BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 Electric Mountain Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs

BULLS is rolling out a huge line up of 2018 eBikes and the new SIX50 EVO AM 3 is their big travel eMTB with the new Bosch PowerTube 500 integrated frame battery.

With nearly 6″ of front and rear RockShox suspension and the high volume Schwalbe Nobby Nic 27.5″ x 2.8″ Plus size tires the AM 3 is definitely an all mountain eMTB!

The AM 3 has a nice spec of components like the Bosch Performance CX motor, Shimano XT drivetrain, Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brakes, KS LEV dropper post, and more. 

The BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 is priced at $5,499.

In this first part of the review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications.

Part 2 of the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this eBike.

BULL’s bikes are engineered, designed, and tested at their headquarters in Cologne, Germany. They have been in the European bike market since 1994 and they introduced their eBikes in 2010. BULLS has been making a big splash in the North American market over the past few years, something we’ve noticed as EBR has reviewed several BULLS e-bikes. 

Alright, let’s take a closer look at the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3!

The overall look of the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 is very clean with the new Bosch PowerTube 500 integrated frame battery and the way the motor blends in with the frame tubes. 

The AM 3 is a fully capable eMTB ready for almost any terrain right out of the box.

The 7005 aluminum frame features hydroformed tubes that are sculpted to provide a good fit for the rider, suspension design, motor, internal frame battery, and to optimally place more material at the high stress areas for a solid ride. 

The BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 comes in 3 different size options: 17.3″ (44cm), 19.3″ (49 cm), 21.3″ (54cm). This is an impressive array of sizes that will fit many different riders.

The bike being used in this testing and review is the 17.3″ (44cm) frame. 

Here is a closer look at the new Bosch Powertube 500 internal frame battery that is housed in the downtube.

Also visible in this picture is internal cable routing that runs through the headtube and downtube for a clean look and cable protection.

The cable routing is separate from the battery mounting location so that it doesn’t interfere with the battery attachment in the frame.

The Bosch PowerTube 500 is a 36V 13.4Ah lithium battery with roughly a 500 watt hour capacity. The battery being housed in the downtube is an ideal location because its weight is low and centered which is good for overall bike handling.

Also, since the battery is located in the downtube it allows a water bottle to be mounted on top of the downtube. More on that in a bit. 

The battery is protected by the downtube on 3 sides and the bottom of the battery has a thick protective aluminum plate that is mounted to the battery for protection from rock strikes. 

This is a look at the removal of the battery and you can see that thick aluminum plate that protects the bottom and some of the sides of the battery. 

The PowerTube battery weighs 7.4 pounds and it is removed by unlocking it with the supplied key (2 keys supplied) and releasing the safety catch lever.

The safety mechanism holds the battery from fully dropping (2 cm) just in case it were to come loose from the key locking mechanism. 

You can also see the thick aluminum plate that protects the battery. It is about 4 mm thick on the sides and 2 mm thick on the bottom. 

Here is a look at the downtube after the battery has been removed. The bike weighs 47.8 pounds without the battery.

This is the typical Bosch connection point that is found on their PowerPack battery systems that are mounted on top of the downtube. 

This is the bottom of the battery pack with the charging port and battery level indicator.

Here’s a look at the PowerTube 500 removed from the bike with the charger. The charger is about the size of a PC laptop charger. Charging a completely empty battery to 100% takes 4.5 hours; 2.25 hour to 50%.

There is a battery level indicator at the bottom of the pack so you can see the charging progress. 

The 350 watt Bosch Performance Line CX mid-drive motor is designed for eMTBs and provides pedal assist up to 2o mph. The BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 is a Class 1 electric bike per California law (many other states are using similar eBike classifications) which is a pedelec providing pedal assist up to 20 mph.

It is interesting to see how the CX motor alignment blends in with the downtube for a very cohesive and clean look.

BULLS adds in the aluminum bash guard that helps to protect the motor from rocks strikes and when riding over logs and other obstacles. 

The battery can also be charged when it is installed in the bike. On the left side of the motor casing is the battery charging port that is protected with a rubber cover.

The charger plugged into the bike charging port. 

The 150 on the upper linkage stands for the 150 mm or 5.9″ of rear suspension travel that matches the same amount of front suspension travel. 

A RockShox Deluxe RT 150mm shock is housed within the main frame area and “pierces” the seat tube to connect near the motor mount location. This provides shorter chain stays for better climbing and a shorter wheel base for agile riding. 

The Rock Shox Deluxe RT shock can be tuned to your riding weight and style by adjusting the air spring (with a shock pump) and the damping with the dial on the top front of the shock.

It also has a lockout lever option for a more efficient ride on smoother roads or trails. 

Here’s a closer look at the upper suspension linkage. All of the pivot points appear to have sturdy construction. 

This is a view of the Plus size 27.5″ x 2.80″ Schwalbe Nobby Nic Snakeskin rear tire. There is substantial clearance between the large rear tire and frame which is helpful when riding in muddy conditions. 

Plus size tires (in the 3″ width range) are a lot of fun with their amazing traction, ability to mold over the rough stuff, and their built in suspension effect. More on that in Part 2 of this review…..

The Rock Shox Yari RC 29 Boost Solo Air suspension fork has 5.9″ (150mm) of suspension travel. It features a thru-axle for solid lateral (side to side) stability. 

Like the rear shock, the Yari suspension fork can be tuned to your weight and riding style with adjustment of the air spring (with a shock pump) and adjustment of the damping. 

