Bulls introduced several speed pedelec electric bikes for 2017 and the SIX50 E2 Street is a value priced model that was customized just for the US market. Now I said value there, not cheap… but you get a lot for your money. A very similar ebike model is available in Europe but it’s not capable of the 28 mph (45 km/h) top speed. The SIX50 Street is built around a traditional high-step frame available in four sizes and includes a mid-range suspension fork mounted through a sturdy tapered head tube. It comes with beautiful close-mounted Aluminum alloy fenders and a narrow pannier rack as well as integrated LED lights. Given the 27.5″ wheel size and fatter 2.25″ tires, the bike rolls smoothly and comfortably. The tire tread is checkered allowing it to roll efficiently but still grip when needed… and when you step back and compare this with other speed pedelecs, it appears more trail capable like it would handle packed dirt paths and busted up streets much better. There’s a whole range of “fast ebikes” and some of them forego suspension completely, opting for aerodynamic Carbon fiber forks or seat post suspension. This model, by contrast, is sturdier and larger but that also makes it heavier at ~55 lbs.
Driving the bike is one of my favorite motors, the Bosch Performance Line. It’s a speed version that raises the more typical 20 mph to 28 mph but keeps torque at ~60 Nm. Some Bosch motors can hit 75 Nm (the Performance CX) but are mainly found on mountain frames, and in my experience they are all very capable. Perhaps my favorite thing about any of the models is the move towards minimalist casing and an angled mounting position which raises ground clearance and blends in with the downtube. As you can see in the images and video above, this motor looks great on the SIX50 E2 Street, the black casing matches the fenders and dark coloring on of the frame. On the right side is a 15 tooth sprocket that’s a little small compared with the 20 tooth found on other speed models but you do get a 10 speed cassette in the rear so it all sort of works out. This is one of the areas where compromises might have been made coming from the slower European version. The motor control system measures rear wheel speed, your pedal cadence and pedal torque to start and stop very quickly. These signals are measured 1,000 per second and a “shift sensing” software helps to reduce tension as the bike detects you’re changing gears. Overall, it’s a great setup and with a bit of practice easing off of the pedals while shifting and paying attention to the shift recommendation arrows (up and down) on the display panel it performs great. I regularly hear from e-bike dealers that Bosch motors perform without issue and the two year warranty is reassuring.
Powering the bike is an upgraded 500 watt hour battery pack that’s built into the same form factor as the older Bosch Powerpack 400. So that’s a 25% capacity increase in the same size and only slightly more weight, less than half a pound more. This battery is backwards compatible with older Bosch packs so if you already own one, you would now have two batteries that are interchangeable. The mounting design is a standout on this bike, having a wedged downtube and cupped metal plates at the base which meld the pack into the design making it stand out less. That’s one of the trade-offs with Bosch compared to Brose (offered on other Bulls electric bikes), the battery is not fit inside the downtube but rather, mounts on top of it. This makes it much easier to access, plug in to charge (if left on the bike) and take off for reduced weight or storage/charging separately. It locks to the bike securely and has an LED charge level readout on the left and a nice little loop at the top reducing drops as you take it off and carry it around. This single battery pack powers the 60 LUX headlight, three-LED back light and the beautiful Bosch Intuvia backlit display panel.
Operating the bike is a cinch with how easy the battery is to charge and connect, just one power button to press up at the display panel and you’re set to go. Just like the battery, the display panel is removable for safe storage and it offers a Micro USB port on the right, beneath a rubber flap, so you can top off your smart phone or other portable electronic devices. The display angles forward and back for reduced glare and shows your battery level, current speed and trip feedback (max speed, trip distance, time and more). My favorite feature is its range estimation readout because unlike the battery indicator (which only has five bars representing 20% each) the range menu is very precise. It relies on your last five miles of activity and the current state of charge on the battery to dynamically estimate how much further you can go depending on whichever pedal assist level you’re in! There are four levels in total and I’ve found that 80+ miles is very possible in the lower more efficient ones. Of course, as you arrow up towards the top, Turbo, range goes down but this is still a very efficient system because you can shift gears and empower the motor just as you would yourself as the pedaler. Many hub motor designs operate with only one gearing output which limits their optimal output to a specific speed.
