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The Samedi 27 XROAD 5 combines on-road efficiency and utility with some off-road features like knobby tires that make it an excellent platform for touring. If you enjoy rails to trails routs, gravel roads, and smooth hardpack but still want fenders, lights, and a rear rack for hauling cargo… this could be an excellent fit. I enjoyed the comfortable combination of suspension fork, suspension seat post, gel saddle, and swept back bars while riding through the bumpy cobblestone streets of Brooklyn, NY for this review. The pedals are wider than average with raised pins for traction, the tubular fenders are sturdy and quiet, and the long plastic chain cover kept my pants from getting wet and greasy. Priced at $3,799 with a two-year comprehensive warranty and five-year frame coverage, I felt that there was a lot of value on offer here. This electric bike really spoke to me because I love how tightly the motor is integrated and how hidden the battery pack is, without adding a lot of weight or bulging the downtube. It’s just beautiful… and it’s being offered in three frame sizes and two styles (high-step and mid-step). Aspects of the Samedi 27 XROAD 5 model have been downgraded compared to the similar-looking Moustache Friday 27.5. For example, you don’t get an air fork with thru-axle, and the headlight is mounted to the bridge of the suspension and will bounce more vs. the handlebar, but it costs $200 less and has a sturdier stem. I love that Moustache included a high-quality adjustable kickstand here and upgraded the derailleur with Shadow Plus clutch engagement to reduce chain bounce and slap, but it looked like they skipped adding a sticker slap guard on the right chain stay so the paint could get chipped a little over time (though you probably won’t notice because it’s covered by the plastic chain cover). I usually place a strip of clear shipping tape on sensitive areas of my bikes to prevent chipping and cable marks. In short, this is a stealthy electric bike with lots of great features, an efficient drivetrain, and increasing distribution in the United States. Moustache is a French brand that offers stylish, unique ebike products like the Samedi 27 X2 tandem and I feel that they pay extra close attention to details such as bottle cage bosses (of which there are three pairs here) and color coordination (notice the black spokes and motor skid plate).
Driving this ebike is a powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor that can deliver up to 75 Newton meters of torque. It’s a mountain-specific motor from Bosch, that can be less quiet and less efficient, but is very responsive and zippy. Given the cross-road nature of the Samedi 72 XROAD 5 here, I feel it was a great choice. This bike still fits into the most basic Class 1 ebike category, meaning it is treated the same way as unpowered bicycles in most places, and the maximum assisted speed here is 20 mph. One complaint I hear expressed on occasion about the Bosch Performance Line motors is that they use a smaller chainring that rotates 2.5 times for each crank arm revolution. This reduction gearing design allows the smaller sprocket to really grab the chain, and empowers the motor through a mechanical advantage… but there is some friction being produced when you pedal unassisted or over the 20 mph top assisted speed because of the gearing. While cruising around Brooklyn, I pretty easily reached 29 miles per hour just pedaling, so it’s not a deal killer by any means. The chainring used here is a 15 tooth sprocket compared with 18T or 20T on many city and road style electric bikes. The smaller size is geared for climbing, but you can definitely still pedal fast (again, I reached ~29 mph while in the highest 11 tooth gear in the cassette). This cassette offers 11 sprockets and ranges from 11 to 40 teeth, the 40T sprocket is perfect for climbing. Shifting through feels crisp and the SLX triggers on the right side of the handlebar offer two-way action for the high gear lever and multi-shift on the low gear trigger. SLX is an upper mid-level component group and the derailleur has that Shadow Plus lever, a small grey lever that can be pushed into the up-vertical position to tighten the spring. It’s a nice feature to have on bumpy streets and trails. Compared to an 11-46T ten-speed cassette, this one has smaller jumps between gears, so you can dial in a more comfortable cadence. I think it’s perfect for longer rides, touring, trekking, or bikepacking. The drivetrain should hold up well because the motor controller has shift detection and will automatically ease off when it senses you changing gears. Finally, I just love the styling that Moustache has chosen for their motor integration, tipping it up a bit and blending it into the downtube and seat tube to raise clearance and make the bike look more natural.
