Once I first hopped on the brand new Precedence Skyline Sensible‑Shift e-bike, I wasn’t precisely positive what to anticipate. I’ve ridden dozens and dozens of commuter e-bikes, some fancier than others, but it surely’s uncommon to see one thing that feels this refined and has parts like these, particularly from a direct-to-consumer firm that focuses on high quality builds at inexpensive costs.
Simply unveiled this month, Precedence Bicycles calls it their most superior e-bike ever, and after a number of days driving it across the metropolis, I can say they’re not simply hyping it up. This factor is a critically succesful commuter machine filled with spectacular tech, high-end parts, and considerate design decisions that mix right into a surprisingly seamless trip.
Precedence Skyline tech specs
- Motor: 750W hub motor with torque sensor
- Prime velocity: 28 mph (45 km/h) or 20 mph (32 km/h) user-selectable
- Vary: 20-60 miles (32-96 km), relying the way you trip
- Battery: 720 Wh frame-integrated and detachable battery
- Weight: 30.8 kg (68 lb)
- Body: 6061 aluminum
- Brakes: Tektro HD-E350 Hydraulic disc brakes on 180 mm rotors
- Extras: Pinion C1.12i Sensible.Shift gearbox with automated digital shifting, Gates Carbon Drive belt-drive system, included fenders and rear rack, many braze-ons and mounting factors for equipment, vivid coloration show, automated entrance and rear LED lights, USB-C charging for cellphone/equipment, adjustable stem, and touch-up paint included
Precedence Skyline Video Overview
To see the Skyline in motion throughout the whole lot from intense metropolis driving to leisurely seaside path cruising, take a look at my video assessment under. You know you wish to see it trip!
“Sensible shifting” is definitely sensible
Let’s begin with the headline function: the digital Pinion C1.12i Sensible.Shift gearbox. This factor is wild, and usually comes on boutique European e-bikes costing nicely north of $6k, or round 50% greater than the Precedence Skyline right here.
As an alternative of a conventional derailleur and even an inner gear hub, the Skyline makes use of an enclosed gearbox with 12 evenly spaced gears and an enormous 600% gear vary. However what actually makes it really feel prefer it’s from the long run is the Sensible.Shift system. You possibly can faucet the buttons to shift manually in case you’d like, however I just about stopped doing that after the primary jiffy of driving as a result of I realized to simply belief the machine to do it for me.
A part of what permits it to truly shift intelligently as a substitute of another automated shifting e-bikes I’ve tried which might be extra irritating than useful are the options like “Begin.Choose” and “Pre.Choose.” These options imply the bike can mechanically downshift to your most popular gear whenever you cease and anticipate the proper gear as you choose up velocity once more. I discover that round 60 or 65 is just about the candy spot for me.
Even in case you’re accelerating with the throttle, you possibly can nonetheless see that the gearbox is shifting mechanically to make sure that in case you do determine to start out pedaling, you’ll immediately be within the correct gear. It’s weirdly satisfying. After a number of rides, I discovered myself counting on it greater than I anticipated. Plus, I discover myself utilizing the throttle at a naked minimal as a result of it’s simply so good to pedal the bike. I adjusted my handlebar stem upward (I really like bikes with adjustable stems!) to offer me a extra upright and taller seating place, and the bike is simply snug to pedal and cruise round on. The throttle is there once I want it in a pinch, however I actually just like the gearbox and belt drive, and collectively they make pedaling so clean and intuitive that I simply discover myself leaving the throttle alone for many of my driving.
It did take me a little bit of time to get used to the automated shifting since I’ve been manually shifting for basically my whole bike driving profession (aside from once I’m on splendidly simplistic single-speeds). I quickly discovered the proper rhythm although, pedaling in control after which briefly (lower than a second) pausing my pedaling to let the gearbox mechanically shift for me. It’s not like a automobile’s automated transmission, the place you possibly can simply “flooring it” together with your pedaling and count on to fly by way of the gears. You continue to need to chill out the pedaling briefly as in case you had been going to shift manually. However as quickly because it feels you let up, it’s going to do a number of shifts, nevertheless many it calculates that you just want, to pop you into the right gear for that velocity of driving.
