December 21, 2022 - The opportunity to test Louis Garneau’s top-of-the-line e-Espace P Max Step hybrid/commuter bike was like an early Xmas gift and I happily picked up e-bike at Kunstadt Sports in Kanata, Ont. which is celebrating its 30th anniversary next year and boasts four outlets in total.
Louis Garneau Sports is a storied Canadian brand in cycling dating back to 1983 with its apparel, and then launching helmets and shoes, followed by kids bikes and racing bikes. Their e-bike line-up has been expanding and the e-Espace P Max Step is another innovative winner from LGS.
The knowledgeable staff at Kunstadt Sports helped me get acquainted with the e-bike including loading it onto my bike rack, and I was on my way. Keep in mind the substantial weight of e-bikes, as the e-Espace P Max Step tips the scales at around 65lbs.
A Bafang M400 mid-drive motor with 350 watts of power and 80Nm of torque is the workhorse that powers this e-bike (Class 2 in USA), which is more than enough assist to reach its 32 km/hr maximum. The handy throttle lets you access power on demand, and you can accelerate up to the max assist speed without pushing a single pedal.
Packed with standard equipment that feels premium and sturdy, the e-Espace P Max Step’s frame is built with hydroformed S-6 LT aluminum. The downtube conceals a lockable and removable 640Wh, 36V battery that sports a range of 100km.
With five assist levels my first ride was a 40-km route on local gravel roads which made for an enjoyable outing. Using the highest power-assist setting for most of the journey the battery used about 85% of its capacity on the excursion.
Increasing through the power-assist levels was smooth and linear vs punchy, and the 1×9-speed Microshift drivetrain also worked well providing very positive shifts and a decent range of gearing.
The rear Microshift Advent derailleur has a clutch which prevents any chain slap, even on the roughest of roads. The Uding TK700 Pro air front shock with 100mm of travel, including lock out, did a good job of smoothing out bumps.
The Torngat D21-700 rims with Formula disc hubs paired with CST Xpedium ampere reflective, 700 x 45c tires felt competent on gravel and asphalt alike. And the Jieke Y-5, hydraulic disc brakes performed well and were easy to modulate.
In what I like to call the command center you’ll find a Bafang DP 231.CAN display that allows the rider to select the power assist, monitor speed and battery data etc. The easy-to-use display also provides an on/off button for the front and rear lights, as well as a walk-assist button.
Compatible with the Bafang Go app that interfaces with IOS and Android platforms, you can access additional options such as utilizing a bigger display (i.e. Smart Phone), access battery health data, along with other information.
While riding with my daughter to school I really appreciated the throttle and the full fenders as it was a bit wet that morning. The throttle works well and is tuned to reach the maximum speed of 32 km/hr in the highest power setting, while shifting gears up to that level.
As I hadn’t re-charged the battery I depleted the remaining 15% and the final kilometer to reach home with no power assist reminded me of the heft of e-bikes.
The 42V/2A charger which plugs directly into the battery took almost eight hours to fully recharge. Though I left the battery on the bike while charging, it is worth mentioning again that the battery is removable, which is a great feature for people storing their e-bike in a place with no access to an outlet.
More great features are bright front and rear lights, a sturdy rear rack for panniers (rated to 50lbs), and a kickstand.
The Garneau e-Espace P Max Step is a smooth e-bike that delivers a solid feeling which definitely competes in the premium hybrid/commuter e-bike space, and would be welcome under any Xmas tree this holiday season.
The MSRP of is $4,829.99 and for more information please visit here.
