DŌST DROP CVT Review

This review was provided for free using a demo bike and accessories. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of DŌST products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the DŌST electric bike forums.

Observations:

• This is one of the only electric bikes I’m aware of that features a mid-drive motor with a throttle, CVT, belt drive, and Class 3 speed pedelec performance! Not to mention that it can be configured with two batteries (up to 1,172 watt hours) for long range riding. The drive system is highly configurable, so you can adjust the top speed or remove the throttle to qualify as Class 1 to use on mountain bike trails, or add the throttle for Class 2, or raise the speed for Class 3.
• DŌST means friend in several European languages. It’s about two years old at the time of this review in 2021, but the founder has over a decade of experience working in the downhill mountain bike space and the traditional electric bicycle industry (making fat bikes, trail bikes, and two city models prior to forming DŌST).
• Given the very high 750 watt motor rating, with 120 newton meters of peak torque output, this ebike would be a great choice for heavier riders and is rated up to 285lbs with up to 100lbs on the rear rack! Most ebikes I see are rated up to 250lbs with racks that can handle 55lbs of weight.
• The DROP CVT and KOPE CVT models use the same motor, battery, and drivetrain components… but they are slightly different sizes with the step-thru DROP being 17.5″ and the high-step KOPE being 19″ for taller riders or those who want extra frame stiffness. Both have high-quality adjustable angle stems to further refine fit.

Pros:

