Total Weight:
65.7 lbs (29.8 kg)
Battery Weight:
9.4 lbs (4.26 kg)
Motor Weight:
10.1 lbs (4.58 kg)
Frame Material:
Aluminum Alloy
Frame Sizes:
19 in (48.26 cm)Geometry Measurements:
19" Seat Tube, 22" Reach, 30" Standover Height, 35.5" Minimum Saddle Height, 25.25" Width, 75" Length
Frame Types:
High-Step
Frame Colors:
Torch, Ghost Torch
Frame Fork Details:
MOZO Air Suspension Fork, 34mm Annodized Aluminum Stanchions, 130mm Travel, 110mm Boost Hub Spacing, Rebound Adjustment Clicker, Manual Air Pressure Adjustment Valve, Removable Air Cartridge, 12mm Threaded Through Axle with 20mm Nuts
Frame Rear Details:
170mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Threaded Through Axle with 20mm Nuts
Attachment Points:
Rear Rack Bosses, Rear Fender Bosses
Gearing Details:
7
Speed 1x7 Shimano Altus, MF-TZ500-7 14-28 Tooth FreewheelShifter Details:
Shimano RevoShift Half-Grip Twist on Right
Cranks:
Lasco, Forged Aluminum Alloy, 170 mm Length, 48 Tooth Steel Chainring with Alloy Guide
Pedals:
Wellgo, Aluminum Alloy Platform with Pins
Headset:
Integrated, Sealed Cartridge Bearings, 1-1/8" Straight
Stem:
Aluminum Alloy, Threadless, 7 Degree Rise, Five 5mm Spacers, Two 3mm Spacers, 90mm Length, 31.8mm Clamp Diameter
Handlebar:
Aluminum Alloy, 7 Degree Back Sweep, 31.8mm Bore
Brake Details:
Tektro Auriga E-SUB Hydraulic Disc with 180 mm Rotors, Four-Finger Levers with Motor Inhibitors
Grips:
Ergonomic Rubber, Locking, Black
Saddle:
Selle Royale Gel
Seat Post:
Exoform 625 Suspension (30mm Travel, Preload Adjustment Bolt in Base), Aluminum Alloy, Quick-Release Skewer
Seat Post Length:
270 mm
Seat Post Diameter:
30.4 mm
Rims:
Aluminum Alloy, 50mm Outer Width, Double Wall 36 Hole, Black
Spokes:
Stainless Steel, 12 Gauge Front, 11 Gauge Rear, Black with Silver Nipples
Tire Brand:
Maxxis High Roller II, 27.5" x 3.0" (58-584)
Wheel Sizes:
27.5 in (69.85cm)Tire Details:
EXO Puncture Protection, Tubeless Ready, 60 TPI, 12 to 40 PSI (0.8 to 2.1 BAR
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Rear-Mount Adjustable Kickstand, Steel Derailleur Guard, SONDORS Fabric Slap Guard
Other:
Locking Removable Frame Compartment Integrated Battery Pack, 1.4 lb 3 amp Charger, Internal Cable Routing, 48 Volt 25 Amp Controller, Rust Resistant Steel Chain
Robert p herbert
5 years agoafter 1700 miles- im very very happy! The review is exact! the only thing I would change is the gearing- totally satisfactory except for super steep inclines- then you wish it had a larger rear cog-
ReplyTyson Roehrkasse
5 years agoWow, that’s a lot of miles! Thanks for your comment, great to hear :)
ReplyPhylip Montgomery
3 years agoWhere can I buy the McD for 1700 Sondors site says it’s 2300????
Vic Puentes
3 years agoYou guys do a tremendous job with reviews!! I bought my Sondors MXS because of your review. I love my MXS and it has serviced me extremely well. I have had mine for over a year with absolutely no issues. I ride on pavement, dirt trails, fire trails, small roots and rocks. The e-bike is a goat on trails. I don’t use my e-bike for doing any jumping off anything over a few feet.
Now I need to find a way to service the Mozo front fork with a rebuild kit. I haven’t found anything on Mozo forks to get what I need. Anyone help me here???? Semper Fi Vic
5 years ago
For this price should be 10 gear cassette not a cheap old tech 7 Speed 1×7 Shimano Altus, MF-TZ500-7 14-28 Tooth Freewheel
ReplyTyson Roehrkasse
5 years agoI hear you, I would definitely like to see a cassette with more range on it as well! That would raise the cost though, and the motor does help to balance it out pretty well.
ReplyAnthony Howard
5 years agoHow do i custom tune my new MXS???
