Sinch 2026 Jaunt EZ 1 | Buyer Guide NZ
A Shimano mid-drive motor, a step-through frame, and every commuting accessory already bolted on, from a Kiwi brand, for $4,399. The 2026 Sinch Jaunt EZ 1 is the e-bike many of our customers have been asking for.
Finding a quality mid-drive e-bike under $5,000 has become harder over the last few years. Plenty of bikes hit that price, but most do it with a hub motor or a lesser-known mid-drive system. The Sinch 2026 Jaunt EZ 1 gets there with a Shimano EP600 motor, a Shimano battery and a Shimano display, then adds lights, mudguards, a rack, a kickstand and a mirror. You can ride it out of the shop and straight to work.
We expect this one to be popular, and stock is limited, so here's everything you need to know before you come in for a test ride.
Key Highlights
- Shimano EP600 motor: 85Nm of torque and up to 400% assist, for NZ hills and headwinds
- 504Wh Shimano battery: removable, so you can charge it inside or travel without it on the bike.
- Pedal assist to 45km/h with a walk-assist mode.
- Low step-through frame in three sizes, including XS
- Fully equipped: brake-sensing lights, alloy mudguards, 27kg-rated rack, kickstand and mirror
- Air suspension fork and 2.35" tyres for a comfortable ride on rough roads and cycle trails
- $4,399, or 24 months interest-free from $42.29 a week
Who Is Sinch?
Sinch is a New Zealand company. Kiwi cycling industry veterans Stephen James and Kim Struthers started it in 2019, with decades of experience designing bikes and products, and Red Dot and NZ Best Design awards along the way. The bikes are designed and specced here, for the roads, hills and weather we ride in.
That matters when you're buying. Sinch picks parts that suit NZ riding, backs its bikes locally, and runs Shimano or Bosch motor systems across the range, so parts and support are easy to get. The Jaunt is their everyday step-through model, and it's one of the most popular e-bikes we sell.
Shimano EP600 Motor: Why the Name Matters
The motor is the most expensive part of an e-bike and the hardest to replace, so the brand behind it matters. The Jaunt EZ 1 uses the Shimano STEPS DU-EP600, the same motor family Shimano fits to many higher-priced bikes.
- 85Nm of torque and up to 400% assist. On a steep driveway or a long climb, the motor does the heavy lifting.
- Four modes: Eco, Trail, Boost, plus Walk for pushing the bike.
- Assists up to 45km/h on the NZ-market setup.
- About 3kg in a cast aluminium housing, light for the power it puts out.
- Mid-drive: the motor drives the cranks, so it works through the gears. You get a natural pedalling feel, and the bike stays balanced because the weight sits low and central.
- Adjustable and updatable: Shimano's E-TUBE Project software updates the firmware and can tune how strongly each mode assists.
It runs a Shimano FC-EN500 crankset with a 44T chainring and Shimano's second-generation battery management. The motor, battery, display and gears all come from one maker and are designed to work together.
Our post How much power does your electric bike need? explains what torque figures mean on the road.
The SC-EN500 Handlebar Display
This is the part you touch every ride. Shimano's SC-EN500 puts the screen and assist switch in one small unit on the left of the bars, under your thumb.
- 1.4" backlit screen you can read in bright sun, at dusk, and on dark winter mornings
- Shows battery level, assist mode, speed, trip distance, and total distance
- Up and down buttons change assist mode without taking your hand off the grip
- Turns the front light on and off, and cycles through ride info
- Starts walk assist, useful when pushing a loaded bike up a ramp or onto a train platform
There's no big screen to break or steal and no separate remote, so the cockpit stays tidy. If you're new to e-bikes, you'll have it sorted in the first five minutes.
Battery: 504Wh, Removable, Shimano
The Jaunt EZ 1 uses a Shimano STEPS BT-EN605 battery: 504Wh (36V, 14Ah), mounted on the down tube.
- Removable: unlock it and take it inside to charge at home, at work or in an apartment without a garage power point
- Shimano battery: replacements and spares will be available through Shimano dealers for years, which isn't a given with lesser-known brands
- 504Wh is a good size for daily commuting, errands and weekend trail rides
We don't quote range figures, because how far you'll get depends on your weight, the hills, the assist mode, tyre pressure, wind and temperature. For an estimate based on your own riding, use Shimano's riding distance tool, or ask us in store.
