May 22, 2019 - The Bulls Cross Lite Evo Step-Thru is designed as a high-end commuter bike that riders can take touring or exploring gravel roads as well. All of Bulls’ bicycles, a brand that has been building e-bikes since 2010, are designed and built in Cologne, Germany.
I was excited to test the Cross Lite Evo as my primary commuter for a few weeks in Milton, Ont. As a newbie e-bike rider, the biggest surprise to me was just how much fun I had riding it. It handled as one would expect an upright commuter to, which was confidence-inspiring with the added joy of being able to cruise over hills and rollers without getting bogged down. The electric-assist tops out at approximately 30 kph and the vast majority of my riding was done at that speed.
The frame features a relaxed upright riding position and has a truncated toptube for a step-thru geometry, unlike its sister bike the Evo Wave, which has no toptube at all. This toptube is actually quite useful as a handhold to manoeuvre the bike into the garage or onto the car, as this ride weighs roughly 46 lbs.
The Shimano hydraulic brakes with a 180mm front rotor did a commendable job of slowing the bike down on command. Combined with a 63mm-travel Suntour fork, I was rarely aware of the bike’s heft while riding it.
The aluminum frameset features a mid-engine drivetrain with power provided by a Bosch Performance CX engine that offers up to 350 watts and 60Nm of torque. The battery is cleanly integrated into the downtube and can be fully recharged in just 4.5 hours, a solid benchmark for this type of bicycle. Depending on the level of assist, the Cross Lite Evo provides up to 215 kilometres of riding.
Probably the biggest surprise was just how pleasant its four power-assist options (Eco, Tour, Sport and Turbo) made my commute. On one frigid but dry day, I bundled up in civilian clothing and, with the bike set to the highest assist setting, rode the seven kilometres to work in relative comfort. Who knew an e-bike at 30 kph could feel so sporty?
One of this bike’s great virtues is its two panniers and an ingenious Abus lock found in the downtube. A twist of the key and the bike is effectively disabled, with no need for a separate lock – a convenient feature for short excursions, as many will likely add a second lock.
Similarly the bike comes equipped with lights for commuting when the days get short. The system is integrated so that the rider can turn the lights off from the same control panel where one can select the level of battery-assist.
The Cross Lite Evo Step-Thru comes in three sizes, although its relaxed geometry and step-thru frame mean that a huge range of riders can ride it comfortably.
My primary take-home from this test was the value of this category of bike in making commuting accessible to a huge range of people – which should come as no surprise since this has been the space Bulls has been working in on the continent for nearly a decade.
I would not be surprised to see far more of these bikes out on the roads and trails in the coming years – hopefully helping to increase e-bike commuting as a primary form of transport over cars. For more information, visit www.bullsbikesusa.com. – by Chris Reid
