Decathlon Btwin LD 920 E
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After long months of gestation, the BTWIN LD 920 E is finally available for sale. This urban bike caused a lot of ink to flow when it was made official, in particular because of its exceptional autonomy and its fully automatic transmission, not to mention its many small technological refinements. But how does it compare to the competition?
Big battery, big battery life
Sorrowers might say that ultimately all of this feels like deja vu and exists on competitor bikes. Let’s take a closer look.
Let’s start with autonomy. The B’Twin LD 920 E relies on a large 702 Wh battery, but there are even bigger ones: Bosch already offers 750 Wh for example and it is possible to combine several batteries.
Decathlon also claims a range of between 80 and 150 km for its bike. Mustache announces a range of 146 km for its Monday 27.5 Smart System with a 625 Wh battery. Battery capacity is obviously not everything. We must also talk about the efficiency of the engine and its transmission, without forgetting parameters that can also play a less important role such as tire size, frame geometry… Whether in terms of autonomy or battery capacity , the B’Twin LD 920 E does not really revolutionize the sector.
An automatic transmission from Belgium
Next comes the automatic transmission. Decathlon has opted for an e2Drives mid-engine incorporating an automatic continuously variable transmission, reminiscent of the CVT gearbox of the automotive world. The central motor, developed in Belgium, displays a torque of 65 Nm, therefore comfortable for urban use.
A gas plant © Decathlon
If the competing brands frequently offer continuously variable transmissions, we think for example of the Enviolo system, few are those that have a truly automatic transmission. Cycle C’s MoBY does this by using a Bafang-signed set for it. And knowing the power of the Chinese supplier, other manufacturers should follow.
Connected and comfortable
Regarding the other technical refinements mentioned above, it is also deja vu. VanMoof has built a good part of its communication on the connected functions of its bikes, and the Batavian brand was then quickly joined in this field. What suspension integrated in the steering tube? If today this system has become extremely rare, it is the charm of the mountain bikes of the American manufacturer Cannondale. He also created the Headshok suspension in 1992, the name used in the official technical description of the BTWIN LD 920 E. It was designed to offer a compromise between comfort, performance and limited maintenance.
The small dishes in the big ones
So yes, from a strictly technical point of view, the BTWIN LD 920 E is not revolutionary. But is it a VAE like the others? Not entirely. Bringing together an automatic transmission, a large battery, connected functions and a quality front suspension on the same model is unique, or at least extremely rare. Especially for a price of 2999 €. The sum is certainly high, but much lower than what a brand with a more prestigious name would claim for such equipment. The revolution is finally there, but it has been a specialty of Decathlon since the beginnings of the giant from the north… of France.
The bike is offered in three sizes (M, L and XL) with a classic or low step-over frame. But as of this writing, it’s out of stock. It is difficult for us to know if it was a victim of its own success or if Decathlon only had a small number of units available. Those in a hurry will be at their expense.