Cero One Electric Bike Review – 2024

Intro

Practicality is one of the qualities people buying e-bikes often rank at the top or near the top of their priorities. Given the popularity of commuter e-bikes, many riders don’t think much beyond getting to work and home again. In our CERO One review we will take a look at how this e-bike does everything a commuter can do while also fulfilling additional missions with ease.

Whether someone is taking their kid to preschool or running to the store for a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread, there are lots of ordinary day-to-day activities aside from a person’s work commute that many e-bikes will struggle to fulfill the way a car can. The CERO One is a cargo bike aimed at the family as much as it is businesses that include delivery. Put another way, the CERO One is neutral about whether someone is delivering a person or a pizza.

While the bulk of the e-bike market is concentrated on bikes that run from roughly $1000 to $2000, there is definitely a market for premium e-bikes. The CERO One is definitely a premium e-bike, and carries a price just shy of $4000, before adding any accessories.

What makes this a premium e-bike? Rather than a hub motor, the CERO One features a Shimano STEPS mid-drive motor; this motor is lighter than many hub motors and uses a torque sensor to govern the motor’s output. As a result, it gives the rider a more natural feel by adding more power the harder the rider goes. It also features an internally geared Shimano hub paired with a Gates belt-drive system that eliminates a chain that needs to be lubed and can ruin a pair of pants while getting on the e-bike.

E-Bike Category: cargo

Who the CERO One Electric Bike Is For:

This e-bike is for anyone who is looking for an option to carry kids and/or groceries as well as serve as a capable commuter.

CERO One E-Bike Specs

• Battery: 504Wh Shimano STEPS
• Expected Range: Up to 105 mi.
• Charger: 2A
• Motor: 250W Shimano STEPS, producing 60Nm of torque
• Pedal Assist: 3 levels of PAS
• Throttle: N/A
• Display: Shimano LCD
• Headlight: Spanninga Axendo 80 lumens
• Taillight: Spanninga SOLO
• Frame: 6061 Aluminum
• Fork: 6061 aluminum
• Fenders: Front and rear included
• Kickstand: Massload motorcycle-style double leg
• Handlebars: Satori Wien Trekking, 680mm wide w/20mm rise
• Grips: Ergon lock-on, ergonomic rubber
• Drivetrain: 5-speed Shimano Nexus internal hub
• Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc brakes with a 180mm rotor front, and 160mm rotor rear
• Pedals: Resin, with reflectors
• Saddle: Ergon Gel
• Tires: Schwalbe Big Ben 20-in. front, 26-in. rear

In-Depth CERO One Review

CERO One Review: Comfort, Handling, and Ride Qualities

Tires have a big impact on how an e-bike rides; not only will the tires affect how comfortable the e-bike is, the tires will affect how the e-bike handles and how efficient it is, which translates into more or less range per charge. The 2.15-in.-wide Schwalbe Big Ben tires (20-in. front and 26-in. rear) have a low-profile tread that offers great traction on the road, impressive puncture resistance and enough width to allow the rider to run pressures that make use of the tires’ natural resilience to smooth rough road surfaces.

In Europe, bikes with a 20-in. front wheel and 26-in. rear wheel have been in use for ages by both businesses and families. The reason for the small front wheel is that it allows a load to be carried in the front at a height low enough to keep the bike’s center of gravity low and therefore give it good maneuverability. The small front wheel also helps to keep the bike’s wheelbase and overall length fairly short, which also increases the bike’s maneuverability. This is a design that is nothing if not nimble.

People looking for an e-bike that can allow them to navigate a city center and then be tucked away when not in use will find the CERO One to be a very compelling design.

The Shimano STEPS motor limits the CERO One to a maximum speed of 20 mph, making it a Class 1 e-bike, legal to ride everywhere e-bikes are allowed. Keeping the CERO One Class 1 is appropriate; its short wheelbase and small front wheel make this e-bike easy to manage in close quarters, but it would be very nervous at speeds above 20 mph.

CERO One Review: Motor, Battery, and Drivetrain Performance

The CERO One is built around a Shimano STEPS e6100 motor that produces 250W and 60Nm of torque. As an e-bike reviewer, Shimano can almost seem like too easy an answer. This is a company that makes components for bikes at the Tour de France, the brakes on mountain bikes at the Red Bull Rampage, clothing and even shoes. There is, seemingly, nothing they do poorly. So while a 250W motor may sound underpowered, especially for a cargo e-bike, because it is a mid-drive motor, it adds power when the rider does—ahead of the drivetrain, which allows the gears to multiply that output.

The torque sensor found in mid-drive motors does riders two different favors. First, the motor springs into action the moment the rider presses down on a pedal. There’s no wait for the motor to kick on after one turn of the pedals. It’s an aspect of performance that everyone enjoys, but in the case of a cargo e-bike, once loaded up with a kid and a couple of bags of groceries, no one wants to try to get going first and then have the motor join the fun later. Also, mid-drive motors use that torque sensor to guide just how much power to send to the drivetrain. The harder the rider goes, the more power the motor produces, making the motor’s response proportional to the rider’s effort. The experience for the rider is much more natural and, honestly, thrilling; it’s as if the motor is reading the rider’s mind.

Claiming that an e-bike can go for 100 mi. (105 according to CERO’s website) ranks somewhere between bold and tough-to-believe, especially for an e-bike that weighs only 58 lbs. The CERO One isn’t the sort of e-bike people are likely to do long-distance touring on, so why even make a claim of that sort, right? Well, as the load increases on an e-bike (like after adding a kid and a gallon of milk), the increase in weight cuts down on the battery’s effective range. This is a cargo e-bike and it wouldn’t be worth much if after the rider loads up a kiddo and a couple of bags of groceries the CERO One could only go 10 mi.

When our colleagues at ElectricBikeReport.com tested the CERO One they were impressed that in eco mode (PAS 1), the e-bike exceeded the manufacturer’s claim and covered a whopping 116.5 mi. That’s a surprising result for a 504Wh battery, but this is a testament to the value of a 250W mid-drive motor. It’s hard to argue with efficiency.

The drivetrain on the CERO One is based on Shimano’s Nexus 5-speed internally geared rear hub. Shifting is handled by a twist shifter in the grip. Five gears may not seem like all that many, but the planetary gear system inside the hub allows for a wide range of gears, giving riders plenty of low-end gearing to get up steep hills. Rather than using a traditional metal chain, it has been replaced with a Gates belt which never needs to be lubed, won’t rust if ridden in the rain and won’t ruin a pair of pants should they come in contact with the belt.

The combination of internal gears and Gates belt make this an unusually reliable and nearly maintenance-free e-bike, which makes for a compelling value proposition for anyone not mechanically inclined.

CERO One Review: Braking, Safety, Customer Service & Warranty

The CERO One is spec’d with Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. They use a 180mm rotor front and a 160mm rotor rear. Shimano hydraulic disc brakes are the gold standard for brakes on bikes in this price range. The touch is light and the modulation grants riders a fine sense of control.

When we consider just how safe an e-bike is, we look first at those elements whose sudden failure could make for a bad day. The Schwalbe Big Ben tires are rated for Class 3 e-bikes and are given Schwalbe’s best tire protection belt. The combination of Gates belt and Shimano internally geared hub were chosen precisely because of their reliability and simplicity. The Class 1 motor was a solid choice in our opinion because this e-bike will handle best at speeds below 20 mph.

Of course, safety needs to encompass any passengers as well as the rider. By choosing to offer the Yepp Maxi child seat, CERO has selected what may be the best-made child seat on the market.

Loading a child on an e-bike with a traditional kickstand can be a challenge, especially if the kiddo is wiggly. The CERO One includes a double-leg motorcycle-style kickstand that keeps the e-bike upright, making it easy to load with a child or groceries. No need to hold the e-bike while loading.

Unlike many direct-to-consumer brands, CERO does not feature reviews of the CERO One on their web site, so it’s hard to gauge how they handle any issues that may arise should a buyer encounter a problem.

CERO offers a two-year limited warranty, double that of most of their competitors.

When scouring their website for indications of just how much effort they put into the design and production of their bikes we couldn’t help but take note of the fact that one of their staff engineers is Forrest Yelverton, a man with a distinguished history in the bike industry; his resume even includes producing bikes raced to Olympic medals. Details like this make us sit up and do more than just take note.

CERO One Review: Recommendation/Final Verdict

Buyers looking for an e-bike that will allow them to leave their car at home for some trips often turn to commuters, thinking that what they need is an e-bike suited to getting from home to work and back. But working stiffs (us included) often need to pick up a child from daycare or school, drop by the store for something needed for dinner, or run other errands for which a backpack won’t suffice. The reality is that for many families, a commuter won’t always get the job done. That’s where the practicality of a smaller cargo e-bike can make a real difference.

For anyone whose end-of-day routine is likely to include stopping by a school or a grocery store, a cargo e-bike offers more latitude in use. Backpacks and bread loaves don’t mix—at least, not well.

The CERO One includes an Abus frame lock that is mounted to the frame and when locked prevents the rear wheel from turning. It’s the sort of lock that keeps honest people honest, but isn’t a match for a dedicated bike thief. It’s ideal for that quick run into the store or school, but not enough for all day at the office.

Our only reservations about the CERO One have to do with its sizing and the rear rack’s carrying capacity. The reach from the saddle to the handlebar is quite long and while tall riders will appreciate the room, we have concerns about how well anyone 5 feet 6 inches or less will fit. The rear rack has a maximum load weight of 55 lbs. and a Yepp Maxi seat is rated for a maximum child weight of 40 lbs.

The CERO One would enjoy greater longevity as a family vehicle if CERO offered an option for carrying bigger kids—at least up to 60 lbs. We would love to see accessories that would allow bigger kids the chance to be passengers.

Those concerns are user-specific and obviously don’t apply to everyone. For people living in urban landscapes where parking a car is difficult and/or expensive, the CERO One provides an alternative way to get around that won’t require strategizing prior to running any errand.

Some readers will consider the price tag of nearly $4000 and question the wisdom of spending so much. While it’s possible to get a decent e-bike for around $1000, budget-oriented e-bikes certainly give something up in terms of durability. The CERO One puts any question of reliability or durability to rest. This is a quality e-bike capable of replacing a car for most trips

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