Step-Through Frame and Comfort
Getting on and off is where many riders lose confidence, especially with a loaded rack or at traffic lights. The Jaunt EZ 1's low step-through frame means you don't have to swing a leg over the saddle. You step in.
Sinch has put the rest of the budget into comfort:
- SR Suntour NVX32 air fork with 80mm of travel and a lockout. Air springs are easier to set for your weight than the coil forks usually found at this price.
- CST All Terrains 27.5 x 2.35" tyres: big volume for chip seal, gravel paths and cycle trails
- Sinch Comfort saddle: 197mm wide with dual-density gel
- Swept comfort handlebar (30mm rise, 15° sweep) and an adjustable stem, allowing you to sit more upright
- Lock-on gel grips that stay put and are easier on the hands.
- 6061 aluminium frame with internal cable routing and boost thru-axles
The step-through isn't a women's frame. It's for anyone who wants easier mounting, and we sell plenty to men, taller riders and anyone with stiff hips or knees.
Everything Included
Most budget e-bikes leave you to buy the extras. On the Jaunt EZ 1, they come fitted and wired in:
- Litemove 70 lux front light, running off the main battery.
- Spanninga rear light that brightens when you brake
- Full alloy mudguards
- MIK HD rear rack, rated to 27kg, with clip-on MIK bags and baskets
- Quiet-running kickstand
- Adjustable mirror
- Sinch accessory case
Buying good lights, guards, a rack and a mirror separately and paying to have them fitted can easily add a few hundred dollars to a cheaper bike. Here, it's already included in the price.
Drivetrain and Brakes
Gears are Shimano CUES LinkGlide 9-speed. LinkGlide is built for the extra force an e-bike puts through the chain, so it lasts longer and shifts smoothly under load. Braking is Shimano MT200 hydraulic discs with a 180mm rotor at the front and 160mm on the rear. They're light at the lever and need little adjustment.
Sinch Jaunt EZ 1 Specifications
| Motor | Shimano STEPS DU-EP600, 250W rated, 85Nm, up to 400% assist |
|---|---|
| Battery | Shimano STEPS BT-EN605, 504Wh (36V 14Ah), removable |
| Display | Shimano STEPS SC-EN500 with integrated assist switch |
| Assist speed | Up to 45km/h, with walk assist |
| Frame | 6061 aluminium step-through, internal cable routing |
| Fork | SR Suntour NVX32 air, 80mm travel, lockout |
| Drivetrain | Shimano CUES LinkGlide 9-speed |
| Crankset | Shimano FC-EN500, 44T chainring |
| Brakes | Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc, 180mm front / 160mm rear |
| Wheels and tyres | 27.5", boost thru-axles, CST All Terrains 2.35" |
| Lights | Litemove 70 lux front, Spanninga brake-sensing rear |
| Extras | Alloy mudguards, MIK HD rack (27kg), kickstand, mirror, accessory case |
| Sizes | XS, SM-MD, MD-LG |
| Colour | Matte Tasman Drift |
| Price | $4,399 |
How the Jaunt EZ 1 Compares
These are regular retail prices.
| Sinch Jaunt EZ 1 (2026) | Sinch Jaunt EZ 1.5 (2025) | Sinch Jaunt EZ 4 (2026) | Silverback Selectro 120 (2026) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,399 | $4,999 | $7,499.99 | $4,199 |
| Motor | Shimano EP600, 85Nm | Shimano EP500, 60Nm | Bosch Performance Line Sport, 90Nm | Ananda mid-drive, 120Nm |
| Battery | 504Wh Shimano | 504Wh Shimano | 800Wh Bosch (1,050Wh with range extender) | 705Wh |
| Gears | Shimano CUES 9-speed | Shimano CUES 9-speed | Shimano CUES 10-speed | Shimano CUES 10-speed |
| Fork | NVX32 air, 80mm | XCM34, 100mm | XCM34 air, 100mm | XCM32, 100mm |
| Rack/mirror | Yes / Yes | Yes / No | Yes / Yes | No / No (dropper post instead) |
| Sizes | XS, SM-MD, MD-LG | S/M, M/L | See product page | MD, LG |
Against its own family, the new EZ 1 gets a stronger motor than last year's Jaunt EZ 1.5 (85Nm vs 60Nm) for $600 less, with the same battery, gears, and brakes. The Jaunt EZ 4 moves to Bosch with a much larger 800Wh battery, for riders who want to go further between charges.
