Grace MX II Trail Review

Grace Mx Ii Trail Electric Bike Review 1
Grace Mx Ii Trail
Grace Mx Ii Trail Bosch Gen2 Centerdrive
Grace Mx Ii Trail Battery Pack
Grace Mx Ii Trail Cockpit Display Panel
Grace Mx Ii Trail Bosch Centerdrive
Grace Mx Ii Trail Cassette
Grace Mx Ii Trail Elixr Rotor
Grace Mx Ii Trail Headlight
Grace Mx Ii Trail Rear Led Light
Grace Mx Ii Trail Suspension Fork
Grace Mx Ii Trail Electric Bike Review 1
Grace Mx Ii Trail
Grace Mx Ii Trail Bosch Gen2 Centerdrive
Grace Mx Ii Trail Battery Pack
Grace Mx Ii Trail Cockpit Display Panel
Grace Mx Ii Trail Bosch Centerdrive
Grace Mx Ii Trail Cassette
Grace Mx Ii Trail Elixr Rotor
Grace Mx Ii Trail Headlight
Grace Mx Ii Trail Rear Led Light
Grace Mx Ii Trail Suspension Fork

Summary

  • One of the most affordable electric bikes with the Bosch Gen2 Centerdrive system offering 350 watt mid-drive motor
  • Beautiful frame with integrated cables, metallic brown paint, minimalist logos available in two sizes for good fit
  • Lightweight air fork with lockout (good for cross country or city riding), 26" wheelset, hydraulic disc brakes and integrated LED lights
  • Summary:

    • One of the most affordable electric bikes with the Bosch Gen2 Centerdrive system offering 350 watt mid-drive motor
    • Beautiful frame with integrated cables, metallic brown paint, minimalist logos available in two sizes for good fit
    • Lightweight air fork with lockout (good for cross country or city riding), 26" wheelset, hydraulic disc brakes and integrated LED lights

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

Grace

Model:

MX II Trail

Price:

$3,699 USD

Body Position:

Forward Aggressive

Suggested Use:

Trail, Urban

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Year Frame and Motor

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2015

Bicycle Details

Total Weight:

48.5 lbs (21.99 kg)

Battery Weight:

5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)

Motor Weight:

8.8 lbs (3.99 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

17.5 in (44.45 cm)19.5 in (49.53 cm)

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

Metallic Brown

Frame Fork Details:

RockShox Sektor Gold RL Air with Lockout and 15 mm Thru Axle

Frame Rear Details:

15 mm Thru Axle

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses

Gearing Details:

10 Speed 1x10 SRAM X9

Shifter Details:

SRAM X9 Trigger

Handlebar:

Riser

Brake Details:

Avid Elixir 5 Hydraulic Disc Brakes with 200 mm Rotors

Grips:

Flat with Lockers

Saddle:

Ergon

Tire Brand:

Continental Mountain King, 26" x 2.2"

Wheel Sizes:

26 in (66.04cm)

Accessories:

Front and Rear Busch & Müller LUMOTEC Lyt LED Lights, CURANA Plastic Chain Ring Guard, Double Leg Kickstand

Other:

Removable Battery with ABUS Lock Core, Optional Fender and Rack Kit for $199

Electronic Details

Motor Brand:

Bosch Gen2 with Shift Detection

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

350 watts

Motor Torque:

60 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

11 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

400 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

3.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

35 miles (56 km)

Estimated Max Range:

65 miles (105 km)

Display Type:

Removable Backlit LCD

Readouts:

Speed, 4 Assist Levels, Battery Voltage, Odometer, Estimated Range, Clock, Max Speed, Average Speed, Trip Time

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad

Drive Mode:

Advanced Pedal Assist (Combined Torque, Cadence and Speed), (Eco 50%, Tour 120%, Sport 190%, Turbo 275%)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)


Written Review

The Grace MX II Trail is a hardtail cross country style electric bike with excellent hardware, a beautiful look and top of the line drive system from Bosch. To date, this is one of the most affordable Bosch powered electric bikes I’ve tested, coming in around $3,700. It’s available in two sizes for improved fit and comes stock with front and rear LED lights that are really well done (powered by the main battery, mounted out of the way of your cockpit and seat post). The only questionable aspects of this bike are the smaller 26″ wheels verses 27.5″ or 29er which would provide more surface contact for improved traction and better spanning ability on bumps and cracks encounter on the trail. Still, 26″ wheels are known for being maneuverable and tires and tubes tend to be less expensive to replace since they are the dominant standard.

The motor powering the MX II Trail is a second generation Bosch mid-drive offering 350 watts of power. It’s low, central and very durable (zero maintenance schedule). And while it’s not the quietest motor around it’s also not super loud and it’s smart enough to shut off whenever you pull the brake levers or shift gears. This thing senses your pedaling torque, pedaling speed and bicycle speed for near-instantaneous activation and stop which is critical in some off-road environments. It only offers pedal assist (no throttle mode) but is extremely efficient with 50+ miles of range in its lowest level, even on a bike like this with knobby tread.

