Test Bulls Six50 EVO 1 CX: Sporty tours, moderate off-road rides or everyday use: All of this is possible with the affordable e-hardtail from Bulls. Upgraded with practical accessories, the bike is a hot tip for anyone looking for a versatile electric mountain bike.
It is not uncommon for you to come across prices of around 3.000 euros and more when looking around for a high-quality e-mountain bike with tried-and-tested components. The Bulls SIX50 EVO 1 CX makes you curious: the Cologne-based company is asking 2.599 euros for the bright blue bike - a slim price if you take a closer look at the bike. The first thing that catches the eye is the drive: Bosch Performance CX, the manufacturer's most powerful unit and synonymous with a lot of torque uphill and when starting off as well as harmonious driving characteristics. In addition, the Bulls has a 500-watt-hour battery, while the smaller 400-watt-hour battery is often installed in the lower price ranges. So the Bulls is up to date and not a discontinued model. The battery placed in the frame makes it even more attractive, which is another special feature given the low price – many manufacturers still mount the battery from above onto the down tube, which at the same time restricts the space in the frame triangle.
What the Bulls doesn't have is a display with a wide range of functions à la Bosch Nyon; instead, the small control unit with the display of speed, distance and battery status is located on the left of the handlebars. Which is quite sufficient, especially since most sporty drivers are already on the road with a GPS device, which they use to navigate, record their tour and determine driving data.
Of course, a solid aluminum frame is used in this price range, the tubes of which are connected with clean, bulging weld beads. Threaded eyelets can be found on the slim rear end, which allow mounting a rack or mudguard; After all, many MTBs are used as robust, reliable everyday bikes. The MonkeyLink lights, which are clicked into special slots and draw their energy from the drive battery, also point in this direction. The practical lamps are elegantly integrated into the overall picture, and the fact that they never have to be charged is extremely practical: if you know that you will come into the twilight, you simply take them with you or slide them into the securely latching magnetic closure and you will too still have light when the battery power is no longer sufficient for the motor.
The drinking bottle adapter on the down tube also comes from MonkeyLink. Also "magnetically guided and mechanically locked", the special bottle can be attached here as well as a practical universal holder.
The suspension fork could be a bit short for extreme off-road use; if you think about it, its 100 mm is enough for pretty much any normal tour over dirt roads and rooty trails. The balanced seating position with the front not too high doesn't qualify the hardtail as a downhill bike anyway; it is at home on mixed terrain without extreme difficulties, where it is a lot of fun thanks to the short stem and agile steering. At high speeds, it is noticeable that the front is rather soft – so it is better to activate the Tektro levers in good time, which, together with the hydraulic brake calipers, ensure strong deceleration.
Typically for Bosch, only one sprocket is used at the front, but this is completely sufficient on the E-MTB. With 11-36, the nine-speed cassette offers a wide range; Of course, the gradation cannot be particularly narrow. Of course, this is not a problem for the intended purpose. The tires of the Bulls own brand Styx also rely on all-round function instead of specialization. The tires roll well on asphalt; the cornering grip is high and with slightly lower air pressure, the traction should be top in pretty much all conditions.
A concession to the low price is the use of quick-release axles on both wheels instead of the thru axles that are widely used today. The resulting lower rigidity when braking is particularly noticeable on the fork - at least if you know how a thru-axle "feels". But ultimately this is not a big problem either and is more likely to be noticed by experts.
On the other hand, the fresh paintwork of the SIX50 EVO 1 CX, which underlines the lines of the Intube frame with discreet elegance, is noticeably positive. There's no question that this Bulls doesn't look like a special offer - and since it's also convincing in terms of equipment and performance, you don't have to pay the low price with functional restrictions.
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