Raleigh Retroglide iE Electric Bike Review Part 2: Ride & Range Test [VIDEO]

After many miles of putting the Raleigh Retroglide iE to the test it has proven to be a fun and comfortable eCruiser!

Raleigh Electric has done a great job of keeping with the classic beach cruiser style while adding a super capable mid-drive system to make everyday riding a breeze.

With a price of $1,999 (currently on sale for $1,899) the Raleigh Retroglide iE offers a lot of value with quality components from Currie Electro-Drive, Shimano, Tektro, Schwalbe, 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 Raleigh Retroglide iE:

To get acquainted with the Raleigh Retroglide iE, checkout this video:

Riding the Raleigh Retroglide iE:

Overall there are some characteristics of the Raleigh Retroglide iE that really stand out when riding this pedelec. To summarize they are:

• The comfortable, easy going, and fun ride feel. 
• A classically styled eCrusier with a modern and super capable mid-drive system.
• A stable eBike that is easy to get on and ride.

The Look & Feel of the Raleigh Retroglide iE

Beach cruiser bikes have always had that fun and comfortable ride feel while their classic style brings a sense of nostalgia for the easy going days of riding your bike in the summer. 

Without electric assist they are generally easy going, laid back, and not the most efficient for getting somewhere quickly.

When you add a 350 watt 48V mid-drive system that changes things significantly!

What was once a slow going bike is now a super capable and speedy eCruiser. 

With a 350 watt mid-drive the Retroglide iE can climb steep hills by leveraging the lower gears of the bike and provide assist up to 20 mph on relatively flat land. 

If you want that easy going slower ride style the lower assist levels are there to let you just cruise along and enjoy the scenery. 

Raleigh Electric did a good job of blending electric assist with the classic beach cruiser look.

The frame has a lot of curved and flowing aluminum tubes that create a cool looking, comfortable, and easy to ride eCruiser.

The upright and comfortable laid back position makes you want to get out for a cruise because it is such a fun bike to ride!

The step thru version is very easy to get on and off because of the low top tube design and it comes in one size that can fit riders in height between 5’2″ and 5’10”.

Raleigh Electric also makes the diamond frame option that comes in one size that can fit riders in height between 5’4″ and 6′.

The swept back handlebars look good and they make the upright position very comfortable so that you can easily see all around you. 

The ergonomic style grips are also very comfortable and they match the other color accents of the Raleigh Retroglide iE well.

The big balloon style 26” x 2.35” Schwalbe Fat Frank tires give the Raleigh Retroglide iE some built in suspension with their large air volume. 

At the right pressure they have an efficient ride feel while at the same time they take a lot of the roughness out of the road.

They also make the Raleigh Retroglide iE feel extremely stable and fun to ride. 

And not only that but the Fat Franks match the color highlights of the grips and saddle well. They definitely add a lot of style to the overall classic look of the Raleigh Retroglide iE.  

While I didn’t have any flats while testing the Raleigh Retroglide iE it would be a good idea to use a tube sealant like Slime if you live in an area with a lot of sharp objects in the road (glass, thorns, etc.).

Comfort is what the Raleigh saddle is all about. It has a wider profile with 2 coil springs to give you an extra comfortable ride. 

The saddle style and color fits the cruiser look of the Raleigh Retroglide iE very well.

One of the unique highlights of the Raleigh Retroglide iE is the 350 watt Currie Electro-Drive/TransX mid-drive.

A lot of eCruisers come equipped with hub motors but Raleigh went with a mid-drive to provide an efficient ride with good hill climbing capabilities.

With a mid-drive system you need to be more aware of shifting so that you are in the correct gear to get the most out of its efficiency and hill climbing capabilities. 

In the higher assist levels (3 and 4) the Raleigh Retroglide iE can really get going quickly from a stop! This is very helpful when you want to get through an intersection fast.

The Currie Electro-Drive/TransX mid-drive is pretty smooth in the way that it adds assist almost immediately when you start pedaling and it stops the assist as soon and you stop pedaling.

The pedal assist is activated with a cadence sensor and wheel speed sensor system.

