Name: Stromer ST1 S Review
Item: Stromer ST1 S
Author: Court Rye

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Stromer ST1 S Review

Stromer St1 S Tdcm Ultra Motor 500 Watt Gearless

Stromer St1 S Removable 522 Watt Hour Battery

Stromer St1 S Flat Tapered Handle Bar Custom Stem

Stromer St1 S Lcd Display Panel Computer

Stromer St1 S Nine Speed Shimano Deore Xt

Stromer St1 S Two Speed Schlumpf Drive Bb Clicker Shields

Stromer St1 S Alloy Platform Pedals Bottle Cage Mount

Stromer St1 S Ergon Locking Grips Tektro Dorado Brake Levers

Stromer St1 S Integrated Led Lights Bm Toplight

Stromer St1 S Slap Guards 180 Mm Carbon Steel Brake Rotors

A high speed urban electric bike emphasizing sport riding (flatter handle bar, no rack) available in two frame sizes, one high-step style and one color (metallic lime green)
Carbon fiber fork reduces weight and dampens vibration, oversized road tires cushion the ride and stiff custom thru-axles provide strength and rigidity
Capable of reaching 28 mph stock and the LCD panel lets you enter codes to tweak performance and enable additional features, large 180 mm hydraulic disc brakes provide great stopping power and the right lever activates power regen
Heavier than a lot of the city and road style ebikes I test at ~62 lbs but also more powerful, pricier as well but the warranty is 2+ years and Stromer has earned a good reputation

Make:

Stromer

Model:

ST1 S

Price:

$4,790

Body Position:

Forward Aggressive

Suggested Use:

Urban, Road

Electric Bike Class:

Speed Pedelec (Class 3)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Year Battery (Or 1,000 Full Charge Cycles), 2 Year Motor, 3 Year Frame

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2016

Total Weight:

62 lbs (28.12 kg)

Battery Weight:

6.4 lbs (2.9 kg)

Motor Weight:

16 lbs (7.25 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

16.5 in (41.91 cm)20 in (50.8 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Small 16.5" (30" Stand Over Height, 16.5" Seat Tube Length", 22" Reach) Medium 20" (32" Stand Over Height, 20" Seat Tube Length, 22" Reach)

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

Metallic Lime Green

Frame Fork Details:

Rigid Carbon, 15 mm Proprietary Axle

Frame Rear Details:

12 mm Proprietary Axle

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses, Water Bottle Cage Bosses

Gearing Details:

18 Speed 2x9 Shimano Deore XT 11-32, Schlumpf Speed Drive 2-8005

Shifter Details:

Shimano Sora Triggers on Right

Cranks:

Schlumpf Drive, 32T, Alloy Guard

Pedals:

Aluminum Alloy Platform

Headset:

1 1/8" Top 1 1/2" Bottom

Stem:

Custom Alloy

Handlebar:

Flat, 25" Length

Brake Details:

Tektro Dorado HD-E715 Hydraulic Disc with 180 mm MT4 Carbon Steel Rotors, Tektro Levers with Motor Inhibitor and Regen Activation on Right

Grips:

Ergon GC1 Ergonomic Rubber with Lockers

Saddle:

Ergon SME3 by Velo, Ergonomic

Seat Post:

Quick Release Collar, Aluminum Alloy Post

Seat Post Length:

350 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

31.6 mm

Rims:

Alexrims, 559" x 23"

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, Black, 14G Front 13G Back

Tire Brand:

Continental Top Contact II, 26" x 2"

Wheel Sizes:

26 in (66.04cm)

Tire Details:

Performance Line Green Guard, 55-80 PSI

Tube Details:

Presta Valve

Accessories:

Hebie Spring Kickstand, Flick Bell on Left, Supernova E3 E-Bike V6S LED Headlight 165 Lumens, B+M Toplight Mini LED Rear Light, Optional Suspension Fork SR Suntour Raidon with Lockout $350

Other:

Locking Removable Battery Pack, 4 Amp Charger 2.3 lbs

Motor Brand:

TDCM Ultra Motor

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Gearless Direct Drive Hub

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

250 watts

Motor Peak Output:

500 watts SYNO drive gearless direct drive rear hub motor weighs 11 pounds (5kg) offers 42 Newton meters of torque

Motor Torque:

30 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

14.5 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

522 wh Lithium-ion cells by Samsung

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours hours for a full charge from empty

Estimated Min Range:

25 miles (40 km)

Estimated Max Range:

