Serial 1 Rush/Cty eBike review: A Harley for electric bikes

Our Verdict

The Series one Rush/Cty powered by Harley-Davidson delivers a solid, just sometimes too-harsh ride for urban riders.

For

• Seamless blueprint
• Automatic gearing
• Problem-free belt drive

Confronting

• Loftier cost
• Hard to alter cadence

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Serial 1 Blitz/Cty powered by Harley-Davidson delivers a solid, merely sometimes too-harsh ride for urban riders.

Pros

• +

  Seamless design

• +

  Automated gearing

• +

  Trouble-gratis belt drive

Cons

• -

  Loftier price

• -

  Difficult to change cadence

Serial 1 Blitz/Cty: Specs

Price: $4,999
Battery: 706 Wh
Max estimated range: 25-115 miles
Max assisted speed: 20 mph
Motor: Brose mid-bulldoze, xc Nm torque
Gearing: Enviolo Automatiq constantly variable transmission; Gates belt drive
Wheel bore: 27.v inches
Weight: 59 lbs. (large frame)

It ain't a hog, simply that'due south a good thing. The Harley-Davidson-backed Serial i Rush/Cty ebike is a more civilized two-wheeler than you lot'd look from the maker of iconic American motorcycles.

Started in 2018 and later spun out of the Milwaukee motorcycle maker, the ebike company is officially known as "Serial 1 Powered by Harley-Davidson," combining the imprimatur of the 118-twelvemonth-former brand (plus its design and research expertise) with the sheen of an emobility startup. The company's Series ane Rush/Cty model is, every bit the proper noun suggests, an urban commuter designed to be equally maintenance free as possible and offering sophisticated technology, such equally an automatic transmission/gearing and design flourishes like a built-in glove compartment. And, like its motorbike parent, the Series 1 is also a luxury brand at present vying for space in a competitive ebike marketplace. Just, as this Serial 1 Rush/Cty review will evidence, the marriage of old and new isn't always perfect.

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Serial i Rush/Cty review: Price and availability

The Series 1 Rush/Cty is a premium cycle and is priced accordingly at $4,999. With a constantly variable transmission, the pedal-assist-only bicycle has a top-speed assist of twenty mph (faster than that and y'all're pedaling on your own). In that location's as well a Rush/Cty Speed version that goes up to 28 mph for a whopping $5,599, but it'south also pedal-assist only, no throttle included.

The more than basic Mosh City Serial 1 models showtime at $3,799 only comes fenderless and rackless. It also has a smaller battery, reducing its range by about twenty percentage, and the Mosh City uses a single speed drive rather than the continuous variable transmission of the Rush/Cty models. (There's also a retro Mosh Tribute model with white tires and an former-timey jump seat, but it is currently unavailable.)

Series one Rush/Cty review: Pattern

In terms of heft and size, the Serial i is a middleweight. It'due south not as graceful equally commuters similar the 45-pound Charge Bikes City but information technology'southward not as beefy as off-roaders like the 65-pound Biktrix Stunner X.

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

The Serial 1 has 2.4-inch wide street tires, for case, which are wider than typical tires on commuting bikes but more refined than the knobby fatty tires on cross-land bikes. It helps requite the Series ane a large city feel, forth with the in-tube bombardment and integrated front and rear fenders and cargo rack.

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

The Series i Rush/Cty is also wider and more muscular than a typical commuter. The pedals, for example, sit almost an inch farther apart than those on almost models, giving it a wider pedaling stance. The aluminum bike'south downtube is likewise wider, which allows it to accommodate a lockable glove compartment that is big enough to agree a pocket-size water canteen. All the wiring is routed inside the frame, keeping things not bad and tidy, and an excellent LED headlamp is included, as well as a tail calorie-free. The rear brake light illuminates non only when you hit the brakes merely also if you start slowing downwardly, a nice prophylactic feature.

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

The Rush/Cty uses a mid-mounted Brose TF Mag motor that seamlessly delivers 90Nm/66 ft. lb. of torque. It's a pedal assist -only bike, so at that place'southward no throttle for full-on electric operation.

(Epitome credit: Serial 1)

Y'all as well tin't shift gears; it's an automatic and is set to a stock-still cadence that yous can modify in an app that works with the Enviolo Automatiq transmission, an electronically controlled CVT (constantly variable transmission) rear hub pattern. It's prepare to 75 rpm by default, merely you can ready it to a lower rpm to increase the resistance. The whole thing is connected using a carbon-fiber chugalug, so it doesn't require the lubrication and maintenance that a traditional chain incurs.

