Georg Bleicher
· 25.08.2024
Sporty and elegant appearance of the Stevens E-Strada: matt two-tone paintwork, robust, bulbous head tube, beautifully polished seams. All cables and wires except for the front brake are internally routed. The Stevens is not over-candid, but certainly not boring either. And this is what a sporty bike for all kinds of fun feels like: You sit in a slightly sporty, stretched but comfortable position on the narrow saddle, the slightly offset, pleasantly medium-width handlebars in your hands, and you want to get going.
Master Mahle likes to push ahead. We have the new X30 e-bike motor in the rear wheel, which, with its torque sensor, makes the start more direct and smoother than the X35. The 45 Newton metres at the rear are more thrust than you might think, and as long as it's not very steep uphill, there's plenty of harmony - even when setting off if the gear in the derailleur is well selected.
Like many hub motors, this one also has a slight tendency towards delivery mode, so that 25 kilometres per hour can be maintained by "dropping your feet". Please note: The rather limited battery can only be charged on the bike. Support levels and other settings can be freely configured using the app. Comfort is in short supply, and that is deliberate, because suspension puts pressure on the scales. After all, the aim is to feel the fast tarmac and cheer around sharp corners.
The Shimano Cues 11-speed with two chainrings does what it can to do justice to this - even if the trigger switches are a little plain. The e-bike is also suitable for everyday (commuter) use: slim pannier rack fitted with Ortlieb QL2 adapters (20 kg load capacity), fine tyre tread, robust metal tyre protectors - it's all there! Braking is provided by Shimano discs in a sufficient 160 size. For 3299 euros, this is an offer that is not so much on the Stevens price-performance scale, but is still very tempting.
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The Stevens E-Strada 6.3.4 manages the balancing act between riding fun and utility. Corner seeker, speed ladder, late arrival preventer... The well-equipped, silent glider is fun to ride - even with the motor drive switched off. Our sports tip!