The Raleigh Retroglide iE is a Class 1 electric bike per California law (other states are adopting and using similar laws). In short, that means that it is a pedal assist bike with a max assist speed 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 iE.

When you get to the 20 mph max assist limit the transition between assist and no assist is a bit abrupt. The system just stops assisting compared to some other systems that gradually reduce the assist as you hit the max assist speed. 

There is a way to adjust the power curve of the Currie Electro-Drive system which will be covered below. At the lower power curve levels the transition between assist and no assist at 20 mph is less abrupt but it is still noticeable. 

Compared to other eBikes that I have ridden the Raleigh Retroglide iE is in the medium range of motor sound. Once you get up to speed you don’t notice the motor noise very much. It is when you are climbing a steep hill and spinning the cranks fast the noise is more noticeable. 

A Raleigh/TransX 48 Volt 8.8 ah (422 watt hours) lithium battery provides the kick to the 350 watt mid-drive motor. 

The rectangular battery pack is housed in the rear rack that is welded to the frame for solid stability. 

There is a rack platform above the battery that provides a flat surface to secure items with a bungee cord. In addition, baskets or bags can be mounted to the top and/or sides of the rack for carrying items. 

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

Once the battery has been unlocked with the supplied key (it comes with 2 keys) you can pull it off the back of the rack with a grab handle that folds down from the back of the battery pack. 

Removing the 7.3 pound battery pack brings the weight of the Raleigh Retroglide iE to 50.6 pounds which makes it a little easier to load on a car rack. 

Because the battery is housed below the top of the rack it maintains the clean overall look of the Raleigh Retroglide iE well.

You can use traditional bike bags and panniers on the side of the rack and they would further hide the battery from sight. 

Okay, now let’s take a look at the controls and display of the Raleigh Retroglide iE.

There are 4 levels of pedal assist and they each provide a distinct amount of assist.

Levels 1 and 2 are pretty mellow for easy going rides and levels 3 and 4 really have some kick for getting around town quick!

The power curve can be adjusted with the control pad per the information below.

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. 

The LED display and control pad on the left side of the handlebar is small and discrete which fits the clean look of the Raleigh Retroglide iE very well.

It is simple with information like current speed, battery level, pedal assist level, and estimated range remaining. 

The control pad buttons adjust the pedal assist up (+) or down (-) (or off) and turns the bike on/off.

Estimated range based on your current battery level and which pedal assist level you are in can be displayed by pushing the on/off button quickly while the bike is on. 

Here are the range estimates with a full battery pack:

Pedal assist level 4 = 24 miles

Pedal assist level 3 = 43 miles

Pedal assist level 2 = 57 miles

Pedal assist level 1 = 76 miles

In the next section of the review you will see the results from the range test in pedal assist level 4. 

In direct sunlight it was hard to see the speed on the display (upper left) and the size of the numbers are small.

The battery level indicator light changes colors depending on the amount of charge. Here are the colors and corresponding battery charge levels:

Green = 100% to 60% charge

Orange = 60% to 20% charge

Red = 20% to 0% charge.

When the battery is close to empty the light flashes red.

There is also a battery level indicator with bars indicating 20% levels of charge on the battery pack but you need to get off the bike and look at the battery on the rear rack. 

A 7 speed drivetrain made up of quality components from Shimano provides a nice range of gears.

The 42 tooth chainring powers back to the 7 speed freewheel that ranges from 12 tooth to 32 tooth cogs. 

This gear range is just right for the Raleigh Retroglide iE as it is able to cruise comfortably at 20 mph on relatively flat roads while the lower gearing works well for climbing steeper hills with the mid-drive motor providing assist. 

The Shimano SL-TX50 7 speed shifter has a light action making it very easy to shift through the gears. 

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. 

Slowing the Raleigh Retroglide iE down is handled with alloy Tektro V-brakes which blend with the overall style of bike well. 

V-brakes do a good job of slowing the bike down but this is one area that could be improved. It would be nice to have disc brakes because of their power and ability to handle wet weather well. 

It is understandable that V-brakes were used to maintain the classic style and keep the price of the Raleigh Retroglide iE in check. 

