Easy Motion Evo 27.5 Jumper Review

The EVO 27.5 Jumper is one of my favorite electric bike models from Easy Motion because it’s zippy, nimble and comfortable off-road or around town. I used to own the NEO Jumper (from 2013/2014) and am very impressed with the upgrades that were made for the newer model. It’s modest 350 watt hub motor can actually produce 548 watts of peak output for those steep sections of trail but isn’t as heavy as a larger offering and manages to blend in with the cassette and disc brake rotor given its smaller size. It still feels very zippy, operates without producing much noise and has been redesigned to improve serviceability and durability. The Evo 27.5″ Jumper is available in two frame sizes to cater to a wider range of owners (Medium 18″ or Large 20″) and it’s easier to mount thanks to an angled top tube design. The white and red color combo looks great and permeates the brake levers, grip lockers and suspension fork… even the battery casing is matched and that really helps it to blend in and look like a “normal” bicycle. One question mark in my mind is the increased price (~$1,300 more than the hardtail EVO 27.5) likely resulting from the more complex frame and suntour RS12 Epicon rear suspension… otherwise, most of the components are the same. Even though I’d prefer this model myself, I think the hardtail is more useful for commuting because you can easily add a carry rack with the seat stay bosses. The other complaint with all of the off-road EVO models is the sensitive TMM4 torque sensor that can activate on bumpy terrain and delayed motor cutoff.

The motor driving the Evo 27.5″ Jumper is beautifully integrated and has been painted black to blend in with the cabling, spokes, wheelset and other components of the bike. It basically disappears behind the 10 Speed Shimano XT Cassette and 160 mm disc brake rotor at the rear. As mentioned previously, it offers a fairly average 350 watts of power output but actually feels as though it were a 500 watt design. I attribute the zippy feel in part to the quality motor from Dapu, larger battery capacity and responsive torque sensor. Even compared to other 350 watt geared motors on similar bikes, this one just feels more powerful. As shown in the video review above, the motor is fairly quiet during operation but being geared does produce more of a whir than some gearless ones I’ve tried. Overall, it’s relatively light weight and for an active bike like this with so many gears, should deliver a real sense of speed and power (more than doubling rider output up to ~20 mph). One interesting change for 2015 with this motor is that the cable connecting it with the controller is now positioned on the left side of the frame and closer in towards the hub. This has two benefits: it reduces clutter on the drivetrain side of the bike where the cassette and derailleur are mounted and it also keeps the power cable out of harms way if the bike tips over. Some of the older Easy Motion Neo motor cables could break or become loose due to impact with their more exposed position… so this is a welcome change that dealers will certainly appreciate.

The battery pack on the Evo 27.5 Jumper e-bike is quite impressive as well because it builds on the older Neo designs and addresses one big complaint that customers had… Many people wanted to charge the pack on the bike but were forced to take it off every single time because there was no charging outlet built into the frame. This made dropping and scratching the battery more likely but that was somewhat overlooked because the design was beautiful and performed well. with the Evo series it still looks great and keeps weight low and centered on the frame but now you don’t have to take it off if you store the bike inside, you can simply “plug the bike in”. There’s a socket just in front of the cranks on the left side of the bike for this purpose and it includes a plastic protective cap (great for dusty or wet rides). The ability to charge on-frame is great but be careful moving the bike in this state because the crank arms could easily contact the rigid charging dongle and break it off… One minor gripe here is that there are two different charging port types on the bike (one for the battery and one for the bike) which means you get an extra charging cable dongle thing that could easily get misplaced. The Lithium-ion cells in this pack are high quality, made by Samsung, and offer 30% more capacity than the NEO line with 11.6 amp hours total. They don’t add much weight and are covered by a solid one year warranty, even if you had to buy a replacement I feel like it would be easier to find due to the same design being used across the EvO line. I appreciate the addition of a small LED panel located on the underside of the pack because this lets you know the charge capacity when storing inside (which I recommend to extend the number of cycles you get). Extreme heat and can can damage Lithium packs, also it’s best to store the battery charged between 20% and 80% to keep it stable (check in every couple of months for a top-off if it’s dropping). Overall, this 36 volt pack is solid in my opinion. It keeps weight low and centered on the bicycle frame for improved balance and handling which is important for trail riding and it blends in beautifully with some nice sporty decals.

Connecting the rider with the battery and motor is a beautiful, low profile backlit LCD display panel. It’s a similar size and design to what Easy Motion used for the Neo line but the digital readouts have been adjusted. Your speed is much easier to read now. This console is easy to reach, fairly intuitive to use and removable! To get things going, just charge and connect the battery then hold the middle button on the display for a few seconds. Once it’s on, you can press the up or down buttons to explore throttle mode or four levels of assist. You get more power with the higher assist levels but you also burn through the battery more quickly. The one complaint I have about the control system here is that you can’t use the throttle to override pedal assist and this would be nice for adding power when riding in the lowest level to simply overcome a short hill climb or pass another rider. As it stands, you either have to arrow up to a higher assist level or arrow down to throttle mode briefly and then back up to a low after making your move. In any case, the twist throttle is located on the right bar and works well but wouldn’t be my first choice for a trail ebike like this. I’d prefer a trigger throttle so the handle bar surface could be as consistent and solid feeling as possible. The LCD display lists your speed, battery capacity, time, max speed and distance traveled. You can adjust settings inside by holding the up and down arrows simultaneously and I recommend doing this when you get the bike because the defaults are not always set correctly. Make sure the wheels size is 27.5 and the amp hours are 11.6 and not 9. You can use the up down buttons to change settings in these menus and the center button to navigate to the next area. Once you’re finished just hold the center button for a few seconds to exit. Overall, the cockpit on the Evo 27.5″ Jumper is clean and I like the trigger shifters on the left and right bar vs. twist shifters or oversized buttons but the handle bar feels a bit narrow and the right triggers get awfully close to the twist throttle. Usually for mountain and trail bikes I see longer bars which provide finer handling and leverage for larger, heavier wheels.

