Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 12 - Sept 2024 i Cycling Electric

REVIEW French sporting retailer Decathlon has a reputation for delivering incredible value for money, yet as its cycling division has grown it has increasingly impressed with its thoughtful attention to detail when it comes to the features its bikes offer. The new BTwin E-Fold 900 folder is a case in point, with its design incorporating plenty of clever touches. For starters, the saddle has an integrated handle to help you with the fold – the kind of feature that can make all the difference if you’re in a rush. With a folded size of 82 x 73 x 56cm and an intuitively simple fold process that involves opening a pair of hinges, folding the pedals flat and lowering the seatpost, Decathlon has nailed the brief when it comes to being…

An urban twist on Riese & Müller’s UBN 5 platform, the Commute is an all-purpose, all-road chameleon designed to blend into the city landscape and built around the supremely efficient and quiet assistance of a Fazua Ride 60 mid-motor. The designers have prioritised a sporty and lightweight ride to help you churn through the miles, not just on tarmac but on the occasional off-road shortcut that many commuter routes involve too. That’s thanks to a 60mm travel suspension fork and 40mm-wide Schwalbe G-One tyres with knobbles enough for gravel but with a slick centre tread to ensure you’re not wasting energy on the road. Unlike other models in the UBN lineup, there’s a new drop bar setup on the UBN Commute which integrates two small buttons to help you manage…

There are frustratingly few electric bikes on the market designed specifically for the disability market, despite overwhelming evidence that pedal assistance can be a true game-changer for the less mobile. Yes, adaptive cycles, as they’re often called, have improved markedly since bikes, trikes and handcycles first started featuring pedal-assist motors to bear some of the load. Rarely, though, have such products offered much beyond basic mobility assistance. For UK bike maker Orange Bikes, however, cycling mobility has long been close to its heart. The West Yorkshire brand started out on its adaptive cycles journey alongside the now sadly departed Michael Bonney, a former employee who became paralysed from the neck down in 2013 having suffered a severe cycling crash. For the next six years Bonney worked tirelessly in his bike…

One of the first electric mountain bikes to market sporting the new Sram Eagle Powertrain motor, the GasGas ECC 4 is built for big days in the mountains. Despite this being the entry-level model in the ECC range, the motor packs a meaty 90Nm torque to help you up steep and rugged trails, backed up by a healthy 630Wh battery. This should be more than adequate for a day of riding on most UK terrain. The high spec continues with a premium suspension package courtesy of Sram-owned RockShox. Fans of coil-based suspension will have already spotted the Super Deluxe Select+ coil shock perched inside the front triangle, which should do an excellent job of smoothing out the minor vibrations that can easily tire your body over the course of a…

Perhaps what Mondraker has created with its Neat Unlimited Gulf e-MTB is a niche within a niche. At the best part of £12,000 the audience for this e-bike is already restricted, and then there’s the paint – you may need to be a fan of iconic motorsport vehicles to want this bike. Because as some readers will have already recognised (we’ll be honest, we had to look it up), the Neat’s custom paint is a homage to one of the most iconic track cars of the 1970s, the Gulf-sponsored Porsche 917K. While the similarities between an electric mountain-bike and a 630bhp supercar end with the paint, the Neat Unlimited build is nearly as exclusive as the three Porsche 917K cars said to exist today – only 50 of these bikes…

Have you ever considered a bike-fit? While it very much does what it says on the tin, it’s a term that needs some explaining if you haven’t come across it before. Electric bikes are no different to any other in that finding one that fits well can have a drastic impact on your ride comfort and enjoyment. Yet until recently, I had never considered a bike-fit as part of the e-bike experience. This is mainly because I think I know when a bike rides well, and what to adjust to make it more comfortable. At the same time, I’m well aware that there is a science to matching geometry and sizing, whatever you ride. I currently have a Husqvarna MC5 e-MTB on long-term test. It’s from the same stable as…

