I’m looking to get an electric bike for my circa 5 mile commute into work. The journey back each day’s a little on the steep side, which is why I’m going electric for such a short trip. I live right on the border of some beautiful countryside, so whilst 80% of my cycling will be on the road I’ll still want to take it off-road at the weekend; nothing gruelling though, just enjoyable daudles through the countryside.
Evans are having a sale at the moment, so I can get the [Raleigh Motus Tour Hub Gear f](https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/raleigh/raleigh-motus-tour-hub-gear-crossbar-400wh-electric-hybrid-bike-713917#colcode=71391708)or £1,455 whilst the [Specialized Turbo Como SL 4.0](https://www.evanscycles.com/brand/specialized/turbo-como-sl-40-electric-hybrid-bike-706626) is £1,479.
I like that the Motus Tour has suspension (both at the front and in the seat post), though I’m told it’s not a great accelerator. I also assume it having a Bosch motor, over Specialized own in the Como, is a plus from a reliability perspective. It also has a much bigger battery which, whilst I’m not planning on going on very long journeys, means I’ll need to charge it less often. When I do charge, the battery’s removable, whereas on the Como it’s not. As I dont have power in my garage this is useful, as it means I don’t have to clutter my hallways with the bike charging.
I prefer the step-through setup of the Como though and, at 21kg, it’s a third lighter than the Motus. The Como looks, from a distance, less like it’s an electric bike, which might help slightly with security. It comes with a front basket, as well as the pannier rack, whilst the Motus only has a pannier rack. That means I can shove my current work bag in the basket rather than having to buy a pannier like I’ll need to with the Motus. The Como also has the higher RRP so, theoretically, I’m getting the better deal on it, though the reality is that both bikes tend to be sold around the same price from what I can tell.
Anything hidden in either spec-sheet I’ve not taken into account? What would you recommend?
by TheAmazingJames