Appearance is something I do care about, and usually it comes at a price premium. So, I realize that I already said this, but I do really feel that the Samedi 27 XROAD 5 offers great value, because it looks beautiful and is well under $4k. When I look at the motor design and the way that they sunk the battery pack into the downtube and covered it with this plastic shielding system (that they call hidden power), I get excited. That shield is easy to remove to access the battery, but really cleans up the look of the frame and makes this ebike stealthier than most others. And, it’s lighter than the Bosch Powertube design which I have seen on some of the BULLS electric mountain bikes in 2018. This sunk-in battery design lowers weight which improves handling and it frees up space for the two bottle cages in the main triangle (for the high-step model at least). This open space on the frame could be used to hang the bike on a bike rack or lift the bike and carry it on your shoulder across a stream etc. If you watch closely in the video review above, can see just how narrow and close the downtube sidewalls are that surround the Powerpack battery. The downtube isn’t especially fat like it is on some other models, and therefore, will not get in the way of your feet and calves when pedaling as much. Looking down from above, I could see foam pads on both sides of the alloy walls that secure the battery pack and reduce rattling noise. The pack locks into place with a power connector at the base and a keyed-core at the top, provided by AXA. The key used for this primary lock is also used for the rear frame lock. It’s really nice to just have one key for both systems here because you will probably end up with at least one more key for your home, your automobile, and maybe even an additional lock for the bike (to secure the frame and front wheel). I recommend getting a folding lock and mounting it onto the bottle cage bosses just behind the seat tube. You could buy another AXA branded folding lock like this and I cannot say for sure, but you might be able to order it custom keyed-alike to keep keys at a minimum. I know ABUS currently does this, but the battery and frame lock here are both from AXA so you might be limited on options. There is so much more to say about the Bosch Powerpack 500 battery that comes with this bike… it’s relatively lightweight, has a moulded handle at the top for safer transport, an integrated 5-LED power readout on the left, and is the exact same size and shape as the older Powerpack 400 battery. Both packs use durable Lithium-ion cells, and both can be mated to the same ebike interface to power this bike… which means you can get a discounted Powerpack 400 to take along and extend rides! Some people might already own an additional Powerpack battery, and still others might discover that shops will rent you a pack or you can borrow one from friends when traveling. Maybe someday, ebike touring circuits will allow you to trade your own battery for one at the shop for a small fee and simply ride on through! For those who cannot afford or do not wish to bring a second or third pack, you can charge the included Powerpack 500 relatively quickly thanks to the fast 4-Amp Bosch charger. And, charging can be done on or off the frame. The plug interface is proprietary and will not get flipped or confused with other products, this charger is relatively light at ~1.7 lbs, and Bosch sells an even lighter portable 2 amp charger as well. I want to call out that Moustache has done a great job with their rubber plug covers (for the locking core and charging port), they were easier to remove and put back and seemed better sealed than some competing offerings.
Operating this electric bike is a breeze, once the battery pack is charged and locked onto the frame. Just press the power button near the lower left corner of the Bosch Intuvia display panel and it boots up quickly. The main readouts are charge level (five tics again), current speed, and a little assist level chart with a power meter on the right. You can watch this chart to determine how hard the motor is working and use it to learn how to extend your range. As for assist, you get four levels to choose from and can select these by pressing + or – on the left button pad. I love how easy this pad is to reach, without taking your hand off the grip, and feel that the rubberized i button in the middle provides a physical guide that makes navigation easy even when you aren’t looking down at the buttons. So, there’s off, eco, tour, sport (or eMTB) and turbo levels. I believe that most bikes will come setup with eMTB mode, but the demo bike I tested with Cris still had sport mode enabled, and was due for a firmware update. This new eMTB mode allows you to sort of “set it and forget it” and focus on shifting gears and pedaling rather than raising or lowering assist levels. It offers 130% up to 300% power based more on your pedal torque, and is great for trail riding where terrain changes quickly and you might be climbing one second and then turning or descending the next. For a product like the XROAD 5 here, it’s a great choice, and this is not available on the similar Moustache Friday 27.5, which seems to be setup more for road use because it has slick tires and a turning stem. Anyway, the Intuvia display is also removable and could be replaced with the COBI interface, now owned by Bosch, that turns your smartphone into a display system complete with GPS, music, and telephone functionality. This accessory mount is designed to charge your phone while riding and secure it front and center. Even the stock Intuvia display has a Micro-USB port for filling your phone on the go, and this separates it from the compact Bosch Purion display found on some of the mountain-specific Moustache models. The Intuvia is removable, large and easy to see, can be swiveled to reduce glare, and I feel that its remote button pad (the three-button interface mounted near the left grip) is more consistent and easy to click compared to the Purion. It’s my personal favorite display on the market right now and I love that it can also estimate your range, give you shifting recommendation, and provide a bunch of other trip stats by pressing the i button.
