The all-rounder that keeps winning people over. The Bighorn has been a fixture of the New Zealand e-bike market for the best part of a decade, and the V5 is the most complete version yet. It is the bike we recommend when someone wants one e-bike that genuinely does everything — the commute during the week, the rail trail at the weekend, and the supermarket run in between.
Why we feature it
The low step-through frame makes getting on and off easy regardless of age, mobility or what you happen to be wearing. Three frame sizes mean you get a proper fit rather than a compromise — and fit is the single biggest factor in whether a bike gets ridden or gathers dust in the garage.
Power comes from the Ananda M100 mid-drive putting out 300W and 120N·m of torque. That torque figure is what matters on a loaded climb, and it is quiet with it — no whine, just steady assistance that arrives when you push on the pedals. Behind it sits a 720Wh battery running Samsung 21700 cells, which is a genuinely large pack by class standards and translates to range you rarely have to think about.
The build is sensible rather than showy. Shimano Cues 10-speed Linkglide is a drivetrain designed specifically for the loads e-bikes put through a chain, so it lasts. Tektro hydraulic discs on 180mm rotors give you real stopping power with a loaded rack. A Suntour XCM34 fork with 100mm travel and lockout takes the edge off broken seal and gravel without turning the bike into a mountain bike.
It arrives ready to use: mudguards, MIK rear rack with integrated light, front light, and a colour display with a USB port for topping up your phone.
Smart connectivity
The V5 has a 4G SIM module built in, paired to the Wattwheels app. That gives you real-time GPS location, geo-fencing alerts if the bike moves without you, remote lighting and assistance-level control, remote diagnostics, and the ability to report the bike stolen — which shuts it down.
The app subscription is included for the first year and renews at $59.95 per year after that. It is entirely optional — the bike rides normally without it. Tracking functions require 4G coverage, and we recommend removing the battery if the bike will sit unused for more than a week or two, to avoid slow drainage.
WorkRide eligible
At 300W the Bighorn LS V5 sits inside the WorkRide power limit, so it can be purchased through the scheme if your employer is signed up. Talk to us about how that works. You could save over 60% of the bike cost!!
Specifications
Motor
Ananda M100 mid-drive, 300W, 120N·m torque, CANbus system
Battery
48V 15Ah Samsung 21700 Li-Ion (720Wh) with smart BMS
Charger
D-Power 48V 3Ah smart charger
Display
Wattwheels smart colour display with app connectivity and USB port
Frame
Low step, Small / Medium / Large (Large runs 29″). Front rack available as an option
5 years frame, 2 years motor / battery / display, 12 months mechanical components
Sizing
Not sure which size you need? Give us a call first and we will talk you through it.
Assembled, tuned and backed locally
Every bike we sell that is collected from the store is fully assembled, safety-checked and tuned by our own mechanics before it goes out the door. Warranty work and servicing are handled in-house or by nationwide repair partners in the event you are an out-of-town buyer — you are not shipping a bike back to a distributor if something needs attention.
Wattwheels occasionally substitute components of equal or better specification due to supply conditions, so minor variations between production runs are possible.
