The Redux iE has quickly become my favorite electric bike in the Raleigh lineup… but it feels like an abusive relationship because the high speed and rigid all-Aluminum frame take a toll on my wrists, arms, back, neck and backside when the terrain gets rough. This isn’t unique to the Redux, and in fact the fatter tires and anti-shock seat post and stem all aim to address it, but you still feel it at times. Thankfully, there are plenty of suspension seat post options to explore out there that would further reduce jar and the bike is otherwise, awesome! I loved how sleek and stealthy the frame looked before I even hopped on. The motor and battery are integrated into the tubing very well and practically disappear. Its all-black color scheme (all the way down to the spokes and rims) help the cables blend in at the entry points and most of them are internally routed. A lot of manufacturers have tried to imitate and beat Stromer (a brand known for sexy high-speed urban electric bikes) and for me, the Redux iE comes very close. By comparison, it’s lighter weight, offers better balance and is much more affordable despite being a little louder and not offering regenerative braking, fenders, a rack or lights. So perhaps the price difference on the Redux iE and some of the lower-level Stromer ST1 models is to be expected. But you do get the attachment points for fenders, bottle cage and a rack here if you want to add them yourself. And the display interface is very nice looking and removable, it even has a full sized USB port near the base that could power a headlight, music player or other electronic device mounted to the handlebar. In short, I’d probably add that light and consider upgrading the tires to a model with reflective sidewall stripes and even adding some black reflective stickers to the frame because this electric bicycle is so fast and quiet you might surprise automobile drivers.
Driving the bike is a Brose mid-drive motor that is seamlessly integrated at the bottom bracket area of the frame. It’s one of the most compact e-bike motor systems around right now and also one of the smartest. Its controller measures rear wheel speed, pedal cadence and pedal torque to deliver quick power. And it offers up to 90 Newton meters of torque which is the more than the Bosch CX and Yamaha drives despite having a 250 watt nominal output rating. It peaks above 500 watts as the highest assist level is selected and your RPM climbs. I had no problem hitting the 28 mph top assisted speed and yet I didn’t hear the same whining or electronic whirring noises that other systems produce. Brose uses a belt drive to transfer power from a planetary gearing system inside the casing which removes vibration and limits sound. You can see this in the video review above and frankly, I couldn’t believe how quiet it was after watching the footage. Even when the camera was close and I was pedaling hard, the motor sounded soft. Without fenders and a rack, there isn’t much else to rattle around and the battery has rubber interface points to keep it from rattling as well (though I did notice one of the pieces was coming unseated during my test, it was easy enough to squish back in and did not look like it would fall out easily).
The battery pack is equally impressive aside from weight. At roughly 6.8 pounds it’s average and I’m guessing the Aluminum casing is what raises it above some of the 5.7 lb 500 watt hour packs offered by other manufacturers. It seats into the downtube from the top vs. the bottom which seems safer to me. It clicks in easily and locks automatically without using the key. At the base, there’s a pair of ridges that help you pull the pack up and this is also where the circular power button is. towards the very top of the pack, a charging interface with magnetic cap can be found and BE CAREFUL not to lose this little cap. It doesn’t have a string or rubber connection leash like most others and is very easy to misplace. This charging location is excellent because it keeps the sensitive pins far away from water, dust and mud. You use the same port to charge the pack whether it’s on or off the bike and the 2.5 Amp charger is slightly faster than average and reasonably light at just under two pounds. The magnetic Energy Bus charging standard is cool because the plug pops out if you trip on the cord… which could prevent the bike from tipping. And I do like that they included a kickstand here and that it’s mounted far out of the way towards the rear wheel near the disc brake on the left. When you’ve got a fast ebike like this, even though it’s relatively light weight at ~58 lbs, you want good brakes and the Shimano hydraulic 180/160 mm setup here does just fine.
