Touring bikes on test: 6 touring e-bikes for every taste - diverse & different

Our requirements were simple: suitable for touring, not as heavy as SUV bikes and without chunky knobbly tyres - that was what we wanted our test subjects to be. We also wanted to test diamond frames, a criterion that unfortunately not every bike manufacturer was able to fulfil. Nevertheless, we have collected six touring e-bikes between 3000 and 7000 euros, which offer a solution for every taste with their different characters.

Wheel weight is currently a problem, with manufacturers often finding it difficult to adhere to limits. One reason for this, in addition to the increased robustness of the frames: Higher battery capacities, wider tyres and complex components such as suspended, retractable seat posts and suspension forks are driving up the weight.

So if you're not a firm believer in lightweight e-bikes with smaller drive systems - like our Canyon in the test - you'll be panting on the basement steps. The generally touring-orientated frame geometry: good directional stability and a sporty seat geometry that allows active riding without being too bent over, but not too sporty either. After all, you don't want to be hunched over when travelling, you want to be aware of your surroundings.

For climbs with luggage, a dynamic motor that can also cope with the weight of the luggage is also useful. We have compared several Bosch motors, a Pinion drive system and a Shimano drive, which can provide support with 55 to a full 85 Newton metres.

In the test: 6 touring e-bikes for every taste

• Canyon Pathlite:On SL 6
• Contoura Li-8
• Diamant Zouma Deluxe HCH
• Bico Falter E 10.0
• Kettler Pinniato HT Sport
• Velo de Ville AEB 990

This gave us six bikes that can all be used as tourers, even if they are based on different developments and are also equipped differently. But it all starts with the look: Our bright red one is probably the most striking Kettler bikewhich gives the lie to the claim that "touring bikes are boring" with its self-confident appearance. And it's not just the great paintwork that makes an impression here: the finely designed chain guard confirms that the traditional company can also do new things.

Riding fun & flexibility: what makes the touring e-bike so special

Just how differently the term E-Tourer can be interpreted is also shown by the new Canyon Pathlite:On SLWith the new Bosch SX system, a small battery, an optimised aluminium frame and an eye for low weight, the Koblenz-based direct mail order company has managed to put a transportable e-bike weighing just 21 kilograms on the tyres.

Comfort and more

Those who prefer a sportier style and like to pedal at higher frequencies will hardly have to make any compromises on the Canyon Pathlite:On. Despite its 55 Newton metres, the SX drive is quiet and dynamic in this range and harmonises well with such legs. A range extender is available as an accessory for long tours.

If you consider almost all surfaces to be your territory, you'll want a lot of comfort and wider, more heavily profiled tyres. However, the wider they are, the bigger they become. Some manufacturers are therefore going for 27.5-inch MTB tyres. This is the case with the Contoura: Here, the focus is on comfort and use on uneven trails, but you don't want to lose too much in terms of defined handling due to huge tyre circumferences.

The situation is similar with the Diamond Zouma. The tyre measures over six centimetres in width, but is supple on asphalt with a pure road profile - which translates into driving pleasure when cornering at speed.

The Velo de Villea step-through bike from the custom forge AT Zweirad, shows that all-rounders and tourers also go well together. The comfort features, which are also practical for everyday use, allow touring fans to get their money's worth with the QuL3.1 adapters on the side of the carrier for Ortlieb's standard panniers. Thanks to the MIK-HD system carrier, it can fulfil everyday functions with a basket, box or child seat on top of the carrier. And that Bico Falter creates high-tech braking safety on all roads thanks to ABS.

Luggage and payload

The longer the journey, the more luggage. As a marathon traveller, make sure you have a sturdy carrier with a deep mounting option, i.e. a second railing, and, if necessary, the option of attaching lowrider bags to the fork. Important: the permissible system weight. With a body weight of 75 kilos, a bike weight of 30 kilos and a payload of 30 kilos, the system weight must be at least 135 kilos to be on the safe side. More is better here. Many manufacturers are still being challenged here, after all, people with a little more on their ribs also want to enjoy cycling holidays.

Order bikes, get motorbikes?

