The goose has been eaten, the wrapping paper ironed and packed back into the cupboard, so now is the right time to look back on the past year 2024. What topics have moved, interested or occupied us, but above all you? We sent our specialist department for journalistic archaeology into the dusty shelves of the online archive to find out. The result is 5 x top 5 most-read BIKE articles.
Five times, because we have divided our websites into categories - nobody wants to rummage through piles of data metres high, do they? So our nickel-cheeked archivists have unearthed the online treasures from the Bikes, Components, Equipment, Workshop and Backgrounds sections. We hope you'll discover something new among the articles, reminisce or simply send yourselves a text as an online-to-fax file. In any case, have fun and enjoy our top 5 for 2024.
BIKE Top 5 bike tests
The first Top 5 is a perfect average of our wide range of bike-related topics. BIKE shows bikes, from city runabouts to e-downhillers. That's why our hit list for test reports shows the kebab range: everything with spicy!
Top 1 - E-bikes up to 20 kilos: 9 lightweight pedelecs with light-assist drive compared
Lightweight e-bikes have advantages - both on the road and in the basement. Anyone who doesn't go on ultra-long tours but is looking for an e-bike for commuting to work can often be happier with one than with significantly heavier SUV all-rounders. Nine pedelecs up to 20 kilos in the practical test, including:
- Canyon Roadlite:On CF 9 LTD
- Cowboy Cruiser
- Specialised Turbo Vado SL 5.0 EQ
- Stevens E Strada 7.3.4.
Top 2 - Gravel bikes in the test: 12 models in the all-rounder check
Alongside pedelecs, gravel bikes are the bike trend of recent years and perhaps the most versatile type of bike to date. This article was not written in 2024, but in November 2023, but it was still clicked on very often over the course of this year. In this comprehensive test, we analysed 12 gravel bikes and discovered just how many different types of all-rounder there are today. The 12 gravel bikes included, among others
- Argon 18 Grey Matter
- Bergamont Grandurance Elite
- Canyon Grizl 8 1by Ekar
- Focus Atlas 8.8
- Fuji Jari Carbon 1.1
- Riverside GCR Sram Rival Etap AXS
>> Click here for the big overview (including links to the individual tests) of the 12 gravel bikes.
Top 3 - Amflow PL Carbon with DJI Avinox: Is the DJI e-bike the new high-flyer?
It was one of the Top news from Eurobike 2024: The Chinese tech giant DJI - known for its drones and Action cams - is entering the e-bike market. With a powerful drive and its own e-mountainbike brand?! The facts sound almost too good to be true. But the Amflow PL actually impresses with its high performance and very low weight. We weighed and tested the lightweight trail e-bike with a carbon frame. And you were right to be interested.
- Motor: DJI Avinox M1, 105 Nm
- Battery: Choice of 600 or 800 Wh, permanently installed
- Suspension travel: 160/150 millimetres
- Frame: Full carbon, 2.27 kg frame weight according to the manufacturer
- Weight: from approx. 19.2 kilos (size M, top model)
- Prices: 6499, 9799 and 9999 euros
Top 4 - Cube AMS Hybrid One44 on test: The first light e-bike from Cube
Germany's largest bicycle manufacturer has taken its time with its first lightweight e-bike. But the wait for the Cube AMS Hybrid One44 was worth it. The trail speedster with Bosch SX motor impresses with a super-light frame, great performance and a killer price: 5999 to 8999 euros! We tested the top model, the Cube AMS Hybrid One44 Super TM: "Right from the start, the bike feels extremely manoeuvrable and light. The 140 millimetre suspension is sensitive but sporty and defined. On flowing trails, the Super TM flies from left to right and has enormous pop."
- Motor: Bosch SX, 55 Nm max. torque
- Battery: Compact Tube 400, 400 Wh (permanently installed)
- Frame material: Carbon
- Suspension travel: 140 / 140 mm
- Weight: 17.8 kg (Super TM test bike in size L, EMTB measurement, without pedals)
Top 5 - Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 TM in the test: Test victory for the comfortable all-rounder e-bike
And 5th place again goes to the test of a Cube bike! This time it's the Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 - an absolute classic among all-round e-bikes. The e-mountainbike with Bosch motor is now a few years old. Can it hold its own against the competition in a tough eMTB test? Obviously yes, because it wins the test because it offers an outrageously comfortable package. Uncomplicated handling, mega range, strong equipment: "confident all-rounder with off-road expertise at a fair price. This is the test winner in the big EMTB comparison test", says BIKE tester Florentin Vesenbeckh.
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX, 85 Nm max. torque
- Battery: Powertube, 750 Wh (removable)
- Frame material: carbon / aluminium
- Suspension travel: 150 / 140 mm
- Price: 5799 Euro
- Weight: 24.7 kg (test bike in size L, EMTB measurement)
BIKE Top 5 component tests
You'll find our tests, in which we make suspension forks, shocks and saddles cry, almost as exciting as we do. This year is different - the year of e-bikes! Because the top 5 component tests only include drives! And if you take it as seriously as the BIKE testers in their tough test rounds, then there were only 3 different motors. Small spoiler TQ and Mahle were not.
