April 4, 2019 - If you’re looking for a stylish urban e-bike and ready to cruise, you’ll like the Bulls Sturmvogel E EVO’s sleek minimalist design. It comes equipped with a powerful Brose motor and its extra-large 650Wh battery pack helps you go farther and faster with little effort.
This fully rigid aluminum hybrid comes in four sizes and provides modern appeal and extra visibility with its cool white paint job and matching reflective white sidewall tires and rims. To counter its rigid fork, the wide 2.35 Schwalbe tires have enough squish to float over curbs. Another great safety feature is its integrated front and rear LED lights, which run off the main battery pack. A leather saddle and its ergonomic leather handle grips on mustache handlebars lend the Sturmvogel E EVO a classy Euro-look. The e-bike also comes with a sturdy kickstand, so your “Insta-pics” can easily show your ride off in any setting. It’s also outfitted with fender and rack-mount eyelets on its downtube for a bottle cage or mini pump.
The Sturmvogel E EVO has three modes of pedal assist: Eco, Tour and Sport, all easily navigated with its bar-mounted display panel. This control panel displays speed and battery range and has a light switch. The display is minimal and easy to use, and there is a micro USB port in the button pad’s base so your phone or extra lights can charge off of the e-bike’s battery.
Its low-maintenance, clean-looking Shimano Alfine drivetrain features an internal eight-speed hub. The front chainring is covered with a chain guide, which prevents chain drops, grease marks on your legs and any loose clothing from getting caught within. The reliable Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm front rotor and 160mm rear rotor may be considered overkill for a commuter cruiser, but responsive braking is ensured. An internal shifter and brake-cable routing complete its elegant design.
The frame is thoughtfully designed to conceal the battery and Brose motor while providing even weight distribution for stability. The battery is integrated into the frame, yet is easy to remove for external charging or to lighten the bike. The Sturmvogel E EVO’s 220-kilometre battery range, depending on the boost level employed, is impressive, and it’s one of the longest-lasting batteries on the market. The battery takes up to five hours to fully charge and is good for up to 1,000 cycles at full strength, which could net you five years of battery life. A spare battery can be $800 to $1,000, which is a pretty hefty sticker price, but at least the battery is recyclable. As well, I have to give props to the padded sticker along the downtube, which protects the frame from dings and scratches.
I tested the Sturmvogel E EVO during a busy week of working on Toronto, Ont.’s waterfront. I efficiently cruised back and forth along its bike path, all the while passing many cars stuck in traffic. My non-cyclist co-workers were intrigued by this e-bike. With encouragement and a quick tutorial, they were impressed by how easily it moved in each of its pedal-assist settings. While its $3,299 price tag seemed high to some, they saw the pluses of its lower maintenance costs and its stress-free, no-traffic, open-air rides, and when compared to a car, they had to agree that the Sturmvogel E EVO is stylish, uncomplicated and well worth its price.
For more information, visit Bulls Bikes here.