Merida’s eScultura 400 is based on the manufacturer’s all-rounder road bike, the Scultura. This electric version takes an adapted Scultura 400 alloy frame and carbon fork and, as the ‘e’ suggests, integrates a Mahle X35+ hub-motor system, delivering 40Nm of torque and 250W of power. That should be plenty for riders wanting an extra boost on the hills or a helping hand on the group ride, and thanks to the Mahle system’s 3.5kg claimed weight, the eScultura is competitively poised for an alloy e-road bike at a claimed 16.5kg. Mahle and Merida reckon the single 250Wh battery hidden inside the frame is good for nearly 100km (60 miles), but for those riders wanting to go further or ride with more assistance, Mahle offers an external range extender battery. This mounts…

REVIEW The Lapierre E-Crosshill 5.2 uses a simple, proven frameset design to keep things robust and reliable, and subtly integrates Mahle’s X35+ drive system so the bike can provide the rider with extra assistance without looking ungainly. The bike’s rear hub motor delivers 250W of power with 40Nm of torque. It isn’t the beefiest drive system going, but it’s offset by light weight and inconspicuous looks. The motor is complemented by a 250Wh battery integrated into the frame, which provides a range of up to 96km (60 miles) depending on terrain and riding mode. Lapierre uses its E-Crosshill Supreme 4 alloy frame, to keep the price competitive, paired with a carbon fork to drop weight. Although it is only offered in three sizes, the frame is traditional in geometry, with…

We’ve come to eagerly anticipate launches from Tern as it often presents ideas that are either ground-breaking in their scope or challenge the established order. We’ve seen plenty of longtail electric cargo bikes lately at below £4,000 – there was even a guide to just that in our last issue – but Tern’s £3,500 Quick Haul longtail immediately makes its case with a balance of value and high-end features. Tern is known for going above and beyond in its testing, understanding that e-bikes built to carry kids and cargo should well exceed the benchmarks standard e-bikes are built to endure. It is one of an increasing number of brands committed to a new German cargo bike safety standard known as EFBE Tri-Test, and as such the Quick Haul Long delivers…

REVIEW If your primary concern is finding a mobility aid that won’t break the bank and has the potential to open up not just the urban landscape but some countryside too, the Revom T2 trike is well worth your attention. This type of bikes is built to offer ease of use to those who have limited mobility, and in the case of the Revom there is the added bonus of being able to carry loads in the front and rear baskets. A low stepover frame is an important feature too, granting easy access to the trike without placing too much strain on the hips. The Revom offers a comfortable ride thanks to a trio of large-volume four-inch tyres from reputable tyre manufacturer Kenda. These will offer plenty of compliance in…

REVIEW Vello specialises in titanium bikes and its SUB Titanium is set to be something of a rarity in the e-bike market when it launches in December 2024: a titanium longtail electric cargo bike. The frame material promises a lightweight and manoeuvrable take on the often-unwieldy cargo bike, and the SUB Titanium is set to tip the scales at an impressively low 24kg in single-battery setup (more on that shortly). Vello says the bike measures 180cm long, which is impressively compact for a cargo bike and well suited to those with minimal space at home. It even has the same wheelbase as a standard bike. Despite its compact dimensions, however, the SUB Titanium is capable of taking two child passengers on the extended tail and can cope with a 210kg…

REVIEW If you’re a fan of Riese & Müller’s bikes you might want to start saving, as a new dream build has landed from the highly regarded German brand in the form of an update to the popular Homage, which now comes with a Pinion MGU drive and automatic gearbox slotted between the cranks. For the uninitiated, this fully sealed pedal assist MGU (Motor Gearbox Unit) is the e-bike equivalent to an automatic gearbox in a car, in that it takes care of controlling the drivetrain for you, meaning you can enjoy the ride without worrying about whether you’re in the right gear for the terrain you’re on. The unit’s location centrally on the bike also centres its weight, but more importantly it vastly reduces the number of exposed components…

