A decidedly off-road style electric scooter with enormous tires, front and rear suspension and an adjustable saddle
Integrated 15 watt solar panel extends range by trickle-charging the battery, it would take over 55 hours to fully charge in perfect conditions but the gentle ongoing fill should help extend the useful life of the pack by avoiding deep-discharge
Standard 20 mph speed with the option to go 30 mph, heavier build ~221 lbs makes it a bit less agile to steer but the large tires work great on soft terrain, great accessories (lights, signals, mirrors, hydraulic disc brakes)
It's quiet but surprisingly powerful, works great for climbing or cutting through brush (especially with the dual motor option)
Video Review
Introduction
Make:
Daymak
Model:
Beast Deluxe
Price:
$2,999
(Optional $1,999 Standard, $3,999 Ultimate and $4,299 Off-Road Models)
Body Position:
Upright
Suggested Use:
Urban, Trail, Sand and Snow
Electric Bike Class:
Throttle on Demand (Class 2), Moped or Motorcycle (Class 4)
1 Year Frame and Motor, 6 Month Components and Battery
Availability:
United States, Canada, Worldwide
Model Year:
20152016
Bicycle Details
Total Weight:
221 lbs (100.24 kg)
Battery Weight:
31 lbs (14.06 kg)
Motor Weight:
25 lbs (11.33 kg)
Frame Types:
Step-Thru
Frame Material:
Chromoly Steel
Frame Colors:
Gloss Black
Frame Fork Details:
Double Crown Suspension Fork
Frame Rear Details:
Single Coil Over Suspension
Attachment Points:
Fender Bosses
Gearing Details:
1
Single Speed
Pedals:
Folding Plastic Platform
Handlebar:
High-Rise
Brake Details:
HKDS Hydraulic Disc, 215 mm Diameter, 3.5 mm Thick Rotors, Oversized Levers with Motor Inhibitor
Grips:
Flat Rubber, Full Twist on Right
Saddle:
Extended, Padded
Seat Post:
Double Post, Quick Release
Rims:
10" x 4.5"
Tire Brand:
21" x 7"
Wheel Sizes:
21 in (53.34cm)
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Integrated LED Headlight, Integrated LED Backlight, Integrated Solar Charging (15 Watt), Two Side Mirrors Mounted to Handle Bar, Front and Rear Plastic Fenders, Plastic Chain Guard, Turn Signals, Horn, Double Leg Long-Term Kickstand, Single Side Quick Kickstand (With Integrated Motor Inhibitor), Integrated Rear Carry Rack, Folding Foot Rest Pegs
Other:
Locking Removable Battery Pack, Estimated 800 Full Charge Cycles, 350 lb Weight Limit, Includes a Standard Tool Kit, 2 USB Charging Ports on Battery Box, Fan Cooled Charger (60 Volt 3 Amp Output, 110 Output Plug, 110V/220V Input), Capable of Ascending 15 Degree Inclines
20 mph (32 kph)
(15.5 mph in Some Geographies, Unlock to ~31 mph)
Written Review
Daymak is a Canadian electric vehicle company based in Toronoto. They’re one of the larger brands with sales dating back to 2002 when they also sold gas powered scooters. In 2009 they switched entirely to electric and the Beast is one of their most iconic products. Unlike many of their other scooters and bikes which feel more generic, the Beast is one of a kind. There are three versions with the “Beast Deluxe” being the mid-level offering. It comes with an upgraded Lithium-ion battery pack that’s half as heavy as the base model Lead Acid pack but capable of powering the scooter 50% further with double expected lifespan (800 charge cycles vs. ~300). Despite using the same 500 watt motor, the Deluxe feels more powerful and is capable of hitting nearly 30 mph when unlocked. By default, it offers 20 mph top speeds (15.5 mph in Europe) to comply with low speed electric bike laws. You do have the option of upgrading the Beast Deluxe or Ultimate to add a second motor for even more traction and climbing ability but this may also de-classify it as an ebike because the combined motor power will be 1,000 watts. In most of the video review above I’m using the Beast D with two motors so keep that in mind and check out the Standard Beast review here if you’d like to see single-motor performance or spend a little less for the lower-end battery, more basic light, downgraded saddle and are willing to skip out on pedal assist.
