Stromer ST3 Pinion LE Review - $9.2k

[@ryanlavictoire8731]

Court, thank you so much for coming by our shop. And great review as always. Really concise on the information. Look forward to going for a ride again soon!

[@cameroni7798]

Watching this, I thought, "I know that guy!!" Good to see you, Ryan. I love your helmet. Where'd you get it? Hope everything is going great for you!

[@ryanlavictoire8731]

@@cameroni7798 Hey Cam! Yeah we sell these helmets at our shop in NVan

[@cameroni7798]

@@ryanlavictoire8731 Cool. Perfect for days like today. You're looking good, Ryan!

[@aviflax]

Review is so thorough and yet approachable, accessible, digestible. Well done!

[@elliots4370]

Every time I see those Stromer welds I salivate- so pretty. +1 for derailleurs being like manual gearboxes. Cheap, easy to service, and fun to actuate but not the easiest to use.

[@C0mfortCruise]

My dad's actually working for Stromer right now, so I've had the opportunity to ride a prototype of this ST3 pinion to college and back usually 3 times a week (30 miles round trip.) After clocking over 2 thousand miles on it at this point I have to say this bike makes car commutes obsolete! It rides so smooth seeing as the pinion allows you to shift to any gear regardless of whether you're pedalling, I never have to worry about battery life, and it's just about the quickest e-bike on the road. I'm sure it's not for everyone, but it really outmatches anything else on the market.

[@C0mfortCruise]

@Stu Marston If my experience is any indication, it really will. Only thing we've had to replace within the 2 years I've used it was the brake pads, and the shift cable. Aside from changing oil in the Pinion every several thousand miles, it's as close as a bike transmission gets to bulletproof. And the one thing really understated with Stromers is despite their weight, even without all the extra optional suspension, (which mine doesn't have,) they ride like normal bikes, and don't feel heavy at all.

[@C0mfortCruise]

@Stu Marston He says from his experience he hasn't heard of any reliability issues with the Sturmy, although the one knock against it is that they don't have the same level of pickup compared to other options. Also he mentioned that they only just started selling the ST2 with a Pinion now, so the entry cost for that transmission isn't as high anymore. Still a shame though that Canada has those speed restrictions in place, definitely makes Stromers a harder sell to that market.

[@tomlucas4269]

tell your dad that we need a cover for the chain or belt. It is not nice to drive with pants full with oil or stuck between a belt

[@wouldyoudomeakindnes]

i would still recommend a bike bell with this, the horn is nice but can become quite intrusive when you ride this in bike lanes

[@joshuaj.2108]

You could add an after market bell and add it to the cockpit for bike lanes and use the horn in traffic for cars.

[@maksymvinyarskyy2813]

The bike is super expensive but you can appreciate it for what it is. I wonder how many Stromer's they have sold to date. $10,000 is a Roll's Royce price tag for bikes.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

It's a good question... lots of shops have them, and continue to stock new models. Somebody must be getting them?! I would definitely lean towards this if I was still commuting daily to work in the city.

[@pwc1021]

There's always going to be some rich folks that will buy and ride these bikes. They'll likely ride up beside you with their nose up in the air and say in a snobbish way "Well, I ride a Stromer."....and then tootle off.

[@1thaleb]

Nice bike. Just bought it here in Switzerland and have done 2000kms. It's my 7th Stromer. Ok 1) the brakes don't squeal (a first in 7 years of Stromers from ST1 up to ST5). 2) Gear changing is a doddle now it's a belt. 3) Autonomy is 78kms in Sports mode after an all-night charge. BUT and here is the big "but":- It's a huge design fault when you get only 12kms in Sports Mode before the motor heats up and turns the mode off leaving gears 1 to 3 only. (Sports Mode is a huge difference to Gear 3 and is much more sensitive and rapid). Then you are left with 66kms with NO Sports Mode available because the motor remains too hot for the WHOLE of the rest of your trip. Yes you can reset it by turning the bike off and leaving it for 30 minutes to cool down (it won't). But that takes 30 minutes minimum (stuck on a bench in the country) and then you get (maybe) another 6kms before it does it again. This is in ambient temperatures from 15C (14kms) to 39C (12kms). And no, i am not driving it hard. It's impossible to get past 48kph anyway as it is maxxed by the software. It's just a normal 45kph max. If you spend 15k on a bike like this and cannot realise its full potential for 85% of your trip then that's disappointing. This is a top of the range bike price-wise. How would you like your 1479bhp Bugatti Chiron to have ONLY 221 bhp (VW GTI) for 85% of your daily driving? Thought not.......... So, Stromer get your act together and stop minimising our pleasure - redesign the phuccin motor please. I have spent enough on your bikes, so you can do that JUST for me and then the whole World will be happy.... Cheers.

[@tomlucas4269]

Why you use sport mode? does it help against the wind or only at acceleration?

[@tomlucas4269]

I dont understand why they dont cover the belt. Do you have problems with wide pants, like rain pants

[@1thaleb]

@@tomlucas4269 no problems whatsoever

[@1thaleb]

@@tomlucas4269 for both. Try it!

[@joshuas.8239]

Absolutely insane bike

[@QuadMix]

Nice review. Re. that "C50 hub" on the ST2 (Sturmey-Archer hub + built in motor system) This really got my attention. Is that a Stromer exclusive or is it a S-A product?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

I'm not sure, it's a great question though! I haven't seen it on any other ebikes to date. Maybe someone else will chime in :)

[@Cal94]

what's the tire clearance on stromer frames? would they take 27.5x3.0 tires? I've found i quite like schwalbe johnny watts in 27.5x2.8. they're grippy in most any terrain, comfy, and relatively quiet, and i don't need new bike rack cradles for em. but my biggest gripe with so many of these class 3 commuter bikes is they never have enough tire for my tastes, and they always run hard touring tires. which i think is nuts. If I can't fit terrene cake eaters or 45nrth wrathchilds on it, if i can't ride it 12 months a year (and i'm not even north of the 49th parallel)... Well i suppose i'd just not be their target market, but who knows... I aint checked one out in person lately...

[@109PokerFace]

No one is talking about the evil speed block in Canada. They forced an "upgrade" that seriously downgrades all existing stromers. Seriously angry and disappointed with this.

[@bartweimer8257]

the bike is amazing. Can you provide a link or name of the mirror that was mentioned at about 17:00?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hi Bart! I believe it's called the DOOBACK II from Zefal. I reached out to Tony Sun from Reckless Shipyards and he got right back to me with this link www.zefal.com/en/mirrors/426-dooback-ii.html

[@niallc3331]

Riese and muller every day of the week, much more reliable, comfortable, better display, power meter etc

[@blinkpacer]

Unfortunately, in Canada, Stromer has downloaded software on all cloud-connected ebikes, such as these, curtailing maximum speed to only 32 km/hr… on that spec, you can’t really say “you get what you pay for”. 😮

[@pwc1021]

Yep, class 3 ebikes are illegal here in Canada. I wanted to get a class 3 gazelle model and was scratching my head wondering why I couldn't find them on various stores' website here. Contacted a store in Toronto and a store here in BC, both confirmed that gazelle doesn't even offer any of their class 3 models to Canada. If you were to obtain one somehow, the local stores will not recognize your warranty. Frustrating, that's the stupid government for you.😡 End of rant.....not happy.

[@toolate6971]

I hope that American and Canadian e-bike manufacturers will start to integrate the Pinion MGU in their e-bikes.

[@lindasmith948]

Why no closed caption? Some of us need that.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hi Linda! I've paid to have them created on some past reviews, but it gets pretty expensive for these longer videos. Since my reviews are free, I have to keep track of the costs and stay balanced. If you're particularly interested in this review, I can try to get some closed captions added for you in the next couple of days :)

[@rmkep]

I had a 5 speed Sturmey Archer IGH with Gates belt on a large fat tire ebike and it was absolute junk. I hope this isn't that same hub ... I now have both Inviolo and Rohloff IGH's and they are much better suited to an Ebike.

[@AdamasOldblade]

I currently ride an Aventon Level.2 and love it to death (upgraded from another brand). I found out about Stromer recently and was like, floored, at first with how cool it looked and what was on it... And then like so many people I saw the price and backed off the idea of ever purchasing one. Look I love my current ebike and use it for everything except large grocery runs, but I cannot justify spending $10,000 on something like a Stromer. I, like most of the working world, am living paycheque to paycheque trying to survive just the cost of living that is never ending... How do companies like this think they're going to stay in business? VanMoof was a third of this price and they recently went bankrupt due to insane prices and proprietary parts and tools!

[@elevenAD]

Im always curious about the climbing ability on Stromers because they are direct drive motors and the bikes are on the heavy side? So many bikes i want to test ride lol!

[@sfomann]

That is exactly the info I was looking for. How is it going to perform on steep hills. Hopefully someone will answer!

[@elevenAD]

@@sfomann Most channels ignore hill climb ability, this is one of the reasons i love E-Bike Escape! That channel combined with EBR will tell you everything you need to know about a bike.

[@johnwhite5318]

I can tell you as a 4 year owner of an ST2 - they are effortless on steep climbs.

[@goldbearbunny4787]

Pretty sweet shifting bikes for sure

[@drajdew1664]

Good car replacement ebike with car like price 😀

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Yeah, I think for many people this could be an excellent car replacement. It's very durable, quiet, powerful, and has better lights and horn than I've seen on almost every other electric bike around.

[@badzioch64]

Wasn’t the rep guy with Voltbike? I think I’ve seen him in some of their videos

[@ryanlavictoire8731]

Yep. That was me. I worked at Voltbike as a warranty specialist and Sr Tech for a while during Covid.

[@60beats44]

The latest bicycle from this company is listed for US$20,000 plus. I just discovered a promising alternative. A somewhat larger bike without peddles and made in Berlin by a reputable company. It features a steel container on top of the frame which when filled to the top allows one to travel at incredible speeds by placing both feet on horizontal pegs and rotating the right hand grip and shifting through gears with the left foot and a clutch. Further investigation will reveal more details …

[@nastythomashobbs]

As of November 30th 2022 Stromer reduced all their Canadian bike speeds down to 32kph in a no choice firmware update. Only real reason to buy this bike was the added speed. Glad I sold mine over a year ago.

[@stumarston6812]

In Ontario, anything over 500 W motor is illegal. So even it's its limited to 32 kph, I think it's still illegal as it's a 750 W motor.

[@tillmannfischer]

Wow, that's an even worse regulation than here in Europe. Over here, these aren't bicycles anymore, but light motorcycles (due to the maximum motor assist speed and motor power), so you need a driving licence, insurance, and a licence plate (most European countries also mandate helmets as well as banning you from cycle paths with these). But at least they are permitted to motor assist you up to 45 km/h, like a normal 50cc scooter or moped.

[@cadriver2570]

Holy cow, that's awful. I can't imagine they were legally compelled to do this to existing bikes. That should warrant a buy-back in my opinion.

[@frankiehoosier9165]

That hub drive motor looks like it weighs about 8 pounds !!! Maybe more ! Oh Cort just brushed by quickly on the TEN and A HALF pounds the motor weighs . That’s REALLY BAD because it’s unsprung weight and makes the ride more clunky than a derailleur setup which as you can tell I favor by a LOT…..Riese and Muller Delite Touiring is my ride. Plus that price……YOWSER !!!! And NO SUSPENSION at all???? How can anyone justify a purchase of this bike???? Good job on your review ……I’m still trying to adjust to all that hand movement ….yikes !!!!!

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Yeah, I believe the hub motor weighs about 10.5lbs. It's a gearless direct drive with rare earth magnets and large electromagnetic staters. It's one of the few that offers regeneration when braking or if you enter that recoup mode. Since the rear portion of this ebike has no suspension, I would not consider the motor weight to be unsprung. In fact, it is sprung if you consider the pneumatic tires, which can flex and squish over small bumps and cracks. I also love the Delite model from Riese & Müller, especially with the dual battery option and sprung rear rack! This one is quieter and has a different look and ride quality, but to each their own. Yeah, I do talk with my hands a lot, and sometimes am rushed on camera... always working to get better, so thanks for your feedback.

[@frankiehoosier9165]

Thanks for your reply. I test rode a Riese and Muller with Rohloff vs. my purchased derailleur bike (Touring Model) and it was night and day difference. The Rohloff definitely had a more clunky ride (and remember this is a full suspension bike) compared to the derailleur setup and the derailleur had a more sporty feel which caused my purchase decision….a rather expensive one :) Oh and the Rohloff was a $1500 option !! Maybe this Stromer rides better vs. above, with the hub motor but I’m not buying it with 10.5 lbs. of concrete attached to the rear wheel. And no suspension. There’s more convincing info I could go into but I don’t want to take the time to draft it here…..ya know what I mean? Thanks

[@pt020]

Very nice bike but $9,2k is much too much.

[@bergmanst]

What size motors do these bike use? I must of mist you saying what there were.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

I believe the rating varies by geography. I saw 650 watt and 850 watt on the official Stromer website. Instead of mentioning it, I recorded both on the written review and spoke about the torque rating here of 44nm. It performs at a very high level, much more satisfying than the numbers and specs might lead one to believe. Here's the list of details: electricbikereview.com/stromer/2022-st3-pinion-le/

[@toddhurdon2016]

Help! No one makes it? Looking for an battery integrated frame fat bike with a Bafang mid drive ultra or equivalent, rolhoff speedhub 14 and gates carbon belt drive….

[@Benjamin_Jehne]

Some years ago the Stromers where something very speacial and you could tell people why they're so expensive. But in 2022, you see them and think, yeah the Pinion is nice, but the rest!? A 813Wh battery, thats something you get today with 1700$ bikes, it's a super simple directdrive hub-motor, it isn't that powerful at all and you really have to like this type of motor. So overall you could tell someone its 6000$, but 9200$ withou any supension? Thats so far of for what it is. And one thing, this isn't a commuter bike at all, as there are absoluty no reflectors on this bike. It's just not a bummer, it's real problem. This thing is unsafe. Like you said reflective side walls. Thats the easiest thing to have so you end up in a workshop to get new tyres for your new bike with it's special Pirelli-Unsafe-Tyres. Here in Europe you have to change the tyres or put reflectors in the spokes. I saw a lot of them in Swiss, but just one or two here in Germany. Thats really for people who don't think about money.

