Stromer ST5 Pinion E-Bike Review 2024 | A $12k Commuter Worth Its Weight In Gold?

For current pricing on the Stromer ST5 Pinion, click the link below:
ebrdeals.com/StromerST5Pinion
For a full detailed written review of the Stromer ST5 Pinion, click the link below:
electricbikereport.com/strome...
The ST5 Pinion is a premium commuter/touring e-bike with an incredible ride and tons of awesome features. We dive into all the details of this high-tech speedster in this Stromer ST5 review!
One major thing that stood out was the bike’s super dialed-in ride. With a torque sensor and a powerful 750W rear-hub motor, the bike felt natural in its low assist settings and punchy in the high power modes.
The bike also felt remarkably planted and stable due to its weight of 75.5 lbs and its gummy 27.5x2.4” Pirelli tires. The bike felt best when riding fast and straight, but it stuck to the road extremely well when cornering too.
The ST5 Pinion includes a 9-speed Pinion gearbox, a security system, customizable settings, anti-lock brakes, and so much more! For all the details on the cool tech, check out our Stromer ST5 review!
00:00 - ST5 Pinion Review
00:40 - ST5 Pinion Overview
06:42 - ST5 Pinion Brake Test
08:39 - ST5 Pinion Speed Test
14:13 - ST5 Pinion Range Test
16:15 - ST5 Pinion Hill Test
19:19 - ST5 Pinion Console
23:48 - ST5 Pinion Ride Quality
33:56 - ST5 Pinion App Walkthrough
38:35 - ST5 Pinion Conclusion
#stromer #pinion #electricbikereview

[@alexs.4290]

12k no way

[@frankyoung4155]

Seems like a really nice bike the only complain I have is for 12,000 dollars they better come up with a better cargo rack than what they have that's a pretty sorry cargo rack my 600 dollar Vivi had a better rack than that

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

Oooh, good point! That is on my one grievance about the Stromers; the integrated rack doesn't have a pannier bar, and you can't switch out the rack. You can, however, get a MIK carrier plate as a workaround. They should also add a cleat for bungied panniers to hang onto. But these are very, very first-world problems.

[@DearSX]

Great bike, pretty cool, thanks for the review! but wow $12k, I can pick up a Yamaha ebike, Yahama motorcycle, and decent used yamaha powered car (Celica) for $12k.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

That's an excellent point!

[@LMV123]

A few thoughts 1: this bike makes shares a lot of components with the Letric One, so I am really impressed with how they where able to do that at less than the 5th of the price if this. 2: this is a terrible commuter for one simple reason, it is very nice. Everything about this bike is expensive, high quality, and valuable. Locking the frame up won’t stop thieves from stealing the wheels, breaks, and drivetrain. Unless you live in Dubai, this thing we be gone in >2 weeks.

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

Actually, it's quite the opposite. Stromers have security features that make them basically unstealable, and thieves know it. Motor lock, integrated GPS tracking, motion sensing, and a constant cell-based connection to the Omni app operate in conjunction to make it basically impossible to steal a Stromer. You should still lock it up, of course, and put some Hexlox here and there. But Stromers really can't be stolen. And though they share some of the same components with other bikes, Stromers are in a totally different class when it comes to build quality, feature set, and performance. They only really compare with the Riese & Mullers, but they still beat them in most respects.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Agreed on #1! The ONE has a 6-speed Pinion instead of a 9-speed (we're testing the ONE right now), but so far it's doing well.

[@mikeb1039]

@@BoulderHikerBoy They do have those but you're dreaming if you think every bike stealing idiot is sharing knowledge.

[@user-hy1dy2tp8z]

@@BoulderHikerBoy Total rubbish; can steal it in a heartbeat. Pull up in van, cut locks with angle grinder, lift it up and put entire bike in a self made Faraday cage inside van and split the scene. You then work within Faraday environment until all tracking and security features have been disabled and your golden! A Faraday cage will block "ALL" incoming wireless signals, including cellular, GPS, Bluetooth, EMF radiation, RFID/NFC and even EMPs from solar flares. A Faraday cage can easily be constructed from chicken 🐔wire and aluminum foil. With an angle grinder and a super heavy-duty pipe cutter you can steal just about any bike.

