Smartmotion Pacer – the local hero
It’s great to see that we have some genuine local ebike businesses in lil’ol’ NZ, and I don’t mean importers, but actual innovators and designers. It’s a hard road in such a small market and with limited access to capital, not to mention being able to flick off a quick mil’ or so in pre-orders on Kickstarter based on some vague promise of endless energy. So kudos to Smartmotion for hanging in there and producing a standout bike in the Pacer (and its twin bro the Catalyst). I hope we continue to see success and good things from the team. From what I hear there is more to come both in ongoing improvements and new product.
The ‘team’ is mostly Anthony Clyde and Daryl Neal who between them have a long list of achievements in the electric vehicle business including the Ubco utility bike, Smartmotion and Lekkie (conversions).
Before the Pacer was launched alongside the Catalyst, all the prelaunch hype was around the Catalyst. I presume this is because MTB-style bikes outsell commuters many-fold in NZ, but I think the electric bike has changed that. I expect that the Pacer will ultimately come out as the hero bike. The local hero.
It’s a snazzy looker alright, and I found many people having a good hard stare while we were at the Britomart market in Auckland. At night it takes on a boy-racer look, with ‘neons’ under the downtube and red strip lighting on the rear rack. It is likely completely unnecessary, but it sure looks striking and separates it from other bland bikes. With sturdy custom rack and mudguards, it is a very nicely integrated bike – just what you need for commuting and errands. The other obvious differentiator is the full-colour screen integrated into the top tube, just like a Stromer ST2 – a >$10,000 bike. I prefer to look a bit further ahead so I like my display forward and central, but in the top tube it stays out of harm’s way and allows for a lot of information to be displayed.
Smartmotion’s branding is everywhere on the bike – bars, grips, stem, mudguard, wheels, cranks, motor, display, battery, keys, saddle, seatpost, frame (x 7), forks. It is a nice logo and styles the bike well. Only the tyres, pedals, brakes and derailleur have ‘other’ brands. Challenge…. The team have done a great job with the small details, even the manual is nice to look at. And that key fob, worthy of an expensive car…
The drive from the Dapu-sourced motor is powerful – it’s a good climber as rear hub bikes go – it is fast and has good range from a 522Wh (14.5Ah) battery. Expect around 40km at full speed, 60+ in moderate boost. The battery charge indicators are not all that useful as is the case with most bikes in this price range and less. It’s useful as a guide but you certainly can’t predict remaining range accurately, as you might on say a Bosch system.
In NZ/AU trim the bike runs a 36V system, in the USA with their higher power limits it runs 48V/500W so it’s a touch faster. Like most rear-hub designs, there is a bit of a buzz from the motor that fades into the back of your mind after a while.
The supplied charger is only 2A so the bike can take a while to charge. This is typically not an issue for most users, and if it is you could buy something like the Grin Satiator. You can charge on or off the bike. There is a charging port and USB above the display so you can also charge your smartphone, lights or POV camera.
While it shares most of the proven drive components with other Smartmotion bikes, the 27.5” wheel gives more top speed. In my testing, it ran at 38-40kph along the flat even with a bit of a head wind. My 27km commute time was within a few minutes of the fastest bikes I have ridden, which is to say not much difference. The important thing is less about absolute top speed, more about speed up hills and acceleration. Brakes were great – hydraulic Tektros. Nice feel, powerful and no squeal. The overall component spec is above average quality and works well. 10sp Shimano Deore shifting, low-profile Wellgo pedals. Nothing to dislike and lots to like.
The Pacer has a selectable torque sensor/ cadence sensor mode. I mostly rode in torque sensor which tends to allow you more control and hence leg speed, because you have to actually put in some power. So you also go a bit faster. Cadence mode is nice when you are grinding up a hill and don’t really feel like pedalling hard, or when you are riding in work clothes and don’t want to get hot and bothered. Pity it doesn’t have a throttle (the USA model does). I did find that the torque sensor was not as sensitive to change as some (mostly more expensive) bikes, so the uptake of power in full boost comes on strong and tends to stay that way almost regardless of pedal input.
