Raleigh Retroglide iE Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs

Ready for an eCruiser ride? The comfortable and fun beach cruiser style Raleigh Retroglide iE has arrived for testing and review!

The classically styled Retroglide iE adds a modern 350 watt 48V mid-drive system to create a relaxed and super capable eCruiser bike. 

At $1,999 (currently on sale at $1,899) the Retroglide offers the Currie Electro-Drive mid-drive, Shimano drivetrain, Tektro brakes, Schwalbe tires, and more. 

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 Raleigh Retroglide iE 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 Raleigh Retroglide iE!

Raleigh Retroglide iE is all about cruising and having fun! It has a very comfortable ride feel and its classic styling attracts a lot of attention.

The step thru model is being focused on in this test and review but Raleigh Electric also offers the Raleigh Retroglide iE in a diamond frame model.

The aluminum frame has that classic cruiser styling and very comfortable, easy going ride feel. 

The Raleigh headbadge is a classic. Raleigh has been making bicycles since the late 1800’s and they are one of the oldest bicycle companies. 

The step thru area makes it easy to get on and off the Raleigh Retroglide iE and these twin tubes add strength and style to this eCruiser. 

The top tube of the frame lets you know that you are riding the Retroglide iE and you can see the internal cable routing in the frame. 

Here is a side view of the headtube area that shows how the cables are hidden and protected within the downtube of the frame. This provides a clean look for the Retroglide iE.

The chainguard is a very enclosed design that keeps your pant legs clean and it looks cool too!

This is the 350 watt Currie Electro-Drive TransX mid-drive motor that provides assist up to 20 mph. It has a peak torque of 68 Nm and it does provide some kick in the higher assist levels. The front chainring hides this mid-drive motor pretty well to keep the looks of the bike clean. 

Here is a look at the other side of the 350 watt Currie Electro-Drive TransX mid-drive motor.

The Raleigh Retroglide iE is a Class 1 electric bike per California law which is pedal assist only (no throttle) up to 20 mph.

The Raleigh Retroglide iE comes stock as a pedal assist only eBike but the Boost Pad can be added for an additional $50 and it provides a throttle option in addition to the pedal assist. There is a wire connection that the Boost Pad connects to on the Retroglide. 

The 48V 8.8ah (422 watt hour) lithium battery is housed in the rear rack just under the top of the rack. The main part of the rack is welded to the frame for a very sturdy design. The top of the rack above the battery is attached with 4 bolts and it provides a platform for carrying items, baskets, bags, and/or panniers. 

The battery charging port is located on the back right side of the pack. In this picture the rubber cover has been moved to the side to show the charging port. The battery can be charged on or off the bike. 

The on/off button, battery level indicator, and keyed lock is located on the left side of the battery pack. 

Once the battery is unlocked with the supplied key (it comes with 2) you can pull it off the back of the rack with a handle that folds down from the back of the pack. The battery weighs 7.3 pounds. 

The top of the rack can be used to carry a variety of things with a bungee cord or rack top basket or bag. 

Here’s a look at the rack after the battery pack has been removed. When the battery has been removed the bike weighs 50.6 pounds which makes it a little easier to pick up and load onto a car rack. 

The battery can be charged on or off the bike. The charger is about the size of a laptop charger and it takes 4 to 6 hours to charge a completely empty battery. 

The fort and fender continue the cruiser bike styling and clean looks. 

Tektro V-brakes are used front and rear. 

Here is a look at the left side of the handlebar. The Raleigh grips have an ergonomic design that provides a supportive platform and they have a very grippy texture. The front brake lever can be adjusted so that the lever’s position fits your hand size. The Currie Electro-Drive LED display and control pad combination provide a simple and clean look.  

Here is a closer look at the Currie Electro-Drive display and control pad. The current speed & estimated range is displayed in the upper left, the battery charge indicator is in the upper right, the pedal assist mode is in the middle right (4 levels of pedal assist), the on/off button is the lower right, and the pedal assist adjustment are the + and – buttons in the lower left. 

A quick press of the on/off button while the bike is on provides the estimated range based your current pedal assist level and current battery level. 

With a full battery these are the estimated ranges:

Pedal assist level 4 = 24 miles

Pedal assist level 3 = 43 miles

Pedal assist level 2 = 57 miles

Pedal assist level 1 = 76 miles

The Raleigh Retroglide iE is wired to work with lights (not included) that can run off the main eBike battery. 

The power curve of the system can be adjusted with the control pad per the information above. The lower power curve levels provide a mellow ride feel and the higher levels provide a quick sporty ride feel. These are settings that you may test for the first couple of rides and then leave where you want them. 

On the right side of the handlebar is the rear brake lever and Shimano SL-TX50 7 speed shifter. The rear brake lever can be adjusted so that the lever’s position fits your hand size.

The lever on the top of the shifter shifts up to the larger (easier) cogs for climbing hills and the button on the bottom shifts down to the small cogs for cruising along flatter roads. 

A Shimano Altus derailleur shifts through the 7 speed cogset that has a range from 12 tooth to 32 tooth cogs. 

Here is a look at the rear Tektro V-brake that blends in well with the overall style of the Raleigh Retroglide iE. 

The 26″ x 2.35″ Schwalbe Fat Frank tires balloon tires provide a very comfortable ride and they are a highlight of the Raleigh Retroglide iE styling. 

The pedals have a solid grippy surface for good traction. 

The Raleigh seat further adds to the classic style of the Retroglide iE. 

In addition to looking cool it has 2 springs for an extra comfy ride!

The kickstand has a good look and the quality is nice for the price point of the Raleigh Retroglide iE. The kickstand height is adjustable with a set screw on the backside. 

Raleigh Retroglide iE Electric Bike Specifications

Frame: AL-6061 Aluminum Custom Butted Aluminum, Comfort Geometry

Fork: Chromoly Rigid w/Fender Mounts

Motor: Currie Electro-Drive Centerdrive (mid-drive) Motor System, 350W  

Battery: 48V 8.8Ah, 422 Wh lithium battery. The battery weighs 7.3 pounds. 

Assist Options: 4 pedal assist levels. Cadence sensor pedal assist. The Raleigh Retroglide iE comes stock as a pedal assist only eBike but the Boost Pad can be added for an additional $50 and it provides a throttle option in addition to the pedal assist. There is a wire connection that the Boost Pad connects to on the Retroglide. 

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

Display: Currie Electro-Drive LED multi-functional button pad display 

Drivetrain: 42T chainring with Shimano 12-32T 7-speed cogset.  Shimano Altus rear derailleur and Shimano SL-TX50 7 speed shifter

Brakeset: Tektro alloy V-Brakes

Tires: Schwalbe Fat Frank 26″ x 2.35″

Sizes: One size for both the step thru and diamond frames

Accessories: Fenders and kickstand. The Raleigh Retroglide iE is wired to work with lights (not included) that can run off the main eBike battery. 

Colors: Turquoise, red, and dark red for the step thru frame and blue for the diamond frame

Weight: 57.9 pounds. 50.6 pounds with the battery removed.

Price: $1,999 (currently on sale for $1,899) USD at the time of this review

Here is a link to the specifications page for the step thru and for the diamond frame. 

Now checkout part 2 of the Raleigh Retroglide iE 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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