Ultra high performance custom fabricated electric bike with five limited edition design runs
Full suspension with 160mm long-travel double crown fork in the front and Fox MXR Float in the rear
Well balanced frame with mid-drive motor and integrated battery pack, very low unsprung weight
Clean rugged design with internally geared Rohloff Speedhub and integrated Supernova LED lights
Warning, in some configurations this electric bike is classified as a moped or motorcycle and may not be ridden on cycling trails or paths. It may require licensing, insurance and lights when used on public roads.
Video Review
Introduction
Make:
M55
Model:
Terminus
Price:
$18,000
(From $38,500 to $50,000 Depending on Configuration)
Groove Double Crown Suspension by White Brothers (From Mountain Racing Products) with 160 mm Travel
Frame Rear Details:
Fox MXR Float Suspension
Gearing Details:
14
Speed 1x14 Internally Geared Rohloff Speedhub
Shifter Details:
Grip Twist on Left Bar
Pedals:
Point Podium Alloy Platform
Handlebar:
KCNC SC Bone or Titanium
Brake Details:
Hope Tech V2 EVO Hydraulic Disc Brakes with 203 mm Rotors
Grips:
ESI
Saddle:
Fizik Gobi
Seat Post:
KCNC
Rims:
Mavic EN521
Tire Brand:
Schwalbe Crazy Bob, 26" x 2.35"
Wheel Sizes:
26 in (66.04cm)
Tube Details:
Presta Valve
Accessories:
M33 headlight and Airstream Rear Light by Supernova, Carbon Fiber Mud Guards
Other:
Available in Five Configurations Including: Classic, Biceps, Airbrush, Royal and Prime, Venti 20 mm Front hub by White Industries, Grade 5 Titanium Axles and Axle Screws, Carbon Fiber Battery Container, Lemo Charge and Data Connectors, Gebhardt Chain Rings, Quick Release Front and Rear Wheels
Advanced Pedal Assist, Twist Throttle
(Uses an RPM Sensor)
Top Speed:
50 mph (80 kph)(Up to 20 mph with 750 Watt Motor)
Written Review
The Terminus is a one of a kind electric bike made from the highest quality components, custom built from the ground up to be an incredible performer for downhill racing or flying at high speed (nearly silently) across the tarmac. It employs a long travel double crown suspension fork with 160mm of travel and a high end Fox MXR float in the rear to keep the ride smooth and stable and the motor and battery weight are all kept low and center. It’s completely beautiful with carbon fiber mudguards, battery casing and built in LED lights. The display panel is bright and clear and the buttons to navigate the drive system are integrated directly into the downtube. No expense was spared in the making of this bike and that’s reflected in the price tag (it starts at $38,500 and goes up from there).
The motor on Terminus comes in three flavors starting at 750 watt and jumping up to 2,000 watt and ultimately 3,000 which can propel riders up to 50 miles per hour. It’s a mid-drive system that uses a series of custom chain rings to pull the rear wheel. In the rear, a fourteen speed internally geared Rohloff Speedhub multiplies the force put out by the motor to achieve better climbing ability or higher speeds. In my experience testing this bike the drive system felt fluid, solid to pedal with and operated very quietly. The cool part is, you can choose to have the bike configured with pedal assist, throttle or both. The frame, geared hub and drive system reminded me of the Optibike R11 but was quieter, much more polished and had the addition of pedal assist.
The battery powering this bike is enormous! It offers 43.2 volts of power and 37.2 amp hours of capacity. That’s enough to hit 50mph and ride for 50+ miles before stopping off for a charge. While it’s not easily removable, it is positioned well within the frame helping to balance the weight of the bike. This is a heaver system compared with most ebikes but it’s obviously much more powerful and since most of the weight is kept away from the wheels the suspension performs perfectly and wheel and tire maintenance is a breeze. This is helped by the speedhub which keeps dirt and debris out and the chain super tight which is critical for racing applications where a break or drop can cost you the win.
Operating this bike is like interacting with a supercar. Circular aluminum buttons line the top of the downtube and the display is large, bright and center. A round electronic key is used to activate the bike and different keys are used to unlock different power levels. It’s a neat concept that keeps the bike street legal in 20mph “bicycle mode” vs. competition mode. The handlebars are kept mostly free of clutter, just the grip twister for changing gears and the twist throttle for activating the motor (if you get that option). And of course, the hydraulic brake levers that work with the enormous 203mm rotors to bring you back down to Earth.
