Geared for trail riding with a front shock, nimble 26" wheels, knobby tires and 24 speeds with trigger shifters
Twist throttle with a top speed of 20 mph and four levels of torque sensing pedal assist with a top speed of 25 mph
Lithium-ion battery is built directly into the downtube keeping weight low, center and evenly distributed across the frame, locks to bike but has to be completely removed for charging
Speed, Odometer, Battery Capacity, Assist Level (Eco 1:0.7 Ratio 70% Assist, Standard 1:1.4 Ratio 140% Assist, Sport 1:2 Ratio 200% Assist, Boost 1:3 Ratio 300% Assist)
Drive Mode:
Torque Sensing Pedal Assist, Twist Throttle
(Half Twist on Right Bar)
Top Speed:
25 mph (40 kph)(20 in Throttle Mode, ~25 in Pedal Assist)
Written Review
While the Easy Motion team may have misspelled the word “extreme” when naming this bike, they got pretty much everything else right. Maybe someone else trademarked the term or maybe that’s how they do things in Spain where the parent company is naming these things. BH has been building bicycles since 1909 and offers a quality line of products. They entered the electric bike space back in 2012 with the Neo line and the Xtrem is their 26″ off road hardtail offering. While they also offer a 27.5″ ebike, a 29″ ebike and a full suspension ebike this one’s designed for more technical riding where maneuvering takes precedence to momentum and smoothness. That’s not to say it isn’t smooth however, you still get an 80mm suspension fork with lockout and large studded tires. It resembles the classic mountain bikes of yore, before the larger wheel thing caught on.
As with the other Neo electric bikes, this thing feels solid and offers lots of versatility in terms of electric power. You can choose from either twist throttle mode (which works like a scooter) offering a top speed of 20 miles per hour or pedal assist mode (which uses a torque sensor for smooth, responsive activation) offering a top speed of 27 miles per hour. In pedal assist mode you can choose from four levels of support with each one offering more power but draining the battery more quickly. The LCD computer unit is thin, light and backlit! You can easily slide it off when parking (to keep people from tampering) and it’s super simple to use with an on/off button and an up and down arrow for choosing modes and it’s easy to reach when riding. In addition to controlling the bike it also shows you speed, battery capacity and distance traveled.
The motor driving the Neo Xtrem is the same one that all the other Easy Motion Neo bikes use. It’s a geared 350 watt hub motor mounted on the rear wheel. Being geared, it weighs less but offers more torque. The gears mean there are more parts to wear out but the quality of this motor is top notch and it’s got a built in cutoff switch that keeps it from overheating in strenuous riding situations. Given that BH is producing so many of these motors (and batteries and controllers) they invested a lot in getting the system right and their two year warranty backs that up. It may sound smaller than some of the 500+ watt electric bikes out there but it works quite well, especially in pedal assist mode.
Powering the hub motor is a 36 volt 9 amp hour Lithium-ion battery pack that’s mounted right into the downtube! The design is beautiful, it keeps weight low and centered on the bike and blends in perfectly. The only real downside is that there’s nowhere to mount a water bottle cage. Actually, there are two downsides, the second one is that the battery pack has to be completely removed for charging. The good news is, it locks to the frame when in use and you don’t have to leave the key in when riding like so many other electric bikes. You can also swap the battery pack with any of the other Neo bikes if your friend has one and getting a replacement is that much easier.
This bike rides really well and has been designed with quality and longevity in mind. With the Neo line it’s more about choosing the right model than deciding whether or not Easy Motion is a good brand. They are priced fairly well and in the case of the Neo Xtrem, offer a niche experience that will appeal to riders who enjoy trail riding and a bit of light jumping. I personally really enjoy the 26″ wheels vs. the larger ones floating about these days. The tires are easy to replace, the wheels are easy to maneuver and they work well with fenders because your feet don’t get so close to the wheel when turning. While the Neo Xtrem only comes in medium, it’s a 19″ frame which sits just between medium and large. I also love that it comes with threaded eyelets for fenders or a rear rack because this means it can cover all your bases, from trail riding to commuting. Considering the more aggressive stance and handle bar positioning, I love that it has a shock to smooth things out. I also like the trigger shifters because those work best in technical riding situations for me, allowing better grip without messing up the gears (do keep in mind the twist throttle however, but note it won’t activate the bike when in pedal assist mode).
