Picture cruising around Amsterdam or riding alongside the river for miles on end without a care in the world. The Raleigh Bikes Motus is the grand tourer of e-bikes, it makes you feel like you could ride for hours and not even realise. Raleigh designed the Motus to offer the convenience of cycling minus the inconvenience of getting hot and sweaty in the process. The bike manufacturer offers plenty of sweat-inducing models but the Motus sits in contrast as a relaxed ride.
Raleigh categorises the Motus as a hybrid e-bike which means it merges characteristics of a road bike with mountain bike and tourer qualities to create a great all-rounder. In terms of power delivery, this model works on a pedal assisted basis so the rider has to continue moving their legs to keep going. Some electric bikes with a throttle will go under their own steam without pedaling.
The Motus offers an undeniably impressive starting experience: with the push of a button, you’re ready to go. Unlike the smaller and lighter Raleigh Trace model, the Motus has a screen that shows data such as speed, battery life, assist point and odometer. The chain bike has nine manual gears and 4 other assistance points: Eco, Tour, Sport and Turbo.
Depending on the surface and incline, the speeds and assist point can be replaced to provide optimal balance. I found that in seventh gear using turbo mode, a smooth cruising speed was around 20 km/h with very little pedaling effort. It is easy to build. Upgrade or go the extra mile to get through faster.
Although it weighs in at 28kg, it doesn’t feel cumbersome, instead it’s reassuringly weighty, giving you confidence on the road. With its hybrid design and long range battery setup for 100 miles of riding, it doesn’t feel quite as agile as the likes of the Estarli e28.X e-bike. Any losses in agility just cement its ability to cruise for miles in a straight line though. The Motus’ seat is incredibly comfortable and the riding position feels sustainable over a long period of time with plenty of adjustment if necessary.
The Motus houses all vital data on its central screen. This is the platform to convert assist modes, see how much battery is left and visualize the speed at which you are traveling. The demo is transparent and simple, making it easy to perceive at a glance.
In addition to electric technology, the Motus is very well equipped with a variety of useful functions. This includes a built-in motorcycle lock on the rear wheel so you never have the ability to lock your motorcycle. Motus also comes with a kickstand, reflective wheels, and built-in front and rear lights.
Motus is located in the middle of the Raleigh e-motorcycle diversity with the Raleigh Centros all-terrain motorcycle and the Raleigh Modum compact urban motorcycle sitting above the diversity. Raleigh gives 4 Motus versions with other gear configurations depending on how the motorcycle will be used. All 4 models are to be had with crossbar or low step frames in sizes 41, 46, 51, 53, 56 and 57 cm.
The Motus Grand Tour – Derailleur Gear electric bike I tested was priced at £2599 ($3250). It can be done with cream, pine green or blue paint. Since Raleigh Bikes Motus uses Bosch for its electrical system, the product page links to the Bosch e-bike calculator that allows you to enter various variables to calculate the approximate range.
As tested price: £2,599 ($3,250)
Transmission: Chain with Bosch Active Line Plus motor
Battery: Bosch Power Tube 500Wh
Charge time: 7 hours
Range: up to one hundred miles/160 km
Weight: 28kg
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