Decathlon Elops 920E Test & Review: A Well-balanced City E-bike

Last Updated on July 19, 2023 by Igor Karni

Decathlon Elops 920E is a city model electric bike that combines power and quality build. This bike is known as one of the best in its category. So, what is the winning formula?

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Decathlon Elops 920E look and feel

Elops 920 E is a member of a large family of Decathlon Btwin electric bikes. At the same time, it is the result of some concessions made to the previous model, the Decathlon 940 E. It is exactly due to those concessions, Decathlon was able to reduce the price of this model, and it is now sold for 1500 euros only. Equipped with a Brose central motor, this e-bike is powerful enough to boost your light pedaling efforts. 

This is a type of e-bike that is conceived for home-to-work commutes. As the Decathlon claims, the e-bike’s frame is made of rigid and strong aluminum. Along with its 28-inches wheels, it has disc brakes at the front wheel and a V-brake at the rear wheel. 

The Shimano transmission offers 7 speeds that power the motor and a battery that is placed right under the rear rack. This rear rack is welded onto the frame, so you won’t have to worry about it breaking down or becoming loose. 

Speaking of the exterior, the e-bike comes with a stand and integrated lighting, like all the other models of Decathlon electric bicycles. Elops 920 E is quite heavy, though. The entire e-bike, along with all its equipment, weighs around 25 kg. 

Decathlon has launched two versions of Elops 920 E. The high-frame version is available in green color while the low-frame version is available in white color. Each version comes in two sizes (S/M and L/XL) so that all cyclists can adjust and adapt well. 

Read also: Is Decathlon a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.

Comfort and ergonomics

The frame and the overall look of Elops 920 E are very similar to those of 940 E. The e-bike has the same curved large handlebars and an aluminum frame for better grip and to support the posture of the cyclist. The front fender seems too short, though, to effectively protect the cyclist’s shoes.

The saddle lacks softness and flexibility, which would be useful on longer rides or on rough roads. Decathlon had planned to have a flexible aluminum seat post to absorb vibrations, but what is fitted on the e-bike is not quite the same as what was promised different. 

However, by adjusting the brakes, the handlebars, and the saddle a little, the bike becomes quite comfortable. Thanks to the long-curved handlebars that keep the arms very close to the body and the back straight. 

Cycle athletes will definitely prefer the sporty inclined seating position, but if you are looking for more relaxed trips, it is difficult to criticize the choice made by Decathlon.

There are no pitfalls when it comes to the e-bike’s construction. The finishes are smooth. You can still see the large battery under the rack and the motor placed beneath the pedals. The general style of this bike is worth accepting and can be already considered a classic one. 

Decathlon Elops 920 E has a racy profile and looks quite elegant for a city bike, in our opinion. However, its weight is not on the lighter side. All in all, the e-bike weighs around 26 kg. And this can become a problem if you do not have an elevator and have to take your e-bike up the stairs every evening.

Read also: Decathlon Elops 940 E test and review – the best city e-bike by Decathlon so far. Decathlon Elops 500 E test and review – a good e-bike, priced at 699 euros. Decathlon Elops 920 E test and review – best balanced e-bike. Decathlon Elops 120 E test and review – great value entry-level e-bike.

The 28-inches wheels are wrapped in CST (Chen Shin Tire) tires, one of the largest manufacturers of tires in the world. There’s no catch here. Those tires offer a comfortable ride with an adequate grip, even on wet roads. 

The good news is: the pedals’ rubber on 920 E is not the same as on 940 E. Hence, the cyclist has a good grip on the pedals, even in the rain. The feet get well-hooked onto the pedals, thanks to the small rubber teeth all around. 

The front suspension fork absorbs some amount of shocks while riding, but not very well-paved roads or rough roads will still be felt in every ride. 

The luggage carrier rack is welded well into the frame and can hold up to 27 kg. So, it’s safe to say that Decathlon went the right way in terms of equipment. You can even find tensioners to secure the load. 

The rear rack is very much similar to that of other Decathlon models. It helps keep the e-bike in a very stable position as long as you do not put too much luggage on it. If you want to transport heavy bags or want to carry your child regularly, you may find it better to place those in the center of the e-bike and not at the rear. 

The lights are well-integrated into the frame and give an elegant look to the e-bike. But this also means that they cannot be changed very easily when damaged or if the lightbulb goes out. 

The front light has an intensity of 20 lux, enough to see the roads in residential areas at night. But if you ride it in the countryside or on the roads without lighting, 20 lux is not that much and will not be enough. 

Elops 920E on the road – speeds and breaks

Decathlon’s road characteristics of this model on paper are fairly satisfactory. The cycle manufacturer promises 70 Nm of maximum torque and an efficient Brose motor that exceeds the power of the motor in the 500 E model and even that of the Shimano motor of the 940 E model. 

However, the motor of 920 E does not send as much power when you start pedaling as we thought it would. Decathlon decided to divide the motor power evenly so the first strokes on the pedals would not push a rider forward, as some may expect. 

The first stroke of torque arrives at the first pedaling effort, while the second one comes at the mid-effort. This effect is quite surprising and allows you to reach a cruising speed quietly within a few strokes. The central motor power, overall, is quite standard.

The e-bike easily reaches 27 km/h (16 mph) in mode 3 on a flat road. If you play wisely with shifting gears, the motor performs very really on the climbs as well.

The Nexus 7 hub makes it very easy to select among the 7 speeds. However, you need to briefly stop pedaling when the gear is changing, or else the speed won’t change. 

Even though the gear change only lasts about a second, it is better to be a bit cautious. Once you’ll get a good grip on it, you will easily shift gears without having to worry any longer. You won’t ever have to push hard with your legs again. 

Read also: Here is why e-bikes are really cool. And, How to select the best city e-bike (with examples)?

Mode 3 is clearly the best mode if you like to feel the power of electric assistance. Mode 2 is generally enough for pleasant and relaxed journeys and allows you to reach 24 to 25 km/h (15-16 mph) without getting too tired. 

Mode 1 (Eco) will give a good boost at the start, but assistance decreases very quickly and forces you to pedal more if you want to exceed 20 km/h (12.5 mph). The electric assistance is cut beyond 27 km/h (16 mph), and unless you have good calves, it will be difficult to cross the bar of 30 km/h (18.5 mph) even on flat roads with such a heavy e-bike.

While the motor of 920 E is more powerful on paper as compared to that of 940 E, the riding still feels less dynamic. The 920 E is clearly designed for casual and more relaxed rides, whereas the 940 E is made for more dynamic ones. In return, the Brose engine is quieter. 

The most attentive cyclists will notice that the electric assistance cuts off briefly when changing gears. This is hardly surprising since it is necessary to mark a very brief downtime at each gear change with the Nexus 7 motor. One may still notice a small additional latency of the assistance as compared to that on 940 E with the Shimano engine. This could be a bit disturbing for cyclists who expect smooth and more dynamic pedaling.

The management of electric assistance is very simple. Everything is controlled from the onboard computer located next to the left handle. A simple press on the “+” and “-” buttons change the level of electric assistance, while another button allows you to turn on the lights.

Some small advanced functions can be discovered with long presses on certain buttons (such as the pedestrian mode, which helps push the e-bike at 6 km/h with a long press on the plus button). The control display is easy to operate. You will quickly master it while riding. 

Read also: Best city e-bikes for women, reviewed and compared. And, Best folding e-bikes for women, reviewed and compared.

All in all, the riding experience is good, but being able to stop comfortably could have made the cyclists happier, especially with a 26 kg bike. On this side, the 920 E makes some concessions compared to its big brother. Hydraulic disc brakes are replaced by a combo: mechanical disc brakes on the front wheel and V-brake pad brakes on the rear wheel. 

The combo works quite well together. The rear V-pads allow to slow down quickly while the front disk brakes provide enough bite to stop quickly. 

When going at full speed, it takes just over 3 meters for the e-bike to come to a complete stop when breaking in dry road conditions. 

The only downside is that the pads will wear out quickly as it is a fairly heavy e-bike, and it is likely to be going faster, given the electric assistance. 

The autonomy of Elops 920 E

With more than 26 kg on the scale, the 920 E is clearly not made to be used without electric assistance. It is, therefore, essential to know how far the battery can take you. On average, the 36 V / 11.6 Ah (417 Watts) battery could take you as far as 55 km (35 miles) with the maximum assistance level. The promise is, therefore, kept since Decathlon had announced at least 50 km (30 miles) of road autonomy.

Unlike the 940 E, the 920 E does not automatically switch to the Eco mode on the last 10% of the battery capacity. It is quite possible to remain on the maximum assistance until the battery runs out, but you have to be careful with how much battery power is left. So, it’s best to keep a close eye on the battery meter before considering taking a tour around another block.

If the battery helps take the distance nicely, it still takes almost 6 hours to fully charge it once the battery is fully drained. So, make sure you know how much time you need for a charge. 

Decathlon Elops 920E datasheet

Material	Aluminum
Engine	Brose drive T Alu 250 watts (70 Nm)
Number of speeds	7
Autonomy announced	70 km
Battery weight	2.6 kg
Battery	36 volts/ 11.6 Ah (418 watts)
Wheels	28-inches
Luggage rack/anti-theft/tool kit	Yes/no/no
Bike weight	25.6 kg

Final remarks about Decathlon Elops 920E

The Elops 920 E model borrows a lot from its big brother (940 E). Only a few small concessions have been made that do not detract too much from the pleasure of riding a good e-bike. This model is certainly slightly less sporty than the 940 model, but it is perfectly suited for city rides and commuting. 

Its good autonomy offers a certain peace of mind, while the electric assistance makes it easy to reach pleasant cruising speed. For € 1,500, Decathlon delivers a convincing electric bike that will perfectly suit those who are looking for an unpretentious model capable of withstanding various small and mid-range urban journeys.

Read also: Check out reviews of popular models of electric bikes.

Here is a quick video presentation of the Elops line of Decathlon electric bicycles: