The big news today is that XDS is launching a new global bike range under its X-Lab branding. The bikes seem to offer exceptional spec for the money, and they’re covering everything from pro road to commuter ebikes.
While Jordan got a chance to check out the new GT8 gravel bike ahead of time, I was given the opportunity to test out a very different bike… the SP5+. One of two eBikes in the new 9-model lineup, the lightweight SP5+ is joined by the more substantial ST5+. Geared more towards commuters and those looking to carry more cargo on their rides, the ST5+ has more peak power, a bit more torque, and a bigger battery. That all adds up to a claimed weight of 54.58lbs (24.76kg). Pretty average for a powerful ebike with a bigger battery.
The SP5+, on the other hand, weighs in at just 37.56lbs. And it’s only $1,899. With a mid-drive motor. And lights. And Shimano Cues parts. Huh.
The combination of weight, price, and spec is what really made me curious about this bike. I’m constantly fielding questions from older friends and family who are ebike-curious. A lot of them don’t have an unlimited budget, and they need something light enough that they can actually get it on the bike rack, out of the shed, garage, etc. Most affordable ebikes don’t exactly fall into the lightweight category, so could this be the answer? Maybe…
X-Lab SP5+ Details
The SP5+ is considered a fitness-focused electric bike with an aluminum frame, carbon fork, one-piece aluminum stem/bar, and aluminum wheels. The frame houses a Branta-branded XDS Mid-Drive X800 motor with 250-watt maximum continuous rated power, and 400 watt peak power, and 85Nm of torque. The bike is a Class 2 ebike, meaning it provides assistance when pedaling, and has a throttle available that can be used without pedaling. Both modes of assist cut out at 20mph, but we’re told the bikes will be able to be adjusted to a class 3 through the X-Lab Bikes app, which will be live soon.
The SP5+ meets UL 2849 and UL 2271 safety compliance standards and incorporates a 339Wh rechargeable lithium-ion battery. This is one of the areas that makes a lightweight ebike… light. A smaller battery greatly reduces weight, but decreases range. From my experience, I can expect around 30-40 miles of range riding in the two highest assist settings, which should be plenty for the majority of riders who will use this bike.
The bicycle includes a fully integrated cockpit that combines the display, headlight, and handlebars into a single unit. Additional features include a Quad Lock phone mount, integrated rear taillight with brake light functionality, and Apple Find My anti-theft technology with Bluetooth connectivity and OTA updates (I haven’t been able to test this last feature yet, as the app isn’t live yet). The drivetrain consists of a Shimano CUES 9-speed shifter and rear derailleur with a Sugek 13-46T cassette, KMC E-Glide-S chain, and a Branta Aluminum crankset with a 46t narrow-wide chainring. This is paired with Branta R240 700c x 40mm gravel all-terrain tires designed for versatile riding conditions.
If you haven’t caught on yet, there are a lot of Branta components on this bike – seat post, saddle, rims, hubs, motor, cranks, brakes, tires, etc. On all X-Lab bikes, for that matter. Branta is XDS’s in-house component brand, and they seem to make just about everything. The SP5+ has Branta EC215D E-bike hydraulic disc brakes too, which feature nicely machined two-piston calipers, finned brake pads, and their own rotors.
The initial feel and performance of these brakes is surprisingly good. They took very little time to break in, make little noise, and offer impressive power with good modulation. For those curious, the brakes are mineral oil-based, and can be bled with any universal mineral oil bleed kit.
The SP5+ rolls on Branta aluminum wheels with Branta R240 700c x 40mm tires. They roll smoothly, and seem to have decent grip. The tires are 30tpi, so don’t expect high end suppleness, but that should also mean that they’re fairly durable.
The SP5+ has a number of mounts, with three packs on each fork leg, two bottle mounts inside the frame, and what appear to be fender mounts at the rear. There are mounts on the inside and outside of the seat stays at the axle, so it seems like there may be a potential for a rack mount as well. We’ll verify this and report back. The front doesn’t have traditional fender mounts, but there is a mount on the back of the fork crown, so it seems like you could mount the fender struts to the lower three-pack bolt and make it work.
