CENTURION Overdrive Carbon Road Z4000 in Review

The Centurion Overdrive Carbon Road Z4000 is the flagship model of the German bike brand’s brand-new range of E-road bikes. Read on to find out how the FAZUA Evation motor equipped Centurion fares in direct comparison with the competition.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: The best E-road bike of 2019! – 13 of the most exciting models on test

The entire test crew agrees that the Overdrive makes a good first impression. The two-tone shimmering red and deep matte black paint job cleverly disguises the cover of the FAZUA system, making for a slimmer-looking silhouette. The FAZUA Evation motor on the Centurion supports the rider with a torque output of 60 Nm and a rated output of 250 W (maximum power output of 400 W) up to 25 km/h, with a battery capacity of 250 Wh. The cable routing is nicely integrated into the frame, but there is a lot going on at the front of the bike due to the positioning of the cable ports. In terms of spec, the product managers have done a great job: the proven 2×11 Shimano ULTEGRA R8020 groupset is combined with 160 mm DURA-ACE. Another nice detail is the specially designed cover for the FAZUA transmission in the bottom bracket, which mirrors the shape of the battery-motor unit. For the cockpit and seat post, Centurion have used components from their in-house brand PROCRAFT, which offer a high-quality finish. With the DT Swiss ER1600 Dicut wheelset and 32 mm wide Continental GP 5000 tires, the Centurion weighs 13.92 kg in size L and costs € 5,599.

The CENTURION Overdrive Carbon Road Z4000 in detail

Motor/Battery FAZUA Evation 1.0 250 Wh
Drivetrain Shimano Ultegra R8000 2×11
Gearing 50/34 T and 11–32 T
Brakes Shimano ULTEGRA BR-R8000 160/160 mm
Stem PROCRAFT Road Flat 80 mm
Handlebar PROCRAFT Road Flat 440 mm
Seatpost PROCRAFT Carbon SP-67T.C
Wheels DT Swiss ER1600 Dicut
Tires Continental Grand Prix 5000 32C

Size	47	50	53	56	59
Seat tube	470 mm	500 mm	530 mm	560 mm	590 mm
Top tube	530 mm	543 mm	557 mm	571 mm	585 mm
Head tube	110 mm	130 mm	150 mm	170 mm	190 mm
Head angle	70.8°	71.0°	71.3°	71.5°	71.8°
Seat angle	74.0°	74.0°	74.0°	74.0°	74.0°
Wheelbase	1,015 mm	1,027 mm	1,040 mm	1,052 mm	1,064 mm
Reach	375 mm	383 mm	391 mm	399 mm	407 mm
Stack	540 mm	560 mm	580 mm	600 mm	620 mm

The CENTURION Overdrive Carbon Road Z4000 in review

The lively riding experience of the Centurion is guaranteed to put a smile on your face! With its balanced weight distribution, it remains stable even at high speeds. The Overdrive doesn’t encourage immediate direction changes, but it will take them on nonetheless. Here, the endurance design dominates over outright performance! The central and not-too-stretched riding position is suitable for long days in the saddle. You could also fit a longer stem for a slightly more aggressive riding position. The 32 mm wide GP 5000 tires make a lot of sense for the configuration of our test bike. However, with clearance for up to 700x40C tires, there is plenty of room for spontaneous gravel outings.

The greatest strength of the Centurion is that it has no real weaknesses – you can recommend the bike to everyone with a clear conscience.

Small bumps and vibrations are dampened throughout the system, resulting in an excellent level of overall comfort. Well matched to the endurance bike character, the FAZUA motor performs optimally at cadences between 70 to 85 rpm. The Overdrive is the only FAZUA bike to come with a lock to secure the battery. Unfortunately, it neither improves the function of the FAZUA latch nor is it particularly pleasing to the eye. However, the motor cut-off at the 25 km/h threshold is nice and smooth. When it comes to power delivery, the lowest level of assistance is enough for a tangible level of support on the Centurion.

Conclusion

The Centurion Overdrive Carbon Road Z4000 delivers a good overall package and is the most balanced FAZUA driven bike in the test field. With lots of clever details, the frameset harmonises nicely with the carefully considered spec. The Centurion would only have needed a touch more sprightliness and athletic performance to be awarded the test victory. If you’re looking for an endurance all-rounder with a good motor, this is it!

For more info head to: centurion.de

For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: The best E-road bike of 2019! – 13 of the most exciting models on test

All bikes in test: Bianchi Aria e-Road | BMC Alpenchallenge AMP ROAD ONE | Cannondale Synapse Neo SE | Coboc TEN Torino | FOCUS Paralane² 9.9 | LOOK E-765 Optimum Disc | Moustache Dimanche 28.7 | ORBEA GAIN M10 | Pinarello Nytro | Specialized S-Works Turbo Creo SL | Thömus Sliker E1 | Wilier Triestina Cento1 Hybrid Custom

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Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl, Benjamin Topf, Robin Schmitt