The No Pogo has become a true classic, being part of the CENTURION line up for 20 years, and is now also available in an all new E-version. Did CENTURION do their classic justice?
The CENTURION No Pogo E2000 bears one very unique feature: a VPP-rear end. Most of us know, VPP stands for Virtual Pivot Point, a patent based on the principle of having two short links rotating in opposite directions. This is intended to optimise rear-end performance and it’s a proven classic amongst traditional mountain bikes, yet still a rare sight on E-Mountainbikes. Less exotic, but still very functional is the choice of components. A Bosch Performance CX-motor, a FOX Performance-suspension system and a SRAM X01-shifter are an all-round brilliant package. The 2.8″ Schwalbe Nobby Nic offers good grip and riding comfort, although the thin side walls of the tires make for a slightly wobbly ride, with the added disadvantage of low puncture-resistance. The new Apex-version is definitely a better option.
The seating position on the No Pogo E2000 is spot on! Very comfortable, extremely well balanced with a well centred feel. The Bosch-motor delivers a great amount of power which translates into a firm, smooth ride through the tires. With a 14T chainring up-front and a 10–42 cassette on the back even tougher climbs will be a doddle. The rear end works effortlessly and generates a good amount of traction, making the CENTURION feel well-balanced and responsive on descents. The chassis was built with comfort in mind and can eat up all sorts of rough terrain. Having said that, more aggressive riders could do with a little more feedback. Even though the CENTURION is the heaviest bike in our test, its 23.3 kg goes almost unnoticed on the trail. The bike turns with agility and feels very responsive in sudden direction changes, yet the long 70 mm stem makes the handling a little lazy. The No Pogo feels stable, safe and predictable on fast and rough terrain.
The CENTURION No Pogo E2000 27+ in detail
Fork FOX 34 FLOAT Performance 150 mm
Rear shock FOX Float Performance 145 mm
Motor / Battery Bosch Performance CX / 500 Wh
Brakes Shimano SLX
Drivetrain SRAM X01/X1
Seatpost Kind Shock LEV Integra
Stem Procraft AL 70 mm
Handlebar Procraft Riser Pro 760 mm
Tires Schwalbe Nobby Nic Trailstar
Wheels DT Swiss M1700 Spline Two 30
The CENTURION No Pogo E2000 27+ is a total triumph, offering impressive amounts of comfort, superlative handling and an outstanding chassis. More aggressive riders could do with slightly more feedback from the back-end and might want to shorten the cockpit by choosing a shorter stem– everyone else will love the Bosch-Bike straight away!
Strengths
– Predictable Handling
– Very Comfortable
– Good component-choice
Weaknesses
– Cockpit a bit too long
– Sits low in its rear travel
For more Information head to: centurion.de
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: 11 E-MTBs under € 5,000 in Comparison
All bikes in test: Bergamont E-Trailster 8.0 | FOCUS JAM² 29 | Giant Full-E+0 Pro | Haibike SDURO AllMtn 7.0 | KTM MACINA Kapoho LT 273 | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 800 | NOX Bike EDT 5.1 Hybrid | SCOTT E-Genius 720 Plus | Specialized Turbo Levo FSR 6FATTIE | Trek Powerfly 8 FS
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