BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 Electric Mountain Bike Review Part 2 – Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]

Well balanced, do it all, big travel full suspension eMTB with amazing traction is what the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 is all about.

This is an all mountain eMTB with the ability to glide over rough terrain and keep charging with the latest Bosch system that includes the PowerTube frame integrated battery.

Its 5.9″/150mm of front and rear suspension travel and 2.8″ wide grippy off road tires mold to the terrain to give you a fun and confident ride feel.

The AM 3 is priced at $5,499 with a quality component selection from Bosch, RockShox, Magura, Shimano, Schwalbe, KS, and more.

In this second part of the full review you will get an idea of the ride characteristics, range test results, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this electric bike.

Make sure you check out part 1 of this review with large pictures and specifications to get a detailed look at this e-bike.

What you can expect from the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3:

If you’re unfamiliar with BULLS e-bikes, you can see more that we’ve reviewed here.

To get acquainted with the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3, checkout this video:

Riding the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3:

Overall there are some characteristics of the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 that really stand out when riding this full suspension plus tire size eMTB. To summarize they are: 

• Big travel (~6″) full suspension eMTB that can handle super rough terrain
• 2.8″ wide tires that mold to the terrain for amazing traction and a fun, stable ride feel
• New Bosch PowerTube 500 integrated frame battery for solid handling and a clean look

The Look & Feel of the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 

The AM 3 is a true all mountain eMTB  that can handle almost any terrain with its nearly 3″ wide Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires and RockShox 150 mm suspension travel front and rear.

The main structure of the AM 3 is a 7005 aluminum frame with the unique shapes of hydroformed tubes.

Hydroformed tubing has a sculpted look that is designed to place more material at high stress areas of the frame and minimizing the material in other areas that are lower stress.

Also the AM 3 frame tubes have been shaped to provide substantial standover clearance at the top tube, heel clearance in the chain stay area, and allows the suspension system to “pierce” the seat tube area. 

The 5.9″ (150 mm) rear suspension system uses the RockShox Deluxe RT shock that has the lower connection point where the seat tube would traditionally connect to the motor mount. 

BULLS created double plates around the shock to connect the seat tube to the motor mount while providing a good shock mount location for the rear suspension to offer 5.9″ of rear wheel travel.

The RockShox Deluxe RT rear shock can be adjusted to fit your riding style and weight by adjusting its air spring and rebound speed.

The air spring is adjusted with a shock pump and the rebound can be adjusted with the dial at the top of the shock. 

There is also a lockout lever option for efficient riding on smoother terrain. 

A RockShox Yari suspension fork with the same 5.9″ (150mm) of travel matches the rear travel well. The Yari has been designed to provided clearance for Plus size tires in the 3″ wide range.

It has the same adjustability as the rear shock with the air spring and rebound adjustment dial. On the right side of the fork is a dial for adjustment between the locked out position and fully open suspension. 

One of the biggest highlights of the AM 3 is the clean design of the Bosch Performance Line CX mid drive motor and Bosch PowerTube 500 integrated frame battery.

The Performance Line CX mid drive motor has been angled to blend in with the overall look of the downtube that houses the PowerTube 500 battery.

BULLS added an aluminum bash guard to provide additional protection to the CX motor when riding through rough terrain. 

The Bosch PowerTube 500 is an exciting new battery location in the downtube because it is low and centered which provides for good weight distribution which in turn is best for overall bike handling. 

In addition it blends in very well with the overall look of the bike for a very clean design. 

The downtube does provide protection of the battery on 3 side and the bottom of the battery has a thick aluminum plate to protect it from rock strikes.

In addition a water bottle can be located on top of the downtube since the battery in now located below the downtube. More on the new magetic Monkey Link water bottle system (optional accessory) in a bit…..

The headtube area of the bike is very solid with the connection of the large downtube and top tube. All of the cables from the handlebar area disappear into the main frame with cable routing through the headtube to downtube.

The cables do not interfere with the battery mounting in the downtube because the cables have their own routing area in the downtube that is separate from the battery mount location. 

There is plenty of tire clearance for the nearly 3″ wide tires on the front and back of the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 and it should perform well in fairly mud conditions.  

The BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 comes in 3 different size options: 17.3″ (44cm), 19.3″ (49 cm), 21.3″ (54cm).

The AM 3 in this test is the 17.3″ frame size. 

Overall BULLS has done a lot of engineering work to make sure that the AM 3 fits a wide range of riders while providing a bike that can handle 3″ wide tires, 5.9″ (150 mm) of front and rear suspension travel, and cleanly integrate the Bosch Performance Line CX and Powertube 500 frame battery.

