While the name Stromer might not ring any bells for you here in the U.S., the Swedish based bike company has a long history of making premium bikes in Europe since 2009. With the ST series of e-bikes, Stromer is now in the smart e-bikes game with a slew of new tech and mobile device integration, delivering what they refer to as “The Swiss Driving Experience”.
The Stromer ST5 comes equipped with standard smart features like SIM card integration for 4G data connectivity that supports other features on the ST5 like GPS-based tracking, navigation and route mapping, Over-The-Air (OTA) firmware updates and compatibility with the Stomer OMNI App where riders can fine-tune their Pinion gearbox settings.
While I may not have any idea what the Swiss Driving Experience might look like, I was pumped to take it for a spin and get familiar with the Stromer ST5.
My Experience Riding The Stromer ST5 Pinion E-Bike
When it comes to “Swiss Made” anything, my mind tends to drift immediately to chocolate and Rolexes, but certainly not bikes. Don’t get me wrong, Switzerland is home to several well-respected bike brands like BMC, Thomas, Scor, and many others.
So, when the Stromer ST5 came across my desk, and I took a look at the specs, my eyebrows raised in anticipation. After all, it’s not every day we see a $12,000 bike kitted with a full lineup of tech rivaling an Apple store on wheels.
It’s important to at least mention the fact that the bells and whistles this bike offers are not only impressive but equally overwhelming when trying to wrap your head around all the tech features. After a few hours of reading manuals and watching a few videos, I was eager to hop on and hit the road.
Getting on the bike, you get the feeling that you’re sitting in the driver’s seat of a luxury car; everything looks and feels not only well-built but also premium. The bike frame size we were sent for testing was the ‘Large’ frame fitting, which Stromer says is between 5′ 9″ and 6′ 2″. At 5′ 11″, I was right in the middle of that, and I found the bike to fit me well; although the reach felt a bit stretched out for my taste, nothing that detracted from the overall ride.
Pedaling the bike is where the fun really starts. The Stromer ST5 Pinion pedals well and feels very fluid. The 750W SYNO Motor is, dare I say…silent. While I didn’t test the decibels from it, that was largely due to the fact that I actually never heard it in my rides. Yes, it’s that quiet, even in Sport mode, the fastest of the four pedal assist modes on the ST5. The fast-rolling Pirelli Cycle-e 27.5×2.4″ tires rolled effortlessly and equally as quietly as the motor.
All in all, the Stromer ST5 Pinion starts to impress in the first few miles.
Shifting is provided by the Pinion C1.9 9-speed sealed gearbox, which not only provides crisp and precise shifting between gears but also automatically downshifts to the gear of your choice when you stop, making the restart a breeze if you’re the type to forget downshifting while waiting at red lights, eliminating the need for hard shifts on a start if you’re the type to forget it. I didn’t think I would care about this until I did, and now I miss it on all my other bikes.
Speaking of stopping, the Stromer branded 4-piston Hydraulic Disc Brakes (in partnership with TRP) not only provide substantial stopping power with excellent manipulation, but the integrated Anti-Lock Braking system keeps the front wheel from locking up even at a full squeeze and ultimately keeps the rider from going over the bars….well, at least that’s the idea, and it served me well on my rides. This was my first time riding any bike with an ABS system, and initial impressions are good, albeit I do have my concerns about maintenance and repair costs associated with ABS on a bike.
One aspect that cannot be overstated is how well the ST5 rides. It’s quieter, faster, and smoother than nearly any bike I’ve ever ridden, and as of today, that number of e-bikes is in the hundreds, and at every price point from budget to bougie. The ST5 tracks straight, handles well, and has the acceleration and cornering of a high-end sports car where traction and speed excel.
Range
Estimated Range (from Stromer): 110 miles
Real World Range Test Results (from ElectricBikeReport): 40.9 miles in Sport Mode and 93.6 miles in Mode 1
Stromer advertises an impressive 110-mile range on a single charge for the ST5 thanks to its hefty 983Wh battery. However, as many e-bike owners know, the real-world range can often differ significantly from manufacturer estimates. So, we hit the road to see what the ST5 could really deliver.
