ActiveCyclingI tried Raleigh Motus 2 – a great value, Bosch-powered ebike that is an absolute unitYou get a lot for your money here including massive heft, great stability and an impressive spec. Not much fun to ride, thoughWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveCyclingI tried Raleigh Motus 2 – a great value, Bosch-powered ebike that is an absolute unitYou get a lot for your money here including massive heft, great stability and an impressive spec. Not much fun to ride, thoughWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
You get a lot for your money here including massive heft, great stability and an impressive spec. Not much fun to ride, though
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Raleigh)
(Image credit: Raleigh)
I’ve ridden some big, heavy ebikes in my time, but this Raleigh Motus 2022 is an absoluteunitof an electric bike. It comes from a range that, when you take into account colour options and frame sizes, has literally hundreds of bikes to choose from, so just to be clear, the one I have tried is the New Motus Tour Low Step Hub Gear. Even in its smallest size, this apparently weighs 28kg, so the large one I tried must be comfortably over 30 kilos.
This made for an interesting experience, because while I appreciate practically everything about this bike, I didn’t particularly enjoy riding it. However, I am sure there are plenty of people who would absolutely love it. In particular people new to cycling, or returning to it after a long break, and anyone who lives in a more rural area than the middle of London, especially hilly areas. The whole Motus range offers excellent value for money and this Tour Hub Gear in particular gives you an awful lot of bike for your money – £2,600 is the asking price. That’s in terms of the quality of its features and in the literal sense that is an absolutely bloody huge ebike. It‘s not thebest ebikefor me personally, but it will be for a lot of people, I feel.
What I find slightly curious about this ebike is that Raleigh is marketing it as being some kind of wacky ride for fun individualists. Just take a look at these crazy characters in their press photos. They kerr-azy!
The New Raleigh Motus: it’s really not that crazy(Image credit: Raleigh)
The New Raleigh Motus: it’s really not that crazy
The New Raleigh Motus: it’s really not that crazy
(Image credit: Raleigh)
This is quite funny as the Motus, aside from some of its more interesting colour options, is actually about as sensible as ebikes get. The one they sent me is grey and features a step-through frame, which really is about as boring as you can get, but even a pink one with a crossbar would still be as sensible as a pair of sturdy walking shoes paired with woollen socks.
For £2,600 you get a full Bosch drive system. That is the gold standard for sensible ebikers, and comes with a theoretical maximum range of 108 miles. Underlining the sensible-ness, Bosch even provides ahandy range calculatorto work out the real world range, rather than trying to bullshit you, as most ebike manufacturers do.
You also get 7-speed hub gears. These are generally way more reliable than derailleur, although it’s worth bearing in mind that they are also way harder to fix should anything ever go wrong. Again, very sensible. Despite the enormous heft of this 2022 Motus Tour, the Tektro hydraulic disk brakes keep it well under control, and can bring it to a dead stop should you get in real trouble. You get adjustable front suspension, which is a godsend when you hit potholes and speed bumps.
There’s also an Abus lock for the large, 400WH, removable battery, mudguards, a big rear-mounted luggage rack, built-in lights and a bell. Ding ding!
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
The battery cover is one of the few areas where corners have been cut to keep the price down(Image credit: Raleigh)
The battery cover is one of the few areas where corners have been cut to keep the price down
The battery cover is one of the few areas where corners have been cut to keep the price down
(Image credit: Raleigh)
All this means that the Motus Tour should perform admirably for years to come, and be easy to service should it ever break down. But what is it like to ride?
Because of the weight and size of it, the Motus feels extremely stable. It is so much heavier than I am used to that I initially found myself using the brakes way more than I normally do as I didn’t want this carthorse of an ebike to run out of control. However, it didn’t take long before I began to feel extremely relaxed about riding the Motus. Cycling is never without its dangers, but this bike feels so stable and stately that I suspect the main risk to your life and limb it could pose would be if it fell on you.
As with all ebikes, the Motus is limited to a 15.5mph motor-assisted speed, and I really struggled to get it anywhere near 20mph. Raleigh’s web page for the bike includes a lengthy warning not to try to alter it so it can go faster – again very sensible.
Confident in the stopping power of the brakes, and freed from the urge to go fast on the Motus – because that is essentially impossible unless you’re charging downhill – I found pootling around London on it very relaxing. Or rather I did until I hit some exciting new road closures that have recently been added to my commute. This required me to get off and manhandle the bike over some small obstacles and, on one occasion, to have to walk it up the extremely steep steps of the Jubilee Bridge. This is not something I would ever wish to do again.
