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What is perhaps the biggest difference between cars and bicycles in terms of user behaviour? Hardly anyone would think of taking their bike to the workshop for an annual inspection without any quirks or faults, let alone a malfunction, just to be sure that their trusty vehicle will continue to perform just as reliably for the next few months. And the bike is even more susceptible to breakdowns and defects, not because it is more poorly constructed or less well equipped, but because its technology is much more exposed to the weather, it has to carry a much heavier load in relation to its own weight and because its wearing parts are not always designed for thousands of commuter kilometres or dozens of long days on bike tours.
Low-maintenance wheels: fast or robust?
Conversely, does this mean that as an average biker you either have to expect a breakdown every minute or run to the service centre every few weeks? Definitely not, you just have to choose wisely and or perhaps dig a little deeper into your pockets when buying. The manufacturers have components that can withstand many, many kilometres, months and years without any complaints. This does not mean that they are always massive and therefore heavy as lead, but it does mean that you have to sacrifice a little sportiness here and there. The combination of light and robust is and always has been cost-intensive!
For our test, we specifically selected low-maintenance bikes that have more or less such long-life components and are robustly constructed throughout. The fact that there are a number of approaches on the market to create the longest possible maintenance intervals and puncture resistance is shown by the fact that seven out of ten models have different shifting concepts. According to ADFC statistics, the drivetrain, tyres and brakes are the main causes of broken-down bikes. Behind these are bearings that no longer work, followed by defects in rims and spokes.
Breakages of frames, handlebars, saddles, pedals or other load-bearing parts are very rare, but the consequences are devastating! So here, too, you want to be on the safe side. This was precisely our concern when we invited you to test the bike: The bike should offer its owner as much safety and carefreeness as possible - meaning little maintenance, little care with maximum puncture resistance and the best possible overall performance. The fact that this resulted in such an extremely colourful test field, from the well-behaved city cruiser to the highly sporty commuter to the heavy-duty touring bike, was somehow intentional and yet astonishing.
Low-maintenance wheels: focus on durability
It would be unfair to compare the riding characteristics of such a wide range of bikes on a one-to-one basis; the prices alone vary by a factor of four. With the tried and tested Rohloff gear hub and the newer Pinion gearbox, you can achieve extra-long maintenance intervals and absolute reliability with a sufficient gear range at all times, but the balancing act also catapults the purchase price upwards, as mentioned at the beginning. The two derailleur bikes in the test offer a similarly wide range of gears, and even significantly more of them, but they at least require more regular cleaning and maintenance. Their mileage depends on this at least as much as on the quality level.
In addition to the well-known high-quality XT groupset on the Riverside, Radon uses the fairly new Shimano Cues groupset for the Sunset, a series specially designed for mileage, which can cover around three times as much distance as the sporty Shimano XT and LX groupsets when regularly cleaned and oiled, as Michael Wild from the Paul Lange sales department tells us. The continuously variable Enviolo gear hub on the Poison is the exotic in this area. The manufacturer promises maintenance-free operation, but the wealth of experience with transmission technology using balls instead of gears is still limited. However, as the technology is also used for e-bikes, wear on the Biobike should be of little concern. The Alfine and Nexus gear hubs are as affordable as they are robust - especially in combination with a drive belt instead of a chain, they require almost no maintenance for up to 5000 kilometres.
Wear parts
However, despite the best maintenance and clever design, some components reach the end of their useful life over time or after a high number of kilometres. Tyres and brake pads in particular simply wear out through use. Here, it is not so much age and distance that determine the service life, but the rigours of use. Brake pads in particular suffer from extreme use, for example when they get hot on long descents, trailers or heavy bags are braked or the discs are often sandy. Rule of thumb for extrapolating the replacement intervals: The more contact surface between the brake disc and pads, the less abrasion; the forces are then distributed and less heat is generated.
That's why brake discs with a diameter of 180 millimetres instead of 160 millimetres last a lot longer, and the racing steel even has a four-piston brake instead of two, which means twice the pad surface and a lot more power; of course, changing the pads is also a bit more expensive. Belts and pulleys are also wearing parts, although this takes much, much longer than with chain drives if basic conditions are met, which we asked Nico Schill from manufacturer and belt pioneer Carbondrive about. Tyre wear also depends on external influences, but also on the choice of tyres and driving behaviour. Every wheel that locks and every metre with insufficient pressure costs weeks and months of tyre life. We interviewed Mike Hörner from Maxxis tyres about the life expectancy of tyres.
