To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by BULLS. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of BULLS products.
Today we get to look at the BULLS TWENTY8 E45, and this is exciting for me because this is really quite a well rounded bike! The TWENTY8 is a 28mph Bosch powered speed pedelec commuter bike with just about all the amenities you could ask for. A bit more on those features, but first, let’s look at the frame itself. It comes in 2 styles, a mid-step and a high-step. Within the mid-step are 2 size choices, and 3 size choices for the high-step. Just one color here between them, a sort of matte gray look. For comparisons sake, I did notice that the high-step had 2 sets of bottle cage bosses, where as the mid-step had none. Overall, the bike is slightly on the heavier side for a commuter, largely due to the suspension fork and other accessories, it weighs in at 59.9lbs total. That suspension fork is a spring fork, which normally tend to be basic, but this one surprisingly has 80mm of travel, 34mm stanchions, compression adjust, preload adjust, and rebound adjust! It is so rare I see those options on a commuter, so I really appreciate the configurability. Moving to the wheels, we have a nice set of 28” x 1.75” tires. The 28” is by which the bike is named and these are 700c tires. So with that, you get a lower attack angle and high air volume. The tires here have both puncture protection and reflective sidewalls. As a big fan of safety and convince, having both means visibility for riding at dusk or dawn as well as peace of mind against potential threats to your tires. Around the tires, you have these SKS plastic fenders. I love that these also have rubberized mud flaps. Not only do these add an additional element to keep you clean, but it can help alleviate toe strikes to the fender if you are making a tight turn. A lot of comfort here like the Selle Royal gel seat with bumpers on the bottom, locking Ergon grips, and Ergotec adjustable angle stem which have 20-40 degrees of adjustment. But probably my most favorite point of comfort by far is the suspension seat post. This is an accessory I always recommend people purchase for their ebike because it makes a world of difference. It is rare that I ever see these included, so it is really a nice touch to the bike and you don’t have to go out and spend extra money! This one is a SR SunTour NCX with preload adjust. There is a bolt on rack in the rear rated for 55lbs and even has pannier hangers and blockers. Also included is a set of battery integrated lights here, they have them both in the front and the rear. The front points where you steer, has adjustable angles, side windows, and is mounted high out of the way. Meanwhile the rear light also acts as an active brake light when you hold down the brakes. Pretty neat! Safety has always been a priority for myself and other cyclists, so it’s nice to see that more and more companies are including these on ebikes. Keeping the bike, chain, and your clothes clean is this full plastic chain cover and slap guard sticker. I really appreciate little touches like this and it is just another way this bike is somewhat of a total package. Other features include an adjustable length kickstand mounted away from the pedals to eliminate pedal lock, nylon platform pedals with sandpaper grips, and ABUS Key Card so you can get all your locks and bike battery on the same lock.
Driving this bike is one of the sportiest, and smartest, electric bike motors around today. It’s the Bosch Performance Line Speed, which offers up to 63 Newton meters of torque and 120 RPM pedal support. This means that it can start and climb well (even if you’re not in the optimal gear), and it will allow you to spin quickly to reduce leg muscle power and focus on cardio if that’s your preference. It is my preference, in fact, because I have a knee injury. Some other mid-drive electric bike systems (even Bosch’s own Active Line motors) max out around 100 or 110 RPM, so you literally have to switch gears in order to ride faster. It’s less of an issue when your max speed is ~20 mph, but it becomes very noticeable with a speed pedelec like this. The Performance Line motors have taken a unique approach with their chainring spec that makes them quick and efficient for the motor, but louder and possibly less efficient for you as the rider (if the bike is turned off or you’re trying to pedal beyond the supported speeds). They have a reduction gear inside that spins the chainring at 2.5 revolutions for each crank arm revolution. Bosch representatives have told me that it improves chain retention, but it also makes swapping chainring sizes less straightforward… because they are proprietary. It means that the chain cover is smaller and the chain itself is lower, but might allow for increased chain contact with the right chain stay when riding over bumpy terrain. I trust Bosch, have enjoyed this and other motors that they produce on many other leading electric bikes over the years, I feel that the trade-offs are worth it. One thing that is definitely a pro here, is the two-year comprehensive warranty and support from a wide network of Bosch-Certified dealers. I visit shops all over North America and many have told me that the Bosch drive systems are some of their most reliable, and that the company provides quick support with hardware that does need fixes or replacements. Mechanically, the bike has a Shimano Deore derailleur with a Shadow Plus clutch system. This allows you to make the chain tight for rigid riding or lose for maintenance. The setup has 10 speeds, trigger shifters and a 11-42 tooth cassette in the rear with a 18 tooth chainring in the front. Stopping the bike is a massive set of 203mm hydraulic disc brake rotors. This is quite a premium setup, and I usually only see brakes like this in high-end mountain bikes, and even then they are only in the front, not front and rear like this one. Really a great set of brakes for stopping a fast bike like this, you also get adjustable reach 4 finger levers.
