Priority Embark Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs

The all new sporty Priority Embark eCommuter has arrived for testing & review!

This is an eBike with a focus on low maintenance and a smooth and quiet ride feel with its well thought out selection of quality components. 

Some of the highlights of the Priority Embark are the new Bosch Active Plus mid drive, enviolo continuously variable transmission, Gates Carbon Drive belt, and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. 

The Priority Embark is priced at $3,999 and that includes shipping and assembly from Velofix or a local bike shop.

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

Part 2 of the Priority Embark testing & review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this eBike.

Alright, let’s take a closer look at the Priority Embark!

The Priority Embark ready to roll!

In addition to the Gloss White there is also the option of the Gloss Charcoal.

There are 3 different frame size options available: 17″, 19″, and 21″.

The bike tested in this review is the 19″ frame size. 

The frame is constructed with 6061 aluminum that has been hydroformed to provide extra material where it needed at high stress locations while minimizing it at lower stress locations. 

The hydroformed tubes also create some unique styling for the bike and the ability to integrate the battery into the downtube. 

The aluminum fork has large blades that blend in well with the large headtube of the frame. It has a very cohesive look. 

There is a thru axle for the front wheel to create lateral stability which helps for overall stability when cornering. 

The connection of the top and down tube to the head tube is substantial!

The large down tube has an overall round shape with some angularity that gives it a distinct look with a large connection to the headtube. 

The top tube has a triangular shape at the head tube connection that adds to the frame style. 

Many of the cables are routed through the down and top tube for a clean look and cable protection.

This is the rear brake cable routed through the top tube. 

And the rear brake cable exiting the top tube near the seat tube intersection. 

Here is a look at the down tube and seat tube connections to the motor mount. You can see that these are large connection areas to create a stable frame design. 

The Bosch PowerPack 400 lithium battery is housed within the down tube section for a clean and integrated frame look. 

The PowerPack 400 is a 36V 11ah lithium battery that has a 400 watt hour capacity. 

On the left side of the battery is the lock, battery level indicator, and charge port. 

The Embark is supplied with 2 keys that unlock the battery from the bike.

Here is a closer look at the battery level indicator (also on the display) and the charge port with the protective rubber cover. 

This is a look at the charger plugged into the charge port. 

And here is the standard Bosch charger that can charge an empty battery in 3.5 hours. 

Here is a look at the downtube with the battery removed. There are 2 copies of the keys supplied for unlocking the battery from the frame mount. The battery is removed by lifting up and off of the frame.  

The bike weighs 44.2 pounds when the battery is removed from the bike which makes it a little easier to pick up and load onto a car rack. The total bike weight with the battery is 49.8 pounds.

The charger plugs into the bottom of the battery pack when it is removed from the bike. 

The battery weights 5.6 pounds. The charger is about the size of a laptop charger and it takes 3.5 hours to charge an empty battery to 100%. 

The Embark features the new Bosch Active Line Plus motor that is very quiet and smooth. As you can see in this view it has a compact size that blends in well with the overall look of the bike. 

The Active Line Plus mid drive is rated at 250 watts of power (418 watts max) with up to 50 Nm of torque and it provides assist up to 20 mph. 

The assist levels are: 

Turbo: 270%

Sport: 180%

Tour: 100%

Eco: 40%

This is a mid drive that uses a torque sensor, cadence sensor, and wheel speed sensor to blend the assist based on your pedal power. 

Also visible in this picture is the Gates Carbon Drive belt that we will look at more in a bit. 

The other side of the Bosch Active Line Plus motor has a very clean look to it. 

Bosch claims that this drive unit weighs less than 7.1 pounds.

The Priority Embark is a Class 1 electric bike which is pedal assist only (no throttle) up to 20 mph, 750 watts max.

The Priority Embark and the open road. 

Now let’s take a look at the control center of the Priority Embark. 

The handlebar has a relatively flat profile that is similar to a mountain bike handlebar. 

On the left side of the handlebar is an ergonomic lock on grip, the Bosch Purion control pad & display, and the Tektro HD-M285 front hydraulic disc brake lever.

The ergonomic grips provide a large “wing” for wrist support and they lock on to the handlebar with a bolted collar so that they won’t rotate. 

This is a closer look at the Tektro front hydraulic disc brake lever. The reach of the brake lever can be adjusted to fit your hand size. 

In this view you can also see the on/off button of the Bosch Purion display. 

The Bosch Purion display and control pad provides information on the battery level, speed, pedal assist mode, odometer, trip distance, and estimated range remaining. 

