BULLS SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS – In our big 2024 eMTB comparison test under € 7,000

Performance without compromises? That’s what BULLS promise with their SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS. The German manufacturer relies on a Bosch Performance Line CX motor, mullet wheel setup and an ABS braking system. Despite being loaded with features, the SONIC EVO is the cheapest bike in the entire test field, retailing at € 6,299. But how does it fare against the competition?

BULLS are amongst the most well-known bike brands in Europe. In our 2024 sub € 7,000 eMTB comparison test, the German manufacturer enters the race with the SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS. The SONIC range is extensive, with several different drive systems and travel configurations. We’ve already tested the Bosch SX-powered BULLS SONIC EVO AM SX-I in our huge 2024 e-mountainbike group test, while in last year’s sub € 7,000 test, BULLS took on the competition with the Shimano EP801-based SONIC EVO EN-SL 1. The SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS in this test comes with a Bosch Performance Line CX motor, paired with a mullet wheel setup and 150/150 mm of travel. As far as money goes, our test bike is a real statement, as the SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS retails at € 6,299, which makes it the cheapest competitor in this test. That leaves you with just under € 700 for upgrades if you want to keep under the € 7,000 mark. Tipping the scales at 26.1 kg in size L, the SONIC EVO is the heaviest bike in this test, together with the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 875. That said, the maximum permissible weight of 150 kg leaves you with a very generous 124 kg max. payload – the highest in the entire test field. But is the cheapest competitor in the test great value for money, or have some corners been cut?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2024 under € 7,000 – 5 affordable models in our comparison test

Toro Toro! – What sets the BULLS SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS apart from the competition?

If you’re familiar with BULLS’ portfolio, you’ll probably recognise the SONIC – it fits right in with the rest of the range. The square-edged frame silhouette is both striking and understated, with the top tube merging seamlessly into the seat stays. Next to the other bikes in this test, which all rely on fairly plain paint finishes, the SONIC EVO pops a little bit more with its lively green colour. Like the Propain Sresh and Canyon Strive:ON, the SONIC relies on a main carbon main frame, but combines this with an alloy swingarm. The frame looks as if cast from a single mould, with only the kink in the top tube interrupting the clean, flowing lines – but then, that’s just our opinion! That said, the kink also gets in the way of the brake levers on the handlebars when you turn them all the way in, which can quickly result in scratches on the frame, so no cool bar spins on the jump line if you’re riding the BULLS, we’re sorry to say.

There’s another detail we’re not exactly fond of: the bottom bracket area is very pronounced: BULLS haven’t managed to integrate the big Performance Line CX motor quite as cleanly as in Canyon’s Strive:ON CFR. However, at 85 Nm torque and with 600 watts of peak power, the motor certainly packs a punch, drawing its power from a 750 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery which is integrated into the down tube. Unfortunately, the smaller frame in size S only allows for a 625 Wh battery. That said, if you buy a smaller frame, there’s a good chance that you’re also a lighter rider, which means that you’ll most likely use less power on a comparable route. If that’s your case, you might be better off with the smaller battery after all, because it’s lighter and also costs € 200 less. Regardless of which size you go for, the battery can be easily removed from the side of the down tube and is secured additionally to the frame with a key lock. This makes the SONIC EVO the bike with the most practical battery removal system in the entire test field. The FIDLOCK bottle cage on the down tube doubles as a lock for the battery cover. If you want to charge the battery directly on the bike, you’ll find a charging port on the down tube. While there is no display on the SONIC EVO, a Bosch System Controller in the top tube provides all the basics, including battery charge status and current support mode, indicated by coloured LEDs. The motor system can also be controlled via the bar-mounted Bosch Mini Remote.

The SONIC EVO takes on the competition with a unique feature, the Bosch ABS braking system. This relies on oil pressure and wheel speed sensors to recognise when the wheels begin to lock up, and uses software to automatically adjust the braking force. According to the manufacturer, this prevents the front wheel from locking completely. The ABS brake system of the BULLS SONIC EVO is paired with TRP Trail EVO ABS 2.3 brakes, which are combined with 203 mm rotors front and rear.

The brain of the braking system, the Bosch ABS control unit, is secured to a 150 mm SR Suntour 36 AION fork (also known as the BULLS Lytro 36 Supreme SL 1.8 Boost). Unfortunately, this is incredibly hard to adjust, with the rebound dial requiring extremely strong fingers – or even a tool. Apart from that, the fork doesn’t look particularly high quality – the raw finish of the steerer tube looks distinctly low-budget compared to more premium forks. The fork is paired with a SR Suntour EDGE Comp 2CR air shock, which controls 150 mm of rear travel and only features an externally adjustable rebound setting.

Mavic supply the Crossride 1 CL MS mullet alloy wheelset, which is paired with a 2.6″ Schwalbe Magic Mary Performance tire at the front and 2.4″ Big Betty Performance at the rear. We haven’t seen Schwalbe’s Performance series tires on any of our test bikes for a long time. Despite what their name suggests, they don’t deliver a huge amount of performance on the trail – or traction, for that matter. Shifting is taken care of by a 12-speed Shimano DEORE XT drivetrain, though this is combined with a cheaper DEORE cassette.
BULLS rely on a versatile spec and countless everyday features, including the integrated MonkeyLink Twinlight in the seat stays and optional headlight mount. Thanks to the clean integration, these don’t get in your way on the trail. We would like to see more of this as standard equipment on eMTBs.

Tuning tip: With € 700 to spare on our € 7,000 budget, there’s still enough room for a few decent upgrades. We’d replace the tires first, upgrading to a higher quality tire with a grippier rubber compound.

What is the BULLS SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS capable on the trail?

The BULLS SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS places you in a slightly stretched pedalling position, making it significantly less comfortable than the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 875. On the other hand, the Bosch Performance Line CX motor is noticeably more powerful than the Shimano EP801 drive of the MERIDA, despite delivering the same torque. As a result, the BULLS SONIC EVO makes it easy to tackle the climbs, regardless of whether you’re making your way to the trailhead on fire roads or steep, technical trails, but doesn’t come close to the climbing abilities of the other E-MTBs in the group test.

“The BULLS SONIC EVO AM3 ABS features the most practical battery removal concept in the entire test field, allowing you to remove the Bosch PowerTube battery from the side of the downtube.

When gravity takes over, the SONIC places you on top of the bike rather than integrating you between its wheels, and, after just a few crank spins, you’ll notice the rather demanding handling, which is anything but intuitive. In other words, the BULLS doesn’t respond to steering input the way you expect it to, twitching hard in fast corners and thus making it hard to commit to a line.

This makes it particularly hard to ride for beginners – if it’s not your first rodeo, you might stand a better chance of taming the bull, but it’s still a bit of a wild ride. When braking from high speeds, you’ll first have to get used to the new brake feel of the ABS system. Although abrupt emergency braking is possible in principle, it takes some skill and familiarity to achieve, with braking distances increasing significantly on loose terrain. This requires you to change your riding and braking habits. Instead of slamming on the brakes before a corner in race-mode style, you can cruise through long bends with your hands on the brake levers without having to worry about the front wheel locking up. And while this might be of great benefit for eMTB newbies, it’s totally out of question for racing purists – the same way it was a big no-go 50 years ago for professional car racers, because they though it wasn’t necessary for a skilled driver. However, ABS has long been accepted in the automotive sector and we’re curious to see how it will develop in the ebike sector. That said, you can easily switch off the ABS system when riding on the trail, and reactivate it for the ride back home. This should prevent the front wheel from slipping out of control. For riders who love to embark on epic mountain tours and stick to gravel forest paths for the descents, it offers great added value.

With its powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor, the BULLS SONIC EVO AM3 ABS packs a punch uphill, both on flat fire roads and steep climbs.

While the suspension still works efficiently on moderate trails, it can’t keep up when things get faster, lacking sensitivity to bumps and feeling rather stiff overall. In combination with the shallow-profiled tires, this results in poor traction and control. Despite the firm ride over small bumps, the suspension has the opposite problem when things get rough, blowing through its travel far too easily with fast consecutive hits. Needless to say, this also affects the bike’s directional stability and makes it hard to hold your line in rock gardens and compressions, especially when riding at higher speeds – not a good situation to be in if you’re approaching a jump. With its 150 mm of travel, the LIMOTEC Alpha 1 dropper is the shortest in the entire test field, which can be a problem, especially in steep trail sections, where it robs you of confidence.

Who should take a closer look at the BULLS SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS and who should look elsewhere?

The BULLS SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS is far better suited to leisurely tourists and trekking riders who want a capable climber, than to those who like to have a little fun on the way back down. The lighting system also makes it suitable for commuters who commute using their eMTB and like to take the long way home along some trails. Although the ABS braking system ensures additional safety on mellow terrain, the BULLS SONIC EVO isn’t the right choice for riders who like to push their limits on the trail, which is partly due to the suspension’s poor performance. If that’s your case, you might want to take a closer look at the Canyon Strive:ON.

Our conclusions about the BULLS SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS

The BULLS SONIC EVO AM 3 ABS has some very useful everyday features, including the integrated lights and powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor. However, the SONIC EVO doesn’t really like to go beyond its comfort zone. If it does, it requires an experienced rider to tame the demanding handling. The overall concept of the BULLS SONIC EVO isn’t entirely convincing, and there are far better all-rounders in this test field.

Tops

• Useful everyday features
• Highest max. payload in the entire test field at 124 kg
• Practical lateral battery removal

Flops

• Shallow-profiled tires
• Demanding handling
• Stretched pedalling position
• Firm suspension

For more information, visit bulls.com

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2024 under € 7,000 – 5 affordable models in our comparison test

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Words: Benedikt Schmidt Photos: Mike Hunger