To be fair, the seat wasn’t doing it any favors. We’re told SONDORS is actively working on big improvements here.īut the prototype bike just didn’t feel nearly as comfortable as it looked, and that rear suspension was far from plush. But cutting prices also means cutting costs, and the prototype suspension appears to be one of the first casualties of the price war. SONDORS offered to make some adjustments for our ride but we decided to take it in its default form.Īt $1,499, this was SONDORS shot across the bow of more expensive electric moped companies. Unfortunately the prototype bike we rode just isn’t cut out for that type of riding as its budget-minded price catches up with it. The nicely stitched cafe racer-style seat, the dual coilover rear shocks and even the custom SONDORS headlight all look pretty epic. Which isn’t that surprising, since it looks incredible. The MadMods electric moped is definitely one of those e-bikes that looks better than it rides in this early stage. If the SONDORS Rockstar was a hit, then the MadMods prototype was something of a miss, at least in comparison. SONDORS Rockstar electric mountain bike SONDORS MadMods electric moped That value legacy is hard to shake though, and even the flagship Rockstar still didn’t seem to have the build quality of some of the nicer high-end electric mountain bikes we’ve tested.īut at half the price of many high-end electric mountain bikes, the Rockstar feels like a nice balance for someone who wants to brush up against the finer things in electric mountain biking but isn’t ready to fork over the several thousands of dollars usually required for that level of quality. The improved suspension, aggressively knobby Maxxis tires and nimble ride of the bike definitely felt like a big upgrade for SONDORS, which is better known for e-bikes in the value-focused categories. That tracks, as the Rockstar is the flagship model of the Elite line, priced at a premium of $2,499 compared to the $1,999 Cruiser and LX. The SONDORS Rockstar was by far the most fun e-bike of the bunch though, featuring the best suspension and giving an overall higher-quality feel. Neither bike felt overpowered, likely thanks to SONDORS’s even-handedness with the power limiting of that beefy Bafang Ultra motor.īoth bikes also felt fairly nimble, with comfortable bars that weren’t overly wide or old-school cruiser-y. Those fat tires on the LX feature true knobbies and thus were even better equipped for the morning’s trail riding. The SONDORS LX on the other hand adds an air suspension fork and even wider tires that further improve the ride. The hybrid-style tread actually performed decently well off-road, though the lack of suspension in either the fork or frame means that you’re relying entirely on the balloon tires and a suspension seat post to smooth out the ride. It sports wide handlebars and balloon-style white-wall tires. The SONDORS Cruiser is, as you may have guessed, the truer-to-form for a classic cruiser bike. The SONDORS LX and Cruiser are both step-through models that feature a more laid-back, cruiser-style geometry. However, SONDORS has decided not to push the motors to their full potential, instead operating them with a 25A limit that results in a nominal rating of 750W and a peak wattage figure in the low 1,000s. They all feature the Bafang Ultra mid-drive motor that is notorious for its massive power potential. The first three models all fit into the more traditional electric bicycle categories, although none are by any means “traditional.” SONDORS Cruiser e-bike (Photos credit for all images: DOC) SONDORS LX, Cruiser, & Rockstar So while some of these models are just now starting to show up on reservation holders’ doorsteps, all four bikes were new to us as we took our first look at the latest models. While the SONDORS LX and Cruiser step-through models have just started shipping, the Rockstar electric mountain bike and MadMods electric moped won’t ship until later this winter and spring, respectively. The bikes were originally unveiled throughout the summer and fall of 2019, a chaotic period in the e-bike industry when the COVID-19 pandemic was causing huge delays in production. On a sunny Los Angeles morning earlier this week, Electrek team member David O’Connell (aka DOC) met up with SONDORS product director Matt Irish to check out the new e-bikes.įour shiny new electric bikes were laid out before a mix of trails and tarmac. Electrek can also get you $50 off one of the new e-bikes (or any e-bike from SONDORS, for that matter) by getting a personalized coupon code. We got the chance to test out the company’s latest four models including the SONDORS Rockstar, Cruiser, LX, and the upcoming SONDORS MadMods electric moped. Electric bicycle company SONDORS has been busy over the last six months, unveiling a handful of new e-bikes and rushing them into production.
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