Test: The Cortina E-Octa is a step-through e-bike with a Bafang M400 motor, which is intended for city use or for flat paths on rivers. The Bafang mid-motor makes it easy and comfortable to get on and off, and the motor works with rotation sensors and is intended to ensure a natural driving experience. You can read here how the Cortina E-Octa performed in the test.
Cortina's search for a modern, trendy bike led back to the roots, to the bike as it used to be. What immediately caught the eye of the Cortina designers were the original robust transport bikes from the early 20th century. Stable city bikes that were equipped with a luggage rack at the front and rear. In 2006 the first Cortina collection of city bikes was presented in the Netherlands. They are now selling more and more e-bikes.
Cortina E-Octa: Frame / Geometry
The stylish frame of the Cortina E-Octa is very angular on the main frame. The tube shapes on the rear end, on the other hand, are designed to be round or slightly oval. The luggage rack also offers space for the battery. The mid-engine is integrated into the frame and placed as low as possible to enable men and women to get on and off comfortably. The seating position of the Cortina E-Octa is very upright and thus ensures relaxed travel or cruising on the road.
Cortina E-Octa: motor / battery
The Cortina E-Octa is equipped with the Bafang M400 system. This is an intelligent, maintenance-free system with minimal risk of failure. A force sensor and a rotation sensor are built into the motor of the Bafang M400 system. This combination of sensors calculates how much assistance is needed and ensures a natural driving experience. The battery fits between the luggage rack and the fender. This makes it quick and easy to charge and remove. Optically, there are certainly more elegant solutions. The weight distribution is also not quite optimal with the heavy battery at the rear.
https://www.velomotion.de/2018/08/bafang-e-mobilitaet-aus-china-in-die-welt/
The Bafang M400 motor is relatively flat, but takes up a little more space on the side. The battery is available in three different sizes. The smallest battery has 340 Wh and promises a range of 30-140 kilometers. The middle one has 450 Wh and promises a range of 40-160 kilometers, but costs 150 euros more. The 750 Wh battery and thus the largest in the selection promises a range of 70-250 kilometers. Here the customer has to accept a surcharge of 300 euros. When it comes to range information, practical values should be somewhere in the middle of Bafang’s information.
The Bafang motor's display is very large and easy to read, but is not too bulky as it is very flat. Daily kilometers, total kilometers, speed, battery charge status and the clock can be read here.
The controls are well done, the buttons are easy to reach and nestle against the ergonomic handlebars. The pressure point is comfortably defined without being stiff. The Bafang M400 motor offers five support levels. The transitions are hardly noticeable.
Cortina E Octa: Equipment
The Schwalbe Energizer Plus, which was specially developed for e-bikes, has extra-thick puncture protection and a fairly potent trekking profile that should also do well on gravel. The fender is made of aluminum, but could do with a little more length. The Axa Blueline lighting system is connected to the battery and does not require an additional dynamo.
It is shifted with a Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gear. The chain is well packed in a closed chain box. This keeps pants etc. nice and clean while driving. In addition, the chain and gears are more or less spared from external weather influences. An Axa wheel rim lock and a bell ensure safety - whether for the driver or the bike. The handlebars of the Cortina E-Octa are ergonomically shaped and the stem can be adjusted to the rider's needs. The also ergonomic Herrmans DD36 handles round off the cockpit.
In the seating area, just as much emphasis is placed on a comfortable and cushioning seating position in order to protect the back as much as possible. The Selle Royal Essenza Relaxed saddle already has a light suspension integrated. In addition, a spring support is also installed - full chapel in terms of comfort. The Shimano brakes could use a little more power because of the higher speeds and the overall weight. The Zoom steel spring fork offers plenty of spring travel, but feels a bit wooden – but it reliably irons out slight bumps.
Cortina E Octa: In action
After the first fitting of the Cortina E-Octa, the first thing you noticed was the pleasantly upright sitting position. The handlebars and stem can be quickly and easily adjusted to the rider's needs with an Allen key. The saddle and the ergonomic handles offer a feel-good factor. A bell and a sufficient lighting system, which is controlled by the battery, provide security in the big city. A side stand and an integrated frame lock are part of the equipment for 2.299 euros. The slightly wider Schwalbe tires proved themselves during the test.
The battery can be easily removed and charged. The display is clear and large and can be read clearly - even in direct sunlight. The Bafang M400 motor offers five support levels. This offers a natural driving experience, the change between the five support levels is hardly noticeable and the switch-off at 25km/h is nice and gentle. The background noise is okay - audible, but little more than a slight whirring can be heard from the engine. However, it would be nice to have a little more power, but if you go up a hill, you will miss some performance and have to pedal a little harder.
If it then goes downhill again, the Cortina E-Octa sometimes gets a little restless and tends to wobble. The frame loses stiffness due to the low step-through – but that is a problem with the frame shape and the E-Octa is certainly not the only bike with such problems. In practice, however, this should hardly play a role for most drivers, because the fluttering is only really noticeable above 30 km/h and when is such a wheel already moved in such speed ranges? The situation is similar with the Shimano brakes, which are more than sufficient for everyday urban use. The Shimano Nexus 8-speed gear system is pleasingly low-maintenance and also completely sufficient for city traffic. Looking at the overall package, we find the price of the Cortina E-Octa very reasonable.
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