Easy Motion Evo Jumper Pro Review

The Jumper series of electric bikes from Emotion has long been a favorite for me… I have sensitive knees, scar tissue in my back and a constantly-aching and cracking neck due to multiple car accidents, skiing and surfing injuries over the years. I love full suspension and often get a shorter stem and riser bar just for comfort. Yes, I trail ride some but and have gone off-road but mainly use electric bikes as a car replacement. I love that this one can handle pretty much any terrain and keep my body feeling good. I owned one of the first Neo Jumper models in 2013/2014 and used it as a commuter to get to and from work in Austin Texas. Here it is in one of my first videos ever, showing this process and commenting on ebikes in general.

And so, even though none of the Jumper models have rack bosses, lights, fenders or other utilitarian features, they offer a zippy motor and stealthy design with color-matched integrated battery and compact motor that’s hard to resist. That is, until the price jumped up $400 and they removed the throttle to fit into Class 1 (assist only up to 20 mph). This removed one of my favorite features for the Jumper models and positioned it more as a capable cross country and enduro electric bike… which it struggles to meet. The issue isn’t that it can’t handle more rigorous terrain, just that there are better options now including mid-drive models that cost less, offer better balance, are more responsive and more efficient. I’m talking about the Haibike SDURO ALLMTN amongst others. The torque sensor on the Easy Motion Evo Jumper Pro works pretty well at start but doesn’t cut out quickly enough and while it does cut faster with the brake lever motor inhibitors you still end up with added unsprung weight and less power for climbing with a hub motor. They just aren’t optimal for full suspension bikes… especially at this price range. I still like the bike, have a blast riding it and appreciate the upgraded Shimano drivetrain with 20 gear combinations, the hydraulic disc brakes and the quality Velo locking grips, just not enough to pay so much.

Updates for 2016 on the Evo series is a stronger 500 watt motor by Dapu vs. the older 350 watt design and a 48 volt pack vs. 36 volt. This translates to more zip and slightly longer range (unless you’re operating in the highest assist levels). The battery can now be charged on the frame instead of taking it off… one of my biggest complaints with the Neo Jumper of years past. I disliked having to remove the pack because it could get scratched or dropped and I store my expensive bikes indoors anyway, and plugs are right there! Now you can charge the entire bike indoors but they still haven’t quite nailed it. You need a special dongle adapter to charge through the bike frame vs. the pack alone and that dongle can get lost or worse, sheered off if you back the bike up because the crank arms pass the charging port where the cable protrudes.

Some real highlights here include how well the motor power cable is tucked away along the left chain stay. It’s way less vulnerable if the bike tips or you snag branches on a tight section of trail. The display is the same as always, sleek, removable and backlit (just hold the down button for a few seconds to activate). I like how easy it is to reach but also how out of the way it feels, the cockpit isn’t crowded on this bike and now you can get a Bluetooth module and use your phone for even more power options and GPS. The downside is that there’s no charging port on the bike for your phone and the Bluetooth module (that costs extra) completely replaces the existing LCD and does not have its own readouts, it’s just an ugly plastic chunk. What a bummer… There’s also a new GPS theft tracking chip that can be mounted below the battery pack in the frame downtube (the battery locks securely and rattles less on the latest EVO models) and there’s a neoprene sleeve that covers the battery for cold-weather use as well! It’s like a mini wetsuit for the bike but note that it only works if the battery starts off warm when you put the cover on.

This was a difficult review to conduct, in part because the demo bike wouldn’t function properly. I have fond memories of my first Easy Motion full suspension Jumper model and this bike offers more power and range then it ever did… but it’s not as exciting given the new entrants into the field and the price hike stings a little. Some things have been improved and I appreciate them but hub motors aren’t perfectly suited to electric mountain biking, especially with full suspension, and the torque sensor isn’t up to the challenge of precision riding that I expect when terrain really gets sketchy.

