To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Surface 604 Bikes. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Surface 604 products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comment section below and the Surface 604 electric bike forums.
Observations:
- The frame was completely redesigned for 2020 so the stand-over height is slightly lower, the medium/large frame is slightly bigger (19.5″ vs. 19″) and the rear rack is set back and enlarged a bit for greater utility
- Instead of using a bottom bracket torque sensor with a square tapered spindle, Surface 604 has moved to hollow axles (which are stiffer and easier to service) and now uses a rear dropout mounted TMM style torque speed sensor
- The battery pack for this bike comes in two sizes and is cross-compatible with all of the other 2020 models including the Rook, Boar, and Shred
Pros:
- Includes a one-year comprehensive warranty and support from many dealers in the US and Canada, which is great not only for support down the road but also for test riding and fitting before you buy
- Your choice of two frame sizes, an upright relaxed riding position, the step-through design, and the high range of adjustability for the stem makes this bike extremely approachable, able to fit virtually any size of rider
- A new and much-requested feature here is torque sensitivity tuning! Dealers will now be able to tune the torque sensor to accommodate rider needs. It requires connecting with diagnostic hardware and modifying the firmware so it isn’t something you can change quickly on your own… but the vast majority of people shouldn’t change these settings since they are optimally configured by Surface 604. The big win is that bike shops can now customize this sensitivity for customers who need it
- The 3.5″ color LCD is a big upgrade from previous generations of the Colt. New features include password protection as a theft deterrent, an optical sensor for automatic display dimming & integrated light activation, and advanced settings that even allow you to tweak torque sensitivity
- Feature-complete with integrated lights, fenders, and a rear rack! The rack is weld-mounted which offers more sturdiness compared to an aftermarket attached rack, Spanninga lights are powerful and do a great job of illuminating the road ahead – and the rear light even activates and brightens on braking – and the full-size fenders are plastic which offers good durability
- A redesigned 48-volt battery pack that is shorter and standardized across Surface 604 models so you can share batteries if you own any of their other models, you also get a choice between the standard 10.4 amp-hour or the upgraded 14 amp-hour pack (which costs an extra $200)
- Two options for charging personal electronics are available here, which is awesome! There are two USB Type-A ports available, one is on the display and has 0.5 amps of power, the other is on the battery and offers 1.0 amps… For reference, a full 1 amp is required for charging an iPhone but 0.5 amps is sufficient for most Android phones. The battery charging port is nice because you can remove the battery from the bike and still use it to charge other devices, such as powering a portable speaker while on a picnic
- A responsive torque sensor is paired with a 500-watt Bafang rear hub motor, this is a rare combination and offers what feels like a smooth mid-drive motor experience at a hub motor price
- Full throttle power is available at any assist level (even level 0), I really appreciate this because you can ride in a low assist level and have access to the throttle for a short burst of speed or power without having to change the assist level first
- Excellent stopping power thanks to Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes, three-finger levers make the dual-piston calipers easy to actuate, and the 180mm rotors are an upgrade from the 160mm rotors seen on previous versions of the Colt
- Large plastic chain guard does a great job of protecting the chain from wayward skirts or pant legs, and it also features a white reflective side panel for increased side visibility
- A Suntour suspension fork for with 110mm of travel, large Selle Royale gel saddle, and stitched leather ergonomic grips add up to a comfortable ride, you can also add a Suntour suspension seatpost ($100 upgrade) for even more comfort
- Beautiful visual appearance thanks to clean internally routed cabling, even more clean than previous versions of this bike – now even the brake light cabling is routed through the rear rack! You also get your choice of two colors, white or black with white accents
- Lots of changes from previous generations for easier maintenance and repairs, for example, the controller has been changed to use standard XT60 connectors and is much easier to reach for diagnostics and repairs when necessary. Historically Surface 604 bikes have been challenging for dealers to repair the electronics, so I appreciate that they’ve listened to feedback and worked to make their bikes more serviceable
- The high-step frame design may be easier to hang on some car racks and offers a bit more stiffness than the step-thru Surface 604 Rook
Cons:
- The tires are fairly basic, they don’t include any puncture protection or reflective striping on the sidewalls. You can add slime or upgrade the tires aftermarket if you want durability and visibility but at least the plastic chain cover has a nice reflective strip built-in so you get some increased exposure on the right side of the bike
- The display is a big upgrade from previous versions in terms of the information readouts and additional settings, but the color LCD can be a bit more difficult to see in direct sunlight. Make sure you remove the protective film as leaving it on will add some glare and make it even more difficult to see! The important readouts such as your current speed have a good contrast and are easy to see because they’re large, but some of the other details in the corners of the screen are using green text instead of white and can be tough to see in direct sunlight. Fortunately, the display swivels easily so just make sure you have it at a good angle to minimize glare
- The weld-mounted rear rack is nice for sturdiness, but of course, the tradeoff here is that you can never remove the rear rack. For most people this is a good thing, but if you already have a special rack you want to use or a bike trailer that mounts on rear rack bosses you wouldn’t be able to do so on this bike
- The ergonomic grips are not locking, so if you bear down on them you can twist them up and down which can be especially frustrating with ergonomic grips, fortunately, the relaxed position and use case for this bike means you won’t be bearing down on the grips the way you might with a mountain bike
- The charge port is positioned near the right crank arm, which means a risk of bumping and damaging your charger (or the charge port) when charging the battery on the bike
- There is no slap guard on the right chain stay, which means that bumps can cause the chain to bounce down and scratch the paint on the chain stay… A low-tech solution to prevent this is to put some clear tape on that chainstay. Previous versions of the Rook had cables routed on the top of this chainstay and they also served as a slap guard, but on this 2020 model the cables are now internally routed
- The headlight is mounted on the lower traveling portion of the front fork, which means that the headlight will bounce up and down as the suspension fork compresses. This can create a “strobe light” effect on bumpy trails, it’s typically not too extreme but good to be aware of
- The plastic fenders are lightweight, durable, and immune to dings and rust, but they do rattle more than steel or alloy fenders – especially when riding on bumpy trails, this is a minor consideration for me because the bike was very quiet when I rode down stairs during the video review :D
- Minor consideration, the rear light is mounted outside the support bars of the rack and could take damage if the bike is tipped all the way back or upside down, this is relevant because Surface 604 does sell online and the bike could get bounced around during shipping
Mike says
Torque sensing adjustability/tunability does not require a dealer, or firmware change, or even a password. Its right in the display menu for the user to adjust once they press the + and – buttons simultaneously.
