You can find these city e-bikes in the test:
- Ampler Curt
- Canyon Commuter:ON 7
- Coboc Kallio RGD
- Excelsior Urban-E
- Mokumono Delta C
Building a really light bike is quite difficult. Road cyclists have been dealing with this problem for a long time, but bike enthusiasts with a penchant for minimalist design are also familiar with the tension: light and stylish bikes often suffer from an annoying lack of utility. Only a few manufacturers are able to satisfactorily reconcile lightweight construction, riding safety and practicality. Pedelecs in particular suffer from their heavy, bulky and rarely aesthetically pleasing drive components. However, since the realisation that the last ounce of motor power and maximum range only play a subordinate role in urban areas has become more and more widespread, the path for new approaches has broadened. Instead of sheer technical perfection, the city e-bike can now also compete for sleek beauty. But how safe and, above all, versatile are the new lightweight pedelecs?
In order to get under 20 kilos, our five test models had to use several strategies to slim down compared to lavishly equipped everyday bikes. The first of these is sacrifice: their riders often have to do without accessories such as suspension elements, heavy-duty pannier racks or parking stands. This limits the possible uses, but increases the riding pleasure. Lightweight construction requires compromises. You will look in vain for suspension forks and suspension seat posts on the test bikes. They would make the bikes significantly heavier. Lightweight construction fans therefore have to do without comfort. The city e-bikes ride noticeably harder than those with suspension elements. The Mokumono Delta C and the Coboc Kallio at least roll on voluminous, 50 millimetre wide tyres. They increase the riding comfort.
Reduced equipment
Apart from the careful omission of components, it makes sense to use lightweight material in such a way that the frame and wheels remain sufficiently stable. All our test bikes have aluminium frames - light, but a few hundred grams heavier than would be possible with carbon. After all, all but one manufacturer in the test field uses lightweight carbon forks. They make the frames significantly lighter than would be possible with metal forks. Are the framesets stiff enough? The laboratory measurement results in a basic "yes", the riding impression does not contradict this. The city e-bikes are safe to ride, but not ultimately stiff. Even the gears on the two lightest test bikes (Ampler and Mokumono) had to make way for lightweight construction and design. Omitting the rear derailleur and sprocket set also saves the weight of the shifters and cables. Both single-speed bikes also replace the chain with a lightweight Gates carbon belt. The small drive systems on our test bikes also save a lot of weight.
However, they also have noticeably less power than the usual centre motors of normal pedelecs. In an urban environment, this is bearable; the reduced power is hardly noticeable because the bikes are up to ten kilos lighter than standard pedelec all-rounders. Much more important for the riding experience is the fact that the lightweight and inconspicuous rear hub motors have become technically better in recent years. Because the sensors in the drives are now much more harmonised, the hub motors now ride much more smoothly than before. Urban environments are characterised by short distances and mostly flat terrain. This is why the smaller motors also manage with smaller and therefore significantly lighter batteries. Riders of lightweight city e-bikes need not worry about the low energy content of the batteries.
Stylish lightweight pedelecs are no less safe than their heavy counterparts. Power-reduced low-assist motors and small batteries are sufficient for urban traffic. However, due to their reduced equipment, the pedelecs are not fully suitable for everyday use. ~ Uli Frieß, test editor
The city e-bikes in detail
This also helps the designers of trendy style bikes, as the energy dispensers disappear inconspicuously even in filigree frame tubes. Disadvantage: They cannot be easily removed from the frame without tools. This leads to perhaps the biggest disadvantage of the lightweight pedelec class: because the power generators significantly lose endurance at temperatures below five degrees and should preferably not be charged at temperatures below ten degrees, a warm place to park and charge the city e-bikes is recommended in winter. Only the Canyon Commuter:On can safely spend the winter outside, as its drive system and battery can be removed from the frame in one easy step and charged in the warm. Digital displays are missing on almost all pedelecs. They would detract significantly from the minimalist look of the bikes. Instead, inconspicuous shifting elements embedded in the frame tubes control the drives.
In addition to pressure-sensitive buttons for switching the motors on and off, LEDs provide information about the battery charge level and the selected support level. There are smartphone apps for the Ampler, the Canyon, the Coboc and the Mokumono, which can be used to customise the motor assistance to personal preferences. However, one cost-cutting measure went too far for us in everyday use: a classic pannier rack is only available on the Canyon. The Coboc, Excelsior and Mokumono only have rack struts for mounting lightweight panniers. Ampler has also dispensed with this. This bike and the Canyon also have no kickstand.
Conclusion on the city e-bike test
These lightweights are not versatile everyday pedelecs. They lack riding comfort, transport capacity and winter hardiness. However, sporty short-distance riders with a warm place to park their bike in winter will have a lot of fun with these lively city runabouts.