Giant is one of the biggest bike brands in the world, and so is always able to offer plenty of bang for your back thanks to economies of scale. Yet it’s the added value that you can’t immediately see that makes the Anytour X E+ 3 special, with Giant drawing on its high-level partnerships with suppliers to bolster the quality of key components. Take the 625Wh Panasonic-made battery, which offers a longer lifespan than almost any we’ve encountered in the e-bike world. Use it wisely and Giant claims a range of up to 180km of assisted riding in the eco setting. What’s more, the included 4-amp charger will get you up to 60% charged in two and a half hours. The Anytour X E+ 3’s motor is equally sophisticated, with…

REVIEW Milton Keynes-based Ridgeback Bikes is a long-term favourite in the British bike market, largely thanks to its reputation for consistently providing good value and quality at budget price points. It’s now bringing this approach to the electric bike market with a range of commuter and e-MTBs priced between £1,499 and £3,799. The Arcus range sits at the budget end of this spectrum, with the Arcus 1 featured here the cheapest of the lot. Available with either a traditional frame or a low-standover option to suit those with reduced mobility (or who simply prefer it), the Arcus does a good job of offering a little bit of everything at its budget price point. It has eight gears to support the rear-wheel hub motor’s efforts, a 313Wh battery that while not…

REVIEW EBCO’s Adventure 2 is an extension of the brand’s value-focussed flatbar e-bike catalogue, coming in at the budget end of a range that also includes the Adventure 3 and Adventure 5 lines. As with its pricier siblings, EBCO offers the Adventure in two frame styles, a standard double triangle (Adventure 2) and a low-step frame (Adventure 2L). Priced at only £1,499, the Adventure 2 build follows the trend in the EBCO range by leaning on Bafang for its pedal-assist motor and also goes with LG for its 360Wh battery, which is integrated into the down tube. Straddling the space between hardtail mountain bike and gravel bike, those familiar with mountain bike geometry will instantly feel at home aboard the Adventure 2, though EBCO intends this to be an easier-to-handle…

ROLL UP AND ROLL OUT Ortlieb Handlebar-Pack Flex ■ Ortlieb is a name synonymous with high-quality construction in the luggage space, and its cycling products have weathered more than a few storms over the years. The latest pack off the production line is the Handlebar-Pack Flex, which is built to carry up to 5kg in weight and 15 litres in volume and straps to your bike’s handlebars. Perfect for carrying things like sleeping bags and mats out to the night’s campsite, its open design has no internal pockets and you can load it from either end thanks to dual roll closures, making it incredibly easy to work with on the move. Elsewhere, elastic straps on the outside are perfect for stashing items that need to be within easy reach while…

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN A QUALITY FOLDING BIKE? A folding bike review is a little different from your average bike test in that how the bike handles and stores when it is packed down is as important as how it performs when it’s upright and on two wheels. Therefore, our tests are taking the following criteria into consideration: ■ Speed of the fold■ Ease and safety of the fold■ How the bike handles when folded■ Weight■ Price■ Overall ride quality TERN VEKTRON Q9: The best load-carrying folding bike ■ At £3,500 before you’ve even thought about accessories, the Tern Vektron represents a major investment. But of all the e-folders featured here, it does the best job of matching, and at times even exceeding, what most full-sized e-bikes can…

REVIEW Prodrive is the new name for folding bike maker Hummingbird, and as part of its rebranding the Oxfordshire-based firm has reissued its electric folding bike. It’s unique on the market in that you can buy a version of the frame that is woven with environmentally-conscious flax fibre, which is recyclable at the end of its life. Arguably this bike is as low-impact as frame materials get outside of bamboo. The choice of frame material means the bike is ultra-light too, weighing as little as 10.3kg without extra equipment. That’s especially welcome on a folding bike considering you’ll typically be carrying it at points. . The three-part folding process helps here too, reducing the Prodrive down to a 64 x 118 x 21cm package. The fold itself is a simple…