ReplyTyson Roehrkasse
5 years agoHey Anthony, if you check out the video review I included a section on tuning the advanced settings for the MXS. That covers everything I know about it; I would recommend asking on the SONDORS Forum here or one of their other groups for more detailed help :)
ReplyAnthony Howard
5 years agoThanks so much, though I have to wait until the end of July to receive my MXS, I have already ordered the fender and rack kit as well. Should be delivered sometime today. Though I have never been on or used an EBIKE I like what I saw with the MXS, it looks like a LETS GO RIGHT NOW kind of bike. I can’t wait. Want to put her on some hiking trails up to Mt. Wilson north of Pasadena.
VicPuentes
4 years agoMy reason for the comment here is just trying to get as much info and learn about the Sondors MXS from people who own one. Please, any info you can pass long about your experience with the MXS would be great…
One minute I want to order the XS, and then the next the MXS. I am so trying to understand the comfort of both bikes, since the seats are the same. My plans are to ride mostly on pavement, commute, (75%) and some dirt trail riding the othr (25%). I will not be riding mountain bike paths or use for extreme downhills. To me the MXS just looks nicer without the real big tires??? To me its just so hard to order either one of these bikes without riding either one.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoI feel ya, it can be difficult without trying in person. I haven’t reviewed either of the SONDORS (that was Tyson) but I do have experience riding city vs. fat tire ebikes, so I could chat with you for a bit if you want to text. Send your name and remind me of the two bikes so I can call you back, my number is 650.930.0342
Mark B
5 years agoTyson, great and thorough review, as always, and what a huge step up for Sondors. There’s one thing, though, that I don’t exactly disagree with, but I want to post a counterpoint to.
I took a nice hardtail mountain bike and converted it to a mid drive ebike, and at one point I added a dropper. It was great to be able to adjust my seat position on the fly, but there is absolutely no forgiveness on a hardtail ebike without a suspension seatpost. My lower back and rear end were getting brutalized. Sadly, I ultimately had to go with a suspension seatpost, and my dropper sits in my garage. After this experience I don’t fault Sondors for not adding a dropper.
ReplyTyson Roehrkasse
5 years agoThat is a great point Mark, thanks for sharing your perspective on that :)
ReplyJerry
5 years agowater bottle cage mounts???
Replywhy would anyone make a bike these days without a way to have water??
Will
5 years agoI am considering updating my five year old IZIP E3 Dash that I have 4,000 miles on with the MXS. The MXS has many of the features I am looking for including a throttle and at a price that is reasonable.
I have two concerns that I would greatly appreciate feedback on.
I have read mixed reviews of the Bafang 750 watt motor including that it is unreliable and does not actually put out the amount of power it claims. On the other hand, it seems to be ubiquitous in the industry and is fairly inexpensive to repair or replace. Is this motor a deal breaker as some have claimed.
Lastly, I have significant hills near my home which is the reason I got involved with ebikes in the first place. Are there any impediments (other than cost) to replacing the standard cassette with a 10 or 11 speed?
Thank you for your help.
ReplyTyson Roehrkasse
4 years agoHey Will, thanks for the comment! I think Bafang makes good motors, they have had some bad models as every company does, but overall they tend to be reliable. I have heard of some ebike companies lying about the wattage of their Bafang-sourced motors (basically, being dishonest about which motor is inside the hub casing), but I’ve never seen any proof of those claims. There’s a lot of other variables such as the battery and the controller, the configuration, wheel diameter, and more factors that will affect how powerful the motor “feels”. For the MXS it definitely feels like it’s putting out full power!
There shouldn’t be any issues upgrading the cassette, my recommendation for upgrading the gearing would be a wider range cassette, you could still stick with 7 speeds and bump to maybe an 11-36 tooth or so.
ReplyLayne
4 years agoWe own 4 Sondor’s bikes: 2 Sondors originals, a Sondors X, and an MXS. We are very pleased with the Sondor’s bikes. They’ve generally stood behind their bikes and have been responsive.
For my weight and height (6-0, 195) the MXS is a far superior configuration for all around daily riding and use. It just feels lighter and handles tighter, has much better acceleration and superior stopping power. The frame’s integration of rectangular tubing on the rear is a beautiful visual upgrade (they put in once the bike went into production.) Finally, the flame paint job is stunning. It is not a bright red like it appears to be on the website. It is a beautiful gloss metal-flake, more burnt orange than red in real life.