Pros:

• The motor and battery both offer more power than past iterations of the Jumper and that’s great for off-road riding, it also helps offset the wider knobby tires and lost energy through suspension bobbing
• The motor is zippy and works well no matter what gear you’re in, there’s no cogging drag, it doesn’t strain the chain and sprockets and runs quieter than many geared mid-drive motors, when combined with the TMM4 torque sensor it feels very fluid and matches your pedal force which is great for off-road riding, it feels like you doing the work
• With 120 mm travel on both shocks and upgraded air suspension designed to reduce weight, the bike feels plush and is capable for cross country style riding and maybe a splash of enduro
• Weighing in at just 53 lbs this is an impressively light weight full suspension electric bicycle given the period we’re talking about circa 2016
• Solid Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes with a larger 180 mm rotor up front… provides good stopping power and the ebike-specific levers cut power to the drive system for full control
• The motor cable is really well protected on the left side of the bike, run between the disc brake rotor and the frame stay and quick release lever, this is important on the Evo Jumper especially since it doesn’t have a kickstand and is an off-road bike that could tip or get crashed, if the motor wire gets bent or cut the motor might need to be replaced along with the wheel and that’s expensive
• Beautiful clean aesthetic, the battery is completely integrated into the downtube and paint matched, all wires including shifter, brake and electrical are internally routed through the frame
• The rims, spokes and motor casing are all painted black to blend in, they look great and because the brakes are disc vs. caliper style the black paint on the rims won’t be marred over time… in fact, the disc rotor nearly conceals the hub motor from the left side view and the cassette hides it on the other side
• The battery locks securely to the frame and doesn’t seem to rattle as much as older models, the pack may be charged on or off the frame for convenience and has a small LED readout built in so you can see how full it is off the bike
• The cockpit handlebar area of the bike is very clean and organized despite having trigger shifters on the left and right, I think the Emotion display helps a lot (and I like that it’s removable)
• Standard front quick release and unique ratcheting rear quick release system makes trail maintenance faster and requires less tools, just be careful with the rear as over-tightening or mis-alignment could activate the TMM4 torque sensor or change its behavior
• High quality drivetrain groupset from Shimano including SLX derailleur in the front and XT in the rear, 20 speeds with a wide range 28 and 40 tooth chainrings and 11-36 in the rear lets you climb or reach the top speed of 20 mph, I shot the entire review video here without activating the motor and was able to climb and ride in gravel pretty well
• 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)
• Solid warranty offering two years of comprehensive coverage and the option to upgrade to five if you simply register, good network of dealers and lots of compatible batteries out there if yours dies eventually (since most of the EVO models share the same design… but not necessarily the same color)

Cons:

• The Emotion Evo Jumper Pro is only available in one frame size and style (high-step) with a more aggressive stem and low rise bar, this could make it making it difficult for shorter riders to handle without modification
• While I love how integrated the battery pack is on this e-bike, the hub motor design isn’t going to be as efficient for climbing as a mid-drive and the increased unsprung weight in the rear wheel will slow suspension
• The controller on this specific demo bike was messed up and wouldn’t allow it to ride, the display came to life but that took several tries and I had to charge the battery separately… basically the charge indicator was flashing at 0% and wouldn’t let it run… I’m not sure how common this issue is
• The way the suspension is setup on this bike, there isn’t room for a bottle cage and hanging it from most racks isn’t going to work without an adapter, it’s probably best suited to a platform rack like this
• 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 near-instant, this is critical given some of the off-road terrain the bike is designed for can be hazardous and unstable
• The older Neo Jumper model had a twist throttle which could be used in addition to pedal assist and I enjoyed having that option… they removed it to comply with Class 1 ebike standards so it would be allowed on more trails and I understand that, the right grip is no longer compromised by a spinning throttle piece which is good
• At ~$4,400 this is an expensive electric bike and in my opinion, the technology it’s using just doesn’t justify the cost, it seems overpriced given the hub motor drive compared with a lower priced e-bike like the Haibike ALLMTN which comes in four sizes
• The axles are more standard 10 mm size which aren’t as robust or sturdy for hard core off-road use, this is more of a light trail ebike
• I love that you can charge the battery pack on or off the bike with the EVO series but it requires a special dongle adapter because the plugs are different and the bike-frame plug is positioned very close to the left crank arm which can collide with it and break it off if you back the bike up while charging BE CAREFUL!
• If you purchase the optional Bluetooth module it completely replaces the LCD display but doesn’t have a display of its own so you have to use your phone… and that’s okay but there’s no charging port to keep your phone from draining rapidly as you use it for GPS etc.
• 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 or wear a hydration pack

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/en/bicycles/ebikes/evo-jumper-27-5-pro-uv906-us.html
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/boS4dKk2Z4g832Qs6