+ON TEST Raleigh Velo-Cité Xbar 20 <strong>Electric</strong> <strong>Bike</strong> <strong>Issue</strong> 4 We try the £1200 Velo-Cité Xbar from Raleigh – a torque-sensing, hub-motor bike from the company which has just turned 125 years old…
Raleigh’s electric bike range has expanded somewhat since we reviewed their ‘Dover’ back in <strong>Issue</strong> 1 – at the time you had a choice of crossbar or step-through frames, but that’s about it. Now, they still do the Panasonicpowered Dover (as a three-speed version), and also with Panasonic drive are the higher-spec ‘Leeds Tour’ models at £2000. Alongside these are two ‘Velo’ bikes (again in the two frame types) using identical hub-drive electric assist systems, the Velo-Trail and Velo-Cité. The former is fl at-barred and derailleur geared, with 26" wheels, and goes for £1100, while the Velo-Cité, as reviewed here, has seven-speed hub gears, swept-back bars and a slightly higher level of equipment, for an RRP of £1200. Two frame sizes are available: 20" (50 cm) and 21.5" (55 cm) for the ‘Xbar’ (we reviewed the smaller one), while the ‘Lowstep’ comes as 20" only. One of Raleigh’s strong points has always been the availability of their bikes (and subsequent back-up) through a network of dealers across the country. The number of Raleigh dealers stocking electric bikes has now risen to 150, and I’m told that all have undergone product training to ensure they can resolve any technical challenges arising with the bikes. The bikes are backed up with a two year warranty (including the battery). One reason I was particularly keen to try the Velo bikes is that they represent, as far as I can tell, the most affordable torque-sensing bikes on the market as we go to press. Torque sensing means that the bike measures your pedal effort and matches it automatically and instantaneously, giving a very intuitive and naturalfeeling ride. It’s a system usually found on crank drive systems, and some higher-end hub motor bikes – but seeing it on a bike at the £1200 price point is unusual to say the least. » ON THE BIKE The Velo-Cité is very evidently an electric bike, with a hefty 36V, 10 Ah Li-ion battery pack fi tted into the rear rack. Substantial rubber ‘bumpers’ at either side ensure that it’s rattle free, while there’s the usual locking mechanism so that it can be removed for charging if required. Cables from the battery run neatly down a channel behind Specification Weight overall (inc batteries): 26 kg Battery weight: 4.8 kg <strong>Bike</strong> only weight: 21.2 kg Charger weight: 0.66 kg (inc. mains cable). Battery type: Lithium-ion. Battery capacity: 360 Watt hours (10Ah 36V). Gearing: 7-speed Shimano Nexus hub gear. 38T ring, 16T sprocket. Ratios 41-100". Brakes: V-brakes front and rear. Lighting: None. Other accessories fi tted: bell, mudguards, carrier rack, stand. Price as tested: £1200 the downtube and then inside the frame, including wires apparently carrying something called an ‘SMbus smart communication protocol’ which allows battery status, torque sensor output and other data to be updated constantly and shared between controller, battery management system, and handlebar display. Key to the drive system is the torque sensor, which is a wee device fi tted onto the aluminium plate ABOVE: The Raleigh is unusual for a bike at this price-point in that it is fi tted with a torquesensing drive system; the actual sensor is the black widget fi tted to the aluminium plate shown above, bolted to the main frame and supporting the rear axle. ON TEST: Raleigh ON TEST: Velo-Cité Ezee Xbar Torq which supports the drive-side end of the back wheel’s axle. As you put effort in via the pedals and hence tension the chain, it measures the miniscule distortion of the plate which results, and passes this info on to the controller. The amount of assistance provided depends on the handlebar display, a neat unit with an LCD display. The red power button doubles as the backlight control. There’s a four-level <strong>Issue</strong> 4 <strong>Electric</strong> <strong>Bike</strong> 21
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