Good prints for an unbeatable price

During its presentation during a press event organized in Paris, Frandroid was able to take charge over ten kilometers the latest Decathlon electric bike (999 euros), the Rockrider E-Actv 100. Here are our first impressions.
The new Decathlon Rockrider E-Actv 100 electric bike has something to excite crowds with its cannon price of 999 euros. Apply financial assistance, like that of Île-de-France at 400 euros, and you get a VAE for only 599 euros. This makes this electric cycle one of the cheapest on the market.
We have written a full article which presents the characteristics of this model long and wide. But above all, we were also able to take it in hand for 1 hour, over a dozen kilometers, in the streets of Paris. What are our first impressions after a few laps? Here is a little feedback.
A rather reactive rotation sensor
Let’s go back to the heart of the matter with the engine (45 Nm of torque) of the Decathlon Rockrider E-Actv 100, which is here associated with a rotation sensor. This type of sensor – opposed to the couple sensor – has the annoying tendency to generate a slight latency between the first pedal stroke and the arrival of electric assistance. This can cause a more or less intense jerk, and a fairly palpable on-off effect.
The good news is that all these effects presented are relatively attenuated on the Rockrider E -Actv 100. Nice surprise: the latter is rather reactive -but less than a bicycle with a couple sensor -, assistance in Boost mode is powerful at start-up without rushing across the membranes, and the on-off effect is rather well managed.
You will not have such precise control of the machine as with a torque sensor. But overall, this rotation sensor offers more than decent electrical behavior for an electric bike sold 999 euros.
Eco mode in good manager
In our case, we favored the Boost mode to enjoy a good dazzling at start -up, before switching in normal mode to manage recovery between 10 and 25 km/h and keep a cruising speed. In this case, normal mode brings better calibration and better mastery of bicycle-on dish, let’s hear.
Eco mode is not to our taste not powerful enough. It will especially serve you if you are in the harbor of autonomy. Unfortunately, the course imagined by Decathlon did not allow us to climb large ribs; On the little ones we borrowed, the Boost mode was preferable and privileged to drive without too much effort.
The hanging fork makes the difference
The other strong point of this Rockrider E-Actv 100 is its suspended fork of 60 mm of travel, particularly effective and pleasant. It makes it possible to amortize many shocks at the front, without too much weighed down the dynamics of the bicycle. Over the few kilometers traveled, she in any case won us over.
Source: Grégoire Huvelin – Frandroid
Source: Grégoire Huvelin – Frandroid
Source: Grégoire Huvelin – Frandroid
The small downside to emit concerns the mechanical disc brakes signed Tektro. But beware: the bikes tested were out of their box the day before the test. The brakes were therefore not running at the start, a little more at the end. In both cases, I found that they lacked a little bit of bite.
The absence of a standard crutch is a lack that should be felt-it is however possible to have one in the event of purchase of a luggage rack at 49 euros. It’s stupid, but it is an element that I use regularly on my electric bike on a daily basis.
Entry -level transmission
As for the 6 -speed microshift transmission, we feel that we are dealing with an entry -level system. This is correct, but it sometimes lacks precision and fluidity, without it being unacceptable either. It is a helping hand to take, and it is above all an assumed choice to pull the price down.
The first impressions of this Decathlon Rockrider E-Actv 100 are generally very good, as soon as we put in perspective its price of 999 euros. The bike is generally well equipped-mudguard, hanging fork, front and rear lights, SP Connect for the phone-and is very easy to use thanks to a small display made up of only a few buttons.
A test soon in our columns
It should now be tested at least for a week – stay connected, it should happen soon – to try it in depth.