This review was provided for free using a demo bike, but BULLS North America paid for a hotel and split the cost of flights to visit and film. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of BULLS products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the BULLS electric bike forums.
Pros:
- Feature complete electric bike including everything you’d need for adventure touring or daily commuting. The platform includes sturdy aluminum alloy fenders, a custom rear rack, an adjustable kickstand, and premium integrated lights. it’s available in four sizes for improved fit, which is great for long distances.
- Bulls sells a hardtail speed model called the ICONIC EVO 2 Speed, which costs about $1k less and has a 1″ taller standover. That platform is also about four pounds lighter.
- The fenders and rear rack are aluminum alloy, so they won’t rust like steel if scratched. They actually connect in three places for improved strength. I appreciate the spring latch, bungee loops, and positioning of the rack (it’s clear of the saddle so you can use trunk bags on top without making contact or impairing the seat post dropper movement).
- The drive system hardware is top of the line Bosch Performance Line Speed. You get increased range from the PowerTube 625, and high speed Class 3 performance on what is essentially a full suspension cross country mountain bike! I especially like the Kiox display panel (which can be removed, and has a Micro USB charging port), and independent button pad.
- Excellent two year warranty from Bosch, their hardware is UL certified, highly water and dust resistant, and I was told that they provide support on retired products for 10 years.
- The battery pack locks into the frame using an ABUS locking core with XPLUS Code keys that can be matched to ABUS locks (like folding locks, u-locks, and frame locks), so you don’t need multiple keys! They seem to be high quality locks in general that would be more more difficult to defeat.
- Outstanding battery charger that’s relatively light weight at 1.7lbs, compact with removable wall-side plug, and puts out 36 volt 4 amps vs. just 2 amps on many competing chargers. It has a sturdy plug design that connects directly to the battery as well as the plug port on the bike. I love where this plug port is positoned, along with the key locking core, both are high on the right side of the frame.
- The battery offers extremely high charge capacity, 36 volts and 625 watt hours of capacity total. That means you can use higher assist levels without range anxiety, and just go farther in general. This is the highest capacity pack for the second generation hardware in North America.
- BULLS is a large company with a good reputation, they sell through dealers who can help with fitting and service, their products are sold internationally including Europe and North America. Since this is a Class 3 model, it may not be available in all countries where BULLS sells, but definitely the USA.
- Excellent positioning for the headlight, it’s high up and points where you steer, and has side cutouts so you’re visible from more angles! The light beam that comes out the front is rated at 70 LUX and has a flat top so it won’t shine up into the eyes of oncoming traffic.
- I love that the tires have reflective sidewalls, are e-bike rated for higher speeds (50km/h), and it looks like they are also puncture protected. Given the commuting or touring applications that would fit for this ebike, these are all excellent features.
- Safe visible aesthetic with metallic silver paint on the frame. Black fork stanchion and lowers, rims, spokes, posts, and handlebar all matching for a more premium look. Nice integrated cables at the adjustable stem.
- The seat post dropper is a nice addition here, because it allows for easier mounting of the frame and supports body movement if you take the bike off-road and need to stand and squat to absorb bumps. This is a component I usually only see on pure mountain bikes, but it’s relevant for adventure touring as well!
- Large 203mm hydraulic disc brake rotors offers a great mechanical advantage for continuous descents and control over the larger tires. It’s especially relevant given the heavier weight of this build and potential for hauling cargo on the rear rack.
- Decent resin platform pedals with rubberized tread from Wellgo, comfortable co-branded Selle Royal saddle, and locking Velo grips with rubberized ends that won’t scratch your car or wall as easily. I love the ergonomic shape of the grips, so your hands won’t get numb as easily.
- I love that the frame includes a bottle cage mount on the downtube, despite being a full suspension frame with extra hardware crowding the seat tube area. This could be used for a folding ABUS lock that you could key to match the battery lock using their XPLU code system.
