JP-NZ
E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Morning all,
Today I test rode a Merida One Sixty SL with the Bosch SX and 400wh battery. I didn't want to buy one but they were the only dealer who would do demo rides in my area. Before I go to much further I own both a Gen 4 CX and a TQ HPR50 equipped bikes.
I did a 6km ride with 200m elevation, one ride was enough for me to form an opinion. Now I love my CX equipped Rail it feels as though it can climb anything and when the going gets really steep its nice to know you have EMTB/Turbo (normal rides in Tour+). My TQ equipped Exe on the other hand takes a LOT of effort and HR to climb similar trails.
The reason I wanted to try a SX is the 600w available at higher cadence (vs the 300w max of the TQ) and the extra 5nm over the TQ.
First thoughts, it climbs like 80-85% of the CX, its very impressive for a 55nm motor. It is noisey IMO when pushing hard climbing and it exhibits the same Gen 4 CX rattle on the downs. There was a nice improvement from Tour+ to EMTB when climbing and even though I pushed the motor as hard as it could go it was more powerful than the TQ easily.
Its very impressive what Bosch has done with the motor, I can't give you a range estimation but a few of the dealers doing the demo said 30km with 800-900m elevation was possible on a full charge.
In the 50/60nm area If motor noise (whine/rattles) bother you then a TQ is probably more up your alley (TQ is silent up and down). But if your after an almost full fat in a much lighter proposition then the Bosch SX is great.
Overall I'd take marks off for Noise/Rattle (similar to my CX) but only minor IMO so 8.5/10. If a frame and spec comes along that I like under 20kg then I could be very tempted.
Cheers
Today I test rode a Merida One Sixty SL with the Bosch SX and 400wh battery. I didn't want to buy one but they were the only dealer who would do demo rides in my area. Before I go to much further I own both a Gen 4 CX and a TQ HPR50 equipped bikes.
I did a 6km ride with 200m elevation, one ride was enough for me to form an opinion. Now I love my CX equipped Rail it feels as though it can climb anything and when the going gets really steep its nice to know you have EMTB/Turbo (normal rides in Tour+). My TQ equipped Exe on the other hand takes a LOT of effort and HR to climb similar trails.
The reason I wanted to try a SX is the 600w available at higher cadence (vs the 300w max of the TQ) and the extra 5nm over the TQ.
First thoughts, it climbs like 80-85% of the CX, its very impressive for a 55nm motor. It is noisey IMO when pushing hard climbing and it exhibits the same Gen 4 CX rattle on the downs. There was a nice improvement from Tour+ to EMTB when climbing and even though I pushed the motor as hard as it could go it was more powerful than the TQ easily.
Its very impressive what Bosch has done with the motor, I can't give you a range estimation but a few of the dealers doing the demo said 30km with 800-900m elevation was possible on a full charge.
In the 50/60nm area If motor noise (whine/rattles) bother you then a TQ is probably more up your alley (TQ is silent up and down). But if your after an almost full fat in a much lighter proposition then the Bosch SX is great.
Overall I'd take marks off for Noise/Rattle (similar to my CX) but only minor IMO so 8.5/10. If a frame and spec comes along that I like under 20kg then I could be very tempted.
Cheers
Last edited:
