Motus Tour is Best Low-Step Electric Bike

The Raleigh New Motus Tour Plus is a good quality town, leisure and commuting bike that’s easy to use and to look after

The Raleigh New Motus Tour Plus (hub gear option) is the kind of e-bike anyone can easily ride any time, any day of the week in any weather for most cycling purposes.

That’s thanks to a plethora of easy to use features and a fully loaded configuration that includes powerful lights, rack, chainguard and kickstand. With a high-quality Bosch motor system, a step through frame and a sensible price it’s a fine choice for anyone looking for an fuss-free e-bike for riding around town.

Raleigh New Motus Tour Plus review: What do you get for the money?

The New Motus Tour Plus is a big, strong e-bike; at 27.4kg on my scales it’s certainly one of the heavier ones out there. So, if you want an e-bike you can easily lift up stairs this definitely isn’t for you.

However, if you’re just going to be getting on and riding it, this shouldn’t matter as it’s so easy to get on with. Additionally, the smooth and powerful Bosch mid-drive motor, coupled with plenty of gears, means it’s easy to get up hills despite the heft.

The New Motus Tour Plus comes in four frame sizes. I tested the next to smallest and I am 5ft 8in so there should be a size for most riders. Step-through frames are regarded by some as just for women; however, anyone who can’t swing a leg over a diamond frame, or who just finds it difficult or inconvenient, will love the ease of getting on and off the New Motus.

The ‘sit up and beg’ riding position is great for gliding along in safety and observing what’s happening around you, so riders who just want to get from A to B comfortably will surely appreciate it. There’s also an adjustable stem that lets the rider swing the handlebars towards or away from them to find just the right riding position. Large 29in wheels and Suntour Nex front suspension forks also mean this is an e-bike designed for comfort and stability.

The mid-drive (aka crank drive) motor system used on the bike is from market leader Bosch. These motors are high quality yet have a reputation for being simple and easy to use: you just pedal and the electric assist flows smoothly and in response to the pressure you put on the pedals (so-called torque sensing), up to the legal assisted max speed of around 16mph.

The Bosch Purion handlebar display is also simplicity itself, displaying essential info like speed, battery capacity and odometer, and has large, easy to use power-level buttons.