Powering the bike is a high capacity Bosch PowerTube 500 battery which offers 36 volts and 13.4 amp hours for a total of 482.4 watt hours. Bosch has been supplying ebike batteries to North America since 2013 and is well known for reliability and cross compatibility between different brands. That’s less common now with the PowerTube, because there is a vertical mount and side mount option, and each manufacturer can opt for a custom interface and cover. BULLS has chosen a bottom-load design that’s easy to click in without needing a key but can be a little tricky to remove… their aluminum alloy covers look great, but add nearly a pound of weight and are color-matched so don’t look good if you swap between different bike models. As for the PowerTube battery, there’s no carry loop at the top or side, which means you have to use extra care connecting and disconnecting it from the frame. It still has a 5-LED battery indicator on the end (near the charging port) so you can quickly judge capacity even if you store it separately from the bike frame. I almost always take the pack off before lifting the bike for service or transport. The charging port of the battery is replicated on the left side of the bike frame, near the base of the downtube, so you can charge without removing the battery every time. The thing is, this port is located very near the left crank arm and I could imagine a snag or disconnect if you’re charging and bump the pedals… it also seemed like the protective rubber cap for this port didn’t seat as easily as some competing designs. The PowerTube battery pack requires a bit of extra flexibility and patience to remove from the frame. First, you have to insert the key and unlock it, then the pack sort of pops out (downwards) half an inch near the head tube. At this, point the pack is unlocked but it won’t come out completely. To fully release it, you have to press a little plastic button inside the crack. I have relatively small fingers, so it wasn’t too difficult to remove the pack. Once you actually press the button, the pack is completely free at the top and will swing down towards the front tire. It weighs about 7.2lbs total, with the attached metal shield, so expect a bit of weight and please be careful not to drop the battery because they are like $900 to replace. Again, the PowerTube battery for BULLS doesn’t have a handle built in, and with the metal shield it weighs more than the older Powerpack… and, since it’s coming down vs. resting as you lift up, it just seems more precarious. Perhaps that is why Bosch encased the PowerTube itself in an Aluminum alloy box. As a side note, to best care for the lithium-ion cells that are packed inside the PowerTube, I have heard that you should avoid storing it in extreme heat or cold, and that you should leave it around 50% full for long periods of disuse vs. completely full or empty. Charging the pack is fast and easy with the included 4 amp Bosch charger. It is one of my favorite chargers because it is so compact and lightweight at ~1.7 lbs. You will probably have better luck sticking this charger into a backpack than trying to bring along a second PowerTube battery to extend range. Bosch does offer a compact travel charger that delivers 2 amps, but it’s only 0.5lbs lighter and just a little bit slimmer, so I’d probably just stick with the original. In conclusion, I feel that the PowerTube battery offers a mixed bag of benefits and trade-offs. It’s hidden, positioned low, doesn’t rattle, and offers a relatively high capacity, but is heavy and less easy to swap and use with a second pack because of the screwed-on shield design. For even more details and footage, check out my Bosch PowerTube review in the EBR forums.
