Canyon’s Roadlite: ON is an e-bike powered by the ultralight Fazua Evation 1.0 motor. It is part of this new generation of hybrid electric bikes that roll easily without assistance on the flat above 25 km/h.
Presentation
The Canyon Roadlite bike: On board a very light Fazua Evation 1.0 engine associated with a small 252 Wh battery sufficient to ensure a range of 55 km at full power on paper. We tested the RoadLite: On in its most sophisticated version (AL 9.0), which stands out for its high-end equipment (XTR transmission, RS600 disc brake) and an announced reduced weight of only 14.9 kg. This bike is unique in the market of electric models with its reduced weight and moderate assistance. It comes to compete with the Cowboy and Eeyo 1S electric bikes that we have already tested, with the difference that the Roadlite: On is designed by a real Canyon bike manufacturer with a recognized track record (road world champion with Cadel Evans in 2009 and Alejandro Valverde in 2018, and several bikes elected Vélo de l year, including the Ultimate Evo in 2018 and the Spectral CF 9.0 SL in 2015/2018), again with a Fazua crankset motor which is smoother and more pleasant to use than the hub motors, even if the latter has made a lot of progress in recent years.
The Canyon RoadLite: On AL 9.0 that we tested are sold for around 3700 € only at Canyonsince this German manufacturer specializes in direct sales. Canyon also offers two other more affordable versions: the RoadLite: On AL 8.0 (€3300), which adopts a still 12-speed Shimano XT group and slightly heavier wheels, and, finally, the RoadLite: On AL 7.0 (€2500) — which seems to be the best value for money — which is content with a Shimano Deore 10-speed group, Shimano MT200 brakes, slightly different wheels and a more classic cockpit (stem + handlebars). This latest model weighs only 600 grams more than the AL 9.0 model we tested and should retain almost the same dynamic qualities. Note that Canyon bikes are guaranteed for 6 years for the first owner.
STRONG POINTS
- Driving pleasure.
- Light.
- Reagent.
- Perfect hybrid use (motor on the climbs, muscular on the flat).
- iOS/Android app with lots of data.
- Complete the setting of assistance modes on the computer.
WEAK POINTS
- Reduced equipment (no kickstand, no mudguards, no chain guard).
- Obligation to remove the battery to start the engine (soon to be corrected by the new 250X battery).
Comfort and ergonomics
The first thing that stands out about the RoadLite: On the bike is that it doesn’t look like an e-bike. Its line looks more like a classic fitness bike than an electrically assisted bicycle (VAE). Only the most attentive will notice the slightly larger-than-average downtube and the presence of a button on it, but that’s it. The bike is stripped down.
The original equipment is therefore reduced to a strict minimum. Do not expect to find a crutch, mudguards, a luggage rack, or a chain case. Everything is done to gain weight. We weighed the bike at 15.4kg, a very lightweight for an e-bike.
The particularity of the Fazua system is to remove both the battery and the motor, which are an integral part of the same block integrated into the down tube. There remains only the transmission system at the level of the pedals. It is then possible to drive without the battery and the motor (a cover is sold as an option). The weight of the bike is then 12 kg. Located in the bottom bracket, the gear system weighs around 1.3 kg but cannot be removed.
The only button on the frame allows you to wake up the system and choose the assistance mode. On the other hand, to activate the motor, it is necessary to remove the battery. Once the battery is on, it is possible to turn the assistance on or off with the main button, but the battery goes into deep sleep after 8 hours of non-use. It must then be taken out to turn it on again, a gymnastics that is not practical daily. Well aware of this problem, Fazua has planned to release a new battery dubbed 250X in February 2021 which can be woken up directly by the bike’s console without taking the battery out. But at the time of writing, the Roadlite: On is still delivered with the Fazua 250 battery equipped with the famous button.
Practical for saving weight, the carbon handlebar/stem unit is less practical than when it comes to adjusting the riding position. Indeed, it is impossible to modify the inclination of the handlebars or the stem. Changing the handlebars without changing the stem and vice versa is also impossible. The position is, therefore, very sporty. Finally, we especially notice the clean side of the cockpit since there is no button and no counter.
Surprisingly enough, the Schwalbe G-One 28″ Gravel Tires with a section of only 1.35″ (35 mm) are very comfortable and manage to absorb the roughness of the road better than the wider tires of the Cowboy 2 . (42mm).
The saddle is reserved for lovers of small queens and sports rides. If at first glance it seems uncomfortable, it is mainly designed to avoid irritation when pedaling because this electric bike is designed to be able to pedal a lot and hard. For the regulars, the saddle is finally totally adapted to the use of this bike.
If the belt drive is more and more popular on electric bikes (Cowboy and Eeyo 1S), Canyon has chosen a classic chain drive associated with a high-end Shimano XTR 12-speed derailleur, and a 10-51 cassette (10 teeth on the smallest sprocket, 51 on the largest) which allows a fairly wide range of use, and in particular to exceed 25 km/h on the flat without pedaling at too high a rate. Gears are changed quickly, and this component, well known to all cyclists, is easy to adjust and change. On the other hand, it requires more maintenance than a belt since it is necessary to regularly add a few drops of oil to prevent premature wear.
