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Expert Review

Raleigh Centros (2024 – ) review

A classic looking hybrid, boosted with electric power and with bigger tyres and suspension for extra comfort and light off-road ability if you need it

Dan Trent

Words by: Dan Trent

Published on 30 September 2024 | 0 min read

The Auto Trader expert verdict:

3.5

Where some electric bike brands go all out with funky frame designs and futuristic looks Raleigh plays to its more traditional roots with battery assisted versions of more classic looking bikes. Which suits folk who just want to get around rather than make a big statement. Where once bikes were commonly designated according to the gender of the intended rider Raleigh has, thankfully, adopted more descriptive ‘crossbar’ or ‘step through’ options, the latter easier to hop on than the one tested here. In either form the Centros is similar to the Motus tested previously, albeit with a little off-road ability thanks to fat tyres and a bit of suspension in the forks and seatpost. It’s no mountain bike, but if your riding takes in tow-paths, lanes or smoother gravel tracks it can take you places the Motus probably wouldn’t.

Reasons to buy:

  • tickClassic looks
  • tickProven Bosch motor
  • tickPractical and versatile

At a glance:

Design

We also prefer the arrangement of a frame-mounted motor unit, this meaning faster response and a more natural assistance to your pedalling
Where some more budget e-bikes carry their batteries in ugly plastic casings bolted to the frame the Centros conceals it within, for a much cleaner and sleeker look. You can also remove the battery if necessary, which is handy for charging if the garage, shed or wherever you store the bike doesn’t have a power source of its own. We also prefer the arrangement of a frame-mounted motor unit, this meaning faster response and a more natural assistance to your pedalling than cheaper e-bikes with hub motors. While classically styled with a conventional ‘diamond’ frame on the crossbar version you see here (step-through versions are also available) the Centros uses fat aluminium tubes to save weight, these including what Raleigh calls the Modular Rail System onto which you can mount drinks bottles, extra ‘range extender’ battery packs or more. Back-swept handlebars meanwhile help comfort, ditto the standard suspension forks, a sprung seatpost and the fatter tyres on smaller ‘650B’ wheels than the 700C ones on the Motus.
Expert rating: 3/5

Riding position

The Raleigh’s trad look and horizontal top tube makes the Centros feel bigger than it is
The Centros is aimed at a more casual crowd than some e-bikes, which is to say you can ride it in your casual day-to-day clothes rather than feeling the need to pull on the Lycra. That’s also reflected in the riding position, which is more upright and comfortable than head down and racy. This gives you a good view when riding in traffic and helps take the weight off your wrists, the latter also helped by the shape of the handlebars. Just watch the sizing, though. This is measured by frame size, going from 40cm to the 56cm seen here. The latter would usually be the go-to size for your 5’ 11” tester (180cm in new money) but the frame felt massive, the top tube (or crossbar, if you prefer) standing very tall. On many mountain or road bikes this is slanted downwards to improve clearance but the Raleigh’s trad look and horizontal top tube makes the Centros feel bigger than it is, even if reach once seated is more conventional. Try before you buy but a smaller size or even the step-through frame might be a better option if you don’t want to feel like you’re vaulting a gate every time you get in the saddle.
Expert rating: 3/5

Practicality

Full length mudguards and standard-fit lights are perfect for the commute come rain or shine and whatever the time of year
If you’re buying a bike as practical transport rather than a lifestyle statement the Centros is bang on-message. Full length mudguards and standard-fit lights are perfect for the commute come rain or shine and whatever the time of year, the standard rear rack meanwhile capable of carrying bags whether you improvise with the spring-loaded arm and/or bungee cords or with more secure panniers. The rack is also compatible with the quick release SnapIt system, opening up a range of baskets, crates, shopping bags and more to suit whatever you may need to carry. The Modular Rail System on the frame meanwhile opens further opportunities for clip-on accessories. We do have to dock a practicality mark for the weight of the bike, though, this being a serious hassle if you ever need to lift the Centros, be that onto a bike rack or up or down steps to wherever you happen to store it.
Expert rating: 4/5