The RockShox Yari fork has a lockout lever on the upper right side for a more efficient ride on smoother roads. This prevents the fork from bobbing up and down when you stand out of the saddle and pedal hard. 

The 27.5″ x 2.8″ wide Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires have a nice rounded profile and tread pattern. The Yari fork has plenty of clearance for the Plus size tires. 

A Shimano XT rear derailleur shifts through the 11 speed Shimano Deore cogset that has a 11 to 46 tooth gear range, which is a nice gear range for off road riding.

The XT rear derailleur has a clutch to tension the chain to minimize chain slap when riding in rough terrain. 

Magura MT5 hydraulic discs brakes are spec’ed front and rear with 180 mm rotors. These feature 4 piston calipers that provide a lot of stopping power. They are based on the Magura MT7 downhill brakes but they are built for enduro style riding that fits the AM 3 well. 

Here is the rear Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brake with 180mm rotor. A 12mm rear thru axle provides for solid side to side stiffness of the rear wheel.  

The handlebars are very wide for a stable ride feel. They also have a slight rise. 

On the left side of the handlebar is the Bosch Purion display & control pad, the front Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brake lever, and the KS LEV dropper post lever, and the ergonomic grip with lock on collar.

The compact Bosch Purion display shows the different pedal assist levels (Eco, Tour, eMTB, Turbo), estimated range remaining (based on the pedal assist level, battery level, and recent terrain ridden), speedometer, odometer, trip distance, and battery level. The display is backlit for good visibility both day and night. 

The pedal assist levels are adjusted with the large (+) and (-) buttons and there is a walk mode that is activated with the button just below the display. Once the walk mode is activated you can hold down the (+) button and the motor will assist up to around 3 mph which helps when walking with the bike up very steep hills. 

The on/off button is located just above the display.

Here’s a look at the Magura MT5 hydraulic brake lever for the rear brake, the Shimano XT 11 speed rear shifter. The MT5 brake levers can be adjusted to fit the size of your hand with a star wrench dial on the front of the lever. 

On the right side of the handlebar is the Shimano XT 11 speed shifter (below the bar), the rear Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brake lever, and the ergonomic grip with lock on collar.

This is a look at the Monkey Link stem that has a magnetic light attachment under the stem. The stem is wired from the main eBike battery to provide power to the front light. There is also a similar mount for a rear light at the seat tube. The lights themselves are an optional accessory.

Checkout this video below for a closer look at the Monkey link  system:

The Selle Royal Rampage saddle has a narrow performance style profile with center relief section. 

Another highlight of the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 is that it comes stock with a KS Lev-Integra 100mm (4″) dropper post. The Lev-Integra uses internal cable routing for a clean overall look. 

A dropper post moves the seat down and out of the way so that you can lower your center of gravity and move around the bike better in challenging terrain. They also make a big difference when cornering by moving your center of gravity down so that you can carve a corner easier. 

There will also be a Monkey Link magnetic light mount on the seat tube that is pre wired for the light attachment. The lights are an optional accessory. 

Since the battery is housed in the downtube the top of the downtube is available for a water bottle. And BULLS didn’t just add any water bottle, they spec’ed the magnetic Monkey Link water bottle! The Monkey Link water bottle and water bottle frame attachment is an option accessory.

The Monkey Link water bottle has a built in magnetic connection on the side. Removing it from the bike is a quick twist to the right. 

Here is a closer look at the water bottle magnetic connector. The connector can be removed (if needed) from the water bottle by turning the dial to the open position. 

And here is a look at the water bottle mount on the downtube. To reattach the water bottle just get the bottle connection close and you will feel the magnetic pull! 

BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 Electric Bike Specifications

Frame: 7005 aluminium hydroformed frame with 5.9″ / 150mm of rear suspension travel

Rear Shock: Rock Shox Deluxe RT

Fork: Rock Shox Yari Boost suspension fork with 5.9″ / 150mm of travel

Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX mid-drive 350W with aluminum bash guard protector

Battery: Bosch Powertube 36V 13.4Ah (~500 watt hour) lithium battery integrated into downtube of the frame. The battery weighs 7.4 pounds. 

Assist Options: 4 levels of pedal assist: Eco, Tour, eMTB, Turbo. Torque sensor pedal assist. 

Speed: Pedal assist (no throttle) up to 20 mph which makes this a Class 1 eBike

Display: Bosch Purion display shows the different pedal assist levels (Eco, Tour, eMTB, Turbo), estimated range remaining (based on the pedal assist level, battery level, and recent terrain ridden), speedometer, odometer, trip distance, and battery level. The display is backlit for good visibility both day and night. 

Drivetrain: Shimano XT 11 speed shifter and rear derailleur. Shimano Deore 11 speed cassette 11t to 46t range. 

Brakeset: Magura MT5 hydraulic disc brakes, 180 mm rotors front and rear

Tires: Schwalbe Nobby Nic Snakeskin 27.5″ x 2.80″. Plus size mountain bike tires

Seatpost: KS Lev-Integra 100mm (4″) dropper post with internal cable routing

Seat: Selle Royal Rampage 

Accessories: Monkey Link light mounts installed and wired from the battery. The lights and water bottle Monkey Link accessories are optional.

Sizes: 17.3″ (44cm), 19.3″ (49 cm), 21.3″ (54cm)

Colors: Metallic matt/black matt/neon yellow

Weight: 55.2 pounds. 47.8 pounds when the battery is removed.

Price: $5,499  

Here is a link to the specifications page of the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 electric bike.

Now checkout part 2 of the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts!

And here is a video of some of the other new 2018 BULLS eBikes:

-Pete

Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you.

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