OHM Urban XU700 16 Review

The XU700 is one of OHM’s most popular electric bikes, it’s an urban model designed for speed, efficiency and utility. Compared to older versions, the 16 model offers a rigid stem and customized saddle… I see a lot of entry-level ebikes that are priced lower than the XU700 but don’t deliver the same ride quality or ergonomic fit. The welding isn’t as clean, the stem might be weaker and the disc brakes are mechanical and more prone to squeaking. Even things like tires and racks just aren’t as solid and durable… and that’s what you get from OHM here, but it does cost more. This is a platform that’s completely built out. You really don’t need anything extra to manage rain or to transport cargo or ride at night. The best part is that all of the accessories on the bike were specifically chosen to match and perform at a high level. The rack offers 30 kg of carrying capacity instead of just 25, the suspension fork offers 100 mm of travel and has rebound, lockout and air pressure adjustments, the lights are integrated (they run off of the main battery) and the fenders are supported with extra struts. If you’re a commuter who wants to ride a bit faster and top hills with relative ease then this is a great platform. Aesthetically, the bike looks great to me but the unique D-Series hub motor from BionX is larger and that’s going to stand out a bit. The XU700 is only available in the high-step frame but if you’re a bit shorter or prefer step-thru they do offer an XU700 LS option that’s very similar (and uses a smaller more discreet motor).

Driving this electric bike is a time-tested gearless, direct drive hub motor produced by BionX. It’s their top of the line D-Series 500 watt design with extra wide but narrow build for improved climbing power. It’s actually lighter than the smaller P-Series and similar to the S-Series. At ~8.8 lbs it’s still not “light” compared to an internally geared hub motor and that’s because it uses large magnets to produce power instead of gears. The end result is a product that’s more durable and capable of regenerative braking but also not as efficient for coasting. This motor (as with most of the gearless hubs I test) doesn’t freewheel and you experience a tiny bit of drag due to cogging (the magnets repel the stater inside the casing). In practice, it’s not something I notice much but I feel compelled to highlight the differences. Ultimately, I appreciate this innovative design and like that they matched the plastic shell to the spokes and rim (all in black). The torque sensor for pedal assist is built right into the hub which keeps it protected and might also make maintenance easier. The rear end of the bike is fairly standard with 135 mm drop out width and a cassette that slides onto a spline. If you need to do maintenance there are two quick connectors for power and they are both well positioned under the left chainstay. I feel like they stay out of the way and overall the rear end of the bike is narrow and sleak.

Powering the motor, display and headlight/tail-light combo is a powerful Lithium-ion battery with quality Samsung cells. This pack fits neatly and securely onto the downtube which keeps weight low and centered on the frame. Unlike most aftermarket conversions with BionX (or other) e-bike kits, the mounting rail on the OHM Urban XU700 uses three bolts for added durability. It might be overkill on an urban electric bike (just like the oversized tapered head tube and 15 mm thru-axle on the front wheel) but I’ll take it! This thing handles well on packed trails and grass and the kevlar-lined tires should hold up better if you encounter thorns. The pack locks to the mounting bracket securely and has a flip-up lever on top making it easy to carry around. I like the design and matching black color with OHM decals, this is a purpose built electric bike and even though it’s using a third party battery and motor system they look great together. I also appreciate the internally routed power cables because they don’t get snagged as easily. Inside the pack are 18650 Samsung cells offering 48 volts of power and 11.6 amp hours of capacity which is pretty great (especially if you use regen). If you want to maximize range, I suggest using one of the two lower levels of assist and you can extend the life of the pack by storing it in a cool dry location at a 20% to 80% charge level. Check on it every few months and top it off if you haven’t used it.

One of my favorite parts about the BionX electric bike system is the user interface. Once the battery pack is charged and seated properly you can activate the bike by pressing the top left or right button on the display pad. You’ll see a speed and battery level readout but most of the screen is used for assist levels. There are four bars on the left (denoting regeneration level) and four bars on the right (denoting assist level). It’s super intuitive and easy to read… the remote button pad near the right grip makes changing levels easy and safe. You don’t have to take your hand off the grip to interact with the drive system and you can override assist with the variable speed throttle at any time. I tend to ride in lower levels of assist for exercise and efficiency then jump in with the throttle to scale hills or pass people. The only caveat to the throttle system is that the bike must be rolling ~2 mph before it can activate, this is a safety feature designed to reduce accidents. On that note, I recommend always turning the system off (by pressing the power button) before removing the battery or loading the bike onto a car/bus/train. I like the charger that’s included because it’s small and light weight ~1.5 lbs so you can easily bring it along for a quick top-off. There’s a 10 minute timer built into the bicycle controller so you hear a “beep” when you’ve parked and it automatically powers down. I love that the display panel is removable, the mount for it swivels to reduce glare and that there’s an integrated brake lever motor cutoff + regen! Many ebikes with pedelec sensors have two motor inhibitors but that’s partially because they aren’t as responsive as torque sensors (like the system on this bike). At any time, when you tap the right brake lever (even partially) the motor will act as a generator and recapture energy at ~15% efficiency. It’s kind of neat and it will help reduce wear on your brake pads while extending range.

