The LeMond Prolog is a Class 1 e-bike, with no throttle, and a pedal-assisted velocity that’s restricted to twenty miles per hour. It options an 11-speed Shimano GRX drivetrain with an 11-40T cassette and a 40T chainring, and the bike additionally makes use of some critically cool know-how – the Mahle X35 drive system.
The bike’s motor, battery, controller, and interface are built-in and wired internally by way of its body. Mahle, the system’s producer, is a Spanish conglomerate that develops and manufactures automotive and high-end e-bike elements. Previous to driving the Prolog, I had solely learn in regards to the system, so I used to be completely excited to see what it might do.
Our Circuit Take a look at, which is defined within the graphic above, gave me a possibility to get a really feel for the small, light-weight 250W rear hub motor utilized by the X35 system, in addition to its three pedal help system (PAS) settings. Earlier than making use of the motor, although, I pedaled one lap round our take a look at observe with out motor help.
The 13.3 miles per hour I used to be capable of obtain with no assist from the motor says so much in regards to the Prolog. That is considerably quicker than simply about every other e-bike I’ve pedaled by way of one in all our Circuit Exams, and it’s fully due to the bike’s 26-lb carbon fiber body. Really, MOST of the bike is carbon fiber; the body, fork, monocoque stem and handlebar – even the seatpost and fenders. This makes the Prolog extraordinarily light-weight and fully pure to pedal by itself.
I need to reinforce that time: I’ve had the pleasure of driving fairly a number of e-bikes which have felt fairly near a non-electric bike with out motor help, however no matter how effectively they might transfer on human energy alone, their weight was nonetheless apparent. The LeMond Prolog is the primary that really felt like I might and would often select to make use of it with out the motor. It was unbelievable!
That mentioned, the help granted by the Mahle X35 system did nothing however make the Prolog higher. The motor’s 250 watts is comparatively minimal on this planet of e-bikes, the place aggressive 750W powerhouses are sometimes seen, however therein lies its magnificence.
The Prolog’s motor offers help that’s each clearly measurable and obvious in really feel, nevertheless it by no means looks like it’s taking on. It’s nonetheless clearly a rear-hub motor with the attribute feeling of being pushed from behind, although that is slight. The motor additionally clearly makes use of a cadence sensor, which was a bit stunning to us contemplating the Prolog’s give attention to efficiency. In our expertise, which means the bike’s motor engagement isn’t fairly as responsive as it will be with a torque sensor, however the cadence sensor on the X35 system is delicate sufficient to perform effectively.
In ECO mode, the Prolog supplied a quiet and refined enhance of energy that was most noticeable when beginning up – although our knowledge clearly exhibits its impact on velocity all through the take a look at. TOUR mode supplied a way more noticeable improve that I personally felt was the bike’s most helpful setting. TURBO mode didn’t really feel an excessive amount of totally different from TOUR mode, which is mirrored within the knowledge, although it did make a distinction on hills – extra on that later.
To summarize our findings from this take a look at: slight and refined are actually the defining traits of the Prolog, even in its excessive PAS settings. LeMond clearly made an intentional resolution by utilizing the X35 system; it offers a journey really feel very noticeably constructed round a conventional biking expertise. We firmly consider that riders who’re looking for to carry on to a traditional really feel whereas extending their very own capabilities will respect what the LeMond Prolog and its Mahle drive system can do.
