Total Weight:
47.1 lbs (21.36 kg)
Battery Weight:
5.5 lbs (2.49 kg)
Motor Weight:
6.3 lbs (2.85 kg)
Frame Material:
Carbon Fiber Monocoque
Frame Sizes:
17 in (43.18 cm)19 in (48.26 cm)21 in (53.34 cm)Geometry Measurements:
Large 21in: 22" Virtual Seat Tube, 25" Reach, 29.5" Stand Over Height, 38" Minimum Saddle Height, 42.5" Maximum Saddle Height, 27.25" Width, 72" Length, 45.5" Wheelbase
Frame Types:
High-Step
Frame Colors:
Standard Colors: Red, Pearl, Orange, Black, Pearlized Colors ($199): Red, Silver, Black, Custom Color Option ($399)
Frame Fork Details:
X-Fusion Magnesium Air Suspension, 120mm Travel, Compression Adjust, Rebound Adjust, 30mm Gold Anodized Stanchions, 100mm Hub Spacing, 10mm Thru-Axle with Quick Release
Frame Rear Details:
X-Fusion O2 Pro R Air Suspension, 90mm Travel, Rebound Adjust, 27mm Black Anodized Stanchion, 140mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Keyed Thru-Axle with 15mm Nuts
Attachment Points:
Bottle Cage Bosses
Gearing Details:
10
Speed 1x9 Shimano Deore Long Cage Derailleur with Clutch, Shimano 11-36 Tooth CassetteShifter Details:
Shimano SL-M6000-1 Deore Triggers on Right (Two-Way High Lever, Three-Shift Low Lever)
Cranks:
Racework Dream, Forged Aluminum Alloy, 170mm Length, Deckas DCW-041 38 Tooth Narrow-Wide Chainring, 104 Bolt Clamp Diameter
Pedals:
Forged Alloy with Pins, Reflectors
Headset:
Sealed Cartridge Bearings, Tapered 1-1/8" to 1-1/2"
Stem:
Wake Branded, Aluminum Alloy, 50mm Length, 30° Rise, 31.8mm Clamp Diameter, One 10mm Carbon Fiber Spacer, One 5mm Tapered Base Spacer
Handlebar:
Carbon Fiber, No-Rise, 690mm Length, 5° Bend, 31.8mm Bore
Brake Details:
Shimano Hydraulic Disc with 203mm Ice Technology BREEZE Rotors, Dual Piston Calipers with Shimano SM-MA-F203P/P Disc Brake Adaptor, Shimano Deore Two-Finger Levers with Adjustable Reach
Grips:
Rubber, Locking, Black
Saddle:
Nireeka Comfort
Seat Post:
Carbon Fiber
Seat Post Length:
300 mm
Seat Post Diameter:
27.2 mm
Rims:
Mavic XM 319, Aluminum Alloy, Double Walled, ETRTO 559x19c, 28c Inner Width, 32 Hole Front, 36 Hole Rear
Spokes:
Stainless Steel, 14 Gauge Front, 13 Gauge Rear, Black with Nipples
Tire Brand:
Schwalbe Rocket Ron, 27.5" x 2.1" (54-584)
Wheel Sizes:
27.5 in (69.85cm)Tire Details:
30 to 55 PSI, 2.1 to 3.8 BAR, EVO Evolution, TLE Snakeskin, Addix Speed Compound
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Optional Smart Taillight ($20), Optional Kickstand ($15), Optional Adjustable Stem ($33), Optional 203mm Brake Rotors ($199), Optional Nireeka Comfort Saddle ($35), Optional Carbon Fiber Package ($213, Includes Handlebar, Seatpost, and Stem Spacer), Optional Shimano Deore ($99) or Deore XT ($299) Groupset, Optional Magnesium Air Suspension Fork ($149), Optional Torque Sensor ($99), Optional Throttle ($19), Optional Color Display ($89), Optional 48v 14ah Battery ($199), Optional Quick Charger ($69), Optional 500w Motor ($99)
Other:
Locking Removable Donwtube-Integrated Battery Pack, 1.3lb 4 Amp Nireeka Quick Charger, , IP65 Durability Rated (All Components), Plastic Bump Stop Protector on Downtube
Catalyzt
4 years agoOutstanding review! I am new to e-biking, so this is all very helpful. This is a stunning bike– seems very capable, beautiful, more than I was hoping to spend, but just looks like a blast to ride. I suppose my main questions are:
* If this is 47.1 pounds, I wonder how much weight you’d lose if you had this configuration of options but minus the kickstand and light and with the 250W motor? Would it get down to 45 pounds, I wonder?