[@ranasonra5021]

For 9k though? I can’t find a reason to justify that amount. There’s a whole bunch of options at even 2k and 3k

[@brentcollins9727]

Awesome bike! What’s the top speed?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Hi Brent, I believe it depends on your geography. This product is known for being Class 3 in many jurisdictions in Europe and the US, so it can go 28mph (45km/h).

[@zeveroarerules]

Can confirm, your pants will get stuck between belt and sprocket. Get a clamp for your pants.

[@E-MountainBikerBae]

❤️🧡💛💚💙

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Thanks!

[@shushuyu]

its purty. i want one for christmas. send one to meEEEEE LOL

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Put me on that list too! It's even Christmas colors :D

[@Ian-yf3fo]

Was really getting into this review until I choked on my cornflakes. How much?? 😂

[@pawelodz8050]

Stromers are at least 2 times TO EXPENSIVE

[@Karel.C]

They're still so overpriced. Without options they're a fifth of the price of a Tesla Model Y around here....says it all. ST7 is even 1/4 the price. I'm a biker, but these prices are getting us nowhere. If they weren't sponsored by government/employer they'd be hard te sell.

[@jjboohoo9641]

No Way, I can buy 9 lectric 3.0 e-bikes for that price

[@DabFiend710]

Aluminum for 10k. Ouch

[@brucherrin8947]

9200$ ........that's real close to TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ........for a e-bike ......who is this made for ?

[@ElectricBikeReview]

I've seen wealthy people riding them. Others who want high quality long lasting ebikes. People who want speed and durability that feels safer than some cheaper speed models. I've also seen people who don't have a car but still need to get to work... A $10k awesome ebike is about as much as a decent used car but doesn't require insurance, gas, parking fees, a license, and the maintenance can be less expensive.

[@Hans-yb5jc]

For 1,5k I can het a Honda Pan European with 50 000km that will last me 350 000 miles more. Those E-bikes are a very very big scam. Overengineered stuff.. You don't see the forest while looking at all the trees.

[@Nnomadd]

I do not find it a good looking bike. Much better options for this price.

[@arcrides6841]

yah this thing is lame and super heavy. I wouldn't pay $4k for this lump of mass

[@marcomolini9338]

No doubt it's a quality machine but waaaaaay too expensive. I would buy a different ebike and a nice motorcycle for much less.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

Sure, lots of good choices out there. It's neat to see this (and many) models from Stromer, Riese & Müller, Pivot, and other super high end brands. Being able to skip the license, insurance, gas, and repairs of an automobile (and ride on paths and beat traffic) could be worth it for a nice ebike, but there are certainly less expensive options that offer good performance too :)

[@emma70707]

Not every bike had to be for every person. I agree I would spend this much on my e-bike, but that doesn't mean it's too expensive for what it is, necessarily. I'm glad there are companies developing for the high-end so that the technologies can be tested by those with plenty of disposable income and then eventually make it down into more mainstream bikes.

[@rickb1387]

Too expensive.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

It is pretty expensive... not as much as the ST5, but more than most electric bikes in the space. I think you could get a non LE version of the ST3 Pinion for a thousand less.

[@chariothumphery6833]

What’s next can’t wait . Get to the top fast - Promo'SM!!

[@goobfilmcast4239]

$9200.00 ........seriously?............Oh, Hell No ! This bike is for rich people who meet to smell each others farts and critique them like wine tasters.

[@fuzepper]

I have St5 and i only have 800€ left for this month 😁

[@ElectricBikeReview]

How did the month go?! Hope you managed to buy food and shelter, while enjoying that sweet sweet ride!

[@iancharless]

The bike 99% of the world can't afford

[@tommyauback]

Very annopying with 2 people talking...

[@delbatchio]

Why are they willing to gladly pay thousands of extra for upgraded components that will be worth nothing of real value in comparison to base line models 3 years fro now. Huge scam. I guess these guys are willing to pay ridiculous prices so might as well take advantage of them.

[@ElectricBikeReview]

In my experience talking with brands and shops, the higher volume ebikes have fewer choices (like colors and sizes) and sell more volume. When you go to premium build, more choices, and better support, the volume is lower... so the price has to be higher. They also charge more for the optional upgrades, since you're already committed to a higher base price, and can probably afford the extras to make it complete ;)

[@delbatchio]

@@ElectricBikeReview yes. Affording extras to make it a complete rip off now and then doing the same thing exactly three years later is definitely the way to get ahead in life.

[@skepticsr_us]

@Michael Johnston: I’ll bet you don’t drive a Porsche.

[@delbatchio]

@@skepticsr_us i drive a yugo. Look it up