Salsa  Confluence CUES 11 Electric Bike

Note that I've owned (one very briefly) two versions of the prior Confluence with the x35 system. This one is just better (after some fit modifications because I'm getting older and can't do any kind of aggressive position any more). I preordered it well in advance and finally have it in hand and have taken it for one long test ride. As far as comfort, in its original state, I mostly test rode it around the REI parking lot. But with 700 x 50 tires set up tubeless, a suspension dropper post, and a Redshift ShockStop stem, it was a comfortable ride, even over bumps and gravel, where my "acoustic" bike does not fare so well. To me, the ride feel is better than the previous Confluence that had the x35 system, perhaps because, from what I understand, this one has a torque sensor rather than a cadence sensor. I generally like the feel of a mid-drive motor more than a hub motor, but after looking at all my options, the Confluence seems like it had more of the features I wanted (low weight, cargo mounts, being able to accommodate my 100mm dropper post) than other options that I considered. Additionally, it is a class 1 bike. For some people that might be a downside, but I don't need to go over 20mph on an e-bike and it is actually legal on the trails where I ride and on some events that limit class 3 bikes because of trail laws (though I have ridden class 3 bikes and realize that unless you ride like a maniac nobody really notices). In addition, some improvements over the prior Confluence: this drop bar model comes with e-shifters on the handlebars, if you have a range extender and, for some reason you've drained the main bike battery, it will run the bike off the range extender...and I found that it had a kickstand mount, where the prior frame did not. I wish REI sold the range extenders for the bike, too. One more thing, though, about the range extender: If you get the range extender for the bike and plan to use a Garmin Edge as a bike computer, when the range extender drains to around 10% (even when the main bike battery is at 100%), you will get persistent low battery warnings on your Garmin Edge that you cannot clear and that will block the lower portion of your screen and make you unable to change screens or access settings on your Edge. This is a Garmin issue, not a Mahle issue -- it doesn't change my rating for the bike, but is something to be aware of if you plan to buy this bike, get a range extender, and use a Garmin. Currently, unless Garmin fixes this (which, apparently has been an issue for a long time and which they have not fixed), the only workaround is to 1) ignore it 2) disconnect the range extender at the point you'd start getting low battery warnings or 3) treat it not as an ebike on your Garmin and miss getting the metrics from your ebike.