EVELO Delta X Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]
After many miles of testing the EVELO Delta X it has proven to be a sporty and fun commuter / adventure touring eBike with its powerful 750 watt mid drive.
Its smooth and intuitive NuVinci CVT drivetrain makes this eBike easy to ride and use.
The nearly 3″ wide Schwalbe tires are comfortable and stable and they add some light off road capability to the Delta X that is built on a mountain bike platform.
The Delta X is priced at $3,899.
EVELO focuses a lot on taking the worry out of buying an eBike online. They offer a 10 day at home trial period, free shipping in the continental US, 0% financing (if you qualify), 4 year/20,000 mile warranty, and support for service and repairs. Plus they have their “Perfect Seat Guarantee”.
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 EVELO Delta X:
To get acquainted with the EVELO Delta X, checkout this video:
Riding the EVELO Delta X:
Overall there are some characteristics of the EVELO Delta X that really stand out when riding this commuter / adventure touring eBike. To summarize they are:
- Powerful 750 watt mid drive with pedal assist & throttle
- The NuVinci N380 continuously variable transmission
- Stable, comfortable, and fun ride feel of nearly 3″ wide balloon tires
The Look & Feel of the EVELO Delta X
First of all, the Delta X has a stealthy and fast look with the Midnight Maroon color and black components and full accessory package.
The main structure of the Delta X is the hydroformed 6061 aluminium frame that is designed to build in the battery and mid drive motor for a clean look and central weight distribution.
Hydroformed tubes are shaped to place more material where it is needed for strength and these tubes can also create a unique looking frame design.
For instance, the Delta X downtube has been shaped to mold around the 48V 11.6ah lithium battery.
And the head tube junction of the top and down tubes has a very stout look with clean smoothed welds.
The 750 watt Bafang mid drive motor is housed within the frame and it has metal covers on both sides to create a well integrated drive system design and look.
EVELO focused on a central design for the battery and motor and that is best for overall bike handling in addition to a balanced feel when picking the bike up.
Another clean looking feature is the NuVinci N380 continuously variable drivetrain that eliminates multiple cogs and derailleurs.
With the NuVinci N380 all of the transmission components are within the rear hub that has a 380% range from the low to high end. More on this system in a bit.
There are other details like the reinforcing tube from the top tube to seat tube that is structural while adding some style with its triangle design.
This detail helps to keep the top tube lower so that the bike can fit a wide range of riders in height from 5′-6″ top 6′-2″.
Internal cable routing in the downtube provides cable/wiring protection and a cleaner look.
Another striking feature of the Delta X is the balloon style Schwalbe Super Moto-X 27.5″ x 2.8″ wide tires. They give the bike a robust and stable look.
The seat and chain stays of the frame contour around these large volume balloon tires well while the curved tubes add some style to the bike.
The full accessory package of lights, fenders, rear rack, and kickstand gives the Delta X a look like it is ready for any conditions.
Riding the EVELO Delta X is a quick and powerful experience with its 750 watt mid drive motor and smooth rolling balloon tires!
With the mid drive powering through the NuVinci continuously variable transmission the Delta X is able to climb steep hills with ease and accelerate up to 20 mph pretty quickly in the higher assist levels and/or throttle.
It can be a high performance urban commuter and touring eBike but it also can be an easy going ride at the lower assist levels.
The Delta X also has a comfortable and stable ride feel due to the nearly 3″ wide Schwalbe Super Moto-X balloon style tires.
These large air volume tires can be run at lower pressures (Schwalbe recommends 20-45 psi) and with that they have a bit of built in suspension effect as they can absorb bumps and cracks in the road.
Their stability comes from the large patch of tire that is in contact with the road and a tread design that is efficient on the road yet has some traction in gravel road conditions.
Now let’s take a look at the ride position of the EVELO Delta X.
Similar to the Delta eMTB, the Delta X has a mountain bike style position that is between an upright and performance style position. It is a little more upright than a typical mountain bike.
It is upright enough to see around you pretty well while it has the performance position for a more efficient ride.
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 handlebars are pretty wide which adds to the stable ride feel while the Velo lock on grips feel very solid in their attachment to the handlebars. Its a small detail but it makes a big impact on the ride feel of the bike.
In addition to the built in suspension effect of the large air volume tires, the Delta X comes with the Suntour XCM suspension fork with 120 mm (4.7″) of travel.
The XCM fork does a good job of taking the edge off of rough roads and at nearly 5″ of travel it can handle some pretty big hits.
It uses a coil spring that can be adjusted to your weight and riding style with the preload dial on the left side of the fork.