50 miles (80 km)

Display Type:

Fixed, Backlit LCD Display on Right

Readouts:

Speed, Avg. Speed, Odometer, Trip Time, Clock Time, Battery Percentage, Battery Level (10 Bars), Assist Level (Recoup 2, Recoup 1, 0, Eco, City, Tour, Power)

Drive Mode:

Torque Sensing Pedal Assist (TMM4 Torque Sensor)

Top Speed:

28 mph (45 kph)Speed Pedelec

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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Compared with the ST1 T, the S (which stands for sport) has a more aggressive geometry due to its flat bars vs. the low-rise bars, it has thinner ergonomic grips and no extra racks. The two models are very similar electric bikes and aside from color differences, could be easy to confuse. Both deliver impressive power and speed (maxing out around 28 mph with the POWER 48 motor) with responsive output thanks to a custom tuned TMM4 torque sensor and both offer a unique Schlumpf drive bottom bracket shifter effectively doubling the nine speed cassette… That’s the biggest upgrade from older ST1 Elite and Platinum models… or even the ST1 Limited which is metallic blue. While there’s no true throttle mode on any of these ebikes, you can enter one of the special codes to unlock a low-speed boost mode that allows you to hold the plus button on the display for power boost up to 12 mph (great for starts or crossing a puddle without putting your feet in harms way… or even as a zippy walk mode if you’re willing to jog). The ST1 S is more affordable than the ST2 and still delivers premium features and higher top speeds but does produce a bit more noise under operation, lacks some of the fancier display features (like the touch screen on the ST2) and has a smaller 36 volt battery verses 48 volts).

Enlarged two inch road tires cushion the bike at high speed which is a big deal given the lack of suspension. The rigid frame and thicker heavier build quality (with custom thru-axles front and rear) give this and other ST1 models a fluid, solid ride quality. It feels more substantial this way and there’s very little frame flex. The head tube is tapered 1 1/8″ at the top to 1 1/2″ at the base if you felt like replacing the fork. The fork that ships with the bike is rigid but made with Carbon fiber to cut down on weight while simultaneously improving ride feel by dampening vibration. The ST1S weighs around 62 pounds (varying slightly by frame size) and in my book that’s heavy… but I understand why and am happy to make the trade off here. A lot of the weight comes from the powerful gearless direct drive hub motor made by Ultramotor which is very satisfying. It powers you quietly and it also helps to slow you down while recouping energy. This is one of the few ebikes that offers regenerative braking… but you have to squeeze the right lever to make it work as the left is not wired in. Alternatively, you can arrow down using the display interface to one of the two “recoup” levels which are great for long hills or moments where you actually want to challenge yourself and get a workout. The display panel features integrated buttons that can be reached while holding the grip but aren’t quite as close as the independent backlit buttons on the ST2 models.

Powering the bike and its integrated LED ligtset is a beautiful, custom designed, Lithium-ion battery pack. The look is awesome, with a colorful aluminum casing and a slide-in door mechanism that nearly completely hides the pack (just a black rubber outline remains on the right side of the frame). You can charge the battery on or off the bicycle but unfortunately the plug adapter is different depending on whether you’re plugging into the side of the frame (circular) or into the base of the battery off the bike (rectangular) so Stromer gives you a dongle with the charger to switch between the two… The charger itself is rated at 4 Amp output which is pretty fast and there’s an integrated fan to keep it cool, the casing and circular plug adapter are both metal so they’re sturdy and should hold up if you toss them into a backpack while riding. The charger weighs around 2.3 pounds.

Aside from a couple little quirks like the single-lever motor inhibitor activation and the dongle adapter for the battery pack this is a really polished electric bike. The full length aluminum fenders are silent and hug the oversized tires closely which reduces toe clip and just looks cool. On the back of the rear fender you’ll find a plastic mounting point which is used for license plates in Europe where speed pedelecs are more heavily regulated. The lights are both very high quality with the front being a Supernova that offers adjustable angle and is housed in aluminum. It’s the same one used on some of the Specialized Turbo models. Part of me wishes the lights could be controlled through the display panel (and that the display was metal, center-mounted and removable) but the flip side is that the lights work independent from the control systems and can be used while the rest of the bike is turned off. The display panel itself is sleek enough and backlit for easy viewing at dawn or dusk.

