E-Lux Tahoe Review

The E-Lux Tahoe is a really cool electric bike in my opinion, it’s unique in that it blends the cruiser and fat tire frame styles to create a comfortable, powerful and “go anywhere” platform. With its powerful 500 watt internally geared hub motor (that peaks out around 750 watts and offers ~40 Nm of torque) and its 48 volt 13 or 16 amp hour batteries (for increased range) this ebike is a beast… but it still looks beautiful. The oversized color matched fenders keep you dry and enhance the visual footprint of the bike along with the chain guard. You get a whopping nine frame color choices with a couple of rim color options on the high-step and some different saddle and grip colors on the step-thru.

Many of the little things I grip about on more affordable electric bicycles have been addressed with the Tahoe including bottle cage and rack bosses, throttle override of assist, throttle-only operation and frame stiffness. Both versions of this bike keep battery weight low and centered on the frame but use a classic design called the “Silverfish” that while removable, does not let you take the key out during operation. It’s a minor complaint because the key stays mostly clear of the pedal path and legs and again, it keeps the price reasonable at $2,250. I love that the step-thru frame is reinforced with an extra tube between the top tube and downtube and that both models have mini torque arms on the front fork. The front wheel does not offer quick release like the Newport model but again, the battery pack is removable for reduced weight along with a quick release seat post… and I love the seat post suspension shock that comes standard with the Tahoe. This, combined with the oversized 26″ x 4″ fat tires and the padded saddle, swept back handlebar and ergonomic grips really take the edge off going over bumps or grass as shown in the video review above.

Another area I think E-Lux did well on with this e-bike is the tires. Most electric fat bikes I try are setup like mountain bikes with a more aggressive body geometry and flatter bars. To go along with this style they offer full knobby tires while E-Lux opted for a hybrid of knobby plus a solid stripe down the middle. This reduces noise while riding and improves efficiency. It’s perfect for cruising… but still capable ;) The brakes are solid with 180 mm mechanical disc but you can also upgrade the front to hydraulic for smoother more powerful braking action. The enlarged thumb shifter up front is easy to understand because it has a little window with numbers and can be used while wearing gloves if it’s cold out. Imagine riding through the slush or snow with those fat tires and staying dry because of the fenders… all while shifting with gloves on :D

My final thoughts here are that the display panel, pedal assist and throttle all work together nicely. There is a trade-off in terms of style with the trigger throttle that might not be as comfortable over long distance rides but it’s actually my preference for bumpy terrain because your grip doesn’t become sloppy and impact throttle use. The grips used here are solid with lockers to keep them from spinning and the trigger throttle is easy to reach. So too is the display panel on the left which has a neat integrated USB charging port that could come in handy if you get a rear light… The Tahoe has a nice integrated headlight that operates with the red “Wuxing” branded button near the left grip but you’ll have to get something separate for the back. You could also use the USB port for speakers, your phone or GPS and the display panel is great in that it offers more power adjustment than most others I’ve tested.

Pros:

• Unique cruiser style frame with upright geometry and relaxed bars, most of the time these fat-tire ebikes are setup for trail riding and have an aggressive geometry with mid-rise bars
• The tire tread is a cool hybrid of bumps for traction along the sides and a solid strip down the middle for quieter, smoother riding on paved surfaces
• Very comfortable, even if you don’t opt for the optional suspension fork (which is a $200 upgrade and only available for the high-step model) the seat post suspension and larger tires soak up the bumps nicely
• I love that they included bottle cage bosses on both models! An actual bottle cage might stick out on the top tube of the step-thru frame but a folding lock or mini-pump would work well
• While I didn’t test this bike in sand or snow I’m sure it would perform well given the high power motor and lower weight distribution, it did great crossing grass
• I love the built-in headlight, it looks nice and improves safety when riding at dawn or dusk, I’d love a back light as well but appreciate the USB charging port on the display which would work nicely with a portable USB light like this
• The USB charging port on the display panel could also be useful for portable speakers, charging your phone or operating a GPS unit and there’s plenty of room on the bars to mount this kind of stuff
• Lots of accessories including matching fenders, chain guard, a quality rear rack with pannier guards (standard sized tubing for clip on panniers) and integrated headlight
• E-Lux is a relatively new company but the team members have been working on or using ebikes for over a decade (since 2006) and they offer a solid year long warranty with pro-rated battery replacement for the first three years
• Lots of fun color choices and the fenders and chain guard are painted to match the frame, I also appreciate the black hub motor, black spokes and matching rims
• Available in high-step and step-thru frame styles for easier handling and mounting or stiffer frame and easier transport
• Slightly larger 180 mm disc brake rotor help you stop easier given the mechanical wire operation, you can upgrade the front brake to hydraulic for increased power and easier activation
• Very powerful 500 watt geared hub motor from Bafang paired with a 48 volt 13 or 16 amp hour battery pack using Samsung cells, great choices all around and I appreciate the higher capacity option
• The bike offers throttle-only operation as well as five levels of assist and the throttle overrides at any time, you also get three power output modes (Eco for slower, steadier acceleration up to Power for zippy fast operation)
• E-Lux will ship their bikes anywhere in the continental USA for $150 which isn’t bad at all for something so large and heavy, they will also ship internationally for $300

Cons:

• The fenders are beautiful and provide great coverage for riding in wet conditions but they can also bang around a bit when riding off-road (as demonstrated in the video review above)
• No quick release on either wheel… this is acceptable given the heavier build just plan on bringing tools if you need to transport it because it’s so large and heavy at ~77 pounds
• The key has to be left in the battery pack while riding and if you’ve got other keys attached on a keychain they might dangle and chip the frame or snag your pants (my legs stayed pretty clear, most ebikes with this type of battery require that the key be left in)
• Limited dealer network at the time of this review (mostly West Coast shops) but apparently E-Lux will ship worldwide so that’s cool
• The drivetrain is a bit more basic, Shimano Tourney TX are entry level components but you get 7 speeds which is great for relaxed riding around town or at the beach
• The cadence sensor used on this model has six magnets vs. 10 or 12 on some other models I’ve tried but in practice it was pretty responsive (starts and stops quickly) and the power adjustment can help smooth it out if you feel like it starts too hard at higher levels of assist, go to Eco or Standard by holding Set and entering the display menu

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.eluxbikes.com/
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/FFYkE7LAsv53UJWB7