Riding the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 is a lot of fun! It’s big full suspension system, 2.8″ wide tires, and well balanced design gives you the confidence to ride over the rough stuff.

Technical sections that you may have had difficulty riding in the past become a fun new challenge with the AM 3, and in many cases the AM 3 can make you victorious!

The 5.9″ / 150 mm full suspension travel is buttery smooth thanks to the RockShox Yari fork and RockShox Deluxe RT rear shock. 

Once you get the suspension dialed in to your riding weight and riding style the AM 3 feels so smooth, even in super chunky rough rock sections.

With an electric mountain bike you can choose to let the suspension sag a bit more because with pedal assist you don’t have to be as concerned with the pedaling efficiency when compared to a traditional mountain bike. 

That additional suspension sag enables the bike to contour over rough terrain and with the nearly 6″ of travel the AM 3 has plenty of suspension to play with.

The Plus size Schwalble Nobby Nic 27.5″ x 2.8″ are another big factor in giving the AM 3 that confidence inspiring ride feel.

With their width they can handle a wide variety of terrain: sand, hard pack trails, mud, and moderate snow conditions.

Plus size tires have a super stable ride feel with their large traction area and high volume of air in the tires.

These high volume tires can run lower pressure (+ or – 20 psi) than traditional mountain bike tires because that volume allows the tire to mold around the terrain with less chance of hitting the rim. 

The BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 comes with inner tubes but the tires and rims can be converted to a tubeless system with the proper rim tape, valve stems, and sealant. 

A tubeless system eliminates pinch flatting the tube and the sealant eliminates most flats from thorns, glass, and other small objects. The tubeless setup allows you to use the lower tire pressures while almost eliminating the worry of getting a flat. 

To fully utilize the Plus tires advantages it is important to find the right pressure for your weight and riding style.

It can take some trial and error to dial in the best pressure for your riding. Even the difference between a few psi can make a big difference in the overall ride performance.

At the right pressure these big air volume tires have amazing traction because they are able to mold around rough terrain: rocks, roots, etc.

In addition to molding around rough terrain the high volume Plus size tires also have some built in suspension when running the lower pressures. 

Nearly 3″ Plus size tires are a nice balance between the normal 2″-2.4″ wide traditional mountain bike tire and a 4″+ wide fat bike tire.

They have a similar, ride over anything, feel to a fat bike tire but they handle more like a traditional mountain bike tire with their ability to handle corners well. 

This is a good video comparing Fat bike to Plus bike tires:

In addition, high air volume 27.5″ Plus size tires have a diameter that is in the range of a traditional 29er tire so they benefit from the larger wheel ability to roll over a lot of obstacles well. 

With 5.9″ of front and rear suspension travel and the Plus size tires molding to the terrain, the AM 3 can fly through rough lines. You can choose to take the more technical line because this bike can handle it!

And that is not only true for downhill sections, it is also true for the climbs. As Bosch says, they create Uphill Flow!

The 35o watt Bosch Performance Line CX mid drive system has been designed for eMountain Bikes with additional torque and the new eMTB mode.

The BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 is a Class 1 pedelec (pedal assist only) that can assist up to 2o mph and with its CX mid-drive it can efficiently climb steep hills using the lower gears of the drivetrain. 

Bosch systems uses many sensors (torque, cadence, wheel speed) to make the overall ride feel very intuitive in the way the pedal assist blends with and amplifies your pedal power. 

The system follows your pedal power to give you a big boost when you are pedaling hard, a moderate boost when you are cruising, and a mellow boost when you are soft pedaling. 

The amount of amplification of your pedal power is based on the pedal assist level.

Here is a list of the pedal assist levels and their assist percentages and max torque: 

ECO: 50% with 40 Nm max torque

TOUR: 120% with 50 Nm max torque

eMTB: 120%-300% with 75 Nm max torque

TURBO: 300% with 75 Nm max torque

As you can see above, eMTB mode blends the range of assist between Tour to Turbo mode. It follows your lead with the amount of pedal power you are putting in to provide you with the best proportional assist.

The idea of eMTB mode is you can set the bike in this mode and focus in on your ride without needing to switch the assist modes when you are riding on different terrain. Set it and forget it.

It also provides a lot of torque as soon as you start pedaling so that it can help you get going on a steep and technical climb. 

The system provides instant engagement of the motor as soon as you start pedaling and stops the assist as soon as you stop pedaling.

For many rides I just used eMTB mode and it fit well with almost the terrain I was riding on. It is very helpful to have that initial torque to get started on technical climbs.

