Surface 604 Boar E350 Review

The Boar E350 (and E250 in some geographies) is a purpose built fat tire electric bike from Canada. It’s a second generation model that improves on pretty much every aspect of the original Element Electric fat bike from 2014. That model impressed me based on affordability but fell short in terms of drive train quality, weight distribution and range. Maybe it’s not fair to say it “fell short”, it was just designed with an emphasis on value vs. performance and the price reflected that. Moving forward with the 2016 Boar model you get an upgraded SRAM X5 derailleur with ten sprockets and a 34 tooth chain ring (a bit smaller for improved climbing power) along with a battery that’s 30% larger, a switch to torque sensing assist vs. cadence that’s smooth and responsive, two frame size options, three color choices and the same great one year comprehensive warranty as before (three years on the frame). Warranties are great but it sounds like the company started running low on some replacement parts for their last bike and that’s something they’re looking to avoid this time around. They’ve invested heavily in the design vs. piecemealing it together and that really shows. I met a couple of reps from the company in Whistler Canada for the demo (both avid cyclists) and got some very honest feedback about how they actually use the bike… they aren’t taking it down steep mountain passes for one thing, they ride full suspension downhill bikes for that. Notice the large upright bars and relaxed saddle in my photos here and in the video. They added those parts themselves to create a more upright and relaxed ride because they use the bike daily for cross-town commuting. This thing works in snow, packed trails, sandy beach environments and is capable of pulling trailers with paddle board gear and picnic supplies and that almost makes it like an SUV of bicycles. I was definitely impressed with all of the optional upgrades including sturdy front and rear racks, aluminum fenders and suspension forks. I really love the fat tire fenders that Surface offered for their last model and heard about people purchasing them for non-Surface 604 fat bikes with good results. There’s a true “design” element to the bike and extras here that isn’t found on lower quality products. The Boar E350 does cost $500 more than the older Element model but in my view is very worth it.

Driving the bike is a wide edition 350 watt motor from Bafang. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this thing given the “average” power rating and heavier 57 lb footprint of the bike itself but it totally blew me away. I was genuinely surprised with its climbing ability, even in the lowest level of assist. Now, part of this strength might be an illusion based on having to pedal at all times to make the bike go because it uses a strain gauge TMM4 torque sensor vs. cadence sensors. This means you have to exert some force in order to activate the motor and given the weaker low-end power of hub motors, even just a little bit of pedaling can go a long way. Whatever the reason, I tested it thoroughly and had a blast. It’s surprisingly responsive, quiet and blends in nicely behind the sprockets and disc brake rotor. The silver color on the motor casing matches the spokes and the power cable is tucked away and neatly fastened to the chain stay. Unfortunately, there’s no quick release skewer at the back which would make transporting even easier but at least the battery and front wheel are removable. One big concern I had going into this review was the lack of throttle mode… it can be fun to sit back, relax and scoot around without worrying about pedaling at all (especially if you’re balancing groceries) but I get why they dropped it. For larger riders or those carrying trailers, throttle activation can strain motor and controller parts and overheat. You definitely get decreased range in throttle mode and the cockpit area becomes crowded with wires. For the Boar, the team wanted to keep things simple, clean, efficient and reliable so they put more energy into redesigning pedal assist. For those moments when you really cannot pedal there’s a slow “walk mode” that can be activated by holding down on the button pad.

Powering the Surface 604 Boar is a Lithium-ion battery pack with 36 volts of power and 13 amp hours of capacity. This is a step above average in my view and will extend range and power throughout your ride by maintaining a higher voltage. The cells inside are from Samsung and the pack weighs about seven pounds total. It locks to the downtube and can be charged on or off the frame which is great. There’s a charging port at the bottom of the pack (near the seat tube) with a rubber flap to keep water and debris out. Also included here is a USB power port for running portable electronic devices! I like that the port is not protruding from the side (where it could get kicked) and that you could run a wire up the seat tube with zip ties or velcro and use it for your GPS or even lights. Speaking of lights… the 2014 Element Electric had an integrated rear light and that has been dropped for the new Boar model. It’s a bit of a bummer but I’d rather have the lower more balanced battery design than the rear light. The majority of cycling accidents happen at the front of the bike but you’d be wise to grab a set of lights like these to cover both bases. Surface 604 had to custom design the frame to work with this new battery pack and that’s a big reason the price of the bike went up but they didn’t limit how and where they improved things and I appreciate that. the fork is custom made to work with their oversized basket rack and uses a sturdy thru-axle which makes swapping to a suspension fork possible. Okay, other thoughts about the battery… I don’t love that you have to power the battery on before activating the display panel. It’s a two step process that takes a bit longer and can become confusing. I frequently forget to turn the battery pack off after rides because I’m so focused on the LCD when riding and this can drain a bit of capacity unnecessarily. There’s a handy LED charge level indicator built into the top of the battery that comes in handy if you’re storing it inside and wondering how full it is but the dark lens above it makes it difficult to read in even average lighting conditions. This isn’t exactly Surface 604’s fault, the battery is made by Bafang who makes these decisions, a side mounted LED readout would be preferable to me. To really care for this (and most) ebike batteries I recommend storing in a cool dry environment and maintaining a 20% to 80% charge. Check in on it every few months if you haven’t ridden but rest easy knowing that you can get replacements (or extras) for ~$500. If you do begin losing capacity ofter 1,000+ cycles the charger could become your best friend because it’s so compact and light weight ~1.3 lbs. I could see myself taking it along with a “glove box” bag or the rear rack bag thing along with a lock.

