The best electric city bikes of the moment
Decathlon is one of the leaders in the sale of affordable electric bikes. In order to guide you to make the right choice, we have made a selection of the best references.
The Decathlon brand has well understood the importance attributed to the electric bike, the law on energy transition and green growth of August 17, 2015 gives him reason, since it favors, among other things, the use of bicycles and accentuates the creation of new bike paths. We are interested today, in the electric bike Btwin Elops 920e to give you our opinion on this mid-range from Decathlon.
Discover the Elops electric range from Decathlon
It was important for us to present you the complete range proposed by Decathlon. This range of electric bike Decathlon is one of the most complete among the big brands of the sector.
Decathlon has been able to position itself in strength thanks to its range of Btwin bikes. Let’s not forget that thanks to Btwin, the group has known one of its biggest successes.
It is not uncommon today to come across a Btwin at a street crossing. For Decathlon, it was obvious to develop an electric version of the Btwin. Keeping the elegance of these bikes that we have known since the beginning.
Presentation of the Elops 920e
Elops 920e is a member of a large family of electric bikes Decathlon Btwin. At the same time, it is the result of some concessions made to the previous model, the Decathlon 940e.
It is exactly thanks to these concessions that Decathlon was able to reduce the price of this model and it is now sold for only 1500 euros. Equipped with a Brose central motor, this e-bike is powerful enough to allow you to pedal lightly.
This is a type of e-bike designed for commuting. As Decathlon claims, the e-bike’s frame is made of rigid and strong aluminum. With 28-inch wheels, it has disc brakes on the front wheel and a V-brake on the rear wheel.
The Shimano drivetrain offers 7 speeds that power the motor and a battery that sits right under the rear rack. This rear rack is welded to the frame so you don’t have to worry about it breaking down or coming loose.
As far as the exterior is concerned, the e-bike is equipped with a stand and integrated lighting, like all other Decathlon electric bikes. The Btwin Elops 920e is however quite heavy. The complete e-bike, with all its equipment, weighs about 25 kg.
Decathlon has launched two versions of the Elops 920e. The high frame version is available in green and the low frame version is available in white. Each version is available in two sizes (S/M and L/XL) so that all cyclists can fit and fit properly.
Technical specifications of the Elops 920e
Autonomy
With over 26 kg on the scale, the Elops 920 e is clearly not meant to be used without electric assistance. It is therefore essential to know how far the battery can take you.
On average, the 36 V / 11.6 Ah (417 Watts) battery can take you up to 55 km (35 miles) with the maximum assistance level. The promise is thus held since Decathlon had announced at least 50 km of autonomy on road.
Unlike the Elops 940e, it does not automatically switch to Eco mode on the last 10% of battery capacity. It is entirely possible to stay in maximum assist mode until the battery is depleted, but you have to be careful about how much power is left. So it’s best to keep a close eye on the battery meter before considering a ride in another neighborhood.
While the battery will go a good distance, it still takes nearly 6 hours to fully recharge once it is completely discharged. So make sure you know how long it takes to recharge.
In terms of comfort
Btwin Elops 920e’s frame and overall appearance is very similar to the 940e. This e-bike has the same large curved handlebars and aluminum frame for better grip and to support the rider’s posture. The front fender, however, seems too short to effectively protect the rider’s shoes.
The seat lacks softness and flexibility, which would be useful for long rides or on rough roads. Decathlon had planned to have a flexible aluminum seatpost to absorb vibrations, but what is mounted on the e-bike is not quite the same as what was promised different.
However, with a little adjustment of the brakes, handlebars and seat, the bike becomes quite comfortable. Thanks to the long curved handlebars that keep the arms very close to the body and the back straight.
Cyclists will certainly prefer the sporty reclining seating position, but if you’re looking for a more relaxed ride, it’s hard to fault the choice made by Decathlon.
There are no traps in the construction of the e-bike. The finishes are smooth. You can still see the large battery under the rack and the motor placed under the pedals. The general style of this bike deserves to be accepted and can already be considered a classic.
Ergonomics
The Decathlon Elops 920e has a sleek profile and looks quite stylish for a city bike, in our opinion. However, its weight is not at all the same as its lighter counterpart. In total, the e-bike weighs about 26 kg. And this can become a problem if you don’t have an elevator and have to climb the stairs with your e-bike every night.
The 28-inch wheels are wrapped in CST (Chen Shin Tire) tires, one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world. There’s no catch. These tires provide a comfortable ride with sufficient grip, even on wet roads.
The good news is that the rubber of the pedals of the Elops 920 e is not the same as that of the 940e. This gives the rider a good grip on the pedals, even in the rain. The feet have a good grip on the pedals, thanks to the little rubber teeth all around.
The front suspension fork absorbs a certain amount of shock while riding, but poorly paved or rough roads are still felt, on every ride.
Equipment
The luggage rack is well welded to the frame and can hold up to 27 kg. So we can say that Decathlon has taken the right direction in terms of equipment. You can even find the tensioners to secure the load.
The rear rack is very similar to that of other Decathlon models. It keeps the e-bike in a very stable position as long as you don’t put too much luggage on it. If you want to carry heavy bags or if you want to transport your child regularly, it might be better to put them in the center of the e-bike, not in the back.
