Surface 604 Shred Review

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Surface 604 Shred Review

A feature rich hardtail electric mountain bike with 9-speed drivetrain, plus sized 2.8" wide tires, sturdy 15mm thru-axle, adjustable top speed, responsive torque sensing pedal assist, quiet motor, and trigger throttle with full power. Upright geometry, integrated headlight, and lots of mounting points make this a versatile platform.
Available in two frame sizes, and a third XS version with 26" wheels for youth riders! Decent spring suspension fork with lockout and preload adjust, offers 110mm of travel. Optional 20 amp hour battery upgrade can greatly extend range. Optional inverted air suspension fork, rear rack, fenders, suspension seat post, and more. The bike is pre-wired for a rear light.
Good sized 180mm hydraulic disc brakes with motor inhibitors on both levers. Large color display with integrated USB charging port is useful. Second USB charging port on side of battery pack. Good kickstand, bottle cage boses below downtube, flick bell, and locking Velo grips.
Narrow-wide chainring helps to prevent drops, but there's no slap guard to protect the right chain stay from chips over time. Decent Shimano Alivio derailleur, but no clutch feature and the trigger shifter requires index finger vs. thumb for both. Basic 2-amp charger can be slow for the high capacity batteries. The bike is fairly heavy for a hardtail, due to larger tires, reinforced frame, and high capacity battery packs. Tires aren't puncture resistant or reflective.

Make:

Surface 604

Model:

Shred

Price:

$2599

Body Position:

Forward, Upright

Suggested Use:

Urban, Trail, Mountain

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2), Speed Pedelec (Class 3)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

1 Year Comprehensive, 3 Year Frame

Availability:

United States, Canada

Model Year:

2022

Motor Brand:

Bafang RM G360.500.DC

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Geared Hub

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

500 watts

Motor Peak Output:

750 watts

Motor Torque:

65 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung 18650 or 21700 (3,500mAh or 5,000mAh Cells), Reention Dorado Casing or Custom Casing

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

14 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

672 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

20 miles (32 km)

Estimated Max Range:

75 miles (121 km)

Display Type:

Surface 604 Branded, Fixed, Adjustable Angle, 3.5" Color, Backlit LCD, USB Type A Charging Port on Base

Readouts:

Battery Percentage, Current Speed (With Infographic), Power Meter, Trip Distance, Odometer, Max Speed, Avg Speed, Trip Time, Assist Level (0-5)

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad near Left Grip, Buttons: +, -, Information, Lights, On/Off, (Hold - for Walk Mode, Hold + and - for Settings Menu, Settings Password 1212, Speed Limit Password 0510)

Drive Mode:

Torque Sensing Pedal Assist, Trigger Throttle

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)

Total Weight:

57.1 lbs (25.9 kg)

Battery Weight:

7.7 lbs (3.49 kg)

Motor Weight:

9 lbs (4.08 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

17.5 in (44.45 cm) 19.5 in (49.53 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Medium / Large: 19.5" Seat Tube Length, 23.75" Reach, 27.5" Stand Over Height, 33.75" Minimum Saddle Height, 28" Width, 74" Length

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

Satin Black with Gloss Black Accents

Frame Fork Details:

SR Suntour XCM 32 Spring Suspension, 110mm Travel, Compression Adjust with Lockout, Preload Adjust, 32mm Steel Stanchions, 110mm Hub Spacing, 15mm Thru Axle with 6mm Hex Bolts

Frame Rear Details:

138mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Axle with 10mm Flats Threaded with 18mm Nuts

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Mounts, Fender Mounts, Bottle Cage Mount Below Downtube

Gearing Details:

9Speed 1x11 Shimano RD-RX817 GRX Di2 Derailleur, Shimano CS-M8000 11-42 Tooth Cassette

Shifter Details:

Shimano Alivio Triggers on Right (One-Way High Lever, Three-Shift Low Lever)

Cranks:

Samox, Forged Alloy, Sealed Cartridge Bearings, Hollow Spindle, 170mm Length, 38 Tooth Narrow Wide Alloy Chainring

Pedals:

Wellgo Aluminum Alloy Platform with Fixed Pins

Headset:

Integrated, Sealed Cartridge, Straight 1-1/8"

