A Month On The Electric Bulls Cross E8 Wave

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It’s been over a month since I started test riding the Bulls Cross E8 Wave electric bicycle (e-bike), and what a pleasure it has been. This e-bike is a solid, fast, urban commuter. While it is on the pricey side, you get a well thought out e-bike you can ride to work without breaking a sweat. As with anything in life, you get what you pay for.

Bulls Cross E8 Wave — A Solid Performer

Before we get to the test ride, the white elephant in the room is the price. Bulls bikes are not known for being cheap, and much like a Mercedes or Volvo, you pay for what you get. And that means a well designed e-bike that does the job well, without hiccups.

Sub-$3,000 e-bikes are not sub-par, but plunking down $3,199 for the Bulls Cross E8 Wave means you can expect a lot more.

Our Bull E8 Wave model is technically a pedal-assist class 1. Here are more specs:

Frame	7005 Aluminium
Frame Size	45/50 cm
Fork	SR Suntour NEX-E25 OS 63mm
Drive Train	Bosch Active Line Plus (250w)
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Alivio RD-T4000SGS
Shifters	Shimano SL-M310, 8-speed
Crankset	Lasco 38T
Chain	KMC X8
Cassette	Shimano Deore CS-HG50, 10-speed, 11-36T
Brakes	Shimano BR-M315/SM-RT54, hydraulic disc brakes, 180/160mm
Handlebar	BULLS
Stem	BULLS
Seat Post	BULLS
Saddle	Selle Royal
Rims	BULL
Wheel Size	700C
Tires	CST 40-622
Pedals	Wellgo
Battery	Bosch Powerpack 36V/13.4Ah/500Wh
Modes	Off, Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo
Charging Time	approx. 4.5hrs to 100%
Battery Range	134 miles (single charge at the optimal condition)
Max. Speed	20mph

The bike actually has a walk setting that helps you walk next to the bike without pushing it. This can come in handy when going uphill or if you are carrying something heavy and need to walk. To activate it, you put it in any assist mode except off, press the walk button at the bottom of the display, and then press and hold the + button. It’s a cool feature I wasn’t aware of.

Bulls says we can get a 134-mile range from the Bulls Cross E8 Wave. I assume that can be achieved in Eco mode, but why hypermile this e-bike when you can have fun with the other modes? I have more fun dashing here and there, but suppose it might come in handy for those who have to travel very far on a charge or simply can’t recharge every day. In this case, the E8’s battery has enough juice to last a few days.

Shifting and braking cables are internally routed for better protection and give the bike a cleaner look. It has integrated lights and sports reflective tires as well.

The Cross E8 Wave weighs in at 56.4 lb (25.58 kg), perfect for commuting back and forth to work with speeds up to 20 mph (32 km/h).

The Bulls Cross E8 Wave’s Feel & Ride

It took little to no time getting the feel of the E8 Wave. It’s a fast and zippy commuter at ease on paved roads. It does what it’s meant to do very well. The Bosch motor delivers the right amount of torque in a smooth, linear way.

I was afraid the rear battery position would put a lot of weight on the back of this bike. That’s normally a trade-off for these types of frames, where the only place for the battery is above the rear wheel. But Bulls engineered the Cross E8 Wave well enough that it doesn’t feel as if the battery tugs at each corner. The other fear I had was that the E8 Wave frame wouldn’t be as stiff as a diamond frame but it felt fairly tight with a comfortable upright seating position.

The three riding modes are intuitive enough to use without studying the E8’s manual. The switching between modes is not very quick and I found myself wanting quicker mode change at a green light or to get you out of potential harm’s way. I’m still a fan of throttles as a quick turbo boost. I’m really nitpicking here.

The Bosch charger comes with its unique proprietary connector, which is tricky to plug in while in dimly light places. You need a light to see where the prongs need to be inserted. After a while, I developed an intuitive feel and could do it in the dark, but this is one of those cases where I wish for standardization.

Affordability is a question of budget. For its intended audience, the E8 Wave is a good bang for your buck. Considering Bulls was an early adopter of the Bosch electric motor, the e-bike is a good example of great integration, smooth functioning, and effective development.

If that wasn’t enough of a review, you can read more about the bike on the excellent Electric Bike Review website.

The 2018/2019 price is above the company’s older city e-bikes, but Bull upgraded the E8 Wave electric motor, power, and battery while keeping weight down. Overall, the Bull E8 Wave is a perfect example of “you pay for what you get.” Stay tuned for our next iZip and Bulls test rides.