Mihogo Air Max vs Velowave Prado S

The Velowave Prado S currently sells for $1,099 against a $1,299 list, putting it just under the Mihogo Air Max's $1,199 with code USA100. Both are 750W-rated bikes aimed at commuters. From there they diverge hard: the Prado S is a 77.2 lb aluminum step-thru on 20″ × 4.0″ fat tires with a cadence sensor and a Shimano 7-speed; the Air Max is a 62 lb rigid carbon commuter with a bilateral torque sensor, no derailleur, and two hidden batteries. Every Prado S figure below comes from Velowave's own U.S. product and spec pages, cross-checked against independent reviews — including where those sources disagree, which we've flagged rather than smoothed over. Air Max figures are first-party from mihogousa.com. (We're Mihogo USA, the Air Max's U.S. distributor — so read the rows where the Prado S wins as the honest part.)

Every Velowave Prado S figure above links to Velowave's own U.S. product page or spec page, with independent reviews as a cross-check; Air Max figures are first-party from mihogousa.com. Both prices shown are promotional — Velowave lists the Prado S at $1,299 regular, and the Air Max's $1,199 requires code USA100. Prices and specs change; confirm on the maker's site before buying.

Cadence sensor vs torque sensor: the row that changes how the bike feels

This is the difference you notice in the first hundred feet, and it isn't a number you can rank on a chart. Velowave's spec page lists the Prado S with a cadence sensor.[source] A cadence sensor detects that the cranks are turning and feeds in whatever power the current assist level calls for. Start pedalling and the motor arrives; stop and it drops out. The Air Max uses a bilateral torque sensor, which measures how hard you're pushing on both sides and scales assist proportionally — push harder, get more.

Neither approach is wrong. Cadence systems are simpler, cheaper and perfectly usable, and plenty of riders prefer being carried along at a steady level. Torque systems feel more like a bike and less like a switch, and they generally use less battery for the same trip because they're only adding what you're asking for. It's worth noting that the one recurring complaint in independent Prado S coverage is exactly in this territory: reviewers describe the throttle response as jerky and the throttle's position as awkward.[review]

Keep this separate from the torque numbers below. A torque sensor is an input device; Nm is a motor output rating. A bike can have high torque and a cadence sensor, or modest torque and a torque sensor. These two bikes happen to sit on opposite corners of that grid.

Motor and torque: the Air Max pulls harder, the Prado S peaks higher

Velowave rates the Prado S at 750W continuous with a 1275W peak and 55 Nm of torque from a Bafang geared hub motor.[source] The Air Max is 750W continuous, 900W peak, 85 Nm. So the Prado S has roughly 40% more peak wattage, and the Air Max has roughly 55% more torque.

In practice torque is what you feel from a standing start and on a grade; peak wattage is headroom for short bursts. Independent reviewers rate the Prado S's motor as strong for hill climbing[review] — a 20″ wheel also multiplies torque at the rim, which helps a smaller-wheeled bike more than the spec sheet suggests. That's a genuine point in the Prado S's favour that the 55 Nm figure alone undersells.

A note on the Prado S's top speed, because the sources don't agree

We'd rather flag this than quietly pick the flattering number. Velowave's U.S. product page lists the Prado S at 25 mph by pedal assist and 20 mph on throttle.[source] But two independent review sites still quote 28 mph[review][review] — a figure that also appears on coverage of the earlier, now-discontinued Prado, which suggests it carried over rather than being re-measured. Velowave's own separate spec page adds a third number, a 25 km/h limit that doesn't match its U.S. product page at all.[source]

We use the 25 mph U.S. product page figure throughout this page, because that's the number Velowave publishes for the bike it's actually selling in the United States. If top speed is your deciding factor, ask Velowave to confirm in writing before you buy — and check your local rules on assisted speed either way, since what's permitted varies by state and by path.

Battery and range: 921.6 Wh against 720 Wh

The Prado S runs a single removable 48V 15Ah / 720 Wh pack with LG 21700 cells,[source] and Velowave rates it at an average of 40 miles on pedal assist or 23 miles on throttle alone.[source] Independent coverage lands in the same neighbourhood at 25–40 miles.[review] Credit where it's due: Velowave publishing a separate, much lower throttle-only figure is more honest than the single best-case number most brands print, and the independent range lines up with it.

The Air Max carries 921.6 Wh as two hidden 460.8 Wh packs — about 28% more energy — rated up to 121 miles under ideal pedal-assist conditions. Our number deserves the same scepticism we'd apply to anyone's: it's a manufacturer best case, not an independent test, and real range depends on rider weight, terrain, wind, temperature and throttle use. Fat tires and a 77 lb chassis also spend energy a rigid commuter doesn't. One practical point for the Prado S: its pack is removable and can come indoors to charge, which the Air Max's frame-integrated packs cannot — Mihogo USA instead ships two chargers so both packs fill at once. Independent coverage also notes the Prado S can be run with a second battery for extended range.[review]

Weight: about 15 lbs

Velowave lists the Prado S at 77.2 lbs;[source] the Air Max is about 62 lbs on a 7.7 lb Toray T800 carbon monocoque frame. That's roughly 15 lbs, and independent reviewers flag the Prado S's weight as a real transport hassle.[review]

The Prado S gets something for that weight, though, and it's not just tires: it's a step-thru frame. If swinging a leg over a top tube is difficult — bad knee, hip, or you're just getting on and off constantly — a low step-over is worth more than 15 lbs of saved mass. That's a real reason to pick the heavier bike, and no spec row captures it.

Load limits: 330 and 275 are different measurements

Velowave quotes 330 lbs as a maximum total load.[source] Mihogo quotes 275 lbs as a maximum rider weight, TÜV Rheinland tested. You can't subtract one from the other, and you can't subtract bike weight from either — they're measured on different bases. The Prado S is the higher-capacity platform; if you're near either number, confirm the rider-only figure with Velowave before buying.

What independent reviewers didn't like about the Prado S

Since we're the other bike's distributor, the fair thing is to report these as reviewers wrote them rather than lean on them. Recurring criticisms: a kickstand that bends easily, jerky throttle response with awkward positioning, difficulty sourcing compatible aftermarket parts, and customer service that gave inaccurate technical information.[review] On the other side of the ledger, the same coverage rates the bike 82/100 and praises the motor, the LG battery, the fat tires and the hydraulic brakes[review] — and a separate review calls out a comfortable saddle, strong hill climbing and a smooth Shimano 7-speed.[review] That's a well-liked bike with known rough edges, not a bad one.

So which should you buy?

• Need a low step-over, ride broken pavement or loose surfaces, want gears and a suspension fork, or carry serious weight? → Velowave Prado S. 20″ fat tires, Shimano 7-speed, 1275W peak, 330 lb total load, removable battery, $1,099.
• Commuting on pavement, want the assist to respond to your effort, and lifting the bike matters? → Mihogo Air Max. About 15 lbs lighter, bilateral torque sensor, 85 Nm, 921.6 Wh across two packs, carbon frame, $1,199 with code USA100.
• Short flat trips only? The Prado S saves you $100 and gives you gears. At that point buy on frame style and sensor feel — go ride both if you can.

Comparison FAQ