The BESV Lion is completely purpose built ebike that’s perfect for urban or street riding. The motor and battery pack blend right in and the control interface is actually molded around the stem and handle bars which includes an integrated headlight. While it doesn’t have drop bars and might not fit in with a pack of roadies, it does offer a very stiff frame and can reach top speeds of ~20 miles per hour with the 500 watt motor. The unique frame positions the rear wheel and motor on a sturdy arm that extends beyond the main body of the bike. It doesn’t use a traditional chain stay/seat stay/seat tube triangle and this means they had to reinforce the tubing which resulted in a heavier build. At nearly 63 pounds, this is one of the heavier city style ebikes I’ve tested.
The motor driving the Lion LX1 is a gearless hub design that’s spoked directly into the rear wheel. Notice the fancy matching spokes and silver eyelets… quality. You get a 500 watt motor that accelerates a bit faster and has decent torque for a direct drive. the motor is extremely quiet as shown in the video above but also weighs more being gearless and create some cogging drag due to the large magnets inside. While it’s possible to add regenerative braking or advanced regen modes (for decelerating on hills or creating a workout) with motors like this, that is not offered here.
The battery powering this bike offers 36 volts of power and 11.2 amp hours of capacity which is slightly above average. They estimate you can get up to 50 miles per charge and that’s due in part to the pedal-assist only drive mode. The chemistry of the battery is Lithium-ion which is known for being light weight and long lasting. It’s positioned very well at the center of the bike which improves balance and the unique plastic hood features a lock that also acts as an ignition to activate the bike. While the key stays mostly out of the way, if you had multiple keys on a chain they might rattle around and eventually scratch the plastic hood. I love that the battery pack is removable and can be charged on or off the frame, this might be very important if you live up stairs and don’t want to struggle hauling all of that weight around.
Nearly everything on this bike is custom and they’ve created a beautiful dash board with integrated backlit LCD panel front and center. You can’t take it off for protection against the elements but they have made the most of the attachment by integrating an LED headlight that’s powered by the main battery. Once the bike has been switched on with the key, the display is easy to interact with thanks to a stand alone button pad mounted just next to the left grip. You can navigate through four levels of assist without taking your hands off and that improves safety and creates a feeling of control that compliments the higher top speed of this bike nicely.
The BESV Lion LX1 received a Taipei Cycle Award in 2013 and a China Cycle Creative Gold award in 2014 but it’s far from perfect. To be fair, no ebike can offer the best of everything but the added weight and higher price tag caused me some hesitation when reviewing. This bike is made in Taiwan and benefits form a large parent company that produces batteries and other electronics, it’s their first swing at an ebike for US audiences and I think it’s quite good. The ergonomic grips, hydraulic disc brakes, premium Shimano XT drivetrain, upgraded wheelset and custom frame perform well and I love the addition of a light suspension fork with lockout. It’s a product that will blend in with normal bicycles (both in style and sound) and really benefits from a 5 year frame and 2 year motor and battery warranty. Depending on your needs, appreciation for style and budget this bike certainly performs.
Pros:
- Artistic frame design with unique mid-step for easier mounting and holding at stop signs and red lights, fancy spoke pattern with quality mid-dish eyeletted rims
- Excellent platform pedals with good traction, sleek bash guard and tight aluminum alloy fenders
- Clean, integrated LED lights improve safety and the front runs directly off the main battery pack for convenient use
- Larger diameter 700c wheelset and slim tire combination is efficient and fast
- While this is definitely a stiffer, faster bike, the front suspension improves ride quality – for those who want a pure road feeling the suspension fork has a lockout
Cons:
- Only available in one frame size at 19.5 inches but the seat post, seat and bars are adjustable to fit a range of riders
- No water bottle cage or rear rack mounting points, if you use this for commuting you might have to wear a backpack (there are some beam-racks you could add on the seat post like this)
- The LCD display panel is not removable so it might take more damage at bike racks or in the weather
- Key must be left in the ignition slot while riding, it stays mostly out of the way near the stem on the top tube
Resources:
- Official Site: http://www.besv.com/products/lx1
- More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/dhfriFdWFjobbd7C6
Matthew Jones says
I’m interested