Stromer ST1 Limited Edition Review

Stromer St1 Limited Edition Electric Bike Review
Stromer St1 Limited Edition
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Ultramotor Gearless Hub Motor 500 Watt 48 Power
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Integrated Lithium Ion Battery Pack Door
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Cockpit Shimano Sora Trigger Shifters
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Backlit Lcd Display Console
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Supernova E3 Ebike Lite 163 Lumens
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Aluminum Fenders Shimano Deore Xt 9 Speed Drivetrain
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Charging Port Bottle Cage Bosses
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Ergon Gs1 Locking Grips
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Flat Bars Carbon Fork Magura Brake Levers
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Integrated Toplight Racktime Cargo Rack
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Magura Carbon Steel Rotors 180 Mm Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Schwalbe Big Ben Tires Performance Greenguard
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Spring Loaded Hebie Euro Kickstand
Stromer St1 Limited Battery Door Open
Stromer St1 Limited 36 Volt 14 5 Amp Hour Custom Battery Pack
Stromer St1 Limited Charging The Battery 4 Amp Charger With Fan
Stromer St1 Limited Inside The Downtube Battery Box Area Instructions
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Electric Bike Review
Stromer St1 Limited Edition
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Ultramotor Gearless Hub Motor 500 Watt 48 Power
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Integrated Lithium Ion Battery Pack Door
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Cockpit Shimano Sora Trigger Shifters
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Backlit Lcd Display Console
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Supernova E3 Ebike Lite 163 Lumens
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Aluminum Fenders Shimano Deore Xt 9 Speed Drivetrain
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Charging Port Bottle Cage Bosses
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Ergon Gs1 Locking Grips
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Flat Bars Carbon Fork Magura Brake Levers
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Integrated Toplight Racktime Cargo Rack
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Magura Carbon Steel Rotors 180 Mm Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Schwalbe Big Ben Tires Performance Greenguard
Stromer St1 Limited Edition Spring Loaded Hebie Euro Kickstand
Stromer St1 Limited Battery Door Open
Stromer St1 Limited 36 Volt 14 5 Amp Hour Custom Battery Pack
Stromer St1 Limited Charging The Battery 4 Amp Charger With Fan
Stromer St1 Limited Inside The Downtube Battery Box Area Instructions

Summary

  • A limited run (only 399 produced) speed pedelec with premium integrated lights from Supernova and Toplight, Aluminum fenders, rear carry rack from Racktime and Magura hydraulic disc brakes
  • High end Shimano Deore XT drive train with nine sprockets geared for 28+ mph riding speeds, comfortable Ergonomic locking grips from Ergon, custom Carbon fiber fork with sturdy 15 mm thru-axle
  • Offers smooth, silent, pressure sensitive pedal assist activated with a TMM4 torque sensor, four power levels, two regen levels and integrated regenerative braking via the right lever
  • One of the heavier electric road bikes I've tested at ~60 lbs, weight is balanced across the frame and kept low for improved handling, charger uses a dongle to connect to the battery that could get lost easily, chain stays are extra wide and I've clipped them while pedaling

Video Review

Introduction

Make:

Stromer

Model:

ST1 Limited Edition

Price:

$3,990

Body Position:

Forward Aggressive

Suggested Use:

Urban, Road, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Speed Pedelec (Class 3)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Year Battery (Or 1,000 Full Charge Cycles), 2 Year Motor, 3 Year Frame

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2016

Bicycle Details

Total Weight:

60 lbs (27.21 kg)

Battery Weight:

6.9 lbs (3.12 kg)

Motor Weight:

16 lbs (7.25 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

16.5 in (41.91 cm)20 in (50.8 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Small 16.5" (30" Stand Over Height, 16.5" Seat Tube Length", 22" Reach), Medium 20" (32" Stand Over Height, 20" Seat Tube Length, 22" Reach)

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Colors:

Metallic Light Blue

Frame Fork Details:

Rigid Carbon, 15 mm Proprietary Axle

Frame Rear Details:

12 mm Proprietary Axle

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses, Water Bottle Cage Bosses

Gearing Details:

9 Speed 1x9 Shimano Deore XT, 11-32T

Shifter Details:

Shimano Sora Triggers on Right

Cranks:

42T, Alloy Guard

Pedals:

Wellgo Aluminum Alloy Platform, Cage Style

Headset:

1 1/8" Top 1 1/2" Bottom

Stem:

Custom Alloy, 100 mm

Handlebar:

Flat, 25" Length

Brake Details:

Magura MT2 Hydraulic Disc with 180 mm MT4 Carbon Steel Rotors, Magura Levers with Motor Inhibitor and Regen Activation on Right

Grips:

Ergon GS1 Ergonomic Rubber with Lockers

Saddle:

Ergon SME3, Ergonomic

Seat Post:

Quick Release Collar, Aluminum Alloy Post

Seat Post Length:

350 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

31.6 mm

Rims:

Alexrims, 559" x 23" 6061H-T6

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 14G Front, 13G Back

Tire Brand:

Schwalbe Big Ben, 26" x 2.15"

Wheel Sizes:

26 in (66.04cm)

Tire Details:

Performance Line Green Guard, 30-55 PSI

Tube Details:

Presta Valve

Accessories:

Hebie Spring Kickstand, Supernova E3 E-Bike V6S LED Headlight 165 Lumens, B+M Toplight Mini LED Rear Light, Racktime Cargo Rack (17 kg Max Load)

Other:

Locking Removable Battery Pack, 4 Amp Charger 2.3 lbs

Electronic Details

Motor Brand:

TDCM Ultra Motor (Power 48)

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Gearless Direct Drive Hub
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

250 watts

Motor Peak Output:

500 watts SYNO drive gearless direct drive rear hub motor weighs 11 pounds (5kg) offers 42 Newton meters of torque

Motor Torque:

30 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

14.5 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

522 wh Lithium-ion cells by Samsung

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours hours for a full charge from empty

Estimated Min Range:

25 miles (40 km)

Estimated Max Range:

50 miles (80 km)

Display Type:

Fixed, Backlit LCD Display on Right

Readouts:

Speed, Avg. Speed, Odometer, Trip Time, Clock Time, Battery Percentage, Battery Level (10 Bars), Assist Level (Recoup 2, Recoup 1, 0, Eco, City, Tour, Power)

Drive Mode:

Torque Sensing Pedal Assist (TMM4 Torque Sensor)

Top Speed:

28 mph (45 kph)


Written Review

The Stromer ST1 is a speed pedelec, 28 mph capable, electric bike with race-like qualities and performance parts. It comes in limited edition metallic blue and only 399 units were produced. You get premium fenders with a custom rack for hauling gear, powerful hydraulic disc brakes, integrated lights (the front is aimable and puts out 165 lumens!) along with an extra battery pack to maximize range. That’s the romantic version… the reality is probably more like Stromer began launching the refined ST2 bikes with nicer display panels, larger batteries and smart phone apps but had some extra ST1 stock. To spice things up they took their favorite features from the older ST1 Sport, Platinum, ST1 S and ST1 T and combined them along with a new color and a sweet ~$4k price tag for one last hurrah! And in my opinion, it’s a winning bike. Not perfect… but lots of fun to look at and even more fun to ride.

The drawbacks to all ST1 models in my opinion are how heavy and stiff they are. Lifting this thing is not fun and I’ve had to remind myself not to use the saddle (for fear of breaking the plastic rail mounts). The hub motor alone is something like ~16 lbs because it’s gearless and high power (they say 48 power). The funny thing is, the battery pack is a 36 volt 14.5 amp hour design so I’m not sure what the 48 means? You get 500 watts of power output from the hub with near silent operation AND regeneration modes along with regenerative braking… as long as you squeeze the right lever, the left one isn’t wired in. I found myself zipping around town at high speed, getting lots of compliments and interest (most people didn’t know it was electric thanks to the integrated battery) and I enjoyed the fenders when it started raining. They aren’t perfect but they did keep my eyes clear and the stripe off my back. My shoes and shins however, got drenched.

Not all electric bikes have room for bottle cages and many that do forego the option. I love that Stromer added bosses to the downtube because I often carry a mini-pump and like to have a cage for an extra water bottle. I also love that both lights run off the main battery pack, that the display is backlit and that you can enter special codes to change settings like top speed and torque sensor sensitivity! The torque sensor used on this and other ST1 models is a TMM4 which Easy Motion also uses… In my experience Stromer bikes feel smoother and aren’t as prone to unexpected activation. Their software may be different? The display panel used to activate the bike and then change readouts and assist levels is kind of old fashioned looking and bulky, it doesn’t match the beautiful lines and refined parts used elsewhere on the bike but it is easy to use and didn’t have a problem with the wet riding I did. There are just three buttons here and they are nearly reachable from the right grip but I found myself pulling over to make major adjustments. The display is not removable but there is a disconnect port where you could plug a new one in if the original got damaged or lost.