The upsides of a hub motor driven bike like this are the smooth and quiet acceleration and reduced strain on the chain. They make it easier to pedal in my opinion because they operate completely separately from the crank and chainrings. I like pedaling fast vs. hard and slow and with these bikes that’s completely okay, I pedal at my own cadence and the motor just kicks in as needed. Given that it’s geared, you get lots of power at lower speeds and that’s nice when using the twist throttle from complete stops, like at a stop sign.
Pros:
Offers twist throttle and four modes of pedal assist
Higher top speed of 27 miles per hour in assist mode
Pedal assist uses a torque sensor which is smooth and responsive
Integrated battery pack keeps weight low and distributed across the frame
Battery locks to frame with key for security, LCD computer can be removed easily to avoid tampering
LCD computer is backlit and water resistant
Ergonomic grips improve comfort along with front shock that includes lockout
Oversized metal pedals feel great and offer lots of traction
24 gears for excellent climbing ability or higher speeds in town
26″ wheels are great for technical riding, easy to maneuver bot offer less momentum and smoothing over bumps
Hydraulic disc brakes provide great stopping power and don’t fatigue hands as much as mechanical brakes
Braze on mounting points on fork and seat stays for fenders or a rack
Integrated wires look great and stay out of the way, great paint job, looks like a regular bike
Excellent two year warranty covers frame and battery pack, can upgrade to five years by registering online (will not include battery)
Cons:
Only available in medium frame size, 19″ (490mm)
No mounting points for water bottle holders (battery is mounted on downtube)
No integrated fenders, lights or chain guard
Motor is 350 watt vs. larger 500 watt options but is geared for higher torque, weighs less and performs well in pedal assist mode
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Hi Peter! Yeah, I owned the Neo Jumper and road it to work every day. That bike got a top speed of 27mph and all of the Neo’s use the same drive system. Do a quick Google search for “easy motion neo 27mph” and several other websites cite it as well. I will double check with BH for you but I’m almost positive :)
Well I really hope you are right that the bike goes 27 mph in pedalast.
We are a lot of bh owners on an australien forum that would love our bikes to go at that speed. However they all stop assistence at 20 mhp on usversions and at 27 kmh on euroversions.
Here is what bh writes on there own website. http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/faqs#3
If you still have your jumper it would be very interesting if you would take a gps messure of your assisted topspeed.
This top speed thing is a little tricky. We’ve had a year’s experience with the NEO series in our rental fleet and the top speed is kind of a grey area. Technically, the BH bikes are limited to 20 mph. When Court says he’s hitting 27 mph, he’s not kidding. We see 27-28 mph all the time on these bikes. While the controller is supposed to cut out at 20, it’s not uncommon to get some extra “ummph” beyond that. Usually, this results in a resting speed of around 22-23 mph. However, some of their bikes, like the Race, are going to go faster with hard pedaling. There was definitely some calibration flux on some of the early models and some were getting 28 with some lingering assistance. One thing you need the check with these bikes is the wheel size calibration, which you adjust by holding down the (+) and (-) buttons, and then choose the tire size in inches. Sometimes this can be a cause for reading faster and slower. Also, manually adjusting the torque sensor will give various levels of performance, though not necessarily faster speeds.
My last two bikes have been a NEO Race and a Stromer ST1 Platinum. I think it’s worth noting that while the ST1 is a 28 mph bike, it’s cruising speed is in the 24-25 mph range. The Race was cruising in the 22-24 mph range, accelerated faster and climbed better. Don’t get me wrong. The ST1 is a thousand dollars more and definitely the better bike, however, I wouldn’t read everything into the stats.
I’d recommend testing any bike you’re interested in and seeing how each bike performs for you personally.
Question on bh neo xtrem petal assist levels. I really can’t tell the difference between all four modes, can you really feel the difference from Eco to boost? Is it only on big hills?
Great question George! My experience with pedal assist on electric bikes has been that different “levels” serve to put a cap on the power output. In this case, with four levels I imagine it’s divided into quarters such as 25%, 50%, 75% and then 100% which draws the most power and activates the motor at its highest level. In support of this theory, I’ll quote what I’ve heard about the Stealth electric bikes. They have a “USA” mode that caps power output at 750 watts vs. 1,500+.
As for my experience using pedal assist on the Neo bikes, I’ve felt more power in the top pedal assist mode and been able to reach higher speeds more quickly. Maybe it would be more obvious with just two or three levels but for me, if I go from the lowest and pedal for a bit and then switch up to the highest I can feel the bike kick in with more energy. Hope this helps!
Question for you, and if I missed it in the review, forgive me. On the neo cross, you mention exposed wires at the bottom of the bike. Does the extrem have the same exposed wires?
