2020 DOST KOPE Review

This review was provided for free using a demo bike and accessories. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of DŌST products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the DŌST electric bike forums.

Observations:

• This is one of the only electric bikes I’m aware of that features a mid-drive motor with shift detection and a throttle, dual battery options for long range riding, and Class 3 speed pedelec performance! The drive system is highly configurable, so you can adjust the top speed or remove the throttle to qualify as Class 1 to use on mountain bike trails
• DŌST means friend in several European languages. It’s a relatively new brand, but the founding members have over a decade of experience working in the downhill mountain bike space and the traditional electric bicycle space (making fat bikes, a trail bikes, and two city models)
• Given the very high 750 watt motor rating, with 120 newton meters of peak torque output, this ebike would be a great choice for heavier riders. The bike can handle up to 300lbs of weight including the rear rack, which can handle 100lbs. Most ebikes I see are rated up to 275lbs with racks that can handle ~55lbs of weight
• The DROP and KOPE models use the same motor, battery, and drivetrain components… but they are slightly different sizes with the step-thru DROP being 17.5″ and the high-step KOPE being 19″ for taller riders or those who want extra frame stiffness. Both have high-quality adjustable angle stems to further refine fit

Pros:

• The bike is feature complete, and the hardware they chose is in the mid to high-end vs. basic “check the box” level of quality. You can see this in the wide plastic fenders that use hidden bolts and support struts, the plastic wire wraps and large rubberized gussets where they feed into the frame, the sturdy ergotec adjustable stem (less likely to come loose than cheaper options), the tool-free adjustable length kickstand, and the brighter lights that use two LEDs vs. just one
• Both lights are integrated, meaning that they run off of the main battery pack or packs (if you buy the optional second one to extend range). They’re made by Spanninga and both have two LED to be brighter, the headlight offers 80 LUX and the rear has light pipes to create a wider bright surface
• The wires from the lights, motor inhibitors, power, shifters, and brakes are all bound together and routed internally through the bike frame. This looks nice and reduces the potential for snags. Where wires are exposed, DŌST uses plastic mesh to surround and protect
• I found the plastic battery shield, rubber charge port cover, and rubber dual-battery plug cover to be durable and easy to use compared to some of the tiny flimsy covers on other ebikes. The rubber covers also have leashes connecting them to the port area to keep the caps from getting lost
• The high-step frame is larger than the step-thru DŌST DROP model, but it’s not much heavier! This frame is stiffer because of the top tube, and might hang on some bike racks easier. I appreciate that they designed the rear cargo rack on the bike far enough back to allow the saddle to get low without colliding with the optional trunk bag or panniers… so you still get a decent minimum saddle height of 34″
• While the KOPE only comes in one frame size, the adjustable saddle height and longer adjustable angle stem provide great fit options. The stem is designed to be more durable than competing products, so it won’t rattle loose as easily. It’s rated for high speed applications, which is perfect for this Class 3 ebike
• More electric bikes are coming out that allow users to adjust the top speed and remove the throttle. That’s the case here, and it means you can setup the bike to be Class 1, 2, or 3, which makes it versatile. Slower 20mph Class 1 will be allowed on more mountain bike style trails. Class 2 with the throttle up to 20mph is great for people who need help starting or want to take a break from pedaling, and Class 3 is perfect for commuting or just having fun with pedal assist up to 28mph
• Safety is a big focus for me when cycling, especially at higher speeds or if the frame is dark colored, so it’s cool that DŌST has opted for reflective tires and integrated lights. I consider the puncture protected tire upgrade to also be a safety win, and Schwalbe is known for making high quality tires in general
• The KOPE provides great comfort with higher volume 25.7″ x 2.4″ tires and a 100mm trael suspension fork. I like that the fork can be adjusted with compression, lockout, and preload… but it’s not as lightweight, tough, or adjustable as an air fork with a thru-axle. The 1-1/8″ headset isn’t as upgradable as a tapered one would be, so in that sense, this ebike is decidedly hybrid/city vs. trail/mountain
• It’s a small thing, but notice the color-matched decal on the suspension fork! DŌST really went over this bike with a fine-toothed comb, and their past design/industry experience shows in details like this. Also, notice how the front fender mounts directly to the suspension fork lowers vs. using plastic cuffs that can slide around and crack over time