First Impressions
After a quick top-off charge with the included magnetic charging cable, I got out on a few short rides to find out what the SP5+ was all about. This bike won’t wow you with massive power or speed, but the ebike system performs better than anything I’ve ridden under $2k. It won’t win you any hill climb competitions, but it handles inclines better than the Raleigh Redux I have with a Brose motor. The more expensive ebikes with motors from Bosch, Specialized, Fazua, etc. seem to have smoother power delivery and more sensitive torque sensors, but that’s splitting hairs, especially given the price of the SP5+.
The motor freehub also seems to be a bit noisy, but the classic review story is that this is a preproduction sample, and the product batch should be quieter.
The motor itself is very quiet. It will make itself heard when climbing steep hills at high cadence, but on normal cruising, it’s nearly silent. It’s only when you get to the transition point from pedal assist to full human power (from 19mph to 21mph) that you start to get a bit of a rattle, or when using throttle only.
For now (without the app), the ebike control system is very simple. There is a power button and an up and down arrow. The power button turns the bike on and off, and the arrows toggle up or down through the three levels of assist. Also, if you hold down the up arrow, it will turn the lights on or off. The screen shows you your battery percentage, current trip, estimated range, assist mode, and your speed. For now, that’s it. But it’s possible that the addition of the X-Lab App will provide additional features.
The integrated lights are pretty impressive for how small they are. I’d say they’re enough to ride with in complete darkness, but just barely. I’d love it if the headlight threw more light up and forward, instead of mostly down on the pavement in front of you. It was hard to pick up people walking on the side of the road or other dangers outside of that lighted square when it got really dark. The rear lights with their brake-light functionality seem perfectly adequate.
Aero Seat Post?
I was surprised to see an aero seatpost used for this frame. It’s my opinion that the targeted user of this bike will get almost zero gain from an aero seatpost (especially an aluminum one), but will lose a few things. For one, a proprietary seat post will always be a replacement headache down the line. If the seatpost head breaks or the post develops a crack, or someone steals your seat and seatpost, or the seatpost collar breaks, a round post and clamp is way easier to replace.
Round posts also allow you to make slight adjustments for saddles that might not be perfectly straight.
Then, we’ve heard it from multiple sources that aero posts tend to be less forgiving than round posts. This is an aluminum aero post (which is also probably more expensive to produce than round?), which seems like it would be even less compliant than a carbon aero post. I believe this rider would prefer a more comfortable ride to a fraction of a watt saved.
Finally, dropper posts are great – even on a city bike. There’s nothing like rolling up to a stoplight and hitting your dropper so you can comfortably come to a rest while you wait for the light to change. Also, droppers make getting on and off easier, which goes hand in hand with a lightweight ebike that will be very appealing to an older crowd. Obviously, adding a dropper would raise the price, but at least having the option to add one in the future would be preferred.
The aero post isn’t a deal breaker. It’s well designed and has a high-quality adjustable head. I’m sure the intent was to go for a high-end look, but if I were to redesign this bike, it would definitely have a round post.
Sizing, Geometry & Fit
Unlike a lot of one-size-fits-most affordable ebikes, the SP5+ is offered in three sizes. I’m on the medium here, and it fits very well out of the box. With a saddle height of 69cm (top of saddle to center of BB), the handlebar is slightly above the saddle, which is pretty close to the position on my Raleigh.
It’s not overly aggressive, but it’s not super upright either. That’s important to consider because with the one-piece cockpit and integrated screen (not to mention cables), you really don’t have any option for anything more upright (or more aggressive, for that matter). That could be the one deal breaker that will keep more people from getting on this bike.
Final Thoughts
More than anything, when you get on the SP5+, it doesn’t feel like a $1,900 bike. This feels like a much more expensive bike that is only going to get better with the X-Lab app.
Ultimately, this bike is what a large percentage of the riding public is looking for – it’s a lightweight bike made for riding around your neighborhood, your local rail trail, or zipping to the store. It has a great build, it looks good, and it’s priced less than many mainstream competitors’ bikes with hub-based motors instead of mid-drive.
We’ll see what the long-term durability is like, but if I were an established brand in the e-bike space right now, I’d be paying close attention to X-Lab.
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