REVIEW The first thing that draws the eye on the Orbea Kemen Adv 10 is the fully integrated Supernova headlight, which is one of the most pleasing-on-the-eye pieces of design you’ll see in this magazine. It’s also intelligent, switching on and off based on the level of ambient light. Look a little closer, though, and similar details are found throughout this jack-of-all-trades e-bike, including the degree of thought that has gone into accessories such as the extra-strength, 30kg-capable rear rack. The Kemen is well matched to the UK e-bike rider. So often the typical bike buyer here uses a mountain bike to ride to work, even though it’s typically not the most efficient tool for the job. Not so with the Kemen, a bike that really does it all: the…

REVIEW Cube’s Kathmandu has long been the bestseller in the German brand’s extensive range of e-bikes. Initially launched as a pedal cycle before gaining motor assistance in 2018, it has now been given a performance upgrade in its new C:62 guise, which combines a light and strong carbon fibre frame with a build that’s designed to fulfil both commuting and cycle touring needs. Cube has future-proofed the bike with design elements such as a UDH gear hanger and Boost axles front and rear as standard. In terms of the electrics, the Bosch Performance Line SX motor is the perfect all-rounder for this kind of e-bike. This mid-motor draws from a 400Wh battery that seems a fair spec for this price point and build quality. That said, if you intend to…

REVIEW Cube’s take what makes a great mountain bike revolves around overall weight and the effect it has on handling: it should be as fast when you really let go on the downhills as it is adept at nipping up the inclines. At the same time, a top-performing e-MTB should always iron out the bumps with supple suspension that’s tuned to the bike’s ride characteristics. It’s a lot to ask, but as Europe’s largest bike maker Cube is well positioned to deliver the above, and at a keen price point. So the top-tier spec of the AMS Hybrid ONE44 C:68X Super TM 400X 29 seen here (points if you can say that in one breath) comes with a wish list of dream bike parts, yet at a hair under £8,000.…

REVIEW There aren’t many bike brands that are genuinely committed to tailoring their products for women, in large part down to the subtle differences required throughout the build to ensure the bike is truly suited to female physiology. Liv, the female-focussed offshoot of bike-making behemoth Giant, is one such brand that has consistently put energy into research and development to make its bikes bespoke for women. In doing this you can expect to find components that are properly sized for female physiology. These may include shorter cranks, shorter reach brake levers, saddles that are built for a generally wider hip and many more subtle refinements to improve overall comfort and safety. More niche still is a performance-end product and it’s here that bikes such as this Liv Intrigue X Advanced…

REVIEW Like a lot of bikes in this sector, the Ribble All Road SL R e does a fine job of integrating its electric pedal assist in a way that makes it barely discernible from the All Road SL R (no ‘e’) platform on which it’s based. The secret is the Mahle motor system, where the motor sits inside the rear hub, which is obscured by the cassette and disc rotor to help keep the bike looking ‘normal’. Likewise, the battery is hidden in the down tube, with the optional extender battery sitting in place of the second water bottle, again preserving road bike aesthetics. There are four models available, from the Shimano 105 spec bike at £3,999 through to the all-bells Hero spec at £8,499, with Shimano Dura-Ace electronic…

REVIEW Merida is one of the biggest frame manufacturers in the world and it has used its near-unmatched experience to produce an e-gravel bike with several neat features that help it stand apart from its rivals. Oversized aluminium tubing neatly integrates the 250Wh battery that powers Mahle’s X35+ drive system, and there’s the option to bolt on a range extender too, so the eSilex+ 600 should be able to provide up to 100km of assistance. The enlarged down tube accommodates cabling internally to preserve the frameset’s clean lines, while Merida has adopted a compact frame geometry, meaning there is plenty of exposed seatpost to flex and help with seated comfort. Supporting the eSilex+ 600’s comfort credentials are huge-volume Maxxis Rambler tyres, which Merida specs in their 650b version to squeeze…

