Moustache Samedi 27 Xroad 5 Review

This in-depth review was not sponsored by Moustache, Cit-E-Cycles Electric Bike Shop, or any other third party. It was funded by the display ads and placements on this website and YouTube. I cover as many products as I can, based on what I feel is relevant, interesting, and available. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comment section below, and the Moustache electric bike forums.

Observations:

• Moustache is a French company that started in 2011. It’s based in Vosges France, which is a mountainous region bordering Germany. The 2020 Samedi 27 Xroad 5 is part of their 10th season of electric bikes! They are a Bosch-only ebike manufacturer, meaning that they only use Bosch drive systems… and they are also “only electric” except for one child-oriented balance bike called the Mercredi.
• The Samedi 27 Xroad 5 is their top-of-the-line hardtail Xroad model. It uses the nicest components, largest battery pack, and costs the most. This ebike is available in high-step (which is what I used for review, I had the size Large frame), as well as step-thru. It comes in four different frame sizes and two colors, metallic red and green.
• This is a great electric bike for people who want to blend utility on-road cycling with a bit of trail and mountain biking. The suspension, knobby tires, low weight distribution, and sturdy frame, fenders, and rack truly make it off-road capable. It doesn’t rattle or suffer from frame flex.

Pros:

• This is an extremely capable electric bike with purpose built frame that provides strength, hides cables and wires without making them too difficult to access, and is available in four frame sizes, two frame styles (high-step and mid-step) as well as two colors.
• Compared to the 2018 version of the bike that I covered a couple of years back, I love that they changed the mounting position of the headlight! It is no longer on the arch of the suspension fork, but rather, at the base of the steer tube above the crown. This allows it to point where you steer, but not bounce up and down with the lower unsprung portion of the suspension.
• Considering that this is a heavier electric bike, due to the larger battery, fenders, lights, and rack, they really did a great job keeping motor and battery weight low and centered. The bike is balanced and feels stable, even riding with no hands as I tested in the video review above.
• Ergonomically, this bike is very comfortable to ride. That’s important if you plan to go long distances or cross bumpy terrain. The suspension fork is really smooth and has adjustable preload, compression, and full lockout. The suspension seatpost has compression adjust at the base (use a 6mm hex wrench to twist to the right), the Selle Royal gel saddle probably feels good to some people… but was a little narrow for me, the locking ergonomic grips and swept-back “mustache” style handlebar creates an upright body position. You could swivel the handlebar, lower it by changing the spacer positioning, and even flip the stem to get really aggressive. Lots of options here and overall just very comfortable.
• The SR Suntour suspension fork that comes with the Xroad 5 is very nice. It has wider 32mm stanchions that are made from aluminum alloy vs. steel. They have an anodized black coating that looks great and reduces stiction for smooth actuation. The front hub mounts with a sturdy 15mm thru-axle vs. 9mm axle with skewer. It still offers quick release, but is tougher for off-road riding. You may experience less “zinging” as you turn hard. This happens when the larger disc brake rotors tip as the wheel flexes).
• Even though it wasn’t the focus of this review, Moustache also has a step-thru version that’s more approachable. The company even sells a full suspension version of the Xroad, and there are several skew levels so you could get into a very similar version of the bike that costs less with lower-end components. I saw the Samedi 27 Xroad 2 at Cit-E-Cycles in Langley, BC Canada and noted the down-specced headlight, suspension fork, drivetrain, battery capacity, and display panel for ~$1,000 less.
• I appreciate the upgraded Shimano SLX derailleur with one-way clutch, because it will keep the chain tighter and less bouncy on off-road terrain. The wide 11-42 tooth cassette provides lots of lower gears for starting, climbing, and pedaling at comfortable cadence vs. compromising. It’s an 11-speed drivetrain, and the trigger shifters are also very nice with two-way high lever so you can use your thumb vs. index finger (that I usually dedicate to braking).
• The brakes are pretty good here, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm front and 160mm rear rotor. Actuating the levers is easy, and they have adjustable reach. The larger front rotor provides a mechanical advantage and cooling improvements which is great, because weight often shifts forward when stopping.
• To me, it says a lot that Moustache remembered to put bottle cage bosses below the top tube. This makes reaching fluids easy when riding. It could be used to mount a folding lock or other accessory if you have a hydration backpack or something, and it’s fine if they go unused… it’s just a nice option.
• The AXA keys unlock the battery as well as the frame lock (to secure the rear wheel for short stops). This reduces clutter and saves you time vs. having two keys. The frame lock worked very well and did not require that the key be left in when locked! Some other models do this, and it’s annoying for me because I like to put my keys on a keychain, and I may not want the entire keychain to be left on the bike while riding.
• While I was not able to test the bike in wet conditions, the full-length custom fenders and plastic chain cover should keep you dry and clean. Note that Bosch systems tend to be highly water resistant, so the bike should work just fine in the rain and slush.
• The rear rack offers up to 25kg (55lb) of max cargo weight and is designed to interface with Basil MIK bags and baskets on top as well as Ortlieb QL2 panniers on the sides. I believe that it would also work with the Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi child seat and many other standard bags and panniers.
• This is the 10th “season” of ebikes that Moustache has designed and sold. They have a great reputation, even winning a Bosch 10th Anniversary design contest recently, and to me that builds trust. The company now has 100 employees and is sold through premium ebike shops in North America.
• While this particular model comes with the PowerTube 625, some of the other Xroad models come with the PowerTube 400 and 500. Moustache actually sells an extension adapter that allows these other top-loading batteries to work in this frame, which could be useful if you purchase a few bikes and want to share, or go for a very long ride solo – taking along an extra pack and extension adapter. Avoid storing the battery in extreme heat or cold, which can damage the cells and reduce range… it’s great that the battery is removable.
• I love that they included the standard (faster) 4 amp charger with this bike. That’s really key when you’ve got such a high capacity battery. It really isn’t that much larger or more heavy than the 2 amp compact charger, but you could still use that one if you wanted. All Bosch ebike batteries can use these same chargers, so it’s easy to share.
• For those with portable electronics such as GPS, the Bosch Intuvia display panel offers a Micro-USB port on the right edge so you can charge on the go (pulling energy from the PowerTube 625). This is great for long adventure rides, especially if you’re using GPS! I believe that you could also swap this display out for the Kiox or Nyon models that connect to bluetooth smartphone apps and have heart rate monitor compatibility and GPS readouts. In any case, I love that the Intuvia is large and easy to read, as well as removable for safe keeping.
• I like the large cable routing entry points near the steer tube, they have big rubber grommets that should make servicing the bike much easier. The cable management here is great all around, the cockpit isn’t super busy or cluttered.
• Outstanding job with the kickstand here! The stock one-sided stand is positioned just far enough back that it does not cause pedal lock when backing the bike up. Furthermore, the stand offers tool-free adjustable length and feels very stable, even with the heavier bike and loaded rack. I also really like the large, sturdy, clean looking pedals here. So many cheaper bikes use plastic pedals or the open cage style that can get bent and become sharp. These VP pedals are great.
• Excellent motor choice, the 3rd generation Bosch Performance Line mid-drive is compact, lightweight at just 7.05lbs, uses a full sized chainring that cycles backwards (improving the ease of drivetrain maintenance), does not suffer from reduction gearing drag like Gen 2, and still offers shift detection and dynamic pedal assist measuring pedal speed, pedal torque, and rear wheel speed over 1,000 times per second!
• I come from a road biking background with a bit of mountain riding for fun, and I tend to enjoy spinning at high RPM vs. slow and lumbering, the Bosch Performance motors support 120+ RPM and that means you don’t have to switch gears as frequently to reach higher speeds, many competing products fade out before 120 or are only rated to 100 RPM.
• Compared to the more powerful Bosch Performance Line CX, Speed, Cargo, and Cargo Speed motor options, the standard 3rd generation Performance Line motor used here is very quiet. The older 2nd gen motor made a lot more noise, so this is a welcome improvement.