Performance & braking

Nine-speed conventional derailleur gears meanwhile help you match your pedalling effort to the chosen assistance level
Bosch is a big player in the e-bike market and supplies its batteries and motors to a huge number of manufacturers. That experience shows in the seamless way the motor boosts your pedalling effort, cutting in smoothly with no jerks, clonks or noise to whisk you along at a rate that’ll fool you into thinking you have the legs of a Tour de France winner even when you’re just popping down the shops. A 625Wh battery pack is apparently good for an assisted range of 130 miles, making it unlikely you’ll need the additional option of a clip-on range-extender battery. Nine-speed conventional derailleur gears meanwhile help you match your pedalling effort to the chosen assistance level, though the hefty all-up weight of the Centros means you may have to work a little harder on really steep hills. Or just select Turbo mode! Hydraulic disc brakes meanwhile offer confidence-inspiring stopping power, again welcome given how heavy the bike is.
Expert rating: 3/5

Ride & handling

The seatpost also has a bit of movement in it to take the edge off things
The upright riding position makes the Centros easy-going and comfortable, the fatter than usual tyres meanwhile adding confidence and comfort whether you’re riding on the road or off it. If not suitable for full-on mud they’ll be fine for unsurfaced cycle tracks or the like, and open up a wider range of terrain than you might expect. Ditto the suspension forks, which don’t have a whole lot of bump-absorbing movement but take the sting out of lumpy surfaces, potholes and the rest. The seatpost also has a bit of movement in it to take the edge off things, which is welcome given the fat-tubed frame is otherwise quite harsh. If too chunky to be described as agile the flipside is a sense of stability and solidity that makes the Centros confidence inspiring in most riding situations.
Expert rating: 4/5

Running costs

Commuting in all weathers – which the Centros is well up to doing – will put more strain on the chain, gears, brake pads and other bits
This will very much depend on the kind of usage you put the Centros to. If it’s a weekend bike for trips out along the lanes or popping to the shops the components are of a sufficient quality to last, especially if you commit to basic maintenance like oiling the chain and pumping up the tyres. Commuting in all weathers – which the Centros is well up to doing – will put more strain on the chain, gears, brake pads and other bits, though, not helped by the extra power of the electric motor and the weight. If you cover a lot of miles expect to get through ‘consumable’ parts like this more quickly than you might on a non-assisted bike, though again staying on top of maintenance will help a great deal here.
Expert rating: 3/5

Reliability

We also appreciate the fact the Centros uses conventional components for brakes, gears and all the rest
We like Bosch’s motor and battery systems for the fact they are both well proven and more serviceable than the same from other manufacturers, meaning even if something goes wrong out of warranty you should be able to find someone who can repair them rather than have to replace the whole lot. Beyond that we also appreciate the fact the Centros uses conventional components for brakes, gears and all the rest and it’s all from respected suppliers like Shimano and of a decent quality.
Expert rating: 4/5

Warranty & servicing

Because it uses standard bike components any competent bike shop or mechanic will be able to stay on top of regular service needs
The battery and motor are covered by Bosch’s regular two-year warranty, while the frame is covered by a five-year guarantee. Because it uses standard bike components any competent bike shop or mechanic will be able to stay on top of regular service needs, an increasing number of specialist e-bike motor repair companies able to deal with any issues there if anything goes wrong outside of the warranty.
Expert rating: 3/5

Equipment

We also liked the tidy controls for the electric motor, these comprising simple plus or minus buttons to scroll through the different levels of assistance
We appreciate the fact the Centros comes ready to go straight out of the box, with everything you need including lights, mudguards and a bell. Sure, you’ll need a lock, helmet and other essentials and perhaps some pannier bags to take full advantage of the rack on the back if you’re going to be using it for the shopping or suchlike. But other than that it’s good to go. We also liked the tidy controls for the electric motor, these comprising simple plus or minus buttons to scroll through the different levels of assistance and a small screen showing battery charge and speed. This is much neater than the bigger handlebar-mounted display on the Motus we tried previously, and means at a glance many people wouldn’t even realise the Centros is an e-bike at all. We were less keen on the pedals meanwhile, the shape not as supportive as we’d have liked while the painted metal finish wasn’t especially grippy.
Expert rating: 5/5

Why buy?

This means no compromise in on-road performance but also the scope to take quieter off-road detours or short cuts if the mood takes
While we liked the Motus we enjoyed the Centros more for the fact it has broader horizons thanks to the combination of smaller wheels and fatter tyres. This means no compromise in on-road performance but also the scope to take quieter off-road detours or short cuts if the mood takes. We also appreciated the proven power and reliability of the Bosch motor and battery and the understated looks. Just check the size before you buy and factor in the weight if you’re going to be lifting it onto bike racks or into the back of the car for days out further afield.
Expert rating: 3/5

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