To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Riese & Muller. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Riese & Muller products.
Have you ever heard of the movie “The Long Way Around”? In this movie, two friends embark on a trip across the entire continent of Africa. One of their objectives is to find a motorcycle capable of such a feat. If I were to pick a bicycle rather than a motorcycle for the trip, I would surely consider the Riese & Muller Supercharger GX Rohloff HS. This ebike is pretty serious about staying in for the long haul. From the integrated racks, front air suspension, dual battery setup, and extremely low maintenance and reliable motor and Rohloff drivetrain, this bike is ready to roll. This does come at a a cost though, since this is a purpose built ebike with super high end parts and 2 batteries, the MSRP is $8,759. It comes in 3 sizes, a 46cm, 49cm, and 53cm, but the one we are testing today is the 49cm with an upgraded Kiox display (instead of the Intuvia display) and it weighed 67.1lbs. For what it is, it is somewhat lightweight, but it is still a heavier ebike, due to the 2 batteries, heavier Rohloff drivetrain, and included accessories. Most of that weight is centered nicely, and there is a lot of comfort here to go around. For example, I love Schwalbe Rock Razor tires, these are a higher volume 27.5” x 2.35” so you get more traction, float, and comfort. These are also tubeless ready and have puncture protection which is nice. You also get Ergon locking grips with dual hand positions as well as an Ergon saddle. On top of the 100mm travel suspension fork in the front, a Thud Buster short travel suspension seat post is included as well! The luxury continues with the integrated headlight with windows, rear light that acts as a brake light, and wide plastic fenders in the front and rear with extra support arms to reduce rattling. It is almost as if they thought of everything, there is a set of bottle cage bosses here and even a separate special mounting point for a Fabric water bottle. Mounted behind the seat post, the bike comes with an ABUS folding lock and a key card to get matching keys for anything else you might want to add. The included racks on the front and rear are great here, but I would caution to be careful when steering with a load on the front since it could swing side to side. There is just so much more included here, like the electric integrated horn, kickstand that is mounted away from the pedals to eliminate pedal lock, quick release on both the front and back wheel, rear view mirror, and internally routed cables. Some kit out their bike, but this one is pretty much ready to go with all of it included!
Driving this specific bike is the Bosch Performance Line Speed motor. It offers up to 63nm of torque and can support up to 28mph assisted riding. Very fast and very fun! I love this kind of speed for commuting scenarios but really don’t mind the limited 20 mph top speed of the Bosch Performance Line CX motor that you can get on the different R&M models. I usually hover around 15 mph when riding off road and tend to go slower if I have a loaded rear rack, and especially if I have a loaded front rack. That’s actually one of the question marks on this bike for me. The front rack isn’t rated to carry much more than a sleeping pad, sleeping bag, maybe a bag with some toiletries or a six pack of drinks. It turns as you steer the bike vs. the head-tube mounted racks on true cargo bikes and that feels intuitive but opens up the possibility of dumping items and slowing down your steering response time. The things I really appreciate about the front rack is that it is color matched to the frame and has three mounting points for the included Supernova headlight. The light points where you steer, won’t be at risk of being blocked by gear in the front rack (unless it has straps or cloth hanging down which would be dangerous because it could get caught in the front wheel). The backlight is also rack-mounted and powered by the ebike batteries. But getting back to the motor, it’s extremely responsive, positions weight low and center on the frame for improved handling, and is one of the more reliable products out there compared to other mid-drives according to the shops I visit and customers I speak with occasionally. The Rohloff transmission here allows for a smooth belt drive. That means no chain bouncing, no chain drops, and cleaner pants. And if the bike happens to tip over onto the drivetrain side, you won’t have to worry about a derailleur getting bent, maintenance intervals tend to be further apart with IGH vs. cassettes. The drawback to this system is increased price, weight, and noise… at least for the first 50+ miles of use until it breaks in. Unlike the NuVinci CVT, the Rohloff 14-gear speedhub cannot be shifted fluidly while under pressure. You can shift at standstill, however, which makes hills and heavy loads easier to deal with. If you’re riding in foreign territory, last-minute stops can leave you in a high gear and the downshifting feature really comes in handy. And the brakes on this beast are very impressive as well, high-end Magura MT4 hydraulic disc with 180mm rotors. In my opinion, part of what makes this electric bike trail worthy is the 100mm air suspension fork with 15mm thru-axle, tapered head tube, and knobby tires. But not all of your riding will be off-road and that’s where lockout comes in handy, you can reduce bob easily with the clicker and dial in other elements such as the air pressure and rebound for optimal efficiency and comfort.
