Bulls Outlaw first ride review

Urban e-bike with capabilities for more

4000.00

Russell Eich / Immediate Media

Published: June 23, 2016 at 3:00 pm

Our review
A capable e-bike hardtail ready to get rowdy on the streets and take on the dirt with a swap of tires

Bulls' Outlaw is billed as a hybrid, but there's more to it than that. With the minimal tread 27.5 x 2.4in Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires, it's definitely a tarmac machine, yet add in the tough alloy frame, 120mm Revelation fork, and SR Suntour battery and motor, and the lines definitely begin to blur. Is it the machine to turn your commutes into something more?

Bulls Outlaw spec overview

  • 7005 alloy hardtail frame
  • RockShox Revelation RL Solo Air, 120mm
  • 27.5in Ryde wheels with Schwalbe Super Moto-X 2.4in tires
  • Shimano 10-speed drivetrain
  • 203mm Tektro Dorado discs
  • SR Suntour 670 watt-hour battery
  • 70 mile range
  • 28mph top speed assisted
  • 3.5hrs charge time to 80%, 5.5 hrs to 100% (approximately)
A rockshox revelation rl solo air sits at the business end of the bulls outlaw - Russell Eich / Immediate Media

Bulls Outlaw ride impression

The mountain bike geometry, combined with the big, round-profile 2.4in rubber makes for a carve-happy, surefooted urban machine. Potholes, busted pavement and the occasional dirt path are all mere afterthoughts on a bike like this. I enjoyed every corner on this rig, mostly due to the aforementioned qualities, but also the pull of the SR Suntour motor. With four modes to choose from, it was pretty easy to start with minimal boost (eco mode) to get a feel for the torque. Once accustomed, bumping the setting up to Climb mode adds substantial kick – and makes looking ahead out of corners a much bigger necessity.

The outlaw's computer display keeps you informed of the usual metrics - Russell Eich / Immediate Media

All that fun does come at a trade off of pure speed. The fun seating position keeps you in the wind, and increases aero drag significantly. The suspension fork may feel like overkill if you're simply trying to get to work on paved surfaces, and the wide, heavy tires aren't going to win any rolling contests.

But that's not what this bike is about. I could see myself mounting up some proper knobbys and taking this on the dirt. The frame, fork and components, especially the wide rims, are more than ready to do just that.

The outlaw's sr suntour battery takes up the nearly the frame's entire front triangle - Russell Eich / Immediate Media

Bulls Outlaw vs the competition

The Outlaw, which costs $4,000 / €4,200, occupies somewhat of a niche space in not just the e-bike market, but the general bike market as well. It's very simple to slap on some Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires on any e-assisted hardtail, but not many companies are offering what Bulls has done here out of the box. That's what makes the Outlaw unique, and so much fun.

Early verdict

Bulls' Outlaw makes me want to carve corners and see how far I can dip the bars over. Its silhouette and riding position remind me of a rowdy hardtail mountain bike. It's likely a good thing it has a battery and motor, because I can see every ride getting longer as I seek out the best corners and features to ride.

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