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These are the 6 e-bikes up to 20 kilos
One thing is clear: e-bikes are heavier than normal bikes. The motor adds around three kilograms, the battery often even more. For many people, however, 20 kilograms is the absolute upper limit of portability. Above this weight, they can no longer imagine carrying a bike up twelve steps from the cellar, for example. Our test bikes all weigh slightly to significantly less. These low power assist bikes (LPA), i.e. bikes with less assistance, rely on lighter motor systems. They make perfect sense in urban areas and on commuter routes, where the aim is not to get as far as possible on one battery charge.
Example: Twelve kilometres to work, take a diversion via the supermarket or pedestrian zone on the way back, and you've covered a maximum of 30 kilometres. On flat to slightly hilly terrain, you don't need a four-kilogram 800 watt-hour battery for this; a 360 with half the weight will do. This is why urban e-bikes in particular are typical representatives of the low-power assist generation, such as the Ampler Anyroad or the Bzen Milano in the test. The sporty commuter group can also cope well with this, as the small motors consume less power, especially at a high pedalling frequency. This means you can easily cover around 60 kilometres with a 430 watt-hour battery.
Drive energy-efficiently!
Three tips help to save power and avoid draining the battery too quickly:
- Always start at the junction in a low gear (derailleur gears: downshift when coasting).
- Ride at cadences above 60 revolutions per minute. This is healthier for the battery - and for you too (try it out: just count for half a minute).
- The most important thing: stay in the flow! If you keep your distance from other road users, you rarely have to brake abruptly and then accelerate sharply again. Driving with foresight also helps.
E-bikes up to 20 kilos: weight facts
Our test bikes weigh between 15 and 20 kilograms. This is also not a small amount, but for many people it is still literally bearable, as long as the weight does not have to be lifted several times a day.
If the carrier is fully utilised, the rider of these bikes may weigh this much (kg):
- Ampler: Wheel: 17.3, carrier authorisation: 25, gross vehicle weight rating: 120, person: up to 77.7
- Bzen: Wheel: 15.4, carrier authorisation: -, gross vehicle weight rating: 140, person: up to 124.6
- Canyon: Wheel (without frame bag): 18.1, carrier authorisation: 15, permissible total weight: 120, person: up to 86.9
- Riese and Müller: Wheel: 19.9, carrier authorisation: 7.5 per side, gross vehicle weight rating: 135, person: up to 100.1
- Stevens: Wheel: 17.1, carrier licence: 25, gross vehicle weight rating: 140, person: up to 97
- Tenways: Wheel: 18, Carrier authorisation: -, Gross vehicle weight: 140, Person: up to 122
However, the permissible total weights are also important: they indicate how much is allowed on the bike: e-bike, rider including clothing and, if applicable, rucksack and/or luggage must be below this guideline value if you do not want to overload the bike. Example: You weigh 80 kilograms with clothing, take 15 kilograms of luggage with you and the bike itself weighs 20 kilograms. Then the bike must have at least this total, i.e. a permissible total weight of 115 kilograms.
As you can see, even a weight limit of 120 kilos can be tight for many users. With the 140 kilos from Bzen, Tenways and Stevens most people are probably on the safe side. But of course it's not just the weight: the question is also important: is there a point on the frame where the bike is easy to carry and at the same time balanced so that I can carry it well? If the basement steps are important to you, you should definitely do a carrying test during the test ride.
E-touring bikes: less weight costs
Saving weight while maintaining the same function costs money. This can be seen very clearly with carbon frames: Carbon is more expensive to produce and process than aluminium. Frames can be made one to two kilograms lighter (depending on the type of bike). Who like our Canyon Grizl If you don't want to do without high-quality, fully-fledged equipment, you have to rely on carbon to stay light. This also applies to the components. The BZEN is the only bike with a full carbon fork - and thus only weighs 15.4 kilograms in total.
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However, this value is also the result of the extensive lack of road equipment. But how does the Tenways do this? First of all, it lacks gears and pannier rack, then attention was paid to components that are not too expensive but still light. The favourable price is a complex conglomerate of many factors. Assembly in Germany, such as at Riese und Müller, costs significantly more than in the Far East. However, there are always differences in the paintwork or cable routing - the material design and the labour time invested in something like this is also a serious cost factor.
