Test ride: With the Charge Plug, the small manufacturer Charge Bikes from the south-west of England has a visually appealing, sporty urban bike in its range, which we were allowed to take for a few laps through the alleys and streets of Kreuzberg as part of the Berlin Bicycle Show. You can read in our short test whether the driving behavior is convincing in addition to the optics.
The Charge Plug comes in six variants that cover a wide range in many ways: frames made of steel, aluminum or titanium (UK only), single speed, fixed gear or gears, bright or muted colors, prices between €540 and €1.400. However, they all have one concept in common: the clean frame comes with a sporty geometry, while the 42mm wide tires from Maxxis ensure the necessary comfort even in poor road conditions. At the Fahrradschau we looked at the Plug 2 with an aluminum frame, carbon fork, Shimano Claris drive and mechanical disc brakes for €999.
Visually, the Charge Plug 2 is a real eye-catcher. The first thing that stands out is the striking, matt blue powder coating of the frame, fork and even the stem. The bike looks like it was made of one piece - the decals have been pleasantly reserved with the English. Although the few letterings are visible, they are not intrusive. Maxxis skinwall tires give the bike even more visual spice. The processing quality is good - we did not notice any unclean welds or similar defects.
In general, the tires are perhaps what sets the bike apart from the crowd. At 42mm, the Maxxis Roam offer a lot of volume and correspondingly good cushioning if you don't fill them with air to the max. This plus in cushioning and comfort is a blessing in view of the often poor cycle paths and will certainly please those who live in regions where cobblestones are an integral part of the cityscape. When it came to the frame geometry, the engineers in England clearly focused more on modern racing bikes than on comfortable city bikes. So if you like it sporty, the plug is the right place for you.
The remaining equipment of the Charge Plug 2 is designed more for functionality: Even if spoiled sports cyclists will probably turn up their noses at the mention of the Shimano Claris, it must also be said that the majority of riders like the gears for use in the city should suffice. Thanks to two chainrings, you get a wide range and the shifting processes are certainly not as snappy as with Dura-Ace or Ultegra, but still precise and without long chain rattling.
Charge Plug 2: test drive
On our short test laps, the sporty design of the Plug 2 is particularly noticeable: Anyone who owns one or more racing bikes will immediately feel at home on the Charge bike. If you are looking for a comfortable cruiser, you may have to get used to it a bit. The geometry is really good in combination with the wide tires - you get a lot of power on the road and the large volume of the tires reliably absorbs bumps and small potholes and also cuts a really good figure on cobblestones.
The Claris gears from Shimano, which we admittedly were a little skeptical at first, surprised us positively in practice. The shifting processes are sufficiently fast, precise and the operating forces are only slightly higher than with more expensive groupsets. Sure: If you only get Dura-Ace, Super Record or RED on your bike, you won't necessarily be happy with the Claris - but for the intended area of application of the Plug 2, the inexpensive Shimano group is a pragmatic, functional choice that has a positive effect on the price reflects.
We didn't quite warm up to the Promax mechanical disc brakes. Although these always brought us to a standstill reliably, the operating forces are significantly higher than on more expensive counterparts and the braking feel did not completely convince us either. Certainly: The braking power of the Promax brakes is sufficient in most scenarios, but you should not expect the performance and braking feel of significantly more expensive hydraulic disc brakes.
Charge Plug 2: Conclusion
So does the Charge Plug 2 for €999 offer a recommendable overall package? As so often, this question depends heavily on what you are looking for. The bike from the British manufacturer is a sporty companion for the urban jungle of the big cities, which offers a lot of comfort thanks to the generous tire clearance and the wide tires. In any case, the wheel looks like it was made from one piece and with its eye-catching paintwork it is sure to attract a lot of attention.
Pragmatic – this is probably the best way to describe the equipment of the Plug 2. The Shimano Claris drive surprised us positively during our test ride and impressed us with its precise shifting processes, even if they are of course not quite as crisp as with the much more expensive performance groupsets. The only real point of criticism for us are the mechanical disc brakes from Promax: Although they worked without any problems, the operating forces are quite high - the brake calipers can be exchanged for more powerful models for a few euros, so this is definitely not a KO criterion.
All in all, we really liked the Charge Plug 2 - not just visually.