The five city e-bikes from the test
Ampler Curt | Singlespeed and HR hub motor
The extremely light Ampler Curt is a typical fun machine in single-speed style. The hard saddle is clearly enthroned above the straight handlebars and you sit in a sporty, stretched position. A rigid carbon fork with thru-axle stiffens the front, making the bike very direct to steer. With a width of just 32 millimetres, the tyres contribute to the agile handling. The long gear ratio prevents dynamic traffic light starts and sporty, brisk acceleration. Because the hub motor reacts to pedal pressure with a slight delay, starts on inclines also require a lot of effort. The designers have positioned the motor control instrument low on the seat tube, making it almost impossible to reach safely while riding. Good: The motor stops immediately when you stop pedalling. There is nothing to criticise in terms of workmanship and equipment. Hydraulic disc brakes with two-finger levers from Shimano's Deore kit underline the sporty character, while the lighting system with a discreet headlight and two rear light LEDs in the seat post as well as a Gates belt instead of a chain fit in very well with the clear lines of the Ampler.
Advantages and disadvantages of the city e-bike
- Plus: Very light, coherently structured
- Minus: Long single-speed gear ratio, not very comfortable
details
- Price: 2890 Euro
- Frame sizes: 50, 54, 58 cm
- Test bike weight: 13.4 kg
- Permissible total weight: 120 kg
- Frame: Aluminium
- Fork: Ampler Carbon
- Circuit: Singlespeed; 60/20 teeth
- Motor/battery: Aikema Brushless/336 Wh
- Brakes/ø: Disc, Shimano BR-M6000/front: 160 mm, rear: 160 mm
- Tyres: Continental Grand Prix Four Seasons 32-622
- Lighting system: Busch+Müller IQ2 EYC; Lightskin LEDs in the seat tube
- MYBIKE grade: 2.4
Canyon Commuter:ON 7 | derailleur gears and mid-motor
Minimalist design and a tidy look characterise the current pedelec range from Canyon. Neither cables nor cables disturb the tidy appearance of the Commuter:On 7. The front with rigid carbon fork and thru-axle as well as the integrated stem with welded handlebars is particularly successful. The front of the frame is very torsion-resistant and the Canyon controls directly and precisely. The front wheel-orientated riding position also contributes to this, which unfortunately puts a lot of weight on the wrists. The Fazua Evation mid-motor accelerates with an emphatic thrust, but is noticeably restrained at constant speed. This is conducive to natural, sporty riding behaviour and benefits the range. If you would like to ride the Canyon without a drive, you can remove the motor unit from the down tube in a few simple steps. This turns the pedelec into a normal bike and makes it a good three kilograms lighter. The Commuter:On is beautifully finished and attractively equipped, the gears are changed by a high-end 12-speed XT rear derailleur from Shimano.
Advantages and disadvantages of the city e-bike
- Plus: Removable drive system, integrated stem
- Minus: Less comfortable seating position
details
- Price: 3299 Euro
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Test bike weight: 18.3 kg
- Permissible total weight: 130 kg
- Frame: Aluminium fork Canyon FK0085 CF Disc
- Circuit: Shimano XT 1x12; 48/10-51 teeth
- Motor/battery: Fazua Ride 50 Evation/252 Wh
- Brakes/ø: Disc, Shimano BR-MT200/front: 160 mm, rear: 160 mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Allround TLE 40-584
- Lighting system: Light Skin Ultra Mini; Supernova E3 Tail Light 2
- MYBIKE grade: 2.3
MYBIKE test winner 6/2021
Coboc Kallio RGD | derailleur gears and HR hub motor
With the Kallio RGD, Coboc has created an exceptional pedelec. It combines great design with appealing and safe riding characteristics at a low weight. In order to make the centre tube frames of step-through bikes sufficiently rigid, designers usually use an above-average amount of material. This makes the pedelecs heavy. At 18 kilograms, the Coboc is surprisingly light for a step-through bike. Despite this, the pedelec rolls agilely and manoeuvrable without any tendency to wobble or nervous reactions to steering impulses. Its voluminous tyres make the Kallio only slightly more comfortable than the competition in the test field, and it also lacks any suspension elements. However, the riding position is upright and comfortable, and the ergonomic grips take the strain off the wrists. The in-house drive responds spontaneously and with good control to pedal pressure, but stops with a noticeable delay when you stop pedalling. This takes some getting used to. There is a narrow, pressure-sensitive LED bar on the centre tube for operating the motor. It is easy to read and safe to reach while riding.