With every new year there seem to be some electric bikes that get less expensive and others that get better… nicer looking, less noisy, longer lasting. The BULLS SIX50 E2 Street falls mostly into this second category but really doesn’t push budget to the extremes either. You’re getting premium parts here, many of which are mountain and trail capable. The tapered head tube, 120 mm suspension fork and 203 mm hydraulic disc brakes are the sort of components I regularly see on e-mountain models. The suspension fork is more basic, being spring vs. air, but you do get lockout (which is convenient for smooth flat sections). The tires are larger and offer a lower PSI rating for cushion comfort but are wide enough to roll efficiently and have tread that can handle bunch of scenarios. I’m the kind of person that tries to get one good product to do a lot of things… I just don’t have a lot of space for more stuff. The SIX50 fits this model very well and delivers the kind of performance riding (at higher speeds) that I find exciting and handy when commuting. Bulls is a large international company and they have a solid reputation but it really makes me smile to see them making market-specific adjustments and not just taking a cookie-cutter approach. I like this bike a lot and while it might benefit from sturdier thru-axles and a larger sprocket, it has other things I really like such as bottle cages and rack bosses so you could add a larger sturdier rack if you wanted. The ergonomic grips are nice and the fact that it’s available in multiple sizes cannot be overlooked, especially given the traditional diamond high-step frame. It’s a fun bike and one that would keep you dry and clean in wet riding conditions… coming back to the wheel size for a moment, if they were larger in diameter or the fenders weren’t mounted as close it would be easier to hit your foot when turning. And if they weren’t reinforced with the struts and rear rack they would make a lot more noise. I specifically went over some bumps in the video review to show how quiet (but not silent) they were. Big thanks to Bulls for partnering with me for this review.
Pros:
- High quality integrated lights including a 60 LUX adjustable headlight and name brand Supernova tail light built right into the rack, both run off of the ebike battery
- Beautiful purpose-built frame with a wedge shaped downtube meant to meld with the Bosch battery pack, there are metal plates at the base carrying the lines of the pack into the motor mount… it all blends perfectly
- The new Bosch Performance Line motors can be angled up and built more into the downtube for better clearance, this one is very well integrated and has a protective skid plate below and a chainring guard for pants protection and reduced drops
- Awesome Aluminum alloy fenders that hug the wider tires very close and match the black accents on the frame
- Longer travel suspension fork, like you’d find on a mountain bike, works well with the hybrid tires and ergonomic grips for a more capable city or light trail rider… perfect for commuting in many environments
- Very large and powerful disc brakes, like you’d find on mountain bikes, that offer excellent, smooth stopping power, I like that the wires are all internally routed through the frame to keep it looking clean and to reduce snags
- Both wheels have quick release for easier repairs and transport (though the fenders don’t come off easily and would still be in the way a little if the wheels were off), I like that they included an adjustable rear-mounted kickstand
- Excellent two year comprehensive warranty with five years on the frame, good support from a larger multi-national company with growing dealer base
- I love that both the battery and display panel can be quickly and easily removed from the bike (perfect for commuting… protecting them in the office) and I like that the display has a little Micro USB port to keep your mobile devices topped off when riding
- It’s great that this bike is using the new Powerpack 500 Bosch battery because you tend to use exponentially more energy when riding above 20 mph due to air resistance
- Bosch control systems for their mid-drive motors offer software-driven shift sensing so the chain and sprockets shouldn’t take as much abuse… they use cadence, torque and speed sensors so you can control motor output by adjusting how hard you pedal
- Mid-drive motors can be very efficient because they leverage your cassette (for climbing or high speed operation), to really benefit from this you need to shift as your cadence changes and the new Bosch Intuvia display panel actually shows an up and down arrow providing shift assistance recommendation
- Excellent wheel and tire sizing… this is a 650b (27.5″) wheel with 2.25″ tires that make it feel more like a traditional 28″ 700c road bike, you get the traction and cushion of mountain tires with the efficient rolling of hybrid tires without being too large (where you clip your toes on the fenders) or too small (where it’s less efficient and you lose momentum and crack-spanning
Cons:
