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MagyarPorsche eBike Sport (3rd Gen.) in a practical test: Riding a Porsche on two wheels is a lot of fun
Porsche is also increasing its presence in the field of electromobility, not only on four wheels, as with the Taycan, but also on two. Porsche has been increasingly involved in the e-bike sector for several years. Together with Rotwild, the two models - Porsche eBike Cross and Sport - have been on offer for some time.
Over the last few days, we have taken the third-generation Porsche eBike (3rd Gen.), presented last summer, for a spin. Our test report reveals what customers who can or want to afford the not-exactly-low purchase price get.
Porsche eBike Sport: A first overview of the luxury e-bike
Anyone ordering a new car from Porsche often breaks the 100,000 euro mark. But you can also enjoy the experience of a sporty model from the Zuffenhausen-based manufacturer for considerably less. Even a whole zero can be removed from the price tag. But then there are only two wheels and significantly less horsepower - 250 W of power and 85 Newton meters of torque to be precise.
What would be a ridiculous price for a car is a proud sum for an e-bike - 11.500 euros to be precise. However, the Porsche eBike Sport 3rd Gen also offers a really high level of equipment that you won't find everywhere. And, to anticipate: The two-wheeler meets the high standards of the Porsche brand just as well as its four-wheeled counterparts.
The Porsche e-bike is powered by one of the best and most powerful e-bike motors available on the market. It is equipped with the Shimano EP801, a further development of the EP8. The mid-motor provides pedelec-compliant pedal assistance up to 25 km/h and pushes forward with 250 W of power and 85 Nm of torque. The drive is fed from a battery located in the down tube, also from Shimano. For the two frame sizes M and L, this has a capacity of 630 Wh, for size S it is only 504 Wh.
The Porsche e-bike with headlight does not rely on understatement
Another highlight of the Porsche eBike Sport is the 12-speed Shimano XT DI2 electronic shifting system. So you won't find any cables here. As the cables for the Magura MCi disc brakes with 4-piston brake calipers are also well concealed at the front and rear, the pedelec has a very clean look with no visible cabling.
The Porsche e-bike makes no secret of its electric drive. The down tube of the carbon frame in black with full suspension at the front and rear with 100 mm travel and the integrated and removable battery is solid and angular. The motor in the bottom bracket area is not hidden either. Porsche lettering sits enthroned on the left and right of the down tube, while the gold-colored Porsche logo flashes at the front of the head tube. So understatement is not the thing for this e-bike, but somehow it wouldn't really fit either.
This also applies to the integrated lighting. Not only is it particularly bright, ensuring good visibility, but it also includes a high beam at the front, that can be activated with the touch of a button. There is also a built-in headlight flasher. This means you can also draw attention to yourself on the cycle path with a light signal.
Roadworthy equipment
Measured by hand, the Porsche eBike Sport weighs a good 22 kg - including Crankbrothers stamp 2 pedals, which are included in the scope of delivery. That's quite a lot, especially if the eBike is to be carried into a cellar, for example. Optionally, the weight can be reduced by 3.7 kg by removing the lock-secured battery from the frame.
In addition to the pedals, Porsche also supplies the obligatory charger from Shimano, which weighs around 800 g, a mountable stand, and various reflectors, so that the Sport model can be equipped for road traffic with its integrated lighting and pre-installed bell. In the end, there are still a few grams more. The manufacturer states the permissible total weight as 120 kg.
There are not too many tasks in the way of the first ride after delivery of the big box. Straighten the handlebars, adjust the saddle to the correct height, fit the pedals and, if necessary, charge the battery (from 0 to 50 percent in approx. 2.5 hours, from 0 to 100 percent in approx. 6 hours). The charger can either be connected directly to the e-bike or via an adapter to the removed battery. Then you're ready to go and the fun really begins...
Performance and ride comfort in abundance
The Shimano EP801 in the Porsche eBike Sport is beyond reproach. It offers three support levels (Eco, Trail, Boost), which provide different levels of assistance. Even at the lowest setting, the e-bike accelerates comfortably and effortlessly to around 25 km/h and maintains this speed over a longer period.
If there are mountains or small hills in the way, a quick tap on the controller on the left of the handlebars is enough to shift up a gear or two. In boost mode, even steeper climbs can be passed quite comfortably and quickly. Overall, the motor engages very comfortably and is barely noticeable or audible. The Porsche eBike Sport is understated, at least acoustically.
The electronic gears from Shimano shift quickly, reliably, and quietly between the twelve gears. A compact control unit is installed on the right-hand side of the handlebars for this purpose. A highlight of the high-quality Shimano gear system is the Free Shift support. In automatic mode, this automatically selects the correct gear depending on the speed without the need to pedal, which worked well in the practical test. In addition, the Magura disc brakes are powerful when required - for short braking distances at sports car level.
Off-road with the Porsche eBike Sport
Of course, the Porsche eBike Sport can not only be used to cruise through the city but also to ride off-road. After all, this is a full-suspension e-bike with chunky tires and 100 mm front and rear suspension travel. This is also great fun, especially because the motor makes light work of the strenuous climbs in between. The weight of a good 22 kg is somewhat noticeable when cornering at speed. Nevertheless, the e-bike always feels safe and is a lot of fun to ride.
But let's be realistic... We see it more like the Porsche Cayenne. It can also drive over hills and dale, but most of the time it is driven through the asphalt deserts and metropolitan areas of the world. This is probably also where the e-bike will primarily be found. With its electric gears and integrated lighting, not to mention the price, it is almost too good to eat dust and dirt.
If you really want to take a Porsche pedelec off-road a lot and regularly, you are probably better off with the Porsche eBike Cross. Here you get classic gearing without electronics and a slightly lower weight for at least 1,500 euros less - if you don't go for the Cross Performance version...
That's not to say that the Porsche eBike Sport can't also climb and race down steep slopes in the forest or mountains. But primarily the daily commute to work or a tour at the weekend is perfectly feasible. However, the roads should be dry. Because it doesn't have mudguards as standard.
Impressive range and practical app
The display on the handlebars, which provides information on many things such as the mode, support mode, trip length, speed, and gear selected, also shows the remaining range. With a fully charged battery, the display shows an initial range of 175 km in Eco mode (Trail: 84 km / Boost: 64 km).
In practice, this value is unlikely to be achieved. However, the range of the Porsche eBike Sport is still impressive. In the test, we were mainly (approx. 75 percent) in Eco mode, only occasionally switching to Trail (approx. 20 percent) or Boost mode (approx. 5 percent). After a longer tour of around 40 km, the battery still showed 70 percent, which extrapolates to a range of around 130 km with this riding style - remarkable!
In addition to the display, the Shimano E-Tube Ride app for iOS and Android also provides detailed information on request. An account is required. This allows tours to be recorded so that they can be analyzed in detail afterwards. In addition to standard values such as maximum and average speed (including time progression), cadence, distance covered, and time, the app also evaluates the average use of the modes and gears.
If you activate the GPS on your smartphone, you can also record the route on a map. Unfortunately, the Porsche eBike Sport does not have its own GPS module. This is a shame, as this would also be a practical feature for theft protection. Because at this price, the luxury e-bike with the eye-catching Porsche logo is likely to be popular with thieves...
Porsche eBike Sport 3rd Gen Verdict: An expensive pleasure
The Porsche eBike Sport is not completely free of criticism. But it is definitely one of the best-equipped and most impressive sporty e-bikes currently available on the market.
The Shimano EP801 motor leaves an excellent impression in the practical test and is beyond any doubt with its high performance and quiet operation.
The range on one battery charge is impressive, especially in Eco mode. The gears and brakes are at eye level with the motor and, if desired, automatically ensure the right gears and short braking distances. The full suspension supports the riding comfort, even if the e-bike is definitely designed for sporty riding - anything else would not fit in with the Porsche name.
In the end, however, it is the same here as with Porsche vehicles. The upscale equipment, the name, and the associated image have their price... If you would like to ride a Porsche on two wheels through the city and countryside, you will have to fork out a hefty €11,500 for the Porsche eBike Sport, but you will also get an excellently equipped luxury e-bike with a long-range and lots of riding fun. It is available directly from the manufacturer. If you want something a little more expensive, you can opt for the new Caviar Edition in gold and titanium.
Transparency
The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
