Raleigh Motus GT review

Whether you go for the crossbar or step-through frame the Motus Grand Tour is a traditional bike, with an upright riding position built for comfort rather than speed. For all that it’s also very much of the moment with its electric bike tech, powered by a proven Bosch motor integrated into the pedal assembly for a smoother power boost than you get from cheaper hub motors. On our crossbar Grand Tour test bike the battery was also neatly contained within the frame to maintain the old-school look. It’s a little more obvious on the step-through frame but many casual observers won’t even notice you’re on an electric bike, until you come gliding past them with seemingly no effort =. Beyond that the Grand Tour model gets suspension forks and seatpost to take the sting out of the bumps, comfortable swept-back handlebars, an adjustable stem you can raise for a more ‘sit up and beg’ posture and tons of extra kit.

Raleigh’s sizing is a little strange, on the basis your six-foot tester would usually opt for a 56cm or perhaps 58cm road bike frame but found the smallest 53cm crossbar configuration somewhat gate-like to mount. Once in the saddle it was fine but if you’re any shorter you may prefer the step-through design, or a smaller frame size than you might usually choose. Try before you buy, if possible. Under way the Motus’s riding position is very comfortable, the swept-back bars taking the strain off your wrists while the straight-backed riding position has you sitting tall for good visibility. If you want an even more upright stance you can raise the angle of the stem by loosening a single bolt on its side, handy markings helping you judge the right setting.

Short of coming with a basket on the front the Motus is fully equipped for all the regular chores you might feel encouraged to swap out of the car for. A sturdy rear rack with a neat bungee cord already fitted comes as standard, onto which you can of course add panniers for carrying a decent load of shopping. The sturdy side stand means parking up when you get there is a cinch and there’s even an integrated lock on the back wheel to stop opportunists pedalling away while you’re buying your paper. We’d invest in something more substantial for the city or more prolonged stops but it’s better than nothing. Other welcome standard features include front and rear lights powered off the main battery, so you’re even covered if that quick meal or drink you stop for on the way home turns into a longer stay than you’d anticipated. The only practical concern is the weight, which is an issue if you need to get the Motus up or down steps or for carrying with your car. A roof rack is pretty much out of the question here, so if you do want to transport your Motus a sturdy tow-bar rack is your only real option – thankfully some of these include loading ramps to make carrying heavy electric bikes less of a strain.

The Bosch motor at the heart of the Motus is a proven system, the fact it’s driving the pedals rather than the rear wheel meaning the assistance feels more natural and quicker to react. As on most electric bikes you can adjust how much assistance you want according to the terrain, though if you give in to the temptation of Turbo mode your range can suffer. Good job the Grand Tour tested here has the biggest battery, and therefore the longest endurance in this regard. It’s good job the motor has plenty of grunt as well, because the Motus is a heavy old lump and you need all the help you can get. You’ll still need to use the regular gears and put some effort in on steep climbs, too, the motor taking the sting out of them rather than flattening them completely. Like all electric bikes compliant with Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) rules the assistance cuts out at 15.5mph as well, which for a fitter rider can be annoying given how easily the Motus hits this limit. For the target audience and those happy to cruise under this threshold it feels near-effortless, though, so it’s a case of playing to its strengths. In terms of braking we appreciated the quality hydraulic disc brakes, especially given the momentum the Motus easily picks up on the downhills. Even these felt a little lacking in stopping power at times, though.

Look elsewhere if you want an electric bike to get your pulse racing in handling terms, because in keeping with its trad looks the Motus Grand Tour is very much geared to living life at a steady cruise rather than going flat out. Which is just fine. And while you never escape the weight of the bike there are some advantages to the configuration of the frame-mounted motor, the lower centre of gravity among them. You don’t need to be some sort of hardcore cyclist to appreciate the extra confidence this gives you in the corners, either, the Motus feeling surprisingly agile at speed. Comfort is generally good as well, though the suspension forks and seatpost aren’t much to write home about. The post has a small bumper in it but hardly moved under our weight, while the basic forks lacked plushness and rebounded so fast they were pretty much pointless.

The Bosch motor is a widely used and respected unit so shouldn’t throw up any additional expenses. And the rest of the bits on the Motus are pretty standard, so the nine-speed gears, the brakes and the other components can all be serviced by any competent bike shop. How long they last will very much depend on how heavily you use your Motus, but staying on top of basic maintenance like keeping it clean, oiling the chain and all the rest will help. In terms of charging this shouldn’t cost much on your domestic supply, a full top-up for the battery likely only costing a few pence. You can either plug this in to charge on the bike or remove it to plug in inside your home as required.

See above but Bosch has wide experience with electrified appliances of all types, so you should be able to take some confidence from that. While any issues with the motor system will be covered by warranty for the bike’s original owner over the longer term you can take some confidence that, unlike some systems, Bosch motors have a degree of serviceability and can be fixed when they go wrong. For the rest of the bike’s mechanical parts the same applies as to any bicycle, derailleur versions of the Motus probably requiring more upkeep than the hub gear versions.

Again, any competent bike shop can handle servicing for things like wheels, brakes, gears and bearings while issues with the drive system should be covered under warranty. This lasts for five years for the frame, two years for the electric motor and battery and a year for ‘non-wearable’ parts like the handlebars, saddle and stem. If you’re the second owner and no longer covered there are increasing numbers of skilled specialists able to service motors, which should keep your Motus sweet over the long term.

Full marks to Raleigh here for including everything you need on the Motus from the off. Mudguards, lights, the rear rack, a chainguard to keep oil off your clothes, the side stand and that ‘shop lock’ for popping in for the paper are all included as standard. The only thing our test bike needed was a bell, but that should come as standard as well. Other electric bike specific features include a central display with information like remaining battery charge, range in the different modes, speed, distance covered and more.

If you’re buying a bike for transport rather than sport the Motus is just the ticket, the electric assistance opening the door to cycling for those who may have thought their legs long past it and offering a green and healthy alternative for jumping in the car for short trips to the shops. It’s also the perfect addition to a caravan or motorhome, meaning you can explore the area you’re holidaying in without having to break camp every time you want to go out.