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I remember how impressed I was the first time I saw the Riese & Müller Delite, I reviewed the GT NuVinci model in early 2017 and came away loving the balance between comfort and utility, almost like a lightweight motorcycle… You can ride this thing on bike paths, between cars during rush our, to get some exercise and social interaction, and you don’t need any kind of licensing or insurance (as you might with a moped or motorcycle) because it’s a Class 1 electric bike, the most widely accepted level. As a pedal assist only platform, you do have to pedal in order to activate the motor here, but this is one of the fanciest, most responsive mid-motors on the market today in my experience. It’s usually reserved for electric mountain bikes, but given the added weight of the Delite 25, it’s a perfect fit. Starting in 2017, this motor added a new eMTB mode which provides a full range of power without the need for clicking buttons, more like a torque sensor. The bike offers near instant response, plenty of torque for a zippy starts and climbing, and incredible range because it leverages the 11-speed cassette and dual battery setup. The standard Delite models do not come with two batteries like the Signature model here. What you’re getting for the extra money is bike that the founders of R&M put together based purely on what would work best… if money weren’t an object. It’s a celebration of technology and performance honoring their 25 year company anniversary (hence the name). And, between the electronic shifting, high-end hydraulic disc brakes with heat sink calipers, mountain bike level air suspension, and the higher battery capacity… it’s a platform that’s easy to love. There are lots of little refinements here like Boost hub spacing with thru-axles, a carbon fiber handlebar, sporty Ergon grips and saddle, and three frame sizes so you can enjoy whether you’re a petite or large rider.
Driving the bike is a 350 watt nominally rated centerdrive from Bosch. It’s their high-torque CX model rated up to 75 Newton meters of torque and 20 mph top speeds (or 15.5 mph in Europe). The motor casing blends nicely with the black accents of the frame and has thick shell to keep it safe dry… as you can see from the video review. All of the electronic components on this bike are sealed against water, you wouldn’t want to submerge it or spray it with a pressure washer, but the bike is designed to handle wet environments… and the front fender goes extra lot to protect your feet, shins, and the motor. The Bosch Performance Line drive units measure rear wheel speed, pedal cadence and pedal torque 1,000+ times per second. It also listens for pressure changes in the chain which are produced by your pedaling motion as well as gear shifting, and it eases off when this happens so you won’t mash the gears. It’s not a perfect system, but very few other companies even attempt this level of interaction and the end result is a fortified drivetrain with fewer broken chains, bent chainrings, and derailleur adjustments. Shifting gears on this ebike is a snap because it’s using the Shimano Di2 electronic shifting setup. Button presses are consistent and you can do double up or down shifts by holding in. A signal is sent to the rear derailleur vs. a long wire being stretched, so the drivetrain stays true and is much more precise… Overall, it’s quick and satisfying, and much lighter than the NuVinci continuously variable transmission hub used on the Delite GT NuVinci model in my last review. I do enjoy that system, but it’s just not as sporty or quick as this, and as a more active rider myself, I prefer this. Another interesting control feature that the Bosch motors offer when paired with the Intuvia display panel is sift recommendation. This manifests as an up and down arrow that appear near the top left portion of the display when the controller thinks you could be riding more efficiently by empowering the motor near its “sweet spot” for RPM output. I love that the Bosch CX motor offers the highest RPM output in their series, up to 120 RPM, compared to the Active Line motors and many other competing brands that either fade towards 120 RPM or are only designed to reach ~100. What this means in practice is that you can spin fast to reach higher levels of speed vs. having to switch gears. I come from a road cycling background and enjoy spinning, in part because of a knee injury. Whether you choose to ride this way or not, it’s nice to have the option and can be very useful (like the eMTB mode) in moments when you are focused more on surroundings vs. the button pad and power level. The two trade-offs that this motor presents are increased whirring noise at high power and some mechanical friction because of an internal reduction gear. The 18 tooth proprietary Bosch chainring is roughly equivalent to 45 tooth chainring on other electric or non-electric bikes. It spins 2.5x for each pedal crank revolution and this smaller size allows it to be quick, provide a mechanical advantage, and increase chain retention (along with an alloy chainring guard). I haven’t noticed the drag when pedaling this bike unpowered, but it is a minor factor and worth sharing because I want to be fair and detailed about the pros and cons of each drive system.
