To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by the Electric Bicycle Center which is based in in Fullerton, California. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of E-Lux products.
The E-Lux Tahoe sport is a beautifully stylish comfortable fat tire cruiser featuring a suspension fork with lockout and preload adjustment, swept back alloy bars, locking ergonomic grips, a comfort saddle, premium suspension seat post, and an integrated light system with an alloy casing around the front light and a brake light that is activated by both brake levers, a fat bike specific alloy rear rack and bottle cage bosses. It delivers many more feature and with higher quality than a lot of the competing cruiser fat ebikes I’ve tested. It has 26″x4″ wide street tires, which is really nice as most fat tire bikes come with a more knobby, off-road tire which is noisier and creates more drag on the road. It features paint matched steel fenders and a chain guard to protect your pants while riding, and an alloy rack with a triple bungee for hauling cargo or attaching panniers. It comes standard with 180mm hydraulic disc brakes and both levers have motor inhibitors and brake light activators as mentioned before. This is really special, and something I usually only see on European ebikes. The Tahoe Sport is powered by a 48 volt, 20 amp hour high capacity battery and driven by a Bafang 750 watt, 1,000 watt peak internally geared hub motor. It weighs in at ~78lbs, but with the high capacity battery and high wattage motor, it offers good range for how heavy it is and and can go the distance if you utilize the different levels of pedal assist. The bike comes with five levels of pedal assist and a throttle override. You can override the top speed of 20mph, which could put this Ebike in the class 3 or 4 category, so be careful, know the laws where you ride, and consider getting it licensed as a moped or using it only on private property if you do choose to ride faster. Overall this is an incredibly comfortable bike with the swept back handle bar, and an excellent choice for larger, heavier riders. You can see in the video that Sam says that the Tahoe Sport is “the most comfortable bike I’ve ever ridden to Huntington Beach” which is a 25 mile ride round trip from his shop in Fullerton. And, Sam is a fairly large 200+ pound rider. Ergonomically speaking, it’s just a comfortable fit for a big guy. He sells these bikes to a lot of guys who have trouble finding a bike big enough to fit them. With an MSRP of $2,995 it’s priced on par with other feature-complete electric bicycles, and with the 1 year warranty and great customer support from E-Lux, this is a bike you can buy and ride with confidence. Especially if you live near a shop that sells and services them.
Driving the Tahoe Sport is a Bafang 750 watt nominal, 1,000 watt peak geared hub motor. The legal limit in the US is 750 watts so this is about as powerful as you can get and still be considered an electric bicycle vs. a moped. It is a zippy motor, but considering that this bike weighs 78lbs, you need that power to move this bike, especially if you are a heavier rider. The motor does make a bit more noise than an average 500 watt motor, but I love the smooth activation on the throttle, it just gives you a lot more control. In addition to the throttle, the Tahoe Sport has five levels of pedal assist combined with a pretty decent drivetrain. It features a Shimano Tourney rear derailleur, an entry level derailleur that’s maybe not as light or durable as a higher end, but I do like the 11-32 tooth rear cassette. A lot of times Tourney drivetrains come with a smaller 14 to 28 tooth range which can be limiting for hill climbing and reaching those 20+ mph top speeds. The bike is extra long and the chain does bounce around quite a bit and rattle the chain guard and fender on bumpier terrain, you can see this in the video, so be sure to check your fenders occasionally, as the steel can rust if exposed. You may need to touch them up with a bit of nail polish from time to time. There is no rear guard to protect the derailleur or power cable, so be real careful not to lay the bike down on the drive side if you do decide to lay it down. Up front we’ve got a forged alloy crankset with a 42 tooth steel chainring. The steel is heavier than an alloy chainring, but much more durable which is what you want on a bike like this. There is a nice sealed cadence sensor, vs. the older style exposed sensors which could get bumped or coated in mud. Cadence sensors give the bike a sort of on/off feel, so I like the smoothness of the throttle on this bike, it just adds to the overall comfort the Tahoe Sport is going for. Another feature I really like is the KMC Rust-Buster chain. Just like the name says, it prevents your chain from rusting, which is great, especially if you live near the beach, or do any kind of riding in wet or snowy weather. I’ve actually tested this chain out in a bucket of salt water next to a regular chain for two weeks. The water was rust colored and the regular chain completely rusted when I pulled it out. The Rust Buster chain, aside from needing a little lube, looked the same as it did when it went into the salt water solution. I installed it on a bike, added a little lube and it rode as good as new. That’s a sweet upgrade for a beach cruiser, and it lets me know that E-Lux is thinking about their customers and how and where they ride. I also appreciate the paint matched steel chain cover. It’s not a full chain cover, but this bike has a long wheel base and the cover goes far enough back to protect your clothing while walking or riding the bike. The Tahoe Sport comes stock with 180mm Tektro Auriga hydraulic dual piston disc brakes vs. mechanical, which provides the stopping power you need to feel secure, even for the heavier riders. I love that both brake levers are rubber lined and have motor inhibitors, as this provides a sense of safety and security, and that both levers operate the rear brake light, an upgrade not found on many Ebikes sold in the US.