The system is described as having the ability to shift beneath load, and in case you use the handbook buttons to override the ‘mind’, then you possibly can completely shift beneath load. However it appears to know that it’s simply higher for the gears to shift beneath lowered load, so the automated shifting half waits to shift between pedaling.
That gearbox pairs completely with the Gates Carbon Drive belt system, which suggests there’s no chain, no lube, and nearly no upkeep. I’d name it zero upkeep, myself, although I do know that technically you’re purported to examine your belt rigidity often.
There’s additionally an oil-fill port on the gearbox, so technically, I assume there’s some extent a number of thousand miles down the road once I’m purported to examine the oil, one thing I’ve by no means stated about an e-bike earlier than.
However usually talking, the upkeep on all the bike is essentially restricted to simply squeezing your tires every so often, deciding whether or not that stage of squish has turn out to be an excessive amount of to disregard any longer. That’s principally it. The bike is quiet, clear, and simply works – splendid for commuters who don’t wish to fuss with a greasy drivetrain or frequent upkeep. And since the whole lot is sealed up contained in the Pinion field, you don’t have to fret about your gears getting misaligned or caked in grime.
Powering the Skyline is a 750W rear hub motor that makes use of a torque sensor for clean, responsive pedal help. It’s quick sufficient to hit 28 mph in Class 3 mode, although I technically hit 28.6 mph on flat floor, which is a secret that we must always in all probability simply preserve between you, me, and the web. The bike additionally features a throttle in case you really feel like cruising with out pedaling. It really works as much as 20 mph, but it surely’s additionally detachable in case you stay in a state like California that cracks down on Class 3 e-bikes which have an put in throttle.
And technically talking, I also needs to say that the bike really ships as a Class 2 e-bike – I needed to navigate by way of the settings to seek out an unlock to extend the highest velocity to twenty-eight mph. So the whole lot must be fairly kosher proper out of the field for nearly wherever within the US.
So far as the efficiency, the help comes on comfortably however with sufficient grunt to make even steep hills really feel manageable. I don’t have any lengthy steep hills in my metropolis, however I do have a number of grade modifications, comparable to from the seaside as much as the road stage, and people quick however steep ramps had been no drawback for the bike to climb. For an city rider or a long-distance commuter, I’d completely say that the Skyline has greater than sufficient efficiency.
The 720Wh detachable battery is totally built-in into the downtube, which helps give the body a clear, streamlined look. It’s additionally detachable for charging, and a second ‘security’ button retains the battery locked in even after the secret’s turned.
Relying on how a lot you employ the throttle or crank up the help stage, vary can fluctuate from round 20 miles as much as over 60 miles. Simply to offer you an instance from a number of of my rides, I began out with a completely charged battery and did a variety of roughly 25-mile (40 km) loops, every time coming again with round 40% battery cost remaining. So I’d say that the center space of that wide selection declare is pretty correct for common riders.
That’s fairly commonplace for this battery measurement, and I discovered it a lot adequate for a number of days of metropolis driving with no need a cost (my metropolis is barely 8 miles throughout, so you must do a number of commutes to get by way of a complete battery cost).
Driving consolation is dialed in, too. The Skyline rolls on 27.5” x 2.0” Maxxis Metropass tires that strike a pleasant steadiness between velocity and cushion. The SR Suntour suspension fork up entrance provides 80mm of journey to absorb potholes and cracked pavement. The vast 740mm handlebars with a mild backsweep provide nice management with out feeling twitchy, and the saddle is plush sufficient for longer rides.
One observe on these handlebars: they’re wider than I anticipated, and as somebody who does quite a lot of lane splitting between rows of grid-locked automobiles in areas and not using a bike lane, it’s one thing to keep watch over. For those who aren’t usually inches away from swapping paint with automobiles, you’ll in all probability by no means discover. However whenever you’re often adjusting your elbows to not hit sideview mirrors, your bar finish placement turns into key. All of the extra purpose for separate, protected bike lanes!