Series i Rush/Cty review: Performance

Over hill and dale, the Serial 1 Rush/Cty bicycle proved to be an extremely stable ride, no doubt aided and abetted by Schwalbe Super Moto-Ten 27.5-inch tires and the very low eye of gravity created by the Brose motor being situated below the downtube and crankshaft. Nosotros institute the Blitz/Cty, in spite of its full size (we tested the large model) was responsive and easy to handle with a comfortable upright riding position and wide-grip handle bars.

(Prototype credit: Tom'due south Guide)

Quick swerves to avert potholes didn't disturb its balance, and the Blitz/Cty stayed steady under panic braking; the rear wheel stepped out a fleck simply it was completely manageable, making information technology a perfect cycle for rough and tumble urban streets. While the electric aid cuts out at 20 mph, we found the bike stayed steady and true heading down hills at over 24 mph, and on a blustery day, it remained unflustered by wind gusts.

(Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

On the downside, some riders will observe the Serial 1 delivers a rather harsh ride. At speed, astringent bumps tin jolt the handlebars out of your hands if yous're not circumspect. A forepart fork with break would become a long manner to remedying the state of affairs, as would a pinch post nether the otherwise comfortable seat.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

While the majority of ebike riders will probably find the automatic transmission and lack of gear a godsend, we often found it frustrating not being able to shift on the fly. For example, the electric aid cuts out when you hit twenty mph so when going downhill it can go harder to pedal when yous exceed that speed. Then — counterintuitively — you lot may find you work harder doing downhill than you do going uphill. Consequently, we often found nosotros wanted to alter to a cadence with more resistance, but you tin just exercise this by stopping, booting up the Enviolo smartphone app and lowering the rpm (nosotros found lx rpm was more our speed), and and then adjusting the scale, which takes a couple of meters of pedaling.

(Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

On the electronic side, the Brose controller with a 1.5-inch color TFT screen is hands legible, reporting on battery level, ability assist mode, speed, headlamp condition, and altitude traveled.

(Prototype credit: Tom'due south Guide)

There are four ride modes: Eco, Tour, Sport, and Boost. Eco is for leisurely Dominicus jaunts; Tour is for subtle assistance; Sport gives you lot some extra aid up hills, and Boost delivers more power overall. The Rush/Cty also has a three.5-mph button push button walk mode, but we found the wheel moved easily enough on its ain that nigh people won't feel the need to use it.

Serial 1 Blitz/Cty review: Bombardment life and range

Gauging bombardment life on an ebike is a matter of how much assistance you want. The Serial ane Rush/Cty has a 706Wh lithium-ion and is rated to evangelize from 25 to 115 miles of power. On ane particular mean solar day of testing in Bout style, it registered 31 miles of range. Switching to Sport mode dropped the estimated range down to 14 miles with just 13 miles available in Boost mode. If you want to get the most range — and most work out —in Eco mode it registered 52 miles of range. You can also switch the assist off, which is not normally an selection on other ebikes with pedal-simply help.

Serial 1 Rush/Cty review: Competition

Ebike competition seems limitless these days, from relatively cheap bikes with strapped-on batteries and rear hub electric motors, to designed-from-the-ground-upwards cruisers and commuters. The Series i falls into the latter camp, upwardly against the likes of the higher-stop offerings from Gazelle, Cannodale, Specialized, and others.

The Gazelle Ultimate C380, which as well uses a chugalug drive and integrated design with a mid-drive motor, is $4,249, for example. The Gazelle has a more mild-mannered personality and a smaller battery, but commuters should consider it equally an choice. Conversely, there's a slew of rough-and-ready streetwise models with knobbed fat tires and full-on-electric throttle controls bachelor in the $1,600 toll range. In that location are likewise commuters like the Charge Metropolis for $1,699; it lacks the brio of the Serial 1 Blitz/Cty, but information technology'south considerably less expensive.

Serial 1 Rush/Cty review: Verdict

At that place are plenty of ebikes to choose from today, including models from traditional wheel makers similar Specialized, Expedition and Cannondale, equally well as ebike specialists like Riese & Muller and Rad Power. That has drawn the attention of car makers and now motorcycle legend Harley-Davidson. We found the company's spin-off Serial 1 Rush/Cty to exist worthy of the brand and not just another also-ran. It'southward a thoughtfully designed wheel with convenient features commuters will appreciate — assuming they can afford the rather steep cost tag.

John R. Quain has been reviewing and testing video and audio equipment for more than than 20 years. For Tom'south Guide, he has reviewed televisions, HDTV antennas, electric bikes, electrical cars, as well equally other outdoor equipment. He is currently a contributor to The New York Times and the CBS News television plan.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/serial-1-rush-cty-ebike

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