A comfortable cruiser ebike with an internally geard hub, mid-drive, throttle, and comfortable riding position as well as front suspension fork
A 750-1000watt mid-drive coupled with a smooth Sturmey Archer internally geared hub for easy and reliable riding
A powerful 48v battery that can be upgraded from the 11.6ah to 14ah, 17ah, and even 21ah, comes with a lot of features like plastic fenders, rear rack, integrated headlight, and adjustable length kickstand
No wire wraps, rear light is basic, and no hydraulic brakes despite the quick and powerful motor, but to be fair, the mechanical brakes are easier to maintain as well as adjust
Tektro Mechanical Disc Caliper, Tektro Three-Finger Levers with Rubberized Edge and Motor Inhibitors
Grips:
Ergonomic Rubber Locking Grips, Black
Saddle:
Faux Leather, 11.5" Wide Gel Seat with 2 Rear Springs
Seat Post:
Aluminum Alloy
Seat Post Length:
300 mm
Seat Post Diameter:
27.2 mm
Rims:
Double Wall, Aluminum Alloy, 25mm Outer Width, 36 Hole, Black
Spokes:
Stainless Steel, 13 Gauge Front and 12 Gauge Rear, Adjustable Nipples, Silver
Tire Brand:
Kenda K-Rad, 26" x 2.3" (58-559)
Wheel Sizes:
26 in (66.04cm)
Tire Details:
50 to 75 PSI, 3.5 to 5.3 BAR
Tube Details:
Schrader
Accessories:
Matte Black Rear Triangle Mounted Rear-Rack with Glove Retention Spring, LCD Control Center, Center-Mounted Kick Stand, Plastic Fenders, Integrated LED Headlight
APT 500C, Fixed, Backlit, Full Color, Haptic Feedback
Readouts:
Battery Level (10 Bars), Speed, Assist Mode (0-5), Trip Distance, Total Distance, Average Speed, Max Speed, (Includes 5 Brightness Settings, Walk Mode, Time-Out Adjustment, Battery Read-out Preference)
Display Accessories:
Integrated Button Pad Near Left Grip, Buttons: +, -, Menu, On/Off, (Hold - for Walk Mode, Hold + for Lights, Hold M for Settings Menu)
Drive Mode:
Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Twist Throttle
Top Speed:
20 mph (32 kph)
Written Review
To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Biktrix. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Biktrix products.
I was excited to check out the entire line up of the new Biktrix bikes, and I think I may have found my favorite among the group: the Biktrix Stunner. The Stunner is an electric cruiser bike with a super powerful mid-drive motor, smooth internally geared hub for shifting, and a a relaxed seating style. Everything works together quite well in harmony, but let’s go over some of the bike features before we get straight into that. So as I mentioned, it is a cruiser bike with a relaxed style and upright riding position. It comes in both a step-through and a high-step, as well as 3 different colors and a number of battery options. Today we are checking out the Prussian Blue step-through with the entry level battery. It retails for $2,199 and has a lot of comfort features like swept back handle bars that kind of meet you as you sit in the lower seat. This comfort is extended from the adjustable angle stem and front suspension fork. The front fork is a SR SunTour NEX fork with 70mm of travel and helps absorb the bumps quite nicely. For tires, the Stunner is equipped with a set of Kenda K-Rad 26” x 2.3” tires, so you get kind of higher volume and good grip at the same time which is really nice. These are rated for 50-75psi but I don’t think they offer any puncture protection here. The Stunner also has a battery integrated headlight. This is an LED light which is great for visibility, however, it is mounted on the front suspension fork, so the light could bounce up and down if you were on bumpy terrain. There are some nice plastic fenders here which are nice and light weight with a couple of points for adjustment…I love all the little features like the ergonomic grips and integrated bell, but probably my favorite is the included rear rack. This is a bolt on rack, which I personally prefer. Although frame integrated racks look cool, you lose the rack if you sell or crash the bike, where as the bolt on rack can be taken on or off, as well as upgraded if you so chose. This particular rack is set up well for panniers, something I really appreciate.