[@user-hy1dy2tp8z]

@@BoulderHikerBoy Rubbish; can steal it in a heartbeat. Pull up in van, cut locks with angle grinder, lift it up and put entire bike in a self made Faraday cage inside van and split the scene. You then work within Faraday environment until all tracking and security features have been disabled and your golden! A Faraday cage will block "ALL" incoming wireless signals, including cellular, GPS, Bluetooth, EMF radiation, RFID/NFC and even EMPs from solar flares. A Faraday cage can easily be constructed from chicken wire and aluminum foil. With an angle grinder and a super heavy-duty pipe cutter you can steal just about any bike.

[@ThomasTalbotMD]

Nice bike but too expensive. $5K sure. I can buy 8 lower quality ebikes with close performance for the price of this one.

[@scottrichards3587]

Rolex of ebikes?

[@ElectricBikeReport]

We'd definitely rather have the Stromer!

[@surfpsych]

Some states define Class 3s without throttles. Stromer was probably trying to accommodate the more restrictive definition.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

That makes sense, but a throttle could be removable to accommodate more stringent laws.

[@mikeb1039]

I had a Stromer ST1 10 years ago and it was a great bike. But for 12k it's GOTTA have suspension.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Any idea how many miles you got out of your ST1?

[@mikeb1039]

@@ElectricBikeReport Only had it a year or so. Had 2 or 3 at a time trying to ride everything I was curious about. 1,000+ for sure. Felt like a tank. My current German bike (Haibike) is 9 years old, 6,000 miles and still on the original battery at 90% capacity.

[@doziershaw9765]

Over half the motorcycles Honda produces don't even cost that much.

[@Roxlimn]

This is really more comparable to a high end Ducati.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

It's a little wild to think about all the different ways a person could spend $12k.

[@mikeb1039]

@@Roxlimn No, it's Not.

[@mikeb1039]

@@Roxlimn No. You need to price Ducati's.

[@petropoliskhan]

What’s your point?

[@garyclark6747]

Now that you’ve reviewed this can you review the ST2 Pinion❓ It’s about half the cost but more importantly has the same or similar 6 Speed Pinion setup as The One. That would put a bow tie on a threesome comparison but really the ST2 and One comparison. Is there ghost pedaling or does the 6 Speed cover the same speed vs peddling rate but in courser steps? Does the 6 speed work better on 27” or 20 inch tires? With less moving parts to the One gates setup is it a better casual bike than the ST2 requiring the gates tuning app touch up periodically versus tensioner maintenance? The ST2 will offer similar if not all of the same features leaving the One in the dust except literally while moving. I do know you generalize comparisons to the averages which is the right thing to do and this isn’t a request for a head to head comparison. I feel the ST5 is in a class by itself also but the ST2 and One are in a class by themselves which I’m inquisitive on based on the price. I think being C1.6 Gates setup pairs them more than price and features. So is the anti theft security worth three One’s if two were stolen? Does the wheel geometry make street riding noticeably different? Is one more transportable than the other? Does the ST2 adjustable stem help take pressure off your palms to be more equivalent to One’s riding position? Are 20” wheels more nimble to intricate city maneuvers than the 27” but the 27” better for a smoother ride? Never thought tires and seat post could make up for in part for a solid fork/frame but I’m liking the solid frame idea the more I look around. So many bike rear suspension’s look like long term maintenance fit for the extreme ride cases. John you did an awesome job reviewing the ST5 Pinion. Looking forward to your future even handed and honest assessments in the future. Hopefully the ST2 Pinion and One are coming soon. Keep up the great work. 👍🏼40:04

[@ElectricBikeReport]

We'd love to! I can't say that we have any plans for it in the works now, but hopefully we can check it out in the future. Lots of good questions there to answer. Thanks for all your thoughts! FYI we're in the middle of our hands-on, full-length Lectric ONE review now, so stay tuned.