• The bike is feature complete, and the hardware they chose is mid to high-end vs. basic “check the box” quality. You can see this in the wide plastic fenders that use hidden bolts and support struts, the plastic wire wraps and large rubberized gussets where they feed into the frame, the sturdy Ergotec 5 adjustable stem (less likely to come loose than cheaper options), the tool-free adjustable length kickstand, the bright name-brand lights, the Gates carbon belt drive, and Enviolo continuously variable transmission.
• Both lights are integrated, meaning that they run off of the rechargeable ebike battery. They’re made by Lezyne, and the rear has two LED to be brighter and visible from more angles. The headlight offers 65 LUX, and is positioned high enough that it doesn’t get blocked by the fender. If you get the optional front rack, there are nice wire clips and a good mounting point up front for it to be repositioned. Note that adding the front rack will fix the light in line with the frame vs. having it point where you steer.
• The wires for the lights, motor inhibitors, motor power, shifter, and brakes are all bound together and routed internally through the bike frame. This looks nice and reduces the potential for snags. Where wires are exposed, DŌST uses a durable plastic mesh to surround and protect.
• I found the plastic battery shield, rubber charge port cover, and rubber dual-battery plug cover to be durable and easy to use compared to some of the tiny flimsy covers on other electric bikes I’ve reviewed. The covers also have leashes connecting them to the port area to help keep the caps from getting lost! I really appreciate that the charging ports and locking cylinders are high up on the frame vs. low near the crank arms where they could get snagged.
• The step-thru frame is smaller than the high-step DŌST KOPE model, and is a bit lighter as well! This frame is easier to mount and stand over, but might require a crossbar adapter to mount on some hang style bike racks. I appreciate that they designed the rear cargo rack on the bike far enough back to allow the saddle to get low without colliding with the optional trunk bag or panniers, and you can achieve a low minimum saddle height of 31.5″.
• While the DROP only comes in one frame size, the adjustable saddle height and longer adjustable angle stem provide great fit options. The stem is designed to be more durable than competing products, so it won’t rattle loose as easily. It’s rated for high speed applications, which is perfect for this Class 3 ebike if you set the speed at 45km/h 28mph.
• More electric bikes are coming out that allow users to adjust the top speed and remove the throttle, and that’s the case here. It means you can set the bike to be Class 1, 2, or 3, which makes it versatile. Slower 20mph Class 1 will be allowed on more mountain bike style trails. Class 2 with the throttle enabled and max speed set to 20mph is great for people who need help starting, or want to take a break from pedaling. Class 3 is perfect for commuting or just having fun with pedal assist up to 45km/h 28mph. Note that the throttle can only ever provide up to 20mph top speeds but pedaling could reach 28mph in Class 3 mode. I love that DŌST includes stickers that denote which class setting you are using, so you can communicate more confidently to any rangers or law enforcement who might question the bike.
• Great stopping power with 180mm hydraulic disc brakes. The hardware is fairly average, but performed well during my review, and I love that both brake levers offer adjustable reach levers (for improved fit for different sized hands), and both have motor inhibitors to cut power for safety when stopping.
• Safety is a big focus for me when cycling, especially at higher speeds, so it’s cool that DŌST has opted for reflective tires and integrated lights. I consider the puncture protected tire upgrade to also be a safety win, and Schwalbe is known for making high quality tires in general.
• The KOPE provides great comfort with higher volume 25.7″ x 2.4″ tires and a 100mm travel air suspension fork. I like that the fork can be adjusted with compression and different PSI settings using a shock pump. It’s lighter and a bit stiffer than the spring fork used on the original KOPE and DROP models. The 1-1/8″ headset isn’t as upgradable as a tapered one would be, and the 9mm axle isn’t as beefy as 15mm thru-axles, so in that sense this ebike is decidedly hybrid/city vs. trail/mountain.
• It’s a small thing, but notice the color-matched decals on the rims, seat tube, chainstay, saddle, and even the sliding dropout! DŌST really went over this bike with a fine-toothed comb, and their past industry experience shows in details like this. Also, notice how the front fender mounts directly to the suspension fork lowers vs. using plastic cuffs that can slide around and crack over time, and how they added their Ō decal on the brake lever housing.
• I really like the drivetrain setup here because it keeps the belt protected and your pants or dress ends clean. Gates makes some of the best belts in the industry, and the CDX uses a center track design to keep it straight. There’s no lube, less dirt, less weight, no chain bouncing into the frame, and it’s actually more reliable than a chain from what I understand. Great job with the aluminum alloy chainring guard and cover.