Driving the bike is a unique mid-drive motor from Bafang. This is a 750watt nominally rated mid-drive that has a peak rating of 1000watts and 120nm of torque! Very fast, very capable, and a lot of fun to drive. The bike is electrically powered by either the throttle mounted on the left, or by cadence based pedal assist. Either work great although cadence based systems can have a very pronounced feel of being ‘on’ or ‘off’. Complimenting the system very well is this internally geared 5 speed shifting hub. By using the Sturmey Archer internally geared hub, Biktrix eliminates gear-grinding potential and allows you to shift at standstill. This is great for riders who might not be as coordinated or familiar with traditional derailleurs and trigger shifters. With just 5 gears to choose from, it’s not as distracting and there’s just less that can go wrong… but it’s still nice to have 5 vs. 1 gear because it makes climbing and unpowered pedaling much easier. Stopping the Stunner is a set of 160mm mechanical disc brakes. I do like mechanical brakes since maintenance and adjustment is much easier, but I do think hydraulic brakes would have done well here to stop the powerful motor.
Powering the bike is a 48v 11.6ah lithium ion battery pack. I would consider this a high capacity battery pack and really necessary for that super powerful motor. But in case you wanted more juice, Biktrix offers battery upgrades on the battery to 14ah, 17ah, and a whopping 21ah… very cool! Anyway, the battery is mounted via lock and key, however, you don’t need the key to start the bike, it is just for battery security. The battery has a power button and I love the LED display read out on it so you can check to see round about how much juice is left. To really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells. Try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry.
Another area worth mentioning here is the control center. I’m kind of a control center geek and I always love to see comprehensive stats while riding. The control center on the Stunner does just that. It displays pretty much everything, including current speed, top speed, average speed, range, battery level, pedal assist mode, wattage output and more. More importantly, I could read it in direct sunlight! The only downside to this display was that it’s not removable, so I might worry about it getting dinged up when the bike is being parked or transported and just taking more sun and rain damage over time. On the plus side though, it does have the ability to enable a passcode, adding another layer of security to the bike which is a bigger deal if you have kids around or are just concerned about safety. It does however angle, and I love that the controls can be pressed easily by your left hand since they are positioned well as to keep your eyes on the road. The only thing I could say is the controls for the display have a groove in them that can catch cloth and other material, so if you are wearing gloves for example, be aware of that.
When it is all said and done, I found the Stunner to be a ton of fun. The reason I like this bike so much is how complimentary the motor and internal hub work together, it has quite a refined feel for a value priced ebike at $2,199. However, there are some tradeoffs here so I did want to call those out. For example, the wires are a little out in the open up front, no wire looms to coral them in. Also, the integrated headlight is a nice touch, but having a rear light here would be perfect too. Probably the biggest tradeoff though is having such a powerful and fun system without hydraulic brakes. Hydraulic brakes provide more immediate stopping power, but the mechanical brakes here are still sufficient while being easier to maintain, adjust, and keeping cost down. Overall, the bike is really a blast and well put together, I would like to thank Biktrix for inviting me up to come check it out.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Biktrix Ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
A comfortable cruiser ebike with an internally geard hub, mid-drive, throttle, and comfortable riding position as well as front suspension fork
The system is very complimentary with the motor and internal hub working together, it has quite a refined feel for a value priced ebike at $2,199
The Sturmey Archer internally geared hub allows for shifting at standstill, should be cleaner and more reliable than a cassette and derailleur
The Sturmey Archer hub also allows for a single tight length of chain vs. a longer one that could fall off on bumpy terrain
It comes in both a step-through and a high-step, as well as 3 different colors and a number of battery options like 11.6ah, 14ah, 17ah, and 21ah!
