The Easy Motion Nitro series builds on the Neo line from 2013 / 2014 and delivers high-speed ~28 mph performance in “Boost” pedal assist mode. The Nitro Cross is the more stripped down version of two products in this series and does not include a rear rack, fenders or chain guide that the Nitro City does but they cost the same amount of money. Aside from offering a higher top speed, this electric bike offers excellent balance by positioning the battery pack low and center on the frame. Both the motor and battery blend in beautifully and create a more “stealth” feel that won’t attract as much attention as some other less polished ebikes. With 30 gears to choose from on a Shimano Deore XT drivetrain, hydraulic Tektro disc brakes for excellent stopping power and extras like integrated LED lights, quality bar-end mirror and spring activated kickstand (all required in Europe for these faster electric bikes) the Nitro Cross comes ready for action. I especially like the carbon handlebar that keeps weight down and dampens vibrations as well as the suspension fork with lockout.
Driving the Nitro Cross is a 500 watt geared rear hub motor. It’s actually the same physical size as the standard 350 watt motors on all of Easy Motion’s Neo and Evo line of bikes and that helps it to blend in with the disc brake rotor and 10 speed rear cassette. It’s not the quietest drive system but it does feel zippy (especially in pedal assist mode) and previous generations of this motor seem to be holding up very well after years of use so the quality is there. The downsides of this motor are that it can feel a bit sluggish in throttle mode and it doesn’t come with a quick release axle system like the new EVO line from Easy Motion. It uses the older design which features a power cable that exits on the right side of the bike (where the cassette and derailleur are) and can be more vulnerable to damage if the bike tips. Overall, it’s a great setup and while it does position more weight at the rear of the bike… that’s true of any hub motor design and since this one is geared, it’s not as heavy as some others.
Powering this bike (and the LED lights!) is a powerful 48 volt 8.7 amp hour Lithium-ion battery pack with Samsung cells. It weighs about 6 lbs which is about .5 more than the new EVO line. Unfortunately, this pack cannot be charged on the bike (you’ll have to insert the key and pop it off manually every time) which makes it more vulnerable to scratches and drops. Charging aside, the battery is positioned low and center on the bike frame which is great for balance. I love how integrated it looks and appreciate the color matching that Easy Motion offers across all of their frames. The range you get from this battery can really vary because efficiency drops significantly when riding above 20 mph due to air resistance. Given that the Nitro Cross is a “speed assist” bike, I imagine that some people will constantly be riding above 20 and this could lower the range to ~20 vs. the officially estimated ~35 miles. If you are concerned about range, just bring the charger with you (with just 2 hours of charge time you’ll restore ~80% capacity) or consider purchasing a second battery pack and storing one at home and one at your regular destination.
The display on the Nitro Cross electric bike is the same one used across the entire Neo and Evo lineups and that’s a good thing. It’s black on this bike (to match the frame) and can be removed for safe storage when parking or transporting the bike. It runs off the main battery pack and is backlit (just hold the down arrow for two seconds which also activates the front and rear lights). The LCD display readouts include speed, odometer, trip distance, max speed, trip time, battery level and of course pedal assist level (1-4). Since the display panel is mounted near the left grip and keeps a close profile to the bar, this bike doesn’t require a separate button pad for navigating menus. This keeps the cockpit very clean and intuitive, it also reduced wires and probably reduces potential failure points and expense. The rest of the cockpit is as one would expect with brake levers (that have motor cutoff built in) as well as a half-twist throttle on the right and Shimano trigger shifters on both sides. I like the soft matching ergonomic grips but they could be more prone to spinning since they don’t have lockers. The big difference between the bar area of this bike and most others is the addition of a rear view mirror on the left. This can make it harder to navigate through tight spaces (like doorways) but comes in handy when riding in traffic (and is required in Europe for safety).
At the end of the day I see the Nitro Cross as a value based speed pedelec. The custom frame design is well balanced and beautiful but some of the components are lower end to keep it affordable. I think they chose really well in this respect with the Suntour fork, basic grips and generic pedals. I like that the bike offers throttle and assist mode (note that the throttle will only reach 20 mph and cannot be used simultaneously with pedal assist). I also understand that there may have been some cost savings by using the old motor design (that doesn’t have quick release and positions the power cable in a more vulnerable spot) and the old battery style (that has to be removed to charge). I really appreciate the new improvements that Easy Motion is making to their bikes and am excited to see a couple of high speed bikes in the lineup. That said, I think I’d lean more towards the Nitro City for the extra accessories given the same price point.
Pros:
- Offers both throttle mode and pedal assist with four levels to emphasize range or speed, higher top speed of ~28 mph
- Purpose-built frame with beautifully integrated battery pack mounted to downtube, this keeps weight low and center for improved balance and handling
- The display panel, battery 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 won’t stand out
- The LCD display is removable, easy to reach and activate from the left grip, backlit for use in low lighting conditions and it controls the LED lights (just hold the down arrow for two seconds)
- Hydraulic disc brakes are easy to activate with just one or two fingers, the Tektro Dorado levers have motor cutoff switches built in, the large 180 mm front rotor and standard 160 mm rear rotor offer good stopping power
- Large 700c wheelset with efficient hybrid tires provides great rolling speed and increase range but they aren’t as soft as larger ones might be
- The suspension fork smoothes things out and has a lockout to reduce bob on smooth surfaces, the carbon fiber handlebar also helps to reduce vibration
- Nice extras here including integrated LED lights that run off the main battery, quality spring activated kickstand and bar end mirror (all required for speed pedelecs in Europe) as well as stiff aluminum platform pedals
- Seat stay bosses could be useful for adding a rear rack if you wanted to use this as a commuter bike, it also has fender attachment points
- With 30 gear combinations to choose from, this bike is easy to pedal at low speed when climbing or at higher speeds when using the 28 mph speed pedelec mode
Cons:
- Battery pack uses the older “Neo” design that cannot be charged on the frame, you have to unlock and remove the battery in order to charge – this takes extra time and may expose it to more drops and scratches
- The 500 watt nominally rated geared hub motor on the Nitro series from Easy Motion doesn’t feel quite as powerful as I expected, especially in throttle mode
- 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
- This ebike feels a bit expensive given the basic Suntour suspension fork, older battery style and lack of fenders and rack that the Nitro City comes with (and the City is specced the same and costs the same amount)
- Only available in one color and one frame size with limited adjustability (seat post height and saddle orientation) in high-step, there are no low-step ebikes from Easy Motion that can reach 28 mph at this time
- 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
Resources:
- Official Site: http://www.emotionbikesusa.com/ebikes/EN925
- More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/wFQtso2MKSeUjKi59
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