Stem:

UNO, Aluminum Alloy, 45° Angle, 90mm Length, 20mm Tapered Base Spacer, One 10mm Spacer, One 5mm Spacer

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, Low-Rise, 710mm Length

Brake Details:

Tektro Auriga Hydraulic Disc with 180mm Rotors, Dual-Piston Calipers with Resin Composite Pads, Three-Finger Tektro Levers with Adjustable Reach and Motor Inhibitors

Grips:

Velo, Flat Rubber, Locking, Black

Saddle:

Selle Royal, Royalgel Nebula

Seat Post:

Alloy, Forged Head, Dual Bolt

Seat Post Length:

400 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

30.4 mm

Rims:

Double Wall, Aluminum Alloy, 35.5mm Outer Width, 36 Hole, Black

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 13 Gauge Front and 12 Gauge Rear, Black with Adjustable Nipples

Tire Brand:

CST Patrol, 27.5" x 2.8" (71-584)

Wheel Sizes:

27.5 in (69.85cm)

Tire Details:

20 to 35 PSI, 1.4 to 2.4 BAR, 140 to 240 KPa

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Flick Bell Near Right Grip, Integrated Büchel Shiny 120 E-Bike LED Headlight (120 LUX, Custom Stem Mount), Rear Mount Adjustable Kickstand, 5 Volt 1 Amp USB Type A Charging Port on Side of Battery Pack, Optional Wren Air Suspension (Inverted Design, 36mm Black Annodized Alloy Stanchions, Carbon Fiber Stanchion Shields, Lockout Adjust, Rebound Adjust, Air Compression and Air Progression Adjustability), Optional SR Suntour NCX Suspension Post, Optional 20 Amp Hour Battery Upgrade

Other:

Locking Removable Semi-Integrated Downtube Battery Pack (Reention Dorado), 1.4lb 2 Amp Charger, Optional 4 Amp Fast Charger

This review was provided for free, but Surface 604 did provide a temporary demo bike and accessories for me to test. 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 comments below, and the Surface 604 electric bike forums.

Observations:

This is one of the few electric bikes I’ve seen with a hub motor that uses a torque sensor. That makes it a bit smoother, but also requires more effort when pedaling. It’s a good option for trail and mountain riding, when precision is important.
Surface 604 offers a bunch of great add-on accessories including custom fitted fenders, a rear rack with pannier hangers, pannier bags, trunk bags, and an optional suspension seat post with shim (adapts 30.4mm to 27.2mm). The most exciting optional upgrade is the inverted Wren air suspension fork because it’s lighter, smoother, and much more adjustable than the stock spring fork. Surface 604 put the SR Suntour NCX suspension post and Wren fork on the demo bike and it was fun to test them, though I always prefer to test stock builds and am basing my review on my feelings about the stock bike.

Pros:

Building on prior generations of this same model, Surface 604 has added a narrow-wide chainring to reduce drops, increased battery capacity options, and expanded from S/M and M/L frame sizes to include a new XS (extra small) which is basically the S/M frame with 26″ wheels. This is a great option for petite riders and youth.
The stock 672 watt hour battery is above average, but their 960wh option only costs $300 and would be great for long distance rides, people who rely on the throttle frequently, or those who plan on carrying gear. The bike comes with a USB charging port below the display, a second port on the battery pack, has an integrated headlight, and is wired for a rear light (that comes with their rear rack option). This bike could easily transform into a commuter platform.
Outstanding headlight placement, not only is this a high quality light but it’s positioned high and points where you steer. The custom metal bracket ensures that the headlight does not collide with the large color LCD display panel. The cockpit is great, and the light actually illuminates the path vs. just helping you be seen.
Refined paint job is clean and mean looking. The main color is satin black with some glossy black logos for branding. It has a more premium feel in my opinion, and nearly every hardware part is black to match including hubs, spokes, rims, cranks, seat post, stem, handlebar, and suspension fork. The stock fork has silver stanchions vs. the black anodized stanchions on the optional Wren air fork upgrade.
The stem is 45-degrees vs. 7-degrees and the handlebar is a low-rise vs. flat as you’d see on most true cross country mountain bikes. These hardware decisions combine to offer a more upright “SUV” feel. I appreciate the comfort and hybrid feel here, especially for a hardtail that is setup with a headlight and rack mount. I also like that they included a kickstand and mounted it far enough back that it won’t cause pedal lock. Great decisions all around.
The bike is fairly comfortable thanks to its plus sized 2.8″ tires, Selle Royal gel saddle, and adjustable suspension fork. The stock fork offers 110mm of travel, has a preload clicker to “pre-load” the spring based on your weight, and also a lockout for improved efficiency on paved streets. The optional
I was impressed that they used Boost hub spacing and a 15mm thru-axle up front. The rear has a unique 138mm hub spacing that provides a bit sturdier bracing angle and fits the plus sized tires. The entire frame is custom.
The display is large and bright, the important readouts are easy to see, and the battery has a percentage readout that is much more precise than a basic five bar infographic. I also appreciate that it has an adjustable angle to reduce glare.
Trigger throttles seem like a good choice for electric mountain bikes because they are separate from the grips. I have noticed that sometimes I grip harder when I’m anxious or about to miss a stop or turn, and this can result in twisting a twist-throttle and going faster when I really wanted to stop or slow down.
The torque sensor is more responsive than a cadence sensor, and works well for technical terrain and off-road riding. I also found that it encourages active pedaling, which extends range.
The hub motor is extremely quiet, I kept listening during the ride test and tried to show this in the video. I was told that this is a higher quality hub motor from Bafang. It offered good power, even though it was fairly quiet.
Surface 604 used higher quality Shimano parts, which tend to shift more reliably and weigh less. I prefer even higher Shimano Deore vs. Alivio because of the clutch system and two way trigger shifters, but this is still above average and might have been the best option given supply chain contraints :)
I appreciate that the battery lock and charge port are high up on the left side of the frame, that the battery can be charged on or off the bike, and that they offer a fast charger! These Reention Dorado battery designs have become fairly common, and seem to hold up over time. They aren’t as beautiful as a fully integrated pack, but they cost less and are modular and cross compatible with other bikes. Since the bike is black, the battery blends in.
The bike can be unlocked to go a bit faster for off-road use or commuting as a Class 3 speed pedelec. This follows the more open battery design standard and trigger throttle. I believe they are mostly using Bafang parts.
Given the higher potential top speed and heavier build of this ebike (especially with suspension seat post and rear rack options) the 180mm hydraulic disc brakes with adjustable reach levers and motor inhibitors are perfect. They purposefully use Tektro, which is a more trusted brand, and have composite brake pads that are designed to not squeal as much.
Surface 604 uses high quality sealed headset and bottom bracket bearings that are sealed against water. They will last longer and won’t creak as much.
I like the large, sturdy, Wellgo brand aluminum alloy platform pedals that Surface 604 chose here. They match the color and design, and provide a stable surface to ride from compared to plastic or alloy cages. They have large openings for mud or snow to push through vs. clumping and getting slick.
Both wheels are built with thicker spokes and 36 hole vs. 32 hole to add strength for the higher speeds, off-road use, and potential cargo.
The trigger throttle overrides all levels of assist with full power, so you can zip up hills or catch up to friends without having to click any extra buttons. This is my favorite configuration because it’s more empowering. You can also completely unplug the throttle if you wish, which could help the bike comply with Class 1 riding.

I like the optional inverted Wren air suspension because it offers more preload adjustability (air pressure) and has a second chamber at the base of the left side for progressive stiffness. It also has a lockout and rebound adjust on the right. The lower stanchions are black annodized aluminum alloy that look great, and there are carbon fiber shields to protect from damage. This is a special fork because it fits an 1-1/8″ steer post (the size needed for S604 Shred). If you buy the fork, I’m told that they will install the crown race and star bolt, so it’s easier to swap in. You will still get the SR Suntour spring fork with the bike if you order the Wren, but you need to swap them yourself.