Our friends at Electric Bike Report put the ST5 through its paces, and their findings were interesting and still impressive. In Sport mode, the bike managed a respectable 40.9 miles. However, switching to the more economical Mode 1 yielded a whopping 93.6 miles – not quite the advertised 110, but remarkably close.
Another standout feature of the ST5 is its regenerative braking system, which allows the bike to recover some energy during braking or while descending. When you brake, the motor takes over, converting the kinetic energy into electrical energy that’s sent back to the battery. This feature is particularly useful on long descents. By holding the ‘down’ button used for pedal assist, you can activate a cruise control mode that maintains a set speed using motor braking, all while recharging the battery. On a 4-mile descent, I was able to recover about 3% of battery power—not a massive boost, but it could be just enough to get you home when the battery is running low.
Nearly 100 miles of real-world range on an e-bike like the ST5 is nothing short of impressive. It opens up possibilities for long-distance commutes, epic weekend adventures, and everything in between without the constant worry of running out of juice.
Power (Motor & Battery)
The Stromer ST5 is propelled by a 750W SYNO Sport rear hub motor. A standout feature of the ST5’s motor is its torque sensor activation, which gives a more natural pedaling assistance feel over a cadence sensor and can be fine-tuned in the Stromer App. This allows riders to tailor the motor’s response to their pedaling input, creating a more natural and intuitive riding experience.
With pedal assist available up to 28 MPH across its four modes, the ST5 offers plenty of speed potential without the need for a throttle, which is a good thing since the ST5 does not have one.
It’s also worth noting that this motor doesn’t peak above 750W. While its 48 Newton meters of torque might seem modest on paper, real-world testing by Electric Bike Report revealed impressive hill-climbing capabilities. On a challenging 1/3-mile hill with an average grade exceeding 12%, the ST5 clocked a very respectable time of 1 minute 11 seconds, showing it can tackle steep inclines with ease.
Powering the ST5’s motor is the 48V, 983-watt-hour (Wh) frame-integrated battery. At 983Wh, the ST5 has one of the larger e-bike batteries I’ve personally seen. While UL certification for the battery is still in process, Stromer tells me they are expecting it to be completed in 2025.
The battery placement on the ST5 is in the bike’s downtube with a black contrasting color over the bike’s frame color. To remove the battery, you simply enter your PIN code on the bike’s display, and then a simple one-button removal makes getting the battery in and out easier (and more secure) than expected.
Components
The frame on the Stromer ST5 is all-aluminum and available in 3 sizes (M, L, XL) and in two colors, Imperial Red like we have here, and Adventure Green, both in an attractive matte finish. The frame comes equipped with a rear rack rated for 50 lbs and has two mounting points along the downtube for another attachment option.
The wheels on the ST5 are alloy and sized at 27.5″ with Schrader valve stem holes. Wrapping around those wheels are the 27.5 x 2.4″ Pirelli Angel ST street tires. This combo of tire and wheel feels good on this bike with no noticeable rolling resistance or road noise.
The braking system on the Stromer ST5 Pinion is a Stromer-branded hydraulic disc brake setup in partnership with Tektro TRP and the HD944 series. It’s a 4-piston caliper brake mated to 203mm rotors in both front and back. In conjunction with the hydraulic disc brakes, the ST5 has an ABS system that uses a fast-paced intermittent braking pressure to ensure the front tire is not locked up, both giving me better stopping and preventing the dreaded over-the-bar hard braking scenario.
The Pinion C1.9 gearbox gives nine speeds to work with on your rides. Shifting with Pinion feels very precise and crisp, whether you’re moving, stopping, or climbing. It’s also incredibly low-maintenance because it’s fully sealed. You only need to change the internal oil bath once a year or after 6,200 miles, whichever comes first. The Smart. Shift module is a handy feature, too; it automatically downshifts to your preferred starting gear when you come to a stop. Personally, I found setting it to the 3rd gear was a nice way to still have an easy start but still have power. Setting the downshift gear is a simple touch of a few options in the Stromer Omni App, which we will chat about more in the next section. The crankset on the Pinion is a 39T chainring with 175mm crank arms.
