£4,000 Urban mountain machine that’s ready for anything
Weight 26.54kg (L) Frame E5 Aluminium with RockShox 190mm rear shock Fork Rockshox, 130mm travel Gears SRAM SX Eagle 12-speed (38t, 11-50t) Brakes hydraulic disc 180mm/200mm rotors Wheels Roval Traverse (front 29in, rear 27.5in ) Motor system Specialized 2.0E 50Nm 250W mid-motor, 530Wh battery, Mastermind TCD display/’bar remote Finishing kit TranzX dropper post 200mm, Specialized Bridge Sport saddle, Trail 6061 alloy bar, Stealth stem, Ground Control Grid T7 27.5” x 2.35” tyres, lights, bell, fenders, pannier rack, kickstand, lock
The Tero X sits in Specialized’s ‘Active’ and ‘Mountain’ ebike ranges as it’s a versatile machine for commuting, leisure trekking off-road and even a little MTB riding.
The compact, low-slung frame with dropper post helps with getting on and off, and manoeuvring the bike on tricky terrain. It’s a full-suspension design with a clever Rock Shox Deluxe R shock absorber to smooth its 120mm of travel at the rear, and adjustable rebound (how fast the shock returns to its full extension). Up front, there’s a Rock Shox Recon SL 130mm-travel fork, to soak up bumps. The X 4.0is the cheapest in the range: the 5.0 and 6.0 have a larger battery.
On larger models, it uses a 29” wheel at the front and a 650b (27.5”) wheel at the back for a shorter rear end to liven up handling and help you manoeuvre on tricky ground.
The drivetrain combines SRAM’s SX Eagle shifter pod and rear derailleur with a Praxis E30 chainset with 38t chainring driving a super-wide 11-50 cassette at the rear. The shift quality is excellent, and the gear range plus powerful motor meant I had the power and gear to match any ascent on road or off.
Big braking
SRAM also provides the brakes with the eMTB-specific GR RE hydraulic disc system using a huge 200mm rotor up front and 180mm at the rear for exceptional power and plenty of feel at the lever. Up front, the wide (750mm) upswept bar is clamped by a short stem (60mm) that helps the steering feel stable but not sluggish.
The Rock Shox Recon Silver SL fork feels smooth and very controlled. It’s built for eMTBs and has a dial to control the compression (how quickly and how far it moves), also allowing you to lock it out for riding on smooth roads or climbing. A TranzX dropper seatpost (200mm drop) is topped by Specialized’s comfortable Bridge Sport saddle. The dropper is controlled by a bar-mounted remote and, as well as being useful on technical terrain, was handy when dismounting a loaded-up bike.
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