Conduct
Before leaving, you have to start the electric assistance, and this cannot be done without waking up the battery which goes into deep standby after 8 hours of non-use (3 hours when the battery level is below 30%). To do this, you must unlock the compartment using the key, then pull the latch to lower the battery one notch. No need to remove it entirely, but the operation is still quite painful.
The control on the diagonal tube composed of two tactile buttons and a physical central button is then used to choose the visible assistance mode using color diodes. In white, there is no assistance. In green, the assistance is limited to 75% (125 W), in blue to 150% (250 W), and in pink, it increases to 240% with a maximum power of 400 W. The five LEDs indicate the level of the battery in 20% increments.
Once on the track, the bike is a real treat for sports enthusiasts. Although announced with a torque of 65 Nm, the engine is not too powerful. We are far from the power a Bosch or Shimano model offers, but the small Fazua motor assists enough on the climbs to maintain a good cadence. On the flat, it allows you to reach the speed limit of 25 km/h before easily exceeding it with the help of your thighs. This is the particularity of this bike: the engine’s resistance is almost non-existent, and the contained weight of the bike allows you to take it to more than 30 km/h, even 35 km/h, on the flat without really forcing it. The other advantage, above 25 km/h, is that the motor no longer consumes electricity since the thighs take over, and the autonomy is extended. The transition between the electric and the muscular is fluidly done without jerks. If you reach full speed on a climb, the assistance takes over as soon as you drop below 25 km/h. In short, the perfect operation for a hybrid bike that skilfully combines the advantages of an electric motor uphill with those of a light and efficient bike on the flat. The bike’s lightness and geometry allow aggressive riding by supporting the raises and chaining the avoidances. In short, a real pleasure. The transition between the electric and the muscular is fluidly done without jerks. If you reach full speed on a climb, the assistance takes over as soon as you drop below 25 km/h. In short, the perfect operation for a hybrid bike that skilfully combines the advantages of an electric motor uphill with those of a light and efficient bike on the flat. The bike’s lightness and geometry allow aggressive riding by supporting the raises and chaining the avoidances. In short, a real pleasure.
The bike is surprisingly comfortable despite the narrow tire width and no suspension. The carbon fork provides enough flexibility to absorb small bumps in the road, while the tires are very comfortable. We expected much worse on this point, and it is a very good surprise.
Braking is provided by Shimano RS405 hydraulic disc brakes paired with Shimano RS600 three-finger levers. Everything is extremely efficient while being very comfortable to use. The lever falls naturally under the index finger and can be used with one, two, or three fingers. Even with one finger, the power is sufficient to stop the bike launched at 25 km/h in less than 3 meters.
Autonomy
The removable battery has a capacity of only 252 Wh, far from the 400, 500, or even more than 600 Wh now on electric bikes equipped with Bosch or Shimano motors. The manufacturer does not announce a typical autonomy for this bike, but the other manufacturers offering bicycles equipped with the Fazua Evation engine announce between 50 and 60 km of autonomy.
With a full charge, we could cover just over 31 km without forcing the pedals. We used the same method to measure the autonomy of other equivalent electric bikes, such as the Cowboy or the Eeyo 1S. It’s very light, but that doesn’t reflect the real autonomy of this bike since, pressing the pedals normally, we could ride more than 50 km on a single charge. Indeed, the engine no longer consumes energy beyond 25 km/h, and with the RoadLite: On, it is very easy to exceed this speed on the flat, even without forcing it.
On the charging side, it takes just under 3 hours to charge the battery to 80%, then just over an hour to fully charge it.
The Fazua Rider application for iOS and Android connects via Bluetooth to the battery/motor couple and thus allows the system to be updated without going through a dealer. The application also plans routes using GPS tracking and time estimation. It is not ergonomic, but there are good ideas, such as the pairing and synchronization of outings with Strava or the visualization of a lot of information retrieved by the various sensors (power, speed, voltage, battery temperature, autonomy estimated, cadence, number of cycles, etc.).
CONCLUSION
The Fazua Evation motor integrated into this Canyon RoadLite: On the bike is a real success and will certainly appeal to anyone looking for a hybrid electric bike that can let off steam on the flat without suffering on the climbs. We can blame him for his anemic equipment unsuitable for “vélotaf” use (daily home-work trip), but what a pleasure to drive, far from utility electric bikes weighing more than 20 kg.
STRONG POINTS
- Driving pleasure.
- Light.
- Reagent.
- Perfect hybrid use (motor on the climbs, muscular on the flat).
- iOS/Android app with lots of data.
- Complete the setting of assistance modes on the computer.
WEAK POINTS
- Reduced equipment (no kickstand, no mudguards, no chain guard).
- Obligation to remove the battery to start the engine (soon to be corrected by the new 250X battery).