In practice, the Beast would be very difficult to actually pedal because it only has one gear, the crank shaft is directly below the seat instead of a bit forward and the extra wide and long saddle forces your legs to spread in an awkward way. Even if pedaling were comfortable, the included pedal assist feature is set at one power level so the scooter quickly outpaces your ability to spin. In my opinion, the most comfortable way to ride this thing is using the variable speed twist throttle for power and putting your legs forward on the deck or extended further out towards the pegs. The pegs and adjustable height seat are a huge win for taller riders and not something I see on many electric scooters. Driving the Beast Deluxe is a 500 watt direct drive hub motor mounted in the rear wheel. This type of motor tends to be quiet and durable but also heavy and a bit weak at lower speeds. Given the smaller diameter wheels, the motor gets a mechanical advantage here and works fairly well… In the video review you can see shots of Blain riding on the same model I had and doing just fine through the forest and up steeper hills, he weighs ~200 lbs verses my ~135 lbs. Also shown in the video review (towards the end) are frame-shots where the cranks are spinning because the pedals are are hitting grass and bushes. The pedals themselves are basic plastic platform but they are foldable or completely removable if you’re going off-road a lot which is nice.
The deck on the Beast houses a large battery box which is covered by three solar panels. The panels are rated at 15 watts combined and could charge the bike (in ideal conditions) in around 55 hours. Keep the deck clean, park the scooter in such a way that the bars and saddle won’t cast shadows and you could end up with a bit of extra juice at the end of each day! It sounds neat but in order to ride more than a mile or two after a full day of charging you’ll still need to plug this thing in. Using any 110 wall outlet the Beast Deluxe charges to 100% from empty in about seven hours. I love that the battery can be charged on or off the frame and that it’s so much lighter than the Lead Acid options (it’s ~31 lbs vs. ~62 lbs). To lift the battery box there are two straps you can grab from the top as well as two sturdy fold-out handles on both sides. The other cool use for the battery is as a backup power supply. It has a built in three prong wall outlet (like we’re used to here in the US and Canada) as well as two USB outlets. Depending on what type of lights, radio, TV or micro-fridge you’ve got this pack could last 5+ hours. The battery is really the star of the show with the Beast, I love that they mounted it low and center on the frame for improved balance and surrounded it with tubing to reduce damage in the event of a tip or crash.
Operating the Beast Deluxe is very easy, once the pack is charged and locked into the frame you insert the key into the ignition up near the display panel and turn it to “on”. Just like a car, gas powered scooter or motorcycle, the key must be left in while riding and as a result it can jingle around a bit but it’s never in the way of your pedaling or steering movements. The display panel shows your battery charge state, speed, voltage use, odometer, temperature and several readouts about the lights, turn signals and brights. I like that they used a digital display here for more accuracy vs. some basic LED’s and I love that it’s backlit (with a soft blue hue, you can see this in the video review when I cruise through the forest). Given the bar-end mirrors, turn signals, front and rear lights and the horn, this scooter has everything you’d expect for riding safely in traffic. I could see myself riding it to work and back, especially given the higher speed option but in that case, I’d be relying on my motorcycle license and insurance to operate legally on-road.