The Gates carbon belt is another low-maintenance favorite here at the office. I’ve seen more and more bike brands introducing Gates Carbon Belt drives, and it’s for a good reason. Belt drives last about twice as long as a chain, and all it really needs is a regular wipe-down to remove the typical dust and mud. There is a tension wheel that automatically self-adjusts to keep the belt tight, so you don’t have to worry about it stretching. Combined with the Pinion gearbox and rear-hub motor, this drive system requires much less maintenance than a traditional mechanical groupset.
Stromer kitted the ST5 with some high-quality LED lighting as well. At the cockpit, there is a Supernova M99 Pro 2 LED headlight that puts out 1100 lumens in “low-beam” and 1600 lumens in ‘high-beam”. Also, upfront in the headtube, you have a frame-integrated V-shaped LED light that not only provides some ambient light when the bike is powered on but also adds to the overall stealthy aesthetic of the ST5. The rear of the bike has a Supernova M99 LED taillight, which is as bright as you would expect for LED lighting, but I couldn’t find any info on the official lumen rating.
Contact points on the ST5 are sufficient and comfortable overall. The pedals are an aluminum flat MTB-style, complete with raised studs for grip. The saddle on my test bike was a Selle Royal VIVO; however, according to the Stromer website, it will be either this Selle Royal VIVO or an Ergon SMC 40. The grips on the ST5 are Brooks Cambium Ergonomic Grips in black rubber. All of these contact points felt good, and I was comfortable on my rides, but, like all bikes, these are easy to change on the Stromer as well, should you want something different.
Finally, up in the cockpit, you have a one-piece stem and handlebar design with all cables from the braking and shifter internally routed through the stem and into the frame for a nice, clean look. On the left, you have an included rearview mirror that mounts on the end of the grip, giving a clear view of the road behind you, which I always appreciate when commuting. Also on the left are the pedal assist buttons and a button to activate the LED lighting as well as toggle between high and low beams.
In the center of the cockpit is a recessed SP Connect mounting plate where you can mount your phone or any other accessory you have that’s SP Connect compatible. At the time of testing, I didn’t have any SP Connect phone accessories to test out, so I just left the cover on, which is nice to keep out of sight should you not be using it.
Over on the right side of the cockpit are the shifting levers for the Pinion Gearbox. I really liked the fact that in the Stromer OMNI App, I was able to choose which shift lever was responsible for shifting up or down based on my personal preference. And speaking of the app, in the next section, I’ll walk through its features, and I can’t lie, it’s pretty cool.
Screen / User Interface / App
When it comes to e-bike apps, they can generally be underwhelming with limited use-case and often buggy software. While the Stromer OMNI app may not be perfect, it’s still a very good app that worked well during my time with the ST5.
As I mentioned earlier, the bike has so many tech features that getting to know them all can be a bit overwhelming. So, to keep things simple, I’ll break these up into individual features (in no particular order).
The Stromer ST5 will automatically be ‘locked’ when you step away from your bike via the Bluetooth SmartLock feature and will unlock when you get back in its proximity. When your bike is locked, it cannot be ridden, and if someone tries, there is a very loud alarm accompanied by flashing lights, and the motor locks the wheel from moving, so you can even pedal it away. Next, you will get a notification on your device that the bike is moving so you can have a heads-up. Finally, you can use the GPS function within the bike to track the bike and locate its physical location at any time. This GPS connectivity is provided around the clock as the Stromer is equipped with a 4G SIM card that will ping nearby cell towers at no extra cost to you, which is always nice.
When it comes to tweaking your motor settings, the OMNI App is another area where the Stromer shines. Entering the App and heading into the ‘Configuration’ tab will allow you to adjust the pedal and braking sensors’ sensitivity as well as the motor, where you can fine-tune the speed, torque, and agility settings. Or, if you don’t want to get too deep into the fine-tuning, you can opt to use one of the four available pre-configured settings of ‘Standard,’ ‘Snow,’ ‘City,’ and ‘Tour,’ each having a unique combination of motor and braking settings to work best in those given scenarios.
