fats tire electrical bike Haibike sDuro Trekking 4.0 evaluate: electrical bike hybrid workhorse for the intrepid commuter
There’s typically a bit of little bit of compromise with regards to selecting our your excellent electrical bike. Yeah, you may go all excessive and gnarly and plump for a completely radical e-mountain bike just like the superior Specialized Turbo Levo, but it surely’s in all probability not the very best compadre on your morning commute.
The bars are fats, the tyres are even fatter and the pro-spec suspension means energy switch by means of the pedals is wasted. On the similar time, your typical battery-powered day by day hack can lack the toughness required for a bit of weekend foray into the forest.
Haibike, an organization the specialises in making some fairly rowdy off-road machines, assume it has hit a fairly candy, erm, candy spot with its SDuro Trekking vary – a sequence of mountain bike-influenced frames that pack a couple of on a regular basis necessities to extend their usability.
The sDuro Trekking 4.0 is on the midpoint of the specification bracket and provides a tempting mix of cool options and cheap price ticket, to not point out a hardy, adventurous body and a few fairly snazzy styling.
Haibike sDuro Trekking 4.0: the appears to be like
Gray and luminous yellow tick all the best bins
Magnificence is within the eye of the beholder however we occur to assume Haibike has nailed it with this machine. Primarily, it shares the same body with quite a lot of exhausting tail mountain bikes within the group, which implies a beefier head tube, strengthened seat keep and a bash plate on the underside of {the electrical} parts.
However these adventurous components have additionally been softened by curvaceous prime tube (obtainable in a step-through mannequin, which sees mentioned tube dropped even decrease), pannier carry rack on the rear, tremendous squishy saddle and a few city-friendly upswept handlebars.
Some might argue that there is a lot going right here, as a result of there may be, however all of it really works as a package deal and components, corresponding to the inner cable routing, give it that premium really feel.
Haibike sDuro Trekking 4.0: the tech
Rear rack for carrying on a regular basis necessities 
The motor expertise discovered on this predominantly road-going machine is lifted straight from the massive guide of off-road bicycles. A Yamaha PW Motor Unit is located on the cranks and takes its feed from a semi-integral 400Wh Lithium-Ion battery pack mounted to the downtube.
It is a barely questionable system for an city commuter (extra on that later) but it surely delivers a robust punch when wanted and provides the form of reliability and efficiency that solely comes once you dig a bit of deeper.
On prime of this there’s a giant LCD display that offers read-outs on battery cost, velocity, distance and help ranges, whereas highly effective AXA lights are hardwired into the system, which means you do not have to fret a few set of triple As conking out on the way in which dwelling.
Transmission-wise, it is a 10-speed Shimano Deore derailleur setup, which pulls in loads of mountain bike parts, together with a extremely huge ratio 11-42T cassette that ought to flatten out even the steepest of climbs.
A SR Suntour NEX fork provides 63mm of suspension journey, which softens the blow of our scarred UK highway surfaces however is simply actually constructed to resist the occasional bobbly B-road moderately than any actual punishment.
Haibike sDuro Trekking 4.0: the experience
Simple to cruise and simple to take care of
These anticipating to merely sit again and let the bike do the entire work will probably be a bit of disillusioned, as this e-motor system rewards those that put within the effort. Merely spin the cranks and it’ll solely provide a small nudge from the motor, the help getting better because it senses extra torque.
For that cause, it feels extra like driving an ordinary bicycle, albeit one which cruises at a hell of a price, regardless of the undulations within the path forward, moderately than a scooter with a set of pedals bolted on.
Maybe these with little or no biking expertise may discover the Haibike sDuro Trekking 4.0 would not quit the potential of its highly effective motor simply sufficient, however we fairly loved the linear energy curve and clean supply of {the electrical} help.
Higher nonetheless, the stingy help means the battery lasts for completely ages. Most will simply see per week’s value of commutes dispatched on a single cost.
The driving place is spot-on too, with the high-rise bars providing loads of management and stability, however by no means feeling an excessive amount of like a “sit-up-and-beg” city bike.
We did not hassle taking the bike to any native trails or downhill routes, as a result of it is not likely designed for that, however the highly effective disc brakes and clean shifting Shimano gears felt like they might face up to the occasional beating if the temper takes. Simply do not count on the entrance forks to final too lengthy.
Haibike sDuro Trekking 4.0: the decision
Hardy body meets city commuter ending equipment
We are able to see this bike interesting to these with a ardour for biking however merely need one thing that requires much less effort on the day by day experience and can also be good for these longer weekend hacks to a rustic pub.
It is in all probability not essentially the most approachable factor if you need batteries and motors to dispatch of the day by day commute, however the upside is a powerful vary, with little or no have to plug it in each night time.
Racks, lights, respectable disc brakes and a protracted checklist of sturdy parts additionally make it sensible and dependable, with solely actually the entrance forks and tyres letting the aspect down barely.