Weight and comfort requirements, which are also expressed in suspension forks and increasing tyre width and wheelbase, have an effect on handling. Our tourers roll straight ahead well to very well across the board. However, the tendency towards "like on rails" is becoming more and more prevalent. As a result, some bikes are less fun to ride and less flexible for everyday use in the city. If you want to use your bike a lot on your cycling holiday, you should test ride the bike with this in mind.

The perfect gear ratio for touring e-bikes

Anyone who has ever travelled with luggage and possibly even on hilly terrain without assistance will know that the more gears you have to choose from, the better. But the motor has a balancing effect, meaning that we can pedal efficiently even without the right gear ratio. Of course, above the 25 km/h mark it becomes difficult with luggage anyway, so you hardly need very long gears.

Nevertheless, a five-speed gearbox is only the minimum solution for touring, even on an E-Tourer. Maintenance-free gears are ideal Gearsticks with 8-12 gears in a gear ratio range that is more in the direction of mountain gears - i.e. "small" gears - rather than large gear ratios. In comparison, derailleur gears on an e-touring bike with a mid-drive motor are put under a lot of strain, as the motor and rider have to work together at the same time. Chain tugging and heaving a lot of weight forwards.

Effect: high wear on sprocket and chain. With the Pinion MGU and the new FIT control system together with a huge battery, the Kettler is of course not only well equipped in this respect: The encapsulated gearbox is extremely low-maintenance and sits directly on the motor. High-quality hub gears such as the 14-speed Rohloff hub or the continuously variable Enviolo as well as the new 3x3-Nine gear system are also low-maintenance. Motor manufacturers such as Shimano and Bosch can adapt their motors so that the - electronically controlled - shifting of hub gears is as harmonious as possible.

Derailleur gears epitomise the sporty version of the E-Tourer. They also allow you to save a little on the purchase price and weight. Encapsulated gears - which also include the new MGU from Pinion but can quickly pay for themselves. The MGU, for example, only needs a maintenance unit every 10,000 kilometres, while the Gates drive belt system can last around 30,000 kilometres. Otherwise, however, the manufacturers should be reminded of this: E-bikes must become lighter. And touring cyclists need to ask themselves: Do you really need that much range? Or would you prefer bikes with a lower weight that are easier to transport?

Tyres: How big and how wide?

If you only ride occasionally on a dirt track, you don't need tyres with studs; a slightly profiled tyre will do. Tyres for mixed terrain too. Advantage: It rolls more easily on tarmac and is still comfortable to steer. However, changing tyres is one way of adapting the bike to a new situation. Wider tyres provide better control on sandy surfaces, larger lugs on muddy ones. Important: The tyre size must be right. If I want to fit wider tyres for muddy passages, the clearance in the fork and rear triangle must be adjusted accordingly. And the rim must also be able to cope with the wheel width - ask the manufacturer about the possible tyre sizes!

Sport or wellness?

For many people, sitting as upright as possible on a bike feels like the start of a holiday. However, this position often becomes more strenuous the longer the tour lasts. On the one hand, the buttocks have to carry more weight than in a balanced sitting position, on the other hand, the shoulders and arms are burdened with holding work and the bike becomes more rear-heavy. If you spend entire days travelling, you should adopt a slightly forward-leaning touring position and occasionally vary it slightly with an adjustable stem if necessary.

Conclusion on the touring e-bikes in the MYBIKE test

There is a wide range between just under 3000 and over 7000 euros, and there is something for every touring type in the test portfolio. Due to the different orientations of the bikes, the narrow rating is not surprising - each is good in a different area. The long-reach Kettler stands out as a bike with innovative details and the light-footed Canyon. In addition to the lowest weight, the latter can also claim victory in terms of value for money.

Notes & rating: All touring e-bikes in comparison

Not listed is the category Service - 5% share, which does not change the final score. Canyon, Contoura and Diamant offer additional guarantees.

* The range information refers to the medium support mode or "Auto" mode with an active riding style and terrain with very low gradients. Higher active pedalling frequencies were assumed for the Canyon. These are approximate values for all bikes and may vary for different riders and conditions.