E-bikes up to 20 kilos: 9 lightweight pedelecs with light-assist drive compared
Georg Bleicher
· 04.09.2023
The 9 lightweight e-bikes at a glance
Some power e-bikes can do everything - except be carried. 28 kilos without handles is nothing for the basement stairs. The increase in weight in recent years is due to the system equipment - SUVs are now happy to carry a 750 watt-hour battery and thus around 4.4 kilograms, plus the motor. High-lift suspension forks and elaborate suspension seat posts often push the values even higher. It's a good thing that more and more representatives of the counter-trend are appearing: Bikes with Light Power Assist systems such as the Fazua Ride 60 in our Riese & Müller UBN weigh a full four kilograms including the 430 Wh battery. This means that total weights from around 17 kilos - without road and comfort equipment - are possible, but also less.
The majority of lightweight e-bikes weigh around 19 kilograms. That's no fun if you have a few steps to climb, but it's possible. And the practical handling of the bikes is impressive anyway. Anyone switching from a fully equipped touring e-bike to a Light Assist bike will immediately notice the difference when riding - the lightness of being. In this respect, these bikes open up new possibilities. The weight saving initially comes at the expense of motor power and, above all, battery capacity: the batteries in the test range from 250 to 430 watt hours, and the motors deliver up to 60 Newton metres of torque.
Light assist bikes with different motor concepts
Too little? No. For many, e-biking is even more authentic this way - but you have to differentiate: Some rear motors, such as the Mahle x35+ in the Stevens, do not have a torque sensor. They therefore only respond after a good turn of the cranks, but allow you to roll along the 25 km/h limit with minimal effort - the latter also applies to the Cowboy or Ampler city cruisers, which, thanks to the presence of such a sensor, get going within the first turn of the pedals.
The mid-motors in light e-bikes such as the Canyon, Maxx or Simplon provide even more sensitive support across the full range and often reward a faster cadence, unlike many full-power e-bikes for everyday touring. Riders with a sporty tendency often have more fun with a mid-motor from the Light Assist segment than with the classic, large motor types.
We compared two Fazua drives, a Specialized and a TQ mid-motor, which impressed us in terms of harmony and, in some cases, torque. All test bikes have integrated batteries, although some cannot be removed for charging. Thanks to the lower weight, this is no longer as bad as with 30-kilo pedelecs, but it must be clear: The parking space must then have a socket.
By the way: We would also have liked to have included a lightweight e-bike with the new Bosch Performance SX mid-motor in the test. It is also lightweight and more powerful in the higher speed range, but the relevant manufacturers have not yet been able to provide a test bike due to time constraints. None of the bikes have a classic cockpit display. There is often a panel with an LED display on the top tube, but occasionally, as with the Ampler, a small display shows the charge status and support level as well as a few other things. The Cowboy does away with a display altogether and only communicates with the rider via mobile phone. However, you can still initiate assistance by removing and inserting the battery if the smartphone is missing.
Wide range of applications in the Light Assist segment
Low weight, easy handling and some luggage suitability make city commuters and everyday riders as well as day trippers happy. However, there tend to be limitations in terms of system weight and carrier load. The other focus of the Light Assist e-bikes in the test: city cruisers. They are easy to use, offer an upright riding position and are low-maintenance thanks to the belt drive and lack of high-maintenance suspension elements. And finally, there are the mixed forms also represented here: very sporty weight optimisers that are designed for riding fun in the city or on short training laps, perhaps even with panniers. Another, additional way to save weight: Use carbon instead of aluminium. The Canyon racer, the Storck Funbike and the Simplon touring bike follow this path with beautifully crafted carbon material.
Comfort without suspension forks
Comfort also occasionally falls victim to the diet, if only because suspension forks put a lot of pressure on the scales. The carbon frame and fork fraction has an advantage here due to the material's damping properties. However, wide tyres or, as with the Specialized, lightweight integrated suspension elements can at least make the potholes of everyday life bearable - the Cowboy is groundbreaking in this respect. With the extremely torsion-resistant aluminium frame from Riese & Müller, we would actually like a little more damping - but wider tyres can also help here. Classic derailleur gears currently make up the majority of drivetrains in this sector too, albeit in versions with a single chainring. Most riders are used to them.
Unfortunately, the harmony between the motor and derailleur leaves a lot to be desired: higher wear and tear on mid-mounted motors and, not infrequently, an all-too-clear clicking of the gears often spoil the riding experience, even if there is no lack of precision in the gear changes. The development departments of the component manufacturers are still in demand here. Where a belt drive and a bottom bracket gearbox are fitted, this works much better, phenomenally well, by the way, on the Stevens with the Pinion nine-speed gearbox.
The lightweight e-bikes in detail
In the test, we treated the lightweight e-bikes like classic organic bikes, apart from their motor characteristics: Safety, handling, build quality and the whole shebang play a major role. In terms of price, they are often slightly below the classic, fully equipped touring e-bikes. The Ampler Juna can be called reasonably priced despite the lack of gears, while manufacturers such as Simplon or Maxx, both with customisable models, represent the upper end of the range - but also offer a correspondingly high level of performance and quality. It is still unclear how the light-assist segment will fit into the bicycle world in the future.
The MTB sector already has its own defined class with a special area of application. The e-gravel segment could also be Light-Assist motors will soon be mastered. For tourers and everyday commuters as well as occasional excursionists, the following applies in any case: if you can do without big motors and fantastic ranges, this e-bike class brings "normal" cycling with its carefree handling closer again. And without losing the flow that we love so much about e-bikes. Try it out!
All lightweight e-bikes in comparison
* The fact that the two pure city models, of all things, score slightly worse than the rest is primarily due to the downgrading in the ergonomic and practical areas (e.g. Cowboy only offers one size, Ampler only two): Cowboy only offers one size, Ampler only two, both centre stands block when manoeuvring).
** The non-removable battery cost the otherwise first-class Simplon Silkcarbon the sole first place.
Light e-bike: How far does the battery really go?
It was not possible to give a precisely defined range in the practical test, as a large number of factors such as technology, terrain, weather and rider characteristics influence the result. Many of the bikes are aimed at bikers who like to contribute a large amount of power themselves. We have therefore recorded the ranges in the respective user experience of the bikes, extrapolated them in some cases and indicated minimum distances with medium or maximum support for orientation. We travelled on sporty bikes with higher cadences and on typical city bikes with less initiative and speed. Almost all of our Light Assist bikes can be ridden leisurely to well on flat terrain without assistance. Bikes with gears have an advantage here. And if you are planning longer tours: Range extenders are available for the centre motors for more range.
Apps for all Light Assist motors
Connectivity is a matter of course, but the smartphone apps offered by all motor manufacturers differ significantly. Mahle (Stevens) offers individualisation of the motor characteristic curve as well as the recording of rides on social sports networks such as Strava. Cowboy has Google Maps as a partner for navigation. It is annoying that you usually have to create a complete profile and disclose data in order to use the app, which often offers many other options. Insurance, maintenance subscription, tracking - if you register, you can book many other services depending on the manufacturer and investment. The operation of the apps is not always self-explanatory. We found the Specialized app to be the clearest and simplest.
