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The Lundi is a striking electric bike, built from a custom boxy frame with high-rise angled handlebars… and this delivers more than just style. The bike feels stiffer and sturdier than many comparable deep step-thru wave ebikes. The frame tubing is reinforced internally for strength, not simply open and hollow as one might expect. With slightly smaller 26-inch diameter wheels, the entire frame stays closer to the ground and the stand-over height is an impressively low 17-inches. That means, you won’t have to lift your leg as high to mount and stabilize the frame, and you can ease any knee or hip pain that you might have. The saddle can go fairly low as well, but cannot go all the way down to meet the top of the seat tube because the rear rack is positioned a little too close. This isn’t a deal breaker by any means, and I would probably swap the stock rigid post for a 31.6 mm suspension post to smooth out the ride. The Lundi 26.1 model is the entry point in the series and specced down slightly from the 26.3 which offers a more powerful motor, 10-speed drivetrain, and higher capacity battery pack. When you jump up to the 26.5 you get a NuVinci continuously variable transmission hub that can be shifted at standstill, and the 26.7 offers an internally geared hub with 12 speeds that can also shift at stops. All three of these higher-level models come with suspension seat posts, and they likely weigh more because of the larger battery and advanced drivetrains. The Lundi comes in a wide range of beautiful colors, but only one frame size. It’s designed to facilitate a more comfortable upright body position than some of the sportier city bikes. And, I have found that you can further improve comfort by lowering the tire pressure a bit. Somethings you cannot easily do, however, are swap the rigid alloy fork for a suspension fork, or change the stem and handlebar. This e-bike was designed to work one way, and it does a pretty good job at that… I like the saddle choice (balancing comfort against pedal efficiency, so you won’t chaff your inner thighs), and the ergonomic grips are upgraded with lockers, so they won’t spin or twist when you bear down.
Driving the Lundi 26.1, but none of the higher-end Lundi models in the series, is the new Active Line Plus motor from Bosch. It weighs nearly one pound less, is more compact in size (hiding behind the chainring beautifully), and operates without producing as much noise. It’s a perfect fit for a bicycle like this, that is well-suited to neighborhood and city environments. Offering slightly less torque, about 50 Newton meters peak, it still climbs well if you shift gears thoughtfully. The drivetrain on offer is a decent 9-speed Shimano Altus that is two steps up from the base-level in Shimano’s line. Even so, the bike should stay in tune fairly well thanks to the shift detection feature that all Bosch mid-motors currently offer. The motor controller measures rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque, over 1,000 times per second. I’m told that it listens for your pedal pressure and is able to separate out shifting pressure to then cut power and ultimately reduce “mashing” where the chain and sprockets can grind or slip. This motor also uses a traditionally sized 42-tooth chainring vs. the smaller proprietary sprocket on the Performance Line motors, which uses a reduction gear and introduces some friction when pedaling unpowered or above the 20 mph top assisted speed. In short, even though this is the less expensive motor, it actually performs quite well and delivers a few unique advantages. I also want to compliment the alloy coated plastic chain cover, which will keep your pant legs or skirt ends clean and snag-free. The pedals on this bike are quite large and stiff, a big upgrade from the narrow and often slippery plastic ones seen on most competing bikes. Pedals are inexpensive and easy to replace, but I would be very happy keeping the stock ones here unless you fear that slipping off could scrape your shin up (as they are metal), in that case, try something like this.
Powering this electric bike, the large backlit display, and both integrated lights, is a modest 295.2 watt hour rack-mounted battery pack called the Bosch 300. It offers 36 volts and 8.2 amp hours vs. 11 amp hours on the three higher-level Lundi models. Bosch also offers a 13.4 amp hour pack called the Powerpack 500, and all three of these are interchangeable if they are the rack-style design. Bosch also offers a mid-frame battery design (also called the Powerpack) which positions weight low and center for improved balance and handling, but the rack design makes sense when you want to keep the step-thru area as low and open as possible. Even with the smallest pack, the Powerpack 300, you can expect a pretty good range from 25 to 65 miles. It really depends on your body weight, how much cargo is being carried on the rack, what the terrain is like, the wind and weather, and especially your tire pressure. Lower pressure will feel more comfortable, but can be susceptible to pinch flats and create more drag. Thankfully, the tires on the Lundi 26.1 come with a puncture resistant layer along with reflective sidewalls, to keep you visible at night. For that sort of riding, I’d probably seek out one of the brighter frame colors as well, such as the white. This would make an excellent commuting platform because the battery and display panel are removable, and the cargo rack can carry up to 55 lbs (I’d probably lean towards 50 lbs given the ~6 lb battery pack that is already positioned on the rack). Bosch includes a very compact and lightweight charger that can plug directly into battery mount while it’s mounted to the frame or the pack itself when removed from the frame. It’s a great setup and you can rest easy that the pack will be supported over the long term because Bosch offers a comprehensive two-year warranty on their hardware and I am told that they plan to support hardware with replacements and parts for something like 10-years.