The Easy Motion EVO 27.5 Jumper is an amazing electric bike, in fact the entire line of Evo models is fantastic for 2015 but they have some stiff competition in the mid-drive space now. This full suspension model would be a great choice if you can spare the extra money and plan to go off-road frequently. I used to use my NEO Jumper for commuting to work and appreciated the smoother ride going over potholes, curbs and short sections of packed dirt. The knobby tires offer a bit of cushion and vibration dampening even if you lockout the suspension and the 650B size is a favorite of mine because it’s smooth and stable but not so large that you clip your toes or slide out on tight turns. For even more comfort on this bike, consider a seat post shock like a Thudbuster or Suntour NXC and get the 31.6 mm diameter so it will fit properly. A hub motor driven ebike like this isn’t going to climb as effectively as a high end mid-drive but will still perform well on moderate terrain in pedal assist mode. I know of very few electric bikes that offer 30 speeds and even fewer that are full suspension so this truly is a unique setup. BH (the parent company of Easy Motion) has been producing traditional bicycles since 1908 and that shows in the way this thing looks and how it performs when pedaling. Some people could complain that the hub motor makes the bike rear heavy or adds unsprung (and that’s true) but at least the motor is a bit smaller and lighter than it could be while still feeling very satisfying. Hub motors offer a different feel than mid drives, they perform more like scooters in throttle mode and sometimes that’s fun.

Pros:

• With the EVO line of electric bikes from Easy Motion you can charge the battery pack while it is still mounted to the bike frame, no need to take it off every single time (very handy if you store your bike inside or near a power outlet)
• Offers both throttle mode and pedal assist with four levels to emphasize range or speed, zippy powerful feel from the efficient 350 watt geared motor (548 watt peak output)
• Purpose-built frame with beautifully integrated downtube mounted battery pack, this keeps weight low and center for improved balance and handling
• The display panel, battery pack, suspension fork and hub motor are all painted to match the bike and blend in to make it look more like a normal bicycle, the drive systems are relatively stealth and don’t stand out as much as other ebikes
• The LCD display is removable, easy to reach and activate from the left grip, backlit for use in low lighting conditions (just hold the down arrow for two seconds), enter into diagnostic mode to change wheel size and battery size by holding up and down simultaneously (the sizes aren’t always defaulted correctly with some of the bikes I’ve tested)
• Tektro Auriga E-Comp levers have motor cutoff switches built in and are easy to activate with just a finger or two, the large 180 mm front rotor and standard 160 mm rear rotor offer great stopping power for trail and mountain terrain
• Unique 27.5″ (650B) wheelset strikes a balance between the nimble handling of a 26″ and smooth rolling momentum of a 29er
• Light weight air fork includes remote lockout and rebound adjust, the rear suspension includes three levels of softness for climbing, packed trail riding or bombing down hills
• With 30 gear combinations to choose from, this bike is easy to pedal at low speed when climbing or at higher speeds when traveling long distances, it easily reaches 20+ mph in pedal assist mode… I’ve taken it up to ~23 mph, quality Shimano derailleurs and sprockets that should last and hold up on the trail
• New tool-free quick release system on the rear wheel makes changing flats and doing service much easier, the motor power cable also has a quick disconnect built in, be careful when adjusting the tightness of the rear wheel because it can change the sensitivity of the torque sensor
• The motor power cable location has been updated, now entering the hub on the left side of the bike vs. the right side where the derailleur and cassette are, this helps to reduce complexity, clutter and damage if the bike tips
• TMM4 torque sensor activates the motor smoothly and the control system reduces surge when pedaling but the motor does run a bit longer when you stop pedaling and the system can be delicate to adjust
• The battery uses high end 18650 Lithium Manganese cells from Samsung that are light weight and long lasting, excellent energy density here (lower weight, more power)
• Quality grips from Velo (that match the paint scheme here) with locking rings to keep them from twisting as you bear down on rough terrain

Cons:

• No bottle cage mounting points on the downtube or seat tube which means you’ll need to add one to the seat post or saddle rails, wear a CamelBak
• Throttle cannot be used at all when riding in pedal assist mode, you have to arrow down to “No Assist” and then activate using the half grip twist
• For off-road use I would prefer a trigger throttle so that the right grip is not partially compromised by a twist throttle
• The controller on this bike lets the motor run a second or two long after you’ve stopped pedaling, this reduces “surge” (the jerky feeling of power going up and down with each pedal stroke) but makes the bike feel unresponsive at times, thankfully the motor inhibitors in the brake levers are instant
• No kickstand to help support this bike when stored, easier to tip over accidentally (you can lean it against a wall using the rear tire for decent balance), difficult to find aftermarket kickstands that will fit
• For a mountain style ebike the bars feel too narrow (short from one end to the other), they work fine for around town riding but aren’t as precise as I’d like given the large wheel size
• The EVO 27.5 Jumper is significantly more expensive than the hardtail EVO 27.5 and I’m not sure the rear suspension is worth ~$1,300 while most of the rest of the bike remains unchanged
• The charger has two different end connector types to fit with either the battery or the frame socket, this means you have an extra piece of wire to keep track of in order to fit both designs and it could get lost more easily… it’s also just less convenient to pop this thing on or take it off depending on how you want to charge the bike
• Increased unsprung weight in the rear wheel since this ebike uses a hub motor, the rear swing arm has to support more weight and will operate slower and less efficiently than a full suspension bike using a mid-drive design

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/ebikes/EV665
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/tnWNRbKhrS1cnr2F9