They are a current trend topic on the bicycle market: SUV e-bikes. Almost every major manufacturer has at least one trekking model with wide tires on offer for 2022. What characterizes the bikes and why are they currently in such high demand?
Similar to the sport utility vehicles (SUV) in the car sector, the abbreviation for e-bikes stands for an all-terrain, sporty electric bike. SUV e-bikes, now also called SUB, are a mixture of e-trekking and e-mountain bikes.
“On the one hand, the bikes score with a complete range of equipment for everyday use and touring. On the other hand, through wide tires and suspension, which also allow tours in easy terrain. They are therefore a kind of all-rounder among the wheels", explains Anja Knaus from the Swiss e-bike pioneer Flyer.
Everyday plus for many users
Flyer implements the crossover trend with the "Goroc 2", for example: wide mountain bike tires (29 x 2,6 inches) and a suspension fork with 120 millimeters of suspension travel are installed on an e-trekking bike frame. "Driving pleasure and off-road traction have been improved without sacrificing everyday usability' said Knaus. Of particular note is the "Goroc X" from Flyer, which rightly took first place in the Velomotion Readers Choice in the SUV E-Bikes 2022 category.
The bike dream, a small manufacturer from Baden-Württemberg, the wide tire option has long been a trump card: "In the touring bike sector, where our company roots lie, wider tires are standard in order to have good traction on many surfaces. We transferred this idea to our e-bikes from the start to make them interesting for many users.", explains Managing Director Stefan Stiener. Therefore, he is not surprised that other manufacturers are now joining the idea.
Mountain bike suitable for everyday use or …
But why not take an e-mountain bike that rolls on wide tires by default? E-mountain bikes are designed as off-road sports equipment and therefore have deficits in everyday suitability. Fixed lighting or mudguards, for example, cannot simply be retrofitted. "If you want to have everything firmly installed from the start so that the bike can also be used in autumn and winter and still looks good, you can reach for the e-SUV bike", describes Matthias Rückerl from the manufacturer Haibike, who has added this category to its wide range of E-MTBs.
Those responsible at the manufacturer Riese & Müller also recognized the trend a long time ago. Many of the bikes from Darmstadt are available in the GX equipment option with coarsely profiled tires, which show their advantages off-road as well as in rain and colder temperatures. Even bikes that are suitable for a higher payload and are considered cargo bikes, such as the "Multicharger", are available with wide, profiled tires. However, these models also symbolize the other advantages of the SUV e-bike: large batteries and powerful motors. "This enables a long range and thus longer tours in the field. In addition, it increases the fun of riding, especially if you are planning an off-road tour with longer climbs“, says Jörg Matheis from Giant & Mueller.
... all-terrain city bike
But you shouldn't just see SUV bikes as a variety of mountain bikes, you have to think of them from the other direction: the step-through bikes known from the city area, i.e. bikes with a low step-through, are more suitable for off-road use. One example is the Cannondale Tesoro Neo X1. "The design makes it much easier to get on. However, as city bikes, these bikes were previously only found in everyday traffic and were not suitable for off-road excursions. Due to the wider tires, tours on forest paths or gravel roads are also possible without any problems, which significantly increases the range of use“, explains Daniel Häberle from Cannondale.
Since the battery is usually integrated into the down tube, it is more voluminous. "This also has a technical advantage: the stability of the frame is improved and the bike is easier to ride off-road“, explains Antje Geyer from the drive manufacturer Brose. As another reason for the growing popularity of the bikes, she cites the look. “The analogy here is very clear with the cars, which continue to show increasing popularity: it looks sporty and ready for adventure and it captures the spirit of the times", so Geyer.
SUV e-bike - simply an all-rounder?
The Cologne brand BULLS inspires both the Velomotion editorial team and the readers of ours with its Iconic EVO TR 2 readers choice. In the latter, the Iconic came in 3rd place and our editors also gave the SUV e-bike from BULLS an overall rating of very good and awarded the bike the Velomotion seal of approval in the e-bike SUV and tour category.
Manufacturer Stevens has even created its own bike category called "E-Crossover". The range includes eight completely different models. "There are full-suspension mountain bikes next to city step-throughs. As different as the frame shape is, two things are identical: the wide tires and the full equipment with luggage rack, light and mudguards., justifies Jacob von Hacht from Stevens the new category. Trekking bikes with 29-inch tires or full suspension bikes with lights and luggage racks are no longer the exception, they are now trendy.
So that smaller wheel manufacturers can also benefit from the trend, Markenimporter Brass Beater For this season, for example, he has put his focus on the SUV bike area with the concept bike. "For this season, we have expanded our platform concept to include the SUV e-bike segment, because bikes are very popular.", confirms Dennis Schömburg from Messingschlager. Bicycle manufacturers with small development departments can put together their own SUV e-bike based on the Messingschlager frame. Only the desired components such as handlebars, saddle, grips or tires have to be selected. The importer even offers its own tool, the part finder, which can be used to select suitable accessories. Namely, the aftermarket will grow with more options in this area: tire manufacturers Schwalbe e.g. B. is launching its own tire for e-SUV bikes for the 2022 season, the “Al Grounder”.
High entry trike
The development team of the recumbent bike manufacturer pursued the SUV idea from another direction HP Velotechnik: The manufactory from Kriftel offers trikes, i.e. recumbent tricycles, that have a higher seat. "The SUV feeling with a better overview of the road traffic becomes an SUT feeling' says spokesman Alexander Kraft with a smile. "It's also easier to get on and off, which makes the bikes extremely interesting for older people or people with restricted mobility." Since the wheels can be configured individually, an off-road E variant is also possible.
As strong as the parallels between SUV e-bikes and cars may seem, there are two general differences: First, off-road trips on two or three wheels are legal. And secondly, e-bikes can still be pedaled home with an empty battery.
Pictures and text from pressedienst- Fahrrad.de
Find here the best SUV e-bikes from the model year 2022:
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