the pros and cons mentioned to determine if the C5 is the right fit for your specific needs and riding preferences.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 – Brief overview
0:23 – DYU C5 Bike Specs
0:48 – Unboxing & Assembly
1:20 – Positive Features
2:14 – Battery Charging & Range
2:41 – Real World Tests
3:26 – Negative Features
5:38 – My Impressions
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