For those who do not follow the electric bike market, Polini is synonymous with small two-strokes that scream coarse, of Vespas and Zips that go like airplanes and of small minibikes on which many champions become pilots. Yet the Bergamo-based company was among the first Italian companies to believe in the nascent e-bike sector by creating state-of-the-art proprietary technology. And above all, she managed to do it without betraying what has always made her famous, or the pursuit of performance.
Electric yes, but under the sign of Polini
Presented in 2016, the EP3 engine was immediately appreciated for the contained dimensions and weight and for the presence of all possible sensors. In short, it was immediately a high-end product. Polini did not enter this market “just to do”, but in order to have his say.
Now the version has arrived EP3+: 2.950 gr, width among the smallest on the market, 75 Nm of torque for the Road version e 90 Nm for the MX one dedicated to mtb which is what I tried.
You can choose between 5 different mappings: Touring for greater autonomy and a smoother ride, Dynamic for a sportier delivery but a feeling of pedaling anyway “naturale” and Race which is the setup developed in the World Series Championship and in the Italian FMI, in which it is reaping successes. To these are added two fully customizable mappings via bluetooth via the application that will be released shortly.
For each “riding mode” we can decide between 5 levels of assistance of the engine from 1 a 5 in ascending order which, combined with the mechanical gearbox of the bike, allows you to really deal with any situation. Software management is another of the EP3 + flagships. The “Polini Dynamic Control” it has been developed to offer precision in torque management, reactivity in following the pedaling variations, a shorter response time e active assistance up to 120 rpm. Ok, these are the presentations, but let's come to us.
Controlled reactivity
For the occasion, Polini provided me with one Lightning Tora. The Italian brand is still little known to most but it is making inroads among enthusiasts with customizable high-end bikes. Just think that the From, top of the range model, is an enduro with full-carbon frame, Ohlins fork 160 mm, it barely weighs 20 kg. Even the most “Economic” Tora is assembled by hand by the Ceriano Laghetto company (Monza-Brianza) and has enduro geometries, but the frame is made of aluminum and the components are more “affordable” for a weight – still very good – of 24 kg.
Among the reasons for the success of the Fulgur there is certainly the choice of the Polini powertrain, recognized among the best performing. And the results on the competition fields are proving it.
You understand well that as an occasional pedaler more inclined to tourism than to racing I get on the saddle with a certain awe, but I immediately find confidence. On the other hand, we know that you get used to luxury quickly. I start with the Touring map and with a nice steep asphalted uphill section. As the slope increases, the intervention of the engine also increases and when I reach its maximum I make almost no effort. Despite the torque delivered, the response remains sweet even when I start putting the wheels on wet leaves and mud. The effect is similar to that of a traction control and the wheel does not slip.
Allora I pass to Race and here the music changes. The reactivity clearly increases and the power available is great, we need to get carried away. The loss of grip, however, must be sought. Translated, to drift you have to work harder than in the past because the response is less abrupt. Evident, however,, that for the Race map you have to find the right balance, it takes experience because the support of the engine makes itself felt and you risk losing naturalness in pedaling if you are not used to racing like myself.
Appreciate the power and software capabilities, I therefore decide to move on to Dynamic which promises to be the right middle ground to have fun in the woods even with mud. I intervene on the keypad and I appreciate the intuitiveness and completeness of the 2.5 display″ well sized and visible even in the sun thanks to the automatic adaptation of colors and brightness.
Dynamic is actually the right setup for me: I can feel the pedaling, to make the right amount of effort very naturally and at the same time to go much faster.
I return the Fulgur to Polini's boys a bit’ muddy and smiling. Unfortunately, the brevity of the test does not allow me to make any surveys on the consumption of the battery 504 Wh. Now that I was starting to get comfortable, I wanted to understand the efficiency of the system, but it will be for another time. However, I take home the awareness that Polini, while still representing a niche choice within the panorama of e-bike engines dominated by the great German and Asian players, offers a cutting-edge and effective product that knows how to be both specialized and exploitable even by the Sunday cyclist. So why not prefer it?