• It sounds like the motto for these CVT bikes is “safety through simplicity” and the continuously variable planetary transmission hub is super simple to operate, and less finicky than a cassette and derailleur. It’s all protected inside the hub, can be shifted at standstill, and provides a big range of 380% similar to an 11 to 42 tooth cassette. The mechanical actuation is smooth, and the infographic and twist shifter may be easier to learn for people who are new to cycling.
• I really like that the variable speed trigger throttle overrides pedal assist levels 1-5 (or 1-9 if you set it up that way). This means you can use the throttle to zip up to speed or add support for climbing hills without pressing extra buttons to change assist levels. Note that the throttle will only assists up to 20mph as mentioned before, so you’ll need to pedal and click up to higher levels of assist to reach the maximum 45km/h 28mph top speed when using Class 3 settings.
• There really aren’t that many dual-battery ebikes on the market, and most require you to choose the second pack at time of purchase and buy extra mounting hardware. DŌST keeps things simple by including the mounting points (which double as bottle cage mounts on the downtube) and adding the plug port to every frame. I think this is cool, and really honors the customer.
• If you purchase a second battery, you can choose to drain it and the main pack simultaneously or start with the main pack and then switch the second pack on. There’s a little on/off toggle switch on the range extender pack that lets you decide. In fact, I think you can completely remove the integrated battery and run solely off of the optional external pack if you wish! However, the downtube cover appears to be attached to the integrated battery, so you’d have a big opening below the downtube vs. an empty covered space. Maybe there’s a way to remove the black cover from the battery pack… but it doesn’t seem very convenient or intentionally built with this sort of riding in mind.
• I really appreciate that both batteries are removable, so you can charge and store them off the bike. To maximize usable life, I believe that lithium-ion battery packs should be kept cool, dry, and at least half full. Avoid going below 20% and avoid extreme heat because it degrades the cells. Extreme cold may stunt your range temporarily, but isn’t as hard on the cells as heat from what I understand.
• The saddle is comfortable, has a handle, and is co-branded to match the bike. I like the ergonomic grips and appreciate the removable end cap so you can use a side mirror (which DŌST sells as an option). The bright color LCD display is intuitive and offers adjustable-angle to reduce glare. It also has a daylight sensor and gets a bit less bright when the lights are activated so it won’t ruin your night vision ;)
• Some ebike displays use five or ten blocks to communicate battery charge level, but the Bafang DCP-18 that DŌST chose actually shows a percentage readout, and there’s a dynamic range estimator menu as well! Just press the i button to cycle to “range” and then use + or – to select any assist level to see estimated range updated in realtime.
• This electric bicycle has a higher than average weight rating at 285lbs, and the rear rack is rated for up to 100lbs! That’s great for people who want to mount a child seat, and maybe add panniers on both sides as well. I feel like this ebike is a capable SUV type of setup that can handle more varied terrain and heavy-duty applications than most other city/hybrid models… especially with the powerful mid-drive motor and wider 2.4″ tires. If you decided to swap the tires for knobby off-road use, the bike would probably do fairly well given the air fork with wider/stiffer 30mm stanchions.
• The internal battery pack is higher capacity and heavier than the external one. It weighs 8.2lbs while the external is 5.7lbs. By keeping the heavier battery lower, they made the bike slightly easier to handle and balance. Most of the weight on this ebike is low and center, which is exactly what you want. I appreciate that the optional second battery tilts out from the side for removal vs. up and down, because this allows the frame top tube to be lower, making the bike more approachable.
• The charger is very solid and has a high quality feel, but it’s also compact. I love that DŌST offers a 4 amp fast charger now too, so you can fill both packs more quickly and maybe leave one at the office and one at home.
• The bike comes with a well organized assortment of tools and manuals in a beautiful box. The company has optimized their packaging to use sustainable materials, seeks out sustainable manufacturing partners, and is donating to People For Bikes and Velo Canada.
• I personally think that $3,999 with a two year warranty and free shipping to the entire US and Canada is a reasonable price for such a feature-rich ebike, and I love that the additional battery is pretty affordable too, because it seems like a popular option.

