Market/test: Stiftung Warentest tested 15 e-bikes and pedelecs together with test partner ADAC. The test results, with five grades of "poor", caused quite a stir in the bicycle industry. Velomotion takes a critical look at the test and the results.
As in 2014, Stiftung Warentest is once again delighting the cycling world with a test of e-bikes. In the issue published today (June 24, 2016), 15 e-bikes (pedelecs, as the StiWa calls them politically correctly) are evaluated. At a point in the season when stocks have been emptied everywhere, only remaining stock is available and the 2017 models will be presented shortly.
This timing discrepancy affects the tested model from Aldi Nord, which was available exclusively from Aldi in northern Germany in March - a test as a sample without value. Unless one accuses the StiWa of happily adorning itself with one or the other "inadequate" and in this way having found a "victim" that doesn't hurt anyone.
However, it is surprising that with Kettler (Traveller E Tour FL), Stevens (E-Courier Forma) and Pegasus (Premio E8F), three of the best-selling e-bike brands can be found among the defective bikes. It's clear that there's an outcry going through the bicycle industry again; The foundation's test is being talked about everywhere, press releases are coming and going, and sales of the July issue of “test” are soaring. A magazine with 15 e-bikes in the test sells well, but a magazine in which a third of these 15 bikes resoundingly fail the test sells better.
The Stiftung Warentest is known for invoking its neutrality - free of advertising!, as one does not fail to emphasize. But in times of dramatically declining circulation figures, even a neutral foundation is grateful for a few promotional headlines.
Passed the brake test on the Premio E8F at Velomotion!
We at Velomotion also tested many e-bikes in spring 2016 - significantly more: a total of 76 models of all types. For the laboratory tests, we worked together with one of the leading institutes (Velotech). Here, among other things, our brake tests took place on a certified brake test bench.
One of the participants was the Premio E8F from Pegasus, which passed our brake test with flying colours. The Premio E8F is equipped with hydraulic rim brakes from Magura (HS 22). By the way, of the 15 bikes in the StiWa test, 13 were equipped with hydraulic rim brakes from Magura (8 x HS11, 4 x HS 22, 1 x HS 33); the cheap bikes from Aldi and Fischer were equipped with cable rim brakes.
Striking in this context: Where are wheels with disc brakes? There are definitely those in the tested price category (see e.g. Pegasus Opera E8F).
So why, in a test field with 13 almost identical brakes, do two (Pegasus with HS 22 and Stevens with HS 11) not pass the test, while the eleven others score “good” and some “very good”? Very simple answer: "We don't know either." The brakes from Magura are considered the benchmark in the segment of hydraulic rim brakes - there is no better way to prove this statement than with this test field. The effectiveness of a brake is of course subject to certain influences: surface of the rim, brake pads, stiffness of the fork ... otherwise every brake would have exactly the same values, which is obviously not the case.
But what can be said with certainty: any bike (even an e-bike) that is equipped with a properly installed HS 11 or HS 22 will bring any rider to a standstill without much effort. On an e-bike in particular, we would always trust an HS 22 more than a cable brake like the one installed on the Fischer, which passed the test with "satisfactory".
Incidentally, the Pegasus Premio E8F was also in the test field of the Stiftung Warentest in 2014 and was one of only three bikes with the grade "good". According to Pegasus, nothing has changed on the bike since then - only the brakes have been upgraded from HS 11 to HS 22 - amazing, we think!
Defective due to a breaking saddle clamp?
As far as the various material breaks are concerned, which also led to a downgrading to "poor", you also have to shake your head and take the result with caution.
The Kettler Traveler E Tour FL was downgraded to defective because the saddle clamp broke; as well as the Aldi bike. The luggage rack of the Pegasus Premio E8F broke under constant load. The seat post for the fisherman.
A seat post that breaks can have serious consequences, but a seat clamp that breaks will only show up as fine cracks that will probably make the saddle loose; The defect must then be discovered and rectified at the latest. On a test stand, the car is driven on until it breaks hard.
Quite apart from the fact that the StiWa can give a brand a life-threatening blow with such a test result, it must be said that such defects are not commonplace. During testing by StiWa, the wheels are subjected to extreme continuous loads on the test benches that are not necessarily equivalent to driving in practice.
Kettler wants to take legal action against Stiftung Warentest
At Kettler, there is also the fact that the bike in question was still sold under the company name of Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG, which was in insolvency at the time. In the meantime, the new Kettler Alu-Rad GmbH operates under the umbrella of the ZEG purchasing cooperative, which expressly emphasizes that the tested bike did not come from them.
Incidentally, the ZEG is even considering taking legal action against Stiftung Warentest. According to the test description of the product testers, for example, all wheels were loaded with a system weight of 150 kg during the brake test; although ALL wheels with their permissible system weights are (sometimes significantly) lower. In the case of the Kettler, this is 130 kg. Warentest spokeswoman Heike van Laak told the news magazine FOCUS that the e-bikes were deliberately subjected to more than the DIN standard during the test. After all, this corresponds to real conditions.
Whether a bike that has otherwise been tested well in all respects should be rated "poor" because of the alleged defects in the brakes and/or because of a broken luggage rack is also a point worth discussing.
Only driving experience can finally evaluate a bike
In the course of the e-bike tests carried out by Velomotion, well over 10.000 "real" practical kilometers were covered. We did not experience a single material defect or damage. Not even a flat tire was recorded - the only two flat tires were the result of roller tests in the laboratory - further proof that the conditions on the test bench do not always correspond to "real life".
We at Velomotion are convinced that a qualified statement about the quality of every bicycle and e-bike is impossible without a practical test by an experienced editor. Only those who have already sat on hundreds of different bikes know what is important, how a bike will behave in decisive situations and has the competence to push a bike to its limits.
In our practical tests, we deliberately sent a 100-kilo rider down a steep descent with each wheel. Speeds of 80 km/h were also reached with city e-bikes. Each wheel could be safely brought to a standstill!
Criticism of the selection of the test pedelecs
It's a pity, by the way, that there wasn't a single bike with a Shimano drive in the Stiftung Warentest test field. The drive from the Japanese component manufacturer is now widespread and would have done the relevance of the test field good.
In general, the selection of test bikes: at least they have increased to 15 bikes - significantly more than in 2014 at the last test. But why, with the Raleigh Dover and the Kalkhoff Agattu, are you testing two bikes that come from the same company (Derby Cycle), are completely identical and both end up being rated “good”?
Why not a bike with disc brakes? Disc brakes are particularly widespread on e-bikes and where brakes are so blatantly important for the StiWa that bikes are devalued for this reason, one would have wished for at least three or four such bikes in the test for comparison.
The StiWa testers criticized the shifting pause that is necessary when changing gears under load on all bikes - of course, all tested bikes are equipped with a hub gear. The problem is well known, which is why a specialist dealer will always recommend derailleur gears to a customer who will be driving in hilly terrain. Unfortunately, nothing in the test field - this comparison would have been particularly interesting.
By the way, the test winner with a grade of 1,7 is the B8.1 model from the Swiss brand Flyer. At 3.300 euros, the bike is also the most expensive in the test field.
Click here for the big e-bike and pedelec test by Focus and Velomotion