2016 Raleigh Misceo iE Review

The 2016 Raleigh Misceo iE is a sporty city bike that could be used for road riding or commuting. The geometry is a bit more aggressive with a flatter handle bar, standard round grips and a firm saddle but it comes in four sizes and offers a carbon fiber fork to improve fit and address vibration (the frame is all Aluminum). Compared to the 2015 version you now get automatic shifting by default (people who have a 2015 model can take their ebike into a certified Shimano dealer to get the firmware upgrade) along with a thicker seat post, longer frame with box tubing on the seat stays and chain stays for improved lateral stiffness, the motor has been tipped down and is now horizontal like the other Shimano STePs powered Raleigh bikes vs. a 45 degree angle in 15″ and you get a pare of bottle cage braze-ons on the seat tube!

The frame improvements seem to have added ~2 pounds over the 2015 model but this is still a light weight electric bike at just 43.5 lbs (depending on the frame size you get, I was riding the Medium ~17″). Amazingly, the price tag is lower than 2015 as well with a listed price of $2,699 and you still get the two year comprehensive lifetime frame warranty. Other highlights for me are the quick release front wheel, removable battery and display (and just how easy the display is to navigate for things like disabling backlighting or the beeps) and the carbon fork. Some of the challenges I encountered include having to remove the battery for charging vs. leaving it on the frame.

The motor driving this bike is plenty powerful with a peak output at 500 watts and 50 Nm of torque, it responds proportionally to your pedaling input but also senses cadence so it’s not just as tiring to use and can be operated at slower speeds if you just pedal more gently (perhaps in crowded areas). With three levels of assist the range can per charge can be upwards of 50 miles if you’re on paved surfaces with higher tire pressure (up to 85 PSI) but the ride is stiffer… I’d probably grab a Body Float seat post suspension and 27.2 mm to 30.9 mm shim to make it work (Thudbuster also has a short travel suspension post that’s less expensive but also less responsive). There’s no throttle on this bike, you always have to pedal but that keeps it Class 1 (legally permitted in more locations) and this is the only Shimano STePs powered electric bicycle I’ve tested with shift detection! That’s due to the electronic shifting which is powered by the same battery and interacts with the motor. Similar shift sensing technology comes stock on Bosch and Impulse powered ebikes and helps to reduce chain, sprocket and gear wear. You can hear it in action during the test ride in the video review above.

Pros:

• Fast and efficient wheels and tires, a more aggressive geometry with low-rise straight bar and carbon fiber fork for a sporty responsive feel
• Improved frame geometry over 2015, the bike has been slightly elongated, the motor is horizontal vs. 45° angle and the rear stays have been transitioned from circular tubing to box which is stiffer – reducing lateral flex (side to side)
• The Shimano Alfine 8 speed internally geared uses a compact electronic shifter that does not protrude beyond the frame so it’s more protected if it tips or is scraped against other bikes at the rack
• Nice looking paint (but only available in one color, metallic blue) with black accents on the frame and black hubs, spokes, rims, bar, saddle and grips, the cables are internally routed for improved aesthetic and fewer snags
• The carbon fiber fork should reduce vibration when riding and helps to keep the overall weight down, I also like that the front wheel uses quick release for easy transport
• Plenty of mounting points for adding a rear rack, fenders and a bottle cage, folding lock or mini-presta pump to adapt to your environment and ride style (road riding vs. commuting)
• Excellent two year comprehensive warranty and with lifetime on the frame, the price has been dropped since the 2015 model and is now more inline with competing offerings
• Very light weight at ~43.5 pounds… though it’s a bit heavier than 2015 due to the reinforced, elongated frame and larger seat post diameter
• The battery pack is locking, removable and only weighs ~5.8 pounds! I love that it fits on the downtube keeping weight low and centered but they still made room for bottle cage braze-ons
• Quick release front and seat post for doing maintenance or adjusting fit on the go, I’d remove the front wheel and turn the bars sideways to fit in a car or smaller elevator
• Quality hydraulic disc brakes from Shimano with medium sized 160 mm rotors for easy smooth stops, should reduce wrist fatigue, two-finger pull levers
• Available in four frame sizes to suit a range of rider heights and leg lengths, I noticed the top tube is more nicely curved than it was in 2015 and the geometry is slightly less aggressive (seat tube and head tube seem more forward angled than before)
• I was told that the bike comes with a kickstand and the demo model I reviewed had one! As someone who parks at shops and leaves his bike in the garage I like having it… it’s easy to take off but can be tricky to find a good matching kickstand to start
• 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
• Automatic shifting is a neat feature and I love that the 2015 model can get it with a firmware upgrade! It’s cool that you can also set the default gear to switch back to at rest and use manual shifting easily with the black button on the right button pad
• It’s neat that the two electronic button pads are basically the sam and can be swapped right or left based on your preference, I found the menus simple to navigate and understand (hold the up and down arrows to ender settings to disable the beep, disable backlighting and change auto shift rpm activation)

Cons:

• This ebike is more efficient and offers great power transfer but the tires are high pressure (50 to 85 PSI) so bumpy streets can feel a bit jarring, the fork is carbon fiber which helps with vibration but the saddle is firm, consider an aftermarket seat post suspension like the Body Float or Thudbuster with 30.9 mm diameter
• 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
• 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 and reducing air resistance at higher speeds compared with a speed-pedelec
• 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