Test: With the Riese & Müller Supercharger GX rohloff HS, we tested an extremely versatile S-Pedelec. Double battery, Rohloff gears and front luggage rack make you curious to see if the unusual overall concept works. We have tested this over almost 1.000 km.
Sufficient battery power, even on long tours, is what every e-biker wants. This wish has come true with the new Riese & Müller Supercharger GX Rohloff HS. A total of 1000 Wh (in the dual battery version) feed the Bosch Performance Line Speed drive. A few dual battery bikes have been on the market since last season, but the Supercharger is likely to be one of the first where both energy stores are stowed in the frame: the down tube and top tube provide the necessary space.
However, the double battery is not the only special feature of the Supercharger that makes the Riese & Müller S-Pedelec stand out from the crowd. The very well coordinated and almost maintenance-free Rohloff 14-speed hub gear with belt drive offers a huge range and the right gear for every situation. Thanks to the integrated luggage racks at the front and rear, the Supercharger can also be "abused" as an off-road pack mule.
Riese & Müller Supercharger GX rohloff HS: Equipment suitable for off-road use
| frame | R&M Supercharger |
| suspension fork | Suntour Aion 100mm |
| Drive | Bosch PerformanceSpeed |
| Rechargeable battery | 1000Wh |
| Wheels | Novatec / Rohloff hub | Alex MD40 rim |
| Tubes | Schwalbe Rock Razor 2,35" |
| derailleur | Rohloff speed hub 14-speed |
| Gear levers | Rohloff Gripshift |
| Crank | R&M 170mm |
| Front derailleur | |
| Brake | Magura MT4 |
| Seat post | Cane Creek Thudbuster ST |
| Saddle | Ergon SMC4-L Sport Gel |
| Stem | FSA afterburner |
| Links | FSA afterburner |
In addition, the high-quality spring seat post and the Suntour Aion suspension fork with their 100 mm spring travel ensure sufficient comfort on all asphalt roads as well as on gravel roads and forest paths. The very wide Rock Razor Fat tires from Schwalbe and the well-functioning Magura MT4 disc brakes make a further contribution to this.
Two batteries, a Rohloff gear hub, thick tires and two luggage racks – of course, this equipment is primarily reflected in the weight: the Riese & Müller Supercharger tips the scales at a whopping 31kg. When maneuvering by hand in the bike room or when carrying it, it is responsible for one or the other bead of sweat, but during the ride it was not felt either on the road or off-road. On the contrary: the S-Pedelec lay extremely well and quietly on the ground. This is definitely also due to the very stiff frame and of course the Bosch Performance Speed motor.
The range is enormous for an S-Pedelec. At the highest turbo level, i.e. with full support up to 45 km/h, you can easily cover 80 kilometers and more - mind you, including around 800 meters in altitude. At lower levels, 200 kilometers and more are no problem. Here you can also choose a tour without knowing if and when you can recharge somewhere. Here, the two batteries actually deliver almost twice the range.
The rear and front luggage racks also have sufficient capacity to accommodate all the utensils for a one-day or multi-day tour. The lighting from Busch and Müller turns night into day, so that you can continue driving here as long as the battery or your legs still have enough reserves. Another great gimmick is the Abus folding lock attached to the frame. So the bike lock is always in the right place and thanks to the well thought-out bracket nothing rattles. Also, the key to take out the batteries is the same as for the bike lock. This means that only one key needs to be carried.
I've covered almost 1.000 kilometers with the Supercharger in a wide variety of weather and road conditions. I always felt like I was sitting on the right bike. No matter whether it was the short way to the bakery or the forest and root path to my local mountain.
The only thing that didn't convince me XNUMX% was the Rohloff hub gear. Although it cannot be surpassed in terms of robustness and low maintenance, it is a very big disadvantage for me if it is not possible to shift gears while pedaling. So you either have to select the right gear before the hill or you have to stop pedaling briefly while driving uphill, which means that speed is lost in order to change gears. Like any hub gear, the Rohloff Speedhub seems to feel more at home in moderate terrain than in the low mountain ranges with the constant ups and downs.
In terms of price, the Riese & Müller Supercharger GX rohloff HS is more in the upper segment even among the S-Pedelecs. In our equipment variant, almost 7.000 euros are due, which tears a considerable hole in the wallet. Of course, the two batteries and the Rohloff gears have their price - but for me personally it would be a few euros too much.