Operating this e-bike is fairly straight forward (once you’ve turned the battery and display on). There’s a small independent button pad connected to the main display and this improves the ergonomics and safety of switching assist levels (0 to 5) or checking your odometer, trip distance, average speed and max speed. On the demo bike I was riding for this review there were extra long cruiser bars installed and the button pad wouldn’t reach all the way out to the grips but on the stock bars it does. As mentioned earlier, I was impressed with the power output even in the lowest level of assist. It definitely slowed acceleration and limited my top speed in the lower levels (as intended) but the bike didn’t struggle in grass, packed sand or forested trails. The LCD console on this bike isn’t removable but it does swivel and the readouts are large. You’ve got your speed, assist level and a really nice battery level indicator with ten bars. Many other electric bikes I test have just five bars and this makes it difficult to gauge how much has really been used… With the Boar, there is some instant-drop on the indicator when climbing hills vs. flats because power is surging to the motor and voltage drops but all in all the display still works well. Outside of the electronic interfaces, the grips are sort of generic rubber and the levers are standard (but feel great because they’re pulling hydraulic vs. mechanical). I love the trigger shifters here vs. the larger thumb shifters that came on the older model. Often times with fat bike reviews I’ll try to rationalize these larger shifters because you might be riding in snow and have gloves on… the larger shifters work alright with gloves and fat fingers so it’s a wash. But on the Boar, with 10 speeds it’s nice to have the faster, better indexed trigger shifters. It’s definitely an upgrade in terms of quality and performance.

Fat bikes are fun and electric fat bikes just make sense to me. The extra weight, increased friction and drag of the tires and cargo potential just beg for assistance and the Boar satisfies this need without being obscene. It’s efficient, relatively quiet and fairly stealth. While riding around Whistler I commonly received interested looks and questions from people struggling up hills on traditional unpowered bicycles. Several times I heard enthusiastic shouts of “big tires!” from little kids and that made me smile. If you really want attention the fluorescent green color scheme would certainly do it but I like the traditional white and black; black would be the most clean because the battery would blend right into the frame along with the cables. At the end of the day I think the Surface 604 team really nailed it with the new design. I wouldn’t have minded slightly larger 180 mm disc brake rotors and a trigger throttle could be handy while keeping the grips in tact but I see why the trade offs were made. I do appreciate the lightweight punched out rims and the ability to swap forks along with the fenders and racks. With the increasing popularity of mid-drive motors it’s easy to forget just how effective a hub motor can be and it definitely delivers a different type of ride… often at a lower price. The Boar E350 optimizes this type of setup and ranks among the most fun, sturdy and beautiful fat tire electric bikes I’ve tried in a long while. It’s an above-average ebike that was thoughtfully designed by a team of passionate riders.

Pros:

• Available in two frame sizes for improved fit, sloping top tube makes it easier to stand over the frame at rest
• Two custom designed sturdy racks available for added utility, Rear rack has pannier blockers and standard gauge tubing, the front rack will only work with the solid fork that comes stock with the bike (not aftermarket suspension)
• 10 speed drivetrain with durable SRAM X5 components, works well for climbing or pedaling at higher speeds
• Optional aluminum fenders specifically designed for four inch fat tires, optional 4.5″ tire upgrade, optional suspension fork: RST Renegade (also compatible with RockShox Bluto
• Sturdy purpose built frame with integrated wires, inset battery, tapered head tube and 15 mm thru-axle in the front I also like the larger metal platform pedals
• Hydraulic disc brakes are easier to actuate and fairly smooth, the 160 mm rotors work alright and provide decent stopping power for the larger 57 lb ebike
• Ebike-specific motor from Bafang is wider which might add strength to the spoke design and also seems to provide good torque when powering the wheel
• Torque sensing pedal assist is very responsive and helps to extend range because you have to pedal along, the five power levels felt great
• The display panel has five levels of brightness so it isn’t as distracting for night riding, the panel also swivels to reduce glare during daylight hours

Cons:

• Pedal assist only configuration, there is a ~4 mph walk mode that be used as a slow throttle but in general you have to pedal (chosen to declutter the cockpit, improve climbing performance and extend range)
• Costs ~$500 more than the first generation Surface 604 electric bike (the Element) and does not come stock with the rack or integrated tail light on the battery… but the balance is much better now and the components are quite a bit better
• No bottle cage bosses here but the front and rear rack options are awesome and you could get a trunk bag with a bottle slot like this
• In its current form there is no kickstand, the seat is fairly hard and the handlebars are far forward (having two sizes helps for fit), I prefer the more relaxed customized form you see in the video review and images
• The battery has to be turned on independently from the display panel, the LED indicators on top of the pack are kind of dark and it’s easy to forget to turn it off after a ride

Resources:

• Official Site: https://www.surface604.com/
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/MSHUXKmnfar4W2kt6