If you couldn’t already tell, I like the Moustache Samedi 27 XROAD 5 a lot. It looks great, uses a proven motor, battery, and display system, comes in several sizes and offers that mid-step frame which is so easy to approach… but still looks cool. The rear rack is Ortleib compatible, using their new QL3 system for side panniers, and the headlight is super bright. I must say, the rear light is a bit more basic and the headlight would be less bouncy if mounted to the handlebar as it is on the Friday 27.5 model, but it still works well enough. The spring suspension fork offers compression adjust and lockout for efficient riding on those smooth sections, and there’s also a preload dial on the left side of the crown for heavier riders to reduce dive and bob. It’s not the fanciest fork, but the tapered head tube on this frame means you could upgrade to something nicer someday if you really wanted. I was actually a bit surprised that the Friday 27.5 had a nicer fork and thru-axle given that the Samedi 27 XROAD 5 is geared more for off-road, but I believe that bike has larger tires and needed a wider fork to accommodate them. I was not able to figure out what the brand was for the seat post suspension here, but it felt very comfortable to me. For riders who aren’t as tall and want to lower the saddle as much as possible, consider swapping it out with a rigid 27.2 mm post like this. There should still be enough room for a trunk bag and panniers because the rack is positioned far back… and the rack actually supports the fender to keep it sturdy and quiet. The gel saddle and slightly wider 2.1″ tires with little knobs take the edge off, even with the fork locked and a rigid seat post. The hydraulic disc brakes performed well and have adjustable-reach levers so you can actuate more easily with long or short fingers (or gloves). In some ways, it seems like you get several key upgrades with the Friday 27.5 model and you could always buy that model and swap the tires to something more rugged, but you would sacrifice eMTB mode because it only uses the standard Performance Line Cruise motor with up to 63 Nm of peak torque. Both motors peak out at 20 mph making them Class 1. I like the little flick bell, the quick release wheels and seat tube for easy trail maintenance, bike transport, and body geometry adjustments over long rides (sometimes seat post suspensions can sink down as you bounce over long rides… so keep the seat tube collar tight). If you live somewhere with rails to trails access and want a sporty commuter bike with off-road potential, I feel that this would be an excellent fit. Big thanks to Moustache and Propel Bikes for partnering with me on this post, and having two products to compare back to back. I had a great time with this and as always, I welcome your input and questions in the comments below or the Moustache electric bike forums.
