Amped Cycle Review
1/3rd Price, All of The Fun?
Not everyone has $5,000+ to spend on a toy, some need a cheaper option. That's where the Leonx S1 MAX comes in, it promises a high top speed and lots of power, for a much more affordable price of $1399. Can it hang with the big boys?
First Impressions
The first thing that stood out was how much better the Leonx S1 Max setup works for an average-sized adult. The standard smaller-wheel version always made more sense for shorter riders or younger teens, but this one gets the 17-inch front and 14-inch rear, and that changes the whole feel of the bike. At 5’9″ and around 160 pounds, the fit made a lot more sense. I was able to extend my legs better, and i didn’t feel so close to the ground.
The camo bodywork also grew on me fast. In the studio it looked a little “eh, maybe,” but outside it actually works. It blends into the off-road vibe nicely and gives the bike a different personality than the usual black-and-red budget e-moto look. As of writing, Leonx currently only lists that camouflage finish on the product page, so there’s not a choice of color currently.
Our Latest Videos On The Leonx S1 Max:
Coupon Code
AC50$50 off
Power and Speed
This is where the S1 Max shines.
Leonx claims a 6000W mid-drive, 50 mph top speed, 300 Nm of torque, and a controller setup rated at 60V/80A with 100A max output. That’s a wild spec sheet for this price point, and while real-world results always come back down to earth a little, this bike still rips.
Out on the road, the bike felt properly fast. It will lift the front wheel off the ground if you aren’t being careful. The biggest thing wasn’t just the number on the screen — it was how easy it felt to get into speed. The motor pulls hard, the throttle is easy to modulate, and there’s enough torque here that quarter-throttle hill climbs feel casual. That’s what makes this bike feel like a real step up over 48V entry-level stuff.
The motor is also loud. Not “a little whiny” loud. Proper loud. This is not a stealth bike at all. That may not bother everybody, but it’s worth saying because some of these mid-drive bikes are sneaky quiet. This one absolutely is not. It sounds like it means business.
Battery and Range
The battery is one of the strongest parts of the whole package. Leonx lists it as a 60V 28.8Ah pack with a claimed 55-mile range, and in the real world that looked optimistic but not ridiculous by budget e-moto standards. After roughly nine miles of mixed riding, there was still around half the battery left, with some likely sag in the reading. That makes a 20 to 30 mile real-world range feel like a reasonable expectation depending on how hard the throttle gets abused.
Specs at a Glance
Leonx S1 MAXMotor
6000W Mid drive
Battery
60V 28Ah (1680 Wh)
Top Speed
45-50mph
Weight
146 lbs
Suspension
Inverted front fork, Coil rear shock. Non adjustable
Brakes
DOT Hydraulic
Tires
17in front 14in rear knobby off road tires
Pedal Assist
3
Price
$1399
Real-world results vary with rider weight, terrain, and weather.
Suspension and Ride Quality
This is another area where the bike surprised me.
Leonx lists an off-road hydraulic fork up front and an independent rear suspension system, and that lines up pretty well with how the bike felt. The rear shock is very soft — maybe a little too soft and a little bouncy in spots — but overall the ride quality off-road was really good. The bike handled rough terrain, grass, mud, and uneven sections with minimal drama. It got a little bouncy, so a rebound control would be nice on the shock.
On the street, it cornered better than expected too. It’s still a compact bike, so it feels agile and low to the ground, almost like a larger Tuttio-style bike with way more motor behind it. The wider knobby tires grip well, although road tires would make a lot more sense if pavement was going to be the main job. As it sits, the bike feels happiest doing a little bit of everything.
Brakes, Lights, and Features
Leonx includes a decent list of street-friendly extras here. The product page lists rear turn signals, a 2000-lumen headlight, brake light, LCD display, and a full-twist throttle, all of which matched the general setup in the transcript. The bike also gets moto-style DOT hydraulic brakes, and overall braking felt strong enough for the performance on tap. Nothing felt dangerously under-braked, which is always something I worry about on cheap, fast bikes.
Overall, it does look a bit toy-ish, definitely a slight step down from more serious e-motos.
Weight and Size
This is not a featherweight. Leonx lists the net weight at 146 pounds, and that tracks with how the bike feels moving it around. It’s compact, but not light. Once it’s rolling that weight helps stability, but backing it up off-road or manhandling it around the garage still reminds me pretty quickly that this is a real little dirt bike, not a bicycle with delusions of grandeur.
The official page lists rider fit from 5’1″ to 6’5″, which feels a little optimistic on the upper end, but the bigger wheel setup definitely makes it more accommodating than the smaller version. For average-height riders, the Max makes a lot of sense.
Amped Pros
What We Liked
- Excellent value for a 60V mid-drive bike at $1,399
- Bigger 17"/14" wheel setup fits average-size adults much better
- Strong hill-climbing power and genuinely quick acceleration
- Good off-road ride quality with soft, comfortable rear suspension
- Useful features: display, lights, brake light, rear turn signals, full-twist throttle
- Camo styling actually looks really good in person
Amped Cons
What Could Be Better
- Seat is still pretty firm
- Motor is very loud; not stealthy
- Rear suspension needs to have a rebound adjustment
- Still feels like a budget bike in some of the smaller details
The Downsides
The biggest weak point is the seat. It’s still on the firm side. It didn’t turn into an emergency after a few miles, but it’s not exactly plush either. The bigger wheel setup helps the overall riding position, but it doesn’t magically fix the seat.
The other obvious tradeoff is that this is still an affordable bike. The build quality feels good for the money, but it doesn’t feel like a premium $4,000 e-moto. The plastics, the finish, the details around the controls — all of that still lives one step below the expensive stuff. The good news is that nothing about it felt flimsy or problematic. It just feels like a strong value build rather than a luxury build.
Final Verdict
The Leonx S1 Max ended up being a really easy bike to love. It’s fast, torquey, capable off-road, and way more grown-up than a lot of these cheap e-motos have any right to be. The bigger wheel setup makes it much more usable for average-sized riders, and the overall package feels like a meaningful step up from the smaller budget crowd without taking a huge step up in price.
It’s not perfect. The seat is firm, the motor is loud, and the finish still reminds me that this is an affordable bike. But the value here is real. At $1,399 ($50 off with code AC50), this thing makes a very strong case for itself as an entry-level dirt e-bike that doesn’t feel like a compromise machine. We are in a very good time for performance E-bikes.
Coupon Code
AC50$50 off
Looking for more e-bike reviews? Check out our latest guides on Amped Cycle for expert insights on electric bikes and PEVs!
Affiliate Disclaimer
Amped Cycle offers objective personal electric vehicle reviews. Some bikes we buy, some bikes are sent by the manufacturer or 3rd party. Any links used in this article and our YouTube channel may be affiliate links, Which means we make a commission that helps support our channel when you buy through those links. It costs nothing extra to you.
Bike was provided by Leonx in exchange for our honest review. No money changed hands.
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