That is a quick reply Croxden, thanks!

 

Yeah it seems quite sturdy.

I saw one in a German shop a while ago but than the weather was awful so I could not try it out.

They where fund of the rohloff version too.

Moneywise I think taking the xt, is already a bit over budget.

 

By just feeling/trying to move it the carrier felt sturdy.

I will ask my bike store over here to get me one to try it out.

 

Holland is not that far..... not the 2740km you have done already :-)

Great, you must having fun.

 

Thanks,

Jacos

. I would think the weight limit could be exceeded a bit without problems and can't see why the bike should become unstable. I will have to do a test to find out and reply.

I don't own a Delite, so I'm emminently suited to stick my oar in here

 

I regularly load rear panniers & rack with about 15kgs & wear a 10kg backpack:

My bike is perfectly stable - Until I stop!

 

I've ended up on my backside in the ditch more than once.

Ha, ha, jackhandy, how do you do that?

 

Funny picture!

Just had a nosey about this bike on google although not mucn information about the touring one, Strange rear end but looks like a nice bike. Had thought maybe I would add it to my very short-list of 2 (ktm and haibike) until i saw the price! I cannot quite figure out why the bike costs £2k more than say the haibike? Same motor anyhow... sorry to hijack but interested.

Just had a nosey about this bike on google although not mucn information about the touring one, Strange rear end but looks like a nice bike. Had thought maybe I would add it to my very short-list of 2 (ktm and haibike) until i saw the price! I cannot quite figure out why the bike costs £2k more than say the haibike? Same motor anyhow... sorry to hijack but interested.

 

Wissy, which bikes are you comparing? I don't find them that dearer if you have the same components.

So you might know and I would be delited to hear.

 

Kaboom tish !

Wissy, which bikes are you comparing? I don't find them that dearer if you have the same components.

Comparing a KTM macina type trekking bike whatever the model name is now and a haibike trekking.. Again with same battery (400) and a bosch motor?

 

Unless I looked at the wrong riese & muller.....? Trekking model of theirs over £4k? No Rohloff or anything is there either...

The mountain is 3.999 euros or £3.233 according to my exchange machine.

 

Much better bike though, worth the extra, all top quality bits. Go for one.

I have now done 2000 miles on the Delite and can offer a some of my thoughts on how the bike has lived up to the high spec, cost & expectations.

 

 

I read on the forum of other bikes having problems, some minor, some not so minor within this mileage. The Delite has just performed without me having to do anything other than to keep it clean. Taking notice of what Hattie said once on chains, I just wipe it with a rag to keep it clean, the links are as flexible as they were when new but it and the chain tensioner are as clean as could be, not clogged up with old oil and dirt as my previous derailleur bike would have been.

 

 

The one thing that disappointed me was the saddle, a Selle Royal. Due the design construction and my sometimes my clumsy dismounting I have managed to get several tears in the surface of the gelled surface. I replaced it with an Aldi saddle, also Selle Royal, it managed five rides before a tear appeared and was so uncomfortable I patched up the original and replaced it. I can't blame the bike for this but myself and have now put on a Brooks Swift and have to run it in before comparisons can be made. It might take a while.

 

 

So what else? I have had the screen of the Invutia display has switched its self off a few times, the power keeps going and all the controls will operate but to get the display back I need to switch it off and switch it on again. Typical computer thing, I don't know if this has happened to other Intuvia displays others have, perhaps it's just for me.

 

 

Otherwise the bike is brilliant and just what I needed, the tyres, wheels, suspension and gears perform just great, but next week another forum member will have a good test of it when he calls in and no doubt will give his honest opinion of it on the forum, being able to compare it with the two bikes he currently uses. But from my point of view well worth the purchase price.

but next week another forum member will have a good test of it when he calls in and no doubt will give his honest opinion of it on the forum, being able to compare it with the two bikes he currently uses.

 

The other member is me and I've now had my ride on the Delite.

 

Firstly, thanks to Croxden - aka Mike - for the offer, he is not the least bit precious about his £4K+ bike and told me to give it a good test.

 

We rode a shortened version of one of his regular routes, Mike was on my AVE and I was on his Delite.

 

The ride was mostly on quiet lanes, but also took in a glorious mile-long climb on a forest track.