The display has a backlight for good visibility day and night.  The backlight on the display and the front and rear bike lights are turned on by holding the (+) button for a few seconds.

The front and rear lights are powered by the eBike battery. 

The right side of the handlebar features the ergonomic grip, enviolo Trekking continuously variable grip shifter, and Tektro rear hydraulic brake lever.

enviolo is the new brand name for what was formerly NuVinci. You can still see the NuVinci branding in the grip shifter window. 

The enviolo continuously variable rear hub (below) features a 380% gear ratio from low to high and there are no specific indexed gears like a derailleur system.

This grip shifter acts like a volume dial on a radio so you can “dial in” the best gear for the terrain you are riding on.

This continuously variable system makes shifting very easy, intuitive, and it shifts well under power.

Shifting can also happen when you are not pedaling which is helpful when you are getting into the best gear ratio for accelerating from a stop.

The display cleverly changes from a hill profile to flat land as you shift through the gear range. 

The enviolo Trekking N380 rear hub is the continuous variable “transmission” that houses all of the gearing inside the hub.

It is “practically maintenance-free, as they are made up of self-contained systems”.

Another big highlight in the drivetrain is the Gates Carbon Drive belt.

Belt’s offer a lot of advantages over a typical chain: they don’t require maintenance (lubrication), they are clean, quiet, and smooth.

Gates also claims that their belt last at least twice as long as a chain. 

Belts can’t be spliced together like a chain so the bike frame has to be designed to work with the belt. 

In this view you can see how the frame is bolted together at the seat stay to dropout connection. The frame is opened at this location when installing the belt. 

Also, the dropouts have horizontal adjustment to tension the belt. 

Slowing the Priority Embark down is handled by the Tektro HD-M285 hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors. 

And here is a look at the Tektro HD-M285 rear disc brake mounted to the enviolo Trekking N380 CVT.

In this view you can also see the bolt that sets the location of the horizontal dropout to tension the Gates Carbon Drive belt. 

The WTB Horizon 650B Plus 27.5″ x 1.85″ tires have a smooth profile for an efficient ride and channeling to dissipate water. 

They are tubeless ready so you can convert them to tubeless with the proper rim tape, valve, and sealant. 

The tan sidewall color adds a nice style to the Priority Embark. 

The platform pedals are aluminum construction with a rubber grippy surface on both sides. 

The WTB Pure saddle has a narrower performance style with center relief for a comfortable ride.

The Priority LED headlight is mounted at the top of the fork and it is powered by the bike battery.

It has an aluminum outer casing and a lot of adjustability. 

And it lights up the road well!

The Priority LED rear light is attached to the rear fender and it is powered by the eBike battery.

It is a flashing tail light which is not very common on lights that are powered by the eBike battery. 

Also in this view is the full coverage plastic rear fender with mud flap. The front fender is similar construction with full coverage. 

Last but not least is the kickstand that is bolted to the frame. The height of the kickstand can be adjusted to vary the tilt of the bike when it is parked. 

Priority Embark Electric Bike Specifications

Frame: 6061 Hydroformed aluminum frame with dropouts designed for Gates Carbon Drive belt

Fork: 6061 Aluminum fork with thru axle

Motor: 250 watt Bosch Active Line Plus with up to 50 Nm of torque and up to 20 mph of pedal assist

Battery: Bosch PowerPack 400 Performance, 36 V, 11 Ah 400Wh. The battery weighs 5.6 pounds. 

Assist Options: 4 pedal assist levels: Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo

Speed: Pedal assist up to 20 mph which makes this a Class 1 eBike

Display: Bosch Purion display & control pad that provides information on the battery level, speed, pedal assist mode, odometer, trip distance, and estimated range remaining. 

Drivetrain: enviolo Trekking N380 continuously variable rear hub transmission. 380% gear range from low to high. Gates Carbon Drive belt. 

Brakeset: Tektro HD-M285 hydraulic disc brakes with 160mm rotors. 

Tires: WTB Horizon 650B Plus 27.5″ x 1.85″

Seat: WTB Pure

Sizes: 17″, 19″, and 21″

Colors: Gloss White or Gloss Charcoal 

Weight: 49.8 pounds. 44.2 pounds with the battery removed.

Price: The Priority Embark is priced at $3,999 and that includes shipping and assembly from Velofix or a local bike shop.

The Priority Embark has a light and lively feel that is complimented by the smooth, quiet, and low maintenance drive system from Bosch, Gates, and enviolo. 

Now checkout part 2 of the Priority Embark review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts!

-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 or not.

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