Batch Bicycles | E-Commuter Bike
GearMashsers.com just got our very first E-Bike in to review called the E-Commuter by Batch Bicycles.
Rather than having to unbox the bike and put it together, Batch Bicycles shipped the bike to Bicycle Sport Shop here in Austin and had it ready for me to pick up.
Both Batch and Bicycle Sport Shop made the whole process super easy.
For those that don’t know, E-Bikes really hit the US market in a big way about 3 years ago. I started seeing evidence of this at the now-defunct Interbike. Both 2017 and 2018 Interbike had loads of E-bikes companies with various e-bikes to try and test out.
The Three Classes Of E-Bikes
There are currently 3 classes of E-Bikes
- Class 1: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.
- Class 2: eBikes that also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted.
- Class 3: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.
Currently, there is a federal regulation in place to differentiate electric bikes (power assist bikes) from other vehicles on the road. The regulation means that e-bikes sold in the US have to meet the following criteria to be considered a Class 1 E-Bike.
- Have fully operational pedals.
- Be equipped with 750 watts or less.
- Have a maximum speed with assistance from the motor to be no more than 20mph.
For someone who loves a little bit of speed on the bike, this 20mph limit is a little bit of a letdown. I would love to see it raised to 30mph. Fortunately, there are pedal-assist bikes (Class 3) that go a bit faster (28mph), but most are prohibited from bike trails and paths.
All classes limit the motor’s power to 1 horsepower (750W).
At first glance, the Batch E-Commuter is pretty impressive. It comes in a matt grey finish with black fenders. It looks like a tank that can take a ton of punishment and weighs just about as much (46.5 lbs).
The E-Commuter reminds me of my old steel 3-speed commuter. Nothing too fancy, but designed for the urban environment.
Batch E-Commuter 8 Speed
The E-Commuter comes with a push-button 8-speed setup and a single front chainring.
Power-Assist Class 1
The E-Bike is a class 1 power-assist bike, meaning it can assist up to 20mph using the Bosch Active Line e-motor.
Disc Brakes, Fenders and Rack
It came fully equipt with Tectro Disc brakes, fenders and rack.
Each bike also has a really nice rear kickstand to help keep the bike upright when parked.
I found the pedals plenty grippy and worked great while wearing street shoes or sandals.
Batch E-Commuter Bicycle Key Features
Here are some of the key features for the Batch E-Commuter Bicycle.
- Drive Train – Bosch Active Line Motor, Shimano Altus 8sp, FSW Crank 38T
- Frame – 6061 Alloy with Internal Cable Routing
- Brakes – Tektro HD M275
- Included Add-Ons – Rear Rack and Fenders
- Color – Matte Charcoal Gray
- Price – $1,999.99
Available in three sizes including
- Small (15 inches)
- Medium (17.5 inches)
- Large (20 inches)
It comes equipt with fenders and 27.5-inch wheels.
Bosch Active Line Gen 3 motor
The E-Commuter comes equipt with the Bosch Active Line Gen 3 motor. Bosch sets the gold standard in e-bike motor systems. While SRAM and Shimono are kings of the gears, Bosch has come out on top for e-bike electric engines.
Power Assistance
Each Batch Bosch system comes with a controller unit showing stats like MPH/KMH, Distance and battery life remaining.
The controller also allows you to adjust the motor’s power to allow more or less assistance.
Using the +/- buttons are used to control the assisted speed settings including:
- TURBO: 250% assistance
- SPORT: 170% assistance
- TOUR: 100% assistance
- ECO: 40% assistance
When testing out the bike I always found myself wanting to use Turbo for the faster acceleration and max speed. Those who aren’t speed freaks and want a slower-paced ride will find the Tour or Sport mode enjoyable.
Using Turbo, I found I could easily get the bike up to 18-20mph with minimal effort. Unfortunately, once you hit 20mph, the pedal assistance drops off as required by law for a class 1 e-bike.
The Trek Super Commuter+ 8S will get you up to 28mph, but it is a Class 3 e-bike, so realistically it isn’t allowed on bike trails, at least at that speed.
A big negative with the Trek e-bike is, of course, the price tag of $5,199.99. With that, you could get 2 Batch e-bikes and have $1000 to spare.
| Frame | 6061 Alloy |
|---|---|
| Fork | 1.5" Tapered, 6061 Alloy |
| Motor | Bosch Active Line Gen 3, 250W, 20 mph Pedal Assist |
| Battery | Bosch 400Wh with ABUS lock |
| Display | Bosch Purion |
| Headset | FSA Threadless |
| Brakes | Tektro Hydraulic Disc HD-M275 | 180mm Rotors |
| Shifters | Shimano Altus 8sp |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Altus |
| Cassette | Shimano 8sp 11-32T Cassette |
| Chain | KMC X8 NP |
| Crank | FSA 3-PC Alloy, 38T | Small L: 170mm | Medium L: 172.5mm | Large: 175mm |
| Chainguard | Disc Style |
| Bottom Bracket | Bosch |
| Tires | Kenda Kwick Twenty.5 Sport E50 with K-Shield Protection. 27.5 x 1.75" |
| Rims | Double Wall Alloy 32H |
| Hubs | Formula DC-20/22 |
| Quick Releases | Hubs and Seat Post |
| Handlebar | Promax Alloy 31.8 Small & Medium W: 600mm | Large W: 640mm |
| Stem | Promax Alloy L: 70mm |
| Seat | Cionlli |
| Seat Post | Promax Alloy 350mm |
| Other | Plastic Fenders, Alloy Rear Rack (25 kg/55 lbs. Max Load), Alloy Kickstand |
| Sizes | Small, Medium and Large |
| Product Weight | Size Medium- 46.5 lbs |
| Colors | Matte Metallic Charcoal |
I have to say I was a little skeptical that an E-bike under 2K would be good, but the Batch E-Commuter does a great job for the commuting segment. It’s got plenty of power to easily reach speeds of 16 – 18mph while wearing flip flops and with a bit more effort 20mph.
Where the bikes falls a little short is the lack of any lighting. As a commuter, lights are always an important necessity for early morning or late evening rides. Had the bike come equipt with front and rear lights for its price point, it would certainly stand in the ever-growing e-bike segment.
I was really impressed with how smooth the bike operated at every speed. There was no discernible engine noise and the increase in assisted power was very smooth and enjoyable to have access to.
Overall I really thought the E-Commuter by Batch Bicycles was a winner and something to consider.
