So step-through bikes are just for grannies right? If that’s what you think you clearly haven’t seen the CENTURION E-Fire Country yet. We put Mother Schmitt – who is really hoping to become a grandmother in the foreseeable future – on the CENTURION E-Fire Country and quickly realised: the 2018 Design & Innovation Award-winning CENTURION is a great piece of engineering and defines a whole new generation of step-through bikes.
Usually, we associate step-through bikes with dated and bland designs. But the CENTURION E-Fire Country wants to shake off this cliché and refuses to be put in this category. The new concept combines all the advantages of classic step-through bikes with the robustness and confidence-inspiring handling of a mountain bike. The result is an extremely versatile ebike that feels at home on city roads but doesn’t shy away from the occasional tour on gravel paths.
„My wife has been enthusiastic about ebikes for a long time. But it’s only since she’s been riding the CENTURION E-Fire Country that she’s abandoned paved roads. Now she feels confident enough to follow me on my E-MTB and discover new places. The low and generously-dimensioned step-through gives her a lot of security.”
Manfred Schmitt, E-MOUNTAINBIKE editor and future grandad.
The unusual spec is undisputedly the CENTURIONS key to success. The heart of the E-Fire Country is the powerful Shimano Steps E8000 motor which we are used to seeing on sporty E-MTBs. The motor is powered by a rechargeable 500 Wh battery which is – unlike most step-through designs – integrated into the main frame and not stored on the bike rack.
A Shimano E6000 trekking-remote with a display controls the support levels of the motor while an electronic Shimano XT Di2 group takes care of changing the gears of the 11-speed drivetrain: the shifting input is sent electronically to the rear derailleur (via cable) where a small electric motor controls the gear-shifting.
The Centurion E-Fire Country F3500 in detail
Motor: Shimano Steps E8000
Batterie: Shimano BT-E8010, 500 Wh
Fork: SR Suntour NCX MOBIE-E45 80 mm
Brakes: Shimano BL-M500
Drivetrain: Shimano XT Di2
Seatpost: Procraft DS-SP-Ri
Tires: Schwalbe Smart Sam Performance 2.25
Lights: Supernova E3/Hermans H-Trace
Weight: 22.25 kg
Price: € 3,999
In theory, PROCRAFT’s combination of a suspended and droppable post is a nice idea. In reality though, neither the suspension works to our satisfaction nor is the 60 mm drop sufficient enough.
Die Geometrie des Centurion E-Fire Country F3500
| Size | 43 | 48 | 53 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 430 mm | 480 mm | 530 mm |
| Top tube | 855 mm | 605 mm | 623 mm |
| Head tube | 170 mm | 190 mm | 210 mm |
| Head angle | 68.5° | 68.5° | 68.5° |
| Seat angle | 73° | 73° | 73° |
| Chainstays | 445 mm | 445 mm | 445 mm |
| BB Drop | 50 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1114 mm | 1133 mm | 1153 mm |
| Reach | 392 mm | 403 mm | 415 mm |
| Stack | 642 mm | 661 mm | 680 mm |
Pretty much the entire spec derives from mountain-biking and makes the E-Fire Country fit for light off-road adventures. Particularly remarkable is the choice of tires. The CENTURION rolls on Schwalbe’s 27.5″ Smart Sam tires, which are great both on tarmac and gravel paths thanks to their studded profile. A remote-switch on the handlebar controls the Procraft suspension dropper-post which can be lowered to facilitate getting on and off the bike and improves confidence on downhills.
The CENTURION E-Fire Country is very well-equipped for everyday-use. A compact Supernova E3-light feeds off the main battery and produces a very powerful light. The in-house-built rack is elegantly integrated into the robust Sunnywheel mudguards and provides a solid support for allsorts of loads. Only the big and bulky chain guard interrupts the great aesthetics, but still perfectly fulfils its purpose. At first glance, the price of € 3,999 might seem a little steep for a step-through bike but if we consider the superb choice of spec, the E-Fire Country actually strikes a great price/performance ratio.
Not only did the CENTURION E-Fire have to prove itself to Mother Schmitt’s critical eyes but also in the tough everyday-commuter-life of our graphic-designer Andreas, taking him through wind, snow and storms. And if that wasn’t enough we tested its off-road credentials on a few outings in the South-Tyrolean Dolomites. The riding position is upright and comfortable as it should be on an ebike for everyday-use. The easy step-through is bliss in the daily routine especially if you’re not wearing your functional cycling gear. The low centre of gravity and the balanced weight distribution make the CENTURION agile and nimble and obstacles can be avoided with ease.
You wouldn’t necessarily expect a step-through bike to be robust. But the engineers at CENTURION did their homework and built a pretty solid ride. The voluminous Schwalbe Smart Sam proved a great choice offering a great deal of comfort, provided you are running the right tire pressure (we recommend between 1.8 to 2.2 bar depending on the rider’s weight).
As usual, the Shimano Steps E8000 motor works impeccably and allows the E-Fire Country to accelerate with ease even when loaded with luggage. The big bar-mounted display shows all of the important data such as speed and battery status and tells you which gear you’re currently riding in. The electronic Shimano XT Di2 group shifts smoothly through the gears of the 11-speed drivetrain.
Unfortunately, the Procraft seatpost didn’t entirely convince us; not enough travel and an mushy suspension feel are the main reason. On a good note, the SR Suntour fork provides a comfortable, confidence-inspiring ride and lots of traction on disconnected surfaces. The Shimano BL-M500 disc brakes feature an ergonomic one-finger lever and allow for good deceleration with a short braking distance.
Conclusion
The CENTURION E-Fire Country is the proof that clichés no longer belong to the ebike age. With its refreshing and innovative combination of step-through bike and mountain bike, this concept covers a wide range of applications and opens new possibilities. Whether on inner-city roads or country-lanes the E-Fire Country is the perfect everyday bike for commuters and hobby riders. And of course for mother Schmitt!
Strengths
– Great degree of comfort for daily use
– Robust parts
– Powerful motor
Weaknesses
– Seatpost implementation
Riding fun Safety Comfort Quality Price/Perfomance
You find more info on the Centurion website
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Words: Photos: Robin Schmitt, Valentin Rühl
