Electric Bike Action Bike Test: Pegasus Premio Cross Commuter Bike
Pegasus Bikes Premio Cross Commuter
Pegasus is a German brand that, in the U.S., is under the same brand umbrella as Bulls and are billed as a less-expensive sister brand. Whereas Bulls targets athletes with performance-oriented bikes, Pegasus makes bikes for urban riders and commuters. For several years they have been treating bikes as the “transportation of the future,” encouraging a culture of riding and advocating for safer streets, etc.
THE BIKE
The Premio Cross is made for commuting, and the frame comes in two types: there’s a step-through with a very low top tube and what they call a “Wave frame,” where there’s no top tube, instead opting for a downtube that goes to the bottom bracket and a short gusset tube that goes from near the bottom of the downtube to near the bottom of the seat tube. It offers easier mounting and dismounting than even the step-through frame.
There is an integrated (non-removable) rack that’s welded onto the back that can carry everything you need for work or groceries—whatever you need to carry. There are plenty of places to attach panniers, a baby seat, or use straps or bungees to secure whatever you need to carry.
The SR Suntour NEX E-25 air fork has 63mm of travel with preload and air-pressure adjustments, which means you can tailor the action and feel of the fork to your preferences (and to how bad your roads are maintained).
THE PARTS
There are a lot of creature comforts here, starting with the adjustable stem. Though it requires an Allen key, you can easily set it up to be as upright as you’d like. Grips are halfway between full ergonomics and simply round. The plastic flat pedals work well with any type of shoe, and we found the front and rear mudguards help keep you dry and clean on your ride. Integrated front and rear lights are powered by the battery, and the front light is plenty bright enough to see at night, but also to be seen if using it as a daytime running light.
The 700x40c tires have light knobs on them, are e-bike-rated and can run anywhere from 50–75 psi. The higher the pressure, the less rolling resistance, but that also translates to a slightly bumpier ride, as the tires can’t help take-out the shocks from bad streets as well.
“As a commuter this bike is very good, with all of its ergonomic touches, plenty of speed to get you through traffic, and more than enough power to get you to work without sweating.”
Tektro hydraulic disc brakes provide plenty of stopping power and are very easy to modulate.
The 8-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain features a 44T sprocket in the front and 11-34T in the back. It shifts easily, and that range covered every hill, descent and flat ground we threw at it easily.
THE MOTOR
Pegasus opts for a Bosch Active Line mid-drive, a 250-watt motor that puts out a gentle but powerful 40 N/m of torque at speeds of up to 20 mph. It’s internally geared with plastic gears for quiet operation, and sensors that measure cadence, torque and speed 1000 times per second to detect shifts to ensure smooth shifting with less strain and wear.
The battery is a 500-Wh (36V, 13.4Ah) PowerPack mounted on the downtube. It can be removed using a key for storage or charging, and, of course, you can leave it on the bike to charge as well.
The controller and display are integrated into one single Bosch Purion unit. The backlit LCD lets you see what mode you’re in, what your speed is, remaining battery charge and power output. It keeps the handlebars a little cleaner with an integrated unit like this.
WHO IT’S MADE FOR
The Premio Cross is aimed at commuters specifically, but it’s also great for recreational riders who want some utility and can be outfitted to be a proper trekking bike. The included fenders mean that you can ride it more often, even if the weather forecast isn’t sunny.
THE RIDE
We like to ride test bikes with the motor off for a while to see how it performs as a regular bike. That can come in handy if your battery is especially low, etc. The Premio Cross worked great in this capacity. There is some drag from the motor, but not much. Because of the weight of the bike, it corners very well even without assist.
Turning on the motor can be done on the fly. If you start riding and forget to turn it on, this can be helpful, not having to stop the bike while you turn it on. It’s a Bosch motor, and they keep making them lighter, smaller and quieter. You have to be riding this bike to hear the motor when it’s engaged; riders next to you likely won’t hear it.
There are four power modes: Eco, Tour, Sport and Turbo. It offers pedal assistance at a rate of 40 percent of rider input in Eco, 100 percent in Tour, 170 percent in Sport and 250 percent in Turbo at a maximum cadence of 100 rpm. On this bike we found that Tour was our go-to. Eco does a little better than making up for the weight of the bike, but why have an e-bike if you’re barely going to use the electric part, right? We did find Sport mode to be helpful on steep hills. As much as we love power, Turbo was the mode we almost never used. Not that that is a bad thing; there’s something great about knowing you have a more powerful level, just in case you ever need it.
The bike is very planted in corners. We tried it on a variety of surfaces, including some wet pavement and even the sandy beach bike path, and it was very predictable and controllable. The geometry of the bike is fairly forgiving, and the ride is lively without being twitchy. The handlebars, at 2 feet (610mm) wide, add to this stability with that width, yet are still narrow enough to squeeze between double-parked cars on bike lanes.
As a commuter this bike is very good, with all of its ergonomic touches, plenty of speed to get you through traffic, and more than enough power to get you to work without sweating. You could certainly turn the power down and get in a workout on the way home! We’d definitely suggest a set of panniers to help you carry stuff. You’ll find 1001 uses for it and constant reasons to ride.
THE VERDICT
This bike is not only a great commuter bike or just an urban grocery-getter/errand runner, but it’s a good value, especially considering the reliable Bosch motor system built into it. Build quality and ride quality are excellent. With good, simple maintenance, this bike will last for years.
SPECS
PEGASUS PREMIO CROSS
Price: $2799
Motor: Bosch Active Line Plus 250W
Battery: Bosch PowerPack 500Wh
Charge time: 4.5 hours
Top speed: 20 mph
Range: 20–50 miles
Drive: Shimano Altus
Brakes: Tektro HD-M275 hydraulic disc brakes, 180/160mm
Controls: Bosch Purion
Fork: SR Suntour NEX-E25, 63mm travel
Frame: 7005 Aluminum, step-through
Tires: CST C-1879 700x40C
Weight: 52.4 lb.
Color Choice: Shiny White
Sizes: 45cm, 50cm, 53cm (Step-through), 45cm, 50cm (Wave)
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