ST1 – Limited Edition

1 review for ST1 – Limited Edition

1. 

   CC E-Cycles – July 7, 2023

   Video Review

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   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 🙂