* With 250W, could I still climb 15% grades (on pavement) if I can do that on my current e-bike, which is a bit lighter?
* Is there a hard-tail alternative to this (carbon fiber or otherwise) that’s a bit lighter and cheaper with front suspension, or is there ever likely to be one in this price range?
* I notice the reviewer mentioned hand vibration on washboard roads, is that typical for most bikes like this?
I am 63, 148 pounds, very fit but w/ some health problems. My current ride is a project bike, Trek 920 w/ CleanRepublic Hilltopper, Girvin Flexstem (yeah, I know, but it is easier on my hands and hasn’t hurt the handling) & shock-absorbing seat post. It’s 41 pounds and is faster and more fun than it has any right to be! The handling actually improved w/ a front hub motor (with a heavier motor, it would almost certainly be worse), I think it corners faster on hairpins than my Honda CRX, which is saying a lot. My riding is on cracked asphalt, some gravel, very rough roads with potholes, short sections of singletrack, no big drops or rock gardens. Being able to carry the bike– down a short flight of steps or push it up steep easements — is important on some of these routes, which is one reason I prefer a light bike (the other is that I’m a light rider.)
The two problems with my current bike are hand pain from vibration that gets past the Flexstem but also range anxiety– the battery is rated for 12 miles, which means I can get 15+ even with 1,000 feet of elevation, but I have to be very careful with my route. And if I’m not careful– say, running the motor too much on a windy day on an unfamiliar route with plenty of vertical– it can be as little as 10 miles.
Thanks, again, I’m very new to e-biking, so I apologize in advance for any noob questions!
ReplyTyson Roehrkasse
4 years agoHey there, thanks for commenting!
* I think you could shed at least two pounds by shedding the kickstand, lights, and going with the 250w motor. You could also switch from the comfort saddle to a sport/racing saddle and shave off some more weight. Depending on how tall you are, if you get a smaller frame size bike that will also save significant weight (I had the large size for this review).
* I can’t say how powerful the 250w motor is since I didn’t test it, but as long as you’re also going to be pedaling up those inclines it shouldn’t be a problem. The Deore groupset is an excellent climber!
* I haven’t seen any other eMTBs in this price range that are also this lightweight, 45 pounds and below is typically only on super-premium eMTBs from some of the bigger name brands.
* Some amount of hand vibration on washboard-type surfaces is pretty common unless you have more premium front suspension, I may have been able to improve it by adjusting the rebound clicker but I didn’t try that at the time. I think the best way to eliminate hand and wrist vibration is with a suspension stem – you might be able to switch over your Flexstem?
At the very least I’m confident the Nireeka will do much better on range than your current ebike, I estimate at least 20-30 miles on a full charge. Of course, it depends on terrain and riding style… but since you’re lightweight and active you shouldn’t have any range issues :)
ReplyCatalyzt
4 years agoThanks so much for your reply, Tyson! Really helpful, and I watched and read your review again. A real pleasure to see such clear, detailed writing and anlysis. (I was a rock music critic for five years and also wrote a lot of computer documentation, so I have some idea how much work is involved to get all the little stuff right!)
I’m getting closer to pulling the trigger, but there are still a few nagging concerns. Mainly, I’m concerned that the Homie might actually be noticeably less powerful than my Trek 930 conversion in some situations– particularly going up or down steep grades. If it’s just a little more work going uphill, that’s not a deal breaker. If it’s a lot more work, and my top speed downhill is going to be significantly less, that might be too much of a tradeoff for the extra range and full suspension.
Here’s why I’m wondering– and please forgive my crude approach to explaining issues w/ gear ratios, there may be parts of the equation I don’t understand well enough!
I am concerned that I might notice a drop in high-end power and low-end climbing ability with the Homie compared to my current bike due to gear ratio issues. My current bike has, roughly, 43-34-24t in the crank and about 11-34 in the back, while the Homie has 38t at the crank and 11-36 in the back. The motor on the Trek/Hilltopper is 250W and the motor on the Homie is also 250W, the Trek weighs 40 pounds and I can’t get the Homie below 46.2 pounds.