- I’ve seen more speed-pedelecs going with thru-axles in recent years to help distribute higher force and improve steering response, that would be nice on this bike considering the suspension fork and hybrid tires (in case you take trails on occasion)
- The rear rack is narrow, light weight and supports the fender but is really only built to carry panniers vs. a trunk bag on top, it’s nice that it has a three-LED Supernova light built in that goes bright when you pull the brake levers, there are separate threaded bosses on the chain stays of this bike frame so you could remove the fender and rack and replace them with different ones easily
- Minor gripes here but I’m not a huge fan of the cage style pedals and wish the tires had reflective sidewall stripes given this is more of an urban commuter setup
- In many ways, BULLS SIX50 E2 Street compares well with the Stromer line of electric bikes because it’s a speed pedelec with fenders and lights but the battery isn’t integrated into the frame as nicely so overall it’s not as stealth, it also doesn’t offer regenerative braking or have the silent gearless hub motor (though mid-drives tend to be more efficient here as long as you shift appropriately)
- Due tot the fenders, higher capacity battery pack, suspension fork and larger tires this bike weighs a bit more than other city bikes at ~55 lbs
- The grips are nice, I like ergonomic designs, but don’t have lockers so if you really bear down they will twist and get out of alignment
Resources:
- Official Site: http://www.bullsebikes.com/
- More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/ppMQjDc5nRNXwAZD9
Chris @ Propel Electric Bikes says
I love these cross over type bikes. I think many people that buy electric bikes end up going more places than they anticipated and this seems to be one of those bikes that can go anywhere and do almost anything. I love the versatility.
Court Rye says
Right on, I agree completely and frequently hear shop owners like yourself talking about how their customers ride more frequently and further than before they had pedal assist. Normal bikes are great but once you can go further and don’t have to deal with hills or the wind etc. it opens up a whole range of possibilities! including a bit of off-road perhaps ;)
Tony Gandolfo says
How do you think this bike could handle on very steep mountain roads?
Court Rye says
Hi Tony, are you talking about paved roads or dirt and rock? It’s designed to be sturdy (to handle the higher top speeds) but still comfortable with the suspension and larger tires. The tires it comes with appear to be a checkered hybrid style that can handle street and trails (packed dirt mostly). They won’t be ideal for one or the other… the knobs are too flat to be optimal for hard core mountain biking and not slick enough to be truly perfect for tarmac (pavement). You could always swap them out but given the rest of the bike (lockout on the fork, overbuilt axels and the balanced weight) I’d say it should do very well. I hope this helps, feel free to elaborate and I’ll do my best to sound it out with you :)
Tony Gandolfo says
I am looking for a bike that can handle my daily commute. I would be traveling about 30 miles a day, part of that being a mile long stretch of paved road at a 3.5% grade. I am a fit and active cyclist, however not a proffesional. Do you think this bike could handle such a feat with an average rider such as myself?
Court Rye says
Hi Tony, that’s quite a ride! but yes, I do believe this bike would be able to handle it. You will have to pedal along and switch up to the higher assist levels for the incline but it’s well equipped to handle that sort of thing. This model uses the Bosch Performance Speed motor which isn’t quite as high-torque as the CX but it does go faster and 60 Nm is still a LOT of torque. If you’re worried about range, you could top the battery off at your destination (if they allow) the charger is relatively small and light. Also, in the future you’ll be able to find and replace the pack easier than a lot of the other bikes and it looks like it already comes with the upgraded 500 watt hour pack vs. the older 400 watt hour… pretty sweet :)
John Utter says
Just received my new Bulls Six50 E2 Street from Propel Electric Bikes in Brooklyn.
I live in Olympia, Washington so the bike traveled across the USA. Shipping went fine. No dents, scratches, or anything wrong. The only small inconvenience is that I can only seem to find one screw out of two for the headlight assembly so it’s off to the hardware store to find a match. It would have been an improvement if the screws were put in a plastic bag. They’re small and probably the one fell out of the box through an open corner. Small deal.
First impressions. It just wants to go! It also rides surprisingly well without any assist. Much better than I would have imagined. Feels sturdy. Riding at 27 mph is just fine. No problems. Front suspension is perfect for road riding. I’ve seen varying estimates from 48-56 pounds regarding it’s weight. It doesn’t feel heavy. It’s surprisingly regular-bike-like.
