E-Performance: Are you looking for a new e-bike? And would you like to take a city tour of Cologne? If both apply to you, you should stop by the Ampler showroom in Cologne's old town - and if not, you can of course continue reading.
It's not an ordinary bike shop, which has been on Severinstraße for some time, just a few hundred meters from the banks of the Rhine (near Kranhäuser). Here Ampler, the e-bike provider from Estonia, recently opened its second showroom in Germany after Berlin. A logical step, because Germany is the Baltic company's most important market. Until now, anyone who was interested had to get in touch with an "Ampler Ambassador" if they wanted to try out a bike from the brand. With the Cologne store, you can now also get advice and test drive in a pleasant atmosphere in the West.
Especially in view of the competitors that are widespread in this country, the Ampler models seem to have fallen out of time. Where central motors and suspension dominate the market, the slim, single-color touring bikes with rigid forks appear almost "retro", but their driving characteristics are convincing. The Ampler touring bike draws considerable torque from the compact rear motor, which ensures brisk acceleration and plenty of support on hills up to around 6% incline. And even if the invisibly integrated battery only delivers 336 watt hours, the super-light bikes have enough stamina for several days in city traffic or a long bike tour without long climbs.
Weighty argument: the minimum weight
In our practical tests, the extremely low weight of the Ampler models was particularly noticeable - a maximum of 17 kilos with pedals is a weighty argument, especially in the big city, where the bike is preferred to be parked in the basement or even in the apartment. And last but not least, the ten kilograms less mass compared to conventional pedelecs benefits the power-to-weight ratio, which is clearly noticeable both uphill and when starting off. We never missed a suspension fork either; the combination of 42 tires and aluminum forks proved to be surprisingly comfortable. And as for the lack of any controls on the handlebars: This is where perhaps the typical Estonian digital “thinking” comes into play. Why use buttons when you can also use an app? And why a display when everyone has a smartphone with them these days?
All of this arouses curiosity, and this is where the location in Cologne's Severinstraße comes into play. In the showroom, which radiates Nordic coolness with light wood, you can take in the models placed on pedestals, with the practically invisible drive technology being particularly fascinating. How is that going? For anyone who wants to find outen, Showroom Assistant Nina keeps a small fleet of test bikes ready. "We try to have every model in every frame size" - not really a problem, since Ampler only offers a total of four Aexecutions. The sporty Curt with a slightly more stretched sitting position and carbon fork is available as a single-speed bike or with derailleur gears and is particularly light at around 14 kilos; Stout and Stellar are diamond and trapezium frame versions of the comfortable ten-speed touring bike.
Spontaneously for a test drive
A test drive does not even need to be booked in advance; If the bikes you want are available, you can set off on a self-discovery tour without much bureaucracy. And couples would come again and again to tour Cologne together, says Nina. There is probably no more relaxed way of testing an e-bike – with enough time and without a dealer behind you who is dependent on selling the tested bike.
At Ampler, on the other hand, test and sales bikes are clearly separated; those who return enthusiastically to the showroom put the test bike down again and then order their own brand new model, which is delivered to their home by a forwarding agency. Alternatively, there is the option of taking the bike of your choice with you – subject to availability in the store, of course.
Ampler Showroom: point of contact for service and maintenance
However, there is much more going on in Severinstraße than advice and sales. The showroom is connected to a spacious workshop in which maintenance and repair work is carried out - be it on the bicycle technology or the electronics. Should the battery ever need to be replaced after tens of thousands of kilometres, the bike does not have to be sent to the factory in Estonia for this – bicycle mechatronics specialist Jerome is happy to take on the job. The highlight of the workshop is of course the practical washing box. Having something like this in the bicycle cellar is certainly the dream of many bicycle enthusiasts...
The stay in the workshop gives reason to chat about the philosophy of Ampler. As far as the hardware is concerned, the company relies on long product runtimes; Even after ten years, spare parts should still be available. The app, in turn, is constantly being further developed. In terms of possible component replacements, the concept of the hub motor in the rear wheel is a good thing anyway. A defective mid-engine is to be regarded as an economic total loss; a hub motor, on the other hand, can be replaced comparatively easily. This sustainability is another aspect that makes the company from Estonia and its products very likeable - and makes you curious about a visit to the showroom. If you want to be sure that you can ride the bike of your dreams, you should contact the Ampler homepage make an appointment, but it's also worth stopping by spontaneously - maybe your favorite model is there in the warehouse. But be careful: the store is closed from December 20th to January 4th; if you are interested in a bike, you should stop by quickly. Almost all models are currently available, and those who order now will receive their new Ampler at the beginning of January.
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