Jaunt EZ 1 vs Silverback Selectro 120
The Silverback Selectro 120 is another strong seller of ours, and on paper it has bigger numbers: 120Nm and a 705Wh battery, for $200 less. So why pay more for the Jaunt?
- The motor brand. The Selectro runs an Ananda mid-drive, which is far less well known in New Zealand. Shimano has a long-established parts, service and diagnostics network here, and most bike shops already know the system.
- Long-term ownership. In five years' time you'll still be able to get a Shimano battery, display or motor part without a hunt. That also helps when you sell the bike.
- More of the everyday kit. The Jaunt comes with a 27kg rack and a mirror, and an XS size for shorter riders.
The Selectro is still a good bike. If you mainly want the most torque and battery for your money, or you like the idea of a dropper post, come in and ride both. For most step-through buyers who want a bike that's easy to live with and easy to service, we'd point them to the Jaunt EZ 1.
Sinch 2026 Jaunt EZ 1
Shimano EP600 85Nm motor, 504Wh Shimano battery, SC-EN500 display, step-through frame in XS to MD-LG, fully equipped with lights, guards, rack, and mirror for $4,399.
Silverback 2026 Selectro 120
Ananda 120Nm mid-drive, 705Wh battery, step-through frame, Shimano CUES 10-speed, lights, guards, and a dropper post for $4,199.
Sizing
The Jaunt EZ 1 comes in three sizes: XS, SM-MD and MD-LG. The XS is hard to find on a Shimano-powered e-bike and suits shorter riders who struggle to get a comfortable fit elsewhere. Between the step-through frame, adjustable stem, and swept bars, most riders can find a relaxed, upright position. If you're between sizes, come in for a test ride, and we'll set you up properly.
Who Is the Jaunt EZ 1 For?
- Car-trip replacers: the school run, the commute or the supermarket, with the rack and lights already sorted
- Returning riders who haven't been on a bike for years and want something stable and easy to get on
- Older riders who want help on the hills and a frame that's kind on hips and knees
- Cycle trail fans heading for the Otago Central Rail Trail, Hauraki or Hawke's Bay trails, where the air fork and big tyres help
- First-time e-bike buyers who want a name-brand motor without spending $6,000 or more
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sinch a New Zealand company?
Yes. Sinch is a Kiwi-owned company founded in 2019. Its bikes are designed and specced in New Zealand for local riding conditions, and use Shimano and Bosch motor systems.
How fast does the Sinch Jaunt EZ 1 go?
The Shimano EP600 motor assists up to 45km/h on the NZ-market setup. It also has a walk-assist mode for pushing the bike.
How big is the battery, and can I charge it off the bike?
It's a 504Wh Shimano STEPS BT-EN605 battery. It unlocks and comes out of the frame, allowing you to charge it indoors.
What does the handlebar display show?
The Shimano SC-EN500 shows battery level, assist mode, speed, and trip and total distance. The buttons next to the screen change assist mode, turn the front light on and off, and start walk assist.
Is a step-through frame only for women?
No. A step-through frame is about getting on and off easily. It suits anyone carrying a load, stopping often in traffic, or with less flexible hips or knees.
Why choose a Shimano motor over a cheaper mid-drive?
Shimano is one of the most widely supported e-bike systems in New Zealand. Parts, batteries and diagnostic tools are easy to get, most workshops know the system, and firmware can be updated. That makes the bike easier and cheaper to look after over its life.
Can I pay it off?
Yes. The Jaunt EZ 1 is available with up to 24 months interest-free, from $42.29 a week.
Test Ride the Jaunt EZ 1
Stock of the 2026 Jaunt EZ 1 is limited across all three sizes. The best way to know if it suits you is to ride it. Come and see us, or order online and we'll have it built and checked before it goes out.
