Good style opens doors, they say. And those with style like to show it. However, it is sometimes forgotten that, in addition to a beautiful appearance, good function is also a style-defining factor - and often outward appearances come at the expense of quality. Beyond subjective ideals of beauty, we were therefore keen to see how our eight style pedelecs fared in terms of quality and functionality.
Our test bikes can be roughly divided into three groups. The Diamant Juna+ and the Electra Townie Go fall into the category of revamped classics; Neox City, M1 Schwabing and, in some cases, Conway EMRetro offer innovative approaches. The third category consists of stylish single speed bikes, which should not show their E-interior as much as possible.
These are the bikes from the test
- Bikeasy Sparrow
- Coboc One Soho
- Conway EMRetro Race (E-BIKE test winner)
- Diamant Juna Deluxe+
- Electra Townie Go!
- Geero Cream Soda
- M1 Schwabing
- Neox City
Tried and tested and innovative
The Electra Townie is a classic cruiser with a long wheelbase and a set-back riding position. The bike has a relatively simple design and could have been in the bike shop 15 years ago with its no longer quite dewy design. Only the powerful Bosch Performance drive is a concession to modern technology. Cruiser fans will appreciate the drive, which gives the Townie a completely new dynamic for this type of bike. The traditional manufacturer Diamant has reinterpreted the baker's bike. The Juna+ is a real eye-catcher: beautifully designed frame, classic lighting and tyres, attractive colour palette. And: it proves that modern, sensible equipment with disc brakes can also look harmonious on classic bikes.
The Italian Neox City is characterised by a spirit of technical innovation. The compact 26-inch bike with beefy tyres impresses with a new drive concept: the motor, eight-speed gearbox and drivetrain are encapsulated in a single-arm strut. This sets visual accents and has technical advantages: The entire drive system is well protected from the weather and therefore requires little maintenance. The single-arm chain stay also allows the rear wheel to be removed and fitted in seconds. Another highlight is the electronic immobiliser. However, there is not yet any long-term experience with this innovative drive concept.
Extravagant or understated
M1 Sporttechnik specialises in the material carbon. The high-strength, lightweight material enables exciting designs, such as the Schwabing frame without a continuous seat tube. The fact that the bike still weighs more than 28 kilos is mainly due to the large and therefore heavy 880 Wh battery. Anyone who likes a lot of horsepower under the bonnet will be delighted with the Schwabing. Despite its modest dimensions, the Cleanmobile unit is probably the most powerful pedelec drive currently available. However, the Nuvinci gear hub is a misfit. It is simply overwhelmed by the power of the drive.
The EMRetro from Conway features fewer innovative ideas, but proven and reliable technology. The pedelec stands out with its elegant frame design and harmonious tube transitions - independent, but not polarising. If you want to score points at the ice cream parlour but don't want to do without good technology, the Conway is a solid, stylishly designed bike.
The single-speed bikes in our test field, on the other hand, reveal clear discrepancies between appearance and technology. Brakes from Campagnolo's entry-level Veloce groupset were fitted to the elegant, accurately manufactured titanium frame of the Bikeasy Sparrow. Poorly tuned brake levers and cables literally slow down their good performance. The deceleration is therefore not convincing - fortunately the bike is a real lightweight at twelve kilograms. The coarse hexagonal hub nuts at the end of the elegant titanium fork seem a little carelessly chosen. The Zehus rear hub motor provides a counterpoint to the otherwise fragile appearance. It works well, blends in well with its silvery lustre, but the large diameter is a little bulky for the delicate frame.
The drive of the Coboc One Soho is more inconspicuous. Its small dimensions emphasise its single-speed character. Thanks to this, the pedelec is barely recognisable as such, even at second glance. Its torque control is also pleasingly intuitive. Although the Coboc does not have branded brakes, they work well - thanks to high-quality brake levers and brake cables.
Finally, although the Geero Cream Soda is not a single-speed bike, it belongs in the hipster class just like the Sparrow and One Soho. At just under 2400 euros, it is the cheapest pedelec in this test field. However, here too, savings were made at the expense of function. The performance of the rim brakes leaves a lot to be desired and the drive system with cadence sensor only offers a very simple control unit.