Hi Tony, I believe it has the same type of setup. The wires are all coated with plastic so they should be alright. There is also the front chain ring that would stop blunt surfaces from hitting the bottom bracket. All in all, I think you’d be safe from water and impacts.
I’ve had the xtrem for three weeks now. I’ve hit 28 hard pedaling and can crewse 22-25 mph for some distance. The higher speeds do drain the battery a lot faster. Riding at 15-20 mph I get 30 plus miles. Riding at 20-25 mph I lose 10 miles on distance. Takes most hills with ease.
Cool, thanks for sharing your experience with this bike Rob. Would you mind sharing how tall you are and how much you weigh just to get an idea of what range is like for different riders? I’m 5’9″ at ~135 and have had similar experiences as you.
I’m just 5’11” and 190 lbs. It is hard keeping the speed below 18 mph. The bike wants to run. I love the way it cuts through rough grass like butter. Makes riding on on narrow roads less hairy with traffic. 17 miles yesterday with two bars.
I’m considering this bike and live in the Chicago area. I’d be riding in the winter and I’d like to hear how this bike handles the cold and the snow. My concerns are that the salt or the cold will hinder the performance. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Steve, the Neo Xtrem would work fairly well for bumpy snowpack given the knobby tires and suspension fork. The display is well sealed and so is the battery pack but you should know that any ebike will suffer some range loss in extreme cold (best to store the battery inside in neutral temperatures to avoid this and also extend overall life of the pack). Another consideration is that the mineral oil in hydraulic disc brakes can become stiff and difficult to modulate at extreme low temperatures. I’ve read that this isn’t detrimental but does change performance and that you can use DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluids (which are Glycol based) instead of mineral oil to avoid it.
Bummer, yeah I like the Xtrem as well (good pricepoint and nice balance) thanks for the information. No bike is perfect and in 2014 we saw Currie also having issues with some of their bikes. I’m glad both of these companies are large and reputable and handle support and warranty pretty well… though not perfectly.
Totally agree – we are working through the support right now and it shouldn’t be lumped in (as I put in my other post) with reliability. I think the support folks are doing their best and my fingers are crossed on the warranty. Court, which bikes in your opinion are the most reliable currently?
Good question, it’s hard for me to say because I’ve only owned a few electric bikes and the rest (reviewed here) are all brand new and being showcased at events or shops. I think the Bosch system is fairly sturdy, it has zero maintenance schedule, and since they work with the brands that use it I think more attention goes into quality. I also think BionX systems are known for being durable with their direct drive gearless hub motors.
I’ve had the new extreme for 3 months now and have just gone over a thousand miles. I am getting between 35 to 40 miles on a charge using pedal assist, keeping my pedaling speed at about 15 to 20 miles per hour and slightly depressing the brake leaver to cut the motor when pedal assist is really not necessary. I think this is the real secret to getting the most range. Of course terrain and wind and hill conditions obviously affect range too. I ride on a wide range of off road, grass, city streets with a few good hills.
Nice, appreciate the “real world” feedback Rob. I agree that with some attention to the drive modes these bikes can be very capable. Do you have the standard 9 amp hour battery version? In 2014 some of the models came with a larger 12 amp hour pack. I think it will say on the under side of the battery and it would be great to know.
I have the 9 amp battery. I’m considering buying the 12 amp later as a backup to extend my outing. For now a 3 hour ride is a pretty good workout for this 57 year old.
Awesome, sounds like it’s performing very well for you! I always felt like 9 was great but just like computers and stuff these things seem to get better and better all the time ;)
I have an Emotion Neo racer i obtained from a friend, I how no owners manual, any idea if one exist online. Current issue battery flashes empty yet it is fully charged. ???
Hi Michael! Bummer that your bike isn’t working as expected… I’m not sure the manual you need is here but Easy Motion does have a page with some resources at http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/catalogs-and-manuals and your best bet for a hands on test and fix would be to visit a local shop and have them experiment with the bike. Off the top of my head I’m not sure what the issue could be. You might be able to share the error code and ask for help in the Easy Motion forums here. Hope that helps!
Love your reviews, We are a family owned E-Bike shop in Eugene, Oregon. We would love to be added to your map as a registered as an E-bike dealer. We sell E.G., E-mazing, Easy Motion, Izip, Magnum, Juiced Rider, Ezee, Extreme, and E-prodigy! We also have 3 mechanics and a master machinist in our full service shop.