Shown in the photos and vidoe, this ebike us using a Bosch Intuvia display panel and control pad. However, BULLS has requested that I update the information to show their Purion display. I believe that the company may have switched to the smaller display during their production run, resulting in the request. To see the details on Purion, and some images and video, you can visit our overview/review page here. Once the battery is charged and connected to the frame, you simply press the power button on the Bosch Intuvia display panel, and it quickly loads some menus. The main dashboard shows bike speed, battery level (a five bar indicator), chosen level of assist (four levels) and a power meter to the right. Along the bottom, a rotating menu shows trip stats including max speed, average speed, clock, trip distance, clock, and dynamic range estimate (that changes as you select different assist levels). You can cycle through these menus using the i button on the display and also on the button pad mounted near the left grip. You really only need that i button and the up/down arrows on the control pad to use the bike once it’s switched on, and they produce a satisfying tactile click that helps you understand what’s happening, even if you can’t look down while riding. You slide through gear ratios (since technically there are no gears) using a half-grip twist shifter on the right. Given the potential power of the Bosch motor, I found shifting to be most efficient and comfortable when done as I eased off of the pedals a bit (which decreases motor output). I should mention the integrated Mini-USB port, great for maintaining smartphones for GPS or music on the go, and I want to call out the always-on white backlighting of the Intuvia LCD. It’s convenient in the dark, but can sometimes feel a bit bright and distracting. There’s also a walk mode, which is accessible if you are in one of the four assist levels and press the button on the top edge of the control pad and then hold +. This activates the motor very slowly, to help you push through grass or limp home if the tire goes flat. It’s very handy if the rear rack does have cargo or you have a flat tire. In closing, the Intuvia display panel delivers almost everything I have grown to know and appreciate in the world of ebikes. It’s removable, easy to read, full of useful features but not too complicated… I just wish it showed battery percentage in addition to or in place of the basic five bar infographic.
As I said before, there is so much going on here on this bike, it really is as if it has it all… its basically a speed pedelec commuter with everything! However, there are a few tradeoffs here. For example, that added suspension seat post increases the standover height quite a bit, there are no bottle cage bosses on the mid-step frame, and the charging port is located near the crank arm. The bike is a little more on the active side as opposed to a cruiser, so make sure it is right for you. However, as I mentioned before, this is pretty much the total package and then some, so for $4,599 it is a pretty good deal. Most bikes don’t have suspension seat posts, 28mph Bosch motors, front fork, rack, fenders, massive hydraulic brakes, and integrated lights. Really it was a lot of fun to take this one out and I want to thank BULLS for the opportunity.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the BULLS Ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- You get a nice set of 28” x 1.75” tires, these are 700c tires, so you have a lower attack angle and high air volume, both have puncture protection and reflective sidewalls which are great safety features for commuting
- I love the SR SunTour Ebike rated fork with a compression clicker, rebound adjust on the bottom, and preload adjust, there is a lot of adjustment here which is usually something you only see in air suspension forks
- Sturdy fenders hug the tires to keep you dry and clean, the front fender features a multi-plastic (sort of rubberized) end to keep your feet and shins dry, if this portion of the fender is kicked or collides with a curb it bends naturally, alleviating toe strikes
- The fenders and rack were very quiet, the custom cargo rack felt sturdy but didn’t add much width or length to the bike, I like how it’s minimalist
- Integrated lights help you see and be seen in dark riding conditions, the headlight is mounted underneath the stem keeping the cockpit clean and points where you steer, the rear light acts as an active brake light when you hold down the brake levers
- I love that the bike includes an SR SunTour NCX suspension seat post! This is an expensive accessory I always recommend people buy aftermarket because almost no bikes include them, so kudos to BULLS for adding that!
- The Bosch Performance Line Speed mid-drive motor here is very capable and fast, really one of the most reliable and powerful motors out there
- Excellent weight distribution with both the motor and battery mounted low and center,
the frame is totally custom so the electronics blend in and wires are internally routed, the battery doesn’t stand out thanks to a paint-matched shell - The bolt on rack in the rear rated for 55lbs and even has pannier hangers and blockers
- The high-step TWENTY8 frame has two sets of bottle cage bosses, this is especially useful if you want to mount a folding lock, mini-pump or other accessories without adding panniers or a trunk bag
- The battery pack is removable so you can store its safely and charge conveniently, I’d suggest removing the battery when carrying the bike or using walk mode to help climb stairs, the locking core is made by Abus and they can match folding locks to the same key for convenience and reduced clutter if you want
- Bosch Intuvia is my favorite display from Bosch since it is backlit, easy to read, removable, tilt-able, and has pretty much any information you could want
- High-end drivetrain makes it easy to start and climb or maintain the ~28 mph top speed, The Shimano Deore Shadow+ derailleur keeps the chain tight on bumps to reduce bouncing and slipping with a one-way adjustable clutch (this drivetrain has traditionally been reserved for mountain bikes), the same clutch can make removing the rear wheel easier if locked so the derailleur doesn’t spring back
- The premium stem here is an Ergotec adjustable angle stem which have 20-40 degrees of adjustment, really great for dialing in your geometry and how you want to ride it
- This is really a great option for commuting, you get a rack, integrated lights in the front and rear, front fork, hydraulic brakes, suspension seat post, and of course 28mph speed!