 

My over-riding impression is the stability and comfort of the Delite.

 

Quality suspension both ends makes a huge difference to the riding experience.

 

I'm a slow descender, but hit nearly 30mph on the Delite - it felt rock solid.

 

Small imperfections which would have pitched my Rose off line made no difference to Mike's bike.

 

Similarly, on the slow climb through the forest the bike sailed serenely over ruts and bumps which would have deflected lesser machinery.

 

I liked the stability, but also the comfort - you are not jostled and jarred on a Delite in the way you are even on a 29er such as my Rose.

 

Mike's bike has the Rohloff gear hub, which is about the best (a lot of) money can buy.

 

It performed faultlessly, but the twist grip change requires a bit of effort and I wouldn't need all 14 gears.

 

As Mike has pointed out, speccing lowly derailleurs brings the price down to well under £4K.

 

I was a bit disappointed by the new Bosch motor, no more grunt than my Rose, and my impression was that it used more battery power.

 

The motor was also noisier than my Rose.

 

I have two Bosch bikes and both seem noisier some days than others.

 

On this evidence the new Bosch motor is no better than the old one, although it and the battery do look neater.

 

I liked the handlebars on the Delite, which are swept back a little.

 

The excellent stability could lead to ponderous steering, but the bike changed direction plenty fast enough for me.

 

Carrying luggage can be a problem with full-suss bikes.

 

Not so with the Delite - it has an integrated rack.

 

Mike uses a trunk bag, but the rack would also take panniers.

 

Full mudguards is another plus point, as is decent integrated lights.

 

For my type of riding, it is the ideal package.

 

If I had to replace the Rose tomorrow, I can't think of a better bike to do it than a Delite Hybrid.

The motor noise is never constant, being a bit quieter these past couple of days. Not a quiet as the AVE though.

. Not a quiet as the AVE though.

 

The AVE is usually quieter than my Rose.

 

Noise seems to be a weak point of most crank drives.

Thanks for the new review.

This week I will probably try the delite. My bikestore is gonna get one, do not know wich version. They only seem to have one bike in Holland for trying it out wich they send to dealers on request.

Hope it will be the derailleur version because thats the one I would buy I think. It seems like a bike to use on daily bases but can easily be used on the forest trails over here where I live.

Hello,

Saturday I did a test ride on a black Delite HS Nuvinci. That is what R&M delivered to the bike store.

Beautiful bike. I tried it out and have to say it is very comfortable.

Did some normal paved road tracks and some forest trails.

I do not want a HS bike but 35km/hr is fun for a while! And than tried it with not going faster then max 25km/hr which is in the forest more than enough I think and okay on the streets too.

The bike feels secure, comfortable, sturdy, powerful and fun!

I am new too e-bikes and what I did not like so much is the noise that the bosch motor makes. It is quite loud. Hard to describe but it is sort of a grinding sound and enough to bring some hesitation here. Especially in the forest when I drove the bike and then put the motor off..........quiet........and motor on........grinding........

It is the most beautiful bike I have seen so far (much nicer in real then from a picture), ideal for what I want but the noise........it was louder also pedalling faster/higher frequenty in eco and tour, which I like and is better for my knees then pedalling with lower frequenty which was quieter.

It is expensive so I wonder if I can live with the noise. Will it be better after a while? The bike store said that a HS bike has no different sound then a non hs e-bike. Tried also a classic bosch motor with derailleur. It was a little quieter in some ways and not. A lot harder on my body/back though missing the rear shocks. Quite a difference.

Like to try also a Flyer with new generation motor to hear the difference.

Anyone have experience?

So I am a little mixed now, like the bike a lot, like the comfort and sturdyness, the way I sit on the bike, very well assembled too, nice big tires but the noise........mmmmm

 

Greetings, Co

Edited July 14, 201411 yr by Jacos

There's thousands of different e-bikes to choose from. Some are totally silent. You can get every speed, power and torque. Why are you focusing on just two bikes?

Thanks for replying.

I sort of like this bike and like to have a sturdy 'trail' bike as well as 'going to work' bike.

There is not so much to try out actually. A lot of 'Holland' bikes though wich are more for city use.

I would like to try rear wheel drive though which seems to be almost silent but there are not many that sell those in a sporty model.

A Panasonic hub-driven bike might suit?

Riese & Muller Delite 2 - continued.

 

The bike has now reached 3000 miles without any problems, well almost no problems.

 

 

I do have an occasional concern when the Intuvia information display does not display any information. The power control, lights and the walk control all work and I discovered on a late return home in the dark that the back light still works, but the information goes out. I am at a loss to why, I have removed it from the bike and in the house switching on and off it may be showing information or not. Weird.

 

 

Apart from that the bike it just keeps going as good as ever. I have adjusted the suspension fore and aft to give a softer ride. Easily done just by turning a rotational dial, don't know why I didn't do earlier. It makes no difference to how it powers or the effort I have to put in, but much smoother over the undulating ground.

 

 

Today the Rohloff hub gear oil was changed as per recommendation, not a difficult task and the kit from Evans Cycles costs only £16.99. This contains flushing oil, lube, a syringe and a new screw plug. Just after this task was completed I rode it without the battery on, and it is even smoother now, the drag, whether it was imaginary or not, seems to have gone. The Rohloff has a running in period, unlike derailleur's that just seems to run out. Never have I managed 3000 miles without something needing attention on my old bikes.

 

 

So a bike that just lets you ride like a normal bike but with the help on the hills we always wanted. Not having to get into the right gear at the beginning of a hill, or squeezing the brakes so you can change gear or any failing's some members have had with theirs.

 

 

I ride country roads, bridle paths and on the Forestry Commission's woodland paths, so a fair mix. No city riding though. It's comfortable, holds the road well, brakes are incredible and it gives confidence when zooming down the steep parts, braking quickly to go into an acute turn. Could not do this on my old stuff. I'm getting quite brave.

 

The extra cost of this bike is now showing results, I am so pleased to have been able to have it and if anyone is thinking of having a bike in this price range, do give it some consideration. It is worth it.

Hi Croxden, what a fantastic report, may I use it on our web pages?

 

I have heard that the Rohloff can take 10,000km before it is perfectly run in! Hence the reason people with Rohloff's keep them for life, transferring them from bike to bike as they go.

 

I see you also have a Birdy, now that's what I call brand loyalty, thanks for your business!

 

On a less pleasant note, Grace still have not paid refunded us for the MX1!! Not your problem of course but so annoying! Riese & Muller are fantastic, no problems and perfect service, we are proud to be working with them.

 

All the best

 

David

Hi Croxden, what a fantastic report, may I use it on our web pages?

 

Yes, use it as you wish, I find that Riese & Muller to be worth the extra asked, and the extra service is a bonus.

Fantastic!

 

Thanks.

 

All the best

 

David

The advice on this forum is to try as many e-bikes as you can to ensure it is right for you.

 

 

So having ordered a Riese & Muller Delite 2, not only not riding one but never even seen one other than a photograph on their web page, I was a little apprehensive when arriving at Onbike's showroom.

 

 

I had no need to worry; the bike looked so good it was a delight to see it. The build quality is exceptional and the component parts being of the best available to suit the design of the bike. R & M's reputation is well deserved. It felt instantly right as soon as I got on, the bike could not have been better if it had been tailor made just for me.

 

 

Certainly it felt different to any other bike I have ridden. I can only explain it is more like a Harley Davidson than a Triumph or Norton and I've never ridden a motor bike, but that is how it seems.

 

 

I did check the Geometry dimensions and compared them with my existing bike and with the Grace MX that preceded it, so it was not a complete gamble.

 

 

I chose to have the Rohloff geared hub, not wanting derailleur or NuVinci and I am so glad. The gear range is great, better than my 3 x 8 derailleur on my non powered bike, but of course it is costly and a decision not taken lightly, but for me worth it.

 

 

It is Bosch mid motored so nothing different to most others but it is the Performance version and therefore has more torque. A test I did was a steep hill, about 20%, last ridden with the Grace MX. I thought at the time a little lower ratio would have been welcome as it was hard going. With the Delite I put it into fourth gear and high power and just breezed up. Whether it was a lower gear or the higher torque I don't know, maybe a touch of both but it made riding a real pleasure.