• I really like the drivetrain setup here because it keeps the chain protected and your pants or dress ends clean. DŌST us using a powder coated aluminum alloy chainring guard and minimalist allow chain cover that look great and work well together, almost acting as a chain guide. The 9-speed 11-36 tooth freewheel is good for a range of speeds, and the Shimano Altus derailleur is a couple of steps up from base level.
• In order to protect the drivetrain from wear, given the powerful mid-drive motor, DŌST is using a physical shift detection sensor. I tested it with the throttle and pedal assist, and it would not allow me to mash the gears. This is awesome, because it will significantly extend the life of the drivetrain and reduce broken chains
• I really like that the variable speed trigger throttle overrides pedal assist levels 1-5. It allows you to zip up to speed or add support for climbing hills without pressing extra buttons, but it only assists up to 20mph… so you’ll need to pedal and click up to higher levels of assist to reach the maximum 28mph top speed
• There really aren’t that many dual-battery ebikes on the market, and many require you to choose the second pack at time of purchase and buy extra mounting hardware. DŌST keeps things simple by always including the mounting points (which double as bottle cage mounts) and adding the plug port to every frame. I think this is cool, and really honors the customer
• If you purchase a second battery, you can choose to drain it and the main pack simultaneously or start with the main pack and then switch the second pack on. There’s a little on/off toggle switch on the range extender pack that lets you decide. In fact, I think you can completely remove the integrated battery and run solely off of the optional external pack if you wish! However, the downtube cover appears to be attached to the integrated battery, so you’d have a big opening below the downtube vs. an empty covered space. Maybe there’s a way to remove the black cover from the battery pack… but it doesn’t seem very convenient or intentionally built with this sort of riding in mind
• I really appreciate that both batteries are removable, so you can charge and store them off the bike. To maximize life, lithium-ion battery packs should be kept cool, dry, and at least half full. Avoid going below 20% and avoid extreme heat because it degrades the cells. Extreme cold may stunt your range temporarily, but isn’t as hard on the cells as heat
• The saddle is comfortable, has a handle, and is co-branded to match the bike. I like the ergonomic grips and appreciate the removable end cap so you can use a side mirror (which DŌST sells as an option). The bright color LCD display is intuitive and offers adjustable-angle to reduce glare
• The display panel has a full sized USB A charging port on the bottom, so you can maintain a smartphone for GPS, music, or phone calls on the go. It’s conveniently located up high on the bike… Along these lines, I appreciate that the main battery charging port is up high on the right side of the frame vs. low or on the left
• Some ebike displays use five or ten blocks to communicate battery charge level, but the Bafang DCP-18 that DŌST chose actually shows a percentage readout… and there’s a dynamic range estimator tool! Just press the i button to cycle to “range” and then use + or – to select any assist level to see range update in realtime
• This electric bicycle has a higher than average weight rating at 300lbs, and the rear rack is rated for up to 100lbs! That’s great for people who want to mount a child seat, and maybe add panniers on both sides too. I feel like this ebike is a capable SUV type of setup that can handle more varied terrain and heavy-duty applications than most other city/hybrid models… especially with the powerful mid-drive. If you decided to swap the tires for knobby off-road use, the bike would probably do fairly well
• The internal battery pack is higher capacity and heavier than the internal. It weighs 8.2lbs while the external is 5.7lbs. By keeping the heavier battery lower, they made the bike slightly easier to handle and lift. Most of the weight on this ebike is centered and low, which is what you want, and I appreciate that the optional second battery tilts out from the side vs. up and down because this allows the frame top tube to be lower, making the bike more approachable
• I personally think that $3,199 with a two year warranty and free shipping is a reasonable price for such a feature-rich ebike, and I love that the additional battery is only $699 while some competing products are in the $1k range for additional batteries plus mounting hardware that is often required at time of initial purchase
• It’s a small detail, but both wheels use quick release skewers, making it much easier to change flats or pack this bike up into a smaller space. This is possible, in part, because of the mid-drive motor choice vs. a hub motor

Cons:

• The KOPE is slightly heavier than the step-thru DROP model at 65.2lbs vs. 64.9lbs. While these weight ratings might sound like a lot compared to a non-electric bike. The addition of fenders, integrated rack, lights, adjustable stem, motor cover, and heavy-duty frame all add up, and are worth the weight trade-off in my opinion… especially if you were going to add these features aftermarket anyway
• I noticed that the Shimano Altus derailleur that DŌST selected for the KOPE is slightly upgraded from the ones I see on some other ebikes. The exterior looks great and I suspect it’s the high-end Altus option… though it doesn’t have a clutch lever and the shifters only offer one-way action on the high trigger vs. two-way
• The Bafang BBS02 is known for being reliable, fairly quiet, and very powerful, but it only utilizes pedal cadence signals vs. cadence and torque. This means that motor power output isn’t as fluid or dynamic, based on how hard you push on the pedals. You get more power by either clicking + on the button pad or pressing the throttle. Still, the cadence sensor uses 24 magnets vs. 12 and felt very responsive during my ride tests
• If you hold + on the button panel, you’ll notice that the coloring changes from green to red and the label goes from eco to sport mode. This doesn’t actually do anything different to the motor operation… and is only meant for torque-sensing ebikes. For those who want to change colors, it’s a neat trick, but it could confuse others and is a reminder of the more basic controller design here
• It seems that most ebike displays are not removable, and that’s the case here as well. As a result, you may get some fading or scratches if left outside and at public racks. I sometimes put my helmet over the display to keep it clean and dry, but DŌST said that all of their electronics are IP65 rated meaning “dust tight, protects against water jets from any angle, but do not submerge”
• As nice as the internal cable routing is, you’ll notice the large bundle of cables up front (due in part to the addition motor inhibitors on both brake levers), and near the bottom bracket. Normally, the BBS02 motor is external to a bikes bottom bracket… you can actually buy this Bafang/8FUN motor as a kit, so the wires point forward vs. up. DŌST custom engineered their frame to house the BBS02 to make it look good and add protection, but the wires do still protrude a bit here, which I think looks a bit ugly and could be slightly more vulnerable
• If you opt for a second battery pack, note that it and the main pack have to be charged independently (or you can buy an extra charger). There’s no system for charging simultaneously, and the basic 2 amp charger is fairly slow compared to some newer 3 amp and 4 amp chargers I’ve seen. They probably chose it based on how small, lightweight, and affordable it was
• If you opt for the second battery pack, it will crowd the downtube area and take up the space for mounting a water bottle cage or other accessory. The second battery interface mates to the frame with three bolts for extra strength
• While the motor offers lots of power and torque, it is heavier than many other mid-drives from Bosch, Brose, Shimano, Yamaha, and even Bafang/8FUN. It weighs roughly 9.47lbs not including the outer covers that DŌST designed. That, compared to 7 to 8lbs for other mid-drives of this generation
• A couple of minor considerations here: the throttle is on the left and some people might prefer it to be on the right… but then it would be pushed further in, towards the display, because of the trigger shifters on the right. The throttle does not work in assist level zero, you must be in 1-5, and this means that any pedal movement will activate pedal assist as well as the throttle… especially since this ebike uses a cadence sensor
• Although the headlight is bright, it doesn’t have side cutouts to keep you visible from more angles. The rear light would be visible from the sides, but the frame tubing around it blocks much of this potential… but at least the tubing protects the light from getting bumped and broken during parking and transport
• The KOPE and DROP each only come in one frame size. The KOPE is larger at 19″ and the step-thru DROP is 17.5″ which would suit shorter riders or those who can’t lift their legs as high due to knee or hip issues
• I would have liked to see a derailleur guard here, it would protect the shifter cables, shift detection splitter, and the derailleur from tips and snags. There’s just more going on with the drivetrain on this ebike, and since it’s rugged enough to go off-road and gets shipped to customers in many situations since they sell direct as well as dealers, that could have been a good little extra
• Please use caution when powering this electric bike on, because it starts in assist level 1 and the throttle is active with full power (up to 750 watts, 120nm). If you bumped it while mounting, dismounting, doing repair work, or loading/unloading the bike, you could get scraped or pinched fingers or the bike could tip. This is a more advanced setup and I recommend keeping it off at all times, unless you’re mounted and ready to ride