Operating the bike is very intuitive, just charge and mount the battery then press the circular power button at the base. For me, the display turned on instantly without having to press the second rubber power button located on the top edge. Perhaps this is a sleep button because it did turn off the display temporarily during my experimentation… but then it came back on as I started to pedal? In any case, you have a menu button on the side of the display and on the control pad near the left grip. This cycles through trip stats like odometer, trip meter, timer and clock but I did not see a range estimator. Too bad because thosse are fun to experiment with (Bosch and Yamaha usually have them). What you do get is a ten bar battery graphic which is much more precise than the four or five bar readouts on most models. Battery percentage would be even more useful but I’ll take what I can get! The primary interaction with this display is using the up and down arrows on the control pad, cycling through Off, Cruise, Tour and Sport assist levels. Sport will get you up to speed faster but draws down the battery quicker as well. I found myself riding in Tour most of the time when not filming. It felt natural and I was expecting to maximize range this way by hovering in the low 20’s. Any time you ride above ~20 mph the efficiency of the bike drops way down due to air resistance. It’s like an exponential drop… but you should still expect a decent range thanks to the larger battery capacity, rigid fork and efficient tires… especially if you wear a helmet like this!
Kudos to Raleigh for designing one of the more attractive and capable urban speed pedelecs I’ve seen on the market this year. Hovering around the $3k mark, this feels like a more affordable option but doesn’t cut corners. For me, it’s important to have a removable display panel and so many ebikes don’t offer that. I don’t want the sun, rain or fellow cyclists damaging my stuff at the rack and I don’t want to damage it myself by tripping over a cable etc. Comfort and road control at higher speeds are the two areas where you compromise with the lack of suspension. The tires, suspension post and stem make a difference but it’s not enough for me… so I’d definitely explore some options. Had it come with a suspension fork, weight would have gone up, power transfer down and the price wouldn’t be so tempting. A younger version of me would have been floored by this bike, and even now, I see how awesome it would be on smooth pavement… it’s worth noting that I don’t ride on road bikes as much now either, for the same reasons. The Redux delivers on a range of ride experiences and is one of a limited mid-drive Class 3 ebikes available right now. It’s also easier to find because Raleigh dealers are widespread and their two year warranty is solid. Big thanks to Raleigh for partnering with me on this review and the Accell Group for hosting me at their headquarters so I could test ride it and other models back to back.
Pros:
- The Redux is a great starter platform for sporty urban commuting, it has bottle cage bosses and mounting points for a rear rack, you could also add fenders
- As a Class 3 electric bike, you get motor assist up to 28 mph which is perfect for people who enjoy faster rides or have a tight schedule
- Relatively light weight at ~48 lbs considering it has a 500 watt hour battery pack, the triangle on the frame is very wide and open making it easier to lift and carry
- I was amazed at how quiet it rides, the motor, the battery mount, the chain etc. don’t produce a lot of humming or rattling
- Thru-axles keep the wheels stiff and support larger tires, this allows you and the motor to transfer energy more efficiently into the bike but also get some comfort on bumpy terrain
- You get an anti-shock stem and seat post which are designed to reduce vibration and discomfort because of the all-Aluminum frame and rigid fork
- Minor detail, but I like the kickstand they chose because it stays out of the way and looks nice,
it’s slightly fatter than other stands and holds the bike well - The battery, display panel and both wheels are easy to remove which is great for transporting the bike, fixing flats on the go or charging / protecting sensitive parts away from the bike rack
- Some electric bicycles are notorious for dropping the chain while riding on rough terrain (my Uncle owns the Stromer ST1 Limited and it falls off all the time for him) but Raleigh has used a chain guide (two plates sandwiching the chainring to keep the chain on track)
- The pedals are large, stiff and have metal nubs on top to improve traction, as a guy with medium-sized feet I appreciate these over cheaper cage style platform pedals
- Three frame sizes to choose from to improve fit and ride comfort, I was on the small frame for this review, there is only one frame style (high-step) so consider stand-over height, Raleigh has a large dealer network in the US so you can probably find and test ride this bike easier than some other brands
- Excellent weight distribution and a sweet appearance thanks to mid-drive motor and downtube-integrated battery, they blend in perfectly with the black color scheme
- Hydraulic disc brakes offer good stopping power and the adjustable reach levers are good for large and small riders with different length fingers (or if you wear gloves)
- The Brose motor is relatively quiet and smooth thanks to a transfer belt inside, it’s not just plastic and metal gears next to each other
- The battery can be charged on or off the bike, the port is magnetic so the plug will pop out without tipping the frame and won’t damage the interface and it’s located in a spot that isn’t in the way of the crank arms like a lot of other electric bicycles I test and review
- Full sized USB port the base of the display mount would allow you to charge a mobile phone, music player or headlight while riding
- I like that the battery pack seats in from the top vs. the bottom because it’s less likely to drop and generally easier to work with here
- The display panel is large, easy to read and comfortable to use because of the remote button pad located near the left grip, you can adjust assist without looking down as you get some practice
Cons:
- While the antishock stem and seat post reduce vibration a little bit, I’d consider getting a longer-travel 31.6 mm seat post suspension like those offered by BodyFloat to improve comfort further
- I like that the bash guard / chain guide plates are punched out to reduce weight but my shoe lace got caught in there at one point and nearly tripped me up, perhaps a different pattern with larger holes would prevent this sort of thing?
