E-bike tour and everyday life: Test: HNF-Nicolai XD2 Urban – An S-Pedelec for commuter use

Test: Our Velomotion test commuter Stefan was allowed to dash 2 km to work and back in the spring months of April and May with the HNF-Nicolai XD20 Urban in unmistakable neon orange for eight weeks in wind and weather. While he was able to let it run downhill rather relaxed on the way there, he had to climb 350 meters in altitude after work and put the HNF-Nicolai XD2 under a lot of strain. So he covered a good 800 kilometers and at the end of this experience he is more than positively impressed with how uncomplicated and comfortable commuting with an S-Pedelec instead of a car can be - especially when a bike is as much fun as the HNF-Nicolai XD2 Urban .

When I saw the bike for the first time and lifted it off the bike stand, I was blown away by the color and the design. Well, this bright neon orange isn't for everyone - I, on the other hand, really like it. And, judging by the (envious) looks, also the passers-by. Plus, this color makes sense considering you're zipping through town and across the country at 45km/h. I'm guaranteed not to be overlooked on this vehicle.

HNF-Nicolai XD2 Urban – an S-Pedelec for the eye

What also immediately catches the eye is the clean look of the HNF-Nicolai XD2 Urban. First, let's take a look at the small Bosch Purion display. It is ideal for use with the left hand, contains all the necessary information and integrates perfectly with the handlebars. Personally, I find the latter very good because the handlebars don't look so overloaded and the bike retains its sporty character. The removable battery (500 Wh) disappears completely in the down tube of the frame. This special feature makes the HNF-Nicolai XD2 Urban look almost like an ordinary bicycle to the untrained eye at first glance. Then there's the Supernova Illumination, which can also only be seen at second glance. The internally routed trains are particularly noticeable because they are not conspicuous.

I am enthusiastic about the extremely powerful Bosch Performance Line Speed ​​drive, which does its job "quietly", i.e. almost noiselessly, and catapults you out of the starting blocks with 75Nm. Of course, the maintenance-free belt drive and the stepless NuVinci Optimized N380SE hub gear also make a contribution to this. I like the fact that you can shift gears and shift gears even under full load without any cracking or creaking noises, as would be the case with a conventional chain drive.

The HNF-Nicolai XD2 Urban in a practical test

On my way to work, I usually used the full power, i.e. turbo, of the Bosch drive. It was possible to drive to work and back (39 km), but not more, otherwise I would have had to recharge in the office. However, there are three other driving modes available, which reduce the power accordingly and consequently increase the mileage. In the lowest driving mode, a range of around 120 km should be possible. For me, however, this is only a theoretical value, because I definitely do not intend to cruise along the Danube at 15 km/h with an S-Pedelec, but want to get from A to B quickly - in my case from Gotteszell to Deggendorf and back again. This corresponds to a one-way distance of exactly 19,6 km. The way there and back are topographically very different. If you only have to climb around 50 meters in the morning, it's a good 300 on the way back. In turbo mode, that means 30 minutes there and almost 40 minutes back; a driving time that experience has shown that a car would take no more than ten minutes in rush-hour traffic. A good time for me, considering that you don't even break a sweat and that you can safely skip the shower before work.

If you take into account the pure consumption costs for electricity or fuel, I used electricity for around three euros during my 20 days of use, while I would have had to fill up for around 80 euros - not to mention the savings in CO2 emissions and the considerable increase in personal well-being.

HNF-Nicolai XD2 Urban - all-round high-quality equipment

The HNF-Nicolai XD2 Urban gives you a safe driving experience at any speed. The Rock Shox Recon Gold suspension fork with its 120 mm travel simply irons out almost all manhole covers, curbs and potholes, to which the voluminous Super Moto X tires from Schwalbe also play their part. This massive tire alone absorbs a lot of bumps and offers first-class grip on dry and wet roads. If the obstacle is too big, the Magura MT4 brakes will bring you to a safe stop at any time. The Wingee mudguards do their job properly and also offer the option of attaching transport bags.