>> Because the quality of the equipment forms something of a basis for the breakdown and maintenance statistics, we have emphasised it graphically as a special evaluation criterion. The blue bar is intended to show how little you ultimately have to worry about maintenance and possible defects.
Interview with Mike Hörner, Brand Manager at Maxxis Tyres
A bicycle tyre must always strike a balance between grip, efficient, smooth running, durability and puncture protection. All of these are technically impossible and the almost-everything tyres are usually quite expensive, so it's worth taking a look at the inner workings of the tyre. And that's exactly what we asked Mike Hörner, Brand Manager at Maxxis tyres, about:
MYBIKE: The tyre is a wearing part. What actually influences the mileage and what is a good value?
Mike Hörner: The mileage depends on the tyre structure, the rubber compound, tread design and thickness, the area of use as well as the surface, driving style with the respective driving and braking forces and, of course, the correct air pressure. A tyre should be replaced when it reaches the wear mark or when cracks appear in the tread - due to age or low air pressure. It is difficult to determine an average value here, as the mileage is as different as between racing cars and cars. There are also competition tyres on bicycles that can be worn out after one use: Our top cargobike tyre Metroloads Pro has successfully completed 10,000 kilometres on the test bench
Low-maintenance wheels: What makes a carefree tyre?
How can the consumer recognise a puncture-proof tyre and a tyre that will last as long as possible?
This is difficult to recognise from the outside; you would have to study the details in the build online, for example, or ask the dealer. Maxxis is known for its good rubber compounds, which are adapted to the use of the respective tyre models. The susceptibility to punctures has only a small part to do with the thickness of the tread; the puncture protection depends more on the puncture protection layers built into the tyre and the type and thickness of the tyre carcass. In addition to the puncture protection under the tread, the protection of the tyre sidewalls is also important in everyday use (see the cross-section; editor's note). The extremely puncture-resistant Pro versions have a double carcass for even greater puncture and puncture protection. The correct tyre pressure is also very important for avoiding punctures. The narrower the tyre, the closer you should go to the maximum permissible pressure (marked on the side).
Can puncture resistance and tyre life be extended retrospectively?
Apart from checking the tyre pressure very regularly, we recommend that you do not expose it unnecessarily to the UV light of the sun, i.e. store or park it in the dark. Subsequent puncture protection tapes can be useful if the tyre has little or no inherent puncture protection. Disadvantage: They tend to slip during fitting and/or cause imbalances. A branded tyre with extra protection from the factory is better. We do not have a general position on air-replacing tyre inserts (e.g. from Tannus; editor's note), some of them offer advantages under certain (racing) conditions, others damage the carcass, as the tyre is then usually deliberately run at too low a pressure. Although this may increase grip off-road, it causes significantly more flexing in the tyre sidewalls and thus material fatigue and rolling resistance, as well as increasing the wheel weight.
Tubeless tyres
Tubeless tyres are becoming more and more popular in the sports sector. What do the experts say about this system in relation to city and touring tyres?
Tubeless has become an integral part of the sporty mountain bike and road bike sector, increasing performance and preventing many punctures. In principle, tubeless offers the same possibilities for touring, urban and trekking bikes and is suitable for anyone who rides their bike mainly and - importantly! - regularly. "Tubeless ready" compatible tyres and rims are mandatory, and you also need a special rim tape, a suitable valve and, of course, sealing fluid (latex milk that hardens when it leaks out of damage; editor's note). The air pressure should also be regularly checked and re-inflated for tubeless set-ups. The system requires more maintenance than a tube and is not suitable for bikes that you put away and then simply want to ride again after a few weeks or even months - because then you may have to completely refill the system.
Interview with Nico Schill, Technical Support at Carbon Drive
The belt drive is increasingly dominating the scene in cities and in the lowlands. In combination with the 14-speed Rohloff hub or the 18-speed Pinion gearbox, the range of applications even extends far beyond local transport. However, many still don't really trust the alternative. We asked Nico Schill from Universal Transmission, European distributor for belt pioneer Carbondrive, about the advantages and disadvantages of the belt:
MYBIKE: Mr Schill, belt drives already existed several decades ago, but they didn't catch on. What accounts for their current triumph?
