E-bike and touring bike test & buying advice: Which bike is right for me?
Adrian Kaether
· 04.05.2025
Tingling in the stomach, elation, euphoria! It's actually crazy how little some things in life change: For me, the first moment on a new bike is still the same as when I got my first mountain bike when I was twelve. And I'm not the only one!
Thousands of bikers who have long since emerged from their infancy share their enthusiasm in posts with the catchphrase "New Bike Day", filling entire online forums and Facebook groups. But how do you actually get a new bike?
For touring cyclists in particular, the decision has become increasingly complex in recent years. Instead of the good old trekking bike, there are now some with and some without a motor, and increasingly also lightweight, sporty models with an electric motor or bikes with a large load capacity that are particularly suitable for everyday use.
E-mountainbikes and gravel bikes also exert a dynamic fascination. They play on the emotional side of cycling with a high "want-to-have" factor. Obviously a key argument when it comes to buying a new bike.
"For quite a few people, buying a bike is an important emotional experience," summarises Prof. Dr Gunnar Mau from the German University of Applied Sciences for Health and Sport in Berlin, who recently supervised a bicycle market study for our sister magazine BIKE.
From compact bikes to gravel bikes: an overview of the most important bike categories
So how do you get there? We asked six exciting entry-level bikes from the most important touring bike classes to take part in the test. From the practical Tern Quick Haul compact bike and classic touring bikes to e-mountainbikes and gravel bikes, we show the strengths and weaknesses of the most relevant bike categories directly on the test bike. We also provide concise answers to the most important questions about buying a bike.
The bikes in the test:
- GravelCanyon Grizl 6
- Light e-bikeCenturion Speeddrive R 800 D EQ
- E-TrekkingKalkhoff Endeavour 3 Move
- E-MTB: Radon Jealous Hybrid 10.0 750
- CompactTern Quick Haul P8i
- TrekkingVSF Fahrradmanufaktur T-500 Limited Edition
Our six test candidates show just how different touring bikes can now be. From comfortable to dynamic, from practical to sporty, the diverse market now offers the right bike for every taste. - Adrian Kaether, Test Manager MYBIKE
From ... to: The budget question
How much money you have to spend on a new bike depends very much on your personal requirements and also somewhat on the bike category. Bikes without a motor start to be really fun around 1500 euros list price.
For e-bikes, you should plan on prices in the region of 3500 euros. Only selected, recommendable models are available below these sound limits. However, some of these have a somewhat limited range of use.
In addition, the more technically complex the bike, the more expensive it is. Reduced city bikes are also available at slightly lower prices. E-mountain bikes only make sense with a good suspension fork and a dropper seat post. This drives up the price. Good full-suspension e-bikes are hard to come by, even for less than 4500 euros.
Cash purchase & financing - still the ideal solution?
There is a lot of talk about bike leasing. But the fact is: in our MYBIKE reader survey in 2024, almost 80 per cent of you still said you wanted to buy your next bike in the traditional way. A cash purchase is simply anything that is paid for directly by bank transfer or cash, or financed in instalments.
Buying in cash has many advantages. The choice is not limited, there are no hidden costs and the bike is yours immediately. Thanks to the ongoing consumer slump, there are even a few bargains to be had at the moment. If you don't want to worry too much, this is the best place for you.
Leasing - save 30 per cent without any disadvantages?
Leasing a bike is particularly interesting for employees. The sticking point: if the employer has a co-operation agreement with a leasing provider, the leasing instalment is deducted from the taxable income. The real burden on net income is manageable. A non-cash benefit hardly has to be taxed. High earners who pay a lot of tax benefit in particular. Leasing usually runs for 36 months.
There is hardly any interest in a three-year-old bike afterwards. Lessees can therefore usually take on the bike for less than 20 per cent of the new price. In total, savings of up to 30 per cent compared to buying a new bike are not uncommon. The disadvantage of leasing is that the choice of bikes is often somewhat more limited and leasing only works for employees with a corresponding employer offer.
Buying second-hand - cheap and environmentally friendly?
Buying second-hand is the cheapest option for acquiring a high-quality bike. However, buying privately is particularly tricky and requires a great deal of expertise and wrenching knowledge. It is therefore not a good choice for beginners, especially if the motor and battery are also involved.
Due to the current low new prices, the second-hand market is also somewhat less attractive than usual. However, professional second-hand dealers and in particular refurbishment companies such as Rebike, Refurb and Co. can be a good alternative to buying new.
What should the new bike do?
Does the new bike suit you? That depends above all on what you want to do with it. An e-MTB or gravel bike is only of limited use as a shopping trolley, and compact and cargo bikes are not necessarily the best partners when travelling.
Should the bike be able to do everything? Off-road, some luggage, travelling, everyday use? That's also possible. But you should think carefully about whether you really need a heavy, high-maintenance and often expensive full-suspension E-SUV.
Fun bike or everyday hero?
The question of leisure or everyday use is almost the most important when buying a bike to begin with. Even if the bike is only used occasionally in everyday life, we recommend equipping it with mudguards, a kickstand, lights and a pannier rack ex works.
These parts are specially adapted for the respective bike, often look better than aftermarket solutions and are usually more robust. Only those who only want to use their bike in good weather for leisure can do without them on a gravel bike or e-MTB.
With their high payload, compact bikes bridge the gap between trekking and cargo bikes, making them ideal everyday partners. Trekking, e-trekking or light e-bikes set more accents for leisure and touring.
Comfort miracle or sports cannon?