Top 1 - Pinion MGU E1.12 test: The Pinion MGU drivetrain is now also available with automatic transmission
This novelty from the year 2023 from Pinion had what it takes to shake up the e-bike market: The new motor-gearbox unit combines motor and gearbox in one. The update came in the course of 2024: Pinion introduced an automatic gearshift via a firmware update and adjusted the motor's overrun once again. We were able to test the MGU extensively in the lab and in practice - you found that extremely exciting!
- Weight: 4112 g (measured in the EMTB laboratory)
- Max. Torque: 85 Newton metres (manufacturer's specification)
- Max. Power: 600 watts (manufacturer's specification)
- 48-volt technology
- 12 gears (spur gearing with two gear sets connected in series, 3 x 4 stages) - bandwidth 600 per cent
- Magnesium housing
- With an empty battery, there is a reserve for 1000 switching operations
- Four support levels Eco, Flow, Flex and Fly - individually customisable via app
Top 2 - E-bike motor ZF Centrix in a short test: New super motor for E-MTBs?
Fresh out of 2024 is this article about another market innovation. Weighing just 2.5 kilos and yet full e-bike power: renowned automotive supplier ZF wants to gain a foothold in the e-bike market with the Centrix. We were able to test the new motor briefly at Eurobike 2024. "Compact, light and powerful at the same time: never before has such a small motor been so powerful! In practice, however, the ZF Centrix still seems a little raw in some corners. We're excited to see how the engine performs in series production."
- Mid-motor with max. 90 Newton metres and 600 watts peak power
- Weight: 2.5 kilos according to the manufacturer
- Installation dimensions: 88 mm diameter, 118 mm width
- 48 Volt technology
- Two battery options from ZF: 504 or 756 watt hours
- Open for third-party batteries and controllers
Top 3 - The Bosch Performance CX in the test: Bosch's e-bike motor in a long-term check
The star of this year was actually the new Bosch Performance Line CX 2025which was presented on 30 September. But because its predecessor is already the top dog among e-bike motors, our article on the long-term test of the unit found its way into the top 5 components. We were able to gather extensive experience over two years and clarify all the strengths and weaknesses of the Swabian drive in the test. The result? Read for yourself in our article.
- Weight: 2.96 / 2.7* kilogrammes (EMTB measurement)
- Max. Torque: 85 Nm torque (manufacturer's specification)
- Max. Power: 600 watts (manufacturer's specification)
- Max. Support: 340 / 400* per cent
- Support levels: Eco, Tour+, E-MTB, Turbo, Race*
- Battery sizes: 500, 625, 750 Wh
- Range extender: 250 Wh
- Modes customisable via app
*Specifications refer to the CX Race
Top 4 - Pinion MGU E1.12 in laboratory and practical tests: Powerhouse with that certain something
In keeping with the first place, the test of the Pinion MGU also made it into the top 5. How well does the electric motor work in this design? Can the drive keep up with the competition from Bosch, Shimano and Sram? Our EMTB test in the lab and in practice clarifies. Fancy a little teaser? "Viewed in isolation, the motor impresses with plenty of power and good modulation. Very loud in some gears, pleasantly quiet in others. Overall heavier than classic systems."
Top 5 - Bosch Performance CX in laboratory and practical tests: Will Bosch remain the top dog among e-bike motors?
Did we say that the Bosch CX is always of great interest? That's why Schwaben-Motors' current text from this year is also in the top 5, so we can assume that the endurance test of the new Bosch CX will also appear in the next year-end hit list... Our verdict on the Bosch Performance Line CX:
The Performance CX from Bosch is the favourite for uphill flow and difficult climbs. Its modulation and response behaviour are still the benchmark. - Florentin Vesenbeckh, EMTB Magazine
BIKE Top 5 equipment
An important part of biking is not only the bike, but also what you carry with you; first and foremost the helmet, of course, but also shoes and clothing and the increasingly statement bike goggles. Because the helmet plays such an important role, and because we carried out a crash test with a really large number of helmets back in 2023, this article still ranks right at the top of our Top 5 equipment.
Top 1 - Bike helmets in the crash test: 19 helmets for trail and tour in comparison
Even small blows to the head can have devastating effects. We have carried out extensive laboratory and practical tests to determine which MTB helmet best protects bikers from injury. We compared 19 models for trail and touring here: from A for Abus to ... ok, T, for TLD. In an interview, TÜV engineer Christiane Reckter also provides information on, among other things, when a helmet should be replaced due to age.
Top 2 - Cycling shoes on test: 12 mountain bike shoes for trails and tours
Grippy and comfortable like hiking shoes, but at the same time stiff like racing shoes - cycling shoes for mountain bikes have to manage the seemingly impossible balancing act. We analysed the properties of 12 current test models. Everyone has probably asked themselves the following question: clipless pedals vs. flat pedals for MTB shoes? Which team do you belong to?
Top 3 - Cycling shorts test: 18 cycling shorts in a comparison test
Not every pair of cycling shorts is suitable for long distances. Only with the perfectly fitting bib shorts can you enjoy intensive hours in the mountain bike saddle without pain. We tested 18 bib shorts, 6 of which were specially designed for women and 12 for men.
