Test ride: The Cologne-based provider Klever Mobility with the powerful rear motor is presenting its Klever X series, an urban e-bike that has many good sides and is convincing both as an S-Pedelec and as a 25er.
With the new Klever X series, e-bike manufacturer Klever Mobility wants to take off in the 2018 model year. The Cologne-based supplier has the backing of a strong mother: Kymco, the two-wheeler giant from Taiwan, which, in addition to producing millions of scooters, handles OEM projects such as the range extender for the BMW i3. Kymco throws an impressive vertical range of manufacture and a lot of know-how into the ring - no wonder that the rear motor of the Klever bikes comes from its own production. This drive variant has gone somewhat out of fashion since Bosch & Co., but has many advantages: Klever's Biactron motor works completely silently and very harmoniously; In addition, there are some special features that Velomotion was able to try out at a press event at the company's headquarters in Cologne.
As one of the first manufacturers, Klever has completely implemented the current regulations for fast e-bikes with the X Speed from the Klever X series. In addition to brake lights and license plate lights, this now also includes a horn; the automatically folding side stand, on the other hand, is fortunately no longer mandatory. In addition, fast pedelecs can now have a total of 4 kilowatts of power - which makes little sense given the possible battery capacity and the limited top speed. Klever uses the new freedom for a 600-watt motor to improve acceleration.
The Klever X Speed easily maintains 45 km/h
Speed pedelecs are known to be motor vehicles, so legally they have more in common with the 50s Vespa than with the bicycle. They compensate for the ban on cycle paths, the obligation to wear helmets and other special features with a higher speed, and this is where the Klever X Speed can particularly excel: After a small "turbo lag" in the first few meters, it kicks off brilliantly and stops even without excessive effort on the part of the driver effortlessly a speed of 45 km/h and more. Experienced cyclists who want to move quickly over long distances will love this e-bike, but beginners and insecure cyclists should keep their hands off it. The speed of the X Speed is regularly underestimated by motorized traffic, so dangerous situations are inevitable.
The Klever X Commuter rolls lightly without friction
Full throttle isn't everything anyway, and Klever's X series has even more to offer - for example the X Commuter. Like the fast model, it is equipped with the eye-catching looped frame, plus a rigid fork and 27,5-inch wheels with Schwalbe tires that absorb very well and have an extremely high grip, which allow for an enormous amount of leaning. A bike that looks faster than it is? Not at all, because the X Commuter offers something that no other e-bike has: above about 27 km/h the motor support is lost, but there is still a residual voltage that takes away any braking resistance from the hub motor.
And since there is no gearing that causes friction, the X Commuter rolls along just as lightly as a normal touring bike, even when there is no motor support. This is ideal for experienced cyclists who always get stuck at the limit of support on normal e-bikes. With this bike you can also ride faster, eliminate the motor support for starting, headwind and climbs and save electricity - which is also necessary in view of the small battery of the standard equipment (360 Wh). The internally called "Beauty Case" battery is also available with 470 and 570 Wh, and an 850 Wh storage unit will soon be added, albeit at a nearly four-digit price. All batteries are backward compatible - so if you own an older Klever model, you can modernize it with a new, large battery.
Klever X series: wide range with lots of connectivity
Klever starts the 2018 model year with various new features. This includes a recuperation function, i.e. energy recovery in "push mode" as soon as you stop pedaling. This is helpful on longer descents, as this engine brake protects the brakes, but in everyday life it means that the bike does not roll as long. The electronics are expanded to include navigation functions and the like, the discreet display on the handlebars can be removed, which makes the bike unusable and is a practical protection against theft.
There are helpful accessories, for example in the form of a quick charger that fills the 470-watt-hour battery in two hours. An interesting variant of the X Commuter is the X Raw, an e-single-speeder with a very reduced design, which at € 3.299 offers the price entry into the X-series. The Commuter costs €300 more, the X Speed costs €4.899 – but then with a 570 Wh battery. For this proud sum, you not only get high-quality technology from the Klever X series, but also excellent design; This includes, for example, routing all the cables inside the steering axle so that only a short cable harness can be seen between the fork head and the down tube. The "diamond-shaped loop" designed by the Karlsruhe design office ARTIFACT can adorn itself with the IF Product Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award. So good taste, confirmed by experts.
Website:
klever-mobility.com
reco says
Hello, I'm also interested in the bike, but I see that the seat post is extremely extended. How tall are YOU? Best regards