E-bikes for the city in the test: 8 recommendations for stress-free cycling

	1. VanMoof S5 9.1 out of 10 points	2. Canyon Roadlite: ON 7 8.5 out of 10 points	3. primal delusion top dog 8.5 out of 10 points	4. Gocycle G4 7.9 out of 10 points	5. Cowboy C4 / C4 ST 7.9 out of 10 points	6. Fiido X 7.8 out of 10 points	7. Super73 ZX 7.8 out of 10 points	8.Legend Monza 7.2 out of 10 points
To offer*	to offer ❯	to offer ❯	to offer ❯	to offer ❯	to offer ❯	to offer ❯	to offer ❯	to offer ❯
positive	An e-bike as if made from one piece Extensive equipment Quiet engine boost button Innovative halo rings	Quietly Motor and battery detachable No engine resistance from 25 km/h Slight spring action of the fork	Innovative frame almost noiseless easy	Well thought out concept Very good folding mechanism Quiet, powerful engine traction control Cleanly encapsulated Battery changeable	Design from a single source Low-maintenance belt drive Powerful, quiet engine High driving comfort in the city Removable battery	Extravagant design Innovative battery protection Comparatively cheap Growing driving experience Powerful motor with torque sensor immobilizer Good to use without an app	Mighty cool performance Enormous driving pleasure Open driving modes for private areas Comfortable saddle	Good value for money Harmonic drive Powerful brakes Successful ergonomics
negative	The battery cannot be removed – the entire bike has to be plugged into the socket No display anymore (preliminary test result)	The battery and drive unit do not sit perfectly in the frame Only 80 percent pre-assembled upon delivery	engine rather weak built-in battery no torque sensor	A fourth gear is missing Many functions only via app Light cannot be switched off manually	No gear shift Not suitable for steep climbs No suspension	No chain guard Rear derailleur adjusted on delivery No lightweight Stands folded on top of the battery Odometer resets when turned off	Very difficult Short range cable routing Mechanical disc brakes only	engine pushes on Difficult to handle when folded cable routing
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One can argue about the sense and nonsense of electrified road bikes. But anyone who has ever gone shopping stress-free and without sweating with the e-city bike will love it. A look at the e-bike innovations from 2022 shows one thing very clearly: in addition to universally usable e-bikes such as the Riese & Müller Charger 4 (test report), which, like in the automotive world, are called SUVs, you also have e-city Bikes in trend.

That’s hardly surprising. Because the everyday bikes are practical and environmentally friendly at the same time, sometimes even foldable. On many routes they can replace the car. And all the e-bikes we tested are definitely more fun than riding the bus.

The range of e-city bikes is enormous, from folding bikes to all-rounders

You can already see it on the test field: e-bikes for the city can look very different. Each model has its individual advantages and disadvantages, which we will go into in the linked, detailed test report.

In the video purchase advice, we tell you briefly and concisely what you should definitely pay attention to when buying an e-bike.

That’s why we refrain from awarding the title “Best City E-Bike” or something similar at this point. In our opinion, there can be no such thing as the “best summer song” or the “most beautiful picture”. The colleagues from Stiftung Warentest see it differently and have chosen a clear test winner in a comparison test of SUV wheels, which are also well suited for driving in the city.

You should also know that as a technology magazine, we also look at the bikes from a technical perspective. However, we do not only pay attention to app connection, GPS location and on-board computer. Rather, we rode all e-bikes extensively, sometimes for weeks under everyday conditions and as part of very detailed and adventurous tours. If this is exceptionally not the case, we expressly point this out in the test report. Here are our 8 recommendations for buying an e-city bike in 2022.

Almost a classic: VanMoof S5 versus Cowboy C4

Tech-savvy people will have heard of these two e-bikes a long time ago. VanMoof from the Netherlands and Cowboy from Belgium have been competing for the trendiest e-bike for the city for years. They go their own way when it comes to design and technology.

