Eunorau SPECTER-ST 2.0

The Eunorau SPECTER-ST 2.0 is a full-suspension electric mountain bike for riders who want mid-drive power on climbs and technical ground rather than a commuter that happens to go off pavement. It rolls on 27.5 x 3.0 inch tires over black alloy rims, which is enough footprint for loose dirt and gravel without the sluggishness of a full fat tire. The frame is 6061 aluminum alloy, the adjustable stem lets you change bar height and angle to suit your reach and riding position, and a Selle Royal saddle sits 32.3 to 34.3 inches off the ground. Complete weight is 88 lbs, total payload capacity is 300 lbs, and Eunorau recommends it for riders from 5'3" to 6'4".

The motor is a 48V 1000W Bafang M620 (also sold as the G510) mid-drive rated at 160 N.m of torque. Because it is torque-sensing rather than cadence-based, assistance tracks how hard you are actually pushing on the pedals, which is what you want on a steep pitch where a cadence sensor tends to surge and then fall away. There are five levels of pedal assist plus a thumb throttle, and top speed is 28 mph (45 km/h). The main battery is a 48V 17.5Ah LG lithium-ion pack, and a second 48V 15Ah or 17Ah battery can be added; Eunorau's 80 mile range figure is for a 17Ah main pack running alongside a 17Ah second battery. The 2.0A smart charger takes five to eight hours.

Suspension is a 140 mm travel Eunorau fork with compression adjustment and a lockout, paired with a DNM AO-38RC 165 mm rear shock, so you can firm the front up for road sections and open it back up on the descent. The drivetrain is a SRAM NX 1x11 setup with an 11-42T cassette and a 40T Bafang chainring behind an aluminum bash guard that protects the teeth and helps keep the chain seated over rough ground. Four-piston hydraulic brakes on 180 mm rotors handle the weight, and the levers carry a motor cutoff switch. The Bafang DPC18 color TFT display is readable in direct sun and tilts to your sightline, showing speed, battery state, range, odometer and assist level, and the bike comes with an LED headlight, a taillight, nylon pedals with reflectors and a tool kit.

One point to settle before you ride. This bike's 1000W motor is above the 750W ceiling in the U.S. federal definition of a low-speed electric bicycle, and that definition is only a starting point, since classification is decided state by state. Depending on where you are, a bike at this power level and speed may be treated as an electric bicycle, as a moped, or as a motor vehicle, and that can bring registration, licensing or insurance requirements with it, or restrict it to private land. Checking your state and local law, and the posted rules of the specific roads, bike paths and trails you plan to use, is your responsibility as the rider.