The Beast Deluxe is one of the most popular models in the Beast series from Daymak because it offers better power, speed and comfort than the entry model but only costs an extra $1,000. For the dual motor option you’ll have to kick in another $1,299 but that’s not necessary unless you’re 200+ lbs and plan on going off-road to really climb or cut through brush. I took the bike on a variety of terrain types and it performed well (even in soft stuff) but there was more noise on concrete because of the oversized tread. I like that you get two kickstand styles here for parking the Beast (the full double leg support for longer term, stable storage and a single-side quick kickstand which cuts power to the motor when down). I did notice the single sided stand getting snagged while riding over some foliage a couple of times and this produced a bit of rattling but it never caused me to feel unstable. I believe the side stand can be removed if you’d like (this is something Blain had done to his own personal Beast). If you’re looking for a quiet, clean way to cruise around and have some fun, the Beast Deluxe is a great option. Note that the wider tires do make it easier to steer and balance but it could still tip and might not be ideal for smaller kids unless they are decent riders or have supervision at first… This is another area where the Deluxe model wins because it’s the lightest option available. The rear rack mount is cool, you could use this with a box to haul stuff around a farm or get groceries in the neighborhood. My final thought here is on the subject of shipping. The Beast is large and heavy so expect to pay $300+, it’s worth checking their dealer network to see if you can find one in person but you’ll still need a truck to get it home. The Beast is inspiring with it’s solar charging feature and even if it’s not filling the tank each day you’re still supporting battery health through trickle charging.
Pros:
Significantly larger battery pack than the standard Beast model for increased range, they estimate an extra 5+ miles per charge and it weighs half as much ~31 lbs vs. ~62 lbs
The battery uses Lithium-ion cells vs. sealed Lead Acid on the Standard model and these offer more power for roughly the same weight and will endure more charge cycles (they estimate 500+ more) before losing capacity
The included charger is nicer than the Standard version, it’s aluminum which won’t break as easily and has an integrated fan so it can stay cool and charge faster
The Beast is comfortable to ride, even on very bumpy terrain, because the unit is heavy and the large suspension offers good travel
Intuitive twist-throttle operation with a center-mounted grayscale LCD communicating your charge level, speed, odometer, lights and turn signal status (the display is also backlit)
Includes all of the major accessories that you’d expect on a traditional motorcycle including lights, turn signals, a horn, two side-mirrors, hydraulic disc brakes and sturdy kickstands (double and single)
I really like the idea of integrated solar charging and use as a backup power supply (the pack is removable and has USB and 110 outlets), even though the panels are relatively small the little bit of ongoing trickle-charge should extend battery life
The saddle is upgraded from the Standard version and is adjustable up and down with quick release levers on the left and right support arm, this allows taller riders to sit comfortably and keep their legs out of the way for steering
Super wide tires offer excellent traction and increased surface area for navigating soft terrain like sand, snow and soft dirt, they also offer some shock absorption
Cons:
Even though the Deluxe and Ultimate models offer cadence sensing pedal assist, to me the pedals were positioned in such a way that they felt uncomfortable to use (far back and spread out wide), I think I’d rely primarily on the twist throttle on these and most other scooter style electric bikes, also, there aren’t any level settings for pedal assist so you’re always getting full power and the bike quickly outpaces your legs
At ~254 lbs the Beast is heavier than most light electric vehicles I test and review, the oversized tires help to keep it stable but it requires more muscle to stand up and maneuver, it would not be fun to have this tip
The solar panel built into the exterior casing of the battery pack can get dirty because your feet rest on it and this can decrease the efficiency, consider cleaning it regularly with a damp rag
I like the idea of solar charging but with 15 watts here you would have to wait over 55 hours for the battery to fully charge (and that’s with direct sunlight), plugging it in is probably still necessary for most riders
Shipping the Beast Deluxe inside Canada costs ~$200 but outside of Canada it can rise to ~$400, there are many retail outlets that sell Daymak products in Canada which might be worth visiting, still, transporting the Beast could may require a truck
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I’ve had my Beast Deluxe for a couple of months now and while it has been fun it has not been without issues. Not sure how you figure 55 hours to fully charge. I tested it for three consecutive 8 hour days (24hrs) in full sun and my battery did not go up even one volt. It may sustain voltage levels so the battery doesn’t completely discharge, but expecting it to charge the battery in even 1000 hours is pure fantasy. The 110v outlet works fine but the usb ports have never worked even though Daymak supplied me with 2 new inverters. They also don’t tell you how fast these tires wear out. I’m installing my 3rd rear tire in 3 months and need to replace the front as well. My throttle cable snapped due to the very awkward and tight installation position. I relocated the throttle sensor and changed the cable. Been perfect ever since. Pedaling works with the PAS and in a sitting position I can comfortably pedal at around 12 to 15kph. Forget about pedaling up any hills. It won’t happen unless you’re superman. Problems aside it’s still a lot of fun. It goes faster than one might expect but I wish it had more torque. It gets a lot of attention on the road and people always stop me to ask questions about it. I really do enjoy it despite the problems I’ve had.