Powering the Supercharger GX Rohloff HS are two of the latest Bosch Powertube 500 battery packs, offering a total of nearly one kilowatt hour capacity. It’s enough juice to reach almost 200 miles (322 km) if you use the lowest Eco setting and aren’t climbing a lot, or something like 55+ miles (89 km) range in Turbo. With 25% more capacity than the older Powerpack 400’s, but the same as the most recent Powerpack 500’s, each one of these new Powertube packs weighs ~6.03 lbs. This is 0.5 lbs more than the plastic encased Powerpack, and there’s no integrated handle. You still get a 5-bar LED charge indicator built into the end, and you can still charge the packs independently when removed from the frame… even use the older chargers. Bosch has a 2amp travel charger and the included faster 4amp charger. I like how even the nicer charger is compact and weighs under two pounds. I really like how Bosch and Riese & Müller have designed the battery insertion and removal sequence here. The packs don’t just flop out, there’s a two-step process whereby the pack is unlocked with a key and then sprung outward a little bit. The second step requires you to press a plastic button to unclip all the way, it ensures that the upside-down mounted pack won’t just fall out when unlocked.
The display included is the Bosch Intuvia, but I love that you have an option to upgrade to the Kiox display for $118. Since our review bike had the Kiox display, I will go over that in this review. If you did want some info on the Intuvia, I made a short video that covers the actual operation of the Intuvia here along with the official manuals. The Kiox has a color LCD with Gorilla glass screen, an active Micro-USB charging port, connects via magnets and is removable, but cannot be adjusted for glare because it mounts in a fixed position over the stem. In terms of actual use, the Kiox provides more detailed menu readouts; including 1% stepped battery percentage vs. a five-bar infographic with wider 20% steps. Its color readout provides a fast and comfortable way to interpret assist levels (grey for Off, blue for Eco, green for Tour, yellow/gold for Sport, and red for Turbo). The screen on the Kiox is smaller than Purion, Intuvia, and Nyon, but the colors make it easier to interpret without having to squint and actually read. Interacting with the display involves some button clicking. You begin by charging and mounting the battery, then press the power button on the display unit. The Kiox has power and lights buttons positioned just below the screen. Most interactions are done through a remote button pad, which is mounted within reach of the left grip. This pad has a +, -, left, right, select, and walk mode button. It boots up in the second view, showing your assist level with a swirling color infographic. different parts of the swirl line fill based on how much power you exert as a rider and how much power the motor exerts, when active. You can arrow left or right to change screen readouts, and I especially like the ones towards the right, which show a range estimate based on remaining battery capacity and the last mile of riding. The display now loops around, so you can keep clicking right and end up back at the first screen, which shows a settings menu. This menu is very deep with options around units (mph vs. km/h), backlight brightness, and Bluetooth accessories including a Bosch eBike app. For now, Bluetooth seems to be reserved for use with aftermarket heart rate monitors and I have not fully tested it. I’m reviewing this product in North America, but Europe is a bit ahead with the release and apps. The two markets differ slightly and I’d recommend working with your local dealer to learn more and get help with software updates. Okay, all things considered, the Kiox is an excellent display unit. It brings a lot of improvements over Purion and Intuvia but probably does contribute to a higher price point. For more information and pictures of the Kiox, I’ve created a guide in the EBR forums here.