Powering the ELUX Tahoe Sport is a high capacity 48 volt 20 amp hour lithium-ion Samsung battery pack. A normal battery for this generation of ebikes is around 500 watt hours and this one is 960wh. It does weigh more, about 10.5lbs, but will help with power and range on this larger e-bike. I like that it has a built-in charge level indicator, so you can see the battery level even when the control display is not turned on, or if you are storing the battery inside, away from the bike. You can charge the battery on or off the bike, which I appreciate, as this is a heavy battery and you have to remove or at least raise the seat and post to remove the battery, or you will bump the seat which can cause damage to the casing. The “silver fish” design helps keep the battery weight low and centered on the frame, which allows for better overall handling, but you have to leave the key in while operating the bike, which can cause rattle, especially if you have a key ring with other keys on it, and can bump or even get caught on your pants while riding. The charger for this bike is a basic 2 amp charger weighing a pound and a half, it’s gonna take a long time to charge this bike. To really care for the pack, try not to deplete your cells below 20% because this can stress them… I’ve heard that storing it around 50% for longer periods of disuse is optimal. As with all lithium-ion batteries, it’s a good idea to store your battery in a cool, dry location. Considering how big and heavy the bike is, I’m thankful that the battery is removable, even if you do have to screw around with the seat post and saddle to get it off each time. Also, I appreciate how the black motor casing matches the spokes, rims, tires, rack, crank arms, even the seat post, seat and handlebars and stem.
The display control panel on this electric bike is simple to understand, easy to read, positioned well within reach of the left grip, and I like that the controls are part of the display itself, as this allows you to see what buttons you’re pushing and what they’re doing without moving your eyes back and forth. It’s a little thing, but all of these upgrades add up to a nice luxury cruiser. And because the display is mounted on the handlebars as opposed to the stem like on many ebikes, it is adjustable so you can set it in a position that accommodates your height. There is a full sized USB port on the bottom of the display so you can charge your cell phone while riding, attach a set of blue tooth speakers, or run a set of USB Christmas lights :) The display has a backlit feature that is activated by tapping the power button once, which also operates the integrated headlight and taillight. It has a five tick (20% increments) battery info-graphic, your speed, a power ramp meter, the time, and two trip odometers. Holding set for a few seconds allows you to access the menus, where you can change your speed from MPH to KPH, reset your trip odometers, and change your top speed. Keep in mind that at 20mph this is a class 2 ebike, and may not be allowed on off-road trails like Class 1 pedal assist only. Given the slick tires and fenders, it’s best suited to urban environments.
Some final thoughts here guys, I love the way this bike looks and feels. It has a black motor with matching black spokes, wheels, tires and, alloy fat bike specific rack with triple bungee and pannier guards. I love that it has bottle cage bosses. The Tahoe Sport only comes in one color, but it’s sharp and stylish. For now, it only comes in high-step but Sam had a custom one-off step-thru version that looked pretty neat. Given that E-Lux is a smaller Southern California local company, they seem to be responsive and adaptable to customer demands, which is great. With the understated E-Lux branding, the Tahoe Sport is a sophisticated, comfortable, fat bike cruiser that’s unique in the space. The long wheel base gives it a slower floaty feel and also keeps the front fender out of the way, reducing the possibility of toe strikes when pedaling and turning. This bike gives you a lot of freedom in how you ride, it’s comfortable while pedaling, and if you’ve been at the beach all day, or at work, and you’re tired and just want to sit down and go, you’ve got the trigger throttle. The throttle is active in level zero, so be careful not to bump it or the bike can take off on you. It does have solid alloy rims, they could’ve lightened the load a bit with punched out rims, which are pretty common on fat bikes, but perhaps the solid rims are a little stronger, and this bike is geared toward larger, heavier riders. All in all, it’s just a nice setup. Basically it builds and adds onto the standard E-Lux Tahoe that I’ve reviewed before, but with all the fixins and more comfort than before, which I appreciate. And, as Sam said in the video, E-Lux listens to the dealers and their customers, and are willing to work with them. As always, I always appreciate your feedback and opinions in the comments below or welcome you to engage and share pictures and make friends in the E-Lux ebike forums.