 

 

I have been wondering if it free wheeled as well as my other bikes, but the high winds have made it difficult to ascertain this. However, following a non powered rider in a sheltered lane I noticed he kept peddling, I had to brake. That was pleasing.

 

 

Changing gear with the twist grip takes a little getting used to, additional problem for me is that it works in the opposite direction to the NuVinci and in my old befuddled mind I can get it wrong when changing hurriedly when in panic mode. I hope to adapt. Gears change without any drama, having to ease off the pressure when changing down, changing up not always necessary. Always a smooth change and the control is clearly numbered.

 

 

I chose to have 26" wheels although 29" are also available. I have ridden 29er's and found I preferred the smaller size, seemingly a little more manovable on the tracks.

 

 

There is an active pivot swing arm to ensure optimal road contact along with air-shock front dampers. Hydraulic disc brakes stop the bike readily and the Schwalbe Marathon Deluxe tyres ensure a good ride on hard and rough surfaces.

 

 

Almost reaching 200 miles I thought I had better write something, especially having had someone give a nudge (thanks RobF).

 

 

So far, I can only conclude that, if funds permit and you want quality, you can't go wrong with this bike. Money can be saved by choosing to have derailleur gears instead of Rohloff, and of course NuVinci are also available.

great review, with hindsight i'd say the review after two months or so of owning a pedelecmay be more significant. other than that the only downside of rohloff's are that their so damn good (one ends up wanting to put one on every bike one has)

It seems to have taken a while to get the last 1000 m, but the Delite has now reached over four thousand miles.

 

This is partly due to the odd wet days and I have been using the Birdy a little more.

 

No idea how many miles on that as no mileage recorder seems to work for long, the last replacement didn't go at all.

 

 

Anyway back to the Delite, what has needed adjustment, replacement or any other 'fettling' over the time I have had it? Answer - Nothing. I read of the little and sometimes not so little problems folk have with their bikes and am thankful I have not yet had such problems. It does seem the extra purchase cost that top spec. stuff and properly engineered and designed bikes are worth what is being asked.

 

 

I did have a puncture in the back tyre, fixed with Aldi's little foam/inflation canister. That was a month ago and over 400 miles and still holding the air in.

 

Perhaps R&M supply a Guardian Angel with their machines, it certainly seems so.

 

 

So far I have recharged the battery 180 times, rarely exhausting it and sometimes have forgotten to charge it and so had a shorter ride the next day, fortunately I don't rely on it to go to work other wise I would curse a bit I'm sure. Not sure if it's me or there is a drop in performance, I am feeling the need to up the power level sometimes. At least on an electric bike one can do this, the whole point of having one.

 

 

The Brooks saddle wasn't bedding in quick enough for me and so I bought a 'Black Widow' seat cover from Amazon and that has made a difference. I could have saved a bit buying it before the Brooks but would have still hankered for one, so I don't count it as a loss.

 

I do find the saddle on the Birdy to be fine, that has R&M embossed on it. A measure in my mind of the quality that Riese & Muller provide with their goods.

Thanks for another fantastic report Croxden!

 

Riese and Muller bikes are really taking off in the UK, they are without doubt one of the best built electric bicycles available. The down side is that there is always at least a three week wait to get one!

 

Looking forward to hearing seeing the next instalment.

 

Is the Bosch display working consistently now? Coincidentally, they have just come back to me re the intermittent display issue. After a lot of back and forth, their considered opinion is there may be some slight corrosion on the pins between the screen and the holder?

 

All the best

 

David

Is the Bosch display working consistently now? Coincidentally, they have just come back to me re the intermittent display issue. After a lot of back and forth, their considered opinion is there may be some slight corrosion on the pins between the screen and the holder?

 

 

David

 

With regard to the display problems I found the backlight remains on whilst the display characters are missing. This could be on or off the mount.

 

 

Also I noticed if I don't switch on until after a couple of minuets of refitting the battery it will work as intended, it can still switch off but no where near as much as it did. Only once has it refused to obey any command, could not up the power or change the display function. As with computers, turning it off and on again put everything right and remained so.

 

 

It would seem to be a failure to transmit back and forth to the battery unit on occasions, making me think there is some resistance in the circuitry. So some corrosion of the pins or the mating part could be the reason. I will have to get the magnifying glass out and have a good look to see if anything shows.