Bosch - what is all the fuss about...

[eddieo]

Found this review by an Italian journalist that explains very well what a Bosch system bike is like to ride. It is a long review, personally I would ignore the references to the Cannondale its not a great choice of Bosch bike. But review explains quite well how the Bosch system works and performs. Helps to to explain the popularity quite well I think

Bosch Cannondale E-series Review | ELECTRICBIKE.COM


Both reviewer and comments after in Blog say how unbalanced it is due to battery placement...would never entertain bike with a battery set up like this.... ..A joke really

 

[Hugh]

Very useful article re Bosch, Eddie.

I also agree entirely about Cannondale and battery location - top-heavy and inelegant to my eye. Great pity as Cannondale do make good bikes and the Headshok is a fine thing. (I might add that I speak as a totally impartial Cannondale owner )

 

[amigafan2003]

Both reviewer and comments after in Blog say how unbalanced it is due to battery placement...would never entertain bike with a battery set up like this.... ..A joke really

Many others would disagree.

My battery placement isn't far off that - albeit a little lower - never had any issues with it - and I do some pretty aggressive riding at times, even when having a pannier bag on the other side with a 3kg laptop in it.

 

[indalo]

Both reviewer and comments after in Blog say how unbalanced it is due to battery placement...would never entertain bike with a battery set up like this.... ..A joke really

I also agree entirely about Cannondale and battery location - top-heavy and inelegant to my eye. Great pity as Cannondale do make good bikes and the Headshok is a fine thing. (I might add that I speak as a totally impartial Cannondale owner )

Having ridden several bikes with such a battery placement, I'm bound to say I found no perceptible handling difference whatsoever compared to bikes with a battery lower in the frame. These bikes, once equipped with electric power and all the accoutrements demanded by the system, are not intended as TDF contenders so the finer nuances of handling and roadholding really aren't the prime consideration, given the typical buyer demographic identified in forums such as this.

I can certainly go along with Hugh's "inelegant" comment as I would prefer the battery lower in the frame for aesthetic reasons.

Otherwise, I feel the reviewer has highlighted the character of Bosch-driven bikes pretty well and there aren't too many negative points about them in my view. Now, if only Koga would insert the Bosch system into one of their models, I'd be knocking on a dealer's door tomorrow!

Indalo

 

[NRG]

The review mentions how unbalanced the bike was *before* the battery was added so its nothing really to do with placement....and it was only noticed both in review and comment when the bike was lifted not when riding.

 

[eddieo]

Good point NRG but I still dont like that weight high on the back. both my bikes have battery in triangle and feel this the best position IMO...The Bosch battery weighs 2.5kg.

Really did not mean for thread to get bogged down with this aspect..sorry I mentioned it!lol

 

[indalo]

The review mentions how unbalanced the bike was *before* the battery was added so its nothing really to do with placement....and it was only noticed both in review and comment when the bike was lifted not when riding.

With the greatest of respect NRG, I have to disagree with you. The reviewer, as you stated, made mention of the imbalance on lifting but he also noted that the steering was light when ridden. I have ridden similar machines and didn't notice that characteristic. Equally, I have ridden my own bike with ridiculous loads in my pannier bags yet still failed to detect any significant change in the steering weight. I think he was just padding out his story to satisfy his editor's requirement.

The following is what he actually said:

Surprisingly, at the end of the day this uneven weight distribution did not seem to affect the bike riding, except perhaps for a very light steering response.

For what it's worth, I too have a Cannondale machine and it has incredibly light, quick steering responses. When I carry weight on the pannier rack, it feels exactly the same.

Indalo

 

[eddieo]

The bike featured is 25kg I think which is very heavy for a Bosch powered bike. Any I'm interested in are under 20kg, including mine. It's an odd frame anyway which is pretty obvious, and why I suggested to ignore this aspect as far better Bosch system bikes around for a lot less money!

 

[Geebee]

Isn't light steering a common feature on city/Dutch bike? the Cannondale was described as a City bike.

 

[flecc]

Isn't light steering a common feature on city/Dutch bike? the Cannondale was described as a City bike.

Indeed it is, the short wheelbase and upright seating position typical of this type means low front weight and correspondingly very light steering. Some Dutch bike designs incorporate a spring stabiliser to help keep the front wheel in line, opposing its propensity to swing sideways when stationary in these designs.

 

[Old_Dave]

Isn't light steering a common feature on city/Dutch bike

Hence the almost compulsory shopping basket for adjustable ballast