Going for apps
The development of connective software does not stop with lightweight commuter bikes - on the contrary. Here in particular, an accompanying app with many setting and customisation options is almost a matter of course.
Bosch, for example, has taken another leap forward with its smart systems for Eurobike 2024. For example, there is the Eco+ driving mode. Here, the system decides - after a customisable pre-input - at what level of power you should be supported by the motor if you are travelling without drive. If this limit is reached - for example on a slight incline or into a headwind - the motor switches on automatically. Only the makers of Bzen deliberately do without control via mobile phone. In this respect too, the bike should remain as simple and "pure" as possible. This can also be an advantage.
New e-bike motors are smaller
The Bosch Performance Line SX is fairly new to the range, but has been adopted very quickly by bike manufacturers. Our Canyon Grzl:ON is a good example of this equipment. The SX motor is actually an "intermediate size": it is visibly slightly larger than the Fazua, for example, but has roughly the same torque (55 to 60 Nm) and system weight (around 5.2 kilograms to 4.6 kilograms with a "small" battery in each case). These systems are difficult to compare with the rear motors anyway.
The mid-motor is still considered to be the supreme solution among drive systems. Anyone who rides a Fazua Ride on a sporty bike, for example, will recognise why: these motors harmonise particularly well with the rider. Thanks to a fundamentally different control system than motors for city or cargo bikes, these drives have the advantage of offering very natural support at pedalling frequencies above 65, i.e. when it becomes comfortable for the sporty rider - and, incidentally, also fundamentally healthier.
Despite these facts, the rear-wheel motors dominate in this test: they have caught up in terms of function - as you can see from the new Mahle X30 drive. It works with three sensors and in some respects comes close to the mid-motor feeling and is quieter. Small size and weight as well as the visual similarity to a hub gear are further advantages.
Many manufacturers like to label their own motors, such as Ampler. This does not mean that they build a motor themselves, but they often pass on their technical ideas about the motor's characteristics to a drive manufacturer. The rearward shift of the bike's centre of gravity tends to have a negative impact on particularly sporty bikes. A commuter bike, on the other hand, can be well equipped from this point of view with a rear or mid-mounted motor.
Manage the thief!
More and more Bikes are equipped with GPS or other modulesThis means that unauthorised access to the bike can be reported via an app or, if the bike is stolen, it can often be recovered thanks to GPS. This is already working very well. Time and again, stolen goods are found in large quantities in hiding places because at least one bike was fitted with a corresponding module. As with the Ampler, the module is usually located inside the frame, where it is very difficult to remove. A lock function that locks the drive of the bike is also useful. With Bosch, for example, it can be coupled with displays - if this is removed for parking, the drive is locked. Similarly, 2Lock, a provider that locks the front wheel on command and makes it impossible to remove it.
The right range for e-bikes up to 20 kilos
Of course, the range of our Low Power Assist bikes also depends on many factors such as the terrain, the assistance level, the temperature and, last but not least, the rider's pedalling preferences. However, small motors not only tend to have less power, they also consume less. For example, the new Bosch SX 70 motor can also cover distances of 70 kilometres if a rider rides in smart mode and maintains a cadence of 75. The same applies to the equally efficient Fazua drive (430 watt-hour battery).
The rear motors are usually not significantly less efficient; however, inclines often have a more negative effect here, as geared rear motors, as in our test, have a harder time on hills. As always, the distances given below for the individual wheels should therefore only be regarded as guidelines. It is generally important for the user to clarify: How important is weight saving to me? Can I do without a few kilometres of range if I get an e-bike that handles almost like an organic bike, but is an e-bike? Charging is a basement affair on many Low Power Assist bikes such as the Ampler, Canyon, Bzen and Stevens: only the Tenways and the Riese und Müller allow the battery to be removed.
Borrowing from the gravel bike
The trend of designing minimal assist bikes for commuting with racing handlebars, such as the new Canyon and the Riese-und-Müller bike, is relatively new. This is not just because gravel bikes are particularly trendy at the moment: The drop bar has always been popular among frequent riders. It offers less surface area for the wind to attack and has many grip options. Important: You have to like the position or get used to it ergonomically.
Anyone who has ridden touring or even city handlebars all their life will certainly need some time to adjust - not only in terms of active steering, but also in terms of posture, as certain postural muscles in the arms, as well as muscles in the neck and shoulders, are not used to this different load. However, the effort is usually worth it, and many people find it difficult to imagine riding a bike with straight handlebars.
