CENTURION No Pogo E R2600i in review

The new, Bosch equipped CENTURION No Pogo E R2600i is full of smart tech and well-considered solutions for integrating the motor. Thanks to the addition of lights, everyday practicality doesn’t have to give way to the bike’s trail capabilities. Is the No Pogo E R2600i the perfect all-rounder for tech nerds?

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The CENTURION No Pogo E R2600i immediately stands out from the crowd, with the technical parts of the aluminium frame highlighted in orange. The robust skid plate protecting the Bosch Performance Line CX motor and the in-house aluminium cranks immediately catch your eye. The standout feature here is the lateral offset of the motor to sit flush with the frame. The custom cranks compensate for this to put the pedals back at an equal spacing around the centreline of the 23.82 kg bike. But the integration of the Bosch system doesn’t stop at the motor and the 625 Wh battery in the down tube. The speed sensor is neatly hidden in the dropout, the charging socket is outfitted with a high-quality magnetic cover and CENTURION have also designed their own mount for the KIOX display and position it next to the stem, similar to CUBE and RADON. Together with the Specialized Kenevo, the No Pogo E is the only other bike on test that relies on 27.5” wheels both front and rear. The wheels are shod with 2.6” wide MAXXIS MINION EXO+ tires. The € 5,099 bike has a FOX FLOAT DPX2 shock and a RockShox Lyrik Select fork which control 160 and 155 mm travel respectively. The No Pogo E R2600i promises to cut a fine figure not only on the trail but in everyday life as well. It comes standard with a 310 lumen LEZYNE headlight and a small tail light. On top of that, there’s a well-hidden mounting point for a stand in the dropouts.

Geometry of the CENTURION No Pogo

Currently, the No Pogo E is only available in three sizes. To accommodate tall riders even without an XL frame, CENTURION have kept the seat tube extremely long at 500 mm on an L frame. Unfortunately, this restricts your freedom of movement in many situations. Even our tallest test riders had problems with the saddle being too high on the climbs, despite the 170 mm Procraft AL Pro dropper post being fully inserted in the seat tube. Of the test field, the Centurion also has the tallest front end. With a stack height of 650 mm (size L) the handlebar is positioned a lot higher than on the competition, but it is precisely this tall front end paired with the sensitive suspension that makes the No Pogo E R2600i so comfortable on long rides.

Size	S	M	L
Seat tube	400 mm	450 mm	500 mm
Top tube	576 mm	607 mm	638 mm
Head tube	110 mm	135 mm	160 mm
Head angle	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°
Seat angle	73.6°	73.6°	73.6°
Chainstays	445 mm	445 mm	445 mm
BB Drop	15 mm	15 mm	15 mm
Wheelbase	1,174 mm	1,209 mm	1,245 mm
Reach	420 mm	445 mm	470 mm
Stack	605 mm	628 mm	650 mm

CENTURION No Pogo on test

Even going uphill, the No Pogo E R2600i is super comfortable, though it prefers a more leisurely pace on tight and winding trails. It offers a lot of traction when rolling over roots, small obstacles or on loose ground, allowing the rear wheel to make full use of the 75 Nm torque delivered by the Bosch Performance CX motor. As such, the CENTURION feels most comfortable on natural paths and wide trails. The No Pogo reaches its limits when the climbs become rough and steep. You find yourself having to actively weight the tall front end to keep it under control and you have to be careful not to catch your pedals on roots or rocks.

The suspension of the No Pogo E is super plush. It makes for a very comfortable ride and generates loads of traction on the trail.

Downhill, the No Pogo E R2600i is one of the quietest bikes on test. The plush suspension and the grippy MAXXIS tires provide all the traction you need. With its tall cockpit and generous reach, the CENTURION makes the rider feel at one with the bike and never has you worried about going over the bars. However, this doesn’t apply to shorter riders whose freedom of movement is severely restricted by the long seat tube. Nevertheless, the CENTURION is very balanced and predictable in open corners. While the suspension generates a lot of traction, it makes an active riding style difficult. Quick direction changes, jumping or playing around all require a lot of strength on the No Pogo E. The suspension is plush but as a result offers little support, absorbing the rider’s input instead.

Tuning tips: make sure you include the metal skid plate in your order (€ 59.99 ) | clean up the cables at the cockpit

Conclusion of the CENTURION No Pogo E R2600i

The CENTURION No Pogo E R2600i is full of sophisticated details that make day-to-day (trail) life easier. Its long-distance comfort and good climbing characteristics make it an excellent bike for all-day epics, instilling you with confidence even when the terrain gets steep and rough. The CENTURION isn’t agile enough for trail riders with an aggressive and playful style and the long seat tube is a no go for riders with short legs.

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For more information head to centurion.de

The test field

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All bikes in review: CENTURION No Pogo E R2600i | CUBE Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC (Click for review) | Haibike XDURO AllMtn 3.0 (Click for review) | Moustache Samedi 29 Game 4 (Click for review) | RADON RENDER 10.0 (Click for review) | Scott Genius eRIDE 920 (Click for review) | Specialized Kenevo Comp (Click for review) | Trek Rail 7 EU (Click for review)

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Words: Photos: Finlay Anderson