Moustache Lundi 26 Review

Moustache is a new brand to me, this was the first product I was able to test ride from them but I came away impressed. Apparently the brand has been successful in Europe for several years and 2017 is the first year that they will be selling in the US. It’s a French company with designs by Philippe Starck, known for is work on a Yacht owned by Steve Jobs among other things. You pair that unique artistic quality with Bosch drive systems (sounds like it’s a Bosch-only company for the time being) and you get something that is pre-vetted and trust worthy but ultimately unique. And here are some of the unique qualities I noticed: internal cable routing through the frame AND handle bars… never seen that before, stiff rectangular framework with tubular Aluminum fenders (rarely seen) and a deep step-thru design with rear-rack mounted battery. Some of these choices work very well together, like the stiff oversized tubing which reduces frame flex on the easier to mount frame. I’m a fan of step-thru ebikes, especially those with cargo racks on the back, because they are easier to mount and control and tend to accommodate a wider range of riders. If you’re a shorter person, this ebike will be easier to approach and probably less scary when you need to stop quickly or put a foot down. One area I wish the would have left open however, is some sort of bottle cage mounting solution either on the downtube or seat tube. There’s plenty of room and the rider could choose not to add an accessory if they want but for those with a folding lock, mini pump or just a traditional water bottle holster this would have been the only place to mount it. As it stands, you’ll either have to clamp something on with a strap (which tends to be less sturdy) or get a trunk bag with included bottle slot like this. Furthermore, the angular square bars match the look of the Lundi but aren’t going to be as easy to attach accessories to. They also didn’t seem as forgiving as thinner round bars which help to reduce dampening on bumpy terrain. All around, this is a pretty rigid bike which makes for excellent power transfer but a somewhat less comfortable ride and that’s where the fatter tires, plush saddle and suspension seat post come in. They help, they make the ride a lot better but the seat post isn’t nearly as good as a 31.6 mm Thudbuster and it raises the minimum seat height so it may need to be removed for people with short legs.

Following from the intro about Bosch being reliable, the motor used here is their standard Performance Line 350 watt that has carried me over thousands of miles of rides during other reviews. It’s super responsive, measuring rear wheel speed, pedal cadence and pedal torque. So fast, but also gentle and responsive in the lower power levels. For me, the biggest win is that the motor can spin at a wider range of RPM’s than some of the cheaper solutions and that it offers some shift detection. In short, mid-drive motors get more efficient as you naturally switch gears while riding but because they pull the same chain and activate the same sprockets, they send more energy through the bike and thus wear components faster. I love that this motor is positioned low and center, that they included a cover to keep your dress or pants clean and that it’s relatively quiet… but it does put more strain on the chain and derailleur especially. Shift with care, given that this is not a mountain ebike you should be just fine. And while there is a bit of electronic whining produced at higher RPM, the new Bosch Intuvia display has a shift sensing arrow alert that helps guide you towards the most efficient pedaling behavior. Note that there are now more compact Bosch motor designs (one that tilt upwards and have less plastic casing) but that the innards are much the same. Given the $3k starting price of the Lundi 26 I felt very pleased with the motor.

Powering the drive systems and integrated LED lights is a Bosch Powerpack 400 rear-rack battery. It’s light weight, easy to mount and locks directly to the rear rack. This does position weight higher and off-center than would be completely optimal but it frees up the downtube area for the most approachable stand-over possible. The pack itself uses reliable Lithium-ion cells and is backed by the 2 year warranty covering the motor and display panel. At about 5.7 lbs it isn’t super heavy but I love that you can take it and the display off the bike to charge or store. As someone who commutes to work at times, I love having the ability to keep the expensive vulnerable bits with me. Now the pack does raise the mounting points of the rear rack and it probably eats into the maximum weight capacity but the rack chosen seemed very sturdy… and beautiful. You get pannier guards on the sides and some special Ortlieb bag hooks for use with specific accessories. Note that as mentioned in the video review above, these plastic knobby things can be removed for a flatter more traditional side. If you decide to add any sort of bag, the battery pack will become even more indistinguishable from the rack and you’ll get a stealthier looking e-bike. I want to call out the rear light here, because they chose to mount it to the rear fender instead of the rack which probably keeps it more visible when the rack is being used. That, along with the reflective sidewall stripes painted on the Schwalbe tires and fun bright color options keep this bike safer in urban car-heavy environments.

