Issue Four - Early 2012 - Electric Bike Magazine

Raleigh’s electric bike range
has expanded somewhat
since we reviewed their
‘Dover’ back in Issue 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
Bike 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
Issue 4 Electric Bike 21