Pros:
- A rugged yet comfortable crossover all-terrain electric bike that is well suited to trekking and touring applications because of the efficient mid-drive and widely available Bosch Powerpack battery integration
- I absolutely love how Moustache integrates the Powerpack into the downtube (to keep it low and center on the frame) while surrounding and covering with the tubing and a proprietary plastic shield, it’s one of the most beautiful and durable designs I have seen, it should keep dust and dirt out of the compartment
- So many electric bikes forego bottle cage bosses and either leave you to mount an aftermarket clamp cage on or add a rack and bag with holster… but Moustache includes two bottle cage bosses as well as a premium Ortlieb compatible rear rack that supports the fender for strength and reduced rattling noise, it’s a brilliant setup
- In addition to the two bottle cage mounting options (on the seat tube and below the top tube) there’s a third set of bosses behind the seat tube where you could mount a folding lock like this that you might even be able to order keyed-alike to the battery and cafe lock here, I’m not sure this mounting space is wide enough for a third water bottle however
- Sometimes trail bikes won’t have kickstands but the Samedi 27 XROAD 5 does, and it’s positioned out of the way and sturdily sprung for reduced bouncing on rough terrain
- Nice touch points, plush gel saddle from Selle Royale, comfortable rubberized grips, and a pair of extra-wide alloy pedals that grip in wet conditions
- Not only is the battery hidden, but it also locks securely to the frame and you can use the same key to lock the cafe lock to immobilize the bike during quick stops (or make it simpler to lock the frame and front wheel with your own independent locks)
- You can charge the Bosch Powerpack on or off the frame and use either the included 500 or older 400 because the interface is the same, the charge you get is a faster 4 Amp design so time between rides will be shorter
- The anthracite color will be more visible in dark conditions (it’s like a dark silver) than if the bike was all black, however, I think the motor, battery cover, wheels, spokes, and other black hardware still look great here but am glad that they went to such lengths to make everything match, and of course the integrated LED lights are fantastic, both the front and rear light run off of the main battery for convenience
- The battery and display panel can be removed quickly when parking in public racks, it’s important to secure the expensive and delicate bits
- Excellent quality and purposeful selection on the drivetrain here, you get 11 durable high-tensile steel gears instead of just 9 or 10 and the spread of 11 to 40 teeth isn’t as wide as a true mountain model for steep climbing but means that your steps between gears are smaller, it’s a great spread for the maximum 20 mph assisted speed here and it allows you to find the perfect cadence for long treks, the smaller 15 tooth chainring is what I see on Bosch electric mountain bikes and gives you a climbing advantage
- The derailleur has a Shadow Plus one-way clutch system that lets you tighten the derailleur and reduce chain slap and drops, I usually see this on e-mountain bikes and high-speed models but it makes sense here considering the all-terrain tires
- The Bosch CX motor is extremely durable, powerful, and also efficient if you shift thoughtfully (it also has shift detection to reduce wear on your drivetrain), this is their mountain bike motor which means it’s well suited to handle trails on the Moustache XROAD
- The Bosch CX motor offers eMTB mode so you can set the power level once and focus on shifting gears and pedaling, this mode relies more heavily on torque signals to output a range of power dynamically, and it works pretty well
- 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 Powerpack 500), this is great for long adventure rides, I’d probably purchase a second Powerpack 500 and rotate between the two while riding to maximize distance, for those who want to use a smartphone instead of the Intuvia, Bosch purchased COBI in 2017 and they have a compatible mount that I’ve reviewed here
- 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 up to 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
- Minor point here, but I really like the rubber covers that Moustache has designed to protect the key slot and charging port on the downtube of their e-bikes, they seat well and aren’t difficult to use like some others
- Nice wheelset, the rims are doublewall and have reinforcement eyelets to handle the added forces of heavy riders, increased cargo on that rear rack, and just rugged terrain
- This bike is produced in both a high-step and mid-step frame design which makes it more approachable for riders with short inseams or those who simply struggle to lift their leg up and over or around the rear rack, I think they both look very good and are sturdy with triangle tubing
Cons:
- Weighing in at ~56.3 lbs, this is not the lightest electric bike, but that’s partially because it’s feature complete and also because they opted for a durable spring suspension vs. air, it should require less tuning over long periods and is just tougher
- The integrated lights are fantastic, I love how the rear light is far back on the fender so it won’t interfere with cargo on the rack, the headlight turns as you steer… however, it is mounted to the arch of the fork which bounces up and down on bumpy terrain, it would have been nice if they attached it to the crown or headset on the bike so it could be suspended and less bouncy
- I wonder about the battery bay cover… it doesn’t lock to the frame and could be taken but if you leave it on while parked but if you take it off (along with the battery and display), it’s possible that water and dirt and stuff will get into the frame
- The big downsides to the current-generation Bosch Performance Line CX motor are that it’s more power hungry than the standard performance model, produces more noise at high RPM, and uses a reduction gearbox and smaller chainring sprocket that spins 2.5x for each crank arm revolution… so if you’re pedaling without power or trying to exceed the 20 mph top speed, there’s some additional drag and friction produced
- As nice as the hydraulic disc brakes are, I was surprised that Moustache didn’t opt for 180 mm 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
- Very minor complaint here, but Moustache seems to have skipped a slap guard on the right chain stay, it’s not something you’d see easily because of the chain cover, but I think a clear sticker there could have been nice, just to keep the paint from getting chipped up and possibly reducing the wear on your chain of metal on metal contact, especially given the trail-setup of the tires here
Resources:
Kevin Willis
8 months agoI am really impressed by this e-bike. Most specifically I appreciate the motor and battery integration into the frame. You rarely see this on today’s e-bikes that have the Bosch CX Performance motor for such a “reasonable” price.