Operating the Moustache bikes is pretty straight forward because they all use Bosch systems. Just charge that battery (on or off the frame) then press the power button on the lower left portion of the Intuvia display panel. Note that if you haven’t used the display for long periods, it may need to be recharged and there’s a Micro USB port on the upper right edge for doing just that. This same port can be used while riding the bike to charge your portable electronic devices but alas, those rectangular bars are going to make it difficult to mount your phone, gps or portable music player. Once the display is on it shows your battery charge level, speed and assist setting. You can ride this bike unpowered just like a normal bicycle but will have to contend with the heavier weight (about 55 lbs from what I measured). It’s not as heavy as I was expecting to be honest, most electric bikes I test that look similar easily top 55 pounds due to the fenders, rack, lights, longer bars etc. etc. but the Lundi must be made from higher grade materials? So the display is on and now you’re able to arrow up or down to select one of the power levels for pedal assist. The top speed is 20 mph but you can pedal or coast much faster if you’d like. The brakes on this bike are very good, Shimano hydraulic disc with an extra large 180 mm front rotor. These brakes will stay cleaner in wet riding conditions and the levers are just easier to pull than lower end mechanical disc or linear pull rim brakes. It’s all really simple once you’ve run through the settings… on, four levels of power, off… that’s it. The other noteworthy button on the display panel is the lights icon which activates the front and rear LED light. I love that they are present but wish that the headlight turned as you steer the bike. Instead, it’s built into the head tube and is more of a “be seen” feature than “see your way”.

I really enjoy the diversity of companies and approaches to electric bike products and the Moustache company is bringing some of the best, most proven systems, to a platform that isn’t just another gray or black city bike. It has some personality and manages to sacrifice on only a few minor areas. Yes, I wish they had added bottle cage bosses, to me that’s the one area that doesn’t have an obvious explanation. But for the price, especially the base level, you get plenty of gears and a bike that is very well done. For those who are concerned about drivetrain wear, consider upgrading to the NuVinci internally geared hub for ~$600. This will let you shift at standstill and anytime you’re pedaling without creating any mashing. Instead of using a derailleur and cogs, it pivots internally with some large bearings and keeps your chain perfectly straight and tight at all times. This will add a bit of weight, but it’s a cleaner solution and likely more durable. The second upgrade option is electronic shifting with Shimano Di2. This reduces cable stretch and the resulting shifter misalignment. It’s a neat feature but one that works so quickly, it might not allow for the full shift-detection feature of the motor to take place. I’m mixed on Di2, especially for ebikes that aren’t letting it run from the main battery pack, you’ll have two batteries to charge and it just feels like overkill on the Lundi (and it costs even more). I would be very happy with this bike for commuting, neighborhood riding or even as a rental model. It’s a bike that world work well for his and hers given the multiple color options and you can get it setup with or without quick release depending if you’re more into convenience or security in the city. Note that the Bosch charger is fast at 4 Amps, relatively compact and only weighs ~1.7 lbs so you’ll be able to easily toss it into the same trunk bag mentioned earlier to extend your ride. Bosch has introduced a new 500 watt hour battery pack but I have not seen it in the rear rack design yet (as it a more rare design). In any case, if it’s like their downtube pack then it will be forward compatible so either the standard 400 watt or 500 watt pack should work just fine.

