Sondors’ powerful new Bafang Ultra mid-drive e-bikes w/ 1kWh battery start at $1,999

Sondors has simply revealed three new high-powered electrical bicycles often called the Sondors Rockstar, Cruiser and LX. The brand new fashions are a part of the corporate’s not-yet-released Elite line. They characteristic beautiful new body designs, enormous 1kWh batteries although the low introductory costs would possibly really be the largest shocker of all.

Sondors first burst onto the scene again in 2015 with low power $500+, budget-minded e-bikes.

These new e-bikes are nothing of the kind.

The brand new Sondors Rockstar, Sondors LX, and Sondors Cruiser seem to characteristic the famed Bafang M620 mid-drive motor, also referred to as the Bafang Extremely, which is understood to place out greater than 1,500W of energy and a stump-pulling 160Nm of torque. Sondors signifies that they’re working 25A controllers, which might restrict the motors to round 1,200W — a determine that’s nonetheless fairly highly effective for something with pedals…

The motor is a favourite of high-performance e-bike fanatics, although its sheer energy and torque might be powerful on bicycle parts. The Bafang Extremely is understood for sending numerous chains and sprockets to an early grave. I ought to know — I sadly destroyed a wonderfully good chain with this motor in lower than 5 minutes at Eurobike 2019.

I feel perhaps essentially the most stunning factor about these bikes is how effectively they’re designed. Take a look at the cruiser under.

Sondors Rockstar full suspension e-bike

The Sondors Rockstar options full suspension with 150 mm of rear journey, although the corporate hasn’t indicated any specifics relating to the precise suspension parts.

The “bespoke cast and machined aluminum alloy body” homes a 48V 21Ah battery. With 1 kWh of capability, Sondors claims it must be ample for between 40-60 miles (64-96 km) of vary on a single cost.

Sondors claims the bike can hit speeds of “28+ mph,” which sounds proper for this motor. On the FREY EX, which sports activities this similar motor however at a better present restrict, I’ve hit speeds of 38 mph (61 km/h) on flat floor. Although with a mid-drive setup, high pace is very depending on the gear ratio of the bike, so it could be too quickly to inform what the Sondors Rockstar’s true high pace will probably be.

The Sondors Rockstar options inside cable routing, built-in saddle lighting, a remotely operated dropper seat submit and fenders/mudguards.

Priced at $2,499, that is the most effective worth I’ve ever seen for a full-suspension e-bike with the M620 Bafang Extremely motor. A deposit of $299 holds your spot for an estimated ship date of October.

Sondors LX electrical bike

The Sondors LX is one thing of an enigma, sporting a laid again geometry but with a excessive energy motor and entrance suspension. Sondors describes it as “a premium mid-drive sport utility fats electrical bike with an all-new low-entry, elevated chainstay body.”

That’s a little bit of a mouthful, however we’ll go along with it.

The Sondors LX options the identical excessive energy motor and excessive capability battery because the Sondors Rockstar, however with a hardtail rear.

The bike contains big 26″x4.9″ fats tires that ought to give it glorious efficiency even on free terrain like sand and snow.

The Sondors LX is priced at $1,999 and might be reserved with a $299 deposit for October delivery.

Sondors Cruiser electrical bike

Sondors rounds out the brand new Elite lineup with a inflexible body cruiser-style e-bike.

Using the identical excessive energy motor and high-capacity battery because the earlier two members of the Sondors Elite household, the Sondors Cruiser opts for a totally inflexible body.

If the entire lack of suspension didn’t clue you in, then maybe the white wall tires will get the message throughout: This can be a street-only e-bike. You don’t wish to hit a berm or root at 30 mph on a inflexible bike like this.

However for clean streets and canyon roads, the excessive energy of the Sondors Cruiser must be loads of enjoyable. And priced at $1,999 with a $299 deposit, it really makes for comparatively low-cost thrills — at the least when you think about that Bafang Extremely-equipped e-bikes normally begin round $1k extra, at the least.

Electrek’s Take

These costs are fairly nuts, in a great way. For a Bafang Extremely motor and 1 kWh battery, not to mention the spectacular and novel body designs, this can be a nice deal.

However I’m approaching this with cautious optimism. On the one hand, these specs at these costs are basically unprecedented. However however, I’ve but to see one single {photograph} of the bikes. All we’re getting proper now are renders of what the Sondors Elite will presumably seem like.

That being mentioned, Sondors has a historical past of creating daring claims after which largely sticking to them. So if they are saying they’ll produce these bikes at these costs, I’m inclined to consider them at this level. I used to be a Sondors skeptic again in 2015, however I’ve seen them put sufficient bikes on the highway now that I’ve develop into a believer.

That doesn’t but translate to their mythical $10,000 Sondors electric car, however I’m a believer within the e-bikes at the least.

Between these three bikes, the Sondors Rockstar is my favourite, palms down. At $2,499 it’s an unimaginable deal for a motorbike of this energy and design. I’ve put round 70 miles on the FREY EX within the final week or so (seen under), and whereas I don’t anticipate the Sondors Rockstar to compete towards the FREY EX on construct high quality, it appears to severely undercut its $4k worth.

I don’t actually know what I’m doing, however I feel I’m getting higher. And my FREY EX is unquestionably serving to! 1.5kW! (Although this was on Eco mode with simply pedal help) pic.twitter.com/lvCF6cH5rp

— Micah Toll (@MicahToll) June 23, 2020

There are solely two issues that give me pause right here: 1) we don’t know whether or not they’re placing first rate suspension or discount basement springs on the bike, and a couple of) they’re neutering the 1.5 kW by round 25% of its energy.

For the primary, we’ll simply have to attend and see what sort of shocks Sondors will give us at these costs. For the second, this might be an effort to make the drivetrain parts last more, or it may signify a weaker battery that may’t deal with the height energy of the Bafang Extremely motor. Once more, we’ll have to attend and see.

For now although, I’m fairly impressed with what I’m . Sondors has all the time made massive guarantees, and this new announcement is not any totally different in that regard. What’s totally different is that Sondors is now stepping out of the value-oriented e-bike house and seems to be edging dangerously near the premium class of e-bikes.

What do you consider the brand new Sondors Elite lineup? Tell us within the feedback under!

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