- Be careful with ebike in dark riding conditions because it’s all black, the tires don’t have reflective sidewall stripes and it doesn’t come with lights (you do get standard plastic reflectors in the pedals and wheel spokes)
- Considering that you don’t get any of the accessories that this bike could use (fenders, lights,
rear rack) I was a little surprised at the price point, it seems slightly high - Keep an eye on the little rubber cap used to cover the magnetic charging interface at the top of the battery, this rubber protector doesn’t have a leash and can easily be set down and lost if you don’t keep an eye on it
- The battery pack weighs more than some competing 500 watt hour packs, 6.8 lbs vs. 5.7 lbs on the Bosch Powerpack 500, this may be due to the metal casing and unique in-frame design
- I did not see a range estimator menu like some of the other ebikes are offering but do appreciate the 10-bar battery infographic, it’s more precise than the 4 or 5-bar menus that are common
- Brose mid-drive motors do not offer shift sensing at this time so it’s best to reduce pedal pressure when changing gears, this reduces mashing and wear on the chain, sprockets and derailleur
- The larger pedals are great for power transfer and traction but if you turn while pedaling or leave your inside crank arm down you can make contact with the ground so be careful
Resources:
- Official Site: https://www.raleighusa.com/electric
- More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/an2Q7gueruLQYLgh7
Shaggy says
Court, can you comment on the pedal cadence of this vs the Bosch system? Does Brose allow you to spin enough for your needs?
Court Rye says
Hi Shaggy! Yeah, the Brose system offers a higher supported cadence than Yamaha in my experience, I currently own a Specialized Turbo Levo with the same drivetrain and don’t feel like I have to shift in order to get maximum power and speed… if anyone else here knows the actual RPM rating I’d love to hear. I haven’t seen it anywhere and have explored their website (here’s an interesting page with some cool render videos).
Carter says
Hey, Court. Great review, wish the Redux had integrated lights and fenders, tho. Hey, there’s a forum thread on your site where a number of folks have suggested that the Brose mid-drive provides noticeably less assist than motors from other manufacturers. They’re talking about mountain bikes, and maybe those motors are tuned differently than those on road bikes (which is where my interest lies.) But after reading your favorable review of the Redux with a Brose motor, and with the Brose-powered Specialized Vado to be released soon, I wonder if you might weigh in on this issue.
Court Rye says
Hi Carter, my experience with Brose has been great. It’s quiet, smooth and very powerful if you shift gears appropriately. Though, now the Bosch CX drive offers an eMTB mode which is very zippy. It’s quick and offers a wide range from low power to high power without arrowing up and that’s pretty cool. The downside is more noise and the unique smaller sprocket which is designed to reduce drops but can also suffer from chain suck. Given your stated needs for on-road, I think the Vado or other Brose powered model would be great.
mike says
I’ve put about 330 miles on this bike so far, so figured I’d drop some thoughts for anyone else considering
Background: Male, 5’9, 150 lbs, 30 y/o, no real biking since teenage years. I liked this bike because its a speed pedelec, has better than average range, has the nicely integrated battery and has low profile color.
