Test: The Bulls E-Core Di2 FS 27,5+ is a powerful 150mm E-Fully, which, with its overall more comfort-oriented equipment, is primarily aimed at touring riders who also have enough reserves for difficult terrain under their buttocks want to have. A highlight is undoubtedly the harmonious interaction between Shimano drive and Di2 circuit.
Bulls E-Core Di2 FS 27,5+: Frame and drivetrain
The key data of the Bulls E-Core FS frame are promising and give hope for a powerful, modern E-MTB: You get 150mm of spring travel at the front and rear, wide and high-traction plus tires and the new Shimano E-8000 drive. So the ingredients are right! The E-Core platform from Bulls consistently relies on the motor and drive from Japan, while the E-Stream models have a Brose drive. All E-MTBs have an aluminum frame and are available in numerous equipment variants. With the E-Core Di2 FS 27,5+ that we tested, as the name suggests, you trust the wide plus tires with a width of 2,8″, which are particularly popular with E-MTBs. 3″ tires should just about fit into the rear triangle, but if it gets muddy, they should rub against the seatstays.
The system integration of the Shimano drive is really successful: not only is the 500Wh battery well hidden in the down tube, but the compact motor itself is hardly noticeable at first glance. Especially in view of the already voluminous frame tubes and the wide tires, it is hardly noticeable that the Bulls is an E-MTB. This extremely successful integration continues to the cockpit: Here the Di2 display of the gearshift also functions as an indicator for the support level, which is regulated on the left side using the Firebolt trigger.
Bulls E-Core Di2 FS 27,5+: Features
frame | Bull's E-Core FS |
suspension fork | RockShox Yari RC |
Power Type | Shimano Steps E-8000 |
Battery | Shimano 500Wh |
Suspension shocks | Rock Shox Deluxe RT |
Wheels | Styx hubs / Bulls AS-35P rims |
Tire VR | Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2,8 Performance |
Tire HR | Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2,8 Performance |
derailleur | Shimano XT Di2 |
Gear levers | Shimano XT Di2 |
Crank | Shimano FC-E8050 |
Front derailleur | |
Brake | Magura MT5/MT4 |
Brake discs | Magura Storm 180 / 180mm |
Seat post | Magura Vyron 150mm |
Saddle | Bulls |
Stem | Bull's 75mm |
Links | Bull's 740mm |
A little more than €5.000 is due for the Bulls E-MTB - this puts you in the middle price segment for an E-Fully in this class and offers very convincing equipment. Of course, the electronic Di2 XT group from Shimano deserves a special mention here, which has great advantages, especially in combination with the E-8000 drive from the same company. A special coordination between the gearshift and the engine means that gear changes can also be made possible under load, since in this case the engine reduces power briefly and hardly noticeably. Other drives sometimes have major problems here.
The chassis is also convincing: The new RockShox Deluxe RT damper is in the rear, and the stiff all-round fork Yari is in the front. The brake system, which comes from Magura in southern Germany, has been thought through. While the necessary deceleration is provided on the front wheel with the powerful MT5 four-piston caliper, the two pistons of the MT4 caliper are sufficient on the rear wheel, which locks up quickly anyway. However, we find that the 180mm brake disc on the front wheel is a bit undersized on an E-MTB of this suspension travel class. Heavy riders in particular should consider swapping for a 203mm disc. The Vyron dropper post, which offers 150mm of travel and is controlled wirelessly by electronics, is also from Magura - this of course has the advantage that it is unrivaled easy to (dis)assemble. However, we had to learn on the trail that this technology also has its downsides – but more on that later.
The wheels are solid and consist of the in-house STYX hubs and robust 35mm wide aluminum rims from Bulls. The tires cause a bit of sniffing: Not only is the Rocket Ron used in the front and rear, which rolls easily but does not have a particularly good grip, but also in the cheap performance rubber compound, which quickly reaches its limits in the wet. The very soft ergo grips and the whopping 75mm long stem also don't quite match the otherwise well thought-out equipment.
Bulls E-Core Di2 FS 27,5+: On the trail
First of all, the seating position on the Bulls E-MTB takes a little getting used to: This is mainly due to the rather long stem for a bike with 150mm travel and at the same time to the relatively high front. Given the data on paper, we had expected a sporty all-mountain bike, but initially the E-Core Di2 FS 27,5+ feels more like a comfortable touring bike. As expected, the combination of Shimano's E-8000 drive and the Di2 gears is convincing: thanks to dynamic control, the Trail support mode of the motor conveys a very natural riding experience and the interaction with the electronic groupset is almost perfect. There really isn't much to complain about here.
The powerful motor also pushes the Bulls bike up steep ramps, but here we sometimes have a hard time keeping the fast-rising front wheel on the ground. This is a bit surprising given the rather long chain stays, but it could have its origin in the high front end. However, once you get used to it and shift your weight in good time, you can also conquer nasty steep steps.
On the descent, the E-Core then shows two faces: The chassis was able to completely convince us. The rear end provides sufficient feedback, is not too plush, but is still comfortable. The fork can't quite keep up here, but still delivers a performance that is more than sufficient for most riders. However, the unfavorable, front-heavy seating position was less convincing, although this could be counteracted with a shorter stem and wider handlebars. Even the very soft grips didn't offer as much grip as we would have liked in one hairy situation or another. The same applies to the tyres: the favorable rubber compound and the thinly profiled front tire are undersized for a bike in the class of the E-Core. The Vyron dropper post did a decent job, but the delay in activating the handlebar lever until the post reacts makes it almost impossible to react quickly to the terrain. On the other hand, the brakes were positive and the 180mm disc at the front didn't cause us any problems either.
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