Cons:

The Shimano Alivio derailleur shifts well, but the high gear shifter lever requires the index finger on the right hand vs. the thumb (which is used to press the low gear lever). I point this out because I prefer to use my thumb for all shifting and dedicate my pointer and middle fingers to braking.
Minor consideration, the steer post is straight 1-1/8″ vs. tapered which limits the options for upgrading the suspension fork. The included SR Suntour XCM 32 is a decent spring suspension and their $799 Wren air fork upgrade is a very good option.
Weighing in at ~57.1 lbs (for the 19.5″ frame with the smaller 14 amp hour battery), this ebike is a bit heavy for a hardtail. I think the weight is due to using a spring fork, thru-axle with Boost hub spacing up front, plus sized tires, and the more powerful hub motor.
The bike does not come with a slap guard. I’d probably use a piece of clear box tape or purpose made sticker slap guard to protect the black paint. Deep chips could expose the silver aluminum alloy and spoil the look.
There’s a little bit of crowding at the right rear dropout because the shifter cable and motor power cable both connect here, try not to let these cables get snagged or bent (like if the bike tips over). There’s no derailleur guard or other protective hardware in place, which could also help during shipping. Just be careful with the derailleur when unboxing.
I like how large the display is, but considering the mountain bike application… it could be exposed to falls and more scratches than a pure city bike. I guess I’m pointing this out because most of the super high-end eMTB models appear to be going with super small displays or integrate them into the top tube.
If you pay extra for the high capacity 20 amp hour battery pack, you will notice that it spills out to the left of the downtube a bit. It’s not symmetrical like the standard 14 amp hour pack because it has longer 21700 cells inside vs. 18650 cells.

Resources:

Observations:

This is one of the few electric bikes I’ve seen with a hub motor that uses a torque sensor. That makes it a bit smoother, but also requires more effort when pedaling. It’s a good option for trail and mountain riding, when precision is important.
Surface 604 offers a bunch of great add-on accessories including custom fitted fenders, a rear rack with pannier hangers, pannier bags, trunk bags, and an optional suspension seat post with shim (adapts 30.4mm to 27.2mm). The most exciting optional upgrade is the inverted Wren air suspension fork because it’s lighter, smoother, and much more adjustable than the stock spring fork. Surface 604 put the SR Suntour NCX suspension post and Wren fork on the demo bike and it was fun to test them, though I always prefer to test stock builds and am basing my review on my feelings about the stock bike.

Pros:

Building on prior generations of this same model, Surface 604 has added a narrow-wide chainring to reduce drops, increased battery capacity options, and expanded from S/M and M/L frame sizes to include a new XS (extra small) which is basically the S/M frame with 26″ wheels. This is a great option for petite riders and youth.
The stock 672 watt hour battery is above average, but their 960wh option only costs $300 and would be great for long distance rides, people who rely on the throttle frequently, or those who plan on carrying gear. The bike comes with a USB charging port below the display, a second port on the battery pack, has an integrated headlight, and is wired for a rear light (that comes with their rear rack option). This bike could easily transform into a commuter platform.
Outstanding headlight placement, not only is this a high quality light but it’s positioned high and points where you steer. The custom metal bracket ensures that the headlight does not collide with the large color LCD display panel. The cockpit is great, and the light actually illuminates the path vs. just helping you be seen.
Refined paint job is clean and mean looking. The main color is satin black with some glossy black logos for branding. It has a more premium feel in my opinion, and nearly every hardware part is black to match including hubs, spokes, rims, cranks, seat post, stem, handlebar, and suspension fork. The stock fork has silver stanchions vs. the black anodized stanchions on the optional Wren air fork upgrade.
The stem is 45-degrees vs. 7-degrees and the handlebar is a low-rise vs. flat as you’d see on most true cross country mountain bikes. These hardware decisions combine to offer a more upright “SUV” feel. I appreciate the comfort and hybrid feel here, especially for a hardtail that is setup with a headlight and rack mount. I also like that they included a kickstand and mounted it far enough back that it won’t cause pedal lock. Great decisions all around.
The bike is fairly comfortable thanks to its plus sized 2.8″ tires, Selle Royal gel saddle, and adjustable suspension fork. The stock fork offers 110mm of travel, has a preload clicker to “pre-load” the spring based on your weight, and also a lockout for improved efficiency on paved streets. The optional
I was impressed that they used Boost hub spacing and a 15mm thru-axle up front. The rear has a unique 138mm hub spacing that provides a bit sturdier bracing angle and fits the plus sized tires. The entire frame is custom.
The display is large and bright, the important readouts are easy to see, and the battery has a percentage readout that is much more precise than a basic five bar infographic. I also appreciate that it has an adjustable angle to reduce glare.
Trigger throttles seem like a good choice for electric mountain bikes because they are separate from the grips. I have noticed that sometimes I grip harder when I’m anxious or about to miss a stop or turn, and this can result in twisting a twist-throttle and going faster when I really wanted to stop or slow down.
The torque sensor is more responsive than a cadence sensor, and works well for technical terrain and off-road riding. I also found that it encourages active pedaling, which extends range.
The hub motor is extremely quiet, I kept listening during the ride test and tried to show this in the video. I was told that this is a higher quality hub motor from Bafang. It offered good power, even though it was fairly quiet.
Surface 604 used higher quality Shimano parts, which tend to shift more reliably and weigh less. I prefer even higher Shimano Deore vs. Alivio because of the clutch system and two way trigger shifters, but this is still above average and might have been the best option given supply chain contraints :)
I appreciate that the battery lock and charge port are high up on the left side of the frame, that the battery can be charged on or off the bike, and that they offer a fast charger! These Reention Dorado battery designs have become fairly common, and seem to hold up over time. They aren’t as beautiful as a fully integrated pack, but they cost less and are modular and cross compatible with other bikes. Since the bike is black, the battery blends in.
The bike can be unlocked to go a bit faster for off-road use or commuting as a Class 3 speed pedelec. This follows the more open battery design standard and trigger throttle. I believe they are mostly using Bafang parts.
Given the higher potential top speed and heavier build of this ebike (especially with suspension seat post and rear rack options) the 180mm hydraulic disc brakes with adjustable reach levers and motor inhibitors are perfect. They purposefully use Tektro, which is a more trusted brand, and have composite brake pads that are designed to not squeal as much.
Surface 604 uses high quality sealed headset and bottom bracket bearings that are sealed against water. They will last longer and won’t creak as much.
I like the large, sturdy, Wellgo brand aluminum alloy platform pedals that Surface 604 chose here. They match the color and design, and provide a stable surface to ride from compared to plastic or alloy cages. They have large openings for mud or snow to push through vs. clumping and getting slick.
Both wheels are built with thicker spokes and 36 hole vs. 32 hole to add strength for the higher speeds, off-road use, and potential cargo.
The trigger throttle overrides all levels of assist with full power, so you can zip up hills or catch up to friends without having to click any extra buttons. This is my favorite configuration because it’s more empowering. You can also completely unplug the throttle if you wish, which could help the bike comply with Class 1 riding.

Cons:

The Shimano Alivio derailleur shifts well, but the high gear shifter lever requires the index finger on the right hand vs. the thumb (which is used to press the low gear lever). I point this out because I prefer to use my thumb for all shifting and dedicate my pointer and middle fingers to braking.
Minor consideration, the steer post is straight 1-1/8″ vs. tapered which limits the options for upgrading the suspension fork. The included SR Suntour XCM 32 is a decent spring suspension and their $799 Wren air fork upgrade is a very good option.
Weighing in at ~57.1 lbs (for the 19.5″ frame with the smaller 14 amp hour battery), this ebike is a bit heavy for a hardtail. I think the weight is due to using a spring fork, thru-axle with Boost hub spacing up front, plus sized tires, and the more powerful hub motor.
The bike does not come with a slap guard. I’d probably use a piece of clear box tape or purpose made sticker slap guard to protect the black paint. Deep chips could expose the silver aluminum alloy and spoil the look.
There’s a little bit of crowding at the right rear dropout because the shifter cable and motor power cable both connect here, try not to let these cables get snagged or bent (like if the bike tips over). There’s no derailleur guard or other protective hardware in place, which could also help during shipping. Just be careful with the derailleur when unboxing.
I like how large the display is, but considering the mountain bike application… it could be exposed to falls and more scratches than a pure city bike. I guess I’m pointing this out because most of the super high-end eMTB models appear to be going with super small displays or integrate them into the top tube.
If you pay extra for the high capacity 20 amp hour battery pack, you will notice that it spills out to the left of the downtube a bit. It’s not symmetrical like the standard 14 amp hour pack because it has longer 21700 cells inside vs. 18650 cells.