I still found the Eco mode to be very useful in low speed technical sections that didn’t require much assist. 

Turbo mode is good for zipping around town to minimize sweat or too finish up a hard climb after a long ride. 

If there is a situation where you need to walk with the bike there is the walk mode that powers the bike up to ~3 mph which makes pushing to the top a bit easier. 

The CX motor does create some noise that can be heard more at the lower speeds. It is a whirring noise and it is most noticeable at the higher pedal cadences.

At 55. 2 pounds you can feel the weight of this eMTB as you maneuver in technical sections and/or quick turns. The good news is that most of that weight is centered and low thanks to the location of the integrated PowerTube 500 frame battery and CX mid drive motor. That is the best weight distribution for overall bike handling. 

The bottom bracket height or motor height seemed slightly low and in technical terrain I occasionally hit the pedals on rocks. This is common trait among many other full suspension bikes on the market too. 

Overall the AM 3 is an eMTB that shines at uphill and downhill flow thanks to perfect weight distribution, big suspension travel, and the supple and high traction tires. 

If you are used to riding a traditional mountain bike it does take some time to adjust to this new “go anywhere” riding style!  You can choose more direct lines and ride terrain you may have not considered riding before.

The AM 3 is also a super stable and comfortable eMTB for riding on normal roads with its supple Plus size tires. It has the front and rear suspension lockout levers that make the bike more efficient when you are pedaling hard on smooth roads. If you were to hit a large pothole in the road the suspension system will open up briefly to absorb the impact. 

As mentioned before, the new Bosch PowerTube 500 integrated frame battery is a big highlight of the AM 3. This is the best location for bike handling and it gives the AM 3 a very clean look. 

The 36V 13.4ah (~500 Wh) lithium battery is well protected within the downtube of the frame and it has a thick aluminum plating on the bottom and sides for protection from rock strikes. 

Removing the battery is accomplished by unlocking it with the supplied key (2 supplied) and releasing the safety latch at the top of the battery. 

The safety latch prevents the battery from falling out when the battery lock is opened.

The PowerTube 500 battery can be charged on or off the bike and fully charging an empty battery takes 4.5 hours. It can be charged to 50% in 2.25 hours. 

Removing the 7.4 pound PowerTube 500 battery brings the weight of the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 to 47.8 pounds which makes it a little easier to load on a car rack. 

Okay, now let’s take a look at the handlebar control center on the AM 3.

Wide handlebars on the AM 3 give you a feeling of stability and they are sized proportionally to handle the Plus size tires. 

The stem and handlebar location is relatively low for a slightly hunch over performance ride position. This is a good set up for riding technical off road terrain. 

If you are looking for a more upright position an adjustable stem can help to dial in your preferred handlebar height and fore/aft position. 

The ergonomic grips have a collar that tightens to the handlebars so that the grips don’t move around for a solid and confident ride feel.

The new Bosch Purion display and control pad is simple, easy to use, and it takes up minimal space on the handlebar.

The large (+ & -) buttons on the side change the pedal assist levels and cycles through the different information the display provides like odometer, trip distance, and estimated range. 

The current speed and battery level are easy to see at a quick glance. 

The drivetrain is made up of mainly 11 speed Shimano XT components for a very smooth and solid shifting experience. 

The rapid fire XT shifter lets you shift up 2 gears in one big push of the lower paddle and the trigger paddle provides quick shifts down the cogset for nice acceleration.

There is an 11 tooth to 46 tooth range on the cogset that covers the gear range very well for a lot of terrain. 

A clutch in the XT derailleur does a good job of minimizing chain slap when riding through rough areas. The clutch can be released to make removing the rear wheel easier. 

Slowing the AM 3 is handled by the Magura MT5 hydraulic discs brakes front and rear. These feature 4 piston calipers and 180 mm rotors that provide a lot of stopping power.

They are based on their MT7 downhill brakes but they are built for enduro style riding that fits the AM 3 well. 

These hydraulic brakes have a solid feel with impressive stopping power. The modulation of these brakes offer a lot of range in stopping power from just a little to a solid full stop. 

The brake lever reach can be adjusted to fit your hand size with a star wrench on the front side of each brake lever. 

The Selle Royal Rampage saddle has a narrow performance style profile with a relief section in the center. It’s a good saddle for performance riding that fits the riding style of the AM 3 well. 

Another highlight of the AM 3 is that it comes stock with the KS Lev-Integra 100mm (4″) Dropper Post.

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 is a lever on the handlebar that allows you to quickly adjust the seat to the best height for the terrain you are riding. 

Like other KS droppers, the LEV-Integra has a very smooth operation and is easy to position the seat just where you want it. 