Beautiful and good
The nice realisation: All of these pedelecs work, none of them have serious deficits. The differences lie mainly in the equipment. While the Conway EMRetro, Diamant Juna+, M1 Schwabing and Neox City have a pleasingly harmonious design, the single-speed pedelecs and the Geero were not quite as consistent. The design of the Electra Townie is not quite up to date, but it works well. If you just want to add a little speed to your style, you're sure to have fun.
Conclusion Uli Frieß, E-BIKE test editor: No major blemishes: All the designer pedelecs in our test work, none have any serious shortcomings. The differences lie mainly in the workmanship and equipment.
The wheels in detail
The eight wheels in the test
Bikeasy Sparrow
With the Sparrow, Bikeasy proves that you can also build lightweight pedelecs - with titanium and consistent reduction. A counterpoint to the fragile frame design of the single-speed bike: the massive Zehus drive in the rear wheel. The motor control unit and the small 160 Wh battery are located in the housing. There is neither an operating instrument nor a display; the support levels can be varied using a smartphone app.
This also allows numerous other functions to be displayed and controlled. The drive is cadence-controlled and powerful, but not exactly quiet for a hub motor. Visually, the frame is a highlight - with an impeccable surface finish and clean weld seams. However, the construction is not very rigid. This and the rear-heavy weight distribution due to the motor have an effect on the handling: If you take your hands off the handlebars, bumps in the road bring noticeable unrest to the front of the frame. Otherwise, the singlespeeder rides with confidence. You can tell that the bike is no comfort miracle. However, the brakes are a real weak point: to slow down quickly from high speeds, you have to apply a lot of pressure.
Conclusion on the Bikeasy Sparrow
Chic, lightweight pedelec that you can hardly see its "E" - but you can hear it. The frame could be a little stiffer
Overall rating*: 3.2
Comfort: 3.5
- Fork: Titanium rigid fork
- Suspension: none
Safety: 3.6
- Brakes: Rim, Campagnolo Veloce
- Flutter safety: satisfactory
Drive: 2.1
- Motor system/battery: Zehus HR hub/160 Wh
- Gears: single speed, 45/17
- Starting/pushing aid: no
Practice: 2.6
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix Classic 25-622
- Weight (v/h in %): 11.8 kg (34/66)
Service: 4.8
- Warranty: 2 years
- CE: yes
Geometry
- Wheelbase: 985 mm
- Saddle height above ground: 1028 mm
- Seat length: 673 mm
- Handlebar rise: -66 mm
- Handlebar width: 500 mm
- Frame sizes: 56 cm
- Permissible total weight: 115 kg
Price: 3499 Euro
Coboc One Soho
Fans of sporty single-speed bikes will love the One Soho. The riding position on the bike is really dynamic, as is the riding experience. Stiff frame, narrow tyres and a comfortable but hard racing saddle: the One Soho is not a sedan chair - nor does it want to be. Visually, the One Soho has a very minimalist appearance, and the equipment is also limited to the bare essentials. The battery sits invisibly in the somewhat bulky down tube of the brushed aluminium frame; only the small rear hub motor reveals that the rider can be pushed a little.
There is no control instrument or display, but five discreet LEDs at the front end of the top tube provide information on the battery charge level and operating status of the drive. The system is switched on with a button on the underside of the top tube. The drive only offers one support level, but this is perfectly adequate - the torque sensor controls sensitively. Response and cut-off behaviour are good, the motor works powerfully. When starting off, it effectively helps with the first few turns of the cranks, which are otherwise rather arduous on a bike without gears.
Conclusion on the Coboc One Soho
The cover model of this issue. The single speeder has an extremely sporty design
Overall rating*: 2.4
Comfort: 3.6
- Fork: Rigid fork aluminium
- Suspension: none
Safety: 2.4
- Brakes: Rim, N. N.
