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

Our Verdict

The Serial ane Rush/Cty powered by Harley-Davidson delivers a solid, but sometimes too-harsh ride for urban riders.

For

• Seamless blueprint
• Automatic gearing
• Trouble-free belt bulldoze

Confronting

• Loftier price
• Difficult to change cadence

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Series 1 Blitz/Cty powered by Harley-Davidson delivers a solid, but sometimes also-harsh ride for urban riders.

Pros

• +

  Seamless design

• +

  Automatic gearing

• +

  Trouble-free belt drive

Cons

• -

  High price

• -

  Difficult to change cadence

Serial 1 Rush/Cty: Specs

Price: $4,999
Battery: 706 Wh
Max estimated range: 25-115 miles
Max assisted speed: 20 mph
Motor: Brose mid-drive, 90 Nm torque
Gearing: Enviolo Automatiq constantly variable manual; Gates chugalug drive
Bike diameter: 27.5 inches
Weight: 59 lbs. (large frame)

Information technology ain't a squealer, only that's a proficient thing. The Harley-Davidson-backed Serial 1 Rush/Cty ebike is a more civilized two-wheeler than you'd await 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 past Harley-Davidson," combining the imprimatur of the 118-year-old brand (plus its design and research expertise) with the sheen of an emobility startup. The visitor's Series 1 Rush/Cty model is, as the proper name suggests, an urban commuter designed to be as maintenance costless equally possible and offering sophisticated technology, such as an automatic transmission/gearing and design flourishes similar a built-in glove compartment. And, similar its motorcycle parent, the Serial 1 is too a luxury make now vying for space in a competitive ebike market place. Merely, as this Serial 1 Rush/Cty review will evidence, the marriage of quondam and new isn't e'er perfect.

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Serial one Blitz/Cty review: Price and availability

The Serial i Blitz/Cty is a premium wheel and is priced appropriately at $four,999. With a constantly variable transmission, the pedal-assist-only cycle has a top-speed assist of xx mph (faster than that and y'all're pedaling on your own). In that location's also a Rush/Cty Speed version that goes up to 28 mph for a whopping $5,599, only it'southward also pedal-aid only, no throttle included.

The more bones Mosh Metropolis Serial ane models get-go at $three,799 but comes fenderless and rackless. It also has a smaller battery, reducing its range past well-nigh 20 percentage, and the Mosh Metropolis uses a single speed bulldoze rather than the continuous variable transmission of the Rush/Cty models. (There's also a retro Mosh Tribute model with white tires and an sometime-timey leap seat, simply it is currently unavailable.)

Serial 1 Blitz/Cty review: Design

In terms of heft and size, the Serial one is a middleweight. Information technology'due south non every bit svelte as commuters like the 45-pound Charge Bikes Metropolis merely information technology's not as beefy as off-roaders like the 65-pound Biktrix Stunner 10.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The Serial 1 has two.4-inch broad street tires, for case, which are wider than typical tires on commuting bikes but more refined than the knobby fatty tires on cross-country bikes. It helps give the Series 1 a big city feel, forth with the in-tube battery and integrated front and rear fenders and cargo rack.

(Epitome credit: Tom'southward Guide)

The Serial one Rush/Cty is also wider and more muscular than a typical commuter. The pedals, for case, sit nigh an inch farther apart than those on virtually models, giving it a wider pedaling stance. The aluminum bicycle'southward downtube is also wider, which allows it to adapt a lockable glove compartment that is large plenty to hold a small water bottle. All the wiring is routed within the frame, keeping things neat and tidy, and an excellent LED headlamp is included, equally well equally a tail light. The rear restriction calorie-free illuminates non but when you hit the brakes just also if y'all start slowing down, a squeamish safety feature.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

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

(Image credit: Serial 1)

You also can't shift gears; information technology's an automatic and is prepare to a fixed cadence that you can change in an app that works with the Enviolo Automatiq transmission, an electronically controlled CVT (constantly variable manual) rear hub blueprint. It's set up to 75 rpm by default, just you can set information technology to a lower rpm to increment the resistance. The whole matter is connected using a carbon-fiber belt, then it doesn't require the lubrication and maintenance that a traditional chain incurs.