Back lights and brake light is a very cool feature.
It feels like the 15 tooth chainring is a mistake for a 28 mph bike. It would be perfect for a 22-24 mph bike but at 27 mph I’m just pedaling too fast. Thankfully, chainrings are cheap! I’m curious how the bike will ride with a 20 tooth chainring.
The brakes are a freakin’ dream. Just awesome. Luxurious.
The seat has gotta go and I’m planning to get seat suspension post as well. Again, these don’t seem like super-expensive adjustments.
The reason I bought this bike is because I rode a Trek Super Commuter and absolutely loved it, but I had some issues with the $5k price tag. This bike has the same Bosch system and battery, plus it has the front suspension I wanted and retails for around $1000 less. The tires are neeeearly as wide. Honestly, it feels a little better than the Super Commuter – except for the seat (still recovering). The display on the Six50 E 2 Street is way better IMHO. For some reason the Super Commuter has a smaller, less rich display. Not sure why. Both bikes have a similar sturdy feel. The Super Commuter comes with a Super Nova M99 Pure headlight that I’ve yet to compare with the one that came with the Bulls bike because the sun is still shining here – but I’m assuming the Super Nova is a bit better. The Super Commuter has a 20 tooth chainring – and I can feel the difference there for sure. But that’s a $25 adjustment.
Leandro at Propel has been good to work with. I’m really happy with my purchase. I suspect he set up the seat height for me because it was perfect as soon as I got on the bike. I would definitely consider ordering from Propel again.
That’s it for now. Great bike so far. I’m really glad did the research to find this particular model. Thanks to Court Rye for your help via email and through all your reviews.
Court Rye says
Hi John! Awesome comment, thanks for sharing your experience buying from Propel and your thoughts on the SIX 50 E2 Street vs. Trek’s Supercommuter. Both are cool bikes but I do enjoy the suspension here and of course… saving a bit of cash. Trek has a great network of dealers and I like how their battery interfaces with the bike but in the end, it’s nice to have choice and it’s great that you’re getting support with the chainring adjustment. Consider an 18 tooth vs. 20 so you can benefit from the zippy starts and climbing with your bike AND get those slower strokes at high speed. As for weight, I use my own scale with each bike review here and found the Bulls SIX 50 to be ~55 lbs which is right in that range you shared. I always weigh with the battery and all stock accessories attached. Enjoy the ride, have fun out there and feel free to share updates!
John Utter says
My Bulls Six50 E 2 Street arrived yesterday at my home in Olympia, Washington after being shipped across the country from Propel Bikes in Brooklyn. It arrived in great shape. No dings or scrapes. I am assuming Lee, from Propel, took the time to adjust the seat to my inseam, since I had shared that information with him, and the seat position was perfect. I put the pedals on, straightened out the handle bars, charged the battery a bit, and took off riding for 16 miles.
I selected this particular bike because I wanted something that would feel solid on the street, yet could move into the mud when necessary. I live out in the country. There are lots of 50 mph roads here without shoulders. I wanted to be able to move into the dirt ditches in case of dangerous vehicles and have a good chance of staying upright. There is also a park nearby with lots of trails (nothing terribly steep) and I wanted a bike that would perform there. So far, so good. The bike feels super sturdy on trails and on the road. At 27 mph it feels unshakeable. I’m not a speed demon by any means but the 20 mph cut-off on many bikes just bugs me. It feels like I’m just getting going. 28 mph feels like a more natural cut-off point as I wouldn’t want to go much faster anyways. It also gives me the opportunity to keep up with the speed of traffic when I’m in town which feels much safer.
Early on in my selection process I tried a Trek Super Commuter and loved it, yet I was stunned by the $5000 price tag. I also wanted a front suspension. My Bulls purchase was an attempt to get something like the Super Commuter with less money, and with a front suspension. I’m not disappointed. Here’s a comparison of the two bikes:
Both bikes have that wonderful sturdy feeling, the same Bosch Performance Line system with a 500 watt hour battery, big and wide tires, fenders, and rear rack. The differences are minimal.
The Super Commuter’s tires are ever so slightly wider (about 1/8 inch maybe) but the Six50’s tires feel just as good to me.
The Bulls Six50 actually has a better display. It’s bigger with more info.
The Super Commuter has a better headlight (a Supernova M99 Pure+) but the headlight (some obscure 60 Lux headlight) on the Bulls Six50 isn’t bad at all. I’ll have to check out if I need anything more. Both bikes have a Supernova tail light but, as far as I can tell the Six50 has a better one. It’s an M99 tail light that includes 5 leds and a brake light. The Super Commuter has a 3 LED set up that does not include the brake light. I really like the brake light feature.
The Super Commuter has a 20 tooth chainring which I plan to install on my Six50, which came with a 15 tooth chainring. The 15 tooth chainring seems like a weird choice. I guess it would be better for really steep hills but in my 16 mile test ride (which I will be repeating 100s of times) I never touched the lower gears. I didn’t need them. Sometimes I just started out on the highest gear in turbo mode and I was fine. The 20 tooth chainring will run me about $25. Not a big deal. As is, the Six50 cruises easily around 23 mph. I had to really crank on it to go 27. I never got to 28 mph. I have read that adding a bigger chainring should help. We’ll see.
The Super Commuter has a carbon fiber fork versus the Six50’s Suntour suspension fork. I honestly like the suspension better for mixed trail/road use. It probably adds a couple of pounds.
The Super Commuter has 11 gears versus 10 on the Six50. Like I said, I don’t tend to use the lower gears.
The seat on the Six50 is uncomfortable. I’m going to replace it asap and probably get a seat suspension post as well. The seat on the Super Commuter was much better. I’m not sure how much a good seat costs but I imagine this upgrade along with a suspension post will be my most expensive improvements.
That’s it for my first day impressions. I want to thank Court Rye for all of his guidance via email and through this website. Also, Propel Bikes strikes me as a good outfit. I love their mission and my interactions have all been positive so far. I would definitely consider buying from them again.
Court Rye says
Awesome, thank you John!
John Utter says
Day two – hitting the trails on the Bulls Six50 E 2 Street.
Joyful swearing. That best describes my experience. The trails that I used on my old mountain bike have taken on a whole new dimension. The drudgery I used to experience on the big hills is absolutely gone. I am easily going 15 mph up hills that used to reduce me to walking speed and unjoyful swearing because my legs hurt so bad. It’s a whole new experience. Going up big muddy hills with rocks and roots is now part of the fun. Total difference maker. I think my wife is jealous because I kept saying, “Wow, that was fantastic!”, and “Oh my God that was great!” She’s only used to hearing me say things like that in other situations where she’s more directly involved. Riding this bike on my usual trails was awesome – a paradigm shifter for sure.
Even on trails and muddy hills I’ve never touched the lowest gears. I just put it in turbo mode and zoom up. I was probably in gear 4 out of 10 on the steepest hills. Pure joy. I’m definitely getting a workout. It’s just a funner one. I just love the torque sensor on this thing. So responsive.
The brakes are a thing of beauty on the trails. Very soft and controlled. I always felt like they had my back.
It’s worth repeating how well this bike rides without power. I ended up cutting the power quite a bit on the trails because I just didn’t need it – but then when I needed it I’d kick it in. I don’t need to go fast on the trails like I do on the street when commuting. It’s a whole different game. I’d cut the motor whenever I encountered a pedestrian on the trail and slow way down.
Again, gotta get that seat addressed. That was only thing bringing me back down to earth.
Here are a few more thoughts on the Six50 E 2 Street versus the Trek Super Commuter.
* I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed the trails as much with the Super Commuter because of the stiff front fork but I could be wrong.
* I actually have a 5 led brake light/rear light/license plate light on the Six50. The Super Commuter has a three led rear light and I don’t think it has a brake light.
* I can’t tell the difference between the two bikes with how the battery works or how it’s integrated. It just clicks in really easily and I turn the key to take it out. I guess the Super Commuter has little bit more of a cradle for the battery and it’s a tiny bit more stealth. Not a difference maker for me.
