Decathlon Elops 920 E Connect Test: Our Review of the Electric Bike

By providing an app and services for its Elops 920 E electric bike, Decathlon is entering the connected bike arena. How does this first attempt fare?

Decathlon and its bike experience are well known. Perhaps it’s worth recalling the very extensive range. The French sports equipment giant has made its mark under the B’twin brand. From which smaller branches extend, such as the Riverside VTCs, Rockrider MTB, Triban for road bikes, or Oxylane folding bikes. Then there are the Elops, urban bikes, where our model of the day resides.

Introduction to the Elops 920E Connect bike: 3/4

In the Elops family, there are first the muscular ones—or “normal” bikes—in the 100, 500, and 900 ranges. These have adopted electric assistance versions. The e-bikes are called 120E for the lower end or 920E at the higher end. The latter has evolved at the beginning of the year to “Connect”. Visually, nothing changes on the bike, which is appealing with its matte blue finish and integrated front lighting.

The frame is identical to other Elops 900, 900E, 920, and 920E models. It is available in open or diamond frame. The look is classic with a high handlebar in Dutch style with a “moustache” shape, offering a comfortable riding position. Unlike the 120E, which has its motor at the rear, the 900 series has adopted a central Brose unit in the bottom bracket. This adds a bit of balance to the bike, which is quite heavy to handle (over 25 kg). Like all urban bikes, the fenders and rack come standard.

Decathlon adds front suspension from the Elops 900 family, and the Connect model differs from the 920E with new Tektro disc brakes, including at the rear, aluminum pedals, a dedicated kickstand, and a full chain cover. The bell, however, remains somewhat limited both in ergonomics and sound, although some will appreciate its vintage tone.

At the handlebars of the Decathlon connected bike: 2/4

The Brose C-mag motor that Decathlon touts on this model seemed to us a sign of quality. Quite frankly, we were disappointed by its uneven responsiveness. Assistance kicks in chaotically, and starts are sluggish. However, the (almost) 50 Nm torque is present — 70 Nm on the base 920E — and handles moderate climbs well. In mode 3, it’s easy to reach 25 km/h, while mode 2 limits under 20 km/h, and mode 1 is best reserved for flat terrain. 

Although equipped with suspension, the Elops 920E Connect is far from comfortable. The fork absorbs a little at the front, but the narrow tires don’t filter the bumps, and the bike’s overall rigidity doesn’t help. Additionally, the plastic chain cover vibrates constantly and makes the use noisy. It’s a shame because the motor itself is very quiet, and the use of Shimano Nexus internal hub transmission is well suited for city riding. We enjoy shifting through the seven gears at any moment, even at a standstill. Some occasional gear shifting hiccups, but overall it’s successful.

Braking is with Tektro disc brakes but feels a bit light for intense use. It seems the Decathlon electric bike favors smooth, flat routes, which isn’t always the case for our daily commute (no dedicated lanes, poor road quality, slopes, many intersections).

Battery, range, and charging: 3/4

Like all Decathlon electric bikes, the 920E Connect has its battery housed in the rear rack. Removable, the pack slides back after unlocking with a small key. Shaped like a brick and somewhat heavy, the battery can also be charged directly on the bike via its large connector. A small button on the back allows checking the charge level at any time via a gauge with 1 to 4 lights (for more precise info, the screen and app are more detailed).

With a capacity of 418 Wh, the Elops 920 E Connect battery claims up to 90 km of range. This is under favorable conditions, specifically in the lowest assistance mode. Decathlon also states a minimum of 50 km in mode 3. We calculated roughly 55 km of range using mode 3. For reference, the battery is sourced from China, from the Trendpower Technology brand.

The bike’s battery recharges via a 2 A charger, which is quite slow—about two hours to reach 30%. Full recharge takes around 6 hours. Watch out for the charger becoming very hot during use.

Screen and app of the Elops 920 E Connect: 4/4

The large—maybe a bit oversized—monochrome screen of the Decathlon is backlit for night rides. It makes a better impression than the 120E’s display. Speed is shown to the tenth of a km/h, with a battery gauge displaying five bars and a percentage—a rare feature on an e-bike!

At the bottom, the 920 E Connect display shows the mileage along with the selected mode on the left. The + and – mode buttons are sufficiently large for easy use at all times, even with gloves, unlike the lighting and power button, which are too close. The power button tended to come out of its hole, giving a somewhat cheap impression.

Nevertheless, the Decathlon Mobility app is a real success. You quickly connect after creating an account, via two scan codes, and then just browse through it. It’s a bit geeky and passive, providing route info with position on the map. In detail, you can check distances, speed, and calories burned on daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly scales.

Small bonus, it also tracks the battery charging over time. Naturally, the bike is geolocated, which is an asset if you have Laka insurance, allowing quick recovery or replacement at no cost. Without it, the Decathlon app manages movement notifications. Sometimes a bit paranoid, especially if you park the bike in a building’s storage room and it’s bumped by neighbors.

Note that these services are free for the first year and then paid. Decathlon charges around 2 euros/month, with no commitment.

Price of the Decathlon Elops 920 E Connect bike: 3/4

Stylish and retro look, well-designed app, good range, and a sufficiently powerful Brose motor—these qualities may justify the price of this electric bike. However, the Decathlon Elops 920E Connect connected model is not without flaws despite its €1,899 price. Its suspension is somewhat weak, comfort needs refinement, it lacks a wheel lock, and the motor’s responsiveness is average.

But is €1,899 expensive? What do you get at this price? For a geolocated bike, you’d need to look at Intersport and Nakamura E-Crossover XA, priced at €1,999. More leisure-oriented, it stands out with satisfactory suspension, a frame-integrated battery, and a central display in “Smart” mode that manages motor response. Otherwise, aside from the connected aspect, a Vélo Mad L’urbain 2 or a Shiftbikes also serve as good everyday electric bikes.

Furthermore, Decathlon offers a leasing deal starting at €69.40/month over 3 years for this bike.

Assessment of the Decathlon Elops 920 E Connect test: 15/20

Also read: Test Dance: renting an electric bike in the city