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The five step-through bikes from the test
- Bergamont E-Horizon Elite 7 Belt Amsterdam >> available here
- Giant Dailytour E+ 1BD RT >> available here
- Kettler Quardiga P5 Belt >> available here
- Moustache J.On
- Victoria Avyon 5S
The "ladies' bike" with its low-slung frame tube was once intended to avoid unseemly high-waisted dresses or skirts and enable women to get into the saddle without having to swing a leg over it. The development of the top tube-free frame for these reasons was sustainable: even in the 1970s, women's models with a low top tube were still being offered in the racing bike sector. Even earlier, however, the climbing comfort for frequent stop-and-go was appreciated. Nevertheless, dealers still often hear from men today: "I'm not buying a ladies' bike!" The industry is working with cool shapes and designs to counter the categorisation of women's bikes. What were the technical arguments against lowering the top tube? In the past, the lack of frame stiffness. This led to unwanted vibrations and even fluttering handlebars, especially in the steel frames that were common until the 1990s.
Step-through bikes: Get on comfortably and still ride safely
The e-bike has changed many things and, as if in passing, has also tackled this problem. The weight of the battery and motor meant that frames had to be made more stable. Finally, the integration of the battery has also contributed to the fact that many step-through bikes now ride more stiffly despite the lack of a top tube. We chased our five bikes through a slalom course, hurtled down downhill sections and jostled around corners with 25-kilogram panniers. The result: Without luggage, none of our test bikes showed a clear difference in handling compared to the "men's bike". But with! The Kettler and the Giant were the least able to conceal the missing top tube with this brute handling. However, this is not relevant in terms of safety, as any vibrations that occur are cancelled out with both hands on the handlebars.
Comfort thanks to suspension forks?
However, simple suspension forks also contribute to uneven running. They are more likely to absorb vibrations than rigid forks. Incidentally, a suspension fork does not necessarily have to be the first choice for city use if you are in the lower price range, as they usually have a high breakaway torque and therefore tend to respond poorly. Wide tyres, ridden with slightly less air pressure, can even be more comfortable here, especially on city cobblestones. Suspension seat posts, such as those fitted to the Giant and Kettler, help to reduce road shocks.
Cheap suspension forks unfortunately push the weight up further. On the other hand, there is no doubt that high-quality - and more expensive - forks and suspension elements, such as those on the Moustache and the Victoria, increase comfort. Speaking of weight: almost all of our bikes are heavy lumps weighing around 30 kilograms. This means that the comfort of our step-through bikes unfortunately comes to an end on the basement stairs at the latest - a ground-level storage facility or a lift is therefore a prerequisite.
The seat geometries of our bikes make it clear that step-through doesn't mean "granny bike". The range goes from sporty on the Victoria to moderate on the Bergamont to upright on the Kettler, Moustache and Giant. Basically, you sit well on all bikes, which is also due to the adjustable stem of the models. The riding position should be orientated to the area of use of the bike.
This also applies to the saddle and handlebar shape. The soft saddle on the Kettler is perfectly suitable for city riding, but is likely to be too wide for touring. You need a saddle that is more orientated to the cyclist's sit bone distance - the dealer will be happy to help.
Motors and circuits
When it comes to motors, Bosch is currently omnipresent, with only a Yamaha/Giant motor supporting the Giant. Although the Sync Core is somewhat weaker than the Performance Line drive variants from Stuttgart, it has very pleasant all-round capabilities and fits the bike well. The batteries offer capacities from 500 to 750 watt hours. The same applies here: Think about the weight! If you don't need a super long range for the city, you can save around 1.5 kilograms with smaller batteries.
In addition to the comfort requirements, our test bikes had to be easy to maintain. Therefore, hub gears and belt drive were test requirements. Two bikes shift even more comfortably and continuously with the Enviolo hub. The belt often lasts many times longer than the chain - up to 30,000 kilometres. It requires practically no adjustment and is much less sensitive to dirt.
The same can be said of hub gears. They are also easier to use and harmonise better with the motors than derailleur gears. Five gears are sufficient for the city, but seven or eight-speed hubs are better for touring. The belt requires a special frame design: the rear triangle must have an opening in order to be able to mount the indivisible drivetrain. All manufacturers now solve this problem with ease. We were particularly impressed by Kettler, where the axle mount is inserted as a complete module into a "gap" in the rear triangle.
The frames themselves are now of an extremely high standard in terms of workmanship. The Moustache is a special case, but all our bikes have a high-quality and beautifully finished aluminium frame. The prices of the bikes range from 3899 to 4899 euros plus an outlier at 6299 euros, which we wanted to present as a special innovation. Even though we chose a test winner, we also wanted to show how powerful step-through bikes can be today.
All 5 step-through models compared
*The range specification refers to medium support mode or "Car"-mode with an active driving style and terrain with low gradients. These are always approximate values.
Luggage rack on the low step-through model
Our step-through bikes are not cargo bikes. Potential exception: the Bergamont E-Horizon. You can attach a sturdy basket to the four eyelets on the headset. Otherwise, the pannier rack is the most important transport option. Ideal for all-rounders: a sturdy rack with a second railing - for a low centre of gravity when carrying panniers. A spring flap like on the Kettler or a rubber expander (Giant), for example, allows you to quickly stow your jacket when it is taken off. If the whole thing is then fitted with a system carrier like on the Giant or Victoria, boxes, baskets or special accessories from companies partnered with the system manufacturer can be mounted in no time at all. Practical! But be careful with the permissible total weight: with the Bergamont with 130 and the Moustache with 135 authorised kilograms, things get tight: with 25 kilograms on the carrier and 30 for the bike weight, the rider should not be a heavyweight.