The XU700 is really well designed and outfitted, it’s a solid electric bike that’s clean, quiet and durable. It costs more than some of the other city bikes I’ve seen with similar motor and battery power specs but most of them lack the fenders, racks, lights, upgraded saddles, 10 speed cassette etc. etc. and this stuff is all high-end on the XU700. Not everyone cares about these upgrades but they aren’t trivial. I love that in addition to the frame size options OHM also offers a line of accessories guaranteed to work with their bikes and I’m a big fan of the optional Suntour NCX seat post suspension. This thing costs an additional ~$130 but definitely smooths out the ride and compliments the suspension fork nicely. As someone who prefers a comfortable and safe upright position for city riding but doesn’t enjoy the jarring feel of potholes, cracks and other obstacles the XU700 with the suspension post is perfect. Yes, there are mid-drive ebikes available now that offer similar climbing power but very few have throttles, they tend to be noisier and the don’t have as much top-end power. Hub motors can be great, especially on a hardtail bike like this… If you live somewhere with smooth roads you can always lock out the front fork to reduce bobbing and increase efficiency but I usually leave it open. OHM designs their own frames and works closely with BionX to choose drive systems that will match the type of riding for each bike and I think they did a great job here.

Pros:

• One of the highest torque hub motors I’ve tested, the larger diameter allows it to be thinner and it’s actually lighter than some lower watt motors due to the unique casing and spoke design (spokes connect to the inner hub and not the perimeter of the motor casing)
• High quality wheels and tires, you get kevlar lined Schwalbe Big Ben’s with reflective sidewalls (extra large for improved comfort and durability) in 27.5″ size which is a nice happy medium that works well with suspension but is also efficient and steady over bumps
• The battery pack and display panel are both removable which makes the bike lighter during transport and also deters wear and theft when parked outside or in public spaces
• The display panel is backlit for use in limited light and symmetrical so people who are left or right handed can interact with it more comfortably, it also swivels front to back to reduce glare
• I really like how intuitive the display panel is on the BionX system, you’ve got four regen modes, four assist modes and a throttle that works at all times and offers variable speed output, it’s clean and intuitive
• Great accessories here including full length plastic fenders (with mudflaps and extra struts for strength), a rear rack, nice adjustable kickstand, bell, locking grips and integrated lights
• Available in four frame sizes for improved fit, the sloped top tube is nice when standing over the frame but is still very strong and stiff
• High-end suspension fork with lockout, great hydraulic disc brakes which are easy to actuate using just two fingers (they include motor inhibitors as well)
• Quality drivetrain, SRAM Via GT with 10 cogs, shifts quickly and smoothly, offers a good range for climbing or riding at higher speeds
• The hollow spindle saves weight, outboard bearings create stiffness in power transfer while pedaling and the chainring has a plastic guide to keep the chain on track and an aluminum bash guard to protect teeth from impact and your pants from getting greasy :)
• Pedal assist is activated through a torque sensor which means it is very smooth and responsive, this also means you need to push a bit more and pedal actively to get it working in lower assist levels

Cons:

• The bike easily accelerates to 20 mph in throttle mode but then cuts out kind of abruptly, it would be nice if it eased off more smoothly… you can go faster than 20 if you’re pedaling along
• The gearless motor is heavier than a geared equivalent and makes the bike more back-heavy (especially with the rack), the mid-mount battery helps even it out
• The motor casing is fairly large and obvious, it doesn’t hide behind the cassette and disc brake rotor as well as some of the smaller geared designs and can catch more crosswind
• Because the motor is gearless and direct drive there is some cogging drag that reduces coasting efficiency, thankfully regen helps to recapture some of this energy at ~15% efficiency
• For safety, the BionX kit is designed to limit throttle use until the bike is moving ~2 mph, this isn’t exactly a con but I wanted to mention it
• The fenders are very useful but if you are pedaling and making a tight turn it’s possible to kick the front fender because of the larger wheel size at 27.5″ also the bolt-on rack might need to be checked and tightened occasionally to make sure it isn’t rattling loose vs. a welded-on rack

Resources:

• Official Site: https://ohmcycles.com/
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/55W2EfrjAPUxhzo7A