[@garyclark6747]

@@ElectricBikeReport Looking forward to that. I think I like the auto shift the most on the pinion when coming to a stop. However I’m thinking if 3 is starting gear set (by default🤷🏻) for the ride event then that only leaves 3 other gears from 8 to 28mph. Pinions smart sift allows for customization of when it shifts but if 1 & 2 can be skipped on flat surface would’ve a C1.9 help erase ghost peddling in higher assists if present. I’ll wait to hear your assessment because I’m trying to equate it to the recommendation you’ve had to go to particular ratio and additional gear ⚙️ to help on a traditional chain setup with ghost peddling. It would stand to reason for hell hole if the assist and cadence shift could be set to have a linear smoother increase of power those gears could help in those situations. Thanks John.

[@TRexHeliPilot]

$12,000 for a hub drive e-bike?! No thankyou. I'll stick with a motorcycle for my commuting.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Different strokes for different folks!

[@DM-fp8uw]

Will be interesting to compare to the $2000 Lectric One

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Mid-review for that one currently. Stay tuned :)

[@nullhill6486]

Wow that motor is soooooo quiet 😮

[@PRH123]

Just the thing I need for running around the compound in Kennebunkport :) It's an e-motorcycle though, has no place on bike paths or walking infrastructure. Too heavy, powerful and fast. Great to ride on the road surely.

[@zeveroarerules]

Worth it.

[@Trebbor1958]

I know I am cheap, but I cant picture myself paying over 500 for any bike..... $12000 I would be looking for a car, upgrades to my house, etc....

[@DearSX]

I didn't either and now I have a couple $1800 bikes. Safer than my much more expensive motorcycle.

[@mikeb1039]

and yet Mercedes still sells lots of cars. Go figure.

[@zeveroarerules]

This is a car replacer. Aimed at people who use this on the daily for a commute. Cars are stupid for that.

[@edinelsonramirez5656]

Thieves love taking these super expensive bikes, from the idiots that buy them! Easy $!

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

Actually, Stromers really can't be stolen. They have integrated GPS tracking, a constant connection to your mobile phone (to alert you if someone is messing with your bike), automatic motor locking (so the bike won't roll unless unlocked by keypad), and a motion sensing alarm. The bike will brick itself if you lock it from your phone or online account, so it can't be operated (or sold) without your authorization. The newest Bosch systems have some of these same features, but you then have to pay an annual subscription for the tracking service (that comes free for life with the Stromer). Because all of these features are standard on all Stromers (not an optional add-on), thieves know that it's not worth their time to mess with a Stromer. You should still lock your Stromer up, but you're much less dependent on the strength of that lock... which is good because any lock can be cut.

[@idib1739]

Thanks a lot for the review. Please consider reviewing the ST7. Thanks again 👍

[@ElectricBikeReport]

We'd love to! That battery capacity is CRAZY.

[@tedbellWRV]

Which phone holder do you use? We are signed up for a "Boat Bike Tour" in Belgium and the Netherlands, and they are set up for using the Ride with GPS phone app to navigate their pre-mapped routes. A good secure phone holder would be helpful.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

I'm not sure if this is the one I had on the bike in the video clip, but we really like this one: amzn.to/4bSuXPc

[@idib1739]

@@ElectricBikeReport Thanx👍

[@bilala5260]

It's going to be a Globe Haul ST or Lectric One for me. But cool bike!

[@HullioGQ]

A hub motor bike for $12k! Just a reap off. They could use the Pinion motor that combines the trans and motor.

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

Yeah, I'd love to see them try this approach. But their existing motor is absolutely bad-ass so they might not be super motivated to go that route.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

We'd like to see that in the future too, but I'll second what @BoulderHikerBoy said, this motor is something special.

[@difflocktwo]

Hub is way better than mid drive. Mid drive is a joke.

[@antonioiniguez1615]

Just purchased an Aventon Adventure 2 and these reviews really helped me with figuring out which bike was right for me. The real world data is an amazing resource that I used for my search. Thanks a lot! PS: spending $12k on a bike for marginally better performance than a $1500-2000 bike is ridiculous😂😂😂

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Thanks for watching :) Glad you find the reviews helpful!

[@mikeb1039]

Very little of the difference has to do with performance. You are correct that the cheaper bike does 90% of what the expensive bike does. Same as it's been for about 150 years. Not fair to assume that 10% is wasted or irrelevant. I've had some expensive bikes that I bought used and there is a real difference in how they feel and ride. Not to mention intrinsic things like beautiful build quality ala welds and such.

[@DJaquithFL]

The deal killer for me is there's no full suspension option from Stromer whereas I can get a full suspension from Riese & Müller Homage 4 GT Rohloff HS.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Full suspension would be nice, but for what it's worth, the suspension seatpost version felt great, and we expect that would only get better with the suspension fork option.

[@DJaquithFL]

@@ElectricBikeReport .. I have a full suspension plus I also have that shock suspension on my seat and I'm sorry I disagree. Mine I feel like I'm on a floating carpet and now because my rear suspension is so smooth I'm looking into replacing my front fork.

[@pierspim4341]

I have owned stromer bicycles since 2013, so I speak from personal experience. For what you’re getting they are an excellent value. These are sturdy, fast, reliable, and durable bicycles. In the short run they seem to be a foolish extravagance; in the long run, however, you come to understand why they are priced the way they are. More, the price of this unit may seem extreme until you explore the high-end bicycle market. Some road bike frames alone are upwards of 12k. It is not out of the ordinary to pay 20k or more for some custom road bikes. The bottom line is that quality comes with a cost.

[@idib1739]

I agree 💯% Most people can't wrap their head around this basic concept. True Durability & quality is not cheap. Planed obsolescence has change our mindset for the worst.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Excellent points!

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

Couldn't agree more. And I'd argue that the security features of the Stromer aren't really a luxury in many places. You either have them (or the Bosch equivalent) or else you have to babysit your bike to prevent it from being stolen.

[@goobfilmcast4239]

I have to be frank......if ANYONE....ANYONE.... pays Twelve Thousand American Freedom Eagles for a bike....they lack any measure of common sense.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

"American Freedom Eagles" gave us all a chuckle. So thanks for that :)

[@mikek2218]

Mine is awesome, and I think 12K is a bargain... no gas, no insurance, no registration, no maintenance, no noise, no pollution. Awesome mode of transport. A perfect compliment to my seldom used Chevy Bolt EV.

[@snapshotprophotobooth1864]

why not a test uphill throttle mode only, your test uphill depend on the rider strength and it sounded like he was out of breath peddling hard. for over 12k it heats up in sport mode, not worth it, you can buy a Aventon or wired Ebike for 2k much faster throttle only and no overheat. this bike is overpriced by 10X. If the bike belt breaks your stuck where you are as a chain motor drive with throttle you can ride without peddling if chain breaks.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

This bike does not include a throttle, hence the single pedal test at Hell Hole. It really had no trouble climbing!

[@DM-fp8uw]

This is for people with $200,000 cars to show to their friends.

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

Or folks who don't want a car at all.

[@DM-fp8uw]

@@BoulderHikerBoy A $12k bike isn’t because you don’t want a car. It’s because you want to show off.

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

Not necessarily. The features of the Stromer make it a car killer, providing the range, speed, reliability, and security that one would want when going without a car. Other bikes with a similar feature set cost as much. And it really is a sensible investment when one thinks of the ebike as a car replacement. Most people don't even know Stromer or what they cost so buying one isn't a very effective way to show off.

[@DM-fp8uw]

@@BoulderHikerBoy What feature set is today which costs $12,000?

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

@@DM-fp8uw Look at Riese & Mullers with motor lock, High Speed motor, Bike Trax, ABS, belt drive, and the Rohloff IGH. Roughly the same price but you still don't get the range of a Stromer, and Rohloff isn't as good as Pinion. Plus, all Stromers have the same security features and they are sufficiently distinctive in appearance that thieves just don't bother with Stromers. They might mess around with a Riese and Muller for a bit before discovering that it's one that's equipped with the latest security. But all Stromers have had that security suite since Day 1, so thieves don't mess with them.