The MXS is a perfect balance of priorities. The only time it’s not my go to ride is if we’re going on bar/beach strand run, where the cushy floating ride of the 5-inch tires and the fat boy seats are more appealing.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoAwesome! Thanks for sharing your stats and great experience with these bikes, Layne! Sounds like you’re really enjoying them :D
ReplyGlenn
4 years agoI’m trying to decide between this and the Voltbike Yukon 700. Would love to hear your opinion on which way to go.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHmm, my first thought is that the style and color could be a big factor. Does one brand stand out to you more? I think the bikes are going to offer a similar experience… SONDORS is based in the US while Voltbike is Canadian. Both companies have been around for several years now, and I’ve met the founder of both. These are value/affordable ebikes, so they sacrifice on components here and there, but overall, they are still great products. I like the air fork and suspension seatpost on the MXS. How do you feel about the big plastic battery box?
ReplyGlenn
4 years agoThanks for the reply Court. I actually don’t mind the plastic battery box. This would be my first E-bike so I was thinking a more value ebike would be the way to go at least for my first time out. Don’t get me wrong $1700 is still a good chunk of change so I really want to get the most bang for my buck I can get. Either way I really appreciate all you do with the reviews and the site. It has been a godsend and a huge help for me trying to figure out which way to go.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoWonderful, I’m glad the site has been a good resource for you and hope you enjoy whichever bike you get. Sondors does seem to be doing a great job, and I kind of like their proprietary plastic battery/controller box too :)
ReplyAnthony Howard
4 years agoFor me, I did a lot of research on Ebikes, sizes, power, quality, price range and so forth. Then I saw the MXS, and it called to me. LOL I watched reviews on it over and over again and began to to get a gut feeling and TRUST, it was and is the one for me without ever having ridden one.
I have a Helion Comp GT, medium sized, it’s nice, but I wanted something that goes beyond my limits by helping me reach then as well. That trailhead you find, and you have to ride it, see where it goes, how far, how high, or that bike path, going all out, all the way. The fresh air, Beautiful views, go further, go faster, go SONDORS!!!
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Anthony, sounds like you’re ready to get one! I hope it works great for you and I appreciate your enthusiasm. SONDORS has done a great job sticking around, keeping prices low, and innovating their frame designs. I think they look cool and offer a good experience. Go SONDORS ;)
ReplyMichel Jin
4 years agoI am considering this or the Voltbike Outback. Same price… Sonndors is not full suspension but seems to offer more powerful motor and bigger battery. Which one is the most bang for your buck? This will be my first ebike purchase and I am excited. Thanks EBR for all your work. I can’s top watching all your videos.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Michel! That’s a great question… These models each offer something special, and I can totally see why you’d want full suspension. I like VoltBike a lot and enjoyed covering their products. The customer service seems good, though they are based on Canada vs. California USA for SONDORS. Depending on your size, weight, and climbing needs, the VoltBike Outback could be powerful enough. Without knowing more, it’s difficult to say. As someone with neck and back issues, I’d probably lean more towards suspension, but I’m only 135lbs and 5’9″ so for me, that bike is powerful enough and range isn’t an issue because I don’t enjoy riding too far :)
ReplyJames Muro
4 years agoHey Guys,
First, I have become addicted to this website. Such great information. I feel like an over-matched student listening to a wise professor.
I just bought my wife the Sondors Smart Step and still waiting for delivery. Meanwhile, with bad knees I too, need an ebike for the mountains of Vermont. Light single track riding, no jumps or anything crazy but some steep hills and some rocky terrain in parts. Wondering your thoughts on the MXS versus the NCM Moscow Plus? I like both bikes, like that NCM can get me the bike soon, but wondering if I get a better ride on bumpy terrain with the MXS. I welcome ANY insights from the experts!
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHmm, that’s a great question, James! With so many brands being sold out or having delays right now, I do think the NCM Moscow Plus could be worth it if you want to enjoy the good weather with your wife right away! SONDORS does make great products too, and it sounds like your wife and you could have matching bikes… I wonder how much longer until hers arrives? Maybe you could contact SONDORS and try to time them both to arrive at the same time? Would she mind if your NCM arrived earlier?
