Power — Bafang hub drive, 1000 nominal watts, 160 Newton meters of torque
Speed — 35 mph
Battery and Range — 48 volt 14 ah, 35 miles, additional 14 ah or 17 ah, 85 miles, Samsung cells
Pedal assist sensor — Torque sensor
Display — Bafang Color LCD
Frame and weight — 6061 Aluminum alloy, 70 pound curb weight
Suspension — DNM AO-42-RC, 190 mm
Gearing — Sram NX, 11 speed
Brakes — Eunorau, hydraulic disc, 180 mm rotors
Warranty — 2 year comprehensive, 14 day return
Price — Starting at 3,799 USD
Hello and welcome to Electrified Reviews! Today we’re reviewing the Eunorau Specter S and let me tell you, this is one lean, mean, trail-eating machine. The Specter S is an exceptionally capable full suspension electric mountain bike with top shelf components all around, incredible frame geometry and enough power and torque to tear up even the steepest inclines.
The Specter S has a starting price of $3,799 USD, which honestly just hurts even saying that number out loud, but this ride has a lot going for it. The Specter S comes in two frame sizes, 17 inch and 19 inch, and two different colors, black and green and black and red. The Specter S that we received for review has a brushed aluminum frame and I really hope Eunorau offers this color option to you guys as well because man it is just so sweet looking. There’s also a 2 year comprehensive warranty and a 14 day return policy.
Ok let’s dive into the specs.
The Specter S has a Bafang 1,000 watt mid-drive motor with 160 Newton meters of torque, which can bring this ride up to a breakneck top speed of 35 mph. This motor is truly nothing short of incredible, and it is just so much fun. And because it’s a mid-drive, it’s able to leverage the gearing of the bike for maximum torque. If you’re looking for an absolute beast of a hill crusher, this is it.
This Specter S also has a torque sensor, which basically allows the motor to synchronize its power output with your own. So the harder you pedal, the harder the motor works. And man is it responsive. There’s absolutely zero latency with motor activation and deactivation. This torque sensor really makes it feel like the bike is an extension of yourself, and this is an ideal setup for serious single track trail riding.
The battery setup on the Specter S is very cool as well. It comes stock with an internal 48 volt 17 amp hour Samsung cell battery with a max estimated range of 40 miles, and an option to upgrade to an additional 17 ah battery that mounts on the outside of the downtube like a traditional e-bike battery. This extra 17 ah battery would double your max range to around 80 miles, but it will also set you back another $400 USD. It also only fits on the larger 19 inch frame, but you can still get a 14 ah version for the 17 inch frame for $300.
The Specter S has a hefty curb weight of 70 pounds, but it feels so much lighter than that when you’re riding it. All the battery and motor weight is dead in the middle of the frame and low to the ground too. That leaves the Specter S very well balanced, and again, this is exactly what you want for a serious e-mtb. The overall geometry is pretty much spot on too and at the end of the day the Specter S is a surprisingly nimble ride. The only thing that makes it feel a little bit sluggish are the huge Kenda 26 inch by 4 inch fat tires. These tires are great if you plan to power through backwoods bogs, mud pits, sand, snow or some other super squishy terrain, but that huge tire patch also has a lot of drag, and for normal trail riding, a narrower tire might be better. Thankfully, Eunorau does offer the Specter S with 27.5 inch by 3 inch mtb wheels for an additional $300.
At the back of the bike we’ve got a Sram NX derailleur with an 11 gear cassette, paired with some trigger shifters. This is a super fast shifting derailleur that allows you to rifle through the entire cassette without skipping a beat. Even better, the Specter S does have shift detection and I’m very happy to say it is hands down the best shift detection we’ve seen to date. It does it’s job well, and you really, really want that to be the case with that 1,000 watt mid-drive because that things spits out a ton of torque.
I’m also happy to see a double-sided aluminum bash guard on the Specter S, which not only helps protect the chainring teeth from strikes, but it also helps keep the chain locked into place. Oh and there’s also a chain guide to further reduce derailments. Honestly, Eunorau really though of just about everything here.
For suspension we’ve got DNM AO-42-RC inverted forks with 190 mm of travel in the front and another DNM suspension in the rear. Guys, I don’t know how else to say this, but this is a for real electric mountain bike. I mean this suspension setup is super sweet and makes for a buttery smooth ride, even on the nastiest of trails. We’ve also got a thru axle up front for even more strength and durability.
The integrated headlight on the Specter S has a decent output, but it’s still not bright enough to ride at night. We definitely recommend grabbing additional lighting before hitting the trails after sunset. There is a tail light as well, but it is not integrated.
Wire management on the Specter S is good, but it would be nice to see them grouped together and wrapped. They are internally routed though, which is great because it looks clean and also keep the wires protected from getting damaged.
For brakes, the Specter S has Eunorau branded dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors. And while these brakes work fine, they’re a little underwhelming compared to all the other components on the Specter S. It would be nice to see at least 203 mm rotors, or maybe an option to upgrade to something like a quad piston Magura setup. Thankfully, these brakes do have motor inhibitors built in, and since they’re hydraulic, you can also adjust the resting position of the brake levers.
The display on the Specter S is awesome. But it’s a Bafang display, so we’d expect nothing less. It’s a color LCD screen and it’s super easy to read even in direct sunlight. It’s also adjustable if you do want to change the angle.
The button pad and the throttle are on the left side of the handlebars, and the trigger shifters are on the right. The grips are flat and rubberized with lockers on both sides so they’re not going anywhere.
The Specter S is a purpose built e-mbt that’s ready to take on pretty much anything you can throw at it. It has power and speed and torque, sure, but more than that, it’s well though out. The suspension choice, thru axle, frame geometry, mid-drive motor, hydraulic disc brakes, the Specter S has everything you need for the most extreme adventure you can dream up. Now all it needs is a seat post dropper.
