Troxus Explorer E-Bike Review, 2024

Intro

When people ask us what they should buy for their first e-bike, we often point them to all-terrain e-bikes like the Troxus Explorer. It’s not uncommon for shoppers to want an e-bike that will allow them to do some exploring, run some errands and commute to work on nice days. In our Troxus Explorer review, we’ll look at the different features of this e-bike and why it is an ideal e-bike for anyone who wants to be able to try different sorts of riding and uses.

The Troxus Explorer goes for a bit more than $2000, putting it at the upper end of what we see most often in the direct-to-consumer brands. There is a reason for why this e-bike is priced the way it is; it’s not simply more expensive. Troxus selected parts that make the Explorer a solid expression of quality, as well as flexibility of purpose.

Thanks to a 750W brushless, geared Bafang hub motor and a 960Wh Samsung battery, the Troxus Explorer has the power and energy to go most anywhere and give hours upon hours of range. Thanks to a combination of hydraulic disc brakes and an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain, the Troxus Explorer has what it takes to capitalize on the motor and battery.

Let’s take a deeper look at the design and parts pick.

E-Bike Category: All-terrain

Who the Troxus Explorer Electric Bike Is for:

anyone looking for a versatile e-bike that can handle hills and deliver Class 3 cruising speeds.

Troxus Explorer E-Bike Specs

• Battery: 48V, 960Wh Samsung
• Expected Range: Up to 62 mi., estimated
• Charger: 54.6V, 3A
• Motor: 48V, 750W brushless, geared hub motor
• Pedal Assist: 5 PAS levels
• Throttle: Thumb button
• Display: B/W LCD
• Headlight: Yes
• Taillight: Integrated into seatstays
• Frame: 6061 Aluminum
• Fork: Suspension fork
• Fenders: Included
• Kickstand: Included
• Handlebars: Alloy, 700mm wide
• Grips: Ergonomic, lock-on
• Drivetrain: 8-speed Shimano Acera
• Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, 180mm rotors
• Pedals: Alloy, with reflectors
• Saddle: Troxus
• Tires: Kenda 26 x 4 in.

In-Depth Troxus Explorer Review

Troxus Explorer Review: Comfort, Handling, and Ride Qualities

The Troxus Explorer is an all-terrain e-bike, something that is easy enough to guess just by looking at the name. It is built with a suspension fork and 26 x 4-in. tires to give it a very comfy ride. We’ve noted this elsewhere, but this e-bike’s comfort level depends on getting the tire inflation correct. A 4-in.-wide tire can be run at very low tire pressures, like single digits. This is not a tire to pump up to 50 or even 30 psi. For many riders, 8-10 psi will be the sweet spot.

We were gratified to see Troxus give a realistic estimate of the height range for potential riders of both the traditional frame and the step-thru frame for the Explorer. Their estimate is that riders between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 4 inches will best fit the Explorer. That’s true for both frames because both frames have the same length seat tube and same reach.

We often counsel readers to dismiss the sizing estimates that a company has given for their e-bike because they are a silly as estimating one size of suit or dress will fit everyone. This is one instance where we present the opposite advice: Take them at their word. The reach they have built both frames to will ask riders 5 feet 10 inches and shorter to lean and reach to an uncomfortable degree.

Put simply, this is a tall person’s e-bike, whether buying the traditional frame or the step-thru version. It’s a shame the step-thru version doesn’t have less reach.

For those who fit on this e-bike, it will offer fun handling and a relaxed personality whether cruising down the road or carving through a turn. Riders wanting to explore dirt roads and multi-surface trails will enjoy this e-bike’s ride and appreciate its versatility.

Troxus Explorer Review: Motor, Battery, and Drivetrain Performance

The Troxus Explorer is equipped with a 750W Bafang brushless, geared hub motor. This is a powerful motor that produces a stiff 80Nm of torque, giving it the ability to climb steep hills and reach 28 mph as a Class 3 e-bike.

Riders who want to ride to wild places and the backcountry are prone to range anxiety. No one wants to get caught miles from home with a rapidly dwindling battery due to the challenging terrain. To prevent surprises of that sort, Troxus spec’d the Explorer with a 960Wh Samsung battery. It’s enough to allow a rider to reach the middle of nowhere and make it back home with charge to spare.

