The Sturmvogel has a name that I don’t quite understand but the design and performance are clear. It’s an electric bike that blends in because the motor and battery are integrated, it would look good under a man or woman… or anyone in between, and it comes in four sizes so mounting and dismounting doesn’t have to be uncomfortable or unstable. While it’s currently only available in one color, I appreciate that they chose the highly visible white and matched the tires, added reflective sidewall tape and threw in two integrated LED lights! You could easily add a rack and fenders to transform this thing into a super-commuter and with its large 647.5 watt hour battery pack, you’ll likely get well over 50 miles per charge… for real.
Driving the bike is a quiet, smooth mid-drive motor from a German company called Brose. It offers between 250 and 530 watts of power but more importantly, is capable of putting out ~90 Nm of torque so you can shift down to lower gears and climb even the steepest of hills. I am not exagerating here, this is the same motor used on the high-end mountain style electric bikes with full suspension (one of which I currently own) and I have been able to climb super-steep dirt trails. In a lot of ways, the drive system and design choices like high-end hydraulic disc brakes with a 180 mm rotor up front along with a 15 mm thru-axle can seem like overkill. You probably don’t need them for urban riding and this isn’t a speed pedelec (topping out at ~20 mph) but they certainly don’t hurt and the weight of ~54 lbs is about average. So you’re just getting a really well made electric bicycle. One that can handle more weight and still climb or stop, one that goes further and is a bit safer, and of course it’s one that costs a bit more.
Bulls is a European brand that is sold globally, having expanded into the US in 2015 it is now being carried in ~20 dealers and comes with a solid 2 year comprehensive warranty (with five years on the frame). I enjoyed the bike and appreciated all of the extra details like an integrated USB charging port on the button pad, bottle cage bosses, rack and fender bosses, a quick release front wheel and a thick rubberized pad on the battery to protect from rocks. It’s not a perfect ebike, namely the key slot for the battery is positioned in the collision path of the left crank arm, the cover for the charging port doesn’t stay stuck down and is very close to where you might want that bottle cage to go which would mean taking the battery off each time to charge and there’s the comfort considerations. Usually when riding ebikes I go further and faster on average which can leave my neck and back feeling sensitive. The Sturmvogel is built around a rigid frame and fork but you can do a little bit of dampening by lowering tire pressure (which may impact range). Consider a seat post suspension to resolve this but if you’re a shorter rider, make sure you don’t get one that’s too tall because it will raise the minimum saddle height. All things considered, it’s a unique bike with a lot of potential. It should last well with the gearing being internal (less likely to drop the chain, bash a derailleur or have water/dirt muck it up). Big thanks to Bulls for partnering with me for this review.
Pros:
- Comfortable to ride, I enjoyed the swept back handlebars, sprung saddle and ergonomic grips… even though this bike doesn’t have suspension, the larger tires reduce some vibration while still rolling efficiently on paved surfaces
- I like the miniaturized display panel, it’s transflective so it should work in bright daylight or dark, is easy to reach and doesn’t take up much space on the bars (or stand out for theft or vandalism), I think it allows the bike to have unique handlebars with extra bend
- Wonderful to have both front and rear LED lights that are integrated, running off the main battery pack, they don’t rattle or take up much extra space, the battery itself offers a LOT of capacity with 37 volts and a whopping 17.5 amp hours
- Excellent Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, like you’d expect to find on a mountain bike! they are easy to pull and use without much wrist or forearm strength and that’s nice
- I really like the bright white color of the frame, rims, white walled tires and reflective sidewall stripes on the tires! these elements make the bike safer to ride at night, it’s also cool that they integrated the shifter wires and electronics through the frame so they don’t stand out or get snagged
- Lots of potential to customize this bike with storage accessories because it has eyelets to mount a mini pump or bottle cage on the downtube and bosses on the seat stays for adding a disc brake compatible rack like this, you could also add 26″ fenders pretty easily and there are even support strut eyelets on the fork!
