It rides like a normal bike! If this statement, which is often used by marketing people, applies to any type of pedelec, then it is most likely to be true for racing and gravel bikes with a motor. That sounds paradoxical, as these are the lightest players in the e-bike circus. Charging the motor and battery on these bikes should have a negative impact on handling, agility and, last but not least, looks, right? But the manufacturers have also recognised this and are not squeezing everything that is technically possible into such a bike, but are sticking to the virtue of moderation.
Precisely because the riding physics of such an athlete are more sensitive than those of a heavy downhill bike or SUV and because the snappy handling of a lightweight racer provides most of the riding fun, it is better to make compromises in terms of maximum power, control bells and whistles and battery capacity. Among our hand-picked e-gravel bikes from another test, we found relatively light pedelecs, and there are models that are barely heavier than a mid-range biobike. This is exactly where we come in. We wanted to know how big or small the difference is between gravel and e-gravel.
Storck Grix.2 vs Storck eGrix: E-twins
To avoid this becoming a comparison between a candle and a light bulb, we looked for a pair that was as identical as possible apart from the drive unit. We found what we were looking for at the carbon forge Storck. The Storck Grix.2 and e:Grix are not identical in construction, but their frame geometry is the same down to the millimetre, and the Q-factor, the horizontal distance between the feet when pedalling, is also identical.
The e:Grix is equipped with the X20 rear motor from Mahle with a torque of 55 Nm. This makes modifications to the bottom bracket unnecessary. The biggest difference lies in the extra one and a half kilos of weight, concentrated on the rear wheel hub. Another good pound is added in the down tube of the frame. The aerodynamics of the only slightly thicker tubes on the pedelec are negligible. The complete comparison can therefore be broken down to the question: How much do the additional weight and weight distribution negatively affect the riding characteristics, and is this in proportion to the gain in dynamics through the motor? And in which direction does the pendulum swing in terms of riding enjoyment?
The most important thing about the tester
The human factor in the duel was me. My key technical data is well known. "Frame height", weight, performance in continuous operation, maximum power, heart rates for long distances and maximum effort: As an ambitious cyclist, I know my values, although I always simulate other types of riders in such test stories, so I try to ride like readers with more power and riding skills, but also like absolute beginners.
The test lap on which the duel was to take place was therefore neither excessively long nor extremely demanding - a varied lap through the Bergisches Land with a lot of gravel, fairly few roads, a few crisp climbs and technical sections, a typical Sunday morning lap. The range in the diagram below is not a measured value, but a realistic estimate; the value is far too dependent on external factors.
Storck Grix.2 vs. eGrix: subtle differences
The duel lap was my first ride on the e:Grix, I had already tried other gravel bikes with a motor, but I was very surprised by the natural feel of the ride, especially with the rear motor. It's flat all the way out to Bergisch, and apart from at traffic lights and junctions, I didn't ride in pedelec mode at all. Both bikes are real sports bikes, and apart from the lightweight construction, the riding position is very firm. You have a clearly forward-leaning position in every grip position and therefore good pressure on the pedals. That, a bit of tailwind and the smart tyres - the speedometer needle always went over the limit at which the drive has to deactivate.
I didn't miss the catapult-like start at traffic lights on city pedelecs. At the lowest setting, the e:Grix makes really good progress. With the Storck Grix.2, the only difference is the first two or three pedals. Because it is even lighter, the acceleration is similarly impressive, once you start pedalling you lose two seconds per traffic light against the e-bike - and maybe one more at the next stop, maybe it's my imagination, but you can minimally feel the extra kilos in the rear. This is less of an issue when cornering. This is where the e:grix benefits from its rear motor, the front section has no extra weight and steers into corners just as quickly. If anything, you can feel the difference when changing direction very quickly.
The biggest difference
The Mahle engine only makes the big difference on inclines and in deep sand. A lot of effort is lost here, of course. What doesn't happen is that you ride significantly faster. Intuitively, I tend to use my energy for a clean riding line and don't pedal as hard as I can. With the Storck Grix.2, it's fun to push yourself to the limit, but with the motor and maximum pedalling power, the speed would almost be a bit fast.
Although I found myself in a kind of "racing situation" without really thinking about it, I used the drive more to relieve the strain than to gain time. And: to increase comfort! Because you're generally more comfortable over hill and dale when you're pedalling in a heavier gear, the large sprockets of the e-bike were almost unemployed. Over the roots in the Bergisch forests, I would like to praise this as an absolute bonus. On the Grix.2, I had to get out of the saddle more often.
No winner in the duel
The data from the lap makes a conclusion virtually superfluous. It is noticeable that I was hardly any faster despite significantly more power and additional energy from the battery. And that wasn't because you lose time on bends or descents with the e:Grix. The drive would only bring a real time gain if you force yourself to use it as often as possible. But riding like that - very frantic! If you use the motor intuitively, the effort simply drops by one level. My significantly lower heart rate speaks volumes. And that wasn't because I was taking it easy with the e:Grix, as the maximum heart rate is similar.
The riding performance with and without the motor is as similar as the technical data, the pedelec only bends where it gets really strenuous, the pulse line is somewhat flatter. The Bergisch region doesn't have any really long hills, so the pedelec would probably have made more time. That leaves the fun factor. Which bike would I buy? Before the duel, I would have clearly said: the Storck Grix.2. His lead was narrow, but it was more down to my personal tendency to at least still like to flog myself. But I can absolutely imagine that this will be different in the future or that it will be different for many more health-orientated bikers. And then the higher price is also a good investment.
The Storck Grix.2 and Storck eGrix in detail
Storck Grix.2 Comp
- Drive: Shimano GRX RX820 1x12
- Wheels: DT Swiss GRC1400
- Wheelbase: 1013.3 mm (M)
- Stack/Reach: 1,446
- Steering angle / seat tube: 71,1° / 72,5°
Storck eGrix Pro
- Drive: SRAM Force XPLR eTap AXS 1x12
- Wheels: Storck Zeitjaeger Platinum 40X
- Wheelbase: 1013.3 mm (M)
- Stack/Reach: 1,446
- Steering angle / seat tube: 71,1° / 72,5°