Hi John! We’d love to add you but are updating the the map and directory, I’ve saved your information and will reach out as the system gets fixed. We want to get everything in place before adding more shops, our hope is to also have analytics and let you manage your products :)
Peter Kjærsgaard
11 years agoAre you sure the topspeed is 27. All other neos I have heard of has a pedal topspeed at 20 mph.
ReplyCourt Rye
11 years agoHi Peter! Yeah, I owned the Neo Jumper and road it to work every day. That bike got a top speed of 27mph and all of the Neo’s use the same drive system. Do a quick Google search for “easy motion neo 27mph” and several other websites cite it as well. I will double check with BH for you but I’m almost positive :)
ReplyPeter
11 years agoWell I really hope you are right that the bike goes 27 mph in pedalast.
We are a lot of bh owners on an australien forum that would love our bikes to go at that speed. However they all stop assistence at 20 mhp on usversions and at 27 kmh on euroversions.
Here is what bh writes on there own website.
http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/faqs#3
If you still have your jumper it would be very interesting if you would take a gps messure of your assisted topspeed.
Replychandlee
11 years agoHey guys,
This top speed thing is a little tricky. We’ve had a year’s experience with the NEO series in our rental fleet and the top speed is kind of a grey area. Technically, the BH bikes are limited to 20 mph. When Court says he’s hitting 27 mph, he’s not kidding. We see 27-28 mph all the time on these bikes. While the controller is supposed to cut out at 20, it’s not uncommon to get some extra “ummph” beyond that. Usually, this results in a resting speed of around 22-23 mph. However, some of their bikes, like the Race, are going to go faster with hard pedaling. There was definitely some calibration flux on some of the early models and some were getting 28 with some lingering assistance. One thing you need the check with these bikes is the wheel size calibration, which you adjust by holding down the (+) and (-) buttons, and then choose the tire size in inches. Sometimes this can be a cause for reading faster and slower. Also, manually adjusting the torque sensor will give various levels of performance, though not necessarily faster speeds.
My last two bikes have been a NEO Race and a Stromer ST1 Platinum. I think it’s worth noting that while the ST1 is a 28 mph bike, it’s cruising speed is in the 24-25 mph range. The Race was cruising in the 22-24 mph range, accelerated faster and climbed better. Don’t get me wrong. The ST1 is a thousand dollars more and definitely the better bike, however, I wouldn’t read everything into the stats.
I’d recommend testing any bike you’re interested in and seeing how each bike performs for you personally.
ReplyPeter
11 years agoChandlee. What is the adress of your website.
ReplyCourt Rye
11 years agoHey Peter! Chandlee is pretty active in the Community and shares a bit more about his shop and experiences there. His profile is https://electricbikereview.website/community/members/electric-bike-specialists.8/ and the company he works for is Electric Bike Specialists which has a company website at http://electricbikespecialists.com/
ReplyGeorge
11 years agoQuestion on bh neo xtrem petal assist levels. I really can’t tell the difference between all four modes, can you really feel the difference from Eco to boost? Is it only on big hills?
ReplyCourt Rye
11 years agoGreat question George! My experience with pedal assist on electric bikes has been that different “levels” serve to put a cap on the power output. In this case, with four levels I imagine it’s divided into quarters such as 25%, 50%, 75% and then 100% which draws the most power and activates the motor at its highest level. In support of this theory, I’ll quote what I’ve heard about the Stealth electric bikes. They have a “USA” mode that caps power output at 750 watts vs. 1,500+.
As for my experience using pedal assist on the Neo bikes, I’ve felt more power in the top pedal assist mode and been able to reach higher speeds more quickly. Maybe it would be more obvious with just two or three levels but for me, if I go from the lowest and pedal for a bit and then switch up to the highest I can feel the bike kick in with more energy. Hope this helps!
ReplyTony
11 years agoHi, you have great reviews!
Question for you, and if I missed it in the review, forgive me. On the neo cross, you mention exposed wires at the bottom of the bike. Does the extrem have the same exposed wires?
Thanks for the help,
ReplyTony
Court Rye
11 years agoHi Tony, I believe it has the same type of setup. The wires are all coated with plastic so they should be alright. There is also the front chain ring that would stop blunt surfaces from hitting the bottom bracket. All in all, I think you’d be safe from water and impacts.
ReplyRob
10 years agoI’ve had the xtrem for three weeks now. I’ve hit 28 hard pedaling and can crewse 22-25 mph for some distance. The higher speeds do drain the battery a lot faster. Riding at 15-20 mph I get 30 plus miles. Riding at 20-25 mph I lose 10 miles on distance. Takes most hills with ease.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoCool, thanks for sharing your experience with this bike Rob. Would you mind sharing how tall you are and how much you weigh just to get an idea of what range is like for different riders? I’m 5’9″ at ~135 and have had similar experiences as you.