Series 1 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-X 27.five-inch tires and the very depression center of gravity created by the Brose motor existence situated below the downtube and crankshaft. We institute the Rush/Cty, in spite of its full size (we tested the large model) was responsive and easy to handle with a comfy upright riding position and broad-grip handle bars.

(Image credit: Tom'south Guide)

Quick swerves to avoid potholes didn't disturb its balance, and the Rush/Cty stayed steady nether panic braking; the rear bike stepped out a chip but it was completely manageable, making information technology a perfect bike for crude and tumble urban streets. While the electric assistance cuts out at 20 mph, nosotros institute the bike stayed steady and true heading down hills at over 24 mph, and on a blustery twenty-four hour period, it remained unflustered by air current gusts.

(Epitome credit: Tom'south Guide)

On the downside, some riders will notice the Serial 1 delivers a rather harsh ride. At speed, severe bumps tin jolt the handlebars out of your hands if you're not attentive. A front fork with intermission would go a long way to remedying the state of affairs, as would a compression mail under the otherwise comfy seat.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

While the majority of ebike riders will probably find the automated transmission and lack of gear a godsend, we often establish information technology frustrating non existence able to shift on the fly. For example, the electric assist cuts out when y'all hit twenty mph and then when going downhill it can go harder to pedal when you lot exceed that speed. So — counterintuitively — you may find you piece of work harder doing downhill than you do going uphill. Consequently, we often plant we wanted to change to a cadence with more resistance, but y'all tin can merely do this by stopping, booting up the Enviolo smartphone app and lowering the rpm (nosotros establish threescore rpm was more our speed), and then adjusting the calibration, which takes a couple of meters of pedaling.

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

On the electronic side, the Brose controller with a 1.five-inch color TFT screen is easily legible, reporting on battery level, power assistance fashion, speed, headlamp status, and altitude traveled.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

There are four ride modes: Eco, Tour, Sport, and Boost. Eco is for leisurely Sun jaunts; Tour is for subtle assistance; Sport gives you some extra assist up hills, and Boost delivers more ability overall. The Blitz/Cty also has a 3.v-mph push button button walk mode, but we found the bike moved easily plenty on its own that most people won't experience the need to apply information technology.

Serial one Rush/Cty review: Battery life and range

Gauging battery life on an ebike is a matter of how much assistance you desire. The Series ane Rush/Cty has a 706Wh lithium-ion and is rated to deliver from 25 to 115 miles of ability. On 1 detail day of testing in Tour mode, information technology registered 31 miles of range. Switching to Sport mode dropped the estimated range down to fourteen miles with just 13 miles available in Boost style. If you lot want to go the most range — and near piece of work out —in Eco mode it registered 52 miles of range. Yous tin also switch the aid off, which is not commonly an option on other ebikes with pedal-only assistance.

Serial 1 Rush/Cty review: Competition

Ebike competition seems limitless these days, from relatively cheap bikes with strapped-on batteries and rear hub electrical motors, to designed-from-the-ground-up cruisers and commuters. The Series 1 falls into the latter camp, up confronting the likes of the higher-terminate offerings from Gazelle, Cannodale, Specialized, and others.

The Gazelle Ultimate C380, which also uses a belt drive and integrated blueprint with a mid-drive motor, is $4,249, for example. The Gazelle has a more balmy-mannered personality and a smaller battery, but commuters should consider it equally an option. Conversely, in that location'south a slew of crude-and-ready streetwise models with knobbed fat tires and total-on-electrical throttle controls available in the $1,600 toll range. There are besides commuters like the Charge Metropolis for $1,699; it lacks the panache of the Serial 1 Rush/Cty, only it's considerably less expensive.

Serial 1 Rush/Cty review: Verdict

There are plenty of ebikes to choose from today, including models from traditional bike makers like Specialized, Trek and Cannondale, as well equally ebike specialists like Riese & Muller and Rad Ability. That has drawn the attention of car makers and now motorbike legend Harley-Davidson. We found the company's spin-off Serial 1 Rush/Cty to be worthy of the brand and not but another besides-ran. It'due south a thoughtfully designed cycle with user-friendly features commuters will capeesh — assuming they can beget the rather steep price tag.

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

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

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