Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring: An e-bike for touring and gravel riding

Whilst e-mountain bikes continue to make headlines with ever-increasing power and torque, touring bikes are heading in exactly the opposite direction. After all, who needs to go full throttle in turbo mode when you’re often cruising at around 25 km/h on flat terrain anyway? Power, yes, but tailored to your needs – that’s also the philosophy behind Kalkhoff’s L-Series. The result: the bike is slightly lighter and, in some cases, even more affordable, whilst the rider is encouraged to take a more active part in the cycling experience.

​Randonneur Revenge

We had already put the affordable Entice L SUV through its paces at the start of the year. However, with very basic specifications and weighing almost 24 kilos, it was unable to fully realise the concept’s potential for lightweight construction. The new Endeavour L Touring is a completely different proposition. Weighing in at 21.5 kilograms, the bike – despite its robust and versatile design – can still be easily hoisted up a few steps without any hassle, whilst you don’t have to sacrifice a removable battery or spend a fortune on an expensive carbon frame. That’s brilliant.

Facilities are key

Before we get to the positive features – of which the Endeavour L Touring has several – let’s look at a few weaknesses: the stiff frame is identical to that of the Entice or Image L and feels rather stiff to ride. Furthermore, Kalkhoff uses a somewhat outdated spoke magnet. Removing the battery – and, in particular, putting it back in – is a bit fiddly, as is the case with all Bosch 400 series batteries, and there are only two medium-sized options available.

That said, Kalkhoff’s lightweight, technology-packed bike scores highly in almost every other respect. For everyday use, it offers top marks thanks to the high-quality front light and rear brake light, the MIK luggage rack with spring-loaded flap, a replaceable battery and a sturdy side stand. This makes the bike particularly appealing to everyday cyclists and commuters. The high-quality Schwalbe Gravel tyres, with their versatile tread pattern and 50 width, are an ideal choice and are even tubeless-compatible.

TRP circuit with automatic function

The spec, featuring a carbon seatpost, DT rims, XT hubs and wireless gearshift, is truly high-quality right down to the last detail. However, the cockpit – with its light, display and mini remote – is a little too cluttered for our liking. That said, the wide handlebars and thick handlebar tape feel comfortable to grip.

The bike’s technical highlight is the TRP A11 electronic gear system. In combination with the Bosch motor’s electronics, it even changes gears automatically. It’s not just a gimmick: once it was properly set up, we even left the automatic gear-changing function switched on whilst cycling in town. That’s high praise for an automated derailleur system. After all, it’s precisely in confusing situations – such as in town – that these systems often reach their limits. Even shifting down to a low gear when braking moderately before stops, such as at red lights, worked surprisingly smoothly.

Touring bike: trekking bike with drop handlebars

The highlight of the bike, however, is the randonneur concept – a trekking bike with racing handlebars. This gives the Endeavour a good dose of sportiness whilst offering a comfortable riding position and making it well-suited to long-distance rides. Compared to most e-gravel bikes, you sit in a more upright position; the short stem provides more direct handling without the bike lacking in directional stability. On the contrary: the Kalkhoff handles the road with great confidence.

The lightweight Bosch SX (reviewed here) It’s perfectly suited to a slightly sporty riding style. The Eco mode provides more than enough power for everyday use. This means that, despite the small battery, you can still undertake longer rides of up to 90 kilometres on this bike. You can achieve even greater range with the compatible Bosch Range Extender. Thanks to this, the Kalkhoff – with its numerous mounting points and sturdy luggage rack – performs well even on longer journeys. In short: its wide range of uses and high-quality features are impressive. Only the frame could be a little more flexible.

The Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring at a glance

Strengths:

• ​Wide range of applications
• great riding position
• high-quality fittings
• TRP circuit with automatic function

Weaknesses:

• ​Moderate suspension comfort from the frame and fork
• Removing the battery takes some getting used to
• Spoke magnet
• only two sizes