Pros:
- Adjustable suspension fork with preload and lockout
- Premium Suntour NCX suspension seat post and comfortable Serfas Rx saddle
- Swept back alloy cruiser handlebar with nice ergonomic locking grips make it a comfortable ride
- I love the paint-matched steel fenders, they are sturdy and functional, they don’t rattle as much as aluminum or plastic and the longer frame reduces toe strikes
- Heavy duty, 12 gauge spokes vs. 14 gauge average, to support heavier riders and cargo
- Unique slick fat tires, most of the time tires of this size are knobby for off-road use, which creates noise and drag
- It’s nice to see bottle cage bosses on here
- I really like the color matched 100mm wide fenders and chain cover, even though the steel could get scratched and rust… it’s quieter than aluminum alloy or plastic
- The cassette is wide offering 11-32 tooth vs. 14-28 on many others, this gives you a nice range of gears for anything from hill climbing to smooth riding at higher speeds
- Comes stock with a KMC Rustbuster chain
- Has rubber lined motor inhibiting brake levers with rear light activation
- There is a nice, easy to reach, flick bell on the right side
- Smooth, powerful 180mm Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes vs. mechanical, good for a heavier ebike, and this one does weigh ~78lbs
- Very large high capacity 48 volt 20 amp hour battery (a normal battery is 500 watt hours and this one is 960wh)
- Powerful 750 watt nominal 1,000 watt peak geared hub motor, the legal limit in the US is 750 watts so this is about as powerful as you can get and still be considered an electric bicycle vs. a moped
- I like that it has a trigger throttle to override assist, but also has five levels of pedal assist
- Love that both lights run off of the main battery pack
- Nice Blaze-Light integrated headlight in alloy casing, the headlight points where you steer but might bounce a bit because it’s mounted on the suspension fork arch
- Reflectors mounted on the rear stays
- The display has a built-in USB charging port for maintaining a phone, additional lights, or other portable electronics
- Nice sealed cadence sensor, with five levels of pedal assist
- The longer frame feels smooth and slower to turn, I like that it positions the front wheel and fender further out front so you don’t get toe strikes when pedaling if you have larger feet
- Fat bike specific alloy rack with triple bungee and pannier guards
Cons:
- Only comes in high step frame style, and only one color choice for now (red), I’d love to see a low step model in the future but understand the challenges of frame flex
- Minor consideration, the alloy rims used on the bike are solid but some fat bikes have punched out rims that reduce weight and offer a bit of additional comfort
- The Tahoe Sport is heavier than many competing products (78lbs), but this is because of the high capacity battery, rack, lights, and solid rims
- Keys must remain in the battery pack to operate the bike, this can cause keychains to rattle and possibly chip the paint or snag your clothing while riding
- Chain bounces around and strikes the steel chain cover and fenders on bumpy streets, you can see and hear this in the video above
- Would be nice if there was a derailleur guard to protect the motor power cable
- Steel fenders and chain cover can rust if scratched, keep an eye on them and use touch up paint or nail polish to coat scratches
- I wish it came with a faster charger, given how big the battery is, the included two-amp is very average and gets the job done ultimate, and is fairly lightweight which is nice
- You have to remove seat post and saddle to remove battery, which means you’ll have to find the right seat height each time you do this
Resources:
Mike
6 years agoWow, looks like the tariffs are hitting pretty hard. Almost $3000 for a bike style/spec that commonly was around $2000 from various firms less than a year ago.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoYeah, I think it’s 25% and for a smaller brand like E-Lux that does lower volume, they have to charge more. This model is pretty unique, and very well done in my opinion, but the price is a little high.
ReplyEBR reader
3 years agoGood review. As you would expect there have been some upgrades since then. Regarding user Mike’s comment, it says it’s made or assembled in a different Asian country (non-hostile, believe Thailand) so the tariff would not apply.
Rear Blaze-Lite: The red taillight is so awful it should not be used on any bike unless you want to be seen only within 20 degrees each side. Beyond there is a 10 degree pillar of darkness on each side (and more unwanted structures). They tried to get fancy by using a prism behind the LED. Result is false sense of security. Anyone can see this in seconds. There is only 1 LED, not multiple ones spread apart so a regular size sheet of paper will do: place it 4-6 inches behind to instantly see a beam structure that should not exist. (Or Court, is +/- 20 deg enough? Vehicles never come at an angle?)
ReplyCourt
3 years agoThanks for your input! My goal is to show what I’m seeing and share the perspectives that resonate or that I have experienced personally. I appreciate your insights about the lights and angle of visibility. Lights are important for safety, so I’m glad the technology and options have been getting better, like the brake light features on some models!
Reply