- Flutter safety: high
Drive: 1.9
- Motor system/battery: Coboc Drive HR hub/352 Wh
- Gear hub: Singlespeed, 48/17
- Starting or pushing aid: no
Practice: 2.6
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix Classic 622-25
- Weight (v/h in %): 13,9 (42/58)
Service: 2.8
- Guarantee: 5 years frame
- CE certification: yes
Geometry
- Wheelbase: 990 mm
- Saddle height above ground: 1015 mm
- Seat length: 659 mm
- Handlebar rise: -105 mm
- Handlebar width: 420 mm
- Frame sizes: S,M,L
- Permissible total weight: 130 kg
Price: 3999 Euro
Conway EMRetro Race
The model name is deceptive: neither the frame shape, technology nor riding characteristics of this pedelec are retro. The most striking stylistic element is the slightly curved, steeply sloping top tube, which splits behind the seat post and merges seamlessly into the seat stays - creating an elegant and sporty look at the same time. A plastic box hangs in the frame triangle, which offers some space for luggage in addition to the battery. There are no damping elements, but the 26-inch bike runs on 62 millimetre wide tyres.
If you only pump it up to the specified minimum pressure, you can already enjoy decent suspension comfort. The riding position is sporty, with a relatively high weight on the wrists due to the low handlebar rise. The good thing about this is that the weight distribution is shifted slightly forwards and the bike is easy to manoeuvre - agile, but not fidgety. And thanks to the rigid frame composite, it is very stable on the track. In addition to the Bosch Performance drive with Nyon display, the equipment list includes an Alfine eight-speed hub.
Conclusion on the Conway EMRetro Race
Elegant 26-inch bike with balanced riding characteristics and high-quality equipment
Overall rating*: 1.7
Comfort: 2.5
- Fork: Rigid fork aluminium
- Suspension: none
Safety: 1.3
- Brakes: Disc, Shimano Deore BR-M615
- Flutter safety: very high
Drive: 1.6
- Motor system/battery: Bosch Performance/500 Wh
- Gear hub: Shimano Alfine 8-speed
- Starting and pushing aid: yes
Practice: 2.2
- Tyres: Schwalbe Super Moto X 62-584
- Weight (v/h in %): 25.0 kg (45/55)
Service: 2.0
- Guarantee: 5 years frame
- CE: yes
Geometry
- Wheelbase: 1141 mm
- Saddle height above ground: 1024 mm
- Seat length: 688 mm
- Handlebar rise: 2 mm
- Handlebar width: 610 mm
- Frame sizes*: 44, 48, 52, 56 mm
- Permissible total weight: 130 kg
Price: 3999 Euro
Diamant Juna Deluxe+
With its classic baker's bike look and nostalgically designed lighting system, the Juna is a refreshingly good-looking ride on the retro wave. Sensible design details such as reinforcement plates between the thin, parallel top tubes and saddlebag struts do not detract from the classic style, and even the disc brakes fit in. The riding characteristics also give no cause for criticism. The women's frame is sufficiently stable and the weight distribution is very good.
This makes the Diamant Juna stable and surprisingly agile. It is not only visually a typical city bike. Bosch's Active motor, 400 Wh battery and Nexus gear hub also predestine it for short journeys. Thanks to the voluminous tyres and telescopic seat post, comfort is okay. The front pannier rack is practical, but you shouldn't carry much more than a large handbag on it - otherwise it won't steer so well. But saddlebags are also available in a retro look.
Conclusion on the Diamant Juna Deluxe+
Successful classic with uncomplicated riding characteristics and attractive looks
Overall rating*: 1.9
Comfort: 2.5
- Fork: Rigid fork steel
- Suspension: telescopic seat post
Safety: 1.8
- Brakes: Disc, Tektro Vela
- Flutter safety: high
Drive: 2.0
- Motor system/battery: Bosch Active/400, 500 Wh
- Gear hub: Shimano Nexus 8-speed
- Starting and pushing aid: yes
Practice: 2.2
- Tyres: Schwalbe Fat Frank Kevlar Guard Reflex 50-622
- Weight (v/h in %): 26.2 kg (46/54)
Service: 1.0
- Warranty: 40 years frame + fork
- CE: yes
Geometry
- Wheelbase: 1156 mm
- Saddle height above ground: 968 mm
- Step-through height: 569 mm
- Seat length: 662 mm
- Handlebar rise: 80 mm
- Handlebar width: 630 mm
- Frame sizes: 45 cm, 50 cm
- Permissible total weight: 170 kg
Price2599 Euro
Electra Townie Go!
The Townie transfers classic chopper characteristics to the bike. The long wheelbase and the set-back saddle move the bottom bracket forwards, so the position of the pedals far in front of the saddle tip is a little unusual at first. The upright riding position also matches the chopper feeling. The Townie is more of a leisurely cruiser than a sporty ride. Nevertheless, the pedelec with the powerful Bosch Performance motor has enough power for fast overtaking manoeuvres. There is no suspension fork or telescopic seat post; the 60-millimetre tyres and the soft saddle improve the riding comfort somewhat, but the bike still feels a little harsh. The Electra is relatively simple in terms of construction, technically a little retro and the workmanship seems a little careless here and there. For example, the front mudguard hits the fork on both sides, which rattles unpleasantly when riding.
Conclusion on the Electra Townie Go!
Moderate chopper, simply built, with slight weaknesses in workmanship. Powerful drive for brisk cruising.
Overall rating*: 2.3
Comfort: 2.7
- Fork: Rigid fork aluminium
- Suspension: none
Safety: 2.6
- Brakes: Shimano Nexus BR-C6000 F roller brakes
- Flutter safety: high
Drive: 1.8
- Motor system/battery: Bosch Performance/400, 500 Wh
- Gear hub: Shimano Nexus 8-speed
- Starting/pushing aid: yes
Practice: 2.4
- Tyres : Schwalbe Balloon Fat Frank 60-559
- Weight (v/h in %): 26.6 kg (47/53)
Service: 1.0
- Warranty :15 years frame
- CE certification :yes
Geometry:
- Wheelbase: 1210 mm
- Saddle height above ground: 926 mm
- Seat length: 731 mm
- Handlebar rise (min/max): 89 mm
- Handlebar width: 660 mm
- Frame sizes*: 52, 55 cm
- Permissible total weight: 135 kg
Price: 2699 Euro
Geero Cream Soda
Like the Sparrow, the Geero Cream Soda is also powered by a rear hub motor controlled by the cadence: It pushes as soon as the crank turns. The pedalling force is irrelevant, the motor power can only be regulated via the support levels. The drive system has a relatively simple design, the control instrument without a separate display only shows the battery charge level and assistance level.
The response and switch-off behaviour of the motor are fine, the small drive unit has plenty of power and is almost silent. With the battery in the down tube, the Geero is barely recognisable as a pedelec. Without additional suspension elements, the bike has a correspondingly sporty ride. The frame is stiff and stable, you immediately feel comfortable on the stylish bike and can be tempted to go fast in a good mood. Anyone who appreciates support and doesn't need a high-tech drive will be delighted - with one caveat: the brakes are actually too weak for such a dynamic e-bike.
Conclusion on the Geero Cream Soda
Pretty speedster with a small and powerful, but simple drive. Weaknesses in the braking system.
Alternative: The Geero is also available with a ladies' frame. With the same equipment at the same price.
Overall rating*: 2.7
Comfort: 3.3
- Fork: Rigid fork aluminium
- Suspension: none
Safety: 2.4
- Brakes: Rim, Light Weight
- Flutter safety: very high
Drive: 2.3
- Motor system/battery: Geero HR hub/420 Wh
- Derailleur gears: Shimano Sora, 9-speed; 11-32
- Starting or pushing aid: no
Practice: 3.3
- Tyres: Kenda KwickRoller Sport 700-32
- Weight (v/h in %): 16.4 kg (44/56)
Service: 3.0
- Guarantee: 5 years frame
- CE: no
Geometry
- Wheelbase: 1069 mm
- Saddle height above ground: 1002 mm
- Seat length: 695 mm
- Handlebar rise: -47 mm
- Handlebar width: 630 mm
- Frame sizes: 54 mm
- Permissible total weight: 100 kg
Price: 2399 Euro
M1 Schwabing
The carbon frame of the Schwabing from M1 Sporttechnik is a real eye-catcher: the seat tube has been omitted and the seat post is located in the upper end of the massive seat stays. The saddle appears to float above the bottom bracket. Nevertheless, the construction is very stiff and the ride feels very stable. Our test bike is a throttled S-Pedelec, its Cleanmobile drive pushes brutally at the highest support level, only to suddenly stop working at just over 25 km/h. This makes you feel a little slowed down. This makes you feel a little slowed down.