Like the other design points on the Raleigh Retroglide iE, the accessories follow the classic styling well. 

The chain guard does a great job of keeping your pant legs clean while adding a lot of character to the Raleigh Retroglide iE. 

The front and rear fenders are wide to accommodate the Schwalbe Fat Frank balloon tires and they each have a nice flared end for some added styling.

The aluminum rear rack has curved tubes that match the main frame styling and they are welded directly to the frame for a very sturdy structure for the battery and any basket, bags, and/or panniers. 

There are connections for lights (not included) that can run off of the main eBike battery and they can be turned on/off by holding down the – button on the control pad for 2 seconds. 

And last but not least is the kickstand that looks good and it has a solid bolted connection to the chainstay of the frame. 

Okay, let’s see how the Raleigh Retroglide iE did out on the open road!

Raleigh Retroglide iE Range Test Results:

Here is the real world information on how the Raleigh Retroglide iE 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 Raleigh Retroglide iE in the highest pedal assist level (level 4) with relatively easy pedaling.

Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the Raleigh Retroglide iE traveled 22.7 miles and did a total elevation gain of around 1,900 ft. Considering that I weigh 190 lbs and I pedaled very lightly this is good range for a 48 Volt 8.8 ah battery pack (422 Watt Hours) with a 350 watt motor assisting up to 20 mph. 

Based on the range estimate of 24 miles when the ride was started it shows that the estimated range is pretty accurate, especially considering the amount of climbing during the ride.  

Here are the range estimates with a full battery pack:

Pedal assist level 4 = 24 miles

Pedal assist level 3 = 43 miles

Pedal assist level 2 = 57 miles

Pedal assist level 1 = 76 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 Raleigh Retroglide iE will assist up to 20 mph. 

Weight: The Raleigh Retroglide iE tips the scales at 57.9 lbs which is a fairly average electric bike weight. Removing the battery brings it down to around 50.6 pounds which makes it a little easier to load onto a car rack.

The weight distribution of the Raleigh Retroglide iE is somewhat back heavy because of the rear rack battery and you can mainly feel this when you try to pick the bike up to take it up stairs or lift it onto a car rack. 

Pros:

Fun & Comfortable:  The Raleigh Retroglide iE is a lot of fun to ride and its easy going and comfortable ride feel make you want to get out on an eCruise as much as possible!

Classic Style with Mid-Drive: The classic beach cruiser style looks cool and the modern 350 watt 48V mid-drive system makes the Raleigh Retroglide iE a great eCruiser for everyday commuting, errand running, and all around fun riding.

Price Point: At $1,999 (currently on sale for $1,899) the Raleigh Retroglide iE offers a lot of value with the Raleigh brand and a solid line up of quality components from Currie Electro-Drive (TranzX), Shimano, Tektro, Schwalbe, and more. 

Cons:

Assist at 20 mph: When you get to the 20 mph max assist limit the transition between assist and no assist is a bit abrupt. The system just stops assisting compared to some other systems that gradually reduce the assist as you hit the max assist speed.  At the lower power curve levels the transition between assist and no assist at 20 mph is less abrupt but it is still noticeable.

Brakes: The V-brakes provide enough power for slowing the Raleigh Retroglide iE down well but in some ways it would be nice to have front and rear disc brakes for more power and better wet weather performance. The V-brakes do fit the overall look and price point of the Raleigh Retroglide iE well. 

Conclusion:

Overall the Raleigh Retroglide iE is a lot of fun to ride. It is a very comfortable eCruiser that makes everyday riding something to look forward to, even if it’s going to work!

And of course the Retroglide iE is great for getting out for those easy going cruiser rides around the neighborhood or town.

At $1,999 (currently on sale for $1,899) the Raleigh Retroglide iE packs in a lot of value with quality components from Currie Electro-Drive, Shimano, Tektro, Schwalbe, 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 Raleigh Retroglide iE? Check with Raleigh Electric for a dealer near you.

Do you have any questions about the Raleigh Retroglide iE?  Do you own a Raleigh Retroglide iE?  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 or not.

P.S. Don’t forget to join the Electric Bike Report community for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips!