Thoughts on Outer Cycles E-Bike?

[ChrisF]

47 minutes ago, GLuvsMtb said:

I went for the Deore Spec. With bikes in a rental fleet the last thing you need is an App that wants to update all the time. There are 3 power modes. Low Med High. If you want a bit more customisable setup, go for the GX spec. Comes with the fancier controller that links to App and lets you change stuff. 

 

Very important considerations ....

 

I ONCE "quickly" changed the power modes via the app on my e-bike (different brand) ....

 

Quickly turned into a lost hour .....

 

Once that app decided it was update time that was it !!!!  No way to cancel !!  No way to get the bike to ride until it had completed the update .....

 

Make no mistake, it sure is handy to be able to link to the app and to be able to tune power delivery per mode.

 

Just DONT start that app before a ride.

 

 

Ohhhhh .... and once the app decided that it will only link to the bike once location is switched on on the phone ... no warning, no way to know why it is acting up ....

[mazambaan]

13 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

Very important considerations ....

 

I ONCE "quickly" changed the power modes via the app on my e-bike (different brand) ....

 

Quickly turned into a lost hour .....

 

Once that app decided it was update time that was it !!!!  No way to cancel !!  No way to get the bike to ride until it had completed the update .....

 

Make no mistake, it sure is handy to be able to link to the app and to be able to tune power delivery per mode.

 

Just DONT start that app before a ride.

 

 

Ohhhhh .... and once the app decided that it will only link to the bike once location is switched on on the phone ... no warning, no way to know why it is acting up ....

One thing you do NOT need is an ebike with no e.

[Danger Dassie]

2 hours ago, mazambaan said:

One thing you do NOT need is an ebike with no e.

Fact! Happened to me, but on purpose. Tested one of the very first eBikes to land in SA (Specialized Levo) and rode it flat at Thaba Trails.
5km felt like 15km!  

eFiets have come a long way since ....

[DeanWort]

Having been working in a bicycle shop for the last 5 years as a workshop manager, i have seen all makes and models of E-bikes come through my workshop. 

One major thing to consider when looking at an E-bike is what motor and battery it has. 

Shimano makes wonderful motors but in the last few years the amount of warranties and problems we get on those motors far out ways the price point in my opinion.

Our shop does Shimano, Bosch, Giant motors and the best by far would be the Bosch.

We have had a Bosch bike come in with over 50 000km and not 1 problem on it.

Outer is a brilliant brand and i love what they doing but look at what the heart of the bike is and then make your consideration

  

[ChrisF]

8 hours ago, mazambaan said:

One thing you do NOT need is an ebike with no e.

 

WELL said !! 🤣

 

Second year with my Trance-e I had an interesting day on the trails ....

 

Got a nice new 625W.h battery (needed two batteries for stage race events).  So now I can do a lekker long ride .... home to Meerendal, nice day on the trails sommer add Dorstberg to the mix.  Accross the road and corridor to Conties .... gate lock is broken and people are throwing bikes over the fence .... nahhh ... back down the corridor, lower entrance to Conties.  Now I note the battery is down a lot already !!  After a snack at Dairy shed I start the climb over the koppie to get back home ... down to two bars on the battery at the START of the climb .... it was one gentle eco-mode suffer fest up that mother of a climb !!  Switched the assistance off on the way down, just using the least possible along the climbs home .... battery switched off about one block from home ....  The new 625W.h still on the charger ... I was never ever going to make that ride on the 500W.h battery ....

 

That last 20km was an eye opener of what IS possible when you truly go into battery conservation mode .... 

[Shebeen]

On 12/5/2025 at 9:42 AM, Danger Dassie said:

Fact! Happened to me, but on purpose. Tested one of the very first eBikes to land in SA (Specialized Levo) and rode it flat at Thaba Trails.
5km felt like 15km!  

eFiets have come a long way since ....

Pretty sure Spez were quite late to the party here relatively. When they launched the Levo most of the other big brands already had an ebike offering, it came with an app that was a distinct departure from the rest of the pack that had screens only. 

My first ebike ride locally was probably 2011/12ish, family friend established the local Easymotion (BH) distribution and he got everyone to ride those initial demo bikes. They looked like pigs, and the range had a long way to go but you could easily see the gamechangers they would become.

 

but that's just my recollection, Spez have definitely caught up fast!