Troxus gives riders estimates of potential range for the Explorer on their website. It is estimated to cover between 38 and 65 mi., in PAS 5 and 1, respectively. These estimates are based on two assumptions: that the rider weighs 180 lbs. and the riding is mostly flat, and we’re betting these estimates also assume that the riding is paved, not on dirt. For someone planning to ride off-road more than on-road, those estimates should be revised down by a third for the dirt alone.

The Troxus Explorer runs a bit more than $2000, just outside of what we generally see as the sweet spot in terms of value. It’s fair to ask why this e-bike is more expensive. The powerful motor and big battery are the two biggest reasons, but another contributing factor that definitely adds to this e-bike’s value is the 8-speed Shimano drivetrain. As a result, the Explorer not only offers one more cog than we often see on bikes like this, but it offers both more low-end gearing for climbing hills, but more high-end for reaching those Class 3 speeds.

Troxus Explorer Review: Braking, Safety & Warranty

We have, on occasion, seen an e-bike maker provide a motor, battery and drivetrain like those we find in the Troxus Explorer, but equipped with mechanical disc brakes in an effort to keep that e-bike’s cost at or below $2000. It’s a bad strategy, honestly.

When an e-bike has the power necessary to climb steep hills and reach 28 mph on the flats, good brakes aren’t just a good idea, they are necessary. We like that Troxus stuck with its quality selection of parts and gave the Explorer Tektro hydraulic disc brakes paired with 180mm rotors. The advantage to brakes like these isn’t just in terms of absolute stopping power, but in braking both for and during turns. Who hasn’t carved into a turn and then realized, “Ooh, I’m still going a little fast?”

Good brakes are a key part of a rider’s sense of control over their e-bike. These Tektro brakes have proven to be a terrific blend of value and performance.

Where safety is concerned, we are fans of all-terrain e-bikes of this sort because their handling is very predictable and they remain stable at speed. With such big tires, should a rider run over something that slashes a tire, with so much air in the tires, one advantage of such big tires is that it is nearly impossible to suffer a catastrophic blowout, and that means that in the event of a flat, a rider will have time to stop on their own terms.

A one-year warranty is pretty standard for direct-to-consumer e-bikes, but we’re pleased to report that Troxus offers a two-year warranty. It’s a definite step up.

Troxus Explorer Review: Recommendation/Final Verdict

All-terrain e-bikes are one of the most popular designs being offered by direct-to-consumer companies. Thanks to a suspension fork and fat tires, they offer as comfortable a ride as someone will find in this price range (drop another $1000 and we start seeing full-suspension designs, which are even kinder to the keister).

Many of these e-bikes, however, suffer from one flaw or another in order to price them below $2000. Whether it’s a battery too small to have much range on dirt, a motor not powerful enough to climb hills, a drivetrain with too little gear range to either go fast or climb hills or a lack of brakes powerful enough to keep the e-bike under control when going downhill, we often see something overlooked. That’s not the case with the Troxus Explorer, which is why we won’t ding it for running more than $2000. Quality costs, right?

That’s not to say this is an e-bike without faults. We love that this e-bike is offered in both a traditional frame and a step-thru design, but are disappointed that those two frames include the same length seat tube and same reach. It makes sense to offer two different frames in two different sizes. Worth noting is that Troxus offers a model, the Lynx, which has 20-in. wheels which would be better suited to smaller riders. It’s very similar in its parts selection and costs less.

We also need to point at that at 91 lbs. this e-bike is heavier than some of the full-suspension designs we have seen. Indeed, it’s one of the heaviest e-bikes we’ve reviewed. Considering how it is sized, that may not be a big problem. Generally our concern is for a smaller person on an e-bike that weighs upward of 75 lbs.

Troxus includes a nice selection of accessories—front and rear fenders, a rear rack and front and rear lights. The rear lights are integrated into the frame for a very clean look. Anyone who lives in a place where the mud can get sticky will want to be careful about riding in mud with the fenders in place; mud can collect in a hurry and bring even a powerful e-bike to a standstill. Removing the fenders isn’t hard, fortunately.

The display may only be black and white, but it is large, mounted over the stem and easy to read. Those features trump color every single time.

The rider who wants to seek out places away from the city as well as doing some commuting or errand-running will appreciate the powerful motor and sizable battery. This is an e-bike with real versatility. This is just the sort of e-bike a rider who is purchasing their first e-bike can try a variety of different uses and not worry about outgrowing it or its usefulness in a year.

Thank you for reading through our review of the Troxus Explorer. Still have further questions? Wondering how it compares to a similar e-bike we’ve reviewed? Let us know in the comments below!