The harder you pedal, the sportier you can sit. At least that's what bike fitting experts say about the optimum riding position. Conversely, this also means that novice cyclists with little training should not start out on a gravel bike with racing handlebars. This may look stylish and sporty, but the unfamiliar position can significantly reduce riding enjoyment.
The only slightly sporty position is better suited to a classic trekking bike or light e-bike. Classic e-trekking bikes and compact bikes offer the most upright riding position. This makes sense, as this is where you have to pedal the least.
Lower entry - can this have disadvantages?
If you don't have to swing your leg as much, you can get on and off the bike more comfortably. In the event of a sudden stop, the low top tube is also less likely to get in the way of small people. However, true step-through bikes in particular have major disadvantages in terms of stiffness.
To ensure that the bike still rides well and safely, manufacturers have to reinforce the frame with a lot of material. This makes step-through bikes heavy and unwieldy. Weights of around 30 kilograms are not uncommon. The bikes still don't ride badly, but if you have to heave the bike down a cellar staircase or onto a bike rack, you won't have much fun.
The alternative: trapezoidal frames with a low top tube. They offer almost the same advantages as true step-through frames, but the disadvantages in terms of weight and stiffness are much less pronounced.
Road or off-road?
Trails have a strong appeal. Realistically, however, they make up the smallest part of the tour, even with an e-MTB or gravel bike. Our tip: If you are interested in off-road terrain, you should also look for good touring and road characteristics as well as sufficient space for wide tyres.
If there ends up being more terrain on the plan than expected, you can easily adapt the bike to this with coarser tyres. By the way: Just like gravel bikes, classic trekking bikes can also handle light gravel tours without any problems.
How much luggage do I need?
Anyone who regularly takes children to nursery school or fetches potting compost from the DIY store by bike knows their requirements profile. Cargo bikes are clearly the best choice for this. With a few accessories, compact bikes can now be a good and much more versatile alternative. They can also transport a crate of drinks or a small passenger in addition to the weekly shop, just not all at the same time.
Pannier racks on classic trekking bikes are usually limited to a load of 25 kilos, but even panniers weighing around 10 kilos per side can be a bit wobbly. This still works reasonably well for larger purchases, but bulky loads cannot be transported here. For gravel bikes or e-MTBs without a pannier rack, the backpack is the only option anyway.
With or without motor?
This is the crucial question when buying a bike. Pure leisure cyclists, those with a smaller budget or purists are best off with a classic trekking bike or gravel bike. Everyone else is better off with an e-bike. In addition to comfort-orientated e-bikes, there are also e-bikes with small, lightweight motors and sporty aspirations.
The increased riding enjoyment provided by the motor assistance helps many newcomers in particular to overcome their inner weaker self, even in bad weather. The fact that you don't have to take a shower after riding for more than 15 minutes increases the utility value of the bike noticeably.
Centre or hub motor?
Whether the motor is in the centre or the rear is less important. Expensive centre motors such as Bosch's CX tend to deliver high performance and dynamics. However, you only really need them on an e-MTB or cargo bike. Hub motors do not respond quite as directly, but are often cheaper and put less strain on the chain and cassette.
Displays, apps & co.
Here we go into detail. However, some manufacturers offer basic theft protection via the app, and with GPS modules such as Bosch Connect or trackers from Powunity or Biketrax, the bike can even be located in real time. Touring cyclists benefit from navigation and routing functions that various manufacturers offer in combination with larger displays.
Battery power and range
The fear of an empty battery is not only familiar to new cyclists. However, it is no longer so easy to really get stuck on a modern e-bike. Battery sizes of 500 watt hours and more are easily sufficient for medium-length tours, even with heavy e-bikes at full power.
Small and light e-bikes get by well with 300 to 400 watt hours. Only those who plan to regularly ride 100 kilometres or more in one stage really need 700 watt hours or more.
Equipment: That's what really matters!
Almost everyone knows Shimano's XT drivetrain. However, a successful overall mix is more decisive than a good rear derailleur alone. Our recommendation for bike newcomers: Don't be afraid of rigid forks. They are light, require no maintenance and cheap suspension forks often work poorly anyway.
Instead, opt for wide tyres and adjusted air pressure for comfort. If the frame offers sufficient tyre clearance, narrow standard tyres can also be replaced with wide tyres. These can be easily ridden with a tyre pressure of around two bars - without any major disadvantages in terms of rolling resistance.
Hydraulic disc brakes are also a must. An ergonomic saddle and good grips can be easily retrofitted if required. Everyday cyclists benefit from low-maintenance hub gears. If you live in mountainous terrain, you should make sure you have a sufficiently small climbing gear.
MYBIKE top tip: Take a test ride & also decide by feel
What the bike must be able to do and how much it should cost are of course important criteria when buying a bike. Once you have gathered all the facts, you should definitely take a detailed test ride. And finally decide on a bike that you particularly like. The aim is to ride, ride, ride. And in our experience, this always works best with a bike that fits well but also inspires emotionally. - Barbara Merz-Weigandt & Adrian Kaether, MYBIKE test editors
The bikes in the test:
- GravelCanyon Grizl 6
- Light e-bikeCenturion Speeddrive R 800 D EQ
- E-TrekkingKalkhoff Endeavour 3 Move
- E-MTB: Radon Jealous Hybrid 10.0 750
- CompactTern Quick Haul P8i
- TrekkingVSF Fahrradmanufaktur T-500 Limited Edition
Adrian Kaether
Editor