The short of it is that I’m enjoying this bike. It needs to get a tuneup as my front wheel has a small wobble (and a creaking noise is coming from the front fork area). I actually find it difficult to get up to 28 MPH…..very easy to quickly get to 18-21 MPH and cruise along….23-25 MPH definitely takes some effort….and beyond that I’m working really hard to get to 26 MPH+ (even in Sport mode). Riding uphill is when I feel like superman and appreciate the motor the most. It’s nice to even drop it down to Cruise mode and get a workout in those scenarios. The motor does seem somewhat inconsistent sometimes, especially in the 13 MPH range–I can feel some jolting when it feels like I’m pedaling consistently. I’ve felt it a couple times around 20 MPH as well, but not as much.
As far as range, my longest ride so far is 47 miles, almost entirely on Tour mode pedaling around 20 MPH (although my average speed for the trip was more like 16)….I had one bar of battery remaining and possibly could have squeezed 50 total miles out of it.
I find myself really digging the 1×11 drivetrain….shifting is easy and generally really smooth. I’ve hit some downhills where I wish I had another gear or two, and find myself riding in mostly the highest three or four gears. My chain popped out once but has generally held on well considering the bumpy riding i’ve done (including a big up/downhill very gravel-y stretch).
I definitely find the bike to feel very stiff, I have one particular stretch of road that I find myself dreading and standing up to brace for lots of bumps (the saddle is pretty comfortable though).
Was kind of surprised to find that the battery makes a pretty decent “whirring” sound as it charges. My guess is most e-bikes are like this. One of my biggest gripes about this bike though is that the battery does NOT satisfyingly click into place on the bike, although Cort’s seems to have (kind of) in the video. I have to give mine an extra push into place and it weakly clips in (seems secure once it does). Also one of my bottle cage bosses seems to have come damaged–will have LBS look at it. The manuals that come with the bike aren’t worth much, either.
Anyway, it’s a lot of fun being able to go out for a few hours and not really worry about being too worn out to get back home (although my legs are certainly getting a workout). Will update after a tuneup and a couple hundred more miles.
Court Rye says
Nice! Thanks for sharing your personal details and the range, speed, and battery mounting bits Mike. This was awesome for me to read, real-world riding is often a bit different than reviews with brand new bikes and limited time… but I hope my writeup and video were close to accurate and again, really enjoyed your post and look forward to any updates you want to do down the line :)
Jonathon Simon says
I am so glad to have read Mike’s comment. My eval is so similar at 80mi. Generally love the bike, but it clearly has some general design and build flaws. My experience is quite similar to Mike’s:
Note: Mike, did you mean your battery makes a sound charging – I thinks it the charger – it has a microprocessor controlled fan in it.
Court Rye says
Great writeup Jonathon, thanks for sharing these detailed points… I hope they help others who might be considering the bike and I’m sorry that the rotor and chainring guard were bent, that’s a bummer for a brand new bike. And the service/parts support sounds a bit confusing or lacking. This is the first year Raleigh has gone online direct but they do still have a network of dealers and it seems like they are pushing to sell the bikes but haven’t nailed down the service part yet. I hope the experience gets better and welcome further comments. I do my best in person to “overview” the bike but my time and miles testing are limited, feedback like yours are truly valuable so thanks :)
Oren Jay says
What’s up all. Wanted to add my comments here on this bike. Just purchased one from my local dealer at a great price, and I’m super happy. (They even threw in a rack, some quality USB lights, and a pinhead locking seat guard! I will need to get some fenders for the winter season). I haven’t had any issues with the tires, brakes or chain ring – which may be due to the fact that I got from a dealer who set it up and tuned it for me…
I did a lot of reading on this site and test rode quite a few bikes before getting this one — and I totally love it.
