Segway Myon e-bike review: a near-perfect commuter bike

Segway has only released a handful of ebikes, but it’s clear the company has done its homework. The Myon is the company’s fourth electric bike, but it’s the most well-rounded of the bunch, combining a host of high-tech features in a frame that’s comfortable and accessible. And, it does it for $2,000, which, while not exactly the cheapest ebike around, is a good value for all the things you get — like an electronic gear shifter, turn signals, anti-theft features, and hydraulic disc brakes.

I rode the Segway Myon for several months and over 50 miles; here’s why it’s become one of my favorite ebikes for getting around town.

Price and accessories

The Segway Myon went on sale this spring for $1,999, though it’s been on sale for $1,799. The bike comes in two sizes (regular and small) and you can get it in green, silver, or a deep blue; I really dug the blue of my review unit.

One note to New York State residents: Due to the state’s e-bike laws, the company won’t ship the Myon (as well as a few other models) if you live in the state, because the Myon’s top speed of 28 MPH exceeds that of the state limit.

I also really like that the bike comes with front and rear fenders, as well as a rear rack, by default. On so many other e-bikes, these accessories cost extra.

The Myon’s frame is designed as a step-through model, but the company sells a removable top tube for $99; it’s mostly for aesthetics.

The accessory I liked more was the $99 rear radar, which alerts you when traffic is coming up behind. If a car is approaching at a slower pace, an amber light will turn on, either on the left or right control cluster, so you know on which side to look. If a car is approaching at a faster rate of speed, an alert will flash on the Myon’s center display.

The radar is pretty sensitive; even my daughter riding her bike next to mine is enough to set it off. Still, I’d rather have more alerts than fewer.

Turn signals

Similar to some of its electric scooters like the Kickscooter G3 Max, the Myon has turn signals built into the ends of its handlebars. The controls are activated by a rocker switch on the left handlebar; press it, and the signal will turn on for about 10 seconds. Each signal is a bright amber light that can easily be seen at a distance.

About the only thing that would have made them better is if Segway also integrated turn signals into its taillight assembly, a la the Aventon Abound LR. That way, it would be easier for cars coming up from behind to know if you’re planning to turn.

Still, front turn signals are better than nothing.

Electronic gear shifting

The Myon has an electronic gear shifter — there’s no wire going from the front to the back of the bike — which was as fast as any mechanical shifter I’ve used. A small thumb lever on the right side lets you shift into a higher or lower gear. Simply move the switch up or down, and the bike changes gears in a split-second.

Even cooler is that Segway updated the bike’s software to add what’s essentially an automatic transmission. When engaged, the bike will automatically change gears so you can maintain a certain cadence while pedaling. In this mode, when you press the gear shift button, it adjusts your desired cadence, rather than the gearing. So, if you want to cruise along at a slow but steady pace, you can choose a lower cadence; if you want to kick things up a notch, you can simply move it higher.

It took a few minutes for me to get used to this automatic shifter, but I fell in love with it pretty quickly. Is it necessary? Probably not, but it’s certainly cool, and is one less thing you have to think about when riding.

Performance

I rode the Myon for over 50 miles over the course of a few months, and found it effortless. I mainly used it to commute back and forth to my train station (about a mile each way), but I also found myself taking a longer route home just to enjoy my time on the bike.

The geometry of the Myon lets you ride the bike in a fairly upright position — not as much as a beach cruiser, but you won’t be hunching over your handlebars as you ride to work.

I also appreciated the front suspension on the bike; as it has narrowish tires (27.5 x 1.75), the added cushioning definitely helped over potholed roads.

The Myon’s 500W motor (750 peak) was more than enough to power me up some steep hills around town at speeds of up to 15 MPH. However, I did notice that power tapered off the lower the battery got; when it was down to about 20%, the bike could only manage around 10 MPH up the same hill.

The biggest knock against the Myon is its overall weight. At 72 pounds, it’s seriously heavy. I wouldn’t want to have to pedal it uphill if the battery ran out. Fortunately, that never happened. The Myon's battery is rated for up to 80 miles on a charge, and while I didn't hit that figure — I live in a somewhat hilly area — I was able to go a few weeks without having to plug the bike in.

A smart, comprehensive app

Using the Segway app, you can configure the Myon as either a Class 2 (throttle up to 20 MPH), Class 3 (pedal-assist only to 28 MPH), or hybrid e-bike (throttle to 20 mph & pedal assist to 28 mph), though the latter is unavailable in California.

The app also lets you configure other aspects of the Myon’s ride, such as fine-tuning when the gears shift and the sound the electric horn makes.

Here, you can also set up the Myon’s safety and security features, such as Apple FindMy and AirLock. The latter function will automatically lock and unlock your bike when within Bluetooth range of your phone. While it only saved me a few extra seconds — I no longer had to input the security code — it’s a nice convenience.

Bottom line

At $2,000, the Segway Myon is by no means the least expensive e-bike we here at Tom’s Guide like. The Ride1Up Vorsa Lite, for example, is $500 less, has a more powerful motor, greater payload capacity, and will serve most commuters as well as the Myon.

However, for a bit more, you get some great extras with the Myon, which range from the fun (like automatic shifting) to the truly useful, like AppleFindMy and included fenders, not to mention features like fine-tuning the gear shifting.

If you're looking for something a bit more unusual — but equally fun — the Segway Muxi Pro (also $1,999) is an upgraded version of the Segway Muxi, with front suspension, electronic shifting, and turn signals in the handlebars. You'll end up paying a little more for some accessories, though.

As a tech-forward commuter who’s always on the lookout for a fun, yet practical ebike to get me to and from work, the Segway Myon is at the top of my list.