- Despite only having one sprocket up front and one in the rear (since the bike uses an internally geared hub) they put a chain guide on the chainring so you shouldn’t have any problem with dropping the chain or snagging your pants or a dress, the drivetrain is solid and you can shift at standstill which is nice for hilly conditions
- I was really impressed that the front wheel uses a 15 mm thru-axle, again that’s like mountain bike level strength! it’s nice to also have quick release up front even if it isn’t in the back due to the internal alfine hub
- The weight distribution on the bike is excellent with both the motor and battery positioned low and center, a bit of the black on the battery shows below the downtube and there’s a padded sticker there to keep rocks and other debris from damaging the pack
- The Brose mid-drive motor is super quiet and smooth because it uses a little nylon belt inside to reduce vibration, in my opinion it’s one of the best drive systems out there today
- The top tube on the Sturmvogel is extra sloped so riders can more easily mount the frame and stand over it while stopped, this is possible because of the downtube battery but they also chose that design, I feel like it could work for guys or girls and is unisex but cool, not overly guy or girl styled
- I’m super impressed that you can get this bike in four different sizes! That goes along with the unisex styling and nicer accessories to make this a great fit for lots of people, commuters or just neighborhood riders
- When I first saw the bike’s kickstand I was a little bummed out because it’s made by Hebie and I’ve seen others that automatically stow (and just don’t feel as stable) but this one stays down, it doesn’t auto-spring up! I like that it’s mounted towards the rear of the bike so you can lube your chain or back the bike up without having the crank arms get in the way and collide
- I love that there’s a little Micro USB charging port built into the base of the button pad so you could charge a phone or run extra lights if you wanted, it’s convenient and doesn’t take up much space
Cons:
- The rear light is tucked up directly beneath the saddle so it takes up the space where some accessory bags like this would otherwise mount and it could be blocked if you’re wearing a longer coat while riding, better than nothing and it’s really sleek, also allows the seat post to drop further down
- The pedals are decent, stiff and relatively wide, but not my personal favorite given the rubber pad on top, consider an upgrade to something with more traction if you ride in wet conditions, Wellgo sells some white ones that are made from Magnesium if you want to get super fancy and light :)
- The motor does not offer shift sensing but because this ebike uses internal gearing there’s less mashing potential and in my experience the cadence + torque sensing response is something you can learn to shift properly by reducing some pressure as you shift so it won’t over stress the chain etc.
- You get 90 Newton meters of torque from the motor (in the highest assist level) and that’s one of the highest ratings for any mid-drive that I’ve seen, you should have no problem climbing event the steepest of hills but you do have to pedal, there’s no shift sensing, and you do have to shift down to an easier gear to get maximum power from the motor
- The bike is built around a fully rigid frame and even with the larger 2.35″ wide tires it can be bumpy on rough terrain, especially if you’re riding at the 20 mph top speed for a long time… consider getting a 31.6 mm seat post suspension like this if you have a sensitive neck or back, also make sure the seat tube collar is tight so the post doesn’t slide down and consider the smaller version here if you need to keep the seat super low if you’re a shorter rider
- I love that the battery is removable for convenient charging and reduced weight… but the keyhole is in the way of the crank arms so be careful not to leave it in or it could get broken, also, the rubber cap that’s designed to protect the charging interface just doesn’t stick down… they need to fix the mold or re-design that in my opinion, also before you go, make sure the pack is snapped in and locked securely because you can ride with it unlocked and this could lead to theft or accidental dropping
- Where the charging port is on the downtube, if you mounted a bottle cage it might get in the way and require you to take the pack off each time in order to charge… it seems like maybe you could mount the holder further up to make it work though
Resources:
- Official Site: http://www.bullsebikes.com/product/sturmvogel-e-evo/
- More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/GZe1AidFm38DyC7s5
GregB says
Hey Court – I love the specs on this bike except for the 20mph top speed. Is that governed by the controller or gearing? Seems like it has the motor and battery to support 28mph. If there is not an easy way to retrofit this bike to hit 28, do you have a recommendation for another commute oriented bike with this aesthetic and price range? Many thanks on your great coverage and videos on YT (of which I have watched 50+!) -Greg
Court Rye says
Hi Greg! I’m not sure if it’s possible to overclock or change the speed on the Bulls electric bike drive system but you might have some luck getting feedback about it in the forums? I’ve read about speed dongles and different devices for the Bosch powered electric bikes. I’ll be reviewing some other Class 3 speed pedelec models soon but here’s one from Bulls that worked fairly well and offered a lot of comfort.
Rick says
All the pictures show this bike with the saddle high. I’m not tall and want a Dutch style bike. Is this just not going to do that for me?