R&M products offer the comfort, performance, and reliability of a likeness we usually only see in automobiles. This is the sort of e-bike that you can rely upon, and the puncture resistant tires, reliable Bosch mid-drive, and belt driven Rohloff system only add to that. There are a few tradeoffs I should go over quickly though. The bike is on the heavier side and pricier side as most will notice. I also noticed that if you have the front rack loaded, the gear would go side to side as you steer, so make sure the load is secure for tight turns. Speaking of which, a super tight turn to the right could smash the water bottle if you have it mounted on the side. This bike is really purpose built for a certain rider in mind, so probably the biggest tradeoff for some is the lead time to get a hold of one. A lot of stores try to stock them, but if you want something a little more dialed in, you may be waiting as they have to be built in Germany first then shipped to you.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Riese & Müller forum and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- This is a hardtail model but the front suspension is air which reduces weight and offers sag adjustability as well as compression and rebound, you get a Thudbuster ST suspension seat post as well as fatter 2.35″ tires with increased air volume for stability and vibration dampening
- The dual integrated battery setup is only available in high-step diamond frames, but R&M still offer three sizes, and this type of frame tends to be stiffer and lighter than mid-step or step-thru designs
- In addition to multiple frame sizes, you also get two color choices and a internally geared Rohloff hub
- Bosch Performance Line Speed makes this a Class 3 operation which is great for commuting, you still get solid range because of the dual Bosch Powertube 500 watt hour batteries (a total of ~1,000 watt hours)
- Great utility and safety features included stock: wide plastic fenders, integrated LED lights, a horn rather than a bell, sturdy rear rack with adjustable rubber bungee straps and a folding ABUS Bordo 6000 lock keyed-alike!
- As a bicycle commuter myself, safety is a big issue in high-traffic areas and this bike does a good job keeping you visible with those lights, the reflectors on the suspension fork are a great addition too!
- Hydraulic disc brakes with large 180mm rotors (front and rear) provide the stopping power you need for a heavier bike 67.1lbs that could be carrying extra cargo and going faster than normal
- Battery and motor weight are kept low and center which improves balance and handling, I like that the batteries are positioned inside the frame tubing for added protection and extra space for bottle cage mounts
- The front end of the bike is stiff and sturdy feeling thanks to a tapered head tube, mountain bike suspension fork and 15mm thru-axle, when you lock the front fork out it rides stiff and solid which is great for flat hard surfaces at speed
- In many ways, this bike is setup like a trail or mountain bike (longer handlebars, longer travel 100mm suspension, fatter tires) and it is off-road capable as long as you don’t require knobby tires for deep traction, you could always swap the tires depending on the season or type of riding
- Great kickstand, it stows securely and doesn’t rattle but is also adjustable so you can extend or shorten it to suit the load on your rack when parking
- I love the extra little touches here like the extra side mounting position for a water bottle, Ergon locking grips with dual hand positions, and quick release on both wheels
- Bosch makes awesome motors and their Performance Line Speed product offers some of the best power and response that I have experienced, it also detects shifting and tries to reduce power for less mashing and drivetrain wear
- I love having a removable display panel and battery packs because it allows you to keep them away from extreme temperatures or harsh environments (like public bike racks), the display offers onboard charging with a 5 Volt Micro-USB port on the right side
- The Block Lock headset keeps you from oversteering and bumping the headlight on the downtube (which would bend it and scratch the frame), the headlight is frame-mounted and won’t rattle or flicker the way that a suspension arch mounted light would
- I love how fast the electronic shifting is, if you watch the video, you can see I can drop 3 gears in a matter of split seconds
- The Bosch Performance Line motors can support up to 120 pedal strokes per minute, this is faster (and feels stronger at high RPM) than most of the other motors I have tested, it means you can spin fast to gain speed vs. having to shift gears, it’s more satisfying and easier on my knees in this sense
Cons:
- The plastic battery slot covers seem durable and look alright, but were tricky to seat at times, I had to align them just right and push pretty hard at times (perhaps it just takes practice?)
- It’s very heavy for a hardtail, the reinforced frame and second battery pack add at least seven more pounds (3.2 kg)
- The suspension seat post will will raise the minimum saddle height by a few inches which could make mounting difficult for riders with shorter legs, you could always swap it for a rigid post
- Riese & Müller builds each bike to order so it takes around six weeks for processing and shipping (though Fully Charged in London says they keep ~20 in stock for faster orders), you might not get to experience the exact bike you want before purchase
- This bike is on the expensive side but it does come with a two year drivetrain warranty, five years on the frame, and R&M have a great reputation
- For as nice as the battery integration, the motor isn’t as hidden on this ebike, they’re using the stock oval cover design that isn’t tilted up and merged with the frame tubing like some Moustache, Haibike and Bulls models
- If you have that water bottle on there and take a hard turn or are reversing the bike, the rack could come up against it and smash it a bit, so do be mindful of that
Resources:
Jan Jakob
6 years agoAre you perchance referring to the “Long Way Round”, a documentary where Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman travel to New York by going east from the UK or the Long Way Down, where they go from the UK to Cape Town?