Court, I’ll entertain your suggestion for an eighteen tooth chainring. That might be the sweet spot. Yeah, it would be better if Bulls had the dealer network that Trek has. I’ll see if I can convince my local shops to carry them :-)
That’s it for day two. I have a huge smile on my face.
John Utter says
Some updates after a few weeks of use…
I upgraded:
I found out how much difference it makes in battery life when I stop going all-out in turbo mode. I think I went 20 miles yesterday and just barely knocked one bar (out of five) off of the battery meter. I averaged around 15 mph on mostly level trails and kept it primarily in Eco mode – with about 20 minutes in Tour and maybe 5 minutes of joy-sprinting in Turbo/Sport. This is in contrast to today’s 25 minutes of Turbo-charged hill climbing and sprinting which also took one bar off the battery meter. I probably went 6.5 miles altogether.
I’ve put 185 miles on the bike so far. I have one mechanical concern and one small annoyance. Mechanically speaking, there is a thrumming sound that started to develop yesterday at speeds over ~25 mph. I hear the sound, which is accompanied by a vibration when my right foot is on the downstroke while I’m pedaling. Once I slow down it goes away. The small annoyance is that the bike seems to top out at about ~27 mph rather than 28 mph. It cruises quite easily at between 25 and 26 mph but then I really have to work to get it to 27 mph and can only keep it there a short period. This is probably nit picky but apparently more expensive bikes such as the Trek Super Commuter and the Bulls Dail-e Grinder (that use the same performance line set up with the 500 watt hour battery back) go straight to 28 mph with less resistance. I’ve experienced this myself on the Super Commuter – and have read similar experiences on the Dail-e Grinder versus the Six50. What gives? Does the extra 1mph cost 1-2k more?
With all that said, I’m incredulous how much I’ve been riding. I’ve been mainly sedentary for a few years after suffering from chronic fatigue that seemed to come out of nowhere. This bike definitely puts me in a happy place. When I’m out riding by myself I can’t help but push it – meaning I ride hard and I break out in a sweat – probably because it’s just so fun to ride. When I ride with my wife (She has a Trek Verve+) I mellow out and go for a more sustainable pace. Either way, I’m exercising and having a blast. The fatigue symptoms seem to have dropped significantly in the last few weeks. We’ll see how I do in the coming months.
Court Rye says
Lots of great tips and feedback there John. Thanks for taking the time to share how the Bulls SIX50 E2 has improved your health and giving some insights on how the 20 tooth chainring works vs. 15 (and that you think 18 might be the sweet spot). All great stuff, keep riding and have fun :D
Mike says
The license plate holder is there because some European countries like Germany require pedelecs that can exceeed 45km/h to be insured and that the user be 16 years or older and helmet is mandatory. Same for scooters.
Court says
Cool! Thanks for sharing that information, Mike. I had heard about different laws and special tags and plates in different countries, it’s neat to get more details on Germany in particular :)
Quito Banogon says
Hey Court – I’m hoping you might know if I can install 2.4″ Schwalbe Super Moto X tires on these rims without issue. The current tires are 2.25″, so there’s a slight increase with the 2.4″ set which I think should be fine but thought you might know for sure. Thanks and great review and site – we bought this bike because of your review and video! :)
Court says
Hi Quito! Cool name… I cannot confirm this, because the tight rack and fenders could be a limiting factor. Given the 2.25″ tires have knobs, if your Super Moto-X tires do not, perhaps their effective diameter is very close. This is a great question for BULLS directly. They have decent customer service with email and phone support if you reach out. If you cannot get an answer or struggle, hit me up again and I’ll ask on your behalf :)
Quito Banogon says
Hey, Court – your name is cool too :)
Bulls chat support replied “Tires is tricky because BULLS hasn’t tested anything wider than what comes on the bike. I cannot assure you it will work without any issues.”
But thanks to your Forums and the help from Ravi and FlatSix911, I’ve decided to buy the Schwalbe Big Ben Plus 2″ tires because they’re as close as I can get to the Moto X 2.8″ tires that on my 2018 Lore IE. My wife really wanted those but they’re definitely too big for her E2Street. Cheers!
Court says
Thanks so much for the update on this Quito! Yeah, Ravi and FlatSix911 are awesome members. I love the forums and all of the great interaction there, so glad you guys found a solution ;)