Nico Schill: Today's design with extremely tensile carbon fibres in the belt's running direction, guide lugs and the corresponding running groove on the inside (Centertrack standard 11 mm wide) as well as more experience with the width of belts and pulleys have ensured much greater reliability, smoothness and efficiency in power transmission.
Low-maintenance wheels: How low-maintenance are belt drives?
You are addressing a hotly debated topic. Your belt is supposed to transmit power with less friction loss than a chain. Is that correct?
That's only almost right. Compared to a brand new, clean and well-lubricated chain, the belt drive generates a little more friction, i.e. internal friction and therefore loss of power. However, as it is not oiled or greased, this friction remains relatively constant, whereas a chain becomes sticky over time, collects dust and sand, can stick together or even run dry. The performance of a chain therefore decreases with every kilometre, while the belt remains at a very good level with virtually no maintenance.
Almost means that maintenance is required. What does the belt require?
If the belt is completely new, the tension should be checked after 100 to 200 kilometres. This and the line, i.e. straight running, are the be-all and end-all for longevity. Only at the very beginning do rubber and metal surfaces rub in slightly, screw connections settle, which sometimes leads to too little tension, which is not good for efficient running. After that, occasional rinsing off of everyday dirt with water and, if necessary, a brush is sufficient. Lubrication is not necessary, but can be used to prevent squeaking; we have had the best experience with wax-based dry lubrication. The almost silent running is a huge advantage of the system. That's it, as long as the tensioning mechanism doesn't give way - the belt never does in its entire life.
Belt drive: service life and replacement
Good point: How long does a belt last?
Assuming the belt is perfectly tensioned, runs dead straight and doesn't suffer any physical damage, it can last the life of the bike. We don't like to give years or kilometres because of the many variables, but we know of bikes that have been riding with the same belt for ten years. The pulleys are down sooner. It also depends on the quality, depending on the type of use, our high-quality CDX or inexpensive CDN belt may be sufficient.
Okay, how does such physical damage occur - during falls?
In fact, rather before the first turn of the crank. We often see prospective customers pick up the demonstration model and bend it in every direction. Carbon fibres don't like that at all, they bend or break internally. Any diagonal load can cause this, even if you don't relax the drive before mounting, place the belt halfway on the pulleys and turn the crank with power. When intact, belts can even withstand MTB races.
Suppose you do break down on the road or want to replace belts or pulleys yourself, can you do that as a non-mechanic?
This is another disadvantage: not every bike shop has an assortment of new belts in all lengths, the length has to be right from the factory as the belt comes closed. Fitting takes minutes and is as simple as changing the inner tube, a mechanic just has more experience or a feel for the tension. We offer consumers help via an app: it's better to be one idea too hard than the other way round. A new belt costs between 50 and 100 euros.
10 low-maintenance wheels in comparison
Contoura AL-6: The stable all-rounder
The stylish aluminium bike with its many colour options is virtually indestructible without a crash. The wide 36-hole rims and thick tyres roll unimpressed even over rough tracks, while the high-quality Gates CDX belt and the large front brake disc reduce wear. The butted aluminium tubes strike a balance between lightweight construction and resistance to deformation and, like the fork, make a very solid impression, including the dropouts and the clamping mechanism. The pedals and chain guard are already made of metal as standard, and the mudguards also look super sturdy.
One small drawback: the crank revolves around an old square inner bearing; these are maintenance-free, but tend to absorb water and corrode over the years and need to be replaced. The choice of tyres underlines the sporty component of this great all-rounder, the G-One would also be available with even more puncture protection, it rolls great, with a little less pressure it is quite suitable for off-road riding. And the AL-6 is also fun on almost all types of terrain, especially because the riding position is very balanced and the short wheelbase and fat wheels virtually cancel each other out in terms of manoeuvrability.