Pros:
JONATHAN – you mention it not having a “bike walk” feature. I haven’t actually tried it yet, but the Brose manual does indicate that it has a bike walk/assist feature and provides instructions on how to access it… check it out & lmk if you can’t find it. I don’t personally see any need/use for that feature (it’s easy enough to just roll the bike naturally with motor off), but if I end up playing with it and figure it out I’ll write back.
Cons / Room for improvement: (not much new to add, but will echo what I notice)
Overall, I’m super pleased with this bike. No ebike is perfect; each will have its strengths and its shortcomings. For me, I’m real happy overall with the smooth ride of the Brose motor, the easy nimble handling, the fast speed and pleasing aesthetics. Will check back in down the line with another report if anything stands out or changes…
Happy riding!
Court Rye says
Thanks for taking the time to share all of this feedback Oren, I’m glad you found an ebike that works for your commute and welcome any further comments as you use it over the coming months and years. Ride safe out there! Glad to hear your dealer treated you so well, feel free to name them to help build their positive reputation :)
Kathi says
A few days ago I traded my Raleigh Route for the Redux. My experience so far is similar to the other posters. The big selling point for me was the Brose system and styling. I have added and already removed the bottle cage as the fit is just to snug for anything short of a tiny bottle. I also experienced chirping bird syndrome coming from the front wheel which reduced my first ride from 25 to 5 miles. I took it back to the shop yesterday and it was fixed in about a minute. I also hope it doesn’t reoccur every few miles.
Being the owner of a Turbo Levo FSR, I am familiar with the Brose system, but still found the lowest power setting (Cruise) to feel very inadequate when riding on a paved relatively flat trail. I turned the power off and couldn’t really feel a difference. The Tour and Sport modes produced very acceptable power.
Last evening I decided to top off the battery that was only down 10%, but when I plugged in the charger it went from red to solid green in about 3 seconds indicating it had a full charge even though it only shows nine bars on the display unit. Tried it again with the battery removed from the bike with the same result. I will hopefully get a ride in later today and then try to charge it again.
In spite of a my whining, I really do like the Redux ie. I ride a lot of different type trail surfaces and the Levo is great for going off the beaten path but not so great on paved surface roads at higher speeds. I’m looking forward to many happy miles on my new purchase!
Court Rye says
Great writeup Kathi, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Redux (including the little issues). Was the chirping thing based on the brakes being misaligned or something? I’m curious what the problem was… Also, yeah, it sounds like a bottle cage would just be too tight for some sizes of the bike but maybe a folding lock or other accessory could fit there nicely.
Randy Stortroen says
There is a term common in the motorcycle press that should be adopted for electric two wheelers: naked. In this case, you might describe the Redux IE as a “naked commuter.” The optimist’s view is that by introducing consumers to their quality ebike range at reasonable price points, Raleigh is showing it is not afraid of the aftermarket and in fact wants it to flourish. So should consumers.
At first blush, this may not seem a very productive stance but the ultimate health of the industry depends on a lot of factors, and a healthy aftermarket is one of them. Thea Redux is nicely finished ebike that will get you around in style out of the box and I think well worth the premium over a kit but still leaves some things you can do to upgrade and modify it more to your liking after you ride it off the showroom floor and ride it around for awhile. You don’t have to commit extra money to someone else’s idea of what you want or need.
The ebike press has not done much to elucidate matters concerning the incredible aftermarket potential of the platform but the case of bike lights is a great place to start. Integrated lighting systems utilizing the onboard batteries on ebikes are a no-brainer and may well make it into the coming ISO standard for them (ISO 4210-10) but until that time, big manufacturers like Raleigh can offer a wide variety of bikes outfitted according to the tastes and buying power of consumers around the country and the world. It is not unreasonable from that perspective that people will want to get out the door at a lower price and add “commuter” accessories later that may or may not conform to the typical “commuter” form factor. That is why, on most if not all of their late model ebikes, they have incorporated a standard connector from the battery to an aftermarket lighting system. (Note to manufacturers and dealers: accessory connector types should be a line item in any spec sheet.)