The lights are well integrated into the frame and give the e-bike a stylish look. But this also means that they can’t be changed very easily in case of damage or if the bulb goes out.
The front light has an intensity of 20 lux, enough to see the roads in residential areas at night. But if you drive in the countryside or on roads without lighting, 20 lux is not much and will not be enough.
The Btwin Elops 920e on the road again
On paper, the road characteristics of this decathlon model are quite satisfactory. The cycle manufacturer promises a maximum torque of 70 Nm and an efficient Brose motor that exceeds the power of the motor of the 500e model and even the Shimano motor of the 940e model.
However, the Elops 920 e’s motor doesn’t send out as much power when you start pedaling, as we thought. Decathlon decided to distribute the motor’s power evenly so that the first few pedal strokes don’t push a rider forward, as some might expect.
The first stroke of torque arrives at the first pedaling effort while the second arrives at mid effort. This effect is quite surprising and allows you to quietly reach cruising speed in a few pedal strokes. The power of the central engine, on the whole, is quite standard.
Speeds and electric assistance
The e-bike easily reaches 27 km/h (16 mph) in mode 3 on a flat road. If you play around with the gear changes wisely, the motor also performs well on hills.
The Nexus 7 hub makes it very easy to choose between the 7 gears. However, you must stop pedaling briefly when you change gears, otherwise the gear will not change.
Even though the gear change only takes about a second, it’s best to be a little careful. Once you have a good grip, you can easily shift gears without having to worry about it any longer. You’ll never have to push hard with your legs again.
Mode 3 is clearly the best mode if you like to feel the power of the electric assist. Mode 2 is usually sufficient for pleasant, relaxed rides and allows you to reach 24-25 km/h (15-16 mph) without tiring too much.
As for mode 1 (Eco), it gives a good boost at the start, but the assistance decreases very quickly and forces you to pedal more if you want to exceed 20 km/h (12.5 mph). The electric assistance is cut off above 27 km/h (12.5 mph) and, unless you have good calves, it will be difficult to break 30 km/h (19 mph), even on flat roads with such a heavy e-bike.
A electric bike dedicated to the ride
While the Elops 920 e’s engine is more powerful on paper than the 940e’s, the ride is less dynamic. The Elops 920 e is clearly designed for casual, more relaxing rides, while the 940e is made for more dynamic rides. On the plus side, the Brose engine is quieter.
The most attentive cyclists will notice that the electric assistance cuts out briefly when changing gears. This is not surprising, since it is necessary to stop for a very short time at each gear change with the Nexus 7 motor.
We can still notice a small additional latency of the assistance compared to the 940e with the Shimano motor. This could be a bit disturbing for riders who expect a smoother and more dynamic pedaling.
The management of the electric assistance is very simple. Everything is controlled from the on-board computer located next to the left handle. A simple pressure on the buttons “+” and “-” modifies the level of electric assistance, while another button makes it possible to switch on the lights.
Small advanced functions can be discovered by long presses on some buttons (like the pedestrian mode which allows to push the e-bike to 6 km/h by long press on the “plus” button). The control screen is easy to use. You will quickly master it while riding.
Btwin Elops 920e: not so light
Overall, the riding experience is good, but being able to stop comfortably could have made riders happier, especially with a 26 kg bike.
In this respect, the Elops 920 e makes a few concessions compared to its big brother. Hydraulic disc brakes are replaced by a combo: mechanical disc brakes on the front wheel and V-brake pads on the rear wheel.
The combo works quite well together. The V-pads in the rear allow you to slow down quickly, while the disc brakes in the front offer enough bite to stop quickly.
At full speed, it takes just over 3 meters for the e-bike to come to a complete stop when braking on dry roads.
The only drawback is that the pads wear out quickly because it is a fairly heavy e-bike and it is likely to go faster, given the electric assistance.
Technical file of the Decathlon Elops 920e
- Brose central motor (Drive T Alu) 250W 70Nm
- Battery 36V/11,6Ah (capacity 418 Wh), 2,6 kg
- Control screen on the handlebar (LCD)
- 3 operating modes + 1 “walk” mode to walk beside your bike
- 50 and 90km according to your weight, your use, the difference in altitude…
- 2 sizes available M – L
- Telescopic fork (with suspensions) with unique adjustment
- Available in low frame and high frame versions
- Shimano Nexus 7 speed transmission
- 28 inch wheels
- 20 lux LED lighting integrated into the frame
- Average weight of 25.2kg, max load 125kg
- 100% 6061 aluminum frame
The advantages of the Decathlon Elops 920e
- Comfortable rides
- Customized speed system for city travel
- Good autonomy
- Responsive and efficient brakes
- The Nexus 7 is ideal for efficient gear changes
- Good tire grip
… the disadvantages
- Motor does not run at full power
- Long recharge time
- Limited shock absorption
To conclude
The Elops 920 e borrows a lot from its big brother (940e). Only a few small concessions have been made, which do not detract too much from the pleasure of riding a good e-bike. This model is a little less sporty than the 940, but it is perfectly suitable for city trips and commuting.
Its good autonomy offers some peace of mind, while the electric assistance makes it easy to reach a pleasant cruising speed. For €1500, Decathlon offers a convincing electric bike that will be perfect for those looking for an unpretentious model that can handle various small and medium-sized urban trips.
