Vaast took the bike world by storm with its magnesium-framed gravel machine, this Vaast E/1, is one of the smoothest rides to any urban electric bike

Vaast E/1 Rohloff Review: Urban eBike Luxury on Overdrive

August 15, 2022 Richard Alvin

The Vaast E/1 Rohloff is not your average city eBike—and that’s exactly the point. Designed around NAILD’s sophisticated suspension system by Darrell Voss, best known for mountain bike engineering, this urban machine brings full-suspension comfort to streets, kerbs, cobbles, and beyond.

However, it’s arguably one of the smoothest-riding eBikes ever made for city use—but at £6,999, it comes with both a financial and physical weight.

Ride Comfort: Plush, Controlled, and Possibly Over-Engineered

The defining feature of the E/1 is its rear suspension, which keeps the distance between saddle and pedals constant—meaning even as you roll over kerbs, potholes, or speed bumps, your riding posture stays consistent. That alone delivers an urban ride feel unlike anything else on the market.

Paired with a 110mm Suntour front fork, the Vaast E/1 Rohloff doesn’t just cushion—it glides. In fact, the bike floats so effortlessly over rough surfaces that it almost feels like it was designed for a Paris-Roubaix cobbled classic, not the morning commute.

But that ultra-smooth ride has a cost: weight. At nearly 36kg, this is a seriously hefty machine. Add in the massive front rack and wide stance, and it’s not just heavy—it’s bulky. Parking or manoeuvring off the bike can be awkward, especially since the integrated motor and battery prevent lifting from the saddle. A more substantial dual kickstand would have made urban locking and storage much easier.

Powertrain and Gearing: Bosch Meets Rohloff—A Tech Lover’s Dream?

At the heart of the bike is a Bosch CX mid-drive motor, delivering a class-leading 85Nm of torque. Its power is intuitive and responsive, making short work of hills and heavy payloads. It’s a motor system that works beautifully in most contexts.

The power is transferred via a 14-speed Rohloff electronic hub—a premium drivetrain with a massive 526% gear range, operated via push-button shifter. In theory, it’s slick and seamless. In practice, though, it feels over-specified for a city bike. The lowest gears are so low they’re unusable outside of alpine climbs, and accelerating away from traffic lights turns into a thumb race between shifting and the motor’s own urgency.

If you’re the type who enjoys fine-tuning your gear ratios and savours the tech, you’ll appreciate it. But for everyday riders, it may just feel like too much.

Urban Design & Practicality: Big, Bold, and Built for Smooth Sailing

The step-through frame is accessible and stable, offering a commanding upright posture. Geometry is dialled in for comfort over long distances, and it really shines when gliding along towpaths, bridleways, or urban routes peppered with rough patches.

But this is a big bike. The front rack is wide, the frame long, and the single-sided kickstand makes locking it in urban environments more cumbersome than it should be. For a high-end commuter, a more refined locking and parking system would go a long way.

Final Verdict: Urban eBike Luxury That’s Built Like a Tank

The Vaast E/1 Rohloff is a technical masterpiece—a full-suspension commuter that offers unmatched ride comfort, premium motor power, and over-engineered capability. But it’s not for everyone.

It’s heavy, it’s large, and its component spec might feel excessive for typical city riders. But for those seeking a no-compromise urban eBike, one that flattens cobbles and glides over infrastructure like it’s fresh tarmac, the E/1 might be the smoothest ticket in town.