If you’ve been following the world of high-powered e-bikes, you’ve probably noticed the line between e-bike and light electric motorcycle getting thinner every year. The Luckeep M5 Ultra is one of those machines that sits right on that dividing line: a motorcycle-inspired electric bike with full suspension, two big hub motors, and a speed and range that will make your average commuter e-bike blush. I’ve been testing the bike to see what it’s really like in the real world, and let me tell you… this thing is a beast!
Luckeep Ultra M5 video review
Want to see what it’s like to take a big boy e-bike like this for a spin? Check out my video review below. Then keep reading for my complete thoughts on this thing!
Luckeep Ultra M5 tech specs
- Motor: Dual 1,500W peak motors for 3,000W total power
- Top speed: 32 mph (51 km/h)
- Range: Claimed up to 160 miles (257 km) but real-world range is probably a third of that on throttle
- Battery: Dual 52V 20Ah batteries (2,080 kWh of capacity)
- Weight: 95 lb (43 kg)
- Tires: 20″x4.0″
- Brakes: Dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes
- Front suspension: Dual-crown suspension fork
- Rear suspension: Dual coil-over spring shocks
- Extras: Looks like a motorcycle, color LED display, NFC card unlocking, included fenders, large LED headlight, tail/brake light, turn signals, horn, and kickstand.
Built like a tank
The M5 Ultra comes in at 95 lb (43 kg), so let’s not pretend this is some featherweight pedal machine. It’s built from 6061 aluminum alloy, with a burly full-suspension setup comprised of a hydraulic fork up front and a coil shock in the rear. Between the frame and the suspension, it feels more like a small dirt bike than a bicycle.
Surely the piggy-back reservoirs are more like faux reservoirs, but the suspension still looks impressive and rides almost as impressively as it loosk.
Still, it retains standard bicycle hardware, which can be seen as either a positive or a negative. You get a Shimano 7-speed Tourney transmission with a trigger shifter, meaning you can still pedal when you want to, and the 20×4-inch fat tires provide decent traction on both pavement and dirt. I wouldn’t want to pedal this thing up a hill without motor assist, but it’s good to know you’re not locked into throttle-only riding.
You can see my pedal testing in the video above, and while it’s possible to pedal the thing, it’s much easier (and more fun) to ride it on throttle. Don’t get me wrong, I love pedaling e-bikes. But this one just isn’t set up for it. The bench seat isn’t adjustable and the pedaling just feels like a last resort.
Dual motors = serious power
The heart of this bike is its dual-motor setup: two 1,500W peak hub motors (3,000W total peak) that pump out a claimed 240 Nm of torque. In practice, that translates to effortless acceleration, even on steep hills or loose surfaces. I tested it on both pavement and dirt trails, and it pulled hard in both cases.
The top speed is listed at 32 mph (52 km/h), which is well above the legal Class 3 e-bike limit in the US. So let’s be clear, this is not a Class 2 or Class 3 commuter. It’s basically an electric moped that happens to have pedals. If your local regulations allow it, it’s a blast to ride at full tilt. But remember that on public roads in many states, it will be in moped territory and may require being registered as a moped. Fortunately, there’s a plate hanger to help mount your license plate, if you should reach that step.
Battery for days
With dual 52V 20Ah batteries (for a combined 2,080 Wh), the M5 Ultra promises up to 160 miles (258 km) of range. That’s an optimistic figure, and based on consumption data from shorter rides, I’d wager that real-world numbers will be closer to 60-70 miles with moderate throttle use and pedal assist. If you ride at full speed on throttle though, you could get a quarter of the advertised range.
Still, that’s a huge amount of range compared to most e-bikes when ridden at such speeds, which is of course thanks to the 2 kWh of battery capacity being around three times the average e-bike’s capacity.
Charging the batteries with the included charger takes about 6 hours each. For a system this big, I’d love to see dual chargers to cut that time down further. Of course most people will find their charge times less than that number since you’re rarely arriving home on empty, but still, dual chargers would have been appreciated to double the charging speed.
Ride experience
On the road, the bike feels like a small motorcycle. The hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors do a good job of hauling the bike down from speed, which is important when you’re dealing with a nearly 100-pound machine capable of topping 30 mph. The full suspension makes off-road riding much more manageable, soaking up bumps that would otherwise rattle you to pieces on a hardtail fat-tire e-bike.
The saddle is advertised as foam and “leather”, though I think any vegans in the room will be happy to hear that there’s no way that’s real leather. Leather could have been a cool feature (hey, I’m just a vegetarian, I can still sit on them), but there’s no way the craftsmanship is at that level.
The included lighting system (with turn signals and brake lights) adds to the motorcycle vibe and makes the bike safer in traffic, especially since I can see that many people will treat this more like a mini moto and take the lane, so signalling is even more important. I still tend to use hand signals on e-bikes though, even when I have real turns signals, because I just don’t think everyone is looking for turn signals on something like this. Hell, most people aren’t looking for turn signals at all, but a guy riding with his arm pointing straight out to the left and in a way that seems to obstruct your path to pass him is a pretty clear message.
There’s also this funny little basket between your ankles under the saddle. I guess there wasn’t enough room for a real bottle holder mounted vertically, so at least you can toss your water bottle in the basket!
Not for everyone
Let’s be real: this bike is not for your casual commuter or someone looking to toss a lightweight e-bike up the stairs to an apartment. At nearly 100 pounds, it’s heavy to move around, and you’ll need some space to store it (though the addition of a grab handle at the rear of the seat definitely makes it easier to muscle the bike around a garage or parking spot).
It’s also way outside the legal definition of an e-bike in many places, so depending on where you live, you might run into issues with enforcement if you’re riding it in bike lanes or on shared-use trails. That said, for riders who want motorcycle-level performance without actually buying a motorcycle, the M5 Ultra is a tempting option.
Final thoughts
The Luckeep M5 Ultra is one of those bikes that blurs the line between categories. It’s marketed as an e-bike, which it can technically cosplay as when limiting its speeds to legal levels. But with dual motors, dual batteries, and a 32 mph top speed, it’s really more like an electric moped.
For riders who want maximum power and range, it delivers in spades. The dual-battery setup means you can go much farther than on a typical fat-tire e-bike, and the suspension and braking components feel up to the task of handling the speed and weight.
But the trade-offs are clear: it’s heavy, not especially practical as a pedal bike, and it won’t fit neatly into the legal framework of e-bike classes in the US. That means it’s best suited for private land, off-road use, or areas where enforcement is lax.
If you’re shopping for a lightweight commuter, this isn’t it. But if you want something that feels like a small motorcycle while still giving you the option to pedal, the Luckeep M5 Ultra might just be the over-the-top machine you’re looking for.
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