Will this take up a lot of space on the road?

No more than any other bike you pass in the bike lane!

How does a Riese & Muller compare to other e-bikes?

Honestly, there isn't really a comparison to be made - Riese & Muller are literally the best e-bikes on the market. It's like comparing any other car to a Land Rover. Now that urban cycling is taking off, we're seeing more and more e-bikes on the streets ferrying people all over the place, but most were designed for use in cities with paved roads and bike paths. Riese & Muller has achieved the pinnacle of e-bikes in speccing theirs with full-suspension GT and GX options, meaning you can take them off-road - on dirt track, mountain roads, even forested trails. They're armed to the teeth with every luxury item you could ever think of - Magura hydraulic disc brakes, Thudbuster or dropper seatposts, internal gear hubs, Gates belt drives, blindingly bright Supernova and Busch & Muller lighting systems, and the absolute best cockpit control computer systems. They're intuitive and built to last.

What is an internal gear hub?

In Europe, a bike with an internal gear hub is what makes it a definitive city bike. Because the chain isn’t derailed up and down a set of external cogs (using a derailleur), the chain will never fall off again, and best of all, the chain can be covered so you can wear whatever you want. The gears are sealed inside the rear hub and they hold a tune two times longer than a derailleur, minimizing tune-ups and allowing you to store the bike outside throughout the winter problem-free.

What is a belt drive?

Belt drives have been developed over the last 30 years for use in racing engines and motorcycles. They are a band of nylon teeth held together with a series of carbon fibre cords, paired with alloy chainrings and stainless-steel cogs. They've recently made the jump to bikes because they're nearly silent, don't require lube (and are much more winter-proof as a result), don't rust or get jammed with debris, and last for up to 30,000km of riding before needing replacement. We don't see them often on North American bikes because they can't be used with external derailleurs, only internal hubs or crank-based gearboxes.

Can I store it outside?

Of course. But if you are storing it outside during the winter, we strongly recommend going with the Vario or Rohloff internal hubs over an external-gear Touring derailleur, as they're built for year-round use and keep maintenance costs to a minimum. Should you have your heart set on a derailleur Riese & Muller, be sure to pick up a Bike Parka to keep it covered from ice and snow.

Does the battery lock to the bike?

Yep. That’s one expensive chunk of Lithium Ion. Frame-mounted batteries lock on to the down-tube and only you can remove them with the key provided. Internal frame batteries are built into the bike, so no need to worry!

How long does it take to charge the battery?

It takes about five hours to charge a single battery from flat to full, and twice as long if you have a dual battery system on your Riese & Muller. The batteries don't have memory so there is no problem if you only charge the battery a little bit, halfway, or whatever. You’ll get over 1000 complete charges, which is typically 5+ years of use before a replacement is required.

Is the unit serviceable?

You bet it is. For years the e-assist market was dominated by small fly-by-night companies with good ideas and no balance sheet. The consumer took all the risk and were often left with technical assistance phone numbers that no longer worked. Riese & Muller partner with Bosch, a huge player in the e-bike market – and they are sophisticated, which means they are updatable, diagnosable, and if something does break, fundamentally repairable.

What's the lifetime on the battery?

On average you will get about 18,000-20,000 miles from the battery before it needs to be replaced.

This is expensive! Will it get stolen?

Estimates are that over 90% of bicycle theft is tied to cash-for-drugs (unfortunately) and most bike losses are due to inferior or cheap locks. Make sure you buy a good ABUS U-lock or a chain and your bike will be safe. 

What’s the warranty?

For the original owner, Riese & Muller offers a two-year warranty for manufacturer defects on frame and fork, five years for frame / swingarm breakage, and two years on the battery. Does not include wear and tear.