ReplyDave Taube
4 years agoI got an MXS at the end of 2019, but didn’t ride it because 1) weather; 2) I was a little unsure what was involved with riding an electric bike. As soon as the weather got nice in the Spring, I hopped on my bike and I’ve been LOVING it ever since. I ride almost exclusively on pavement but I’ve taken it out on some easy gravel trails. I love the performance of the MSX. I live at the top of a very steep mile long hill and my main concern was the ability of the bike to make it to the top of the hill. While I can easily ride up the hill, most of the top at the maximum 5 electric boost, other far more serious riders (you know, the kind who wear Spandex and jerseys that advertise all sorts of companies) have to zigzag back and forth in order to make it to the top of the hill. I’m 5’10” and the bike fits me perfectly. Not sure if it’s too small for someone much taller than me. Highly recommended. I didn’t want to wait for the rear bag/fender kit that you can get from Sondors, so I bought an Ibera rack and bag on Amazon. You have to get a rack that mounts onto the seat post since the bike is unique and you won’t find a rack that has arms that fit the frame. Other than that, everything is great!
ReplyCourt
4 years agoSweet! I enjoyed reading your comment, Dave. Sounds like you’re really enjoying the bike and I’m glad you figured out a good rack solution. Thanks for passing along this info and sharing how well the SONDORS MXS has performed. Ride safe!
ReplyRoy
4 years agoI waited over 2 months for my MXS and after 1 week and 100 miles, it was well worth the wait. The EBR review was spot-on in all aspects. This bike is so much fun to ride. Having 2 road bikes and 2 mountain bikes, I was intrigued with the possibility of going 28 MPH with little effort. Hitting the ripe old age of 60, my 60-70 mile, 20 MPH avg. speed rides are a thing of the past. I find the pedal assist is perfect in getting me up some significant inclines and allows me to extend my rides. I did let the battery drain down to zero about 5 miles away from my home. This is a big, heavy bike and it is no fun on pedal power alone. Components and build Quality are very good. It really is a screaming value. During a ride today, I was stopped 3 times asking “what kind of bike is that”. Time will tell with the durability of the battery and motor. However, all in all, I could not be any more pleased with my purchase. Go Sondors!
ReplyTyson Roehrkasse
4 years agoHey Roy, thanks for the detailed comment! I’m glad to hear that you’re enjoying the MXS so far. I had a lot of fun reviewing it and just wished I could have ridden it for longer!
ReplyRoy
4 years agoJust to let everyone know, they have changed the display design. More edge to edge visibility, smaller, super bright. Only 5 settings for pedal assist which I find is OK.
The only thing is the the USB port is not on the side anymore. There is a cable with a connector that comes from the back of the unit and has a separate USB mount for the handle bars. It’s OK, just takes up real estate on the handle bars.
Brian
4 years agoHey Tyson, great review. I got a lot of insight about the MSX.
I am 6’4″ and 220 lbs. Do you think MSX is too small for me? How did it feel when you rode it at 6’3?
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Brian, it should work alright. They designed the product to be approachable by a wide range of riders, and you are definitely on the taller end of the spectrum. It’s pretty affordable to get a different (longer) stem and seat post if necessary. You could optimize fit by purchasing a Trek, Giant, Specialized or other product that comes in five sizes, but that will cost a lot extra. If you like the SONDORS, my guess is that it will be workable and you’ll just be more upright and potentially have your knees closer to the handlebar without modification. Most of the other comparably priced ebikes will only come in one size that is very similar, so it’s really about price and knowledge that a standard 31.8mm stem and longer seat post and sliding the saddle back can improve your fit. There are also stem elongater products for taller people that I’ve seen but not tested :)
ReplyBill Collins
4 years agoReally have enjoyed your reviews. They helped me decide what to buy. I also have a Trek Verve 2 which got me started in the Electric direction. As I am older (69) biking has helped me lose 25 lbs but I wanted that throttle to help the ride. I ride with my daughter and my new Sondors MXS is better than I expected. Delivery delays were a nightmare and bike took a month longer than promised.
Power, comfort, and handling are fantastic. Truly a great urban bike. Wheels are so light and the pedal assist is stupid fast and effortless. Display is great compared to Trek.
Things I would have Sondors change are to have setup for bottle holder, instructions (videos) need to reflect changes they have made in assembly, throttle needs to be a little better at modulation, and accessories need to be available when bikes are shipped, waiting two months for rack/fenders is not smart. Last but not least is NOT send me emails saying bike has shipped when it did not.
Electric bikes are going to continue growing and manufacturers need to get better at all aspects of sales/service/assembly for a high priced product. (IMO)
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Bill! Sorry to hear that it took longer than expected fro your MXS to arrive AND that they sent an update that was incorrect… that must have been very frustrating. You’ve got a good attitude, and I think you’re correct about the industry expanding! Some companies are doing an excellent job with customer support, but that can add to the cost of the bike. I agree that having a throttle is nice. Enjoy the ride, and thanks for the comment :)
Reply