[@pierspim4341]

The bike is worth every penny for what you’re getting. A fast, elegant, reliable,low maintenance bike that will last for years.

[@mikey3239]

Comfortable you look like your leaning over to much I’d say looks uncomfortable 12k that’s laughable don’t care what gadgets it has

[@ElectricBikeReport]

As I said in the Ride Quality section, the riding position felt uncomfortable on other bikes, but Stromer nailed the geometry.

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

I was also concerned about this at the outset, but I got the comfort package and just adjusted the handlebar position and seat position so that I'm reasonably upright. And with those adjustments, it's just right. The question of whether it's worth the money depends on whether you need the features. If you live in a place where ebikes are frequently stolen, any Stromer is worth every penny.

[@fredricgrethel1717]

Price is dumb. Pass

[@jasondelarosa5457]

Cons: price, value, non-adjustable stem, pinion auto gears has only 6, display should be handlebar mounted for safety and braking is average. This bike is trash. EBR call it as you see it, its not always a positive takeaway.

[@mikey3239]

This channel gave a positive review on the overpriced turtle super 73

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

Actually, this bike is amazing. Yes, it's expensive, but the feature set is stunning. Don't let the number of gears fool you; it's not the number of steps but the total range that matters. For Pinion that range is 600%; and, frankly, the motor on this thing is so powerful that you don't need the lower gears except when you're just getting started from a stop. Once you're going, the last two gears are all you need. Stromer used to use a Pinion with more steps but the feedback was that the motor was so powerful that the lower gears were unnecessary. Anyway, I've got an ST2, and it's f'in amazing. No problem seeing the console, and it's actually great that it's integrated into the frame because it can't be stolen.

[@jasondelarosa5457]

@@BoulderHikerBoy Your right about the gears on an ebike but, don't see the merit of an expensive pinion auto transmission. If its belt driven might as well be a mid drive. Its not a bad product just priced poorly which ruins its appeal for me a regular person. Same reason I don't care for exotic/luxury cars, their nice but, not attainable and limited functional improvement. I appreciate your post.

[@jasondelarosa5457]

@@mikey3239 I want them to review a literal piece of crap and see them sing their praises. Its shit but I like it.

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

@@jasondelarosa5457 I actually agree about the Pinion thing. My ST2 has the Sturmey Archer IGH, not the Pinion set up, and I actually really like it. The rear hub motor on the Stromer is just as smooth as a typical mid-drive motor but with a lot more pep. But it's the security features on the Stromer that really set it apart. That and the big-ass battery. I'd say the question of whether it's priced poorly depends mostly on whether you actually need the features. For me, the invincible security and gnarly battery were the things that made it worth the money. I don't go that far usually, but I often deal with insane winds and hills, when it's really nice to have watt-hours to spare.

[@Altema22]

That moment of riding swiftly and silently was pure bliss. I appreciate quality and love many of the features, and this bike highlights that control systems dictate motor responsiveness, rather than where the motor is located. That being said, is it really worth $10,000 more than a bike that climbs better, stops better, has longer range, accelerates quicker, and is faster? I guess time will tell, though I have 9,000 reliable miles on it so far.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Bliss, indeed. Thanks for watching! That's a seriously impressive number of miles.

[@Altema22]

@@ElectricBikeReport Yes, but I do need to replace my chain... something that you won't have to do on that one!

[@chrisb5986]

That is a much as a premium motorcycle. Just. No. Never.

[@BoulderHikerBoy]