Features swept back handle bars that kind of meet you as you sit in the lower seat, this works great wit the adjustable angle stem
I love the SR SunTour NEX fork with 70mm of travel which helps absorb the bumps quite nicely, also you have a higher volume tire with good treat for comfort as well
You get a great battery integrated headlight, this is an LED light which is great for visibility and safety, I love that more companies are including it
Rounding off the features is an included rear rack, this is a bolt on rack, which I personally prefer, because while the frame integrated racks look cool, you lose the rack if you sell or crash the bike, where as the bolt on rack can be taken on or off, as well as upgraded if you so chose
Features a powerful 750watt nominally rated mid-drive that has a peak rating of 1000watts and 120nm of torque! …very fast, very capable, and a lot of fun to drive
Large, easy to read color display with a lot of information and features you can deep dive into
Cons:
The controls for the display have a groove in them that can catch cloth and other material, so if you are wearing gloves for example, be aware of that
The wires are a little out in the open up front, no wire looms to coral them in, this could be annoying if you ever wanted to add any accessories on the stem or handlebars
Has an LED headlight which is great for visibility, however, it is mounted on the front suspension fork, so the light could bounce up and down if you were on bumpy terrain
For having such a powerful and fun system, you may expect hydraulic brakes, however, they are not here, hydraulic brakes provide more immediate stopping power, but the mechanical brakes here are still sufficient while being easier to maintain, adjust, and keeping cost down
Control center can’t be removed, leaving it vulnerable to theft and scratching when the bike is left at a public bike rack
Only one frame size may limit the range of rider heights the bike can accommodate
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Question: Does the twist throttle completely override the PAS setting? I ask this as I have read some bike throttles will only take the bike to the maximum speed set by the pedal assist.
A second question is how does the pedal assists work? I have read from a different reviewer that the levels are essentially speed limiters.
I just did a test ride today. Throttle is not a twist but a thumb type (on left side). It activates only up to the level set in PAS which surprised me. To me that kind of defeats the purpose, as you may want to temporarily zoom up a hill, in that case you must increase the PAS level.
Hi Allan! Our reviews here are like time capsules, representing the product as seen at a specific time… but companies sometimes swap parts or change the performance over time so thanks for your input on what you’re seeing in the field. I agree that variable speed throttles which are limited by pedal assist level seems like a missed opportunity. It’s so much more complimentary and useful when the throttle can provide full power based on how far it is twisted or pushed (if it’s a trigger throttle). It saves the time of having to click up into a different assist level, then possibly click back down once your throttle use has ended. I constantly communicate this to companies when I see it and your comment reinforces my own opinions. Thanks.
Mark B
4 years ago
All I can say is WOW!! I own a couple lower priced Ebikes, but this model is a Cadillac with a V8!
Aluminum frame
Adjustable angle steering stem
Mid drive (centralizes the weight & allows easy tire and wheel removal)
Pedal assist & throttle control
Hydraulic disc brakes
Sturmey Archer internal geared 5 speed hub
Fenders & rear rack
Upright seating position with comfortable saddle
Front fork suspension
Easily removable lockable battery pack
2 USB charging ports
Purchased this cruiser Ebike online on a Tuesday morning and it was delivered to my front door in Ohio on Friday morning (and Thursday was Thanksgiving!!). The shipping was FREE and FAST via DHL express. With UPZY’s discount, the price was just over 2 grand.
OBSERVATIONS:
This is a powerful ebike. The Bafang 750W middrive motor has plenty of power and it drives the rear wheel thru the Sturmey Archer geared hub. Really like the clean lines of the chain drive around the single sprockets from the crank to the rear hub (no derailleur needed with the internal 5 speed gearing of the rear hub). From the factory, the Bafang 850C display/controller has 5 levels of pedal assist but it can also be reprogrammed to 3 levels or 9 levels. (max assist is the same with all 3 variations, you simply have more increments with 5 or 9 levels). You will need to do a Google search on “Bafang 850C” to obtain the programming instructions since the Biktrix website is lacking in this type of documentation. The small color display is mounted in the center of the handlebars and is quite nice. It is not a touch display but is controlled with the 3 button control pad at the LH grip. The LED headlight is also toggled via the 3 button pad. The throttle is on the LH side BUT it is a thumb lever and no longer the twist grip as mentioned in most reviews & videos. Note that the latest version of this ebike has HYDRAULIC disc brakes and black tires!!
