AMZcycle Ranger APEX Electric Gravel Bike

The Ranger APEX sits at the top of AMZcycle's gravel lineup, and the spec sheet explains why pretty quickly. Dual Samsung batteries, SRAM APEX hydraulic dual-control, a full Toray T800 carbon frame and fork, SAMCX carbon crankarm, Selle Italia saddle, Schwalbe G-One 365 tires, and a 100-mile range when you're running both packs. At $5,299, it's competing with bikes that often cost $2,000–$3,000 more for a comparable component level.

It's also a Class 1 bike — pedal assist only, no throttle, 20 mph cap. That distinction matters for trail access in a lot of states and municipalities. If you're planning to ride on mixed-use paths or want to keep options open on where you can legally ride, Class 1 is the right category.

The Motor: Why 250W Isn't the Whole Story

The Bafang M820 is rated at 250W continuous, with a 350W peak, and 75 N·m of torque. The wattage figure is lower than you'll see on a lot of e-bikes at this price — and that's intentional. The M820 is built around efficiency and weight, not raw power output. At 36V, the system draws less current for equivalent torque compared to 48V setups, which means the battery lasts longer under the same riding conditions. You're not getting a freight train assist; you're getting a natural-feeling boost that extends your effective range without fundamentally changing how the bike rides. On long gravel days, that matters more than peak wattage.

75 N·m is enough for reasonable gravel climbing. The torque sensor reads actual pedal effort, so the assist scales proportionally — push harder, get more help, back off and it backs off with you.

The Dual Battery System

The primary battery is a Samsung 18650 cell pack — 36V 10.5Ah, 378Wh, UL2271 certified, IPX5 rated. The optional secondary bottle battery adds 36V 7Ah, 252Wh. Together that's 630Wh, which gives you a realistic 80–100 mile range depending on terrain, assist level, and rider weight. Running on the primary alone, expect 50–62 miles. The 18650 format has a longer track record in cycling applications than the newer 21700 cells — solid performance across temperature ranges, well-understood degradation curve.

One worth noting: the secondary battery mounts as a bottle cage unit, which means you're trading a bottle cage for range extension. Something to factor in on hot days or long races.

The Frame: Toray T800 Carbon

Toray T800 is a high-modulus carbon fiber — stronger and stiffer per unit weight than T700, which is what most bikes in this price range use when they say "carbon." The geometry is modern gravel XC: longer reach, higher stack, 70° head tube angle. That combination gives you stability at speed on loose surfaces while keeping you in a position that's comfortable over 4–6 hours in the saddle. Fully internal cable routing (FICR) throughout. UDH rear dropout for universal derailleur hanger compatibility.

The fork is also full T800 carbon — 700C, 12×100mm thru-axle, FICR. This matters for future upgrade paths; this fork accepts most quality gravel suspension forks if you eventually want to add front travel.

Drivetrain: SRAM APEX Dual-Control

SRAM APEX 1×12 with the dual-control lever system — brake and shift integrated into one lever on each side, which eliminates separate brake levers and shifter pods from the cockpit. It's a cleaner setup aesthetically and reduces cable clutter significantly. The cassette runs 10–51T, which is enough range for most gravel terrain. The chain is SRAM APEX 12s. Shifting is reliable; the dual-control system is one of the things SRAM does particularly well in their road/gravel lineup.

The chainring is a Bafang G532 44T unit designed specifically for the M820 motor's ISIS interface. That integration is deliberate — motor manufacturers spec their own chainrings for optimal torque transfer and chain-line geometry.

Brakes

The braking is integrated into the SRAM APEX dual-control levers — hydraulic, 2-piston, with SRAM 160mm Centerlock rotors front and rear. SRAM's hydraulic braking at this level is competent and well-modulated. The Centerlock standard is widely compatible; rotors are easy to source and replace. Having brakes and shifting in one unit means the lever feel is tuned as a system rather than mixing brands, which typically results in better modulation consistency.

The Crankarm and Saddle

The crankarm is SAMCX CEC05 — carbon fiber, 175mm. On a bike built for long-distance gravel, carbon cranks dampen pedaling vibration over time in a way that becomes noticeable after a few hours. It's a detail that shows up in comfort, not in a spec sheet comparison. The saddle is a Selle Italia FLITE — a long-proven endurance saddle with a flat profile and a proper pedigree in road racing and long-distance gravel riding. Getting a real Selle Italia FLITE on a complete e-bike at any price is genuinely unusual.

Tires

Schwalbe G-One Overland 365 in 700×50C. The "365" designation means all-season compound — Schwalbe's version of a four-season tire that maintains grip in cold and wet conditions better than a standard summer compound. The 50C width hits a good balance for gravel: enough volume to run at lower pressures for compliance on rough surfaces, not so wide that you're fighting rolling resistance on road sections.

Technical Specifications

Warranty

• Frame: 5 years
• Fork: 2 years
• Motor: 12 months
• Battery: 18 months or 20,000 miles (whichever comes first)
• Display: 12 months

What's in the Box

AMZcycle Ranger APEX Electric Bike · Assembly Toolkit · Battery & Charger · Headlight & Taillight · Display · Cable Binders · Left & Right Pedals · User Manual