Powering the motor and lights on the MX II Trail is a standard Bosch Powerpack 400 battery which offers 36 volts of power and 11 amp hours of capacity. It’s sleek, relatively light weight, can be charged on or off the frame and uses an integrated lock that’s pretty secure (lock core made by ABUS). The cells inside the battery pack are 18650 size with Lithium Manganese Cobalt chemistry that’s light weight and durable for 1,000+ charge cycles. Given the mounting point of this pack, unfortunately there isn’t a lot of room for a water bottle cage on the downtube or seat tube but the seat post is fairly open (thanks to the low profile of the rear LED light) and you could opt for a CamelBak or other backpack style hydration system as well.

I love the cockpit / handlebar setup on the Grace MX II because it’s extremely clean but still very functional. The grips have lockers so they won’t spin when you really bear down, the trigger shifters are clean and stay out of the way and the LCD panel and associated button pad work just like any Bosch System… they’re big, easy to use and easy to reach without taking your hands off the grips. The display panel is removable (there’s a set screw so you can either keep it more permanently on the bike or not) and it’s backlit for nighttime use. As mentioned before, there are also LED lights that are powered by the main battery and activated through the Bosch system. I love that the headlight sits above the fork on the head tube but doesn’t mount directly to the handle bar. It’s positioned very well to be effective but also avoid damage and distraction.

This bike is exciting to me because it brings the best technology to a more affordable platform that still looks amazing. 2015 is the first year that Grace bikes will be officially distributed in the USA and while not a lot of shops will have them right away, I’m sure that change grow over time. The MX II Trail is my favorite in the line because I love suspension and occasional off-road use but mainly use ebikes for commuting. With a lockout fork the bike can ride nearly as efficiently as a more city oriented ebike (reduced bobbing) and given the light, balanced weight and easy access to wheels for truing and changing flats this ebike is very functional. I’d recommend it for many types of riding and as a good upgrade or premium first ebike that will last.

Pros:

  • One of the most affordable electric bikes with the Bosch Gen2 Centerdrive motor
  • Beautiful aesthetic, clean lines, integrated wires and a crisp minimal logo make this ebike professional
  • Front suspension has lockout so this bike can ride more efficiently on hard pack or city terrain and double as a commuter
  • Capable high-end components that can withstand cross country and light trail use
  • Mid-drive system is efficient for climbing, extremely durable and makes changing tires, fixing flats and truing wheels easier
  • Pedalec system is extremely responsive (measuring pedal torque, cadence and bicycle speed) cuts out quickly which is important when riding off-road terrain
  • Built-in LED lights are powered by the main battery pack and are attached in thoughtful, well protected spaces (front light doesn’t crowd the cockpit / handlebar area and rear light is tucked under saddle)
  • High quality saddle from Ergon offers improved ergonomics for riding and also looks great
  • Double leg kickstand stows well to one side but provides great stability when bike is parked, great for when you’re using the bike to commute
  • Hydraulic disc brakes provide excellent stopping power while minimizing hand fatigue in off-road environments
  • Excellent weight distribution with motor and battery pack located low and center on the frame, offers improved balance
  • Rack and fender mounting points included on the rear seat stays for added utility and customization

Cons:

  • At the time of this review distribution on Grace electric bikes in the US was limited, this can make the bike harder to find and test ride in person or get service support for down the line
  • No throttle mode available here, this is a pedalec only and requires rider pedaling input to activate the motor
  • No room for a water bottle cage on the downtube or seat tube due to the mid-mounted battery pack

Resources:

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Comments (5) YouTube Comments

Carolyn
10 years ago

Nice review Court. I have not seen such low pricing on this bike. Is this a new price point from Grace?

  Reply
Court Rye
10 years ago

Hello Carolyn, the price quoted by Grace USA (the importer of the MX II Trail to the United States) is between $3,600 and $4,000 depending on the version you choose (there is a standard 20mph or a speed pedelec that can reach 28mph). This is the first year that they are being offered in the USA so I’m keeping an eye out and I appreciate your question here :)

  Reply
Arnold Marsupial
10 years ago

Any 2015 BH Emotion info/reviews pending?

  Reply
Court Rye
10 years ago

Sort of, the Interbike show floor and outdoor test track was very loud and my time was limited so I’m planning a road trip to visit BH near LA later this year (probably November) to spend some more time on reviews. I’ll also be visiting Currie and some other manufacturers :)

  Reply
Arnold Marsupial
10 years ago

Thanks for the speedy reply Court. 2015 BH E-motion range arrives in Australia within the next 2 weeks, and I’ve scheduled a test ride of the Cross, Race & Carbon versions as my introduction to e-bikes. Cheers.

  Reply

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