Cons:

• I thought the 2018 Moustache Samedi 27 Xroad 5 looked sportier and noticed that it cost less money and was lighter (probably due to the lower capacity and lighter plastic Bosch PowerPack 500 battery). Frankly, I loved how Moustache integrated that battery and prefer it to the PowerTube designs.
• Weighing in at ~60.2lbs, this is a heavy electric bike… and that is due in large part to the high capacity battery pack, aluminum alloy fenders, rear rack, and lights. Also, it comes with a coil spring fork vs. air. All of these choices add utility and durability, but the weight is higher than average. Consider removing the PowerTube 625 battery before lifting and transporting the bike to shave 7.8lbs of weight.
• The black plastic battery cover shield that clicks onto the downtube does not lock to the frame. It’s a great lightweight solution that is probably affordable to replace, but it’s a bit more vulnerable to tampering and theft at bike racks than some of the more hidden and locking ones I’ve seen from other companies.
• The locking core for the battery is way down on the right side of the frame, requiring you to bend down pretty far to unlock and then remove the battery pack. Same thing for the charging port on the left side of the frame, and it’s directly in the path of the left crank arm which could snag it. The battery pack is fairly heavy and doesn’t have a handle for secure lifting, so be careful. In order to click it back into the frame, you have to twist the key to unlock the slot while simultaneously lining up the battery pack vs. pushing down and having it automatically click into place.
• As nice as the hydraulic disc brakes are, I was surprised that Moustache didn’t opt for 180mm rotors front and rear on this model as they did for the Friday 27.5 model. I feel like the off-road tires allow you to ride on more varied terrain and it’s nice to have the braking power and cooling benefits of larger rotors in that case. Perhaps the rack, kickstand, and Bosch motor sensors just didn’t leave enough space. Moustache also skipped the fully integrated rear speed sensor design that they use on some other models in favor of the standard external sensor with spoke-mounted magnet that can get bumped out of place a bit easier.
• Moustache is a French brand that sells primarily through shops. It may be difficult to find and test ride their products in North America, but they are definitely high quality and worth checking out in my opinion. They are covered by the two-year Bosch warranty and most of the parts are standard, so should be easy to repair or replace over time.
• The tires didn’t say anything about puncture protection or have reflective sidewall stripes, which might improve safety a bit. I’m guessing that they are pretty decent, because they are name-brand, I hope that they are extra durable given the on/off road capabilities of the Samedi 27 Xroad models.

Useful Resources:

• Official Moustache website
• Bosch Intuvia ebike display settings
• Moustache ebike shop directory to find a Moustache dealer near you for fitting and test rides