ReplyRob
10 years agoI’m just 5’11” and 190 lbs. It is hard keeping the speed below 18 mph. The bike wants to run. I love the way it cuts through rough grass like butter. Makes riding on on narrow roads less hairy with traffic. 17 miles yesterday with two bars.
ReplySteve
10 years agoI’m considering this bike and live in the Chicago area. I’d be riding in the winter and I’d like to hear how this bike handles the cold and the snow. My concerns are that the salt or the cold will hinder the performance. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Steve, the Neo Xtrem would work fairly well for bumpy snowpack given the knobby tires and suspension fork. The display is well sealed and so is the battery pack but you should know that any ebike will suffer some range loss in extreme cold (best to store the battery inside in neutral temperatures to avoid this and also extend overall life of the pack). Another consideration is that the mineral oil in hydraulic disc brakes can become stiff and difficult to modulate at extreme low temperatures. I’ve read that this isn’t detrimental but does change performance and that you can use DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluids (which are Glycol based) instead of mineral oil to avoid it.
ReplyDemeyer1
10 years agoI love this bike, but I haven’t had much luck on the reliability/support front unfortunately (check this thread on Endless Sphere)
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoBummer, yeah I like the Xtrem as well (good pricepoint and nice balance) thanks for the information. No bike is perfect and in 2014 we saw Currie also having issues with some of their bikes. I’m glad both of these companies are large and reputable and handle support and warranty pretty well… though not perfectly.
ReplyDemeyer1
10 years agoTotally agree – we are working through the support right now and it shouldn’t be lumped in (as I put in my other post) with reliability. I think the support folks are doing their best and my fingers are crossed on the warranty. Court, which bikes in your opinion are the most reliable currently?
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoGood question, it’s hard for me to say because I’ve only owned a few electric bikes and the rest (reviewed here) are all brand new and being showcased at events or shops. I think the Bosch system is fairly sturdy, it has zero maintenance schedule, and since they work with the brands that use it I think more attention goes into quality. I also think BionX systems are known for being durable with their direct drive gearless hub motors.
ReplyRob
10 years agoI’ve had the new extreme for 3 months now and have just gone over a thousand miles. I am getting between 35 to 40 miles on a charge using pedal assist, keeping my pedaling speed at about 15 to 20 miles per hour and slightly depressing the brake leaver to cut the motor when pedal assist is really not necessary. I think this is the real secret to getting the most range. Of course terrain and wind and hill conditions obviously affect range too. I ride on a wide range of off road, grass, city streets with a few good hills.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoNice, appreciate the “real world” feedback Rob. I agree that with some attention to the drive modes these bikes can be very capable. Do you have the standard 9 amp hour battery version? In 2014 some of the models came with a larger 12 amp hour pack. I think it will say on the under side of the battery and it would be great to know.
ReplyRob
10 years agoI have the 9 amp battery. I’m considering buying the 12 amp later as a backup to extend my outing. For now a 3 hour ride is a pretty good workout for this 57 year old.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoAwesome, sounds like it’s performing very well for you! I always felt like 9 was great but just like computers and stuff these things seem to get better and better all the time ;)
ReplyMichael B
9 years agoI have an Emotion Neo racer i obtained from a friend, I how no owners manual, any idea if one exist online. Current issue battery flashes empty yet it is fully charged. ???
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoHi Michael! Bummer that your bike isn’t working as expected… I’m not sure the manual you need is here but Easy Motion does have a page with some resources at http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/catalogs-and-manuals and your best bet for a hands on test and fix would be to visit a local shop and have them experiment with the bike. Off the top of my head I’m not sure what the issue could be. You might be able to share the error code and ask for help in the Easy Motion forums here. Hope that helps!
ReplyJohn Dodd
8 years agoLove your reviews, We are a family owned E-Bike shop in Eugene, Oregon. We would love to be added to your map as a registered as an E-bike dealer. We sell E.G., E-mazing, Easy Motion, Izip, Magnum, Juiced Rider, Ezee, Extreme, and E-prodigy! We also have 3 mechanics and a master machinist in our full service shop.
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi John! We’d love to add you but are updating the the map and directory, I’ve saved your information and will reach out as the system gets fixed. We want to get everything in place before adding more shops, our hope is to also have analytics and let you manage your products :)
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