Pinarello is a name long associated with high-performance race bikes, so when it first dipped its toe into the e-bike market with its Nytro platform back in 2017, it was no surprise that it was one of the fastest and lightest e-road bikes around. Two years later the Nytro Gravel joined its road-based sibling in Pinarello’s lineup, and today the range comprises the Nytro E5 and this, the flagship Nytro E7. As you’d expect from Pinarello, this is a bike designed to go fast, with its carbon frameset and high-performance components helping keep the weight down to a sprightly 12.4kg. The 50Nm of torque from the TQ HPR50 mid-drive motor should be plenty to provide a boost of speed when you need it, while the 360Wh battery is well-equipped to…

REVIEW Velo de Ville’s forthcoming Loady is a departure from the brand’s typical commuter and trekking offerings, and is instead a debut effort in the hard-fought longtail cargo bike market. As with its siblings, a chief factor in its appeal is Velo de Ville’s bespoke online build service, which enables you to play around with the components, colour and accessories. The rear rack is sufficiently robust to carry up to 80kg in weight, and even at full capacity the ride should remain comfortable thanks to the high-volume, 60mm Schwalbe Pick-up tyres. The rack is compatible to MIK HD and RackTime standards, giving you a wide range of accessory options to equip the longtail for your needs. The motor is Bosch’s efficient Performance Line SX all-rounder, which sits between the cranks.…

During the pandemic it emerged that utility vans were the fastest growing type of business vehicle on the roads, with SUVs the fastest-growing car type. That’s no surprise either – the online retail boom was vastly expanding the logistics world’s need for clever transport solutions even before the extraordinary conditions brought on by Covid-19, but all these extra vehicles take up a lot of space, often in a very inefficient way. That’s why the likes of Evri and Amazon are turning to one UK-based designer of electric cargo bikes that has been pursuing the perfect pedal-assist delivery vehicle. Built to order, with several customisation options available, the EAV 2Cubed is the result of years of refinement and real world testing. Built around a robust steel chassis with a composite body,…

After its launch in 2023, the eye-catching Ca Go CS range has now expanded to include new CS70, CS80, CS90 Allroad and CS200 Exclusive models, handing those who had been considering buying this ultra-capable cargo bike more options on price and utility than ever. Dubbed a ‘city utility vehicle’, the CS e-bike’s foundation is a unique frame with multiple loading points designed for holding a variety of equipment and measured up to handle most crates and carriers. With the new additions, Ca Go has taken the concept even further, giving you the option to fill almost every gap in the frame with some form of bespoke luggage accessory, though these come at an extra cost. The CS70, CS80 and CS90 builds all utilise a Bosch Performance Line SX mid-motor, which…

To summarise the appeal of the Husqvarna Gran City 3, let us paint you a picture. Imagine cycling for miles on end, perched upright thanks to the relaxed geometry of this bike, eyes up above the traffic, gliding by. Though you’ll no doubt be imagining this happening on a sunny day, even if it does rain the mudguards catch the spray, while the rear carrier is ready to take a pair of bags, holding as much as 25kg of your shopping. You pop down the remote-actuated dropper seatpost to get your feet on the ground without leaning off the bike and then down comes the kickstand. You step through the low-slung frame without having to strain to get a leg up too high. You’ve arrived at the cafe for lunch…

REVIEW Trek is one of the world’s largest bike brands yet despite its high-volume production, it is mindful of its environmental responsibilities, holding itself to account with some very detailed reporting on its footprint. With that said, Trek’s size means it’s also able to strike keen deals with its suppliers and stay ahead of the game when it comes to offering innovation at various price points. For that reason, when looking at the Trek Verve electric bike family we’ll say don’t be shy of buying even the very cheapest of the many specs on offer. The entry-level Verve+ 1 uses a Hyena hub motor, which is a decent unit and has some excellent phone-based software to accompany the bike. In the mobile app, Hyena offers some clever features such as…

Brand new from the Hygge Bikes stable is the Soro, a uniquely styled, fat-tyred folding bike that has plenty of riding versatility both on or off the road. A specialist at the affordable end of the market, Hygge has managed to bring the Soro in at just shy of £2,000, which is quite an achievement when you consider it features both front and rear suspension – albeit short travel and only really suited for cross-country exploration rather than bombing down trails. Also contributing to what should be a comfortable ride are those fat, high-volume, 4in wide tyres that are able to run at low pressures to absorb deformities in the path, with the suspension travel taking the sting out of larger bumps. What’s more, you can lock out the suspension…