Powering the Delite 25 electric bike is a dual-battery one kilowatt hour Lithium-ion powerplant. It consists of two of the latest and greatest Bosch Powerpack 500 batteries that are mounted to the downtube and under the top tube. Both packs have LED charge level indicators built in and a molded loop-handle at the top so you can transport and interact with them safely off-bike. They can be charged independently off-bike and fill quickly thanks to the 4 Amp battery charger that Bosch includes and this charger only weighs ~1.7 lbs. The charging plug design is proprietary so you won’t have to deal with any mixups if you own Bosch power tools or try to plug it in upside down. This charger would be easy to toss into a trunk bag or panniers for longer rides, but Bosch also sells a compact 2 Amp charger that would save some space and weight (it weighs ~1.1 lbs). If you can position the bike near a plug, you could simply leave both batteries mounted to the bike frame and fill them simultaneously by plugging the charger into the left side of the bike frame (near the head tube). This dual-charging design is convenient and mirrors how the batteries discharge when riding. Rather than draining battery one and then moving on to battery two, the Bosch controller pulls back and forth from both packs so they cycle more evenly and last longer (in terms of lifetime age). It’s a thoughtful design, one that is visualized on the display panel by two battery infographics, and the benefit is clear… but there is also a trade-off. Since both batteries drain evenly, you might need to swap both of them at once when riding on a long trek (if you were carrying extra packs to extend range). It’s a minor consideration however because I think most people will benefit more from the balanced design… For those who want a more linear battery discharge design, check out the new Shimano E8000 powered electric bikes. Some final notes here are that the Bosch batteries lock to the bike with ABUS locking cores, and the included ABUS folding lock uses the same key for convenience. If you own an older Powerpack 400 battery, I believe this will interface with the same mounts and can be used as a backup for longer rides, the batteries click down into their mounts and this can be adjusted for tightness by shops if you notice some looseness over time. I love that both batteries are sprung, positioned near the center of the bike and as low as possible for improved balance and stability as well as reduced rattling and wear.
Operating the Delite 25 is a one-step process after the batteries have been charged and mounted. And I believe that you can ride the bike with just one battery if you want to save weight, just like the standard Delite models. When you’re ready to go just press the power button near the lower left corner of the Intuvia and you’ll see your current speed and a little stack of assist readouts to the right along with a power meter. The lower section of the display provides trip stats like odometer, trim meter, average speed, max speed, clock, and range estimate. I love this range tool because it provides more precise feedback than the battery readouts which use 20% increments (five bars on each battery graphic). You get to the range menu by pressing the i button on the right side of the display or in the center of the button pad, mounted near the left grip. Range will dynamically update depending on your battery level, the last mile of riding (unless you hold the reset button) and your chosen level of assist. I showed it in action in the video review above, but it’s just so much fun to experiment with and test in real life. Again, this is a ~68.3 lb electric bike, that’s pretty heavy compared to the majority of 50 to 60 lb bikes with lights, fenders etc. like this. I personally think the weight is worth it because of the comfort and range on offer, but you just don’t want to get stuck with empty batteries and have to pedal the whole way home. If its flat, the smooth efficient tires will be fine and your wide range of gearing options is going to be wonderful… but climbing with the added weight and no power could be frustrating… so experiment with the range menu and consider bringing the charger along just in case. To add power, press the plus button on the button pad and navigate through zero assist, eco, tour, eMTB, and Turbo. The higher you go, the faster the bike will start and the easier it will be to hit and maintain 20 mph. Keep in mind, this also drains the battery faster. The new special mode called eMTB allows you to focus more on steering and shifting gears than navigating motor power, and I have become a fan of using it at all times. It offers 120% to 300% assist support purely based on how hard you push, and yet, it still helps you when you are pushing gently. Unlike many other strain sensors like the TMM4 used by Easy Motion and Stromer, I feel that the Bosch eMTB mode is more effective with low torque and more consistent in how it scales.