Conclusion: It looks bulky, but rides really fast, as long as you keep the oil change intervals of the Alfine a robust top all-round bike. MYBIKE tip: Allrounder 4/24
The most important details
- Price: 2349 Euro
- Frame / Sizes: Aluminium triple butted, external cable guide, sizes 51 / 54 / 57 / 60 / 63 cm
- Stack / Reach / STR*: 591 mm / 401 mm / 1.474
- Weight*: 14.3 kg
- Permissible total weight: 120 kg
- Drive: Alfine 11 gear hub, 26/24, Gates belt
- Translation small / large: 1,006 / 4,098
- Brakes: ektro HD-T520 hydraulic disc brakes, 180 / 160 mm
- Impellers: RODI Ready 27 ASY, 26 inch, 36-hole
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Speed tyre, 60 x 584 mm
- Extras: 30 colours incl. individual signature, luggage carrier up to 25 kg
Diamant 247: The pure and stable elegance
Extremely clear lines and the golden décor on elegant white paintwork: the 247 is one of the most praised models in terms of looks of all test bikes to date. The pannier rack was sacrificed for the silhouette, which is no problem for strolls, but the bike also has a lot of potential for short and medium-length tours, where it could be needed again. Without a suspension fork and with perhaps the best-selling gear hub of our time, major defects are extremely unlikely, the CDC belt from Gates (medium quality level) and the Bontrager tyres with double carcass and wide puncture protection insert are also real endurance runners in relation to the price.
Like the Contoura, Diamant also uses a square bottom bracket and plastic pedals, which could require replacement after years of outdoor use. As a city-oriented bike, the size of the brake discs and the wear of the pulleys are not so important; if you take the 247 on tour, you could upgrade after two or three years. The limits of the bike lie more in the geometry, you sit quite upright despite the fairly straight handlebars, the gear ratios end at 3, 4, climbs and speed bolts don't really work with the 247.
Conclusion: Visual minimalism and proven technology result in an affordable, stylish and reliable city bike with touring potential.
The most important details
- Price: 1199 Euro >> available here
- Frame / Sizes: Aluminium, sanded seams, in M, L, XL or as a trapezoidal frame in S, M, L
- Stack / Reach / STR*: 619 mm / 385 mm / 1.608
- Weight*: 13.8 kg
- Permissible total weight: 136 kg
- Drive: Shimano Nexus Revo, 8-speed hub, 50/24, Gates belt
- Translation small / large: 1,098 / 3,365
- Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brake / 160 mm
- Impellers: Aluminium rims, 32-hole stainless steel spokes
- Tyres: Bontrager H2 Comp, wire bead core, 700 x 40 mm
- Extras: internally routed cables and cords, reflective strips on the tyres
Kettler Traveller Belt: The carefree cruiser
A look at the STR value shows where the Traveller's strengths lie: the frame is made for upright, enjoyable cruising, from moderate to very comfortable depending on the angle of the adjustable stem. The transversely oval, slightly angular top tube provides good torsional rigidity, and a lot of luggage at the rear should not stress the frame. Thanks to the thick, puncture-proof all-round tyres and the low load on the front wheel, it would not have been absolutely necessary, but we predict that it will have a long life with so little use, just like the Nexus hub, if it is re-greased every 5000 or a little later.
Kettler also uses a square bottom bracket, the pedals are ergonomic but also made of plastic. In addition to the high weight, we didn't like the routing of the front brake hose; the risk of getting caught with the exposed bend, e.g. on the bike stand, is too great. In contrast, the matt powder coating is inconspicuous. The gears of the Nexus are kept rather short, in keeping with the less sporty posture and the mass of the bike.
Conclusion: If you can do without speeds of over 40 km/h and steep ramps, you will get a reliable, not expensive, comfort bike.
The most important details
- Price: 1499 Euro
- Frame / Sizes: Aluminium, air suspension fork SR Suntour SF17, 63 mm, in 50 / 55 / 60 cm, as Trapeze & Wave in 45 7/ 50 / 55 cm
- Stack / Reach / STR*: 656 mm / 399 mm / 1.644
- Weight*: 18.3 kg
- Permissible total weight: 135 kg
- Drive: Shimano Nexus SL 8-speed hub, 50/24, Gates belt
- Translation small / large: 1,098 / 3,365
- Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brake / 180 mm
- Impellers: Ryde Taurus aluminium rims, 36-hole
- Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon GG, 50 x 622 mm
- Extras: pannier rack up to 25 kg, belt guard, adjustable stem
Riverside Touring 900: A world tour bike at a league price
Sports giant Decathlon is really pushing the envelope with its bike fleet, from professional racing to price hammers. The extra-stiff frame with over 30 eyelets for luggage and attachments comes with a huge maximum system weight, super-stable racks, a high-quality XT groupset, Brooks saddle, ergo components and high-quality paintwork for less than 1500 euros! The only thing we saved on was the brakes, which work mechanically. Hardly a disadvantage in terms of maintenance and wear, but the braking performance and modulation is noticeably worse than with hydraulic brakes and an upgrade is quite affordable.