- Solid drivetrain with a 40 tooth sturdy steel chainring that has a narrow-wide tooth pattern for improved grab. Plastic chain guard ensures you won’t snag your pant leg on the right side. The 10-speed 11-46 tooth cassette provides enough range for steep climbs and comfortable pedaling at speed. It’s light, durable, offers a clutch to keep the chain tight, and is one of my favorite drivetrains (Shimano Deore with clutch). I love the trigger shifters here too, because they offer a two-way high lever vs. push or pull only.
- Sturdy 120mm air suspension with lockout, rebound adjust, and thicker 34mm stanchions up front. Thru axles front and rear improve stiffness and both offer quick release for easier transport and servicing.
- Bosch independent button pad is easy to reach with your left thumb, the buttons are consistent and satisfying. The included Bosch Kiox LCD display panel offers more precise battery readouts, current speed, trip distance, heart rate, range estimate and more. The free Bosch eBike Connect smartphone app offers bike stats, trip history, and GPS mapping..
- The Bosch Performance Line Speed motor is super smart, measuring rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque over 1,000 per second! It’s extremely responsive and quick, doesn’t weigh a lot at just 6.4lbs because of the magnesium housing, and supports over 120 RPM pedal cadence. That means you don’t have to adjust your pedaling or ride style to the bike, it adapts to you… and even provides shift detection to reduce wear on the chain and sprockets.
- BULLS has positioned the magnet for measuring rear wheel on the wheel hub near the disc brake rotor mount vs. a spoke. This means that your wheel can stay more balanced and you won’t end up with a loose spoke over time, it also improves reliability because this tucked-in position isn’t exposed to mud and debris as much.
Cons:
- The fenders are well done, but might restrict the size of tires you can use with the bike. Tires that are too wide or have large knobs might make contact with the fenders… and then you’d have to remove them and the rear rack (since the fender supports the rear rack).
- Due in part to the mountain bike level hardware: Boost hub spacing, thru-axles, larger suspension, and the addition of fenders, a rear rack, and lights… the bike weighs a lot at ~64 pounds. At least the weight is positioned low and distributed well across the frame.
- The rear rack did not have a weight rating stamped on it, but I’m guessing it could be 20kg which is roughly 44lbs because of how it is attached to the stanchions and fender vs. directly to the seat stays. It might not be sturdy enough for child seats, and is unsprung. This means it will bounce around if you’re riding on rough terrain, and it increases the work and slows the actuation of the rear swing arm.
- The battery cover seated well and provides good protection from dust and water, but it doesn’t lock to the frame. As a result, I feel that it could be easier to lose or have taken off at a bike rack, but at least it’s probably affordable and easy to replace because it’s just black plastic… and it’s not as heavy as a metal shield that some other ebikes use.
- The Bosch Performance Line Speed motor is very responsive and powerful, but it uses energy faster and produces more noise than a lower powered variant, and some of the competition. It’s gotten a lot better, so this is more of a “high powered motors make noise” comment than a Bosch specific critique.
- When mounting the battery pack back onto the frame, you have to actively twist the key to unlock the latch or the pack won’t go in. It requires two hands and just isn’t as convenient as a ramped latch that I’ve see on other interfaces where you just push, especially because the battery is heavy at 7.7lbs. At least the bike has a kickstand so interacting with the battery is easier than on some of the mountain models without kickstands.
- Be careful when lifting and transporting the PowerTube battery because it does not have an integrated handle like the PowerPack mid-frame and rear-rack models. I do appreciate how it clicks down one step when unlocking, before completely coming off the bike because you are less likely to drop it when removing.
- Bosch has a new generation of Smart System hardware and apps that are not compatible with this slightly older generation. I asked why they didn’t go with the smart system for this ebike, and was told that it was not available for the high speed motor at the time of their build and ordering.
- I noticed that small rocks and pebbles would occasionally get caught between the tire tread and flung off into the fenders while riding on gravel trails. I show this in the video, and it makes a ting rattling noise.
- The rear light uses 3 LED’s and seems fairly sturdy, but it sticks out beyond the metal rack itself, so it could get bumped more easily. At least it’s not on the end of the fender where it would be really exposed.
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