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Power — Bafang hub drive, 500 nominal watts, 750 peak watts, 65 Newton meters of torque
Speed — 20 mph stock, 28 mph unlocked
Battery and Range — 48 volt 14 ah, 45 miles or 20 ah, 65 miles, Samsung cells
Pedal assist sensor — Torque sensor
Display — Surface604 3.5” Color LCD, micro USB port, upgraded from 3.2”
Frame and weight — 6061 Aluminum alloy, 60 pound curb weight, 285 pound weight capacity
Suspension — SR Suntour XCM, 80 mm with thru axle
Gearing — Sram X5, 9 speed
Brakes — Tektro Auriga, hydraulic disc, 180 mm rotors
Warranty — 1 year comprehensive, 7-day money back guarantee
Price — Starting at 2,599 USD
Well hello there, fellow e-bike friends and welcome back to another episode of Electrified Reviews! Today we are reviewing the Surface 604 Werk. This is a high quality, approachable and functional city electric bike equipped with pretty much every bell and whistle you could ask for.
The Surface 604 Werk comes in one frame size — 19 inches, which is good for riders from about 5’8” to 6’6” — and two colors — grey and sand, which is the one we’re reviewing today.
The Werk has a starting price of $2,599 USD and Surface 604 offers free shipping, a 1 year comprehensive warranty and even a 7-day money back guarantee. There’s also quite a few upgrade and accessory options like a massive 20 amp hour battery for an extra $300 USD, a Suntour NCX seat post suspension for $119 USD, which we highly recommend by the way, and an Ergotec rear view mirror for $40 USD, just to name a few.
We’ve reviewed quite a few Surface 604 ebikes over the years and to us the name has become synonymous with quality. So let’s see how the Werk stacks up!
The Surface 604 Werk has a Bafang hub motor that can crank out 500 nominal watts and 750 peak watts of power, with 65 Newton meters of torque. This is kind of the Goldilocks zone for hub motors, where it’s not so energy hungry that it’ll gulp down the battery, but it’s still more than powerful enough to flatten out even the meanest hills.
This motor can bring the Werk up to a top speed of 20 mph out of the box, or 28 mph in the unlocked configuration. That 20 mph mark is an important number because it keeps the Werk under the protection of Class 2 electric bikes, which are permitted in most areas.
That top speed can be reached using the thumb throttle or the torque sensing pedal assist. Unlike cadence sensors, torque sensors have virtually zero latency with motor activation and deactivation, and they also give you just the right amount of power based on how hard you’re pedaling. In other words, it just makes for an incredibly smooth and seamless riding experience that feels like the motor power becomes an extension of your own power. 10 points to Surface 604.
The battery on the Surface 604 Werk is a 48 volt, 14 amp hour with Samsung cells that offers a max estimated range of around 45 miles in perfect riding conditions. But this is where those upgrade paths come into play. If you need even more range, there’s a 20 amp hour version for an extra $300 USD that will get you around 65 miles of range. And something cool about the Surface 604 e-bikes is that their batteries are cross-compatible between the different models.
The Surface 604 Werk is quite a bit lighter than some e-bikes, weighing in at just 60 pounds, while the carry capacity is still a hefty 285 pounds. That’ll come in handy when loading up the rear rack, which is literally welded to the frame by the way… so that’s not going anywhere…, and the optional front basket.
Between the low standover height and the light weight frame, the Werk is an approachable e-bike that’s also relatively easy to load and unload for transport.
The Surface 604 Werk also has Suntour XCM front suspension with approximately 80 mm of travel, and a heavy duty thru axle to further increase this ride’s structural integrity. Even though the Werk is geared for urban commuting and maybe deliveries, it’ll snack on moderate trails all day long. So if you want to take this ride on trails, go for it! Just stay clear of the black diamond runs.
Keep in mind the Werk is a hardtail, so if you want your ride to be extra plush, you can throw on a Suntour NCX seat post suspension for man extra $119 USD.
In the back of the Surface 604 Werk we’ve got a Sram X5 derailleur with a 9-speed cassette paired with trigger shifters. This is another pretty serious upgrade point on the Werk that might even be considered a bit overkill, but honestly, we’re happy to see it. The X5 can rifle through the entire cassette faster than the Flash on a good day and it’ll also keep that chain locked into place.
To bring the Surface 604 Werk to a stop we’ve got Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes, because of course, with 180 mm rotors in the front and rear wheels and built-in motor inhibitors to make sure you have the shortest possible stopping distance. Seriously, this e-bike is chock full of upgrades.
These brakes could probably stop an aircraft carrier… ok not really… but they’re incredibly powerful, and with the Kenda Kwick 27.5” x 2.6” Seven-5 tires you’ll have more than enough traction on road and off. And these tires also K-shield protection to reduce punctures. And they’ve also got reflective side walls to increase visibility.
For lighting we’ve got a fairly powerful Buchel headlight and tail light, both of which are integrated directly into the electrical system.
Wire management is on point, especially if you opt for the front basket since they are partially hidden behind it, and the wires are internally routed. This keep the Werk looking super clean, but it also protects the wires from getting snagged and ripped loose.
The handlebar stem is adjustable, which means you can raise it for a more upright and relaxed riding posture, or you can lower it for a more forward, aggressive riding posture.
The 3.5” LCD display can be locked with a passcode just like your phone, it’s super bright, adjustable and perfectly readable in direct sunlight. And it’s an upgrade from the earlier models which only had a 3.2” LCD display.
On the left side of the handlebars we’ve got the thumb throttle and independent button pad, and on the right side we’ve got the trigger shifters and an old-school bell.
The Werk, like all of Surface 604’s offerings, is one of those rides that should probably cost about twice as much as it does. It’s got premium components all around, is extremely well though out in design, is highly functional and upgradable. For anyone who needs a top shelf commuter e-bike for urban riding and maybe some trail use too, the Werk is worth a serious look.
See more of the Surface 604 Werk:
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