Another handy feature in the OMNI App is the ability to enter the ‘Service Booklet’ section, where you can get the upcoming service reminders, the bike’s VIN, and a complete list of the bike’s components, which is a nice thing to have if your local bike shop needs the info.
Should your Stromer ST5 need a firmware update, they’ve made that pretty easy as well, with the bike’s ability to perform ‘Over-the-Air’ (OTA) updates, bypassing the need to plug it in and transfer files.
Stromer didn’t skimp in the rider safety department with their crash detection system. The bikes have internal sensors that, if they determine the bike has ended up in an unnatural position while riding, the bike will give you a notification, and if you don’t clear the notification within 60 seconds, the bike will send a text message to the contact you have listed in your App to notify them of the potential issue.
Finally, the OMNI App also has connectivity to the Stromer Smart Helmet and plays well with Apple’s Siri Integration.
Stromer ST5 Pinion Model Options
The Stromer ST5 starts at a substantial $11,990 and comes in three frame sizes: M for riders under 5’10” (178 cm), L for riders between 5’9″ and 6’2″ (175 – 188 cm), and XL for riders over 6’1″ (185 cm). However, if you’re looking to add even more options, Stromer offers a few notable upgrades and upgrades for the ST5 Pinion.
While the standard ST5 comes with a rigid fork, you can opt for a Wren Sports inverted suspension fork for an additional $1,099. However, during my test rides, I found the bike’s ride to be comfortable even without suspension.
Another option available is a Kinekt Suspension Seatpost for an additional $249. The bike we received for testing had this suspension seatpost and frankly, I liked it more than I expected. It just took the edge off of bumps, specifically reducing the felt impact in my lower back and sit bones.
Finally, the Stromer Smart Helmet, a unique $299 upgrade, integrates with the ST5, mirroring the bike’s braking lights when you slow down, adding an extra layer of safety and visibility.
Overall, Stromer offers a thoughtful selection of upgrades to personalize the ST5 experience. Whether you prioritize comfort, convenience, or safety, there’s likely an option to suit your needs.
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Is The Stromer ST5 Pinion Worth Buying?
Pros
- It rides like a refined luxury sports car, with sleek lines and advanced technology that set it apart from the competition.
- The 27.5×2.4″ Pirelli Angel ST Sport street tires feel smooth, quiet ride, and are ideal for commuting.
- The bike is equipped with a range of advanced tech features, including ABS brakes, a Pinion gearbox with electronic shifting, crash detection with notifications to emergency contacts, OTA Service and Firmware updates, a Gates belt drive, a touchscreen interface, and a comprehensive security system.
- The 983Wh battery, combined with an efficient torque sensor, provided over 93 miles of range on a single charge during testing.
- Regenerative braking modes, including a Cruise Control feature, help maintain a consistent speed on descents and extend ride times.
- The Stromer OMNI app allows for lots of customization, giving you control over torque sensor sensitivity, motor output, and automatic braking intensity.
Cons
- The ST5’s solid, planted feel is a positive for stability, but at 75 lbs (including the battery), it’s on the heavier side, which is worth considering.
- The ST5 comes with a high price tag, starting at $12,000 and exceeding $13,000, with additional options, making it a significant investment. The base model starts at $12,000, with fully loaded versions exceeding $13,000
So, if you’re in the market for a smart e-bike that offers more than just a ride but an entire ecosystem of connected features, the Stromer ST5 might just be worth the investment. This is not just a bike; it’s a comprehensive commuting solution that blends cutting-edge technology with the practicality of everyday two-wheeled transportation.
The integration of 4G mobile connectivity, real-time GPS tracking, and customizable performance settings through the OMNI app takes the ST5 to a level that few other e-bikes can match.
For those who value the finer things, innovation, convenience, and the ability to fine-tune every aspect of their ride, the ST5 delivers on all fronts. It’s an investment not just in a mode of transport but in a lifestyle of smart, connected computing that’s designed to meet the demands of the modern e-biker.
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