Stopping energy comes from Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors entrance and rear. They provide robust, assured braking, and embrace motor cutoffs to immediately kill energy whenever you squeeze the levers. They’re fast, responsive, and so they’re yet another maintenance-free part that provides to the simple possession expertise. (Sure, every so often you must change your brake pads, but it surely’s a lot nearer to maintenance-free than cable-pull brakes!)
There’s no scarcity of helpful commuter options baked in, both. Full aluminum fenders preserve street spray off your garments, and the built-in rear rack is sturdy and modern. The truth that it’s built-in into the fender means you get all the advantages of a robust rack (rated for 22 kg or 48.5 lb), however with out all the additional {hardware} from separate rack mounts. It’s simply cleaner and slicker trying. Then there’s the stem-mounted 500-lumen headlight and a fender-mounted brake-sensing taillight which might be each powered from the principle battery, so that you’re all the time lit up and visual with out juggling separate lights, and with fewer exterior wires to get snagged on the native bike rack. Even the kickstand is thoughtfully positioned to not trigger pedal lock, and it feels stable sufficient to help the bike when totally loaded.
I’m glad to see that they even included a kickstand. It looks like as quickly as most high-end e-bikes surpass round $3k, the very first thing they steal from us is the kickstand. However Precedence is aware of that typically a number of further grams are nicely spent if its for comfort, in order that they don’t rob us of the kickstand.
What are the downsides?
At 68 kilos, the Skyline isn’t a light-weight bike, although that’s to be anticipated with a beefy motor, high-capacity battery, gearbox, and all of the built-in equipment. It’s not the sort of e-bike you’ll wish to carry up a flight of stairs day-after-day, but it surely rides with stability and confidence that makes the burden worthwhile. And for these involved about hauling it right into a automobile or onto a rack, the battery is detachable, which helps shave off a number of kilos when lifting.
Then there’s gearbox itself. It’s bought a ton of benefits, however there are downsides too. Due to the digital shifting, it gained’t shift with out energy. In case your battery runs out, you’re caught in no matter gear you had been in final.
And lastly, there’s an odd pause on the throttle supply from relaxation. For those who’re sitting nonetheless and also you hit the throttle, it takes a second earlier than the facility comes on. It doesn’t occur in case you’re already rolling; in that case, the throttle is principally instantaneous. However from relaxation, it’s nearly prefer it thinks for a second then offers you energy. I think about that’s some sort of security function, however to me, it seems like the alternative. I imagine a motorcycle ought to reply immediately to offer intuitive suggestions, and never have delayed reactions to impulses. However like I stated, I’ve used the throttle so sparingly as a result of the bike is such a pleasure to pedal, that I haven’t observed it an excessive amount of.
And that principally leaves me with the whole lot else that falls in a protracted record of benefits. The bike simply offers you a lot, from the high-end gearbox to the automated shifting, from the belt drive to the punchy hydraulic brakes, from the torque sensor to the adjustable seating/handlebar geometry. And sure, even that all-important throttle performance that makes North American e-bikes so particular.
In fact, all of this comes at a worth. At $3,999 (or $3,699 whereas the launch promotion remains to be legitimate), the Skyline isn’t low-cost. However whenever you issue within the premium parts, particularly that Pinion gearbox, which in all probability prices near half the value of the bike by itself, it really seems like a stable worth for what you’re getting. This isn’t a cookie-cutter e-bike with off-the-shelf elements slapped collectively. Precedence has constructed one thing distinctive right here: a high-performance commuter that’s clear, quiet, low-maintenance, and prepared for the lengthy haul.
Precedence Bicycles has carved out a singular area within the business, providing the sort of bike-shop-level high quality and repair you’d count on from a neighborhood retailer, mixed with direct-to-consumer pricing that retains issues cheap. And the Skyline actually feels just like the fruits of that philosophy, a refined, sturdy, and critically succesful e-bike that stands out from the pack.
If there’s one factor to remove from my expertise, it’s this: For those who’re on the lookout for a wise, highly effective, and low-maintenance commuter with top-shelf parts and modern design, the Precedence Skyline is completely value a glance. It’s not for the bargain-hunters or the oldsters who solely use the throttle on an e-bike, however in case you’re the sort of rider who values reliability, efficiency, and future-proof options, this e-bike simply is perhaps your subsequent each day driver.