- With great power and speed come great responsibility! and for that you get Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with massive 203mm disc rotors in both the front and rear, something typical reserved for the most high end mountain bikes
Cons:
- The added suspension seat post is by far one of my favorite things about the bike, however, it should be mentioned that this can raise the stand over height, something to be aware of
- The ride is a little more on the active side, so make sure that is something you want as there are other commuters that are built more around cruising
- The higher-end Bosch Performance Line motors tend to drain the battery quicker, produce more noise, and create some drag because of the reduction gearing, this only happens when pedaling unassisted or pedaling over the max speed (~28 mph in this case)
- I noticed that the mid-step version did not have bottle cage bosses, kind of surprising since the high-step had 2 sets
- The 203mm hydraulic disc brake rotors in the front and rear are very impressive, however, a bigger disc brake could mean you want to be more careful parking at a bike rack so you don’t bump them and get them bent or scuffed up
- The charging port on the bike frame is positioned very close to the left crank arm and that means the cable could get snagged or the connector could get bent if you bump the cranks while charging… just be extra careful or charge off-bike, and then make sure it clicks back on securely before riding
Resources:
Brian K
5 years agoDoes this come with Purion or Intuvia? This says Intuvia but I’m hearing from my LBS that it’s coming with Purion. Trying to decide if it’s worth it to wait for this, would be more inclined if it came with Intuvia.
Thanks!
ReplyBrian
Court
5 years agoHi Brian! The demo unit I was riding in the video and showing in the photos had an Intuvia display. I can’t say for sure if that might have been changed or updated. Perhaps you could get some more clarification from your dealer or BULLS directly. Here’s their official site with contact email, I’d love to hear back if you find something out.
ReplyBrian K
5 years agoThanks Court, appreciate the quick response! I just filled out the contact form for Bulls asking them this question, hopefully they get back to me soon. I’m debating between waiting for this bike, I would probably wait if it came with Intuvia or getting the Bulls Urban Evo. The bike will be used almost exclusively for commuting to and from work and for running errands the city. It will be a car replacement for me.
Do you have a strong opinion on one or the other? The specs are nicer on this one but I’m not sure if it’s worth the wait and I was able to test ride the Urban Evo over the weekend and it felt great. The price difference is negligible for new but I might be able to get a demo Urban Evo with just over 10 miles for around $1,000 off. Just curious as to your opinion on these 2 bikes. Thanks for all the work you do in putting these reviews together!
Brian K
5 years agoHey Court – For some reason your latest reply isn’t showing up in the comments section here but I received it in my email so I wanted to respond to your feedback.
I will be using the bike as a car replacement. In terms of hauling cargo, it will mostly just be used for groceries, I don’t foresee hauling anything else on it besides groceries. I have been assuming the rack on the Urban Evo would suffice for that even though it’s a slightly different style. In terms of the seat post, I think I would eventually replace the seatpost with a bodyfloat even though the twenty8 comes with one so to me that’s not a deciding factor. I might change my mind once I have it but that is my initial thought.
The demo Urban Evo is a PowerTube, having a bike that is sleek and looks as much like a regular bike is key to me, I want it to draw as little attention to it as possible and definitely don’t want it to have an external battery that is sticking out.
