Raleigh Route iE Review

Raleigh Route Ie Electric Bike Review
Raleigh Route Ie
Raleigh Route Ie Alloy Platform Pedals Chain Guide
Raleigh Route Ie Removable Downtube Battery Box
Raleigh Route Ie Adjustable Display Panel
Raleigh Route Ie Ebike Button Pad Controller
Raleigh Route Ie Sr Suntour Ncx Suspension Lockout
Raleigh Route Ie Fender And Rack Mount Eyelets
Raleigh Route Ie Shimano M355 Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Raleigh Route Ie Ten Speed Shimano Deore
Raleigh Route Ie Battery Charger 2 Amp
Raleigh Route Ie Electric Bike Review
Raleigh Route Ie
Raleigh Route Ie Alloy Platform Pedals Chain Guide
Raleigh Route Ie Removable Downtube Battery Box
Raleigh Route Ie Adjustable Display Panel
Raleigh Route Ie Ebike Button Pad Controller
Raleigh Route Ie Sr Suntour Ncx Suspension Lockout
Raleigh Route Ie Fender And Rack Mount Eyelets
Raleigh Route Ie Shimano M355 Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Raleigh Route Ie Ten Speed Shimano Deore
Raleigh Route Ie Battery Charger 2 Amp

Summary

  • A high-speed urban electric bike with thru-axles for strength and a suspension for with lockout for improved comfort or efficiency
  • Larger wheelset and tires balance efficiency with comfort, three frame sizes deliver a range of fits for different sized riders, sloping top-tube lowers stand over height
  • Quality Shimano hydraulic disc brakes for excellent stopping power, 10 speed Shimano Deore drivetrain for comfortable pedaling at a range of speeds
  • No shift sensing on this motor, optional "boost button" for throttle mode up to 20 mph, solid two year comprehensive warranty

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

Raleigh

Model:

Route iE

Price:

$2,599

Body Position:

Forward

Suggested Use:

Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Speed Pedelec (Class 3), Throttle on Demand (Class 2)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Year Comprehensive, Lifetime Frame

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2016

Bicycle Details

Total Weight:

52 lbs (23.58 kg)

Battery Weight:

6.1 lbs (2.76 kg)

Motor Weight:

9.5 lbs (4.3 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

15 in (38.1 cm)17 in (43.18 cm)19 in (48.26 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

31" Stand Over Height and 73" Length on the Medium 17" Frame

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

Gloss Black with Blue and Gray Accents

Frame Fork Details:

SR Suntour Suspension NCX with Lockout and 63 mm Travel, 15 mm Thru-Axle with Quick Release

Frame Rear Details:

Alloy 142 / 12 mm with Quick Release

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses

Gearing Details:

10 Speed 1x10 Shimano Deore, HG62 Cassette 11-32T

Shifter Details:

Shimano Deore Triggers on Right

Cranks:

Lasco EB05 Chainring with Alloy Guide, 42T

Pedals:

Aluminum Alloy Platform, Black

Headset:

Zero Stack Integrated Cartridge Bearings, 4 Risers

Stem:

3D Forged Alloy, 90 mm / 6°

Handlebar:

Alloy 31.8 mm Diameter, 640 mm Width

Brake Details:

Shimano M355 Hydraulic Disc with 180 mm Front Rotor and 160 mm Rear Rotor

Grips:

Flat Rubber, Black

Saddle:

Velo Street

Seat Post:

Alloy with Quick Release Collar

Seat Post Length:

300 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

31.6 mm

Rims:

Weinmann XM25 Double Wall, Aluminum Alloy

Spokes:

Stainless Steel 13 Gauge, Black

Tire Brand:

Kenda Kuick Bitumen, 700 x 45c

Wheel Sizes:

28 in (71.12cm)

Tire Details:

30 TPI

Tube Details:

Presta Valve

Accessories:

Single Side Adjustable Length Kickstand, Aluminum Alloy Chain Guide

Other:

Locking Removable Battery Pack, 2 Amp 1.8 Pound Charger, KMC X10eRB Rust Proof Chain, Modus Alloy 36h Hubs

Electronic Details

Motor Brand:

Currie Electro-Drive® (TranzX), Model M07

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

350 watts

Motor Peak Output:

400 watts

Motor Torque:

73 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung or LG

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

8.7 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

417.6 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

15 miles (24 km)

Estimated Max Range:

30 miles (48 km)

Display Type:

Fixed Monochrome Backlit LCD with Adjustable Angle

Readouts:

Speed, Odometer, Battery Capacity (5 Bars), Assist Level (0-4), Range Estimation

Display Accessories:

Independent Button Pad on Left

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist (Optional Button Throttle)

Top Speed:

28 mph (45 kph)


Written Review

The Route iE is a speed pedelec that’s setup for comfortable performance… it would make a great commuter platform or urban/city ebike because it can hit ~28 mph in pedal assist mode and offers braze-ons for adding fenders and a rear rack. The motor is powerful, offering 73 Newton meters of torque but it’s not the most responsive mid-drive I’ve tested, it’s relatively quiet but just slow to start and stop as shown in the video. You get four levels of pedal assist and for $50 the dealer should be able to add a boost button for 6 mph and ~20 mph “throttle” power. The bike climbs well but due to the high torque motor, probably won’t get the same range as Shimano, Impulse or Bosch powered ebikes… they estimate 15 to 30 miles per charge. There’s also no shift detection built in so you will save the chain, sprockets and derailleur wear by easing off or arrowing down in pedal assist before changing gears to reduce strain and mashing.

Pros:

  • High speed pedal-assist performance (up to 28 miles per hour with active rider input) means you’ll arrive quicker but also drain the battery faster above 20 mph due to air resistance
  • The suspension fork, larger diameter wheels and thicker tires provide comfort when traveling over longer distances, bumpy terrain and at higher speeds… the grips and saddle are firm for active riding and the fork does offer lockout
  • Braze ons and threaded eyelets for adding fenders and a rear rack, unfortunately none for adding a bottle cage on the seat tube
  • Since the Raleigh Detour iE is a speed pedelec the wheels and frame will endure more stress and strain so both axles have been upgraded (12 mm rear and 15 mm front) for improved stiffness and better alignment of the disc brake rotors with the calipers and pads
  • Even though this model only comes in a high-step “diamond” frame design, it has been engineered with a sloping top tube to lower stand over height which makes holding the bike at rest or walking over it easier, I measured ~31 inches on the Medium 17″ frame
  • Because the motor is mounted at the center of the frame along with the battery pack, weight is kept lower which improves stability and the rear rack is left completely open for gear
  • The center-drive system leverages your chain and 10 speed cassette to operate more efficiently for climbing or reaching higher speeds, it offers better range than a similarly rated hub motor if you manage your gears properly
  • Higher-end parts all around including Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with a larger 180 mm rotor in the front for better stopping power (160 mm in the rear), Shimano Deore derailleur for precision shifting and large stiff alloy platform pedals for stability and grip
  • If you want even more control, a boost button can be added which offers two drive modes: a 6 mph starting speed (almost like walk mode) and a 20 mph throttle button which has to be held down to operate
  • Nice wire management, all of the cables and electronics are run through the frame and there are even some extra support points to keep them from getting in the way
  • The motor is very capable at climbing and can easily hit the ~28 mph top speed if you’re in the higher couple of gears, it’s also surprisingly quiet… but doesn’t offer the same high RPM as Bosch so your gear matters more

Cons:

  • The display panel can be a bit confusing at first, holding the power button icon for a couple seconds when you’re in assist level 1 will take you down to zero (so you can use the lights and display without the motor), it would be nicer if you could just arrow down to zero, this also becomes confusing for people who want to turn the bike off by holding power… you have to hold it down again or push the button on the battery itself
  • The display unit is not removable so it could take more damage when the bike is parked outside or in a public location, thankfully the battery is
  • The extra mounting points for adding fenders and a rear rack are awesome but there do not appear to be bottle cage bosses on the seat tube… that’s a bummer because it means you need to wear a backpack or add a frame bag to carry liquids, locks, pumps or other accessories
  • This model feels a bit expensive compared with the very similar IZIP E3 Dash (also from the Accell Group) which offers fenders, a rack and integrated lights at the same price but weighs ~2 lbs more as a result
  • The battery pack must be activated before the display unit can be powered on, it’s a two step process that takes extra time and can create confusion when going straight for the display on/off
  • You get a lot of power with the high-torque motor but it’s not as responsive or dynamic (feels mostly like a cadence sensor in there) and the range is more limited than some of the other ebikes I’ve tested (estimate 15 to 30 miles per charge depending on the assist level you choose), there’s also no shift sensing so the chain, sprockets and derailleur may take more wear if you don’t make an effort to shift when the motor is not adding force to the drivetrain

Resources:

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