Court Rye says
Hi Rick! Great question… the saddle on this bike can actually go fairly low, I’d estimate that the top could be set to ~32″ from the ground because the stand over height I measured was ~29″ and of course, the saddle would add a bit to that. Now the thing is… this bike comes in four sizes apparently so it might be even lower than 32 inches! I have long legs for my height and prefer to maximize leg extension so that’s why the saddle is so high here, I always try to set the bikes up for myself before doing rides and often this shows up in the photos as well (only in this case the stock photo also shows a high saddle). So just to reiterate, yeah it can go lower and I’d actually say that this ebike has one of the lowest possible saddle heights I’ve seen for a high-step frame just given how they arranged the tubing. Hope this helps! You could contact a BULLS dealer and ask for separate measurements or even the company to get more information, hope this helps :)
Rick says
Thanks for your really helpful answer. I’m comparing the Sturmvogel with the Gazelle C8 with impulse motor. I want a Dutch style upright bike. I’m not tall – 5’9″ with 30″ inside leg. Which would you recommend?! Thanks for any further thoughts. Rick
Court Rye says
Hey Rick! Both are nice bikes but if you’re looking for the upright Dutch style and appreciate more comfort than I’d definitely go with the Gazelle C8. They also have a model with the Bosch motor which I prefer to Impulse for it’s power, responsiveness and display interface but either is good. The Sturmvogel is a bit more clean with the Brose motor system but lacks suspension, a suspension seat post, the adjustable stem and the commuter accessories… they are really quite different bikes, both good though :) I’ll have more reviews coming out soon with other Focus, Kalkhoff, Gazelle and BULLS electric bikes that might interest you as well.
Rick says
Thanks for this – it’s really helpful. I thought the impulse was rated st 70 nm and the Bosch Active at 45 andBosch performance at 60 – is that wrong? I like the Bulls partly for its look but mainly the more powerful motor and battery – but I’d need to fit suspension seat post and fenders. It’s mainly though whether for me it has the same potential set up for a sit up and beg riding style as a often have lower back problems. It’s a lot of money to spend if I get it wrong! Thanks again, Rick
Court Rye says
Hi Rick, on each review I list the torque rating in Newton meters and if you add them to the “compare” tool here you can see side by side but here’s a quick overview: there are two Impulse systems and the older 2.0 offers 70 Nm, the new 3.0 offers 100 Nm, Bosch Active offers 48 Nm, Bosch Performance offers 60 Nm and the new CX offers 75 Nm and finally the Brose mid-drive offers 90 Nm. In my experience they all feel fine and even the lower torque Bosch Performance is a decent climber. I’ve heard people say that all of the Bosch motors are the same physically, just tuned differently depending on the country or specific application. If you shift gears appropriately, any of these systems should work well. I usually choose bikes based on the riding I intend to do and the fit and comfort vs. motor torque… they are all pretty impressive :)
Scott says
Hey Rick, I believe Bosch Performance CX will get you 75nm and Brose will get you about 90nm if I’m not mistaken. We’ve really loved these bikes over at San Diego Fly Rides, very quiet and fun ride. We’ve got this model for sale now if you’re still interested! Give us a call.
iOwnThis says
First off, this bike is gorgeous, we get lots of looks and comments.
The original firmware is garbage. It’s really a 16mph eBike until you get the firmware updated. If you have (off + 3 power levels), you have the old firmware. If you have (off + 4 power levels), you have the new firmware. The old firmware is so dang conservative that it cuts power way before 20mph. After the firmware update it’s like you got a new bike.
The Alfine is paired with a 22T rear cog, which is a bit too low to maintain a slow pedal cadence at 20mph. I plan on switching to an 18T and will report back the results.
Also, the brake light cable goes down the middle of the seat post, so if you replace with a suspension seat, you will have to drop the cable down the tube and lose your rear light. (the suspension seat won’t allow you to run a wire down the center as it is blocked with a huge spring and an adjustment dial).
Battery life is amazing! I’ll report back numbers when I get it dialed in with the smaller cog.
IOWNTHIS says
The 18T cog is a hug improvement over the 22T. My wife says it feels like a new bike. Gear 1 is plenty low to get up a very steep driveway and the highest gear can get you over 25mph on a slight decline. It’s really easy to stay at 20mph continuous with the new gearing.
To perform this you will need a chain break tool like this to remove one full link (which means, take off the master link and then push out one pin, but skipping one) and an 18 tooth cog like this.
You will also need small metrics allen wrenches that are single, not as part of a tool. Here’s an example. There are some small hex screws in the drop out arm that can only be reached with a small single bent allen.
I also suggest first cleaning the chain and wrapping the tire in something protective so you don’t get grease all over. You will also need to remove the rear brake caliper.
Court Rye says
This is very helpful! Thanks for sharing your experience and the outcome… along with all of the parts needed. I linked them up and changed the last one because the link wasn’t working initially. Feel free to share further in the forums if you have pictures or other tips, this really helps people :)
IOWNTHIS says
I forgot one tool…you need snap ring pliers to get the Alfine cog off the assembly. This is one of the hardest tasks in the project (adjusting the dropouts to an equal distance on both sides of the frame is the other hard task). There are several videos on youtube that show the Alfine snap-ring removal/installation process.