The display panel used on this bike is one of my all-time favorites. Bosch has several models available, but the Intuvia is large and easy to read. It is removable to prevent tampering and damage, and has a Micro-USB port built into the right side. I really appreciate how easy and intuitive this display panel is to operate, and I have made a video guide with more detailed steps here to explain the deeper settings, such as changing units from miles to kilometers. The basic steps are to turn on the display by pressing the power button at the top left, and then click the up, down, and i buttons using the remote button pad located near the left grip. This pad is easy to reach, and can be operated without looking down because the i button is raised and rubberized. It separates the up and down arrows and clicks as you press, giving you a physical guide to know what’s happening when you cannot see. Shifting gears is also fairly comfortable, the trigger shifters are only on the right side of the handlebar, tucked below the grip neatly. The Lundi 26.1 comes with very nice brakes from Shimano, offering great stopping power. For a bike with paint-matched alloy fenders, a chain cover, integrated lights, and a rear rack, I was impressed that it only weighs 52.5 pounds! I did weigh it myself, and again, this is probably the lightest model in the line because of the smaller pack and traditional drivetrain vs. CVT or IGH hub. The brake levers offer adjustable reach and should be equally easy to pull because they use hydraulic fluid vs. long metal wires. This is a great upgrade for people who wear gloves or have smaller or weaker hands. Note that the front brake rotor is slightly larger at 180 mm vs. the rear at 160 mm, because more stopping force happens at the front when your weight shifts forward as you slow down on a bike. The larger rotor provides increased mechanical advantage and will cool faster than a smaller one.
All things considered, even though this bike is the entry-point and only comes in one size, it’s quite exciting and well done. There are some compromises to consider, such as the unchangeable fork, stem, and handlebar, but the bike is still comfortable and very solid feeling. I applaud Moustache for producing a frame that looks nice but also provides a better ride experience… both in terms of approachability and stiffness for control. The headlight is built into the head tube, and does not turn as you steer (which is demonstrated in the video review above), but it does shine out from the sides a bit, so you can be seen from multiple angles. I cannot say whether a child seat could be mounted to the rear rack, because the battery pack is already seated underneath the top surface and may block some designs (such as the Yepp! Maxi child seat). However, the new Yepp! Nexxt Maxi could possibly work, as it secures from the sides… please chime in with comments if you have had success with either of these, or some alternative product. I love how quietly this motor operates, how simple the control systems are, and how feature-rich the bike is. The fenders didn’t rattle, I know from experience that the tires will hold up well, and the many color choices make it personal and fun. For those who want to shift at standstill and don’t mind paying a bit more, do consider the 26.5 and 26.7. Big thanks to Moustache for partnering with me on this post and being patient as I traveled back from London, where we filmed it. I also want to thank Ben and his Son Wolf who spent some time outside in the cold with me, doing the video and taking a test ride. Ben owns a shop called Fully Charged which has several outlets in the area and can let you take test rides and get accessories.
