Test / e-bike: With the BH AtomS SUV Pro S, we tested an extremely high-quality SUV e-bike that impresses with a powerful motor, large battery and high-quality components.
The increasingly popular SUV e-bikes are blurring the boundaries between classic trekking bikes and off-road mountain bikes. Mudguards, luggage racks and a lighting system on the one hand, off-road tires, suspension forks and sporty components on the other - these bikes come very close to the proverbial "jack of all trades".
For the Spaniards from BH, SUVs are by no means new territory; with the Cross Pro models you already have such e-bikes in the program (for testing) - so why the new AtomS SUV now? The answer to this is quite simple - whereas the previous BH SUV e-bikes were conceived from the MTB perspective, i.e. an off-road bike with a good dose of everyday usability, the AtomS SUV goes the opposite way. Here you give a classic everyday bike with a step-through frame a good deal of off-road capability.
The frame of the BH AtomS SUV is completely new for this season: At the heart of the aluminum low step-through bike is a Brose Drive S Mag motor, which is one of the most powerful motors ever with a maximum torque of 90 Nm. As with other Brose e-bikes, BH has also decided to rotate the motor by 90°, which saves important centimeters in the already narrow area around the bottom bracket. The pleasantly slim down tube houses a large and easily removable battery with 720 Wh - this combination promises long ranges, which also enable extended tours without a charging option. But that's not all of the drive highlights - another one is on the handlebars. For us, the in-house color display is one of the best that you can currently get on an e-bike. It sits visually inconspicuous, but is very visible next to the stem, and is so bright that it remains easy to read even in direct midday sun.
Equipment BH AtomS SUV Pro S
frame | City Wave Alloy |
suspension fork | SR Suntour XCR34 100mm |
Power Type | Brose Drive S Mag |
Battery | 720 Wh |
Wheels | Shimano hubs / Alexrims EXR25 rims |
Tubes | Schwalbe Smart Sam 2,35" |
derailleur | Shimano XT M8100 |
Gear levers | Shimano XT M8100 |
Crank | FSA 38t |
Front derailleur | ohne |
Brake | Shimano XT M8120 203/203mm |
Seat post | Alloy |
Saddle | Sell the royal look in basic comfort |
Stem | BH |
Links | BH MTB Alloy 720mm |
However, it would be doing the BH AtomS SUV Pro S an injustice to reduce it only to its drive, because the other installed components are all of high quality and result in a convincing overall picture: It starts with the gears, where you can use the current 12-speed Shimano XT installed an excellent group. Fast, crisp gear shifts and a generous bandwidth of 510% are a pleasure in every area of use, whether on the way to the shops or on an extensive tour. Matching disc brakes from Shimano's XT series are also available. It's nice that BH uses the powerful 4-piston variant at the front and rear and even combines it with large 203 mm discs. Such a braking system would also look good on a full-throttle mountain bike and offers more than enough reserves, even if the descent is a little longer.
The XCR34 suspension fork from Suntour can be adjusted to the rider's weight by means of air pressure and, together with the very good Schwalbe Smart Sam tires, provides plenty of potential for unpaved paths. Of course, that doesn't make the bike a trail bike, but it irons away a few roots, stones or potholes on the bike path with a smile. However, so that the AtomS SUV also cuts a good figure on asphalt, the fork can be locked if desired and the tires roll pleasantly quietly thanks to their continuous center strip.
The bike can also convince in the B-score: the high-quality mudguards come from Wingee, the lighting system from Busch & Müller. And very important for such a bike: With a permissible total weight of a whopping 165 kg, the payload is pleasingly high. A small drop of bitterness are the missing eyelets for a bottle holder.
When it comes to handling, the new SUV e-bike is confident and can certainly inspire. There is the convincing drive system from Brose: Quiet and natural, but with enormous amounts of power and lively acceleration if desired. Thanks to the large battery, you don't always have to keep an eye on the charge level display - although this, like all other data on the BH display, is easy to read. As expected, the built-in components do not show any weaknesses - it is rare that a manufacturer does not afford the smallest slip-up, very nice! The seating position is comfortable and upright, and thanks to the adjustable stem, it can also be adapted to your own preferences to a certain extent, which is a good thing given that there are "only" two frame sizes.
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