It’s easy to bash this kind of elite toy but I really appreciate the attention to detail and spirit that was put into bringing it to life. They really started from scratch and yes, the price tag is high but this bike really performs. Sure, there’s no water bottle cage mount and the bike lacks a kickstand but it can climb mountains like a champ and the suspension will keep your back and neck in the game. It’s lighter than a Stealth, more refined than an Optibike and impressively quiet.
Pros:
Incredible performance with top speeds of 50mph and range of 50+ miles per charge
Offers both pedal assist mode and throttle mode (depending on the configuration you choose)
Available in multiple design themes and limited edition runs, kind of like art
Top of the line components from Schwalbe, Hope Tech, Supernova, Rohloff and Fox
The frame, front fork, rear fork, chain rings, front suspension, fenders and battery casing are custom fab
Very well balanced with a low center of gravity, unsprung weight is kept low with mid-drive design
Internally geared rear hub by Rohloff keeps the chain tight and on track for racing
Relatively quiet compared to other centerdrive electric bikes I’ve tested out
Hydraulic disc brakes are easy to reach and activate, the 203mm rotors cool quickly and provide great stopping power
All editions are limited to a maximum of 55 pieces per series for a total of 275 bikes in the world
Cons:
Extremely pricy, the frames and many of the components are custom made for this bike
No water bottle mounting points and no kickstand to keep the bike up (consider a stand as shown in the video)
Heavier than most ebikes at ~65 pounds but that’s because the battery pack is much larger
May be a challenge to find a shop that carries these for a test ride
Light weight titanium frame paired with belt drive for instant acceleration and fluid ride quality. Proven BionX PL 250 drive system offers four levels of responsive pedal assist and regen…...
This is a joke, 38.5k $, … you can have a t-rex for this price that is also handmade and have machined parts. This thing is too heavy 65pound, … no stand to take care off, put that down on the rocks. No, nono.
Hi Allan! That’s a great question. I don’t think we covered it during my review of the bike. Could you reach the company directly? If not, I have found that certain combinations of buttons are frequently used to access settings such as: holding up and down buttons, holding just up or just down, holding up and power double tapping power, holding up and down when first powering on the system or holding up when powering on… this ebike was so custom, and I looked at it so long ago, I don’t have as much insight to offer. Please reply back if any of these work or if you’re trying to reach the original team as I might have a message dating way back to my visit with them. Otherwise, maybe we can have a quick phone chat to discuss other possibilities of button combinations.
Hi Don! A similar question came up recently where a person was asking about the display panel. Unfortunately, I’m not in contact with the company anymore and I’m not sure if they are still in business? Perhaps you can find a generic ebike charger that would work. This review was done so long ago… I wasn’t taking pictures of the chargers back then or recording the details. I’m terribly sorry, perhaps someone on the EBR ebike forums could help you out? Maybe you or they would be able to get a better idea of which charger is needed based on the video review here or you could take it to another ebike shop and ask for help figuring out the connector type and charging voltage and amps. Good luck!
Mario Boucher
10 years agoThis is a joke, 38.5k $, … you can have a t-rex for this price that is also handmade and have machined parts. This thing is too heavy 65pound, … no stand to take care off, put that down on the rocks. No, nono.
ReplyAllan
5 years agoAnyone know where can obtain the software interface for a M55 Terminus. Trying to set mine to mph.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Allan! That’s a great question. I don’t think we covered it during my review of the bike. Could you reach the company directly? If not, I have found that certain combinations of buttons are frequently used to access settings such as: holding up and down buttons, holding just up or just down, holding up and power double tapping power, holding up and down when first powering on the system or holding up when powering on… this ebike was so custom, and I looked at it so long ago, I don’t have as much insight to offer. Please reply back if any of these work or if you’re trying to reach the original team as I might have a message dating way back to my visit with them. Otherwise, maybe we can have a quick phone chat to discuss other possibilities of button combinations.
ReplyAllan
5 years agoThe factory closed in 2014. I tried different button combinations and held durations with no avail. Hoping to make contact with another owner.
Allan
5 years agoThanks, got it figured out!
ReplyDmaz
4 years agoHi, I’m looking for a new battery charger for my M55? Where can I order one? Thank you for your help.
Don
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Don! A similar question came up recently where a person was asking about the display panel. Unfortunately, I’m not in contact with the company anymore and I’m not sure if they are still in business? Perhaps you can find a generic ebike charger that would work. This review was done so long ago… I wasn’t taking pictures of the chargers back then or recording the details. I’m terribly sorry, perhaps someone on the EBR ebike forums could help you out? Maybe you or they would be able to get a better idea of which charger is needed based on the video review here or you could take it to another ebike shop and ask for help figuring out the connector type and charging voltage and amps. Good luck!
Reply