Raleigh Bicycles Still Alive and Kicking, Starts 2021 With the Redux IE

As surprising as that headline may be, it’s true. Raleigh is still running hot and has released an urban e-bike worthy of standing up to the greats like Trek and Giant.

That e-bike is known as the Redux IE, and just as Raleigh has always been in the background cruising along in everyone else’s wake, the Redux too holds true to the values Raleigh has been known for; value and dependability.

Let’s address the issue of value first. What you’re looking at the cover photo and gallery comes in at a measly $3,499 for the male-destined frame. There’s also one for the ladies but we’ll feature that beast at a later time. For now, my question is, “how did Raleigh manage to serve us with such an affordable e-bike?”

The answer to the question above is aluminum. Yes folks, because the frame and a few other components on the IE are composed of aluminum, this bike can maintain that cool and appealing price tag. In its construction, the IE uses formed 6061 T6 alloy that is prepped for a mid-mounted motor and semi-integrated battery. That sounds just like the specs of some of the newer e-bikes offered by major market players.

Another reason why I feel this bike is worth it is because of the motor. For that $3.5k price tag, the IE is using a Bosch Performance Speed motor with 350W of power. Another tuning aspect is the raised speed limit of 28 mph (45 kph). That’s not even legal in Europe, and that’s where the motor originates from. But then again, this e-bike is only for the U.S. market.

As for the powerhouse that'll make sure you get to work, home, grocery shopping, to the park, back home, to... you get the point, it's a Bosch PowerPack with 500Wh of energy. This lithium-ion pack has more juice than the Schwinn that awaits, but for the same price.



How far you’ll get with the PowerPack is a bit hard to say as road conditions greatly vary from one ride to the next. Even having an extra pound of apples will affect your ride time. But that’s something that holds true for an electric anything, especially bicycles.

As for the drivetrain, it comes from Shimano with a 10-speed setup. Oh, and it’s not just any Shimano set, but the Deore line. The cassette, rear derailleur, and shifter are all top-shelf Deore. The only thing out of sync is the chain, but KMC has you covered with a x10e EPT e-bike chain.

The brakes, however, come Tektro, with their M735 hydraulic setup, so don’t worry about stopping all that momentum. One thing that’s missing from this beast is a suspension, though. Then again, being the city slicker that it is, you really don’t need one as you can cover nearly anything with the Schwalbe Super Moto tires tuned to 27.5 inches.

Personally, I find this e-bike one of the most affordable considering the tech it includes. How about that, 2021 seems to be full of nostalgia already. If you want to get in touch with the manufacturer we all grew up with, click here to take a trip down memory lane.