ReplyCourt
6 years agoIndeed I am :D have you seen it as well? What an amazing adventure…
ReplyRich
6 years agoI’m sure he was ;) I’m actually planning a similar adventure but on an e-bike… fingers crossed
ReplyJoe Green
6 years agoThe video is not working. Thanks for the great review though!
ReplyCourt
6 years agoGreat catch, Joe! I was uploading before a flight and ran out of time… Just finished re-uploading and changed the video link. Should be good now :D
ReplyLukas
6 years agoHi! The video does not seem to work?
ReplyCourt
6 years agoThanks for letting me know, Lukas! I ran out of time uploading it before catching a flight and had to wait until I was back to try again. It should be working now :D
ReplyColin white
6 years agoThis bike is a load of rubbish and the price is disgusting. I bought spares of eBay 1500 watt 48 volt 20 amp made battery my self the bike in total cost £460 is brake indicator lights mirror horn and more.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoThanks for your feedback Colin! Sounds like you made something cool and are enjoying the money savings. My goal here is to cover a range of bikes and be even-handed about it. R&M sell some of the most expensive highest-end products that deliver style and brand appeal as well as utility. It’s nice to have choices, and one of the best ways to save is to build your own. Ride safe out there, feel free to post pictures and updates about your electric bike in the EBR DIY Forums :)
ReplyDavid Bonn
6 years agoJust for reference and in the interest of full disclosure, I own a 2017 R&M Charger with dual batteries and a Rohloff hub. I consider it a superb adventure bike and have taken it on some amazing adventures.
However, no bike is perfect and the Supercharger appears to have some of the same limitations and compromises that the Charger suffers from.
The biggest issue I’ve had with the bike is that the 180mm brake rotors are inadequate for such a heavily loaded bike on steep roads or trails. I’ve upgraded the front rotor on my Charger to a 203mm and it became a completely different bike. The next time I take the bike in for service (next week) I’m upgrading the rear rotor as well.
The front and rear rack choices are at best mediocre and at worst hilariously inadequate for such a high-end bike, especially one obviously targeted as an adventure and touring bike. I’d like to see a Tubus rear rack on this bike and either a low-rider style pannier rack or a tombstone-style demiporteur rack on the front. Given the weight distribution on the bike fresh from the shop a front-load bias carry system should work superbly with this bike.
The long wheelbase and chainstay length make this bike super-stable and very forgiving. However, that very same long wheelbase make the bike a bit ponderous on a narrow trail.
The PowerTube batteries look cool and stealthy but from a practical standpoint if you are on a long tour and need to carry extra batteries the traditional Bosch PowerPack batteries carry better in a pannier and weigh and cost less.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoI agree with every point you’ve made here, David. Good work, thanks for laying it out and describing your experience and the trade-offs. I hope they upgrade the brake rotor size and racks especially, those two points really align with my experience and feelings as well :)
ReplyM. Afren
5 years agoA week or so ago, I bought myself this e-bike but thanks to the rainy weather we’ve been having here in the UK, since the purchase, I have only ridden it thrice. It certainly is a beautiful bike. However, I have a big safety issue with it. Let me start by saying that I have been riding bikes (including e-bikes) regularly for over 40 years. This safety issue has never happened to me with any other bike I have ever owned. The issue is that when I make a turn at a relatively high speed, the pedal hits the ground scaring the hell out of me. However, I do not consider this to be a design fault/issue even though the motor sits low and horizontally and not at an ascending angle such as on other e-bikes like Bulls or Specialized. I also do not believe the frame to be too small for me. I am 177 cm and frame size 49 is what is suggested for riders of my height.