There’s no question that electric bikes have revolutionised how we commute, explore and get around on two wheels. The benefit of electric assistance means we can ride further, and for longer, than ever before, which makes the issue of comfort more critical then ever. An uncomfortable bike can lead to pain, fatigue and even long-term injury, which can detract from the overall cycling experience. As such, optimising comfort on your e-bike is essential for casual riders and cycling enthusiasts alike. Overall comfort is influenced by a range of factors, including saddle comfort, suspension, the forgiveness of your handlebar grips, the positioning of your feet on the pedals and the bike’s general fit. For instance, a well-designed saddle can prevent numbness and discomfort, while proper handlebar grips can reduce hand and…

The electric folding bike market is particularly competitive right now and Engwe has just put its own marker down with the new £1,199 P20, which at the time of writing comes with a free pannier rack bolt-on as part of its launch offer. Engwe has found considerable success to date with its portfolio of budget-friendly e-bikes and the P20 maintains the theme, only in a package that many in the UK will find more relevant than its fatter-tyred forebears. Given that a folding bike ideally wants to be as light as possible for ease of handling, the Engwe P20 comes in at a competitive 18.4kg and with a quirky take on a three-step fold that takes less than ten seconds. In keeping with many rival e-commuter bikes, a carbon belt…

REVIEW As a prominent component maker, Yamaha has been raising its profile in the electric bike market with each passing year. Now, having moved its e-bike motor production to Europe, the brand is starting to turn heads with its own e-bikes. Take a close look at the Crosscore RC and it’s easy to see why. We can’t argue with the £2,200 pricetag, especially on account of Yamaha’s PWseries-ST mid-motor between the cranks. This motor was a standout feature when we reviewed Yamaha’s Wabash e-gravel bike back in issue 10, largely on account of the seamless way in which it matches rider efforts on the pedals with a torque hit of up to 70Nm. Aside from the motor, the Crosscore RC also looks to be a versatile enough build to cover…

Cargo bikes come of age Looking back over the past few years, the overriding trend in the cargo bike space has been the improvement of production techniques to create bikes that are better suited to their intended use. Cargo bikes are typically subjected to stresses and strains on a different level to those faced by standard electric bikes, and as such manufacturers are increasingly looking to hit a middle ground between bicycle and automotive-standard parts. As a result, these days we’re seeing cargo bikes tested to higher standards, and individual components being refined specifically with maintenance schedules in mind. After all, if you’re operating a heavy-duty cargo bike fleet, having even a single vehicle off the road is painful, but a recurring problem, such as a weak chain or poor…

REVIEW Occupying a space that has come to be referred to as ‘full fat e-MTB’, the Husqvarna MC5 is second from top in the MC range, one below the flagship MC6. This brings it in at £6,499, although we have seen deals offering it for less. Like the top-tier MC6, the MC5 is built around a carbon fibre frame, within which sits Shimano’s EP801 motor and a 720Wh battery. That’s a lot of battery capacity and for it you can get serious range – up to 250km (155 miles) if used on eco mode, says Husqvarna. It’s all rider and terrain dependent, of course, so not everyone will achieve that figure. That battery powers the Shimano EP801 motor, which offers a huge 85Nm of torque, making the MC5 the kind…

Transition makes some incredible MTBs, and after reviewing its Repeater on CyclingElectric.com we figured we should give some airtime to its sister bike, the Relay – a slimmed down, enduro-ready e-MTB built around Fazua’s Ride 60 mid-motor system. The Ride 60 is designed to be versatile and tends to find itself installed on bikes that are sold as the best of both worlds. By that, we mean bikes that encourage you to take the battery out and ride them just like a normal MTB from time to time. That battery is removable without tools, and at 430Wh should have enough charge for a hilly day out in the bike park when you do want to use it. If you require more juice, the Fazua range extender combines to deliver 640Wh…