It seems most folks (who've commented, anyway) are comparing this bike to much cheaper alternatives, failing to recognize the value of the security features on all Stromers, the massive jump in range, and the reliability of IGH systems. Only Riese & Muller compares to the Stromers and, at a similar price point, still unfavorably, for a variety of reasons. Stromer is simply the best and it costs like it (because the Swiss steal all of the best engineers from Germany by paying them more). That's why Stromers have had tech since the ST2 that was just introduced by Bosch to the European market in 2023. No doubt, $12K hurts but you actually are getting what you pay for. The real question is whether you need all of what you're paying for. If you live in an area with a lot of bike theft, any Stromer is an unmistakable value. Thieves who know what they're doing don't mess with Stromers; thieves who don't know what they're doing mess with Stromers and get caught. If you're less concerned about theft, then Specialized (which is also Swiss-engineered) makes high-quality IGH, belt drive bikes for less money (but with less range). Use the money you saved to buy bike insurance and a second battery. Riese & Mullers are also excellent and can be configured to cost less... but when you add all of the features that come standard on a Stromer, they also cost an arm and a leg (and have a $60 annual fee for GPS tracking). Of course, you can buy a crappy car for $12K... and then spend $2K every year for insurance and another $1,500 or more in gas and then maybe another $1,500 per year in maintenance and repairs. In that light, a Stromer starts to make a lot of sense, if not as your sole vehicle then, at least, as a substitute for a second car. Actually, my Stromer is my primary vehicle. I still have a Subaru Outback for road trips, which I do often enough to justify ownership rather than car rental. But my Stromer is one of the best investments I've ever made. Virtually no maintenance, no concern about theft, and all of the torque and battery I need for the crazy winds and hills we have around here.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

That all makes perfect sense. Happy to hear such positive feedback from a Stromer owner! Thanks for watching.

[@PRH123]

In London it wouldn't stay locked up on the street for more than 30 minutes, and they would never get caught :) Good on you for replacing most of your car with it. I've been car free for years. But you know to be realistic, for most all the people who will procure this one, it will be only for recreation on sunny days.

[@BoulderforAll-wj6zu]

@@PRH123 I feel like I'm repeating myself: this bike cannot be stolen. It is continuously connected with your smartphone so any movement when the bike is locked will notify the owner immediately. If the bike is nonetheless stolen, the owner can activate theft mode from their phone. This disables the user interface aboard the bike and engages the regenerative brake unless and until the actual owner turns off theft mode. The bike's current location ascertained by constant GPS tracking is reported to both the user and Stromer. So, while it's technically possible to lift the bike and haul it away, it's unusable and unsaleable and very likely to be recovered unless the thief knows to keep it in faraday cage until the transmitter aboard the bike exhausts the bike's massive battery. I wouldn't presume to know who the actual owners of Stromers may be. Perhaps some are just recreational riders (with bank), but these bikes are actually most valuable to folks who are depending on them as a replacement for a car. The range, power, security, drivetrain, and price point all aim in that direction. That is, a recreational rider likely doesn't need much of what these bikes provide and, so, probably wouldn't want to pay for those features. But, of course, there are folks who buy Hummers to poke around their suburb, so I wouldn't deny that some folks buy a Stromer just to show off. But we shouldn't hold that against the bikes themselves.

[@PRH123]

@@BoulderforAll-wj6zu not holding it against the bike as you say, just pointing out the fact, that most of the owners are just going to do some fair weather recreational riding, it has the potential to be a great car replacement, but unfortunately very few people in this range with this bike will do it. Awesome if they do, like yourself, but won’t be many. I’ve seen the e crowd in DE and CH, mostly older retired well-heeled people riding down to a restaurant on a nice evening or over to the supermarket, around the local area. Bike thieves in London are pretty clever, they know how to deal with the gps trackers already. If you disconnect the controller from the motor there’s nothing to stop the motor from working. Even if they got frustrated and dropped it in the Thames, you still wouldn’t get it back.

[@BoulderforAll-wj6zu]

@@PRH123 Competent thieves don't mess with Stromers because the GPS tracking is integrated, not an add-on that can be removed. Disconnecting the motor from the controller also disconnects it from power, leaving it locked in regenerative braking mode. If you need a generator and are willing to peddle pretty hard, I suppose the motor still has some value. So it's really just a matter of catching the incompetent thieves before they dump it in the Thames... which should be doable because you get an alert on your phone the moment someone attempts to move the locked bike. I guess I'm just not prepared to speculate about who buys and rides expensive e-bikes. Here, anyway, the old farts are mostly driving; it's the commuters and parents (of young children) who invest in expensive ebikes. I'd guess a lot depends on whether a community has the sort of safe bike infrastructure and density that makes for high rates of bike commuting.