The powerful drive is certainly better suited to the S-pedelec version of the Schwabing. The designers have made a mistake with the continuously variable Nuvinci hub: it cannot be shifted at all under load. If you reduce the pedalling force and thus the motor power, you can achieve a step change in gear ratio, but it is not stepless. The hub is simply overwhelmed by the power of the motor. Otherwise, the Schwabing is sensibly equipped to a high standard, with a carbon belt replacing the chain.
Conclusion on the M1 Schwabing
Interesting frame concept meets brute motor power. Great equipment - but unfortunately the automatic hub does not match the drive.
Overall rating*: 1.8
Comfort: 2.8
- Fork: Rigid carbon fork
- Suspension: none
Safety: 1.4
- Brakes: Disc, Magura MT5
- Flutter safety: very high
Drive: 1.6
- Motor system/battery: Cleanmobile/880, 1,100 Wh
- Gear hub: Nuvinci N380
- Starting and pushing aid: yes
Practice: 2.3
- Tyres: Schwalbe Balloon Big Ben 50-622
- Weight (v/h in %): 28.6 kg (43/57)
Service: 1.8
- Guarantee: 10 year frame
- CE: yes
Geometry
- Wheelbase: 1153 mm
- Saddle height above ground: 1001 mm
- Step-through height: 473 mm
- Seat length: 715 mm
- Handlebar rise: 71 mm
- Handlebar width: 660 mm
- Frame sizes: M, L
- Permissible total weight: 130 kg
Price: 6399 Euro
Neox City
The most striking feature of the Neox is the voluminous single-arm chainstay. It conceals the motor, gearbox and drivetrain in a single housing. The highlight: the rear wheel can be easily removed from the axle after loosening a single screw. An innovative feature is the integrated gearbox, which is directly coupled to the motor. It can be shifted electromechanically from the handlebars. However, the gear steps seem a little wide, and when downshifting, you have to give the gearbox some time to engage.
The drive system's integrated immobiliser offers good theft protection: without entering the correct PIN beforehand, the drive system remains in freewheel mode and the bike cannot be ridden. Thanks to the voluminous down tube with integrated battery, the unisex frame is very rigid, the bike is stable and the small 26-inch tyres make it very agile. Comfort is not neglected on the Neox either: with a suspension fork, wide tyres and a very good saddle, even longer distances can be covered comfortably.
Conclusion on the Neox City
Innovative Italian with encapsulated, one-piece drivetrain. Comfortable, stable and agile.
Overall rating*: 1.8
Comfort: 2.1
- Fork: SR Suntour
- Suspension: none
Safety: 1.7
- Brakes: disc, Tektro Auriga
- Flutter safety: high
Drive: 2.1
- Motor system/battery: Neox mid-motor/500 Wh
- Gear hub: Neox integrated, 8-speed
- Starting and pushing aid: yes
Practice: 2.2
- Tyres: Vittoria Tattoo Light 58-559
- Weight (v/h in %): 26.3 kg (46/54)
Service: 1.0
- Warranty: 5 years frame + drive
- CE: yes
Geometry
- Wheelbase: 1103 mm
- Saddle height above ground: 1008 mm
- Step-through height: 606 mm
- Seat length: 678 mm
- Handlebar rise: 4mm
- Handlebar width: 670mm
- Frame sizes: 48 cm
- Permissible total weight: 130 kg
Price: 4590 Euro
*The E-BIKE judgement is independent of price. Grading key according to school grades from 1 (very good) to 5 (poor).
The full article was published in E-BIKE issue 2/2017. You can download the issue in the MYBIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or in the DK-Shop order.
