Lightweight e-bikes will be trendy in 2024, but the Pinion MGU is also on many people’s wish lists. Here we present you the best Pedelecs of the season.
Ever deeper into the niche: models like the Tern Orox are exciting and versatile. (Source: Screenshot YouTube)
You are not alone in your search for a new e-bike. The bicycle industry is booming and there is still no end in sight. That’s what the official figures say Federal office of statistics (Destatis) clearly. The trend is likely to continue in 2024.
- At the end of 2022, 15.5 percent of all German households had an e-bike (source: Federal Office of Statistics)
- For comparison: in 2017 this share was only 6.1 percent.
- In 2023, e-bikes accounted for almost half of all bicycle sales. (Source: ZIV)
The question is: which bike with a motor to take? The major manufacturers introduce new e-bikes almost every day. After big trade fairs like Eurobike there is a real flood of new products. We filter out the most interesting models for you here; you can find our selection in the gallery below. You can find out what you should pay attention to when buying an eBike below.
Photo gallery
E-bike innovations of the year
E-bike innovations of the year
You can find the ebike innovations for 2024 as well as a selection of accessories in the gallery above. One click takes you to the new products. Please note: Over time, especially after large trade fairs, we will expand this overview. It’s therefore worth checking back often.
Trend 1: Light e-bikes with weaker batteries and motors
What may seem like a step backwards at first glance is actually a real gain: as e-bikes have become increasingly heavier and more powerful in recent years, many people want to have less weight. In 2024, lightweight Pedelecs such as the Cube AMS Hybrid One44, the Stevens E-Getaway, the Roadlite:ON CF 9 LTD from Canyon or the Flyer Upstreet SL will be in vogue.
When fully equipped, the Flyer Upstreet SL weighs significantly less than 20 kilograms. And it’s much easier. (Source: manufacturer)
These Pedelecs look nothing like e-bikes and, at 18 or 12.9 kilograms, weigh significantly less than the also very popular SUV bikes. Clear advantage: When carrying the Pedelecs, for example up or down the stairs, you don’t get out of breath as quickly. And if you’re worried that the narrow batteries won’t provide enough range, you can take precautions with the help of a range extender in the form of a drinking bottle. Only normal bicycles, or as they are called in modern German: “bio-bikes”, offer even less weight.
Trend 2: The Motor Gear Unit (MGU) from Pinion
Since its presentation at Eurobike, the so-called Motor Gearbox Unit from Pinion (English: Motor Gearbox Unit, MGU for short) has been described as a kind of holy grail. The first models with this MGU, such as those from Bulls, Flyer, Tout Terrain or i:SY, will appear in 2024. The Austrian manufacturer Simplon is also contributing a high-quality E-MTB with Pinion gearing.
Looks good, but also costs a hefty sum: Simplon Rapcon Pmax Pinion. (Source: manufacturer)
This connection of engine and transmission under one roof enables particularly smooth (electronic) switching operations. Changing gears while stationary is also possible without any problems. The MGU is also often available in conjunction with a belt drive. This makes the entire unit particularly low-maintenance. The fact that the gearshift and motor are built together in one housing also has a positive effect on the weight distribution and thus on the driving experience. We expect many more e-bikes and S-Pedelecs with Pinion MGU for the 2024 model year
Trend 3: SUV-E-Bikes, Auto-Bikes und Cargo-Bikes
A genuine alternative to the car must offer more than just a shopping basket on the handlebars. E-cargo bikes, also known as e-cargo bikes, transport all of the weekly shopping and chauffeur the children around. Such cargo bikes are available in a wide variety of shapes and designs. They are often found in large cities and metropolitan areas.
If you want to ride an e-bike all year round and want perfect weather protection, you will find manufacturers that offer e-bikes with a roof. Such models are still exotic in Germany, but they could become established in the long term. You can see what such “e-bike cars” look like in the following article. And because e-bikes are becoming increasingly massive and larger, it should be allowed to mount indicators from 2024. However, the federal government continues to rely on the principle of voluntariness when it comes to compulsory helmet use.
Photo gallery
E-bike cars for cycle paths
E-bike cars for cycle paths
Traveling with an e-bike – even with a caravan
Some people only discovered traveling by bike or e-bike during the Corona pandemic. And many have permanently developed a taste for this style of travel. E-bike models with a particularly long range, with two or even three batteries, take away the range anxiety. And many hotels and restaurants have long since adapted to e-bike customers and offer charging options and service.
If you want to take traveling with an e-bike to the extreme, you can take a look at special bicycle caravans or trailers. Admittedly, a bit of pioneering spirit is part of it, especially because German cycle paths are not always designed for such systems.
What you should pay attention to when buying a Pedelec
Almost everyone who is thinking about buying or leasing a bike today also has e-bikes on their radar. But do you also know what you should pay particular attention to when buying a motorized bicycle? What different concepts are there, what are the disadvantages of a front motor and what battery size makes sense? We provide answers to such questions in the following video buying advice.
In the video buying advice we give you lots of tips on what you should pay attention to when buying an e-bike.
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