M AFREN says
Have been riding this bike for over six months now here in the U.K. The best thing about it is the battery which lasts for at least 40 miles (I’m 180 pounds) on a flat terrain and 10 miles less in a hilly terrain. One annoying thing about the bike is the rattling battery, but the worst thing is the fact that you cannot find spare parts for it here in the U.K. The supplier of this bike in the U.K. are absolutely hopeless when it comes to after sale service. So although the bike is good but I wouldn’t buy it had I known how hard it is to find replacement items. You’re better off going for a bike with more available spare parts.
I’ve tried very hard to find a spare battery but so far with no success. To replace the front light was also not easy. After much research, I found only one company in Europe which sold the same type and it wasn’t cheap. So in conclusion, the bike is good but I’d think twice before buying it again due to extremely poor after sale.
Court Rye says
Aww, that’s a bummer. Thanks for sharing how the bike has been good (along with some stats about range and your weight) and how you think it could be improved (better service in the UK). I know the team working for Bulls here in the US and they seem to be much more responsive, I wish that were the case for you too… it hurts the global brand if one region is dropping the ball :/
M AFREN says
Also, if you, like me, like to ride off road, lack of suspension is a big problem with this bike. I’ve installed body float seat suspension but it is the lack of front suspension that lets this bike down.
Court Rye says
Yeah, I can totally understand that the lack of a suspension fork on this model would not make it a perfect off-road or trail choice. I think it’s better suited to urban riding… Have you considered something like this? It’s a miniature shock absorbing stem that might make your wrists, arms, shoulders, and neck feel better when riding off-road or on bumpy terrain. It might also slow steering and lower control a bit, but could be worth it if you’re uncomfortable.
M AFREN says
Ever since buying this bike over six months ago, one question which I constantly get asked is about the range. This is a very difficult to address, for the answer very much depends on the age of the battery, the weight of the rider including additional accessories mounted on the bike, the terrain, wind, etc.
I now believe that I can answer the question of range with some certainty but first the stats. I’m about 83 kg (183 lb) and I have loads of accessories on my bike ranging from a rack, pannier bags normally full of stuff such as spare tubes, repairing kits and tools, towel, front and rear lights, bell, mud guards (both back and front), my cell phone holder, etc. These additional items weigh approx. 15 kg (33 lb), so a total weight of 98 kg (216 lb).
So what range have I achieved bearing in mind the above stats? The terrain I cycle on almost a daily basis is definately not flat. It has many hills some measuring up to 800 meters (over 2,600 ft) but obviously a lot of downhills too. Here is a link to my route. With all of the above in mind, below is the range I have managed to achieve on my 6 month old battery:
I hope this helps those who have been wondering about the range of the battery on Bulls Sturmvogel E Evo.
Court Rye says
This is fantastic, thank you so much for the detailed feedback on range for your Bulls electric bike! I am sure this will help people out and it’s also neat for me to see because I weigh ~135 lbs and rarely bring gear or accessories when filming reviews. It’s amazing how far you can go on a charge, these new e-bikes with higher capacity Lithium-ion batteries do very well.
M. Afren says
I have now owned this bike for almost two years and have ridden it for just under 10,000 miles. I have had to replace the motor once during this time because of excessive noise, the crank arms over three times (the non-drive side), the front tire 3 times having had over 10 punctures and ultimately forcing me to replace them with much better tires. Now, the big question: would I buy the bike again? The simple answer has to be, no. The biggest problem is lack of any suspensions. Even though I have installed one for the seat but it’s very uncomfortable on long rides. Also, very difficult to find spare parts. Furthermore, 26″ wheels are, in my opinion and in the opinion of many professionals, is the wrong size wheels. Finally, I live and bought the bike here in the U.K. which has meant the after sale service is absolutely horrible.
Court says
Hmm, thanks for the honest feedback here, sorry you had to get the motor replaced. I hope it holds up alright for you and I welcome further input on this or other models you get someday :)
My Afren says
Hi, I recently replaced the rear sprocket on my Bulls Sturmvogel E Evo 2016 model which is equipped with a Shimano Nexus 8 speed Internal Gear Hub. In doing so, I may have replaced it with a sprocket having a different number of teeth, resulting in a slower bike. Unfortunately, I disposed of the old sprocket before realizing the reduction in speed. Would anyone with a similar bike and configuration please. tell me the size of the rear sprocket? Thank you.
Court says
Hi! I cannot say for sure, but I think the rear sprocket is 24 tooth. I’ve looked closely at the photographs here and done my best to count. I’m sorry that this information was not measured during the review, as it is something I usually record. The chainring has 44 teeth. Hope this helps!