There are only a handful of consumer level, legal, electric bikes that really feel thrilling and satisfying on pavement and the Stromer lineup definitely makes the list. The TMM4 torque sensor it relies on is responsive at start but purposefully delayed when you stop pedaling to reduce the feeling of surge. It’s also designed to operate at lower levels and more slowly if you decide to push gently (regardless of your assist level setting) and that’s cool. It feels more like an extension of your body but does require increased effort to achieve the highest top speeds and zippiest feedback. Again, this can all be adjusted by entering codes into the display which is mentioned in the pro’s section below. I’ll close by saying that riding above 20 mph, while fun, significantly shortens range due to air resistance. As far as speed-pedelec Class 3 ebikes go, Stromer is a trusted name with a big following. You pay a premium for their designs but for a limited time it sounds like they are tossing in a second battery pack with purchase (a slightly smaller 36 volt 11 amp hour pack) and the 2+ year warranty is hard to beat.

Pros:

For a limited time you get an additional (smaller) battery pack for free with the purchase of ST1 models, the battery is 36 volt 11 amp hours for 20+ miles of additional range and weighs 6.6 pounds so you could toss it into a backpack with the charger
Custom thru-axles (15 mm front and 12 mm rear) for added strength and stiffness, performs better at high speed and with the heavier weight, the rear spokes are also larger 13 gauge to support the added power of the motor
Unique drivetrain with a 9 speed Shimano Deore XT cassette and 2 speed bottom bracket gearset by Schlumpf delivering 18 gears total… requires fewer shifters on the handlebar and requires less maintenance than two derailleurs
Larger 2″ tires improve traction and add comfort when riding at high speed, built in puncture protection to reduce flats, the specs show tires with reflective sidewall stripes but the model I tested didn’t have them (perhaps they were replaced for demo purposes?)
The integrated Aluminum alloy fenders look amazing, they hug the tires closely and have struts for added strength and reduced rattling
Premium Supernova headlight is bright, tough and mounted on an adjustable swivel… both it and the back light run off the main battery for convenience but you have to switch them on with a rubber button on the back of the front light vs. using the display panel
There’s a unique “start mode” built in that works like an under powered throttle (just hold the up button for several seconds), this could be used for walk-assist or to get you going without pedaling, it has to be enabled by entering a code into the display console
I love the nice little extras you get with this bike including large alloy platform petals, bottle cage mounting point on the downtube, neoprene slap guards on both chain stays (to hide wires), a flick bell, Ergon ergonomic locking grips and the upgraded spring kickstand
Powerful oversized hydraulic disc brakes offer excellent stopping power and are ebike specific so the right lever cuts power to the motor when activated and activates energy regen mode to recapture and store power (~10% efficient but this also reduces wear on the brake pads)
The fork is custom Carbon fiber vs. Aluminum alloy which reduces weight slightly and improves ride comfort… this is really nice at high speeds along with the larger tires
Purpose built frame is available in two sizes for improved fit and the unique slide-in battery stays very hidden while keeping weight low and center for improved handling
You can enter special codes to change setting in the LCD display… hold the power button and the plus button for a few seconds then arrow up or down to change the four digits (press power to move to the next digit) then hold power to submit the code, the full list of codes was shared in the EBR Community here

Cons:

Both wheels require tools to take off, an adjustable wrench for the rear and 7/32″ allen key for the front which makes changing flats and doing maintenance more involved but also deters theft
This is a heavier electric bike… the gearless direct drive motor is powerful and fast but it weighs ~16 lbs and the larger 14.5 amp hour battery, fenders and rack add even more (but at least the battery is removable so at least ~6.4 lbs can be taken off, the rear wheel would require tools)
Only available in one color with these specific features, you could consider a standard ST1 in black or white as well as the ST1 Special Edition in metallic blue or the ST1 T in metallic brown
One of the more expensive electric bikes at close to $5k but you get premium components like the Schlumpf + Shimano Deore XT drivetrain and a solid 2+ year warranty
Only available in high-step “diamond” frame style for now, if you want a step-thru Stromer for easier mounting and stand over consider the ST1 Platinum or ST2 models
I love that the bike offers regen and has a motor inhibitor built in but wish that both levers had that vs. just the right

Resources:

Official Site: https://www.stromerbike.com/en/us
More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/kRsF7dzV4PPYtdX77

January 29, 2024 (10 months ago)

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Andy

9 years ago

Very good review. So next will be the ST2S ? Really looking forward to it.

Court Rye

That’s correct Andy, it should be up soon… Shot a lot of great video and I’m on the move so sitting down to process and actually post has taken an extra day or two ;)

andy

Good review. So next one will be the ST2 S? Really looking forward to it.