Advantages and disadvantages of the city e-bike
- Plus: Comparatively light, great design
- Minus: Drive switches off with a delay
details
- Price: 4299 Euro
- Frame sizes: S, M, L
- Test bike weight: 17.9 kg
- Permissible total weight: 140 kg
- Frame: Aluminium
- Fork: Coboc carbon monocoque rigid fork QR, 9x100 mm
- Circuit: Shimano Deore 1x10; 48/11-36 teeth
- Motor/battery: Coboc Electric Drive/380 Wh
- Brakes/ø: Disc, Shimano BR-MT200/front: 160 mm, rear: 160 mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe Big Apple K-Guard Reflex 50-622
- Lighting system: Litemove SE-150D; Coboc design, integrated frame
- MYBIKE grade: 2.5
Excelsior Urban-E | derailleur gears and HR hub motor
The Urban-E is a new brand from the bicycle manufacturer Hartje. The designers have dispensed with a few high-quality components such as a carbon fork or thru-axle, but there is nothing missing that a sensible pedelec needs. The combination of frame and fork with different tube diameters delivered the second-best stiffness value on our test bench after the Ampler. The Urban-E rides safely, the bike responds spontaneously to steering impulses and rolls precisely along the chosen line. The Bafang hub motor responds to pedal pressure without delay and only switches off with a slight delay after you stop pedalling. The combined motor instrument on the left handlebar end is easy to operate with its comparatively large buttons and shows the most important riding data on a digital display. The Urban-E doesn't look quite as stylish and minimalist as its competitors in the test field, but it scores points with proven technology, safe riding characteristics, good workmanship and a very interesting price-performance ratio.
Advantages and disadvantages of the city e-bike
- Plus: Engine control unit, price/performance
- Minus: Comparatively heavy
details
- Price: 1899 Euro
- Frame sizes: 48, 5358 cm
- Test bike weight: 19.7 kg
- Permissible total weight: 130 kg
- Frame: Aluminium
- Fork: Aluminium rigid fork, QR 9x100 mm
- Circuit: Shimano Deore 1x10; 38/11-42 teeth
- Motor/battery: Bafang RM 370/350 Wh
- Brakes/ø: Disc, Shimano BR-MT200/front: 180 mm, rear: 160 mm
- Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Performance GreenGuard Reflex 40-622
- Lighting system: Contec Dlux, 30 Lux, LED; Herrmans H-Trace
- MYBIKE grade: 2.5
MYBIKE tip: Price-performance 6/2021
Mokumono Delta C | singlespeed and HR hub motor
The monocoque frame makes the Mokumono a real eye-catcher. The frame composite with carbon fork is satisfyingly stiff, the Delta C remains directionally stable and easy to control even when cornering at speed. The Thun X-Cell drive responds a little late. For this reason and due to its long single-speed gear ratio, the Delta C requires a relatively large amount of leg power when starting uphill. The fact that the drive continues to run at reduced power as long as the pedals are turning without the use of force is unusual, but not a disadvantage. The motor is operated from the side of the head tube, where there is an interface with buttons for switching on and off and for selecting the support levels. The axle mounting of the rear wheel in the dropout deserves criticism; the right-hand axle nut can only be loosened with a fork spanner set at an angle. After refitting, the wheel, which has been pushed up as far as it will go in the vertical dropout, rubs against the mudguard. We liked the equipment with front carrier, Brooks Cambium saddle, Supernova lighting and Gates belt instead of chain.
Advantages and disadvantages of the city e-bike
- Plus: Front luggage carrier, central centre of gravity
- Minus: Rear dropout, rear wheel mounting
details
- Price: 3090 Euro
- Frame sizes: S, M
- Test bike weight: 16.3 kg
- Permissible total weight: 110 kg
- Frame: Aluminium
- Fork: Mokumono carbon rigid fork, QR 9x100 mm
- Circuit: Singlespeed; 55/20 teeth
- Motor/battery: Thun X-Cell 3.0/250 Wh
- Brakes/ø: Disc, Formula Cura/front: 160 mm, rear: 160 mm
- Tyres: Continental Contact Urban SafetyPro Reflex 50-584
- Lighting system: Supernova Mini 2; Fender Light
- MYBIKE grade: 2.6
All bikes in comparison
Test winner Canyon has no major weaknesses and scores with its innovative Fazua drive and the widest range of applications. The second-placed Ampler impresses with its exceptionally low weight and high riding safety. The good price-performance ratio of the Excelsior Urban-E is worth noting.
- Driver weight: 85 kg
- Pedalling power: Level: 60 watts - Mountain: 110 watts
- Support: Plain: medium level - Mountain: highest level
Compared to the usual heavyweights, the lightweight city e-bikes only seem to have a range problem. If you consider the usual inner-city distances, the bikes can cover a sufficient distance on one battery charge. The weight saving from the smaller energy sources makes perfect sense. The disadvantage is that, with the exception of the Canyon, the batteries cannot simply be removed from the frame tubes for charging. The pedelecs are therefore only of limited use in the cold season for all those who do not have a warm parking space.