The Marathon tyre would also need an upgrade for a round-the-world trip, but it is sufficient for local tours. Conversely, the saddle is great after a few days of familiarisation, but real leather needs more care, especially after rain. To be fully mountain and off-road capable and affordable at the same time, it had to be a derailleur bike. The XT offers high quality, the chain lasts around 4000 km according to experience, but has to be cleaned and lubricated very regularly, the sprockets are also changed at every second service.
Conclusion: From the steering stop to the USB charging port, this is a well thought-out, robust, but high-maintenance tourer at a competitive price. MYBIKE tip: Price-performance ratio 4/24
The most important details
- Price: 1499 Euro >> available here
- Frame / Sizes: Aluminium, triple butted, 33 threaded eyelets for attachments, in sizes 41 / 47.5 / 50 / 52 cm
- Stack / Reach / STR*: 623 mm / 414 mm / 1.505
- Weight*: 18.0 kg
- Permissible total weight: 170 kg
- Drive: Shimano XT derailleur gears 3 x 10 gears
- Translation small / large: 0,722 / 4,364
- Brakes: TRP Spyre mech. disc brakes, 160 / 160 mm
- Impellers: Aluminium double wall rim, 36-hole, eyeleted rims
- Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon 47-622, reflective stripes
- Extras: Front and rear carrier, reader saddle, USB charging port
Rose Black Lava 2: Straight lines for fast curves
The Black Lava 2 looks like a pure city bike thanks to its 50 mm tyres, frame lock and pleasing, calm colour, but the STR ratio of 1.3 and the crisp, long ratio Alfine 11 allow you to make really fast progress. A good 1100 mm wheelbase and the straight fork ensure parallel manoeuvrability, the weight is just okay for a bike with this payload, this is more down to the wheels, the frame not only looks elegant like a carbon frame, it is also similarly stiff and light, the steering has an internal stop, ideal when loading bags.
The Alfine hub suits the sporty appearance of the clean bike with its almost entirely internally routed cables even better than cruisers, and its maintenance is simple and inexpensive. Unfortunately, the belt is not labelled, so it is not possible to classify the service life here, which again resulted in a deduction in the maintenance rating. The Efficiencys are a little heavier, but very resistant and durable, even approved for fast e-bikes. Belt tensioning with the eccentric bottom bracket is easy, but requires an extra tool.
Conclusion: In the city runabout duel, Rose beats the Canyon in terms of robustness and equipment, but loses out in terms of riding dynamics and price.
The most important details
- Price: 2399 Euro >> available here
- Frame / Sizes: Aluminium frame with ground seams, painted carbon fork, in 48, 53, 58, 63 cm
- Stack / Reach / STR*: 528 mm / 403 mm / 1,311
- Weight*: 16.3 kg
- Permissible total weight: 130 kg
- Drive: Shimano Alfine 11 hub, 50/24, Gates belt
- Translation small / large: 1,094 / 4,454
- Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes, 160 mm
- Impellers: Newmen Performance 25, 32-hole aluminium rims
- Tyres: Schwalbe Marathon Efficiency perf, 50 - 622 mm
- Extras: Ergogrips, frame lock, rear carrier up to 25 kg, clean
Stevens P18: The high-tech (space) glider
That's what you want when it comes to durability and shifting performance at the same time. The highlight of the classier bike is the 18-speed gearbox on the bottom bracket, its gear range of 635 %, i.e. the highest gear is almost six and a half times longer than the lowest, and the fully encapsulated design in the aluminium or titanium housing give the bike all-round qualities and extend the maintenance intervals to 10,000 km, or alternatively annually.
Belt line and the almost equally sized pulleys result in perfect, smooth running, only under full load does the gearbox not shift. The top tube is rather short (see STR), but so are the fork blades and head tube, which is why you sit in a surprisingly, albeit moderately sporty position. The Contis and the stable 36-hole rims accelerate surprisingly well, but little is known about the puncture resistance of the rare tyre model. There is no uncertainty about the XT brakes, they decelerate superbly and the good pads rarely last less than 5000 kilometres. Less noticeable is the seatpost, which saves the frame a lot of stress thanks to its smart damping properties. The only unattractive thing here is the wild cable routing.