There are many little things to discuss and compliment with this ebike, such as the integrated wiring and all-black look which helps the fenders, fork lowers, rear rack, and rear swing arm blend together. The bike frame doesn’t look busy, and I especially like how the rack tubing follows the top tube angle and gusset design. I was told that the side bars on the rear rack are designed to keep pannier bags from blowing around and making contact with the wider tires, but they are bladed a bit for style as well. Apparently, if you are using Ortleib pannier bags, you can flip the lower mount to interface with these pannier blockers more effectively. I appreciate the little alloy chainring guard, which will reduce drops and keep your pant leg grease and snag-free. The kickstand is positioned well, out of the way of your left crank arm and pedal, and offers adjustable length for improved stability on different surfaces. Despite the lack of bottle cage bosses, Riese & Müller has designed a unique bolt-mount design which supports two Fabric water bottles front and center. These bottle stay mostly out of the way and provide 90-degree handlebar turns without colliding (though they will collide a bit after that point). The folding lock is great and I like the adjustable rubber straps on the deck of the rear rack. And of course, safety is such a big factor if you’re riding in an urban environment on an all-black bike… going further and faster than a traditional cyclist. So I adore the reflective tires and premium integrated lights. Both will stay out of the way even if you add gear to the rear rack, and the headlight turns as you steer the bike while remaining sprung. So many ebike lights are mounted to the suspension arch which travels up and down as the suspension activates, that is not the case with this light. For those who wish to use a phone or other portable electronic device while riding, the Intuvia display has a Micro-USB port which can help maintain power (tapping into the huge capacity of the dual-battery setup) and this could be used to charge an even bright headlight if you so prefer. The rear suspension design on this bike isn’t as fancy as some of the mountain bikes I have been testing, which travel more vertically vs. in an ark, but I didn’t notice much kickback on the chain. I think this design was chosen to maximize space in the central triangle for the batteries to mount (especially on the smaller frame size). There’s plenty of room for the fenders, even with the suspension, and I like that both shocks can be compression adjusted and locked for smooth riding, when you want to reduce bobbing or if you weigh more. Big thanks to Chris Nolte from Propel Bikes in Brooklyn for taking me out with two Delite models, to compare back to back. We got soaking wet but the bikes did fine and their fenders worked perfectly. Also, I want to thank Riese & Müller for partnering with me on this post, making the travel and accommodations possible by paying a service fee for me to conduct reviews. I strive to be as objective and thorough as possible here on EBR and always welcome feedback in the open comments and forum, with such a fancy ebike like this, it’s easy to be excited but I have tried to present the trade-offs with noise and a higher price. R&M is sold exclusively through dealers and they are pretty selective about which shops to partner with so I feel like you also get a nice test-ride and fitting experience as well as support for the comprehensive two-year warranty from Bosch. One closing thought here, the company originally referred to the Delite 25 as the Delite GT Signature, so if you see that naming, keep in mind that it’s the same ebike :)
Pros:
- Despite being a special edition model, the Delite 25 is still being offered in three frame sizes so you can ensure that it fits well and actually rides comfortably
- Riese & Müller are known for optimizing their electric bikes for comfort and handling with suspended designs, the Delite model is one of the only full-suspension ebikes with a suspended rear rack that I have seen on the market and this provides protection for your gear
- The bike looks amazing, despite having two battery packs, the rear rack, and two bottle attachments, it still feels streamlined and sporty, I love that the battery and motor weight is positioned centrally and suspended for improved balance and handling, it rides like a lightweight motorcycle vs. a stiff bicycle
- The Fox air suspension can be “sagged” and adjusted to suite your body weight for better performance and it uses hardened Kashima coating on the stanchions for smoother travel and increased durability (this is a component I normally see on premium mountain bikes)
- Both fenders are attached at three points vs. just two which reduces rattling, the 65 mm width of these fenders ensures maximum coverage given the wider 2.4″ tires and the front fender comes way down to keep your feet and shins dry
- The dark Signature Black Gloss color scheme helps the motor casing, battery boxes, and wires all blend in but you still get integrated lights (with side window blades on the headlight) and reflective tires so you won’t disappear in the night, it feels like a safer bike this way and the headlight is sprung so it won’t be bouncing up and down when the suspension is active but still points where you steer vs. some that are mounted to the head tube directly
- Sometimes rear racks are attached with bolts or a single tube on the seat post which can come loose or get bumped out of position, the custom rack that R&M developed for the Delite feels very solid and provides excellent side support for attaching pannier bags which won’t rub on the tire or flap around
- I like that you get a premium folding lock with this ebike, and that it uses the same key as the battery packs! This saves space on your keychain and makes interacting with all of the systems just a little bit simpler, I would still probably carry some cables to secure the wheels and saddle like this
- The Bosch Performance Line CX motor is one of my favorites, it offers high torque output which allows for quicker starts and will be more capable of moving this heavier 68.3 lb bike (most city style ebikes are in the 50 to 55 lb range but don’t offer full suspension, two batteries, or a rear rack like the Delite 25)
- The suspension on this bike is top of the line, both are air and offer compression adjust with lockout so you can set them up for your body weight (plus cargo) and use lockout to make the bike more efficient on hard smooth surfaces if you want
- Bosch is a leader in ebike drive systems and their sensors are smart enough to reduce power when you shift gears, this is really nice considering that the Di2 electronic drivetrain is so quick, my experience was smooth and I felt like I could focus more on riding vs. thinking about how the motor would interact with the 11 gears
- The Bosch Performance Line motors provide pedal support up to 120 RPM without fading and this means you can simply pedal faster to get more speed vs. having to shift frequently
- Ergon makes some of the nicest ergonomic grips and saddles I have tested and you get a performance oriented setup here that is solid but still comfortable, the grips lock so you won’t have issues with them spinning or twisting over time, even with heavy use, and they are narrower than fully ergonomic designs so you can ride with gloves
- Given the heavy weight of this bike and range of sizes, I think hydraulic disc brakes were the perfect choice (and these are some of the nicest ones I have seen from Shimano with heat sinks on the calipers!), you can adjust the brake levers to pull closer if you wear gloves or have smaller hands and the adjustment can be made realtime without any tools
- The high volume tires improve comfort, provide stability, and help to spread out the increased weight of this bike + cargo, the Schwalbe Super Moto-X have a puncture resistant lining so you shouldn’t have as much of an issue with frequent flats (still, check the PSI regularly and avoid thorns and other sharp objects)
- Front and rear thru-axles with longer Boost hub spacing and wider 40 mm rims provide stiffness and a sturdier bracing angle to the spokes which supports the larger wheels and tires, heavier weight of the bike, and higher top speeds
- You get a faster 4 Amp battery charger that can fill both batteries from a single port on the bike, making it more convenient, and when in use, the bike controller drains both batteries evenly to reduce wear, the batteries can be removed for charging individually or safe keeping as well (store in a cool, dry location to maximize their life cycles)
- The Bosch Intuvia display panel is excellent, it’s one of my favorites because you can remove it easily for protection, it has an integrated Micro-USB port for charging portable electronics, it’s large and easy to read, and the button pad that you use to interact with it is easy to reach and clicks consistently, this display also shows both battery charge levels and the gear you are in since the Delite 25 uses electronic shifting
Cons:
- Priced at ~$11k, this is definitely one of the more expensive electric bikes I have ever reviewed… but it’s a signed special edition unit from a globally recognized brand with all of the fanciest components, so it makes sense
- Most of the Riese & Müller electric bikes I have tried weigh a bit more than average… the frames are overbuilt and there’s usually additional suspension, that’s definitely true of the Signature model which also has two battery packs (adding ~5.8 lbs) but it’s nice that you can remove the batteries to reduce weight for transport, both wheels have quick release which can also reduce weight or make flat fixes easier
- The stock pedals aren’t my favorite, they won’t cut your shins if you slip off but don’t offer as wide or grippy a platform as I prefer, consider these lightweight Magnesium pedals from Wellgo
- The Bosch Performance Line motors are responsive and powerful but also produce more whirring noise at high speed, the chainring is smaller than normal and spins 2.5x for each crank arm revolution which requires reduction gearing and that adds some friction when you pedal (specifically, if the bike is turned off), it’s not much drag but it is more than systems with a one to one chainring design
- Because this bike is running two batteries and using electronic shifting, I was not sure if the display could be upgraded to the Nyon or COBI system, but a shop in Ottowa Canada called Scooteretti chimed in and said that yes, they are sure that both systems will work, so this isn’t a con anymore :D
- With the smaller frame size, the batteries are positioned pretty close to each other and because they connect in an up-down fashion vs. sliding in from the side, they can be trickier to mount and dismount, you might even bump the cases into each other a bit so take your time and try not to accidentally drop on of the packs because they are ~$900/each to replace
- Riese & Müller build their ebikes to order, which means that you get exactly the parts and size that you want but it also takes a couple of months to ship and arrive from Germany, for someone who is in a rush this could be inconvenient… but they do continuously refine and upgrade parts so you’re always getting the latest and greatest stuff
- It would be nice if this e-bike was offered as a speed pedelec for commuters who want to spend less time riding or just enjoy higher speeds, many of the other Riese & Müller models do offer the Bosch Performance Line Speed but I have heard that the Shimano electronic shifting may not work perfectly with that system
Resources:
dave archer
7 years agoCourt, first of all thank you so much for your website. I visit it on a daily basis. While I typically find little to disagree with in your reviews, I differ more than agree with your review of this R & M bike.
As an owner of the Trek Supercommuter + 8s, the R & M bike is anything but beautiful. For $11K you have a bike with batteries that are not integrated into the frame, and a mix of components that seem to be cobbled together. While the various components of the drivetrain and the brakes etc. are top notch, I struggle to understand why it is not capable of 28 mph. Why build a commuter bike with the range of two batteries (50 M min) and limit it to 20 mph. To commute the potential 50 miles round trip would take almost 3 hours. Really not useful. With my Supercommuter I can ride a steady 25 mph, and with the time taken at intersections, make my 20 mile commute in under an hour each way.
Again, thank you for the all your work to bring these wonderful bikes to your readers.
ReplyDave
Court Rye
7 years agoGreat points Dave! I think they focused on the CX motor because it integrates with the electronic shifting and Shimano does not support Class 3 at this time. In any case, I do really like the Supercommuter too and am glad that you’re enjoying it!
ReplyJoel Beard
7 years agoOver 10k and not a speed pedelec? LOL.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoRiese & Müller offers most of their ebikes with either the Bosch CX or Performance Speed motor but I have heard that the Shimano Di2 electronic shifter may not be compatible with the Intuvia if it’s running the speed motor… so perhaps that was a limitation? I think the CX works well for the heavier build of this bike and gets good range. The price might be more a reflection of the limited edition and fancy parts than how fast it can go. I do like the speed version of the standard Delite, it’s handy for longer commutes and feels comfortable going fast because of the full-suspension design :D
ReplyScooteretti
7 years agoUnder the Cons section you say that you are not if the Nyon display will work with this bike. The Nyon display and Cobi systems are in fact definitely able to work with a dual battery setup such as this.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoFantastic! Thanks for confirming this, I’ll update the item based on your feedback. Feel free to chime in on anything you see in my reviews here, I do my best but you’re an expert and it’s nice to add color and details here :)
ReplyMark Norton-Baker
7 years agoI just took delivery of this bike, I’ve been told the first to arrive in Australia. Well what can I say, its big and heavy and just reminds me of a German tank. The amazing thing is, as soon as I start riding it, the weight just disappears and it rides really really smooth. Even when the motor cuts out at 25km/h it still rides along really well. I’ve installed the Bikespeed-RS tuning dongle which works perfectly with the Di2 from shimano so I can turn off the speed restriction whenever the conditions suit. It’s so well engineered, looks expensive, is expensive (it’s my trade for a car) and I have never seen another bike like it. This looks like it will last a lifetime and therefore I can’t be happier. Oh, I also looked at this dual battery option (not integrated) because I knew I could use the batteries for my Haibike Hard7plus mountain bike, giving me a huge amount of range when I go into the mountains.
Replycourt
7 years agoFantastic! Glad to hear your bike arrived safe and has been meeting your hopes. Sounds like an awesome trade for sitting in a car ;) and I like your point about the non-internal batteries – being swappable on other bikes more easily. They also weigh a bit less and are easier to take off, in my experience. Thanks for the update Mark!
ReplyDavid Cartwright
6 years agoGreat Insight Mark. I wondered what your thoughts were three months in and also what you are using the bike for? I’m also in Aus and was looking for a bike for touring in regional and rural areas…
Reply