Bikes of the Epic: Stefan Sahm’s Bulls E-Stream EVO FS 3 29 E-Bike

Awesome project. Can't be many carbon rims on alu frames out there!

Can't believe I an saying this. .... but That is an interesting bike.

Now that looks like my kind of bike to ride the epic.

Love the innovation in this project!

Mountain e bikes are going to be a huge thing and you will love them. It will allow wives to go riding with their husbands, which will keep the peace at home. It will also help the husbands with boeps keep up with their skinny race snake wives.

So much of win (I don't suggest putting an RS 1 on them, however)

I remember sweeping the Simonsberg contour and having to sweep single track while back markers were taking the shortest route back to the finish, thinking how nice a little assistance would be to get me back onto the back markers. I can see many applications for this. It obviously handles pretty well. Sahm easily kept up with every one in the play park section at Meerendal (admittedly not technical in nature and he had about 15 go's at the same section), it has commuting potential and utilitarian function for medics, rescue response and media coverage (as per the current use). Its not a Frankenstein, but could appear a bit more refined.

Now isn't that interesting ... an AM (All Mountain) alloy e-Bike with wide AM style hoops and a longish travel XC fork.

Trail bikes will have a jol on the EPIC.

Think we need a local Trail/AM 7-8 day adventure race. 

Now that be cool

Wonder how light they can make it?  20kgs seems heavy, but then it is an alu frame.

Handling must be quite tricky, but brilliant if used for the right purpose.

Interested to know what one of these puppies costs compared to the e-bikes the coppers will be using on Table Mountain

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/158514-e-bikes-to-be-used-by-saps-on-table-mountain/?hl=cape+town

Wonder how light they can make it?  20kgs seems heavy, but then it is an alu frame.

Handling must be quite tricky, but brilliant if used for the right purpose.

I've only tested it on tar where it feels surprisingly like a normal bike, until you pedal of course. It doesn't take much to bunny hop it either.

Much of the added weight is low down around the bottom bracket and in the downtube, exactly where you'd want it if you had to carry more weight.

I can confirm this. Did my 1st Epic on a Trek EX with 130mm travel fork and 120mm at the back. Not much slower on the climbs than the XC whippets and just so much more fun when the trail went down/sideways. :-) 

Trail bikes will have a jol on the EPIC.

 

I am conflicted about this - lots of great things about it, excellent for some applications and the engineering is very appealing - I am especially impressed with how well packaged they have become over the past 5 years. I just can't shake the irrational feeling that I don't like this creeping into cycling.

Next - they need to work on the footage quality derived from this setup. What a waste of time if that video is anything to go by.

I am conflicted about this - lots of great things about it, excellent for some applications and the engineering is very appealing - I am especially impressed with how well packaged they have become over the past 5 years. I just can't shake the irrational feeling that I don't like this creeping into cycling.

Hydraulic disc brakes come from motor bikes, we have electric shifters now, lights on our bikes thats stronger than some car lights. In a country where we don't have the luxury of ski lifts (now THERE's assisted ascent!) I can see a real niche here.

SA is too flat to wimp out that quickly. The guys from the countries with ski lifts already "outclimb" us without trying.

seriously though, the niche is obvious - just saying there is something that does not sit 100% with me.

My old man turns 80 this year - he is recovering from his second knee replacement at the moment - the thing he is most enthusiastic about doing as soon as the Physio says so is to get back on his ebike. Its taken him back to a level of participation of about 15 years ago. He is a lot safer to himself and others on the road.

I was a doubter too until I rode it - don't knock it till you try it.

If I wanted to save gas an commute on a cycle path - this is the answer.

Nice review

Samoosa TYRES!!!

If it rains and mud, that back tyre will barely turn!!

I'd like

My old man turns 80 this year - he is recovering from his second knee replacement at the moment - the thing he is most enthusiastic about doing as soon as the Physio says so is to get back on his ebike. Its taken him back to a level of participation of about 15 years ago. He is a lot safer to himself and others on the road.

 

I was a doubter too until I rode it - don't knock it till you try it.

 

If I wanted to save gas an commute on a cycle path - this is the answer.

 

Nice review

I'd like to see the equation of how far you'd have to drive to recoup the cost of such a bike.

Hydraulic disc brakes come from motor bikes, we have electric shifters now, lights on our bikes thats stronger than some car lights. In a country where we don't have the luxury of ski lifts (now THERE's assisted ascent!) I can see a real niche here.

Hydraulic brakes, electonic shifting, bikelights don't change the fundamental nature of a bicycle - something that relies solely on human input to power it forward.  This isn't a bicycle.  It's a shitty electric motorbike.

Having said that, people must do what they want. Never let it be said I stood between a fool and a bad decision.  I, however, reserve the right to point and laugh at you as you "cruise" past me on your way up that "brute of a climb".

And please don't compare this to uplifts.  It's not.  No one pretends that they actually cycled up to the trailhead on a shuttle day. 

Does Sahm ride the whole stage on this bike ? and does the battery last that long ?

I do understand that he isnt always on battery power .

Does Sahm ride the whole stage on this bike ? and does the battery last that long ?

I do understand that he isnt always on battery power .

Although I hate th idea of an e bike, I had an opportunity to pedal the bulls bike. . . Damn that thing is fast and goes like a demon when you pedal, I more than put in the faster I goes and handles quite nippy. Tyres looks like a cross between a mtb and mx tyres

It's a very effective tool for the job it's intended. Having Stefan Sahm pedaling it really gets us close to the action. Since it's the first time it's been tried I'm pretty excited but the opportunity it brings but surely a similarly equipped off road motorcycle would do as effective a job.

Maybe it's just the green appeal of an electric engine that cost more energy to build than a bone r80gs