There is a lockout dial on the right side of the fork that provides a more efficient ride on smooth roads by preventing the fork from moving up and down when you are standing out of the saddle and pedaling hard
Typical of many mountain bike forks, there is a 15mm thru axle which provides solid side to side stability for the front wheel and that is noticeable when really carving into corners.
EVELO spec’ed the Selle Royale Astro saddle that has a mid width profile for an efficient yet comfortable ride style. I found it to be a good fit for this type of commuter/adventure touring eBike.
EVELO also offers their “Perfect Seat” Guarantee which is very unique! “If you find another seat that you prefer at a local shop, purchase it, and we will reimburse you up to $40! This is just one of the ways we strive to ensure that you are 100% comfortable and satisfied with your bike.”
The nearly 3″ wide Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires do a pretty good job of smoothing out the road. If you ride in an area that has rough roads it may be a good idea to add a suspension seatpost to take the edge off at the higher speeds.
Now let’s take a closer look at the powerful and clean drive system.
First of all, 750 watts of power from a mid drive motor provides a lot of punch because it is able to leverage the gear range of the drivetrain to climb steep hills efficiently and accelerate up to top speed quickly.
The Bafang mid drive motor has 5 levels of pedal assist that are activated by your pedaling cadence. The pedal assist levels are adjusted with the up and down arrows on the control pad on the left side of the handlebars.
Levels 1 and 2 give you a pretty mellow ride and they are nice for easy cruising rides around the neighborhood or when riding in congested areas.
Levels 3 through 5 definitely pack more of a punch and they quickly get you up to speed. They offer a very sporty ride feel with a lot of acceleration and speed but that also comes with draining the battery quicker.
In addition to pedal assist, there is also the thumb throttle to the left of the control pad that can be used for a quick boost to the lower pedal assist levels or you can choose to cruise along without pedaling.
There is a lot of variability to the throttle so that you can adjust it to provide exactly the amount of assist that you want.
In addition to the 5 levels of pedal assist there is also the walk mode that helps with moving the bike up stairs or up a steep hill while you are walking. It provides assist up to a few mph and it is activated by holding the “-” arrow on the control pad for a few seconds.
Some noise is typical for most mid drive motors and that is true for the Bafang. It is most noticeable in the higher pedaling cadences while it becomes pretty quiet at the higher speeds.
The combined power of your pedaling and the motor power is transmitted to the NuVinci N380 continuously variable rear hub that creates a very simple and clean looking drivetrain.
Instead of the typical cogs and derailleurs, the NuVinci CVT house the whole transmission system inside the rear hub and NuVinci claims that it is doesn’t need any maintenance.
The NuVinci N380 doesn’t have any set gear ratios to select from. It is fine tuned from the low end to the high end to fit your exact riding cadence preferences. It has a 380% gear ratio range from low to high.
There is a twist grip shifter on the right side of the handlebar that functions similarly to a radio volume dial; you dial in the best gear ratio for the terrain you are riding on and your pedal cadence preference.
An advantage of the NuVinci CVT hubs is that you can shift under a lot of power and it won’t harm the hub.
It is a little difficult to shift the drivetrain to the higher range (for flatter terrain) when the motor is providing a lot of power. For example if you are accelerating from a stop in the higher pedal assist levels, the motor is providing a lot of initial power to get up to speed and it takes a little more effort to shift up in the gear range.
The NuVinci N380 allows you to “shift” the CVT while at a stop; you don’t need to be pedaling to “shift”. This is helpful when you want to get into the best gear ratio for accelerating from a stop.
Here is a video from NuVinci for a more in depth look at their CVT system:
The power source for the mid drive motor and the LED headlight is a 48V 11.6ah lithium battery that is housed on the downtube of the frame.
The battery is built with Samsung lithium cells and the pack weight is 6.5 pounds.
With the battery and motor centered and low, the EVELO Delta X has a well balanced weight distribution for good bike handling.
It is removed by unlocking it with the supplied key and rotating the battery to the right side of the frame. The battery can be charged on or off the bike and fully charging from empty takes 4-6 hours.
The Delta X weighs 59.5 pounds with the battery removed and that makes it a little easier to load onto a car rack.
Now let’s take a look at the color display on the EVELO Delta X.
The center mounted color LCD display provides information on:
- Time
- Battery level
- Speed, average speed, max speed
- Odometer, trip distance
- Estimated range based on battery level & pedal assist level
- Pedal assist mode
- Watts
- Calories
The display has a backlight for easy visibility day and night.
It is nice to have some color in the display and the display is also large enough to quickly see the main info while riding.
The estimated range is a nice feature for getting a handle on how much range you have left. You can see how much the range is effected when you change the pedal assist levels and this info can be very helpful for changing the assist to complete longer rides.