There was absolutely no assembly documentation with the bike so you best be handy with bicycle assembly. The Biktrix website does show some assembly instructions but I would have preferred a complete assembly document or a PDF manual. Emails to technical support at Biktrix are answered very quick and they seem very responsive.
CONS
No key needed to operate (you can password protect the control panel, but entering a 4 digit number is a bit tedious)
No assembly instructions or user manual included
No suspension seatpost
Rear reflector only. Advertised, battery operated taillight was not included
Hi Mark, great feedback about the bike and your experience with ordering and customer support! I hope it holds up well and provides lots of fun over the coming weeks, months, and years! Chime in anytime with updates, sorry to hear that it didn’t include the taillight? but glad you got a discount :)
Robert Brooker
5 years agoQuestion: Does the twist throttle completely override the PAS setting? I ask this as I have read some bike throttles will only take the bike to the maximum speed set by the pedal assist.
A second question is how does the pedal assists work? I have read from a different reviewer that the levels are essentially speed limiters.
ReplyAllan
2 years agoI just did a test ride today. Throttle is not a twist but a thumb type (on left side). It activates only up to the level set in PAS which surprised me. To me that kind of defeats the purpose, as you may want to temporarily zoom up a hill, in that case you must increase the PAS level.
ReplyCourt
2 years agoHi Allan! Our reviews here are like time capsules, representing the product as seen at a specific time… but companies sometimes swap parts or change the performance over time so thanks for your input on what you’re seeing in the field. I agree that variable speed throttles which are limited by pedal assist level seems like a missed opportunity. It’s so much more complimentary and useful when the throttle can provide full power based on how far it is twisted or pushed (if it’s a trigger throttle). It saves the time of having to click up into a different assist level, then possibly click back down once your throttle use has ended. I constantly communicate this to companies when I see it and your comment reinforces my own opinions. Thanks.
Mark B
4 years agoAll I can say is WOW!! I own a couple lower priced Ebikes, but this model is a Cadillac with a V8!
Purchased this cruiser Ebike online on a Tuesday morning and it was delivered to my front door in Ohio on Friday morning (and Thursday was Thanksgiving!!). The shipping was FREE and FAST via DHL express. With UPZY’s discount, the price was just over 2 grand.
OBSERVATIONS:
This is a powerful ebike. The Bafang 750W middrive motor has plenty of power and it drives the rear wheel thru the Sturmey Archer geared hub. Really like the clean lines of the chain drive around the single sprockets from the crank to the rear hub (no derailleur needed with the internal 5 speed gearing of the rear hub). From the factory, the Bafang 850C display/controller has 5 levels of pedal assist but it can also be reprogrammed to 3 levels or 9 levels. (max assist is the same with all 3 variations, you simply have more increments with 5 or 9 levels). You will need to do a Google search on “Bafang 850C” to obtain the programming instructions since the Biktrix website is lacking in this type of documentation. The small color display is mounted in the center of the handlebars and is quite nice. It is not a touch display but is controlled with the 3 button control pad at the LH grip. The LED headlight is also toggled via the 3 button pad. The throttle is on the LH side BUT it is a thumb lever and no longer the twist grip as mentioned in most reviews & videos. Note that the latest version of this ebike has HYDRAULIC disc brakes and black tires!!
There was absolutely no assembly documentation with the bike so you best be handy with bicycle assembly. The Biktrix website does show some assembly instructions but I would have preferred a complete assembly document or a PDF manual. Emails to technical support at Biktrix are answered very quick and they seem very responsive.
CONS
- No key needed to operate (you can password protect the control panel, but entering a 4 digit number is a bit tedious)
- No assembly instructions or user manual included
- No suspension seatpost
- Rear reflector only. Advertised, battery operated taillight was not included
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Mark, great feedback about the bike and your experience with ordering and customer support! I hope it holds up well and provides lots of fun over the coming weeks, months, and years! Chime in anytime with updates, sorry to hear that it didn’t include the taillight? but glad you got a discount :)
Reply