Name: OHM Urban XU700 LS 16 Review
Item: OHM Urban XU700 LS 16
Author: Court Rye

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OHM Urban XU700 LS 16 Review

Ohm Urban Xu700 Ls 16 Electric Bike Review 1

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Bionx B 350 Gearless Hub Motor

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Removable Lithium Ion Battery With Integrated Led Light

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Ergonomic Grips Removable Backlit Lcd From Bionx

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Bionx 48 V 6 6 Ah Lithium Battery

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Bionx Gearless Direct Drive 350 Watt Hub Motor

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Fsa Aluminum Alloy Bash Guard

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Fsa Comet Crankset Hollow Bb

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Sram Powerglide 10 Speed Cassette

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Suntour Ncx Coil Spring With Lockout

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Pletscher Zoom Kickstand

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Tektro Auriga Comp 180 Mm Rotor

Ohm Xu700 Ls 16 Tektro Auriga Hydraulic Disc Brakes

A premium step-thru electric bike with fenders, rack, lights and suspension fork (with lockout) for under $3k
Reinforced hydro formed aluminum alloy frame is sturdier than other low-step models I've tested, the double-chain stayadds stiffness, available in three frame sizes for better fit and ergonomics
Heavier BionX P 350 motor offers more power for climbing but adds weight, battery is also mounted at the back of the bike and fairly high up, pack and display panel are removable for convenient transport and storage

Make:

OHM

Model:

Urban XU700 LS

Price:

$2,899 USD

Body Position:

Forward

Suggested Use:

Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Year Frame, 1 Year Components and Battery

Availability:

United States, Canada

Model Year:

2015

Total Weight:

50 lbs (22.67 kg)

Frame Material:

ADVANCE™ Hydroformed Aluminum

Frame Sizes:

15 in (38.1 cm)17 in (43.18 cm)19 in (48.26 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Small 15" (Recommended Rider Height < 5' 5", Wheel Base 1070 mm, Top Tube Length 560 mm, Reach 360 mm), Medium 17" (Recommended Rider Height 5' 5" to 5' 10", Wheel Base 1080 mm, Top Tube Length 570 mm, Reach 370 mm), Large 19" (Recommended Rider Height 5' 8" to 6' 2", Wheel Base 1100 mm, Top Tube Length 590 mm, Reach 390 mm)

Frame Types:

Step-Thru

Frame Colors:

Gray with White Accents

Frame Fork Details:

SR Suntour NCX Suspension with Lockout Adjust, Coil Spring

Attachment Points:

Fender Bosses, Rear Rack Bosses, Bottle Cage Bosses

Gearing Details:

10 Speed 1x10 SRAM VIA CENTRO, Exact Actuation™, WiFli+, SRAM PowerGlide™ 1070 Cassette 11-36T

Shifter Details:

SRAM VIA CENTRO Triggers on Right Bar

Cranks:

FSA Comet 7154, 48T, S/ M: 170 mm L/ XL: 175 mm

Pedals:

Wellgo M111, Aluminum forged, Anodized, CR-MO Spindle

Headset:

Ritchey Pro Logic Press Fit Taperd 1 1/8

Stem:

Zoom TDS, 35 Degree Rise, 31.8 mm Clamp

Handlebar:

Satori Deviant, 660 mm Wide, 10 Degree Sweep, 25 mm Rise, 31.8 mm Diameter

Brake Details:

Tektro Auriga Comp Hydraulic Disc, Post Mount, 180 mm Front Rotor, 160 mm Rear Rotor, Tektro Levers with Integrated Regenerative Brake Reed Switch

Grips:

SRAM GS Locking Grips, Ergonomic, Full Length 122 mm Length, Black

Saddle:

OHM Comfort I, Double Density Base, Zone Cut

Seat Post:

Satori ELEVATION OF

Seat Post Length:

300 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

30.9 mm

Rims:

ALEX EN24, 36H, Stainless Single Eyelets

Spokes:

Sapim Strong, 2.3 - 2.0 mm

Tire Brand:

Schwalbe Big Ben, 27.5" x 2"

Wheel Sizes:

27.5 in (69.85cm)

Tire Details:

Kevlar Guard, 50 EPI, Reflective Sidewall Stripes

Tube Details:

35-70 PSI

Accessories:

Full Length Polycarbonate Plastic Fenders with Mud Flaps, Pletscher Zoom Kickstand, FSA Bash Guard, Racktime Rear Carry Rack, Optional Integrated B&M IXON Core Front Light, Optional Abus Bordo 6000 Folding Lock, Optional Suntour NCX Suspension Seatpost

Other:

Internal Cable Routing, Post Mount Brakes, SRAM PowerLock™ PC1071 Chain, FSA BSA Sealed Cartridge Bottom Bracket

Motor Brand:

BionX, P 350 RL

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Gearless Direct Drive Hub

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

350 watts

Motor Torque:

40 Newton meters (9 Nm Nominal)

Battery Brand:

Panasonic

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

6.6 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

316.8 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium Manganese Cobalt

Charge Time:

5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

25 miles (40 km)

Estimated Max Range:

45 miles (72 km)

Display Type:

Removable Backlit LCD with Symmetrical Integrated Buttons for Right or Left Handed Users

Readouts:

4 Proportional Assist and Generate Modes, Lighting Controls, Battery Voltage, Trip Distance, Odometer, Chronometer, Average Speed, Clock

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad with Variable Speed Trigger Throttle

Drive Mode:

Torque Sensing Pedal Assist, Trigger Throttle

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)(Unless Otherwise Specified in Specific Jurisdictions)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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The OHM Urban XU700 LS (Low Step) comes in two different flavors for 2015 including a deep cut (shown in the video and images here) as well as a tight diamond. The difference is frame stiffness, weight distribution and ease of mounting and stand over. The deep cut (which is labeled as XU700 LS 16) has a much lower standover height but the saddle doesn’t go quite as far down as the LS 15. Both leverage the powerful BionX P 350 hub motor and offer pedal assist, regeneration and throttle mode! The LS 16 is priced at just under $3k which is very impressive given the solid two year warranty and purpose built frame (cables are integrated, the paint looks beautiful). You get some amazing accessories here including polycarbonate fenders, kevlar lined reflective tires, ergonomic grips and hydraulic disc brakes. For around-town use and commuting this is an excellent choice, it climbs well for a hub driven bike and is extremely quiet. The one downside is a smaller capacity battery pack that might not get you as far as something like the Kalkhoff Agattu Impulse 8 for $700 more. If you take the charger along and don’t mind the rear-heavy design vs. seat tube mid drive combination of Kalkhoff and some others, the XU700 can really be an amazing bike and if you do want to bring the weight down and have it balanced more centrally, the LS 15 can do that.

Powering this electric bike is a time-tested gearless, direct drive hub motor produced by BionX. It’s not the newest design in their lineup and that means it’s a bit heavier and not as aesthetically pleasing but it’s actually more powerful than the latest S or D-Series designs. This standard P 350 contains more copper winding and is a better climber which is why the New Wheel in San Francisco carries it. With a gearless motor like this, operating at 350 watts nominal, you get a sturdy platform that should perform well over many years of use. Inside there are large permanent magnets that repel against an electromagnetic stater. This is why it operates so quietly and also why it doesn’t tend to wear out as quickly, nothing touches besides the bearings at the axle. A huge benefit of gearless hub motors like this is the potential for offering regenerative braking and BionX has done that with the P 350. You get four levels of regen mode (great for capturing energy while coasting down large hills) and regenerative braking activated by the e-bike specific Tektro brake levers. It’s a sweet setup but the motor does weigh a bit more than if it were gearless and it’s also larger visually.

Powering the motor, display and optional lighting system is a powerful Lithium-ion battery. As mentioned earlier, this pack slides into the rear rack system (which protects it) but adds to the rear-heavy nature of the bike. This can lead to a feeling of “crack the whip” on some similar bikes that don’t have reinforced frames. During my time testing the XU700 LS 16 however, it felt very stiff and sturdy. Just look at that reinforced downtube and double chain stay setup in the rear! It’s a good design and I was surprised at how light it was, ~50 lbs depending on the size you get. One potential negative to this battery pack (especially in combination with a hub motor) is decreased range. There are 6.6 amp hours of capacity in the pack and depending on the terrain, your speed and the weight of your person and cargo you might only get 25 miles per charge. OHM estimates up to 50 and regeneration does help to reach these higher numbers but there is some cogging as you coast (magnets repelling in the motor) and if you use the throttle a lot the bike just won’t go as far. If you want to maximize range, I suggest using one of the two lower levels of assist. This bike has a torque sensor that measures when and how hard you pedal so it’s actually more efficient and is truly capable depending on how you ride.