	1. Cowboy C4 / C4 ST	2. VanMoof S5
To offer*	to offer ❯	to offer ❯
positive	Design from a single source Low-maintenance belt drive Powerful, quiet engine High driving comfort in the city Removable battery	An e-bike as if made from one piece Extensive equipment Quiet engine boost button Innovative halo rings
negative	No gear shift Not suitable for steep climbs No suspension	The battery cannot be removed – the entire bike has to be plugged into the socket No display anymore (preliminary test result)
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Show product properties❯

Cowboy presented the C4 model in spring 2021. The sister model is the Cowboy C4 ST with a step-through frame. Nothing has leaked out about a facelift for 2022.

The manufacturer throws the low-maintenance belt drive and a very good smartphone integration including wireless charging option into the ring as the biggest advantages. Biggest disadvantage in our eyes: There is no gear shift. Interested parties from Stuttgart or Austria should therefore give this bike a wide berth. Saving tip: The predecessor Cowboy C3 is still available at a reduced price.

VanMoof has skipped the S4 and is introducing the new VanMoof S5 in 2022, which we were able to test drive extensively as part of the world premiere. Since we have not yet been able to test it in everyday life and therefore cannot provide any precise information on range and reliability, it appears here without a rating. Just like Cowboy, there’s a lowered-frame model called the A5. The VanMoof also offers integrated LED light and a smartphone holder.

Technically, the city bike also comes up trumps with automatic e-shifting, which has been revised in the right places compared to the VanMoof S3. There are also numerous anti-theft solutions and the addictive boost button. You won’t find a suspension on either the Cowboy or the VanMoof – not untypical for city bikes.

The stylish ones: primal madness versus Super73 ZX

There is no easier way to get around town on an e-bike than with the Super 73 ZX. And anyone who accidentally presses the wrong switch via the paired smartphone is suddenly traveling at almost 50 km/h. Oops! Don’t worry: in mode 1, the e-bike complies with German legal requirements.

If you want to attract attention but at the same time don’t want to sit on the banana saddle of the Super73, you should take a look at the Urwahn Platzhirsch. In any case, we clicked our tongues when we took a closer look at the 3D-printed, distinctively bent frame. And the bike also has a few technical features to offer.

Foldable e-bikes for commuters

When testing the Gocycle G4, we were surprised at how mature a folding e-bike can be. (The report of the predecessor Gocycle GX, which is still available in parts, can be found here.) The ergonomics correspond to those of a full-blown e-bike, you make no compromises. This also applies to the price, because the highly developed Gocycle is not a bargain. The bike fits in the trunk of a car, boat or mobile home.

Gocycle G4

✓ Well thought out concept

✓ Very good folding mechanism

✓ Quiet, powerful engine

to offer

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Legend Monza

✓ Good value for money

✓ Harmonic drive

✓ Powerful brakes

to offer

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Fiido X

✓ Extravagant design

✓ Innovative battery protection

✓ Comparatively cheap

to offer

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The Fiido X also looks chic. It costs a fraction of what GoCycle charges. The ugly initial difficulties (there were isolated reports of broken frames) have been resolved. The Fiido test bike made available to us made a very stable and high-quality impression, even if not everything was perfect. We advise against buying the previous model, the Fiido D11. In our opinion, the Legend Monza is a good mix of still affordable and good quality. The bike has high-quality components and we liked it surprisingly well, apart from the folding mechanism. Our price-performance winner.

The sporty one with Fazua drive: Canyon Roadlite:ON 7

This e-bike is our insider tip for people who are looking for a sporty e-city bike. The Canyon Roadlite:ON 7 works great for everyday use, for example for a sweat-free commute to work. And on the way back, you can really power yourself out thanks to the innovative and removable Fazua drive. The weight difference to a normal bicycle is not large – ideal when lifting over stairs or in the bike room.

You should keep this in mind when buying an e-bike

Are you planning your first (online) purchase of an e-bike? Is your expertise a bit rusty? No problem – we will help you with our purchase advice and tell you what to look out for when buying an e-bike.