To address the above issue, I think the rider needs to take a number of crucial steps, namely, replacing the crank arms that come with the bike which measure 170mm to shorter ones, ideally 155 or 160mm ones. I have been advised that the Q factor of crank arms has no bearing on the actual length of crank arms. Secondly, you need to train yourself to stop pedaling when going through sharp turns and to have the outside foot down and finally, to replace the pedals which come with the bike with narrower ones. Until you take ALL the above three steps, I strongly advise you NOT to take corners with the inside foot down or take this bike off a smooth tarmac. Be aware that the critical number is the distance from the pedals and the ground when the pedal is at the bottom of the stroke. I measured this on my bike and this, with the current crank arms and pedals, is only 5 cm!
Another very annoying shortcoming of this bike is the two plastic covers of the battery slots. On my ride, there was a fairly strong wind coming from my right and the top tube cover kept opening. Finally, on an expensive bike like this, why or why can’t you control your front suspension from your handlebar?!
Mercifully, the dealer which I bought the bike from (Fully Charged based here in London, England) have been exceptionally helpful to me and guiding me through all these issues. Even with the aforementioned issues, I am absolutely delighted with my purchase.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoWonderful update! Thanks for sharing your experience with us, and good for Fully Charged! I got to visit them years ago and it seemed like they were doing great business… partnering with other shops and building great spaces :)
ReplyAfren
5 years agoYes, I watched your the review of the bike you did in London. It was a cold, rainy day like it’s been these past few days. I agree with you. Fully Charged with Ben at the helm appear to me to be a very forward looking organisation. I wish them the very best and hopefully, I will get to meet up with Ben and some of his staff this coming Tuesday.
On the subject of lack of ground clearance of this bike, I was wondering whether, to your knowledge and that of those familiar with Riese & Müller Supercharger GX Rohloff, it would be possible to change the tyres from 27.5″ to 29″?
pat mullen
5 years agoHi, i have just bought the new super charger and share your concerns especially the battery covers re: the control of suspension note the kiox updates for 2020 will be introducing suspension control on the fox mtb set up, link covers new look Bosch look 2020 plus you tube has all the latest from the resent Bosch show in Germany.
ReplyAfren
5 years agoThe bike is most definitely not flawless. As I said before, very poor ground clearance, a suspension which very annoyingly cannot be controlled from the cockpit, saddle which although is a personal thing but for a bike which meant to be a long distance cruiser leaves a lot to be desired, tires which are more appropriate for off road riding than the type of riding you’re likely to be doing on this bike, i.e. on smooth tarmac. Also, you have to have 20/20 vision to be able to read some of the data/information on your Kiox whilst riding such as the battery level.
But why do I still love the bike with all its flaws? Firstly, it’s a gorgeous looking beast, secondly, it has one heck of a motor on it and thirdly and perhaps above all, two powerful batteries. Add to these, excellent brakes, good front fork and more gears than you know what to do with or ever need.
Norman robinson
5 years agoHi, did they manage to fix the problem of the battery covers coming off? I find it quite a problem. Thanks, Norma
ReplyNorman Robinson
5 years agoDid they sort out the battery covers for you? I have that problem. Thanks
ReplyBoswell Bear
5 years agoFinding the correct size is always tricky. However, as an aid, how tall are you?
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Boswell! Great question, I mention this occasionally in my reviews in order to help people out with sizing. I’m 5’9″ with a longer 31″ inseam. I weigh about 135lbs. I also call out which size of bike I’m testing on, and this one was a medium 49cm model.
Replyalex
4 years agoHow do I turn off headlight on Superdelite?
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Alex, it depends on two things… which display you have, and how the firmware is setup. If you have Kiox (like the review bike), there is a dedicated light button just below the LCD screen, next to the power button. It’s a similar setup if you have the Intuvia display. If however, you have the smaller Purion display panel, there is not a dedicated light button, so you need to hold the + button for a few seconds. Now, you may try this and find that the light stays on all of the time. This is often the case with Class 3 speed pedelecs (if you have the Bosch Performance Line Speed motor). In that case, you may need to ask a dealer to enable manual lights for the buttons to work. The European companies sometimes purposefully force lights to be on for safety on their products. I hope this helps you out!
Reply