Conclusion: An absolute technical delicacy with a very wide range of applications and carefree potential almost at maximum level, but at a price.
The most important details
- Price: 4399 Euro
- Frame / Sizes: Aluminium frame with ground seams, tapered aluminium fork / 52, 55, 58, 61 cm
- Stack / Reach / STR*: 607 mm / 399 mm / 1.521
- Weight*: 15.7 kg
- Permissible total weight: 130 kg
- Drive: Pinion P1.18 transmission, 18-speed, 32/28, Gates belt
- Translation small / large: 0,627 / 3,991
- Brakes: Shimano XT hydraul. disc brakes, 180 / 160 mm
- Impellers: Oxygen RM-26 Disc, 36-hole, eyeleted rims
- Tyres: Continental pure contact, 47 x 622 mm
- Extras: Pannier rack up to 25 kg with Snap it system, ergonomic handles
Radon Sunset 9.0: Innovative compromise
The Sunset with the Cues equipment is brand new. This is due to the equally new groupset, which seems to have been made for this test. The cogs and chain of the Cues groupset are particularly designed for long running times, which is mainly due to the (material-) stronger teeth of Shimano's Linkglyde system at the base. The chain lies flatter and is specially adapted, which minimises wear, but the cassette needs about half a turn more until the new gear is engaged.
The gear range is also suitable for long tours, and the large front brake disc even more so. Despite only 32 spokes and a rather narrow rim/tyre combination, the bike can carry a lot of weight, and the frame stiffness is up to the task. The suspension fork has to be set really hard, it fits better into the overall picture with more load on the front wheel than on the Poison or Kettler. The dropper post is rather simple, but it works. Used very hard, shocks are of course always potential points of failure. Posture and steering are completely neutral.
Conclusion: The new Sunset is a very comfortable classic trekking bike that requires significantly fewer wearing parts thanks to the Cues groupset.
The most important details
- Price: 1399 Euro
- Frame / Sizes: Tapered aluminium frame, RockShox Paragon Gold RL air suspension fork, 65 mm / 48, 52, 56, 60, 64 cm
- Stack / Reach / STR*: 611 mm / 409 mm / 1.494
- Weight*: 14.9 kg (without pedals)
- Permissible total weight: 135 kg
- Drive: Shimano Cues derailleur gears, 2 x 11 gears
- Translation small / large: 0,711 / 4,182
- Brakes: Shimano SM-RT30, hydraulic disc brakes, 180 / 160 mm
- Impellers: Alexrims MD21, 32-hole
- Tyres: Schwalbe Energizer Plus Tour GreenGuard, 700 x 40 mm
- Extras: Ergogrips, adjustable stem, suspension support, reflective stripes
Rennstahl 853 Rohloff Trekking: Indestructible custom classics
As touring bikes, racing steel bikes are designed for reliability from the outset, so it's no surprise to find a number of details in this regard. A high-quality Hollowtech II bottom bracket, top pulleys and belts, Tune front hub, maintenance-friendly but tidy cable routing, smooth-running yet puncture-proof tyres, great Mavic rims and especially the Magura brakes are almost the maximum that can be done. The 853 is the only test bike to have four-piston brakes; in comparable use, it takes an estimated 7500 kilometres to change the pads, which is more expensive.
The very short-ratio gear hub, which has been tried and tested over decades, is considered puncture-free, the mandatory oil change every 5000 km or annually can easily be carried out by the rider, making it inexpensive, and unofficially: it can also withstand a few more kilometres. As with the Riverside, the leather saddle needs to be broken in and maintained, but it adapts to the rider. The custom model comes without pedals and lights, so points have been deducted for all-round qualities and price/performance, but the customer has a free choice here. The price and weight are perfectly acceptable for all these criteria.
Conclusion: With a high-end steel frame, the MT5 and Speedhub 14 puncture-proof to the power of three, but somewhat more maintenance-intensive than Stevens or Poison.