Sizing is a bit of a problem currently – Smartmotion tell me they are working on an XL size to arrive in the next shipment. I found the L to be too small for my 6’2” and ElectricMeg found the S to be too big for her 5’1”. I had to use my own seatpost because the one supplied was too short for me. I didn’t much like the saddle either but that might have been related to the bike being too small overall. It does look nice though. Be sure to try the bike before you draw any conclusions on comfort. I also liked the grips – you can find a comfortable position that spreads the load and up steep hills I was able to grab the bull bars and crank like an MTB racer. The pedals offer good grip and are relatively narrow width-wise and depth-wise so are less likely to catch on the ground in a corner. Like.
Speaking of comfort, the Pacer has a rigid front fork. I wouldn’t want to ride this far on rough roads limiting its usefulness as a tourer but found it comfortable on tarmac and concrete paths. It’s important to get the tyre pressure right, which I figure is around 40PSI with the high-volume tyres. Too hard = uncomfortable. Too soft = pinch flat risk.
I did manage to get a pinch flat while running at 35PSI and hopping up a kerb. Fixing the puncture was a complete mission and not something you’d want to do out on the road. It isn’t a criticism of this bike but most rear drive bikes with Chinese motors. I’d advise taking it to a bike shop. While you are there, I’d advise getting a set of Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres because you never want another puncture ever ever again…
Retail price is $3599, $3349 for Mercury customers. You can get them in Orange and White, S and L. According to Twitter, White is the better looking, but you will have your own opinion. I like the Orange too.
Available from most ebike retailers, or check: http://www.electricbikes.co.nz/index.php/where-to-buy
https://www.smartmotionbikes.co.nz/
Buying an ebike is a big expense and you become dependent on it – having a dealer network that can support your bike with local spares and service is a major buying factor. It is something you should ask about, and seek proof on.
An omission on this bike is a frame lock – oddly the eCity has one – so you could buy one aftermarket (there are no mounting lugs but you can use cable ties) or invest in a good quality chain lock and/or D-Lock (ideally two secure forms of locking). Please don’t buy cable locks if you can help it, they are useless.
Who should buy this bike?
- Commuters – as long as you don’t want a step-through. It can go slowly or fast. Good range too.
- Errand-runners – great for the shops or market. You can carry heaps on the back between panniers and the flat wooden shelf.
Who should not buy it?
- Small riders (poss < 5’2”)
- Very tall riders (though XL on the way soon)
What other bikes should you consider?
- Pedego range (also supported by the Smartmotion business in NZ) especially if you prefer a cruiser style bike
- Smartmotion eCity/eUrban if price is a concern or you want a step-through
- Juiced Crosscurrent (a bit faster, has front suspension, racks/fenders/lights need to be added)
- Magnum UI5 – slightly slower and lower overall component spec but $1100 cheaper
- Smartmotion Catalyst if you want a suspension fork and aren’t worried about racks, mudguards, lights.
- Focus Aventura (mid drive) if a few dollars extra isn’t a concern, but it’s Euro-spec so speed limited unless you are willing to forgo warranty and dongle it
- Ezee Sprint/Torq (even more range, hub gears, step-thru and diamond frames)
Wow, looks great!
Hi, you have done a great job and work. I love your design and the work on the details when we created the
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Has anyone worked out how to change the speed setting? Its set to 40kmh but as its greyed out and so cannot be changed. Anyone managed to do this now or is it locked to NZ at this speed and can only done by direct hardware access.
About that torque/cadence sensor – it is a nightmare. I’ve had my bike 10 months, and its been in for electrical repair 4 times, 3 torque/cadence sensor related. The torque setting just cutting out completely or continually surging. I have a 45km round trip commute and love riding this bike when everything is working, but unfortunately I just don’t trust it anymore.
