UPDATE! It appears that Polaris is no longer working with the manufacturer who designed and built these electric bikes, but that company is now selling their own line as PIM (Power in Motion) and you can connect with them through their official website at www.pimbicycles.com to possibly get replacement batteries, chargers, and other hardware. The following review stands on its own and represents the Polaris bike as I experienced it at the time.
The Polaris Terrain is a hardtail electric trail bike with a proprietary drive system, purpose built frame and a solid warranty. While it’s a bit heavier than some other electric mountain bikes, it benefits from a rugged gearless hub motor that offers an impressive 750 watts of power (most average ebikes offer ~350) and is capable of regenerative braking and two levels of power regeneration for coasting down hills or increasing resistance for working out on flats. With a brushed aluminum finish that won’t show nicks and dings, a mid-step frame that’s easier to mount but very stiff thanks to large reinforced tubing and a solid two year warranty on the electronics this is a solid bike. That said, because it’s limited to a single frame size and may be limited to Polaris outlets this ebike could be more difficult to find and fit. It also took me a while to learn and warm up to their drive system and the $799 battery pack replacement price also gave me second thoughts.
Driving this bike is an impressive 750 watt gearless direct drive hub motor located in the rear. Its peak output is actually closer to 1,000 watts which is incredible but that’s not the whole story… Being gearless, the higher wattage sort of makes up for mechanical advantages that a geared hub or mid-drive motor would experience. One advantage to the gearless drive on the Terrain is that it runs a bit quieter (though it still whirs at lower speeds when climbing). Another benefit is toughness, there are no gears inside making contact with each other, just magnets repelling. Toughness aside, the real advantage to a gearless direct drive motor setup is that you can use those magnets to recoup power with regenerative braking and that’s exactly what Polaris does here. Not only do you get regenerative braking (activated with both brake levers), but you also get two levels of regen mode which helps to extend range and means you can get away with a smaller, relatively lighter battery pack.
The battery powering the Terrain offer a solid 44 volts of power with smaller 6 amp hours of capacity. It uses light weight, long lasting Lithium Manganese cells and can be charged on or off the bike. This is especially useful when you transport the bike because it helps to reduce weight on the frame. They’ve designed the pack to fit right into the top tube on this model and it’s actually interchangeable with other second generation Polaris ebikes. You can even get a second pack to extend your range or balance charging when commuting (one at home, one at the office) but they cost a pretty penny at nearly $800. As you can see, the downtube is very wide and sort of overbuilt. This makes the bike a bit heavier but adds strength and stiffness which means the frame won’t flex as much when you really push the bike going off-road.
Operating the Terrain electric bike systems is pretty straight forward. You charge the battery, press the power button on the display console and the system activates. From here you can arrow up or down on the display to choose from 3 levels of assist or two levels of regen (perfect for coasting down hills or getting a workout). I’ve always been fascinated with regeneration modes on ebikes but the truth is, you don’t really get that much power back. The utility of the feature boils down to saving your wrists from squeezing the brakes constantly and offsetting some of the cogging and increased weight of a gearless motor. The handlebars and cockpit of this ebike are relatively straight forward with Tektro brake levers on both sides and a trigger shifter on the right bar. You get eight speeds to pedal with and that’s solid for climbing or cruising and fits the “value” setup of the Terrain. While we’re on the topic of value… the mechanical disc brakes used here can squeak a bit and require more energy to activate than hydraulic ones would. I also noticed that the trigger throttle (located on the left bar) worked best when it wasn’t pushed all the way forward. I like that this bike offers two drive modes (assist or throttle) but wasn’t always satisfied with the motor output. even though it sounds very large and powerful on paper, it sometimes felt sluggish due to the unique drive sensors. The BioSync cadence sensor used on the Terrain can actually sense when you shift gears by measuring the cable that activates the rear derailleur. It uses this feedback along with the chain speed (measured by the chain guide just below the chain stay) to activate and de-activate the motor. It’s a unique system that helps the bike respond more naturally to the gear that the bike is riding in but isn’t always the most satisfying and might take some getting used to.
The Terrain and other Polaris electric bikes received mixed feedback at Interbike 2014 where I first saw them. People weren’t immediately satisfied with the slower speeds when riding in low gears but I think they might have missed the point. If you’re riding in a crowd or trying to go slowly on a section of trail and therefor using a low gear, you don’t want speed. And especially when you’re climbing, it’s nice to have the motor focus on torque vs. speed. I get that, and between the throttle and assist modes offered on the terrain you have a lot of choices for how to ride. With a bit of practice and the proper expectations for what’s being offered here this bike can really shine. It’s still a bit expensive and heavy in my book but the suspension fork with lockout, ergo grips and padded saddle are great extras that demonstrate the commitment to a higher quality level than cheap imports. You really could use this as a commuter or trail bike and given the generous warranty and quality reputation of Polaris I think it could be a good choice.
A powerful, well balanced fat electric bike with a unique pedal-assist drive mode designed to focus on power or speed and increase naturally as you shift gears. Excellent weight distribution for a hub motor powered electric bike, sturdy frame and components...
A high speed trail ready electric bike with proprietary gearless hub motor that offers two levels of power regeneration. Pedal assist only drive mode measures your chain speed and gear to distribute power efficiently…...
Well balanced speed-commmuter electric bike capable of ~25 mph in pedal assist mode, solid two-year warranty and support from Polaris. Unique DuoDrive pedal assist measures gearign and chain speed to provide optimal power output at…...
Well balanced city-style electric bike with a solid two-year electronics warranty and support from Polaris. Unique DuoDrive pedal assist measures your chain speed and the gear you're in to provide…...
Sturdy design features integrated cables, custom control unit and Lithium battery with regenerative braking. Control system and mid-drive sensors mounted below bottom bracket, exposed to rocks, curbs and elements...
Custom design with integrated cables, controller, and battery plus regenerative braking. Battery mounted in the down tube keeping weight low and stable, looks nice and doesn't…...
JimBo
8 years agoThis Polaris ebike is clever but quirky, and Court’s review, as usual, is thorough and accurate, but potential owners should also be aware that the Terrain’s battery requires some special attention that several other makes/models that I’ve owned do not. Because I was unaware of this, my first couple of rides were interrupted by the battery dying with 2 bars left! I then got the following guidelines, which IMO should have been provided by the dealer, from the company directly.
MAXIMIZING HIGH PERFORMANCE DC BATTERIES: Cycling your Battery in the early break in period is important to the longevity and performance of your new battery. To complete break in, and continued performance of your battery, follow these steps: In the early stages, run the battery completely down whenever possible. Due to early stage low voltage protection, the battery may shut down with 2 Battery bars remaining. Completely charge the battery, this will take between 4 to 6 hours. After approximately 3 to 4 complete charging cycles the battery will increase performance and distance, and the entire range of the battery will be operational. After this break in period, make sure to perform a complete discharge and recharge at least 1 out of every 4 charging periods. Following these guidelines with maximize performance and extend the life of your battery. Please refer to Back Door Software programming instruction sheet to view internal battery and complete RRT Ebike data should further information be desired.
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoThanks JimBo! I appreciate you sharing this solution and am glad your bike is working a little better now :D
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