Slowing down the EVELO Delta X is handled by the Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors front and rear.
The Auriga hydraulic brakes have a very solid feel and their stopping power is impressive with predictable progressive modulation.
There are sensors in the brake levers that will stop the motor assist when the brakes are engaged. The brake lever reach can be adjusted to fit your hand size with a small allen wrench on the back side of the brake lever.
To make commuting and/or touring more convenient the Delta X comes with a full assortment of accessories.
At the front of the bike is the Cree LED headlight that has aluminum housing and it runs off of the eBike battery so you don’t need to worry about charging additional batteries for the headlight. It has a good beam of light for riding at night and also for a being seen day & night.
Full coverage plastic fenders with mud flaps offer good protection from wet roads.
The rear aluminum rack has a lot of attachment points for straps, bags, baskets, and panniers. The rear rack is rated for 18 kg or around 40 pounds of load.
On the back of the rack is the Infini tail light that has a solid and flashing mode options. It runs off of its own batteries.
Rounding out the accessory package is the kickstand that is bolted to the frame and the length is adjustable so that you can set it to your preferred tilt.
Okay, let’s see how the EVELO Delta X did out on the open road!
EVELO Delta X Range Test Results:
Here is the real world information on how the EVELO Delta X 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 EVELO Delta X in the highest pedal assist level (Level 5) with average pedaling on paved roads.
Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the EVELO Delta X traveled 29.4 miles and did a total elevation gain of around 2,500 ft. Considering that I weigh 190 lbs and I pedaled at an average pace this is good range for a 48 Volt 11.6 ah battery pack (557 Watt Hours) with a 750 watt motor assisting up to 20 mph.
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 EVELO Delta X will assist up to 20 mph with pedal assist only and/or throttle. There is an “off-road” mode that will provide assist up to 25 mph and that can be adjusted in the display settings.
Weight: The EVELO Delta X tips the scales at 66 lbs which is on the heavier side for an electric bike with these components. Some of the weight is from the NuVinci N380 CVT rear hub and the full assortment of accessories (lights, rack, fenders, kickstand). Removing the battery brings it down to 59.5 pounds which makes it a little easier to load onto a car rack.
The weight distribution of the EVELO Delta X is very good because the battery and motor are low and centered on the bike.
Pros:
Powerful Mid Drive: The Delta X is fairly unique commuter / adventure touring eBike that really packs a punch with a 750 watt mid drive. At the lower assist levels it also offers an easy going ride style and the thumb throttle is available for a quick boost of power when needed.
NuVinci Continuously Variable Transmission: The CVT system makes shifting intuitive and easy to use. Much like a volume dial on a radio you can dial in the best gear range and you do that with or without pedaling. Also, being maintenance free is a major advantage over traditional cog and derailleur drivetrains.
Comfortable & Stable Ride: The nearly 3″ wide Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires give the Delta X a very stable and comfortable ride feel with their big tread patch on the ground and built in suspension effect from the large air volume.
Cons:
Heavier: At 66 pounds the Delta X is on the heavier side of electric bikes. Some of the weight is from the NuVinci N380 CVT rear hub which does have advantages over traditional drivetrains and the Delta X does come with a full assortment of accessories (lights, rack, fenders, kickstand).
Cadence Based Pedal Assist: At the higher assist levels you can really notice the high power of the 750 watt mid drive motor as the cadence sensor based system adds assist as soon as you start pedaling. This can be a bit abrupt and at full power when accelerating it is a little harder to twist the shifter to a higher gear range.
Conclusion:
Overall the new EVELO Delta X is sporty and fun commuter / adventure touring eBike with its powerful 750 watt mid drive and smooth NuVinci CVT system.
With its comfortable and stable tires and full accessory selection it is a versatile eBike that can handle many miles of road along with some easy going off road conditions.
If you are looking for a powerful and versatile mid drive eBike then you should definitely take a closer look at the EVELO Delta X.
The Delta X is priced at $3,899.
EVELO also focuses a lot on taking the worry out of buying an eBike online. They offer a 10 day at home trial period, free shipping in the continental US, 0% financing (if you qualify), 4 year/20,000 mile warranty, and support for service and repairs. Plus they have their “Perfect Seat Guarantee”.
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 EVELO Delta X? Check with the EVELO website.
Do you have any questions about the EVELO Delta X? Do you own a EVELO Delta X? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Thanks!
-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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Allen Thompson says
I have had my Delta X about six weeks now and I really love it. I have already put over 800 miles on it. I use it for a 30-mile round trip commute to/from work most days and often get out for weekend rides as well. It is a powerful and fun e-bike and I get lots of compliments about it.