Test: 200 euros for a new bike? In the case of the Stadler Dynabike city bike, this is even possible with fairly high quality and with components that make you sit up and take notice. If you are looking for a solid, simple bike for everyday use, you should read on now - or surf directly to the provider.
Everyday bikes in the lower to middle four-digit euro range? In the age of electric bikes, this is nothing special. Trade and manufacturers are happy, but here and there the awareness that not everyone can or wants to afford it is lost. Whether it's students looking for a cheap bike that doesn't arouse cravings in the bike rack in front of the dormitory, or commuters who need a second bike that's permanently parked outside for the route from the train station to the office: the need for inexpensive, solid material for daily use is unbroken. Of course, no high demands are placed on such a bike - a complex gear shift is just as unnecessary as an expensive, super bright lighting system. But where else can you find something like this other than on the used market?
For example at Stadler. The bike dealer based in Regensburg, which has 20 huge branches nationwide, currently offers a bike with its Dynabike brand that can hardly be found cheaper: 199 Euros the Stadler Dynabike city bike costs in the simplest version without a luggage rack; with front and rear carrier it is 239 euros. This arouses curiosity, especially since the bike makes a solid impression at first glance: the aluminum frame is well made and powder-coated, and the solid metal mudguards are the same colour. Unlike what is usual with cheap bikes, Dynabike uses a modern Ahead handlebar stem and a real patent seat post. And finally, the bike has two details that are completely unusual in this price range: an eccentric bottom bracket for chain tensioning and the "Automatix" two-speed hub from SRAM. The latter retails for 90 euros each, which doesn't even get you a complete wheel, let alone a whole bike. How can that be? The strike price of just under 400 euros, which can be read on the Stadler website, shows that this bike was once offered at a significantly higher price and is therefore officially a special offer.
The hub of the Stadler Dynabike city bike shifts at around 17 km/h via a centrifugal clutch; at 36% the gear jump is quite large. It works quite well in everyday use, although there is a fairly large drop in cadence when shifting gears. A clear advantage of the simple shifting system is that it does not require any levers or shifting cables - it couldn't be any tidier. There is also a coaster brake in the hub housing, which will not inspire sporty cyclists, but is a good choice here: The cable-operated Tektro disc brake at the front is not a bit snappy with its simple lever. The brake caliper is mounted on the fork using the IS2000 standard, which is no longer in use today, but this is not a real disadvantage: if you want, you could retrofit a hydraulic brake with an adapter and you wouldn't have to spend 50 euros for it.
Speaking of conversion: while the riding characteristics of the Stadler Dynabike city bike are pleasantly inconspicuous, the angle-adjustable stem is noticeably flexible. Anyone who pulls hard on the handlebars will probably find that unsatisfactory - no problem, Stadler has solid, rigid Ahead stems for less than 20 euros. The LED lighting system doesn't exactly uproot trees and also has the disadvantage that it uses conventional batteries, but it serves its purpose for the time being. The two-legged stand is also not very stable, but you shouldn't forget the price of the complete bike here either. Incidentally, the latter weighs around 15,5 kilos with pedals, which is not too heavy; unlike our test bike, the standard Stadler city bike is equipped with a metal chain guard – also in the same color as the frame, of course. By the way, there is only one frame size, but there are two wheel sizes 26 and 28 inches. Fortunately, there is no suspension fork – that would be of little use in this price range and would only increase the weight.