Jut how difficult is taking off the rear wheel? Just looks like a regular spindle rather than a quick release.
Agree with the tires those Kendra stocks are awful and cheap.
It’s easy enough to do, just a bit fiddly on the roadside and needing a big spanner rather than a QR or Allen Key.
I found it quite easy in the confines of my garage, but its a bit harder out in the field. The main issue I found was to ensure that you remembered which part of the nut assembly went where, also be aware that the paint will be removed around the nut and leave a white underbase assuming the red / orange bike.
I shredded my rear Kendra’s on tiverton road on glass, replaced with a puncture resistant tyre by Vittoria which has much better grip and handling.
thanks guys I’ll give them Kenda’s a go but will likely swap out to Schawlbe marathon pluses which I have on 2 regular bikes.
Evo have them in 27.5 x 1.50. On Kiwi roads they are the only things I found that are almost completely bomb-proof.
Off out to try the bike for the first time on a brief 20km pootle!
I’m going to resurrect this and ask whether anyone has any pannier bag advice for a smartmotion? Apparently the pannier is non-standard and ‘only’ fits the smartmotion panniers, which are only shower proof. I’m after waterproof and noticed other bikes with other pannier bag makes… anyone got any recommendations?
My 100% waterproof Ortlieb panniers fit perfectly on a Pacer. They come with three different thickness spacers so can handle any tube size.
Fantastic thanks! Do you have a model number for the Ortliebm would like to make sure I’m getting the right ones.
Sorry I don’t. Suggest going into a shop. Electric bike hub in Auckland definitely has them (mine came from there). You could ask for the ones like Barry has 😁 There are ones with different fitment systems.
Evo chucked in a set of smart motion panniers due to delays in getting the bike, (good on them), they do have an extra cover which I’m assuming is to add to rain protect – they are quite tidy.
Ortilieb Classic panniers fit though on the rack I’ve just tried them.
I’ve got a pair of metro ones, I think v1 style. They fit fine on the pannier itself but they use a hook based approach to fix the bottom in place and if the bags are heavy they can pop out causes the entire bag to bounce around; obviously its still attached at the top. I’ll run this set until after the summer I suspect and then swtich to the newer versions which have a lower attachment similar to the top as that should stop it unpopping when going over speed bumps.
As it stands, I’ve now covered 2000Km on the bike commuting from Titirnagi to Wynyard most days; 40mins roughly door to door!
I think the big difference with the Catalyst vs the Pacer is the Catalyst has 2 front rings giving it much better hill climbing over the Pacer. I have tried steep hills on single front ring bikes with 10 speeds and for me, the low gear requires the rider to be working too hard for what e bikes are for. When you try an an e bike with multiple front rings, you may not want to ride a 10 speed unless your hills are very gentle. Gears do matter on 300 watt e bikes so the Pacer vs Catalyst decision is a no brainer.
Hi Barry, good review – just to say we add throttles all the time @ Bikes&Barbers for $49 -and we’d advise against the Schwalbe tyres …as of late half a dozen failing along seating edge on rim. It would be much better to fit Thornproof tubes ( slightly thicker ) and only a few dollars more. In terms of time and price for puncture on rear hub we charge the same as for any rear wheel -as it takes us no more time ….most days and with strong coffee. The 21ah version goes way past 120km on any setting -and is a fantastic excuse for a long trial ride 🙂 .
Colleague on a Catalyst had same pinch flat as I experienced (also thought he could hop a kerb) and had to call the sag wagon (his wife in a car). Something to consider – getting a flat is not an uncommon experience on a bike. This is not aimed at the Smartmotions, but any rear hub ebike.
The longest ride I have done is 60kms power level 3, torque setting. Mainly flat cycle trails around Hawkes Bay. Finished with 4 bars showing so maybe 80 or 85kms possible. Thanks for the tyre pressure tip.
Only down point I have is that my right heel catches the frame unless I kick my foot out. May need to apply some scuff protection. All the same it’s a great bike.