Good news: there are no more bib shorts in the test that we would actually advise against buying. And yet there are clear differences between the 18 products tested.
Top 4 - Self-tinting sunglasses: 14 cycling glasses with photochromic lenses put to the test
Whether it's bright sun or cloudy - sunglasses with photochromic lenses are designed to protect our eyes in any weather. We tested 14 models of self-tinting cycling glasses and show what the colour changers can do. Also good to know: An overview of the filter classes of sunglasses.
Top 5 - Optimum protection: 12 lightweight MTB knee pads for trail to enduro in the test
Unfortunately, knee injuries are not uncommon in the event of a fall on a bike and they are often particularly long-lasting. The largest joint in the human body should therefore be well protected. Our test of 12 lightweight trail protectors shows that effective knee pads no longer have to be heavy and sweaty.
Our elaborate test procedure for knee pads consists of an extensive practical test on the one hand and laboratory testing on the other. Would you like to know more about how we tested the knee pads? Read more about this in our "How BIKE tests" article.
BIKE Top 5 Workshop
Many of us actually have two hobbies in one: biking and wrenching on our bikes. This ranges from the loving care of the projectile to the dedicated repair of it. The brakes in particular are a big issue that keeps you very busy, especially when they squeak. But bike security in the form of a lock or a GPS tracker was also at the forefront this year.
Top 1 - 5 tips against squeaking disc brakes
We are a little proud, because this article on the subject of annoying brakes is undisputedly one of the most popular ever. We look after it almost as devotedly as our own brake system. Anyone who has not yet read this text has not yet read the Thomas Mann of workshop articles, so to speak!
Top 2 - Bike lock & insurance: 16 bike locks in the test
A biker's nightmare: where the bike was just standing, there is now only a broken bike lock - if that. To prevent this from happening, we have tested 16 different locks; from U-locks to folding locks and chain locks - everything is included. We also have tips on the safe use of bike locks and an overview of bike insurance.
Top 3 - Searching for clues with a GPS tracker - 6 devices in the test
In line with the bike locks, we have already compiled a market overview for different GPS trackers in 2023. This article also became an evergreen, which has also made it into the BIKE Top 5 this year.
Top 4 - Adjusting the Shimano derailleur: Instructions for rear derailleur and front derailleur
The chain only works smoothly and without rattling if the front derailleur and rear derailleur are optimally adjusted. Front derailleur? Although we always report on the latest derailleurs, there are of course also older models - some of which are undoubtedly still on the roads and trails. We show you how to set up a double or triple Shimano derailleur correctly.
Top 5 - The 3 most important tips for braking in brake pads
This article also deals with the principles that have not changed much since the introduction of disc brakes on MTBs. We clarify - at least for the next 5 years - what you need to consider when buying new brake pads. And yes, the article is actually from the previous year.
Top 5 - Backgrounds
Very few people buy their bike from a small manufacturer that welds the frame itself and uses parts - if not from a 3D printer - then at least from equally small forges. Behind most bikes is an entire industry, a bicycle industry. That's why we also try to provide you with background information and the latest developments. Be it with the latest news on the state of the industry and its representatives, or with reports portraying individual manufacturers. These 5 reports interested you the most in 2024.
Top 1 - Update - Bike industry without power? More and more companies are going bankrupt - what's going on?
New start at Simplon with a new investor +++ Advanced files for insolvency +++ Decathlon plans 60 new shops +++ Flyer production in Switzerland has been decided +++ Shimano and Giant with declining sales +++ Rapha losses in 7th year +++ Pole Bicycles files for insolvency +++ Record sales at Bulls... These are just a few headlines from 2024, as you can see: There are shadows and light in the industry. We'll keep you up to date.
Top 2 - Shimano XT? You can pack up again: Interview on the 75th birthday of Paul Lange & Co. OHG
Who or what is Paul Lange? First Shimano agent, innovation driver, pioneer of the MTB and the mobility revolution - hardly any other company has shaped the development of the German bike industry like Paul Lange. A conversation with the founder's son and CEO Bernhard Lange on the occasion of the company's 75th anniversary - you'll be interested to hear more.
Top 3 - Cube bikes: Where does Cube make its bikes?
Cube is one of the five biggest brand manufacturers in the world. However, many people are now asking themselves: where does the global brand Cube make its bikes and where does the Cube brand come from? We investigated these questions at Germany's largest bicycle manufacturer.
Top 4 - Home visit Pinion: How the MGU is created
Less well known than Cube, but not less interesting was our report on the production of Pinion - a manufacturer of gearboxes and - brand new - MGUs, motor-gearbox units or in German: motor-gearbox units. And all made in Germany.
Top 5 - KTM is insolvent - and gives away thousands of Husqvarna e-bikes to employees
Shortly before the end of the year, a report came in that initially caused confusion, then amazement and always concern: What's going on at KTM? Is the e-bike manufacturer bankrupt? Important: No, the KTM bikes are doing well. The motorbike manufacturer of the same name is affected by insolvency. However, it gave away Husqvarna e-bikes to its employees. Complicated?
Marc Strucken
Editor