Pros:

• The frame and fenders on this ebike seemed really tough to me, they are reinforced and overbuilt to withstand heavy use even though it’s a step-thru (which tend to be less stiff than high-step models)
• I’m a fan of the bright yellow “school bus” color scheme but it also comes in black, silver, white, red and blue and the tires have reflective sidewall stripes so you should be easier to spot at night regardless of your color preference… the tires also have a durable protective lining to reduce flats
• Adding to the paint and reflective tap are two integrated LED lights, both are attached solidly and keep visible from the front and rear, the headlight seemed larger than most I see
• Excellent brakes, you get Shimano hydraulic disc front and rear with a larger 180 mm rotor at the front for smoother, less abrupt stops with plenty of power, adjustable reach levers make it easier for riders with petite hands
• I didn’t experience much rattling even though the bike has full length fenders, the front fender is especially long and would protect your feet and shins well
• In addition to fenders you get a nice chain cover to keep your pants or dress from getting oily or snagged, at the rear left is an adjustable kickstand that keeps the bike stable and a cafe lock secures the back wheel for quick stops while using the same key as the battery pack for convenience
• Internally routed shifters, brake cables and electronic wires keep the frame looking clean and reduce the potential for snags, the mid-drive motor keeps weight low and center
• Even though this electric bike uses a rear-rack battery vs. mid-mount it doesn’t add as much weight as some competing offerings and the rack is useful for adding bags or panniers
• Quick release on both wheels for easier maintenance and transport… but given the more permanently affixed fenders this bike won’t be as easy to fit in a trunk as some other bikes, I was told they can build the bike without QR for added security when riding in the city (to avoid theft)
• Both the battery pack and display panel are removable which is handy if you’re parking outside for the day in a big city and want to either charge them or keep them safe and clean
• The rims seemed well made with brass reinforcement eyelets to disperse weight and reduce the potential for cracking (great if you’re a heavier rider or plan to haul a lot on the rack)
• This is a little thing but the spokes and rims are both painted black which adds to the aesthetic making the bike look great
• Overall, the base price seemed really good at $3k considering it uses the Bosch drive system, battery and Intuvia display… for a bit more you can get the NuVinci CVT or electronic Di2 shifting, all versions come with a solid two year comprehensive warranty
• The motor is very responsive, measures pedal speed, pedal torque and rear wheel speed and operates with shift-sensing technology so you don’t wear your chain, sprockets and derailleur as much as some other mid-drives (namely Yamaha and Brose)

Cons:

• It seems like there was plenty of room on the seat tube for bottle cage bosses… this would have been useful for a mini-pump, folding lock or other accessory in cases where riders felt a water bottle would have stuck out too much but you don’t get the option
• The bike is fairly rigid which can result in some stiffness and jar over long distances on bumpy terrain, the square frame tubing, rigid fork and unique reinforced bars just don’t flex as much… thankfully you get a seat post suspension and fairly plush saddle
• This isn’t a huge negative but I feel like the bike leans more towards style than utility in some respects, like rather than use a more traditional handle bar with adjustable angle stem you get a stylized bar and the seat tube is fairly high so some shorter riders just might not fit (especially with the suspension seat post which adds height)
• The headlight doesn’t turn when you steer the bike like most other systems I see and test, sure it’s built into the frame and looks great but it’s just not as practical for spotting (more about being seen I suppose)
• Given the rear-rack mounted battery design, some weight is positioned high and aft which changes handling and makes swinging your leg around difficult but it’s all about freeing up the center for easy step over, I call this an area for potential improvement given what we see with downtube battery technology now from some companies like this
• It’s great that the display has a little Micro USB port so you could charge a phone or other electronic device but the handle bars aren’t conducive to mounting anything (again, the rectangular tubing) which can be annoying, also no bell :/
• I like how the Intuvia display panel is backlit, making it easy to read at night, and appreciate that it isn’t super bright and distracting but it seems like there’s no way to completely shut it off if you want no light

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.moustachebikes.com/
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/iVKBHFXtq1fjhB55A