When it comes to the typical full-suspension e-MTB, there are few options that won’t cost a fortune if you want a bike built for serious riding. It’s this that makes the Privateer E161 look like such a rarity in the enduro e-MTB arena, with a current pricetag of just £3,999 (down from £6,499). Despite the dropped price, this isn’t a cheap build – far from it, as the spec sheet lists impressive componentry while the aluminium frame is built to endure, as well as to house a hefty 630Wh battery. Value for money, then, is the real eyebrow-raiser here. Suspension comes courtesy of Fox, with 170mm travel up front, 160mm at the rear; the wheels are from Privateer’s sister brand, Hunt, with a ‘mullet’ setup of a 29-inch wheel at…

REVIEW The Solace eRide has an incredible spec sheet: top-tier carbon frameset, Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, Zipp 303 Firecrest wheels, tubeless Schwalbe Pro One tyres and host of carbon components from Scott’s sister brand, Syncros. Then throw in TQ’s HPR50 mid-motor and this starts to look about as good as e-road bikes currently get. Dura-Ace has long been Shimano’s flagship groupset. Likewise Zipp’s wheels are cutting edge and Schwalbe’s tyres are tubeless-ready, meaning fewer punctures on account of the fast-acting sealant within. If you need further convincing, all this technology was raced by teams at this year’s Tour de France. The star of the show, though, is TQ’s (somewhat less Tour-compliant) motor, which with its 300W max power and 50Nm of torque makes standing starts, accelerations and tackling steep hills…

The Domane is a long-standing member of the Trek road line-up, much loved for the comfortable ride feel made possible by Trek’s IsoSpeed rear damping. Essentially, the IsoSpeed system allows the seatpost and saddle to flex independently of the rest of the bike, which helps isolate the rider from bumps and vibrations. Such a design does add a bit of weight, which in part is why the Domane+ comes in at a claimed 12.4kg while some competitors sneak in under 12kg. But that’s still very light for an e-bike, and many will happily trade the extra grams for the comfort. At the Domane+’s heart is the TQ HPR50 mid-motor, which Trek has neatly integrated into the bottom bracket, albeit that huge down tube is a sure sign there’s a battery…

The Van Rysel E-GRVL AF HD Mahle X35 is an electric gravel bike, yet visually at least there’s little that gives away either of those things, save a slightly thicker down tube and slightly thicker tyres. The frame is aluminium, which is heavier but less expensive than carbon, yet overall the E-GRVL still weighs a respectable 14.5kg. For that you have Mahle’s compact X35 rear hub motor and the integrated 250Wh battery to thank, a combination regularly used in bikes with this kind of remit – namely responsive performance when you need it on a bike designed to be at its best on light gravel, rather than technical trails. Keep to those parameters and the 40Nm of torque on hand should be more than sufficient to help you along, while…

REVIEW The Moustache Dimanche 29.6 is an e-gravel bike that has a build to let it handle rugged off-road riding as well as Britain’s poorly surfaced roads. Its aluminium frame uses variable-thickness tubes to balance stiffness with weight, and they have been hydroformed smartly such that they blend together with carbon-like smoothness. This sleekness continues into the battery and motor, which have been integrated almost as seamlessly. At the heart of the Dimanche 29.6 is the Bosch Performance Line SX motor, which despite its compact size is still usefully powerful. It delivers 250W of power and 55Nm of torque, so provides a responsive and natural riding experience. Paired with a 500Wh Bosch PowerPack battery, the bike offers a substantial range, which can be extended with an optional 250Wh range extender.…

REVIEW If you’ve spent time in and around cities recently, you’ll have noticed a substantial increase in the number of food delivery riders operating at all hours of the day. Where previously these workers were getting around by car or motorcycle, nowadays they’re increasingly using electric bikes, attracted by their efficient speed and cheaper running costs. This has tempted several manufacturers to try their hand at building the ideal electric bike for the safe carriage of goods and which can also be managed as part of a broad fleet by businesses. Keego is among those manufacturers, and the colour-customisable KG4 is its weapon of choice for the job. Able to be built as a single-speed or a nine-speed longtail, the bike can hold up to 65kg of goods on the…