Court Rye
7 years ago
This is wonderful feedback! The kind of information that only comes with experience and an honest perspective. Thank you so much for chiming in constructively to help inform me and other readers about the limitations of the system and some of the areas that could be improved with future iterations. I’m glad you are enjoying the Beast overall and that Daymak has been supportive with the USB port issues… even if they persist ;)
TheHydrant
7 years ago
Forgot to mention….in opening the battety case and seeing the wiring it’s interesting that it lacks any diode in the battery and solar panel leads. This means it suffers parasitic power loss when its dark or in the shade as the battery slowly “bleeds” power back into the panels. I can lose an entire volt overnight as a result. Thats faster than any gain I might get from the solar panels during the day. I will be adding a diode very soon and see if that helps.
Court Rye
7 years ago
Oh man! That’s terrible, have you mentioned it to Daymak? Seems like it would be an easy fix and I’m amazed that the design would overlook something so critical. It makes me feel like the solar panels are purely aesthetic and marketing oriented given how much this would compromise the actual functionality :(
TheHydrant
7 years agoI’ve had my Beast Deluxe for a couple of months now and while it has been fun it has not been without issues. Not sure how you figure 55 hours to fully charge. I tested it for three consecutive 8 hour days (24hrs) in full sun and my battery did not go up even one volt. It may sustain voltage levels so the battery doesn’t completely discharge, but expecting it to charge the battery in even 1000 hours is pure fantasy. The 110v outlet works fine but the usb ports have never worked even though Daymak supplied me with 2 new inverters. They also don’t tell you how fast these tires wear out. I’m installing my 3rd rear tire in 3 months and need to replace the front as well. My throttle cable snapped due to the very awkward and tight installation position. I relocated the throttle sensor and changed the cable. Been perfect ever since. Pedaling works with the PAS and in a sitting position I can comfortably pedal at around 12 to 15kph. Forget about pedaling up any hills. It won’t happen unless you’re superman. Problems aside it’s still a lot of fun. It goes faster than one might expect but I wish it had more torque. It gets a lot of attention on the road and people always stop me to ask questions about it. I really do enjoy it despite the problems I’ve had.
Court Rye
7 years agoThis is wonderful feedback! The kind of information that only comes with experience and an honest perspective. Thank you so much for chiming in constructively to help inform me and other readers about the limitations of the system and some of the areas that could be improved with future iterations. I’m glad you are enjoying the Beast overall and that Daymak has been supportive with the USB port issues… even if they persist ;)
TheHydrant
7 years agoForgot to mention….in opening the battety case and seeing the wiring it’s interesting that it lacks any diode in the battery and solar panel leads. This means it suffers parasitic power loss when its dark or in the shade as the battery slowly “bleeds” power back into the panels. I can lose an entire volt overnight as a result. Thats faster than any gain I might get from the solar panels during the day. I will be adding a diode very soon and see if that helps.
Court Rye
7 years agoOh man! That’s terrible, have you mentioned it to Daymak? Seems like it would be an easy fix and I’m amazed that the design would overlook something so critical. It makes me feel like the solar panels are purely aesthetic and marketing oriented given how much this would compromise the actual functionality :(