The riding position on practically all of our test bikes is rather sporty. Accordingly, the handlebars are mostly straight or only slightly cranked. There are no handlebars that reach far back. All bikes offer a lot of directional stability, which conveys safety. This is particularly the case on the Riese und Müller; the bike with the longest wheelbase almost seems a little unwilling to corner. The Ampler and Tenways, on the other hand, are real curve seekers, with the Ampler being the better balanced bike.
Where to put the bag for e-bikes up to 20 kilos?
Do I need a pannier rack? If you only cover a few kilometres on your commuter bike, you can also carry your office supplies in your rucksack - if you find this comfortable. The carriers on our bikes, if available, are all approved from 15 to 25 kilograms - even 15 kilograms should be absolutely sufficient for this use. Important: These slim carriers are often only suitable for small bags, as large panniers usually hang too low (see Riese und Müller UBN 5 Commuter).
However, if you do without mudguards, as is the case with the Bzen, you get a very limited usage profile: a café racer. A bike that is mainly ridden in good weather and without luggage - for example to the ice cream parlour. But of course, the plates and carrier can also be retrofitted here. The stand is a different story: Canyon and Bzen were downgraded because they came without a kickstand - in the case of the Canyon due to the frame material, which makes it more difficult (but not impossible) to fit a kickstand. 0.3 points were also deducted for the Ampler, where the kickstand sits under the bottom bracket and the bike therefore tips over quickly when loaded.
At the retailer or online?
Ampler, Bzen and Tenways are delivered directly to the customer, i.e. without a dealer in between. The Tenways requires some skill to assemble, as the front wheel, handlebars and saddle are dismantled. However, a pictorial description and sensible tools are included, so even amateurs can manage this with a little muse. The same applies to the Canyon. Assembly is less time-consuming with the other direct mail order companies. Ampler and Bzen have several service partners in Germany.
Tenways does not have its own partners, instead the manufacturer sends customers to the bike dealer around the corner - a solution that can work well as long as the dealer does not already have more than enough to do and shakes his head when a foreign brand turns up. Canyon also delivers directly to the customer, but can now boast a partner network and centralised service structure. Many garages are also more likely to accept these bikes in the event of damage. Riese und Müller can now also be purchased online. Our bike came fully assembled in a giant crate. But of course you can also buy bikes from the two classic German bike brands from one of the many authorised dealers.
Easy Riders
At the beginning of the e-bike era, one argument was heard time and again from users who felt they had to apologise for their vehicle: "I don't have to switch on the motor, you can pedal just like on a normal bike." Often heard, never experienced. Today, things are different: we also rode the bikes without assistance and had the test riders try out how comfortable they found riding without assistance on our test bikes.
How much do we like riding the test bikes without a motor - on a scale of 1 to 10?
- Ampler: 9 out of 10
- Bzen: 7 out of 10
- Canyon: 8 out of 10
- Riese & Müller: 8 out of 10
- Stevens: 10 out of 10
- Tenways: 7 out of 10
In fact, some can imagine riding the Stevens for long stretches without a motor. The test subjects were least keen to do this with the single speed bikes - understandably. Even if they roll along easily: Stop-and-go is tedious in the long run.
Conclusion on e-bikes up to 20 kilos
For many prospective customers, the first decision is probably already made with the Dropbar - you like it or can imagine it, or you don't like it. Both racing handlebar bikes are not only recommended in terms of drive technology - it's also about image. If you're looking for a bike with familiar handlebars, but solidly sporty and a little more lively, you'll be happy with the Stevens or the more reserved Ampler. In its original condition, the easy-to-handle Bzen is more of a bike for beautiful summer days, while the Tenways is primarily for lovers of this design - and for people who want to spend less and don't really do much everyday travelling.
A comparison of e-bikes up to 20 kilos
The "Service" category is not listed - 5 per cent share. All manufacturers offer 5 or 6-year warranties on frames or frames and forks. Exception: Tenways only offers the usual warranty of two years, which contributed to a deterioration in the tenth grade range.
* The range information refers to the medium support mode (Ampler: level 2) with an active riding style (cadence above 70 rpm) and terrain with low gradients. These are approximate values for all bikes, which may vary considerably for different riders and conditions.