STEEP DOWNHILLS: It seems like pedaling at 90 RPM will produce less speed on the Homie (Highest gear = 11t rear + 38t crank) than 90 RPM will produce on the Trek (Highest gear = 11t rear + 43t crank) . Is that a huge difference? The motor is less of a factor going downhill, of course, because the Homie will cut out at 22 MPH anyway, though the Trek cuts out at 18 MPH. The issue here is that I do like maxing out over 30 MPH going downhill. Part of the reason for wanting the suspension is that the Trek/Hilltopper gets a bit twitchy over 30.
→ Do you think I still be able to go 32 MPH or so downhill on the Homie?
STEEP UPHILLS: On the Trek/Hilltopper, I can manage a 15% grade in 34t rear + 24t crank. Will I be able to do the same thing on the Homie on a 15% grade with 36t rear + 38t crank?
Things I may not be factoring in: The motor on the Trek/Hilltopper probably has a bit less torque than the motor on the Homie, say 40 vs. 46, and the battery on the Trek/Hilltopper is far weaker. The motor on the Trek is front wheel drive– and spins just a little on 15%, not much– and the motor on the Homie is rear wheel drive. The geometry of the bikes are very different, and the Homie is using primarily pedal assist, while the Trek is all trigger throttle. Those factors might compensate for the difference in gear ratios, but I’m not sure.
Would the Deore groupset make a huge difference in all this? The thing is, I’m already at the edge of my price range already, over 2,300.
Maybe I should be looking at the Motobecanes (like the Elite Adventure) which can be had on preorder for a lot less money, also weighs about 46 pounds, has full suspension, and is also 250 watts, but with no throttle, I think. Seems like a much less exciting bike, but maybe I’m being too impractical.
Thanks!
ReplyTyson Roehrkasse
4 years agoHmm, without trying both bikes back to back it’s really tough to speculate on how climbing those 15% grades will be. I’m not an expert on gear ratio stuff, but I would think that 24 crank + 34 rear (on your Trek) would be significantly easier than with the 38 crank and 36 rear on the Homie. I do think that you’ll get better climbing performance from the Homie motor being in the rear wheel, much better traction there, and not having to hold down the throttle also helps out a bit. I don’t think the Deore groupset is necessarily a dealbreaker, but I don’t know what the range on the cassette is for the standard groupset on the Homie… if it still has a 36 tooth first gear then it shouldn’t make a difference for climbing.
As for downhill, I’m pretty confident the Homie will be much better than your current bike. I pedaled the Homie up to 30mph on flat ground a couple times, the Deore groupset really is awesome, and the bike has excellent rolling efficiency. Just FYI the motor will actually assist up to about 26mph, at least on a full battery! I would imagine that on downhills you can just coast right up to and beyond 30mph. At about the 50 minute mark in my review video I went back down the hill I used for climbing tests. It’s hard to see in the video but I stopped pedaling at 20mph there and just coasted up to about 31mph. The bike felt great at that speed, stable and easy to maneuver – that’s another area where having the motor in the rear will help, the front hub motor adds a lot of unsprung weight and isn’t great for control at high speed.
I haven’t tested the Motobecane Elite Eadventure, but I see they’re using the Shimano STEPS mid-drive. Just talking motor performance, that’s going to be a HUGE improvement over both your Trek and the Homie. Mid-drives have better torque, are way more responsive, and they can leverage the drivetrain to get a huge mechanical advantage from 1st gear. I would recommend that you visit any ebike dealer that has some mid-drive eMTBs just to try one and see how different the experience is. Mid-drives sound less exciting on paper and they generally have less raw power – and no throttle as you noted – but in my opinion the ride experience is far superior. Emphasis on opinion, of course… everyone has their preferences :)
ReplyCatalyzt
4 years agoThis has been a really tough decision process. It’s complicated by the fact that inventories are low, and it’s really hard to find bikes to ride and test, and certainly nothing like the Homie or the other bike I was considering. I did, at least, try test riding an Aventon 350 Watt Class 1 pedal assist cadence-sensor bike that had to be at least 55 pounds. So I’m flying a bit blind here, and choosing mostly by stats and specs, but I don’t think waiting will yield better choices, at least not anytime soon. Prices have been climbing steadily for a while, I don’t think inventory will expand or prices will drop for at least six months, maybe much longer.
Ultimately, I decided to go with the Motobecane Elite Eadventure, just pulled the trigger. Here’s what scared me away:
So, if the Elite Adventure come in at about 48.3 pounds, which is my back-of-the-envelope, here are the tradeoffs for my choice:
Negatives: Lower top speed, harder to service motor, no throttle, approx. two pounds (5%) heavier.
Positives: Likely 30% greater range, 40% better torque (40 Nm vs. 27 Nm), safer frame w/ proven design, less dysfunctional customer service (though still probably not great) and the Shimano Deore is stock, not $100 extra. So if we factor that in, the difference in price is actually huge: With tax, the Moto is $2,190, while the Homie would be $2,676, so the Moto is $486.05 cheaper.
We will see, but this should be a big step up from the Hilltopper, even given the underpowered E5000 motor. The motor I’m using now is, in fact, SERIOUSLY underpowered, particularly during the last 30% of battery life. I know that some users really thought the E5000 was a bit of a weenie, but to me, I think it’s going to feel strong enough. And I think it is possible to upgrade the motor later, though I’m sure it would be a PITA, I think a few of the other Shimano Steps will fit this frame.
Man, my OCD has been so bad with this…!
ReplyTyson Roehrkasse
4 years agoSounds like you made a good call with the Motobecane based on your needs, you’ve put a lot of consideration in! You and I are very different, I tend to make purchasing decisions as fast as possible because I hate deliberating on different options. Sometimes that doesn’t work out so well and I end up with something crappy… but it does save me a lot of time :P
I’m excited to hear what you think about the Motobecane when you get it! Are you on our forums? You can find me on there as troehrkasse, drop me a line anytime :)
ReplyCatalyzt
4 years agoYes, I am on the forums, and I will absolutely report on the Motobecane when it arrives! (I am in Fedex hell at the moment, it was supposed to come today.) My user name is the same as the one I use here. And yeah, will definitely hit you on the forums.
I do spend a lot of time researching purchases, and it is kind of agonizing– I think I developed a bit of OCD after I quit drinking about 7 years ago. At times, I’ve also gone off the deep end with travel guitars and waterproof watches, and I have too many of both– but I use them all a lot, I spend a lot of time in the water. (And now, I have three G-Shocks that I didn’t use that much which are getting a lot more use because they are perfect for e-Biking.)
The other thing about taking so long to make a decision: I typically keep the things I buy a long time. My acoustic bike is a 1972 or 73 Raleigh competition, which I rode across the state of Wisconsin and the length of Florida as a teenager. I had it restored (again) in January 2020, and figured out a way to hang it from the wall… of my buddy’s apartment in New York, which I cannot get to!
I think 5 or 10 years ago, I would have gone for the Nireeka. Without the blood thinners, I would probably have gone for the Nireeka, though I seriously doubt it’s an unsafe bicycle, and I wish the company luck! I hope some other folks post back with their experiences with the Homie.
Collin E
3 years agoHello, I love your reviews! I am looking for a value e-MTB, and am deciding between the Voltbike Enduro and the Nireeka Homie. Which would you recommend, or is there another value e-MTB you’d prefer in the $2-3K price range? thanks!
ReplyCourt
3 years agoHI Collin! I didn’t cover the Nireeka, but I did review the VoltBike Enduro and though that it was fun, but used cheaper parts. Do you want full suspension or is hardtail okay? I’d probably lean towards Surface 604, maybe VoltBike (seem to be made with cheaper parts), then BULLS or CUBE if you can afford it. Here’s the full category of eMTB that I’ve covered recently :)
ReplyErik Pritchard
3 years agoThank you for an excellent review! The problem you mentioned with downshifting before a stop might be solved. (For those that didn’t watch/read the whole review, the Home does not have a motor cut-off on the brakes). I notice that Nireeka is now offering a torque-senor (extra cost) instead of the cadence sensor. Since there’s nearly-zero torque needed for that downshift the sensor shouldn’t activate the motor even with the crankshaft rotation. I don’t own the bike so I can’t verify if this works in reality, but theoretically it’s a good solution. Thanks again for a thoughtful review.
ReplyCourt
3 years agoCool, thanks for the great insights on this Erik! Glad you found the review helpful :)
ReplyJeff Kramer
3 years agoI’m writing a story about Nireeka for Bicycling magazine. I have had a bad experience with Nireeka as a customer but I am intent on being fair. I’d like to talk to the reviewer of the Nireeka Prime and hear from anyone else about their interactions with Nireeka. My email address is jeffmkramer@gmail.com. Thank you.
ReplyCourt
3 years agoHi Jeff! Very cool of you to reach out. I (Court Rye) was not the one who reviewed this particular model, but I could put you in touch with the member of our team who did via email. Keep an eye out!
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