ESKUTE Netuno Plus

The ESKUTE Netuno Plus is one of the few budget e-bikes that sticks to the classic Dutch format: 27.5-inch wheels, upright riding position and urban geometry. For €699 you're paying literally half the price of an entry-level Gazelle Chamonix, and for someone commuting 4-8 km a day on flat terrain that's a serious proposition. You give up what the €2,000 premium justifies — the Bosch mid-motor, the ART-2 lock, the enclosed chaincase that keeps your trouser leg clean — but you get a real commuter shape instead of a compact cruiser.

Spec-wise the Netuno Plus sits tight in its price bracket. The Bafang 250W rear hub motor with torque sensor (well regarded in budget e-bike circles) delivers a better ride feel than the cheapest cadence-sensor motors — support kicks in faster and less jerkily. The 522 Wh battery realistically produces 50-70 km in Eco, comfortably enough for two days of commuting without recharging. The Shimano 7-speed derailleur shifts fine but needs more maintenance than the Nexus hub on a Batavus Finez E-go Power. The 27.5-inch wheels roll smoothly on asphalt — on cobbles in old town centres you definitely feel the absence of suspension. Weight around 23-24 kg is acceptable for this category but still heavy enough to notice on stairs.

Honestly: the Netuno Plus is a bike deal, not a complete commuter package. You still need an ART-2 lock (€70-100), possibly a rear rack with mudguard, and maybe a chain guard to make it truly commute-ready. ESKUTE support runs through European offices and Amazon — usually workable, but for a dead Bafang controller you depend on parts that ESKUTE itself must ship. For someone deliberately commuting on the cheap, accepting the risks of a direct-to-consumer brand and with a backup bike available, this is a smart buy. For a sole daily commuter expected to last a decade, the premium for a Gazelle or Batavus remains justified.