Raleigh Sprint iE Review

The Raleigh Sprint iE is one of the sleekest, most unassuming electric bikes in the lineup for 2016 because the battery is integrated directly into the downtube and the motor is compact and circular… mirroring the chainring sprocket. It’s fast, capable of hitting 28 mph in the highest level of assist when pedaling with the higher gears, and surprisingly quiet. The motor used here is a new one from TranzX called the M25GTS that uses speed, cadence and pedal torque to adjust power output. I found that it operated quite well but did suffer from some mashing of the chain, sprockets and derailleur when shifting due to the lack of shift detection and standard brake levers without assist. This motor still isn’t as responsive as Bosch but it’s much improved over earlier generations from TranzX and this keeps the price of the bike lower at $2999.

You get a commuter style suspension fork that’s narrower and offers less travel at ~63 mm but includes lockout adjust and threaded eyelets for adding a fender and support rods. Both wheels are and hubs are upgraded with brass nipples, larger 13 mm spokes and thru axles (15 mm front and 12 mm rear) which should handle the increased forces of higher speed riding and the large 180 mm hydraulic disc brakes. Both wheels also offer quick release for easy transport or tuneups and I love the Shimano SLX drivetrain components. Ten speeds is just enough to hit the 28 mph top speed where the motor cuts out and SLX is one of the highest groupsets I’ve seen on any of the Raleigh electric bikes. The chainring features an aluminum alloy guide that should keep the chain on track if you encounter bumpy terrain and protect the sprocket teeth if you hop a steep curb and bash the middle of the bike. The tires are slick but oversized compared to most traditional city and road bikes so you get some comfort there and you could always replace the 31.6 mm seat post with a Body Float to dampen vibration at high speed.

The Sprint iE would make a solid commuter or just a fun high-speed electric bike for zooming around the neighborhood or city environment. You could replace the tires and go off-road but being a Class 3 ebike, it might not be permissible in as many locations and the fork might get beaten down. One extra bonus with the TranzX system is that you can purchase a $50 boost button to add throttle on demand and the motor is so strong it will literally carry you up hills (when using the lower or mid level gears). While I wish that this thing had bottle cage bosses, there aren’t too many other things to complain about, it’s solid and the price makes sense given the warranty, multiple size options (small, medium, large) and high level components.

Pros:

Stealthy frame… the battery pack is completely integrated into the downtube and paint matched, the TranzX M25GTS motor is round so it hides behind the chainring, is smaller, lighter and quieter than some of the earlier TranzX / Currie Electrodrive designs like the M07
The motor is smooth, even though it doesn’t offer shift sensing the combination of cadence and torque sensing feels like a higher quality product
High speed pedal-assist performance (up to 28 miles per hour with active rider input) means you’ll arrive quicker but also drain the battery faster above 20 mph due to air resistance
The suspension fork, larger diameter wheels and thicker tires provide comfort when traveling over longer distances, bumpy terrain and at higher speeds… the grips and saddle are firm for active riding and the fork does offer lockout for efficiency
Braze ons and threaded eyelets for adding fenders and a rear rack, unfortunately none for adding a bottle cage on the seat tube
Since the Sprint iE is a speed pedelec the wheels and frame will endure more stress and strain so both axles have been upgraded (12 mm rear and 15 mm front) for improved stiffness and better alignment of the disc brake rotors with the calipers and pads
Even though this model only comes in a high-step “diamond” frame design, it has been engineered with a sloping top tube to lower stand over height which makes holding the bike at rest or walking over it easier, I measured ~32 inches on the Medium 17″ frame
Because the motor is mounted at the center of the frame along with the battery pack, weight is kept lower which improves stability and would leave a rear rack completely open for gear (if you add one)
The center-drive system leverages your chain and 10 speed cassette to operate more efficiently for climbing or reaching higher speeds, it offers better range than a similarly rated hub motor if you manage your gears properly and the SLX drivetrain is solid mid-level (better components)
Higher-end parts all around including Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with a larger 180 mm rotors , Shimano SLX derailleur for precision shifting and stiff alloy platform pedals (track style) for stability and grip
If you want even more control, a boost button can be added which offers two drive modes: a 6 mph starting speed (almost like walk mode) and a 20 mph throttle button which has to be held down to operate, most Raleigh dealers can add this for ~$50
Nice wire management, all of the cables and electronics are run through the frame and there are even some extra support points to keep them from getting in the way, there’s a 6 volt wire at the head tube and near the motor for adding integrated LED lights

Cons:

When unlocking and removing the battery pack it sort of pops out of the side so be extra careful not to drop it, the pack looks great but the cover is plastic and can get scratched easily
Given the beautifully integrated downtube battery design, the seat tube and downtube are wide open… I wish they had put bottle cage bosses here given the city/commuter use and the fact that there are rear rack and fender braze-ons
The display panel can be a bit confusing at first, holding the power button icon for a couple seconds when you’re in assist level 1 will take you down to zero (so you can the display without the motor), it would be nicer if you could just arrow down to zero, this also becomes confusing for people who want to turn the bike off by holding power… you have to hold it down again or push the button on the battery itself to completely shut down
The display unit is not removable so it could take more damage when the bike is parked outside or in a public location, thankfully the battery is
This model feels a bit expensive compared with the very similar IZIP E3 ProTour (also from the Accell Group) which offers fenders, a rack, integrated lights and suspension seat post at the same price (but weighs ~3.5 lbs more as a result)
The battery pack must be activated before the display unit can be powered on, it’s a two step process that takes extra time and can create confusion when going straight for the display on/off
There’s also no shift sensing with the M25GTS TranzX motor so the chain, sprockets and derailleur may take more wear if you don’t make an effort to shift when the motor is not adding force to the drivetrain, there are also no brake lever motor inhibitors which could otherwise help with shifting gears smoothly

Resources:

Official Site: https://www.raleighusa.com/electric
More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/gGm9uCWqpSiWGJ619

Pros:

Stealthy frame… the battery pack is completely integrated into the downtube and paint matched, the TranzX M25GTS motor is round so it hides behind the chainring, is smaller, lighter and quieter than some of the earlier TranzX / Currie Electrodrive designs like the M07
The motor is smooth, even though it doesn’t offer shift sensing the combination of cadence and torque sensing feels like a higher quality product
High speed pedal-assist performance (up to 28 miles per hour with active rider input) means you’ll arrive quicker but also drain the battery faster above 20 mph due to air resistance
The suspension fork, larger diameter wheels and thicker tires provide comfort when traveling over longer distances, bumpy terrain and at higher speeds… the grips and saddle are firm for active riding and the fork does offer lockout for efficiency
Braze ons and threaded eyelets for adding fenders and a rear rack, unfortunately none for adding a bottle cage on the seat tube
Since the Sprint iE is a speed pedelec the wheels and frame will endure more stress and strain so both axles have been upgraded (12 mm rear and 15 mm front) for improved stiffness and better alignment of the disc brake rotors with the calipers and pads
Even though this model only comes in a high-step “diamond” frame design, it has been engineered with a sloping top tube to lower stand over height which makes holding the bike at rest or walking over it easier, I measured ~32 inches on the Medium 17″ frame
Because the motor is mounted at the center of the frame along with the battery pack, weight is kept lower which improves stability and would leave a rear rack completely open for gear (if you add one)
The center-drive system leverages your chain and 10 speed cassette to operate more efficiently for climbing or reaching higher speeds, it offers better range than a similarly rated hub motor if you manage your gears properly and the SLX drivetrain is solid mid-level (better components)
Higher-end parts all around including Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with a larger 180 mm rotors , Shimano SLX derailleur for precision shifting and stiff alloy platform pedals (track style) for stability and grip
If you want even more control, a boost button can be added which offers two drive modes: a 6 mph starting speed (almost like walk mode) and a 20 mph throttle button which has to be held down to operate, most Raleigh dealers can add this for ~$50
Nice wire management, all of the cables and electronics are run through the frame and there are even some extra support points to keep them from getting in the way, there’s a 6 volt wire at the head tube and near the motor for adding integrated LED lights

Cons:

When unlocking and removing the battery pack it sort of pops out of the side so be extra careful not to drop it, the pack looks great but the cover is plastic and can get scratched easily
Given the beautifully integrated downtube battery design, the seat tube and downtube are wide open… I wish they had put bottle cage bosses here given the city/commuter use and the fact that there are rear rack and fender braze-ons
The display panel can be a bit confusing at first, holding the power button icon for a couple seconds when you’re in assist level 1 will take you down to zero (so you can the display without the motor), it would be nicer if you could just arrow down to zero, this also becomes confusing for people who want to turn the bike off by holding power… you have to hold it down again or push the button on the battery itself to completely shut down
The display unit is not removable so it could take more damage when the bike is parked outside or in a public location, thankfully the battery is
This model feels a bit expensive compared with the very similar IZIP E3 ProTour (also from the Accell Group) which offers fenders, a rack, integrated lights and suspension seat post at the same price (but weighs ~3.5 lbs more as a result)
The battery pack must be activated before the display unit can be powered on, it’s a two step process that takes extra time and can create confusion when going straight for the display on/off
There’s also no shift sensing with the M25GTS TranzX motor so the chain, sprockets and derailleur may take more wear if you don’t make an effort to shift when the motor is not adding force to the drivetrain, there are also no brake lever motor inhibitors which could otherwise help with shifting gears smoothly