Its a great feature, for those who have felt torque sensing required too much effort on mid drives, and didn’t want that much ‘exercise’ you can set it high sensitivity and the response is awesome. For those who DO WANT exercise, and a work out, and greater range, just adjust to lower sensitivity, and wa lah ! your wish is granted.
The tires are Kenda’s, and I have seen customers get over 3000 miles easy, and no complaints of flats. Same tires that have been on these S604’s for past 3 years.
The grips are much more comfortable on this 2020 model, than prior models, and havent noticed any slippage.
With the prior 10 Ah battery, and torque sensing, 50 mile range was not uncommon, and some customers eeked out more. Now with 14 AH battery, 70 mile range should not be a problem, especially if you ‘tune’ the torque sensing such that the motor doesn’t do too much of the work. Hub drives with torque sensing like this, and the great quality of the other components, including the super smooth 9 Speed Shimano Alivio Derailleur should make it very difficult for people to justify spending $3000 to $4000 for a mid drive ebike, for those previously thinking that the mid drive was the only way to get that ‘natural’ feel more typically associated with the ‘torque sensing’. Now you can have your torque sensing ‘cake’ and make others ‘eat’ your dust too ! (raw power of 48volts and 500 watts, that most mid drives simply dont have)
Court says
Great feedback Mike, it sounds like you’ve got a lot of experience with Surface 604. Have you purchased one or do you work at or own an ebike dealership? Thanks for making the point about how torque sensing assist gets improved range… and that there are so many great settings available for adjustment in the display by holding + and -.
Lanny says
Very Interesting & I’m interested
James says
I know you mentioned the Shred briefly in the video, but I’d be curious how different these bikes actually are, as they seem very similar except for frame geometry (integrated rack and overall height) and wheel size. Are there other major differences? Or are they pretty similar (even in weight!).
Court says
Hi James! Yeah, I’ve noticed that many companies in the space will share motors, batteries, and drivetrains across models to make them easier to build and service. The geometry, wheel size, and tires are the main differences… but seat post, saddle, grips, stem, and handlebar also play a role. The cool thing is, you could get an “off road” ebike and then swap the stem and bars to make it more comfortable/upright for urban riding. That’s what I’ve done in the past and really enjoyed the process and end result :D
Tom P says
Hi Court. Does the newest 2020/2021 Colt have the same display/control as the Shred? I ask because I’m trying to figure out if the Colt can be configured to be Class 3+ Pedal Assist. Other than wanting Class 3, the Colt sounds a like a great fit for me. I had a Aventon Level, which I bought after reading your review here, but was stolen after 2 months! So the password protection feels like a “must have” now. :-(
Court says
Oh man! Sorry to hear about the bike theft there, Tom. I haven’t looked closely at the new Surface 604 models YET! But, I’m planning to do so in the coming weeks. I called the founder to ask about the displays this morning and he said they updated the display for 2021. The old ones were 3.2″ and the new are 3.5″ and he says it DOES have the password protection and Micro USB as well.
Dan says
It’s been a year since I bought my 2020 surface 604 colt and I love this bike. Its a very comfortable ride. My lower back used to get sore when doing long distant rides, but not anymore. The adjustable handlebars put an end to that cause now I can sit upright when riding. It’s great on soft trails, and I’ve been all over the place on it. Cumberland, Merville, even Mt. Washington. I got up to 76 klms an hour on the way back down the mountain and the bike handled great, no speed wobble, nothing. It’s a solid bike. And Comox hill is a breeze. Now after 1 year and over 3200 klms later, and numerous conversations with other e-bike owners (some pricier, others not), I’d buy the 2020 surface 604 colt all over again, and Curtis from amped rides provides great service too.
Court says
That’s fantastic, Dan! Thanks for sharing your testimonial here. I agree that the bikes are well made and the company genuinely seems to care (along with some of the dealers that carry it). I hope it continues to hold up for you, maybe we will cross paths out on the road someday ;)