Video Review
General
Frame and Contact Points
Electronics
Bicycle Components
Featured Accessories
Written Review
Power — Bafang hub drive, 500 nominal watts, 750 peak watts, 65 Newton meters of torque
Speed — 20 mph stock, 30+ 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 Color LCD, micro USB port
Frame and weight — 6061 Aluminum alloy, 65 pound curb weight, 285 pound weight capacity
Suspension — SR Suntour XCM 32 29er, 100 mm with thru axle
Gearing — Sram X5, 9 speed
Brakes — Tektro Dorado, hydraulic disc
Warranty — 1 year comprehensive, 7-day money back guarantee
Price — Starting at 2,599 USD
Today we’re reviewing the Surface604 Quad, which is an electric mountain bike that performs just as beautifully as it looks. And let me tell you, with the bright and shiny brushed aluminum finish, unique criss-crossing frame design and gold accents, this ride is a serious head turner. But don’t let the good looks fool you. The Quad is purpose built with serious electric mountain bikers in mind and comes out of the box ready for even the most extreme trails.
The Quad comes in one color, brushed aluminum with gold accents, and two frame sizes, a 17.5” frame and a 19.5” frame, which between the two can comfortably accommodate riders from 5’2” all the way up to 6’6”. There’s also some cool upgrade paths available including an extended-range battery, a NCX suspension seat post, a Rockschox Judy TK suspension fork, metal fenders, a rear rack and tail light. The Quad has a starting price of $2,599.00 USD, but if you opt for all those upgrades the price will creep over $3,000.00 USD. It’s not a paltry number, but then isn’t a meager ebike. It also comes with a 1 year comprehensive warranty and a 7-day money back guarantee, and in our opinion this is an exceptional ebike with quality components all around. Right then. Let’s dive into the specs.
The Quad has an impressive max speed of more than 30 mph in the unlocked configuration, but out of the box it’s limited to just 20 mph. To reach the adrenaline-inducing 30 mph top speed the Quad has a Bafang 500 nominal watt hub motor in the rear wheel. This motor can also crank out 750 peak watts of power, and has 65 Newton meters of torque. The motor feels expertly tuned with a good balance between power and efficiency.
The Quad’s torque sensor is the first real indication that it’s built for serious electric mountain bikers. This single piece of gear makes all the difference in the world when it comes to fine motor control. Torque sensors are a big upgrade from cadence sensors and have virtually zero latency with motor activation and deactivation, and they also afford the rider a great deal of control over how much power they get from the motor. Basically, a torque sensor feels like it enhances your human power, whereas a cadence sensor feels like it’s just a laggy on/off switch. Imagine getting hit with some Captain America super soldier serum and then hopping on the Quad. That’s what it feels like.
The Quad comes stock with a 48 volt, 14 amp hour Samsung cell battery that offers a max estimated range of nearly 45 miles. But remember, this is one of those upgrade paths Surface604 has. If you’ve got an extra $300 USD laying around you can get a 20 amp hour battery instead, which will boost your max estimated range up to nearly 65 miles. The position of the battery low on the down tube helps keeps the Quad’s center of weight low and leaves the bike feeling balanced. It’s locking and removable, and has a USB port to charge your accessories, and a quick-check battery indicator so you can get a rough estimate of how much juice is left in the tank.
Another big sign Surface604 built the Quad for serious electric mountain bikers is the Sram x5 derailleur and matching trigger shifters. In most cases, with an electric bike, it doesn’t really matter too much about derailleur upgrades because the reality is not everyone needs to burst fire through the entire cassette. But when you’re tearing through single tracks with rapid changes in speed and terrain, that’s exactly what you need. And honestly the fact that the rear cassette, chain and pedals are all gold is just icing on the cake.
For brakes we have Tektro Dorado hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors in the front and rear wheels. This is yet another component that proves Surface604 knows what they’re doing when it comes to building electric mountain bikes. The stopping power with this braking system is excellent, and they’ll even lock up when they’re completely caked with mud. The Quad also has motor inhibitors, which instantly cut power to the motor whenever you depress the brake levers. This is a redundant safety feature since we’ve got the torque sensor, but it’s still really nice to see. Also, since these brakes are hydraulic, you can adjust the resting position of the brake levers.
The Quad is a hardtail with a Suntour XCM 32 29er suspension fork with 100 mm of travel. They also have preload adjust and compression clickers so you can dial them in to fit your ride style. The XCM 32 29ers are more than solid, but Surface604 also offers an upgrade here to Rockschox Judy TK. If you had to choose between this and the battery, I’d say go for that extended range.
The Quad has a curb weight of nearly 65 pounds and a carry capacity of 285 pounds, but my favorite thing about this bike is its overall vibe. It’s flashy but practical. It’ll turn heads and you should expect people to flag you down and ask you about it. But on the other hand it’s also tough as nails. The brushed aluminum finish on the frame is super dope and when the sun hits it you can really see all those little brush strokes. It’s like a Jackson Pollock but for ebikes. Looks aside though, the frame is also strong and durable, with clean weld lines and solid overall construction. There’s also bosses on the arch of the suspension fork, underneath the downtube and on the seat post tube. So there’s plenty of attachment points for accessories like fenders, bottle cages or whatever else you want to slap on there.
Wire management on the Quad is, like everything else here, on point, with everything neatly bundled and internally routed. There’s a Buchel headlight which does help to increase visibility and is actually brighter than most ebike headlights, but it’s still not really adequate for high-speed low-light rides.
For tires We’ve got Maxxis Rekon+ 27.5” by 2.8” which are designed specifically for aggressive trails. The 3C tech with these tires help to optimize traction and stability, while the Exo casing tech provides another layer of protection from punctures, cuts and abrasions.
At the end of the day, the Surface604 Quad is a steal at $2,599.00 USD… even though, ya, objectively it’s still really expensive. The Quad a well-designed, well-thought-out electric mountain bike with a unique style and premium components. It also has enough power, torque and speed to get you through practically any trail in a hurry.
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