Yep, it’s going to be live very soon! Just check the homepage of EBR as that’s where it will appear first ;)

jacob

Hi Court, What do you think about the ST1 vs the Specialized Turbo X?

If you add the suspension fork on the ST1 it’s similar to the Turbo X but I like the button pad, motor choice and look of the Turbo model more personally. They offer fenders and a rack just like Stromer and the two bikes even use the same headlight! It’s a very close call and might just come down to personal preference. The ST2 has a nicer side loading battery compartment vs. the ST1 models which weren’t as sturdy feeling as the Turbo’s battery implementation (though it was also imperfect with some rattling… at least they had a tightening screw at the bottom bracket).

Thanks a lot! I’ve had my eye on the 2016 Turbo X, but like the idea of the 500W on the ST1, which I assume makes it a bit zippier than the Turbo X?

Kevin

Court – Considering this bike vs. the ST1 Platinum with city kit. Since they would be very close in price, which set up would you give the nod to? If the Schlumpf drive is such a plus, why don’t we see it on the ST2? Thanks for the great site.

I think the Schlumpf drive is neat and maybe we’ll see it on the Stromer ST2 (and other models from other brands) someday but I’m sure it adds weight and probably took some negotiating to get onto the latest models. I don’t think the ST2 has changed much for 2016 aside from the availability of a 22″ frame now. The ST2S might have gotten the attention along with the ST1 S and T. I like the city kit rack but if you don’t intend to use it then maybe the ST1 Sport with the Schlumpf is the best option :)

Oliver

8 years ago

After eight month and 7000 km riding an ST1S with Schlumpf drive I can probably add something to the conversation. The Schlumpf drive is an interesting idea to keep your front drive train clean and neat looking. The gear switching via kicking your heel against the added paddle shifters at the crank arms is easy and gets rid of additional cables and the shifter at your steering.

There are some things to consider however:

The internal gearbox needs lubrication 1-2 times a year. That’s easily done via a supplementary injector syringe with special grease. Winter riding conditions might produce a little squeaking noise here and then if you’re riding in sub zero temps because the grease will not lubricate in those conditions.
Any maintenance on the gearbox or removing the crank arm will need special tools that can be obtained from Schlumpf, but most bike shops neither have them nor the experience to deal with it. (you can remove the crank arm, but without the tool, the gearbox cannot be locked and will not function anymore). If you get to that situation you need to send the Drive to Germany for re-assembly. That’s a month downtime for your bike if you’re in Northern America.
My biggest concern is however the way the paddle shifters are designed and how this impacts the pedal mounting onto the crank arm. The paddle shifters add about 2 mm extra thickness to the crank arm. And that is extra thickness between your pedal and the arm itself. Hence your insertion depth of the pedal is reduced from average 5 treads to abut 4 treads. Every time you shift, a little vibration gets translated towards the pedal tread and that seems to loosen the pedals. Mine came loose three times and I had to use tread lock to solve the problem. I also mainly stopped shifting and using the Schlumpf gears and run just in the highest gear whilst shifting in the back. That seems to solve the problem but it’s far from ideal.

In summary, I’m pleased to see the ST1X having removed the Schlumpf Drive. A clean one blade design on the front with 11 gears at the rear end is more than enough for an electric bike.

Stephen in Switzerland

7 years ago

Just order one of these puppies. Just wanted to say thank you for your website and comprehensive reviews.

Hi Stephen, thanks man, that means a lot! I’m glad the site helped you and hope you have a BLAST with the ST1 S, it’s one of my favorite models in the Stromer line and hopefully you got a good deal on it now that they are focused on the X and ST2 products :)

I did get an excellent deal on it. Now I am hoping I use it enough for it to pay for itself on my daily commute.

Allen

3 years ago

Can the front fender be removed on the Stromer ST1 S and is it simple to remove and reattach? Looking at Thule rack that mounts over front tire no front fender recommended. Thanx Allen

Court

Hi Allen! I used a Thule and Küat platform rack to move this ebike around and was able to position the “candy cane” arm just in front of the fender. I always put the bike on the inner most position, so it could not tip off the back… but worst case could tip into my car trunk. It worked alright, but I’m not an expert and do not want to be held liable for recommending that you try it. Yes, I do believe that the fender could be removed. I cannot confirm because I do not have this ebike in front of me right now, but I’m fairly confident that it is possible. I also used additional bungee cords to pull the arm towards the bike frame and add additional support.