Getting long here so I’ll finish on this subject. What is interesting about integrated bike lights is that they have long been widely available for conventional bikes as an aftermarket product and mostly powered by hub dynamos, here’s a great resource for lights. The essential feature is that the lights don’t depend on battery cells integrated into the light enclosure as distinguished from lights powered by the large battery packs on ebikes. If you shop around for quality aftermarket lights for your “naked” ebike, you will mostly find them being sold by makers of dynamo systems, and for a stiff price because they are not yet made in large numbers.
All of this is both relative and changing – what I will say is if you buy an ebike as an alternative daily driver (aka car substitute) that does not have a lighting system, you would be wise to get down to your nearest IBD and have him or her set you up the next chance you get. Happy trails!
Court Rye says
Wow, that’s a great concept Randy, thanks for sharing your perspective from the motorcycle industry and linking to the lights resource on that other website. I agree that integrated lights can be very useful but leaving it up to the end consumer can save on cost. I have created spaces in the EBR Forums for people to sell their used ebikes and even discuss parts and upgrads so I am onboard with the idea of a healthy aftermarket space. Thanks again!
Randy Stortroen says
Thanks, Court. Happy to make your acquaintance. I am not from the motorcycle world just aware of it througha few friends who ride a ton. In fact my experience with two-wheelers as an adult has been concentrated in the last four years, during which time I have ridden about a dozen ebikes over 45,000 miles in an effort to sort out the impact of the technology on the riding experience firsthand.
At the same time, I have been reviewing the considerable international literature on bikes, ebikes, and low-speed vehicles in general, including reviews and comments that categorize ebike types, and it is clearly a work in progress. For a short survey of the standard categories (in European “pedelec” market), go here. “Naked” seemed to be a good way to jump in to the conversation, pardon the pun!
To my wider point, as much as the form has proven ideal for my mobility needs in navigating Bay Area traffic as if in a car, I am just as interested in the ebike as an innovation platform, with an emphasis on improving safety for all of us early adopters. At the bottom of the above linked page, you will see a reference to V2X, which is the underlying communications technology that will connect and enable automated vehicles (also a work in progress, so many unsettled questions there as well), but here it is in the ebike context.
What has not dawned on the urban and transportation planning community, who are ultimately responsible for providing a safe environment for all road users, is that equipping automobiles with V2X capabilities that will make bicycles “conspicuous” and keep cyclists safe is a much more difficult and expensive proposition than equipping bicycles with V2X capabilities that will achieve the same end. A smart phone powered by a large format lithium ion battery pack that comes standard on ebikes has most of what you need to run a hypothetical “V2X-kitted or “instrumented” bike, whereas the instrumented cars (prototype automated vehicles) that are starting to proliferate on streets and highways are very expensive to equip and operate.
This last comparison is a little misleading in the real world because many new car models are coming out with what I call precursor technology that makes them safer on the road generally, but cyclists should take note because on a bicycle they are generally not visible to the present state of the art in electronic collision avoidance. The good news is that it is much easier for the exact same technology to “see” a car, truck, or bus. Although it works independent of your smart phone, the Varia rearview radar unit by Garmin is an early example of the innovation/miniaturization that is needed, so V2X for bikes is definitely on the horizon.
Oren Jay says
Hey y’all – I’ve had the Raleigh for about 4 months now and want to give a little report / update now that I know the bike a bit better. All of the Pro’s outlined in court’s review & mine above stand. The bike is super fun to ride and handles beautifully. I haven’t had any issues with the battery or motor. Very reliable.
The most significant thing is that chain kept dropping when I hit bumps going over 18 mph. Each time, the chain would get wedged between the front chain ring and the guard on the outside of the spider, actually bending the guard a little. I took it back to the bike shop once – no difference. Finally, the second time after bringing it back the mechanic (who must have spent more time on it) fixed the issue. He said:
Other minor things I’ve noticed:
Overall, I’m still super happy with the bike. If shortening the chain solves the problem with it dropping, I’m good to go. Court – do you know how I can submit feedback to Raleigh? I’d like to pass some of this on.