The AVP – All Purpose Vehicle – Longtail will take its place in a niche sector of the cargo e-bike market when it’s released in 2025. It is built to haul cargo and go off-road, and is an exciting development in that it’s among the first we’ve seen with 60mm of front and rear suspension travel on a cargo hauler this large. The suspension is decoupled from the pannier rack at the rear to keep your cargo stable or your kids comfortable. While you can modify some mountain bikes to carry ever more gear, this is a very specific product designed for pursuits such as camping or fishing. Pictured here is a prototype, with some parts 3D printed to give an initial impression of the finished product, but we can…

REVIEW A debut entry into the consumer-facing side of the cargo bike world, the Finn from VSC is a bike that comes backed up by the company’s many years of experience supplying various European postal services with cargo bikes. Needless to say, it’s a brand that knows a thing or two about building bikes designed for high-load use day in and day out. Right off the bat, the VSC Finn is capable of hauling 185kg across its long wheelbase, with a 30kg capacity pannier rack above the rear wheel adding to the bike’s centralised cargo hold. Within this rear pannier structure is a 40 lux integrated light set that draws its power from the 500Wh battery, while that central hold area is designed to work with a PVC bag. Equipped…

REVIEW Tenways is one of a handful of challenger brands from mainland Europe that are making their mark in the UK with some very reasonably priced bikes that cater for a variety of purposes. In our assessments of the models that have come through CyclingElectric HQ we have been consistently impressed by the value and performance of the sub-£2,000 price point. In putting the Tenways CGO800S to the test, we enjoyed the comfortable riding position on account of its relaxed geometry, the soft and comfortable finishing kit and the quiet operation of the Gates belt drive, which operates smoothly with low maintenance requirements. The ride quality in particular made an impression, and speaks to not only the spec choices Tenways has made, but to how it has built the bike.…

REVIEW Claud Butler may be a British heritage brand, but the new Ridge 1.0 electric mountain bike platform is very much evolved for the times. It builds on the brand’s flagship hardtail e-MTB, the Wrath, offering plenty of the same performance but for £400 less, coming to market at a very competitive £1,399. For this you get a capable build equipped with eight Shimano gears, 27.5-inch wheels and a 120mm travel suspension fork, a combination that’s well suited to cross-country exploration and some light trail riding. The 2.35-inch tyres should offer both grip and some forgiveness over rocky trails and rooty singletrack. To further increase control on tricky sections, the Ridge comes with a wide 680mm handlebar that will aid stability over uneven terrain. Claud Butler has chosen the trusted…

BikeFinder ■ The best tracker is one that goes totally unnoticed, and that’s perhaps the smartest feature of the BikeFinder GPS and GSM tracker. At 221mm x 92mm x 61mm it’s certainly discreet, but more impressive is its shape and how it’s installed. The BikeFinder system weighs just 52g and is built to slide inside the end of a handlebar, even a curved drop handlebar. The only given requirements stipulate that your inner bar diameter should be between 15 and 27mm, which accounts for the vast majority on the market. Once installed using the supplied tool, the waterproofed tracker has a clever locking system that makes it tricky to remove again, and if a thief does try to pick at your bar ends you’ll be alerted via the unit’s motion…

You love the idea of e-biking into work, or just the notion of setting out on a leisurely e-bike ride in the sunshine. But there’s something stopping you. Maybe you’re put off by the idea of riding in traffic, or wondering whether it’s legal to ride an e-bike on that nice-looking track you spotted. Or maybe you just don’t know where the best routes are locally. Whatever it is that’s holding you back, with a bit of knowledge it should be possible for most aspiring e-bike riders in the UK to find a route either pretty much on their doorstep, or at worst a few minutes away. It’s really just a case of knowing how and where to look. And I can help. I’ve been compiling cycling route guides for…