Cons:

• The bike is fairly heavy at 66.5lbs because it has fenders, an integrated rack, lights, an adjustable stem, metal motor cover, continuously variable transmission hub, suspension fork, and reinforced frame for stiffness. These features are worth the weight trade-off in my opinion, but I’d probably remove the main battery before lifting the bike to save 8.2lbs. Note that the high-step KOPE is slightly heavier at 67.2lbs.
• The CVT models from DŌST both cost more than the standard DROP and KOPE. This is because the frame has a special cut to mount the belt drive, and the Enviolo hub is an expensive part. These electric bikes are in the mid to upper price tier, and they tend to be backordered because the company is smaller than the mainstream Trek, Giant, Specialized, and CUBE type of brands.
• The Bafang BBS02 is known for being reliable, fairly quiet, and very powerful, but it only utilizes pedal cadence signals vs. cadence and torque. This means that motor power output isn’t as fluid or dynamic, based on how hard you push on the pedals. I was told that they optimized the controller to make the motor work seamlessly with the belt drive and CVT, and it did feel very natural to me. The cadence sensor uses 24 magnets vs. 12 and felt very responsive during my ride tests, and they also include motor inhibitors on both brake levers to ensure near-immediate stopping.
• If you hold + on the button panel, you’ll notice that the coloring changes from green to red and the label goes from eco to sport mode. This doesn’t actually do anything different to the motor operation… and is only meant for torque-sensing ebikes. For those who want to change colors, it’s a neat trick, but it could be a little confusing.
• It seems that most ebike displays are not removable, and that’s the case here as well. As a result, you may get some fading or scratches if left outside at public racks frequently. I sometimes put my helmet over the display to keep it clean and dry, but DŌST said that all of their electronics are IP65 rated meaning “dust tight, protects against water jets from any angle, but do not submerge” so that’s reassuring.
• As nice as the internal cable routing is, you’ll notice the large bundle of cables up front (due in part to the motor inhibitors on both brake levers), and near the bottom bracket. Normally, the BBS02 motor is external to a bikes bottom bracket… you can actually buy this Bafang/8FUN motor as a kit, so the wires point forward verses up. DŌST custom engineered their frame to house the BBS02 to make it look good, add protection, and reduce noise, but the wires do still protrude a bit at the bottom bracket, which I think looks a bit ugly and could be slightly more vulnerable. I was told that the newest models have the wires even less exposed than the originals.
• If you opt for a second battery pack, note that it has to be plugged in and charged separately from the main pack. You can speed this up by purchasing an additional charger (and DŌST now offers a faster 4 amp option). There’s no system for charging simultaneously, and taking the packs off the bike requires two different keys, so there’s more to keep track of here.
• Mounting the optional second pack will raise the standover height and take the space for mounting a water bottle cage or other accessory. If you purchase their optional front rack, there are two mounts that are easy to reach and can be used as a substitute for the downtube spot.
• While the motor offers lots of power and torque, it is heavier than many other mid-drives from Bosch, Brose, Shimano, Yamaha, and even Bafang/8FUN. It weighs roughly 9.47lbs not including the outer covers that DŌST designed vs. 6 to 8lbs for other mid-drives of this generation. The BBS02 is known to be very reliable, however.
• A couple of minor considerations here: the throttle is on the left and some people might prefer it to be on the right, but then it would be pushed further in towards the stem because of the twist shifter housing on the right. The throttle does not work in assist level zero, you must be in 1-5 (or 1-9 if you configured the display to have more steps). I appreciate that the variable speed throttle provides up to full power on all levels of assist :)
• Although the headlight is bright, it doesn’t have side cutouts to keep you visible from more angles. The rear light would be visible from the sides, but the frame tubing around it blocks much of this potential. The good news is that the rack tubing protects the light from getting bumped and broken during parking and transport. Despite the trade-offs, I still think that these lights are above average.
• The DROP and KOPE each only come in one frame size. The DROP is the smaller at 17.5″ and the high-step KOPE is 19″ which would suit taller riders, and those who prefer maximum frame stiffness. Most step-thru frames introduce a bit of frame flex, especially with a loaded up rear rack, and that is the case here as well. With the adjustable stem and lower seat tube height, I feel that both frames offer a wide range of fit options.
• Please use caution when powering this electric bike on, because it starts in assist level 1 and the throttle is active with full power (up to 750 watts, 120nm). If you bumped it while mounting, dismounting, doing repair work, or loading/unloading the bike, you could get scraped or pinched fingers or the bike could tip. This is a more advanced setup and I recommend keeping it off at all times, unless you’re mounted and ready to ride. Still, I prefer this setup to a throttle that is capped by each level of assist, I feel that the benefits of a variable speed throttle are significantly diminished if pedal assist caps or interrupts throttle use.
• Because this bike is sold direct, you’ll have to do some lifting, unboxing, and light assembly. I was told that the wheel comes unattached (but has quick release), the stem is twisted to the side so the handlebars align with the frame, and the pedals have to be screwed on… but they provide great video instructions and tools to make this as painless as possible.
• I love that the display has a USB charging port built into the base, because it can help to maintain portable electronics as you ride. It’s especially relevant given the capacity for two batteries! However, it may only maintain because it puts out less than one amp and many powerful smartphones seem to want higher amperage for actual charging.
• This model only comes in one color option. I feel it’s fairly neutral and modern looking, but if you prefer the dark color scheme you’ll need to get the KOPE which is larger and high-step.

Useful Resources:

• Official DŌST Bikes website