Test Stromer ST5: The Swiss company Stromer, headquartered in Oberwangen near Bern, has been known for its innovative and fast e-bikes for several years. The strengths of the company lie in the in-house development of mechanical and electrical components, software and complete system integration. Equipped with a new SYNO Sport motor, which has an output of 850 watts and a torque of 48 Nm, the Stromer marches ahead with plenty of steam. In addition, dhe Stromer ST5 S-Pedelec is the only Swiss model to have a sport mode, which delivers even more power at the touch of a button.
Sufficient battery power and a powerful motor for long tours, that's what every e-biker wants. Both wishes come true with the Stromer ST5. A whopping 983 Wh battery capacity, which should bring a range of 60 to 180 kilometers, is already an announcement. But is that enough to turn the Stromer ST5 into a perfect e-bike? In addition to the powerful engine with the sport mode for even more power at the push of a button, the ST5 offers other features. For example, a coordinated frame geometry for 27,5-inch wheels that are equipped with extremely grippy high-performance Cycle-E tires that were developed together with Pirelli. Optimized connectivity and a well thought-out design with practically no visible cables. The battery ejection works by touch. The Stromer ST5 can be unlocked or locked via Bluetooth - without a key or PIN. But how does the Stromer ST5 drive? Velomotion tested it for you.
Equipped with a new SYNO Sport Motor rear wheel hub motor with a whopping 850 watts of power and a torque of 48 Nm, the Stromer should march ahead. 48 Nm doesn't sound like much for an e-bike, but since the motor is installed in the rear wheel, the power is transmitted directly to the rear wheel without any detours. You can feel it from the first turn of the pedals; the Stromer pushes properly. A difference compared to mid-engines, which like to call up twice the torque, but still provide less thrust. The ST60 is said to have a range of 180 to 5 kilometers. Whether the specified range is feasible? More on that below.
The frame of the Stromer ST5 is made of aluminum and looks very tidy. The battery and cables are completely integrated into the frame. The cockpit has also been adjusted so that the lines are not visible. The touch control is integrated flush in the top tube. The fork of the Stromer ST5 is also an aluminum version. Thanks to the newly designed handlebars, the cockpit is remarkably clean; trains are not even visible on the brake handles. If the plastic cover with the ST5 symbol is removed from the stem, you will see a small screw thread that you can use to attach a smartphone holder. The smartphone can be paired with the system, which gives you a second display that is not only larger, but also better in the driver's field of vision.
The power button is on the underside of the top tube – below the touch display, so to speak. The Stromer is controlled via the specially developed touch display or the small control element on the left of the handlebars. The display shows, among other things, speed, support levels, battery charge level or Bluetooth connectivity. The touch control element worked very well in the test. The Stromer can be locked and unlocked via the Bluetooth function of a smartphone. It locks automatically when the rider moves away from the e-bike or unlocks again when approaching the ST5. As a result, the Stromer is always perfectly secured. Likewise the battery. A key is no longer required for this. The battery is secured electronically and by touch.
Of course, an electronic 11-speed Shimano Di2 gear system should not be missing from the clean overall package. This switched very cleanly and harmoniously in the test. Despite a 52 chainring, even steep climbs can be mastered quickly. It's very impressive to be chasing up a long, six to eight percent incline at more than 35 km/h. Mainly because other S-Pedelecs don't manage more than 20 km/h on the same mountain. The brakes of the Stromer come from TRP and are painted in exclusive red on the ST5. Of course, the ST5 should also come to a quick and safe stop at a permissible top speed of 45 km/h – even uphill if necessary.
As with all models, Stromer integrates a daytime running light into the head tube - a beautiful look and an important safety feature so that oncoming traffic can recognize you at an early stage. In addition to the daytime running lights, a Supernova lighting system is installed on the handlebars. The Supernova M99 Pro front light turns night almost into day. The Supernova M99 Taillight rear light provides enough light with its five LEDs. In addition, the license plate is illuminated, as required by law. Of course, an S-Pedelec should not be without a side mirror. Although this is not visually appealing to most people, it gives security when changing direction and at higher speeds. After just a few minutes, the driver has become accustomed to the mirror view and has come to appreciate it very much. A lowerable Vario seat post makes it easy to get on and off the bike.
How can the Stromer ST5 be driven now? At first it took a little getting used to due to the exclusively developed Pirelli Cycle-e tires. Since the tires are very voluminous, you are a bit reluctant to really lean into the curves. But once that point and the feeling of the tires working against you are overcome, there is no need to worry that the tire won't last. On the contrary - the tire literally sticks to the road. During the test we drove a few hundred kilometers with the ST5. Stromer claims to be able to travel 60 to 180 kilometers. We didn't manage 180 km on any test drive; three digits is in it, but then the driver has to limit himself to level 1 and a maximum of 30 km/h and a lot of personal effort. But honestly, anyone who drives an S-Pedelec wants to get from A to B as quickly as possible - and the ST5 is very good at that. In sport mode, the Stromer accelerates to 45 km/h in just a few seconds. Even steeper climbs can easily be flown over at 30 km/h. In the mix of level 3 and sport mode, we got a range of about 50 kilometers in the hills of the Bavarian Forest. In relation to the average speed of well over 35 km/h, this is a very respectable value.
What we missed on the ST5 is a suspension fork. The aluminum fork offers hardly any comfort. Only the Pirelli tires compensate for bumps in the road. The keyless system doesn't seem to be that mature either. Although you no longer need a key and locking and unlocking always worked perfectly, if you remove the battery to attach the bike to the rear carrier, the lid, which is opened on the side, can no longer be closed. This means that the lid has to be attached with a cable tie or Velcro because the locking mechanism only works with electricity or when the battery is installed.
Anyone who has opted for the Stromer ST5 has to dig deep into their pockets. The ST9499 costs a whopping 5 euros. In return you get a very powerful motor, a clean design and lots of driving fun. Also ideal for commuters and those who want to can also consider leisurely, longer or sporty and therefore somewhat shorter tours. In any case, a rail for attaching a pannier would be desirable for all users.
Website: www.stromerbike.com