I have one main question. You stated/implied in your review and on the video that you were able to achieve speeds above the 20 mph motor limit by pedaling a little harder or faster. I did not know that this was possible! I thought that the motor basically stopped providing assistance at 20 mph? if it still provides assistance, I would be more inclined to purchase the CX motor over the HS one since there is a major difference in torque 15 newton meters squared – 75 to 63 – when comparing the two motors respectively?
Finally, would this be applicable to Riese and Muller e-bikes also? What about e-bikes like the Tinker that have a Nuvinci hub and a Gates carbon belt? Can I add a little speed and power to my ride on a flat rode and go faster than 20mph and still have assistance from the Bosch CX Performance motor?
ReplyCourt
8 months agoHi Kevin, these are great questions. I agree that the Moustache Samedi 27 XROAD 5 looks good and is priced well, and I do appreciate the extra torque and eMTB mode from the Bosch CX motor. Regarding speed, as soon as you pedal at 20 mph or higher, the motor completely stops assisting. It is as if you were riding the bike without turning the motor on… you can definitely pedal beyond 20 mph but all of the effort will come from you. I was easily able to reach ~29 mph because I was on smooth streets and am a strong cyclist. Compared to the Brose, Shimano, Yamaha, and most other mid-drive motors, the Bosch Performance Line (not the new Active Line) actually slows you down a bit because of the reduction gearing. The smaller sprocket has to spin 2.5x for each crank revolution that you turn and that produces some friction drag… but only a little bit. What you get from the CX is climbing power, a zippy feeling when you start out at zero, and up to 20 mph assistance with your own ability to pedal faster or coast down hills faster (I have gone over 40 mph on regular bicycles and ebikes when riding down large hills). I hope this helps clarify :)
ReplyWill
8 months agoHi Kevin, I totally agree with the semi integrated battery design. Clean and much more discreet.
I also agree with Court’s comments above. I just wanted to add that if you selected a Gates / Nuvinci set-up on the bike that pedaling with on your own human power above 20Mph / 32 Kph that it will require much more effort than a chain / derailleur set-up.
One of my bikes last year was the R&M Charger GT Nuvinci dual battery (equipped with the Gates belt) and trying to pedal the bike under human power, especially up hills was not as easy as a chain drive. True that the bike is heavier but the fact is the belt does cause some additional resistance.
With that being said, I am a BIG fan of the Nuvinci / gates setup and think it’s ideal for those riders who want a low maintenance, ultra quiet and simple to adjust system. So I do highly recommend that set-up.
Like I tell most of our customers, the HS sounds like a MUST have feature but the reality is that for most people, traveling 28 MPH / 45 KPH is not something they will do on a regular basis (yes there may be a few out there that do but not many). So if you are riding with other who don’t have an ebike or a speed ebike or live in an area where you will rarely go above 20 Mph / 32 Kph I would suggest sticking with the standard drive system. With all the mileage I do in my area (City and Urban riding) over the course of a season my average total speed 16.7 Mph!
Hope this helps,
ReplyWill from Scooteretti
Court
8 months agoGreat insights Will, thanks for sharing your perspective on belt drives and high speed vs. regular motors. You guys are experts and have more opportunities to ride and compare for extended periods than most customers will and even me. Hope you’re doing well :)
ReplyWill
8 months agoCourt,
Things are awesome here. With websites like yours, it really helps informs consumers about the choices available to them and help them narrow down some choices. Once they do it’s always great to chat with an experienced shop that rides and services the bike to help them select the right one.
Will from Scooteretti
Reply