Test: Admittedly, the sight of the Bulls Performance E8 doesn't make anyone's jaw drop - it's just too practical and sensible for that. But as the appetite comes with eating, positive emotions with beautiful experiences set in - and great bike tours are best done with a solid touring bike.
What is functional and practical is not necessarily what fascinates and arouses emotions. But it should. Because what, if you please, counts more in a technical device than the function? A Ferrari is of course more impressive than a well-behaved station wagon - but when you return from an unforgettable family holiday with the latter, it will probably be more emotionally charged than the unattainable sports car, which doesn't fit into your own life anyway.
It's the same with bicycles. Mountain bikes with endless suspension travel and super-light carbon racing bikes cause a stir at trade fairs, but models like the Bulls Performance E8 are doing well in retail. The inconspicuous, because discreet and pleasantly designed e-bike offers exactly what the vast majority of cyclists want: a lot of utility for touring and everyday use, plus no superfluous frills.
Often underestimated but with many advantages: Bosch performance motor
You can see this clearly from the motorization of the Bulls Performance E8 with Bosch Performance Line. The middle motor from the drive manufacturer is pretty quick when accelerating and on climbs, but responds noticeably more harmoniously than the high-torque CX version, whose power you only really need on e-MTBs anyway. On top of that, the motor variant without the “CX” suffix is the significantly quieter drive. The performance is just as inaudible as the much-praised Active Plus drive from Bosch. Equipped with this, the Bulls never makes its driver feel underpowered; on the other hand, in no situation does the thought arise that it is too much of a good thing. And this is very pleasant, especially in everyday use. The E8 is not an E-SUV that constantly says "I could if I wanted to...", but a solid, functional touring bike that doesn't want to be anything else. This is also reflected in the pleasantly upright sitting position, which is further enhanced by the curved handlebars on the unisex low step-through bike. The bike is perfectly tailored to a relaxed driving style; the short seat tube offers the option of retrofitting a suspension seat post to round off the comfort of the suspension fork to the rear.
Bulls special model from a good house - exclusively at the Stadler two-wheeler center
As usual in this model category, the Bulls is available in three frame shapes, but they have more to do with taste than with function. The step-through step in question is also extremely stable and suitable for both women and men; the men's bike with a diamond frame, on the other hand, is often chosen out of habit and is also available in an additional frame height. Disc brakes and derailleur gears are also common on touring/trekking bikes. The restriction to eight gears is not a major shortcoming given the powerful motor support; At the latest when the chain and sprocket wear out, you could also upgrade to 10/11-speed at a reasonable cost.
Functionally, the bike is great the way it comes from the shop - and then there's the low price. Bike dealer Stadler calls for less than 2.500 euros for the Bosch bike, which is sold exclusively through its branches. This is an almost unbeatable price for a high-quality bike with this engine, especially since everything else is just right: an easily removable 500-watt-hour battery that promises a long range is included, as is a solid and stylish pannier rack; the fenders are long enough and the branded saddle feels firm but comfortable.
Anyone who takes a seat on it will notice that the Bulls does not experiment with handling either: the bike is directionally stable, but can be steered with a light hand and does not require any familiarization, just like the operation of the drive is simple and self-explanatory. In the saddle of the Bulls Performance E8, reservations about e-bikes vanish in no time; and even if the electric bike seems a bit sober at first, the emotional charge comes pretty quickly - maybe it's already time after the first ride.
