2016 Raleigh Detour iE Review

The 2016 Raleigh Detour iE looks similar to the 2015 model but switches up the drive system moving from a 500 watt gearless direct-drive hub motor to a 250 watt mid-drive geared design… that peaks at 500 watts. In short, it will offer greater range because it leverages the same cassette you do when you pedal (for efficient climbing or reaching ~20 mph) and there’s no cogging as you get with direct drive motors. That is, drag produced internally by magnets lining the hub motor casing repelling the electromagnetic staters. With this mid-drive motor Shimano has delivered one of the most compact, lightest weight ebike drive systems on the market and while it does not offer shift-sensing (unless you’ve got Di2 electronic gear shifting) it still operates well and won’t mash gears as much when you ease off of the pedals because it relies on a combination of torque and cadence sensing vs. mostly torque. I was impressed with how quietly it operated and just how light the battery pack was ~5.6 lbs vs. 7+ lbs on many others with similar capacity. It’s an average sized battery but should offer 50+ miles of range if you use Eco or possibly Normal assist mode and aren’t scaling large hills or fighting the wind constantly. I love the menus on the display panel (and that you can hold the up and down arrows to enter settings-mode and shut off the beeping noises and backlighting) but wish it were slightly larger for easier reading. The display unit is removable (just like the battery pack) but one gripe with the battery is that it has to be taken off in order to be charged. The charger is small and light weight at ~1.7 pounds so it would be easy to take along on commutes for charging at the office.

This is the lightest weight (by ~5 pounds), most efficient and most affordable Raleigh Detour iE model to date and it’s approachable for tall and short riders alike with the step-thru frame vs. the high-step that I reviewed in the video above. With the step-thru model, the saddle can be dropped super low (especially if you get the smallest 15 inch frame) and stand over height is just ~19 inches. For larger riders, the high-step will be stiffer and sturdier but take care mounting it as you could conk or scrape your knee and leg in the process. I love that both models come with bottle cage bosses, plastic fenders and a rear rack… and that the rack features bungee-clip holes near the lower mounting point for use with clip-on panniers like these. The only question mark for me with this electric bicyle would be comfort because despite the more upright body position, sweeping bars and enlarged saddle, there’s no suspension. Consider adding a seat-post suspension and make sure you get 30.9 mm diameter or use a shim. Body Float makes an excellent product (get the 27.2 mm version and a shim like this) but Thudbusters are less expensive and come in a long travel and short travel design to suite your needs. Be sure to crank the seat tube ring tightly if you do use a suspension post because in my experience the post will slowly drop down as your body weight bounces up and down over bumps.

Pros:

• Relatively light weight at ~49 lbs considering the fenders, larger handle bar, ergonomic grips and comfort saddle – the mid-drive motor brings some of the weight forward and down balancing out the rack-mount battery
• The battery pack is locking, removable and only weighs ~5.6 pounds! I like how narrow and small it is and appreciate the surround-rack for carrying a trunk bag or panniers
• Quick release wheels and seat post for doing maintenance or adjusting fit on the go, I like the swept-back bars and comfort grips which offer a more upright ride experience if you so desire
• Internally routed cables keep the frame looking clean, beautiful paint job (silver or gloss white on the low-step), I like the thin chain guard and appreciate that it’s color matched to the frame
• Quality hydraulic disc brakes from Shimano with medium sized 160 mm rotors for easy smooth stops, should reduce wrist fatigue
• Available in high-step and step-thru frame designs to accommodate a wide range of riders (some who prefer frame stiffness and don’t mind stepping high and others who might not have that flexibility), you also get three sizes to choose from including 15″, 17″ and 19″
• Sturdy kickstand keeps the bike upright, integrated plastic handle on the saddle makes it easier to maneuver the bike at racks and you get braze-ons for mounting a bottle cage, folding lock or mini-pump
• Just like the battery pack, the display panel is removable for safe storage… I like that it’s also easy to adjust (hold the up and down arrows simultaneously to enter the menu) so you can mute the beeping noise or turn off back lighting
• Solid nine speed cassette using Shimano Acera components with a plastic chain guide on the chainring to keep pedaling on track, it’s enough gears to climb or hit 20+ miles per hour easily

Cons:

• The battery pack has an on/off button that is used to power cycle the bike vs. doing it up at the button pad and you have to completely remove the battery in order to charge it which increases the potential for drops and just takes extra time
• This ebike is more efficient because it uses a larger diameter wheelset measuring 700c (~28 inches) circumference and the tires are fairly narrow at 35c (~1.375 inches) width so bumpy streets can feel a bit jarring, the fork is aluminum and there’s no suspension seat post or springs or elastomers on the saddle, consider an aftermarket seat post suspension like the Body Float or Thudbuster with 30.9 mm diameter
• Pedal assist only electric bike with no way to add a boost button or twist throttle, this keeps it rated at Class 1 which is usable in the most locations and also extends range by making you contribute to the ride
• The Shimano STePs display panel uses a smaller LCD display unit than Bosch, Yamaha, TranzX and some other leading suppliers so reading your speed and settings isn’t quite as easy for near-sighted folks like myself

Resources:

• Official Site: https://www.raleighusa.com/electric
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/wFDVer7FE7M5bw3b8