The Raleigh Trace is a fully-featured e-bike that would slot into many people’s idea of what an e-bike should be. With a throttle, pedal assistance, a rack and fenders — it ticks all the boxes for what we expect from that kind of bike. But this isn’t your average city commuter or country road cruiser. The Trace is the first electric model to enter production by Raleigh, an iconic British brand founded in 1890. And it has one feature that sets it apart from every other e-bike on the market.
What You Need to Know About the Raleigh Trace
Every e-bike out there uses some kind of electric motor, but not all of the motors are created equal. The Trace’s motor is very different from a standard e-bike motor, and it’s what makes it one of the best e-bikes on the market. The Trace’s motor is an efficient, low-maintenance, high-torque “squirrel cage” hub motor. This kind of motor is commonly used in electric scooters, but it hasn’t been used in ebikes until now. The Trace uses this high-torque motor to achieve a smooth, seamless pedal-assist experience.
How It Works
The Raleigh Trace is a Class 3 e-bike, which means that the motor puts out a maximum of 500 watts. The battery is a 48 volt 10 amp-hour unit that can be charged in 2.5 hours. The Trace’s rear hub motor is connected to a mechanical crankset, and the amount of power transmitted to the cranks is controlled with a thumb switch on the left handlebar. The pedals are connected to the motor with a belt drive and a chain. This is an interesting setup, but what is even more interesting is that the crank itself is a sort of clutch mechanism. The crank is driven by the belt and engages the motor when you pull the pedal backwards. When you push the pedal forward, the clutch disengages the motor and the pedals are driven by the chain. This design is what allows the Trace to seamlessly switch between pedal-assist and throttle mode.
The Good
The Trace’s high-torque hub motor is what makes this e-bike stand out from all the rest. The super-smooth pedal-assist and smooth transition between modes make it a great bike for city riding and long-distance touring. In pedal-assist mode, the motor provides a steady and smooth amount of power, and you can easily override it and push the pedals yourself when you need to. In throttle mode, the motor provides a burst of power to get you moving or climb a hill, and then it disengages. If you’re worried about the motor overheating, don’t be. The Trace’s hub motor is well-suited for hot and humid climates, and Raleigh has a two-year warranty on it.
The Bad
The Trace’s mode selection is not as seamless as it could be. When you switch from pedal-assist to throttle mode, the motor cuts out and then restarts. This is a bit more noticeable when switching from throttle to pedal assist since the motor will have to work harder to achieve the same speed as the pedals. There is also no way to override the pedal-assist with a throttle. This means that if you have the motor off when you start pedaling, it won’t turn on.
Who’s it for?
The Raleigh Trace is for people who want a full-featured e-bike with great build quality and lots of innovative features. It’s a great choice for commuters, touring cyclists, or anyone who is looking for a high-performance e-bike. The Trace will appeal to people who want a simple and intuitive e-bike that they can use right out of the box. You can safely and easily switch between pedal-assist and throttle mode without having to adjust any settings on the bike. The strong, integrated front rack and fenders build in functionality that you don’t see on a lot of other bikes.
Verdict
The Raleigh Trace is a great all-around e-bike that offers the best combination of features on the market. It has great range, a high-torque hub motor, and it has a smooth and seamless control system that lets you switch between modes with just a button. The Trace’s only real drawback is its price. At $2,656 USD, it’s one of the more expensive e-bikes out there, but if you want the best, sometimes you have to pay for it. The Trace has all the features that you’re looking for in an e-bike. It has a powerful and reliable motor, smooth and seamless pedal-assist, a sturdy and well-designed frame, and a high-quality battery with a quick charge time.
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