One big takeaway for me with this bike is how much more fun it would be with some suspension. I appreciate the larger Schwalbe Balloon tires “Big Ben” models which are 26″x2.15″ and can be run at 30 psi. They make a big difference, along with the Carbon fork, but a seat post suspension, padded riding shorts and cycle gloves go a long way. I’ll be testing some accessories with this bike soon from Body Float and ShockStop so keep an eye on the Accessories section. Having tested some of the base model Specialized Turbo ebikes which go up to ~26 mph the additional power and speed on the ST1 is noticeable. You can get that from some of the Specialized bikes but it costs more, their Turbo S is quite expensive at $7k but the display is nicer. There’s a lot more to say about the Stromer ST1 Limited so I’ve added a bunch of details below in the pros/cons section. Big thanks to Stromer for partnering with me for this review.

Pros:

  • The bike looks beautiful… most people don’t realize it’s electric but are drawn towards the style of the larger frame and tires, it’s like a race car and women have told me it looks like some kind of masculine jewelry (I’m sure it wold look good with a woman riding it too), I love that Stromer went easy on the stickers and branding… you see some of it and they custom labeled the saddle and slap guards but it’s done tastefully
  • I love that Stromer was able to add a water bottle cage mounting point on the downtube! This can be useful for mini pumps, tool kits or standard cages and so many other ebikes forego it, I’m impressed that they made it work even though the battery pack is mounted inside the downtube
  • The battery offers a lot of capacity for longer rides and for a limited time it sounds like Stromer is giving away an additional 36 volt 11 amp hour pack if you buy the ST1 Limited! That’s like a $600+ value offering 20+ additional miles of range, that pack weighs ~6.6 lbs so you could put it in a backpack or rack bag to take along, all batteries are removable for safe storage, reduced weight and convenient charging
  • Excellent accessory package with name brand premium parts like Ergon GS1 locking grips, Stromer branded Ergon saddle, Supernova E3 Ebike headlight, Toplight Mini rear light, Magura hydraulic disc brakes and a sleek Racktime carry rack for use with trunk bags or panniers
  • Super quiet operation, the motor is gearless so there aren’t any additional moving parts to wear down and you get the benefit of regenerative braking to recapture electricity when slowing down
  • Custom thru-axles (15 mm front and 12 mm rear) for added strength and stiffness, performs better at high speed and with the heavier weight, the rear spokes are also larger 13 gauge to support the added power of the motor
  • Unique drivetrain with a 9 speed Shimano Deore XT cassette, requires fewer shifters on the handlebar and requires less maintenance than two derailleurs
  • Larger 2″ tires improve traction and add comfort when riding at high speed, built in puncture protection from Schwalbe Performance Line GreenGuard to reduce flats
  • The integrated Aluminum alloy fenders look amazing, they hug the tires closely and have struts for added strength and reduced rattling, the bike rides very quiet
  • Premium Supernova headlight is bright, tough and mounted on an adjustable swivel… both it and the back light run off the main battery for convenience but you have to switch them on with a rubber button on the back of the front light vs. using the display panel
  • There’s a unique “start mode” built in that works like an under powered throttle (just hold the up button for several seconds), this could be used for walk-assist or to get you going without pedaling, it has to be enabled by entering a code into the display console
  • Powerful oversized hydraulic disc brakes offer excellent stopping power and are ebike specific so the right lever cuts power to the motor when activated and activates energy regen mode to recapture and store power (~10% efficient but this also reduces wear on the brake pads)
  • The fork is custom Carbon fiber vs. Aluminum alloy which reduces weight slightly and improves ride comfort… this is really nice at high speeds along with the larger tires
  • Purpose built frame is available in two sizes for improved fit and the unique slide-in battery stays very hidden while keeping weight low and center for improved handling
  • You can enter special codes to change setting in the LCD display… hold the power button and the plus button for a few seconds then arrow up or down to change the four digits (press power to move to the next digit) then hold power to submit the code, the full list of codes was shared in the EBR Community here

Cons:

  • The display panel isn’t as easy to reach as those with independent button pads, I had to look down and take my right hand off the grip frequently to make adjustments to assist level and readouts
  • At ~60 lbs, this is one of the heavier electric bikes I’ve reviewed (most are closer to 50 lbs) but this id due in part the the larger motor and battery, it feels sturdy but isn’t fun to lift
  • The chain stays (the lower arms that connect to the rear dropout) are extra wide and I found myself clipping them as I pedaled on occasion, I do like the neoprene cable covers there to prevent chain slap and to cover the wires
  • Even with the ergonomic grips, Carbon fiber fork and larger Schwalbe Big Ben tires this bike feels jarring… especially at high speed! Consider adding a 31.6 mm Body Float or 100 mm +/-6 degree ShockStop stem
  • I dislike how the kickstand automatically springs up, it often feels unstable when deployed (as if any wind or movement of the bike will send it crashing down) but thankfully it sounds like newer Stromer models removed the spring so it stays put
  • I love the Schwalbe Big Ben tires and appreciate the GreenGuard liner (for puncture protection) but wish they had reflective sidewall stripes considering this bike has lights and is meant to ride on roads near cars
  • The rack is sleek but mounts to the fender vs. having extra support arms going to the seat stays, this means it cannot support as much weight (just 17 kg vs. most other racks I see at 25 kg) and it doesn’t have the same pannier-blocker struts so bags and straps could rub more easily
  • Both wheels require tools to take off, an adjustable wrench for the rear and 7/32″ allen key for the front which makes changing flats and doing maintenance more involved but also deters theft
  • Only available in one color with these specific features, you could consider a standard ST1 in black or white as well as the ST1 S in metallic green or the ST1 T in metallic brown
  • Only available in high-step “diamond” frame style for now, if you want a step-thru Stromer for easier mounting and stand over consider the ST1 Platinum or ST2 models
  • I love that the bike offers regen and has a motor inhibitor built in but wish that both levers had that vs. just the right
  • The battery charger is large, a bit heavy and louder than most others I’ve tested but that’s due in part to the faster charging it offers with 4 Amp output vs. 2 Amp
  • Avoid pedaling when you power the bike on, if you’re putting strain on the torque sensor it will mark that as “zero” and you won’t get as much assist, in my experience it’s okay to coast while you turn the bike on, just don’t push on the pedals :)

Resources:

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Comments (9) YouTube Comments

Richard
8 years ago

Given that they only made 399 of them, are they still available for sale new (unused) on the retail market? Do you know of a bike shop that carries them?

  Reply
Court Rye
8 years ago

Hi Richard! I believe they do still have some available and there was an event in San Diego yesterday celebrating Ravi Kempiah’s Guinness World Record breaking ride where they were even having a sale on this and other bikes. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make it but I just tried calling a Stromer rep I know and he didn’t answer… I’ll reply again soon when I figure out where these bikes are so you could get one ;)

  Reply
Richard
8 years ago

Way to go Ravi!

  Reply
George
8 years ago

Man this motor is my favourite hub to date even with your low cam it’s amazing how quiet hubs have become. If stromer had a better control access this would easily be one of the the top 3 EB’s on the planet. Loved the seat and other views court. Another great review mate.

  Reply
Court Rye
8 years ago

Thanks so much George! Have really enjoyed the bike… and I agree that Stromer has done a great job, if they made the ST2 models more affordable they’d be some of the easiest bikes to recommend. I’m definitely excited to add the seat post suspension for comfort though ;)

  Reply
Steve plattner
8 years ago

I think you can find one at the Garage OTR in Cincinnati.

  Reply
Court Rye
8 years ago

Thanks Steve! I also heard that Motostrano near San Francisco might be able to get them and can ship around the US.

  Reply
Rod
8 years ago

Just grabbed one for $3690 + free shipping + a free Abus Bordo bike lock which looks like goes for about $100 online. Have no idea if that is the best deal to be found, the 2 other dealers I’ve found that have them want $3990, but I think I’m pretty satisfied. Can’t wait until it arrives! This video review convinced me…thanks!

  Reply
Court Rye
8 years ago

That’s awesome Rod! I’m super excited for you… this is a really great bike. Yes, it’s heavier and the suspension is lacking but for smooth paved roads it’s a BLAST. I’m sure you’ll take great care of it, I had mine tuned up by the local shop just to make sure it was running smoothly before taking on some miles at high speed ;) feel free to chime in again as you break it in and get to really know it!

  Reply

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