As long as you are riding along on one of the top 2 assist levels, the Motus is the epitome of easy riding. As soon as you need to carry it anywhere – if you live in a flat and have no lift, for instance – it is the exact opposite of easy anything. So that is also probably worth bearing in mind before you hand over your money.
Motus 2 laughs in the face of potholes(Image credit: Raleigh)
Motus 2 laughs in the face of potholes
Motus 2 laughs in the face of potholes
(Image credit: Raleigh)
Everything about the Motus is built for comfort. The handlebars give a very upright riding position and absorb any shocks that are left after the front suspension has taken most of the sting out of them. The saddle is large and comfy. Gear changes are effortless, thanks to them being hub gears. In terms of layout, I would say the controller for raising and lowering the assistance level is not very well positioned and hence a stretch to get to. But I never really use that control, so I can’t really complain.
The Motus is not exciting or nimble or quick, but it does make most riding effortless. The one caveat to that is that I found it wasn’t able to conquer properly steep hills with quite the ease you would expect. The Bosch Active Line system is usually very adept at slaying inclines, so I can only assume the sheer weight of the bike and its almost complete absence of aerodynamics are knackering it here. It only means you need to put in alittleeffort, should you meet a steep hill on your journey.
This sort of ride is the Motus' natural home(Image credit: Raleigh)
This sort of ride is the Motus' natural home
This sort of ride is the Motus' natural home
(Image credit: Raleigh)
New Raleigh Motus: price and availability
The New Motus range is priced from £2,199 to £2,799. The Motus Tour Hub Gear that I rode seems to me to represent the best bang for your buck at £2,499.
Please note that the old Motus bikes are also still available at Raleigh’s website and elsewhere. However, the New Motus (2022 model) is a big step up from that range.
Today’s best Raleigh New Motus Tour dealsNo price informationCheck AmazonWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Raleigh New Motus Tour dealsNo price informationCheck AmazonWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Raleigh New Motus Tour deals
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price informationCheck Amazon
No price information
No price information
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Here are some more ebikes at great prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikes
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0
$4,500View
$4,500
$4,500
See all prices
Gocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all prices
Gocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all prices
Gocycle G4i
Gocycle G4i
$3,499View
$3,499
$3,499
See all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike
Brompton Electric Folding Bike
$3,950View
$3,950
$3,950
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals$12.99View$26.40View$1,099ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals$12.99View$26.40View$1,099ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals
$12.99View$26.40View$1,099View
$12.99View
$12.99View
$12.99View
$12.99
$12.99
$26.40View
$26.40View
$26.40View
$26.40
$26.40
$1,099View
$1,099View
$1,099View
$1,099
$1,099
Show More Deals
Show More Deals
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Samsung Galaxy S25: every leak, rumour and spec we’ve heard before the launch eventThis is everything we’ve heard about the new handsets
This is everything we’ve heard about the new handsets
This case turns your iPhone or Android phone into an e-reader, but there’s a catchActually, there are a couple…
Actually, there are a couple…
I tried the Segway Xyber and it could be the greatest e-bike ever, except for one small thingThe Segway Xyber looks incredible and is a lot of fun to ride but there’s one thing that’s putting me off it
The Segway Xyber looks incredible and is a lot of fun to ride but there’s one thing that’s putting me off it
3 surprising health benefits of using an e-bike, that you probably didn’t knowThey’re great for our cardiovascular health and so much more
They’re great for our cardiovascular health and so much more
Can you lose weight with an e-bike? We asked an expertA traditional bike can, but does an e-bike provide an equal playing field?
A traditional bike can, but does an e-bike provide an equal playing field?
Volt Lite review: foldable and potent electric funStriking looks and decent ride quality make this folding electric bike well worth investigating
Striking looks and decent ride quality make this folding electric bike well worth investigating
This e-motorbike provides a shockingly fun and functional commuting experienceHimiway’s new C5 e-motorbike puts a spin on urban mobility
Himiway’s new C5 e-motorbike puts a spin on urban mobility
Ride on the wild side with Cowboy’s new Cross E-BikeCowboy is set to redefine urban and rural cycling once again with its latest launch
Cowboy is set to redefine urban and rural cycling once again with its latest launch
Canyon Grizl:ON takes the e-gravel concept to the next levelThe new Canyon Grizl:ON features cutting-edge lighting, powerful Bosch SX drive, and premium components
The new Canyon Grizl:ON features cutting-edge lighting, powerful Bosch SX drive, and premium components