One of the main reasons I was going to be willing to wait on this bike is because I thought it was going to come with Intuvia. From what I’m seeing and hearing from my LBS now though is that it’s coming with Purion rather than Intuvia. I still haven’t heard back from Bulls on this but this is an interesting development to me as it still isn’t scheduled to ship until next week and I will have to order it online as none my local LBS’s plan to stock it unless I pay for it first so I won’t be able to test ride it.
At this point, I’m leaning towards either a new Bulls Urban Evo, the demo Urban Evo or the BH Nitro City which was a ton of fun but I discounted it because there isn’t a dealer near me. However, the more I read on hub drives vs mid-drives, it looks like this might make more sense. In other words, I’m still not sure what direction I’m going to go in. If you have any thoughts/feedback on this, happy to hear it!
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Brian, I’ll check on the comment issue you’ve mentioned. The site has been undergoing some major updates recently due to server migration. We’re on high alert and I’m pushing forward hard with new reviews because we’re in the busy part of the season. It sounds like you’re on the right track, considering different products. Given the established nature of the brands you’re considering, I feel that you’ll be happy with whichever bike you choose, but this exploring analyzing phase is actually one of the most fun parts (in my opinion) so enjoy it, test out different bikes, read through and post on the forums here, and let us know what you do eventually go with :D
ReplyBrian K
5 years agoI ended up going with a Bulls Urban Evo, I didn’t want to wait for the Bulls Twenty8 to get in and the Urban Evo made more sense for me anyway.
I also confirmed with Bulls that it will come with Intuvia, not Purion. There seemed to be some discrepancy between dealers and Bulls what this would be shipping with. Thanks for all your reviews, they have been very helpful!
ReplyRD
5 years agoIs this available in Canada? I live in BC is there a dealership near Vancouver
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi RD! I asked the leadership team at BULLS and they told me that Cit-E-Cycles carries BULLS and that you should be able to get the 2019/2020 models at any of their shops… and they have several. I happen to know the owner of the chain, his name is Mark! and he’s a nice guy. I hope this helps, here’s their official website :)
ReplyBobby s
5 years agoHi Court. First, thanks for all the amazing work you do. Now for my question about the Bulls Twenty8 E45. I weigh about 275lbs. Will this bike be able to support me?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Bobby! I’ll give you an unofficial answer, this is not meant as official advice and I don’t want to be liable if you make a choice that leads to injury, okay! Now that we’re past this legal disclaimer ;) my own experience is that ebike companies will rate their products from 250lbs to 300lbs. I have not heard of a bicycle braking due to extra weight so much as spokes getting loose or breaking… which you will notice because the wheel will start going out of true. Some heavier riders have used Loctite Blue glue in extreme cases to keep their spoke nipples from unscrewing. Most bicycle shops should be able to help tune spokes and wheels, electric or non-electric. Another consideration is to keep your tire pressure high enough that the inner tube isn’t squished down and punctured by the rim. Good luck! Also, here’s a list of ebikes that I thought worked well for larger riders that you could explore a bit in addition to the awesome BULLS TWENTY8!
ReplyAl
4 years agoWe live at the top of a hill and would like a bike that can easily climb the hill. I am confused between the specs regarding motor power vs. torque. Is it better to have a Class 1 (250W motor) with 90 Newton meter of torque vs. a Class 3 (350W motor) and 50 Newton meters of torque?
ReplyCourt
4 years agoGreat question Al, these stats are confusing sometimes… and not always consistently presented by manufacturers. I do my best to explain and pass info along, but yeah… it’s a bit tricky to really understand and compare apples to apples. What’s the other ebike you’re looking at? It’s really tricky to pick in this case, because we’re dealing with a speed rating of 20mph vs. 28mph. I would probably choose based on that factor, not torque rating. Top speed is clearly measurable whereas torque might be measured at the wheel, the motor, the crank arm etc. and as long as both are mid-drives, you can get lots of power for climbing by simply shifting down to a low gear. I actually look at maximum pedal rate RPM when deciding… like, do both motors give you 120+ rpm or is one cutting out at lower speeds. This would be the case for Bosch Active Line and Active Line Plus compared to Performance Line. Brose motors offer 120+ too, so they should be good. I would probably assume that the Class 3 is very similar in torque and wattage… even if the stats don’t say that, and then decide if I want the faster motor or not.
Reply