Operating this and other BionX powered OHM ebikes is very intuitive. You can charge the battery on or off the frame and once it’s locked into the rack (or downtube if you got the LS 15) the display can be activated by pressing the top left button. This display is pretty amazing… it’s symmetrical to be user friendly by left or right handed riders and it’s also removable and mounted to a swivel base (to reduce glare). I love it, you can easily see which mode you’re in and the backlighting makes use in dark conditions very easy. In addition to touching the four display mounted buttons there is also a small ring of +/- and throttle that is setup near the right grip by default. This ring is very easy to reach without compromising your grip and the variable speed throttle (the little red bit) feels smooth and responsive. Do note however, that you cannot use the throttle without pedaling the bike past 2 mph. This is a safety feature built into all BionX systems. The cockpit is very clean overall and you’ve also got traditional bike interfaces such as brake levers (hydraulic in fact, which are very easy and smooth to activate) along with a ten speed trigger shifter on the right.

I tested the XU700 LS for a bit without knowing the price and when I found out how low it was, I was really impressed. This is a quality build and fun extras like the bottle opener on the rack and flick bell made me smile. The color is cool and professional and it rides really well. These days, with so many purpose built ebikes becoming available I usually ding the rear rack battery thing pretty hard but OHM has effectively designed around it with their reinforced stiff frame. It’s still rear heavy but being able to remove the battery easily helps during transport and the rack is super functional. This deep-cut low step design could work well for some shorter riders or those who enjoy wearing dresses and skirts. I love the tires and the suspension fork is nice, you even get the option to upgrade with an SR Suntour NCX seat post suspension (though you could add this to any bike if you wanted). The ergonomic grips feel good and the integrated light on the battery pack keeps you safe even if you don’t pay for the optional headlight (maybe add a simple battery powered one to be safe?) All in all, it’s a very thoughtful design and a great value. This would be a fun urban bike for grocery getting or commuting. The body position I experienced (being 5’9″ and using the Medium frame) was somewhere between upright and forward… it really depends on how you adjust the bars and seat height. This isn’t a cruiser but it’s not so aggressive that you get a sore neck and back from leaning forward.

Pros:

Available in three frame sizes for improved fit from 5’ 3” up to 6’ 2”
One of the stiffer step-thru ebikes I’ve tried (especially considering that it’s rear heavy with the motor and battery in the back), the hydroformed frame and double chain stay helps a lot
Great utility features including full length fenders, a standard sized rack (works with most clip-on panniers) and upgraded kevlar lined reflective tires
Optional integrated headlight (backlight is built in), optional folding lock and suspension seat post are great for commuters
Hollow bottom bracket is light and stiff, tough chain guard (bash guard) protects the chainring and keeps your pants clean
Nice unisex color choice, integrated cables are beautiful, fun bottle opener at the base of the carry rack
Ohm has a solid reputation and offers a great two year warranty, the drive system from BionX is also well supported and offers everything you could want… assist, regen and throttle mode
Suspension fork with lockout emphasizes comfort or range, ergonomic grips are nice, removable battery and display for transport or parking outdoors
Nice bottle cage (or lock/pump) threaded eyelets on the downtube, just be careful not to get snagged on this area if you add an accessory
Considering the great options and high quality systems on this ebike the price is very reasonable

Cons:

Fairly rear heavy given the older style P 350 motor (with extra copper for improved torque) and rear rack with battery
Powerful 48 volt battery that is efficient and good for climbing but smaller capacity with 6.6 amp hours for a minimum range in the 20’s, regenerative braking can help as well as pedal assist vs. throttle

Resources:

Official Site: https://ohmcycles.com/
More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/uyvXZz2Lywzn5j15A

January 29, 2024 (11 months ago)

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Andy

9 years ago

Court, Thank you for your consistently great reviews. May I request a review of the Ohm XU 700 16? This is their diamond shaped frame with the 500 watt motor and 11.6 amp hour battery. It is for commuting. Thanks for considering my request. And thank you for this website! Best regards, Andy

Court Rye

Hi Andy! I’ll keep an eye out, there is one other OHM review on its way. I just stumbled across this bike at the New Wheel in San Francisco and they didn’t have the standard XU 700 in stock. I do plan on visiting OHM at some point and will do my best to review all of their bikes when that comes together :)