The most important details
- Price: 3890 Euro
- Frame / Sizes: Steel frame, internally coated, hydroformed, forged dropouts / S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Stack / Reach / STR*: 676 mm / 411 mmm / 1.645
- Weight*: 16.4 kg (without pedals)
- Permissible total weight: 181.4 kg
- Drive: Rohloff Speedhub, 14-speed hub, 50/20, Gates belt
- Translation small / large: 0,698 / 3,668
- Brakes: Magura MT5, hydraulic four-piston brake / 180 mm
- Impellers: Mavic XC system wheels, 32-hole
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Bite, 50 x 622 mm, tubeless ready
- Extras: Selle Italia leather saddle, rear carrier up to 40 kg, ergonomic grips
Canyon Commuter 7: The modern city rocket
Another internal duel with Rose for the Commuter title: The frame of the Commuter 7 is significantly more compact, which is one of the reasons why it is very stiff despite its lower weight. The wheel/tyre combination can be accelerated quickly and then rolls quickly and puncture-proof through the city, but the 40 mm tyres need more pressure, which costs the speedster some comfort. However, a look at the STR value and gear ratio shows that the bike is made for accelerating anyway, with the highest gear of the gear hub, which perfectly matches the characteristics, you can get up to over 50 km/h, the relatively short wheelbase of 1030 mm and a sporty riding position for a commuter create a safe riding experience, manoeuvrable but easy to control up to top speed.
The silhouette also looks dynamic. Canyon calculates the mileage of the high-quality belt drive at 15,000 km, i.e. every third oil change of the Alfine. We've already criticised the outdated square shaft in the eccentric bottom bracket from competitors, but the tensioning mechanism for the belt is excellent. The rather low load capacity of the pannier rack and bike as a whole costs a tenth of the variability.
Conclusion: Great, ultra-modern concept of a commuter bike, combining reliability with sportiness, so you won't be late!
The most important details
- Price: 1799 Euro
- Frame / Sizes: Aluminium also as trapeze in XS, S, M, L, XL
- Stack / Reach / STR*: 538 mm / 408 mm / 1.319
- Weight*: 13.6 kg
- Permissible total weight: 120 kg
- Drive: Alfine 11 gear hub, 50/24, Gates belt
- Translation small / large: 1,094 / 4,454
- Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brake, 160 mm
- Impellers: Alexrims GX26P, 32-hole
- Tyres: Schwalbe G-One Allround 700 x 40 mm
- Extras: pannier rack up to 15 kg with Ortlieb quick-release coupling, Supernova E3 Pure front light with 220 lumens, eccentric bottom bracket
Poison Chromat harness: the variable sedan chair
It does indeed take some getting used to shifting without gear jumps. The twist grip of the Enviolo hub does not have any detents, but after a short period of familiarisation, correcting the gear ratio using balls pressed together inside the gearbox is much more sensitive than using cogs, sometimes barely noticeable, but efficient. According to the manufacturer, the Enviolo requires no maintenance. Poison uses the best belt in the Gates range, a modern Hollowtech II bottom bracket and high-quality suspension components on the fork and seatpost.
The wheels are probably the reason for the relatively low maximum system weight, they are more delicate than most, but heavy rear panniers wouldn't suit the riding position either. It's extreme and too upright for us. Comfort is provided thanks to the suspension support, but the pedalling position is biomechanically restricted, which would be better with straight handlebars, and the great suspension fork with log-out function would also have something to do. In this set-up, this limits the variability, long and/or fast tours are not the Chromat's core competence despite the top drive and equipment, rather representative, quiet strolling.
Conclusion: Attractive, low-maintenance and technically well-equipped comfort bike that would have a lot of touring potential with minor modifications. MYBIKE tip: easy to care for 4/24
The most important details
- Price: 2359 Euro
- Frame / Sizes: Steel, suspension fork Suntour NCX with 63 mm, in 46, 51, 56, 61 cm and trapezoidal frame 48
- Stack / Reach / STR*: 609 mm / 389 mm / 1.566
- Weight*: 18.3 kg
- Permissible total weight: 120 kg
- Drive: Enviolo stepl. planetary gearbox, 42/22, Gates Riem.
- Translation small / large: 0,955 / 3,627
- Brakes: Shimano MT420 hydraulic disc brake / 160 mm
- Impellers: Ryde Andra 321, 32-hole
- Tyres: Continental Contact Plus E50, 42 x 622 mm
- Extras: high-quality suspension seat post, pannier rack up to 25 kg
* each in test size (bold) STR = quotient of frame height and frame length