As far as accessories go the AM3 comes equipped with the magnetic Monkey Link lighting system attachments.  

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

The handlebar 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.

This looks like a nice system because the installation and removal of the lights looks easy and you don’t have to worry about charging the lights separately since they run off the main eBike battery.

The AM3 that I tested also came with the new Monkey Link magnetic water bottle system (bottle and magnetic mount) that is an optional accessory. 

The connection of the bottle to the frame is magnetic and it has a very clean look. Since the battery is housed in the downtube, there is room for the bottle on top of the downtube. 

Releasing the bottle is easy with a quick turn to the right. Installing the bottle is interesting because as you get close you can feel the magnetic attraction and it clicks back into place. 

When riding smooth terrain the installation is pretty straightforward. Installing the bottle while riding on rough terrain is a little more challenging. After some time of getting used to the process it gets a little easier. 

Okay, let’s see how the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 did out on the open road!

BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 Range Test Results:

Here is the real world information on how the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 electric bike performed on a riding circuit that includes hills, flats, traffic, wind (when available) etc.

While testing these bikes I like to put them through the toughest conditions to see where their bottom line is in regards to range and speed. I tested the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 in the highest pedal assist level (Turbo) with average pedaling on paved roads.

Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 traveled 30.1 miles and did a total elevation gain of over 2,200 ft. Considering that I weigh 190 lbs and I pedaled at an average pace this is pretty good range for a 36 Volt 13.4 ah battery pack (~500 Watt Hours) with a 350 watt motor assisting up to 20 mph.

Also it is important to factor in that the wide off road tires on the AM 3 are not intended to be efficient on the road, they are built for solid grip off road, so the AM 3 has some impressive range considering this factor.

When I started the range test the Bosch Purion display estimated the range to be 25 miles in Turbo mode, so it was good to see that the AM3 went 30.1 miles. 

Here are the estimated ranges with a full battery:

ECO: 82 miles

TOUR: 41 miles

eMTB: 31 miles

TURBO: 25 miles 

Watt hours are the total energy in a battery pack and it is based on the volts x amp hours of a pack. This is a way to compare the size of the “gas tank” of electric bikes.

Please keep in mind that if you pedal more, weigh less than me, ride slower and/or you use the bike in terrain that is not as hilly you will get more range. These results are from tough testing.

Speed: The BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 will assist up to 20 mph with pedal assist only, there is no throttle.

Weight: The BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 tips the scales at 55.2 lbs which is a fairly average electric bike weight. Removing the battery brings it down to around 47.8 pounds which makes it a little easier to load onto a car rack.

The weight distribution of the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 is very good because the battery and motor are low and centered on the bike, which is the best for overall bike handling. 

Pros:

~6″ Suspension w/ Plus Size Tires: The AM 3 is a do it all eMTB. It is a fun ride that opens up the possibilities of riding new areas with its 5.9″ of front and rear travel and nearly 3″ wide tires. The AM 3 can charge through rough sections with ease, both downhill and uphill!

PowerTube Frame Battery: The new Bosch PowerTube 500 battery is definitely a big highlight of the AM 3 because it is the best location for overall bike handling and it creates a very clean look. 

Quality Components: The component spec from Bosch, RockShox, Shimano, Magura, KS, Schwalbe, is a very impressive line up for the price of the AM 3. 

Cons:

Low Bottom Bracket: The bottom bracket height or motor height seemed slightly low and in some technical terrain I occasionally hit the pedals on rocks. This is common trait among many other full suspension bikes on the market too.

Motor Noise: The CX motor does create some noise that can be heard more at the lower speeds. It is a whirring noise and it is most noticeable at the higher pedal cadences.

Conclusion:

Overall the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3 is a fun, well balanced, do it all, big travel full suspension eMTB with amazing traction.

The combination of the new Bosch PowerTube 500 frame battery, CX line motor performance, 5.9″ of RockShox full suspension, and nearly 3″ wide tires give the AM 3 a fun uphill and downhill flow ride feel!

The AM 3 is priced at $5,499 with a quality component selection from Bosch, RockShox, Magura, Shimano, Schwalbe, KS, and more.

Please keep in mind that this is a relatively short term test. This testing can’t really give you the long term review of durability and reliability. My thoughts on the quality of this bike are from previous experiences with similar bikes. If you own this bike and have some input on the long term durability, please share your comments with the Electric Bike Report community below.

Where to buy a BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3? Check with BULLS for a dealer near you.

Do you have any questions about the BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3?  Do you own a BULLS SIX50 EVO AM 3?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Thanks!

-Pete

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