Pros:
- This electric bike is highly stylized and purpose built, everything from the boxy frame to the custom swept-back handlebars, paint matched fenders, and unique color choices makes this bike stand out… in a good way
- The frame design isn’t just about aesthetics, the boxy downtube is reinforced inside to reduce frame flex and allow for the super low-entry, the handlebars come back to meet you so you don’t have to lean forward and get a stiff back and neck, the fenders are reinforced to eliminate rattling noise and have the rear light integrated to hide the cabling and keep it clear of the rack
- I appreciate how beautiful and effective the utilitarian features of this bike are, for example, the plastic chain cover is coated with alloy to make it stiff but be lighter and more resilient than pure alloy and the cafe lock is keyed-alike to the battery to eliminate clutter and confusion
- Between the custom fenders and larger, wider, platform pedals, I feel like this e-bike would perform well in wet environments and you wouldn’t get as messy or slip off as easily
- Changing flat inner tubes is never fun, but the puncture resistant tires (with K-Guard) and quick release skewers make it easier than ever on this bike, mid-drive configurations make bikes easier and more familiar for shops to service… and apparently you can get the bike with bolts vs. quick release if you are worried about theft and tampering in urban environments
- I love that the kickstand offers adjustable length settings and that it was mounted towards the back of the frame, to help stabilize the battery and rack while also staying clear of the left pedal arm (so you can back the bike up without getting pedal lock if the stand is down)
- The touch points here are pretty good, a name-brand Selle Royal saddle and ergonomic grips with lockers (so they won’t twist as you bear down), consider swapping the stock rigid seat post with a 31.6 mm suspension post for even more comfort
- I trust Bosch products because they have been a leader in the ebike market for many years and offer one of the best warranties around, they support their battery packs well and even offer multiple sizes, so you could upgrade from 400 watt hour to 500 watt hour someday or borrow a friends pack because they are so common
- The Bosch Intuvia display panel is one of my favorites because the screen is so large and easy to read, it’s removable to prevent tampering and weather wear, and it has an integrated Micro-USB port for charging accessories on the go
- Bosch reduced the weight, size, and noise of their mid-motor with the new Active Line Plus model, and it works perfectly for neighborhood, urban, and city riding while still delivering good climbing power, I like that it uses a more standard sized chainring that doesn’t suffer from any drag with a reduction gearing system (as is the case for some of the Performance Line motors from Bosch)
- This is probably the lightest weight Lundi model because it uses a 9-speed cassette (vs. the NuVinci or Shimano Alfine internally geared hub) and a smaller 300 watt hour battery pack… but it would still work with a Powerpack 400 or 500 rack battery if you wanted to upgrade or borrow a larger one someday
- The Bosch Intuvia button pad is easy to reach, the buttons click consistently, and you can even use it without looking because of the center i button that is rubberized and rounded, it provides a sense of physical orientation that many other pads lack
- Both lights are of higher quality and shine out the sides as well as the front, this increases your visual footprint, keeping you seen by traffic in the dawn and dusk hours
- Minor plus here, the rims use reinforcement eyelets that reduce the potential for cracking and scratching during adjustment and riding with heavy loads, it’s details like this that make the bike slightly more expensive
- It’s wonderful to see bottle cage bosses on the bottom of the downtube! This could be used for a drink holder or a folding lock and it keeps the top portion of the downtube and seat tube clear for easy mounting… though I feel that bosses on the seat tube might also be useful and wouldn’t get in the way if left empty, you could always use an SKS Anywhere adapter to add an accessory there if you wanted
Cons:
- The headlight is integrated into the boxy steering tube and doesn’t turn as you steer the bike, this isn’t a huge issue for longer wide turns but can be a little disorienting for slow sharp ones
- There’s no suspension fork, seat post suspension, or bumpers on the saddle, this bike can feel a little stiff but the upright orientation, swept-back handlebar, and slightly fatter 2.35″ tires do take the edge off
- By positioning the battery on a rear rack, the middle of the frame is left completely open for easier mounting and stand-over, but the rack sort of blocks the saddle from going down all the way (so the minimum saddle height isn’t as low as it could be), and it also puts the battery weight up high and back vs. low and center (for optimal handling and stability)
- Minor gripe here, the Bosch Intuvia display panel cannot swivel forward and back as much as on most other ebikes that use it because of the custom handlebar and stem design, this could prove bothersome at times when the screen is glaring sunlight into your face
- Another very minor gripe, since the handlebar and stem are so custom, I’m not sure how easily they could be replaced for those who want to change the body position and ergonomics, there aren’t any spacers to add or remove like with most other bikes
- Minor gripe, the display is constantly backlit and although you can reduce the brightness a bit, it could still be annoying for moonlight because the LCD is so large and positioned fairly high here
Resources:
Dewey
7 years agoRe: supplementary headlight – the unique square tubing of the handlebar makes it difficult to mount a supplementary headlight, I can’t see a hole for a fork crown mount, you could mount a nob on the front fork blade and strap a conventional handlebar light mount on the side of the fork.
Replycourt
7 years agoHi, Dewey! That’s a brilliant suggestion, thanks for chiming in and sharing the link :D I have seen accessory bar mounts for handlebars before, but this nob thing looks like it would work in many spots.
ReplyJan
5 years agoHi,
Can you drive the bike when you are 6.0039 feet (184cm)?
Kind regards.
ReplyJan
Court
5 years agoHi Jan! Yeah, I think you could enjoy riding the Moustache Lundi if you’re a bit tall. The thing is, the handlebars that sweep back could get in the way of your knees a bit, and you might have to lean down to reach the handlebars too. This frame appears to only come in one size, and it’s a small/medium vs. medium/large, so you would be on the larger side of riders for the bike. It might not be as comfortable as it would be for a shorter rider. There are many other bikes to consider, and perhaps you should go to a shop and test ride this before making a purchase decision. That’s one of the neat parts about it… Moustache is carried by dealers who will let you take a test ride :D In general, I feel that Moustache is a great company.
Reply