Raleigh launches new low-cost Bosch motor e-bike

If you’ve been holding out for an affordable electric bike with a Bosch mid-drive motor, your wait may finally be over. Raleigh has just launched a new version of its Captus electric bike, and it delivers the holy trinity of name-brand components, comfort-focused design, and a surprisingly low price.

At just £1,899 (around $2,400 USD), the Captus is one of the most affordable ways to score a Bosch mid-drive-powered electric bike.

Sure, they get by using the Bosch Active Line motor system, the most budget-friendly of the bunch. But it’s also the same smooth, torque-sensing mid-drive that’s been featured on higher-end commuter e-bikes for years.

You get a reasonably respectable 40 Nm of torque from the motor, a 400Wh PowerPack battery, and a top-assisted speed of 15.5 mph (25 km/h), which keeps it street-legal under UK and EU regulations.

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Raleigh appears to have built this bike with simplicity and practicality in mind. The low-step frame makes it easy to mount and dismount (though there’s also a mid-step version), and the 9-speed Shimano CUES transmission gives you a solid range for cruising city streets or light suburban climbs.

The rigid fork on the mid-step version isn’t going to smooth out rough roads and potholes, but at least the included mudguards, rear rack, and lights mean this thing is commuter-ready right out of the box. And the step-through does get a 50 mm suspension fork, so there’s that.

These are fairly decent parts, though of course not anywhere near Raleigh’s higher-end models. This is, after all, a budget play to make a more accessible e-bike that still bears the Raleigh badge.

Comfort seems to be dialed in here. In addition to the upright geometry, Raleigh includes a Selle Royal Essenza saddle, ergonomic grips, and 50mm wide tires for a plusher ride feel than you’d get from typically narrower urban tires. The whole setup is designed for casual riders who want a reliable e-bike without breaking the bank or getting overwhelmed by a dozen motor settings.

And speaking of settings, the Captus keeps things simple with a Bosch Purion display – just the basics like battery level, assist mode, and speed, without turning your handlebars into a spaceship cockpit.

For under £2k, it gets riders into the Bosch mid-drive world without breaking the bank, even if it rounds a few small corners to get there.

Electrek’s Take

It’s honestly refreshing to see a well-known bike brand deliver a no-nonsense, name-brand mid-drive e-bike for under two grand (in pounds, at least). Most Bosch-powered bikes are still sitting well north of there, and that’s before you even get basic accessories (though there are a few brands that have made great strides here – looking at you, Gazelle!)

Look, I get it: if you’re a fancy enough brand to put a German motor on your e-bikes, you’re probably going to put other nice (i.e., expensive) parts on there, too. But some people just want the basics when it comes to components, though they want their powertrain to be name-brand.

I’m not a huge fan of rack-mounted batteries so I’d probably go for the mid-step (even though I love a good step-through for ease of mounting), but that’s just me.

And I wouldn’t say that the Captus is going to be winning any bike lane races, or that the 400Wh battery is built for long-distance touring, but for daily commuting, casual riding, and flat-to-rolling terrain, this thing checks all the boxes. If you’re after a dependable, comfortable e-bike from a reputable brand without blowing your budget, Raleigh may have just hit the sweet spot.