Court Rye says
Very insightful feedback Oren! I love your points about the ridges on the battery pack accumulating dust and also the magnetic cap, how it can get bumped off and lost because there is no leash. Check out what the new Specialized Como has done, they use the same Rosenberger magnetic charging type but have a plastic cover with a leash to keep better track of it.
If you want, I can send your comment on to the folks at Raleigh or have them visit EBR and read it and maybe respond to you. It’s great that you have spent this time to provide some insights after much riding. It adds color to the review and will undoubtedly help others who already own or are considering this product. Thank you!
Oren Jay says
Hey Court – yes, that’d be great; please pass my comments on to Raleigh or have them visit the page… Thx!
Larry Pizzi says
Thanks, Court for forwarding Oren’s comments.
Oren – I am pleased that you are happy with your bike and understanding of some of the Gen-1 issues that you presented. Personally, I love the Redux too and have put many miles on various iterations that we have developed and refined. In mid-September, we introduced the Gen-2 Redux and I believe we have addressed every one of the issues you call out. Additionally we introduced a drop-bar version.
On the chain length, we addressed this on the second production, so you must have received a first production bike. Regarding the motor performance, Brose has updated the model-s that addresses all those issues and provides superior performance all around. This update begins with first production on the 2018, which will arrive in our warehouses and will begin shipping to dealers and consumers within the next few weeks. You will see that the Redux iE is now fully equipped with structural fenders, rack and lights, subtle frame change improvements (now with a step through version) and subtle component change improvements. The battery pack is exactly the same but we are working on a fully integrated version for 2019.
Again, thank you for your feedback and I’ll look forward to hearing more about your journey. Please enjoy looking at the ’18’s here for the high-step, step-thru, and here for the Tamland with drop bars.
Best regards,
Larry Pizzi
President, Raleigh Electric
[email protected]
Ken H says
Larry,
I am interested in the Redux iE that is on sale now, and I am wondering if you can tell me exactly what I would get. Would it be Gen-2?
Thanks.
Larry Pizzi says
Hi Ken,
The 2017 Raleigh Redux iE that is currently on sale is the original model at a fantastic price ($2699). The 2018, (Gen-2) model will be available in the coming days and you can check them out here. There is also a step-thru version.
All the best,
Larry
Oren Jay says
Hey Larry – the Gen-2 models look great; congrats! Glad to hear you guys have addressed all of the issues I mentioned. Since my 2017 is only a few months old I’m going to stick with it for a couple of years & maybe upgrade when the 2019s come out.
**One question:** Are the issues I described with the Brose hardware or software based? In other words, could some of it be addressed with a software update? And, if so, where can my bike shop download/get that?
Happy Thanksgiving!
~ Oren
Larry Pizzi says
Hi Oren,
Because I have not heard the Brose drive issues described in this way, I’d suggest that you contact our service techs. They can work with a servicing dealer to diagnose the system. They are back in the office by 8:00 AM Pacific time on Monday and you can reach them by chat or email (bottom left on home page) raleighelectric.com.
Thanks and enjoy the remainder of the holiday weekend!
Larry
Eric States says
At the end of March, my beloved Magnum Premium gave out for the last time on Illinois’ rough roads – its small tires couldn’t take the strain of bumps and potholes any longer. So I was left without a bike for commuting or general transportation. For a week or so, anyway. Because on April 21, I found an unexpected perfect match: the 2018 version of this bike. On sale.
So… differences from the above review: due to the sale, it ran me $2,807 including tax, plus upgrades (gel seat and handlebars so I can sit more upright and comfortably for commuting.) For a 28 mph ebike, only $800 more in practice than my old Magnum. That, I believe, is a steal.
The 2018 model has fenders, lights (they run off the bike’s battery, 2 hours of light even if you’re persistent enough to intentionally run the battery down to zero for propulsion), a detachable controller… fun thing about that: not only can you turn the lights off and on with that controller, but if you hold the Light button for 2 seconds, it hands control of the lights to a sensor that turns them on automatically if it’s dark or cloudy, and off again when it’s not, for the rest of that ride.
You can turn the controller off with its own Power button, and it’ll stay off until you move the bike, when it will power on in about 2 seconds. It has a walk mode (turn assist down to 0, then hold Minus). As noted by Court, turn on the bike using the battery’s power button, which also turns the controller on. The controller sleeps if the bike is untouched for a few minutes, and the battery does too, after 2 hours. You can charge things over the USB port (sealed against rain) in the bottom of the controller too, if you want.
Enough about the screen, though – here’s how it rides: It has no throttle, but it doesn’t need one. It is a powerful bike and you can tell immediately. It can go without assist, and feels only a little heavy (I can ride it in 3rd gear comfortably like this), Cruise (lowest assist, helps you out almost imperceptibly little), Tour (default and middle level, gives good smooth acceleration and splits the load of pedaling about 50/50 between you and the bike. Gear 4 or 5 is comfortable for me in Tour. In those, you can get up to 28mph if you want, but it’s also just a good all-purpose setting. Sport mode, the highest assist, is when the bike’s real machinelike strength becomes apparent. While acceleration is not jerky or anything, it is still rapid if you want, though it can also be ridden slowly.
Summary of modes: Off: slightly heavy bike. Cruise: regular bike feel. Tour: You are on a nice slightly downhill stretch on a light bike. Sport: Your bike is light as a feather and you are suddenly Superman.
Riding it, it stays quiet with only a faint little hum no matter what (if you hear the motor revving faintly, it’s probably time to shift up if you want quiet.) Responsivity is immediate when you pedal, and stops exactly when you do. Brakes are quiet and let you stop on a dime. Even in this morning’s surprise rain shower, they worked perfectly, and surprisingly, quietly. Shifting is quiet, but word of warning: the Redux has no sensor to tell it to ease off when you shift. So when changing gears, stop pedaling, change while you coast for a sec, then your chain will thank you.
With the gel seat, I feel like it’s as comfy to ride as the Magnum was despite lack of suspension, and bumps I found jarring with 20″ tires are not so bad with these 27.5″s. Not a single flat tire yet- fingers crossed that it lasts.
Haven’t missed giving up the folding and throttle of the Magnum at all. And at least on back roads, it keeps up with traffic and even out-accelerates cars off from a stoplight, which is great for keeping safe following distance if you’re in front. Definitely wear a helmet. And something brightly colored for good measure.
This thing is just way too fun. I feel like the previous bike was just an introduction to the world of e-bikes, and this one’s the keeper that will stay with me for years. Oh, and P.S. to those who read my Magnum mini-review/tract: this takes tougher tires than regular bikes due to the speed, but unlike a hub motor bike, these wheels can be taken on and off like with a normal bike. I expect no extra hassle in the event of tire change. Only thing that’s different is a little speed sensor on the rear wheel’s spoke back there.
Not sure what else I can add here, but wanted to put in my 2 (dozen) cents here. I’ll revisit if prolonged ownership gives me any further thoughts.
court says
Fantastic summary, as always, thanks for chiming in about your new bike Eric! I really liked your points about how responsive pedal assist can be, how it significantly reduces the need for a throttle. Glad you haven’t had any flats and are enjoying the quick acceleration and speed, while being safe. It’s nice to hear an in-depth perspective from someone who has owned multiple ebikes. Glad you found a good deal on this one and I hope it holds up well for you this summer!
Chris Nakagaki says
I picked up the updated redux ie stepover (M Size) with integrated fenders and lights. It’s my first ebike and i absolutely love it. Interesting features:
I added a PDW water bottle cage (cat style). Taking out the battery is possible with it there, but requires a bit of finesse to do so. Not too concerned about it, since I don’t plan to remove the battery unless I need to have it serviced or replaced for some reason.
To solve the battery cap problem, I bought a cell phone strap and looped it through a hole on the cap and wrapped the strap around the frame. So now it dangles above the port when charging and adds a bit more security if it happens to pop off while riding.
I’d love to see additional custom control units with added bluetooth so I could sync with something like STRAVA. All other cons, although minor, still apply from 2017 model. Overall, very satisfied though.
Court says
Great feedback! Thanks for the updates and solutions here, Chris :)