
AJ
AJ, is our Boss Of Bikes and he’s kind of a big deal (according to him)! He’s been a bike tech for the past 10 years and has been messing about with bikes since he can remember. He has a keen eye for detail and is very patient and meticulous when fixing bikes. He rides a Riese and Muller UBN 5 almost everywhere with his trusty Vaude panniers and ABUS helmet
The Riese & Müller Delite5 GT Pinion is a market-leading trekking ebike built for adventure, touring, commuting and everything else! Powered by the exciting Pinion MGU (Motor Gearbox Unit) and a Gates belt drive, it delivers seamless shifting, low maintenance, and exceptional ride quality.
After visiting the Riese & Müller headquarters in Germany, our first ride impressions reveal why the Delite5 GT Pinion sets a new standard for performance, comfort, and durability. It turns out, we were right to be excited about these bikes!
Want to ride one yourself? Our Delite5 Is now in our Nailsworth Showroom – Book a Test Ride >>
My first trip to Germany
The Germans do things properly; beer, sausages, small leather shorts. But seriously they still engineer cars and e-bikes better than most other nations. Since hearing about the new bikes from Riese & Muller, announced last October I had been excited to see what the R&M engineering team had actually come up with. It’s ok looking at pictures on the internet and pouring through stats on web pages but I had reserved making any judgements or predictions until I had seen and ridden one of these bikes in the flesh. And as my cab pulled out of the long tunnel underneath the hills on the outskirts of Darmstadt and into the massive Riese & Muller complex in the pretty village of Muhltal, I felt like James Bond approaching a villain’s lair.
The Delite5 GT Pinion is a premium trekking and touring bike that stands out for its use of the Pinion MGU (Motor Gearbox Unit). This internal gear system offers several advantages over traditional derailleur systems and other belt drive rear hub gears, including:
- low maintenance
- low drag
- durability
- a wide gear range
This review will hopefully give you an idea of my first impressions of the bike and delve into the pros and cons of the Delite5 GT Pinion, assessing its performance, comfort, ride quality and overall value and durability.
Performance
The Pinion Motor Gearbox Unit is at the heart of the new Delite5 GT Pinion, and it delivers a smooth and reliable shifting experience. The wide gear range (a 600% gear ratio) ensures that riders can tackle any terrain, from steep climbs to fast descents. Giving an incredible 160Nm at the rear wheel in the lowest gears. The gear ratios are evenly spaced, providing consistent jumps between gears. The MGU system and Gates belt eliminate the need for any regular maintenance and improve drive train efficiency over a more traditional drive train. Shifting under heavy load and high cadence was faultless, and riding uphill was smooth. The fact you don’t have to slow your cadence at any point improves your climbing experience and efficiency and I found this to be a major benefit, especially on longer hills with changing gradients. You can read more about the 600% Gear Range of the Pinion MGU here >>
Comfort & Handling
The one thing for me that defines the R&M brand, apart from quality and sustainability, is the fact that their bikes handle so well over all terrains.
The Delite5 GT Pinion is no exception and this bike, designed for long-distance touring, as well as daily use, excels in providing a comfortable and confident riding experience. The geometry is relaxed, but not too ‘sit up and beg’, but the proprietary R&M adjustable stem will put you in the perfect position. The frame is made from high-quality aluminium, manufactured in Portugal from 32% recycled alloy. The frame and suspension help you glide over all terrains, smoothing out some pretty rough rough terrain on the R&M test track.
The use of the Pinion MGU means that you really feel the lack of significant mass at the rear hub (unlike a traditional derailleur system, or rear hub gear) improving handling and reducing the unsprung weight in the rear triangle. The bike doesn’t handle quite as well as a proper Full Sus MTB, but you have all of the comfort and traction benefits, but with all of the surety you would expect from an R&M Grand Tourer.
Overall Value
There are currently no other spec options on the Delite5 other than the Pinion MGU. But if you compare it to the pricing of its compatriot the Homage5 GT Pinion at the same price point £7,889, it works out £750 cheaper than the Bosch/Rohloff option and only £650 more than the Bosch/Vario option. Unfortunately the Homage5 GT Pinion wasn’t available for testing on the same day, but it is identical to the Delite5, but without a top tube. For some, the price may seem high, but when you look at the spec on this bike, you realise how much you get for your money.
Riese & Muller have dropped the option for Suntour suspension which was available on the older Delite4 and yes, ok, that would have made the bikes cheaper, but the new Fox AWL 34 fork and Fox Float Rhythm rear suspension mean a much more responsive and adjustable riding experience. The TRP brakes don’t provide quite as much modulation as the Maguras did on older models, but I have been using TRP brakes on my own bike for the last two years and have grown very fond of the feel and power of these low maintenance, high power brakes. So powerful I nearly came a cropper when I forgot the brakes were set up to EU spec and squeezed the wrong lever too hard, yes I really was enjoying the bike too much! The new Ergon Grips and saddle provide incredible comfort, the headset bearings are improved, providing better weather resistance. You still get superb Supernova lights and you even now get a decent Knog Oi bell. Unfortunately, the pedals are still pretty basic, so I would recommend a decent set of pinned ones.
All Riese and Muller bikes are very low maintenance, but the Pinion MGU only requires an oil change once every 10,000kms. Combined with the Gates belt and relatively large rear sprocket (28T) and the redesigned jockey wheel & belt tensioner, this bike should be very low maintenance indeed. Meaning that the bike will spend more time out and about, as it should be and not stuck in the workshop.
Conclusion
There are currently no other spec options on the Delite5 other than the Pinion MGU. But if you compare it to the pricing of its compatriot the Homage5 GT Pinion at the same price point £7,889, it works out £750 cheaper than the Bosch/Rohloff option and only £650 more than the Bosch/Vario option. Unfortunately the Homage5 GT Pinion wasn’t available for testing on the same day, but it is identical to the Delite5, but without a top tube. For some, the price may seem high, but when you look at the spec on this bike, you realise how much you get for your money.
Riese & Muller have dropped the option for Suntour suspension which was available on the older Delite4 and yes, ok, that would have made the bikes cheaper, but the new Fox AWL 34 fork and Fox Float Rhythm rear suspension mean a much more responsive and adjustable riding experience. The TRP brakes don’t provide quite as much modulation as the Maguras did on older models, but I have been using TRP brakes on my own bike for the last two years and have grown very fond of the feel and power of these low maintenance, high power brakes. So powerful I nearly came a cropper when I forgot the brakes were set up to EU spec and squeezed the wrong lever too hard, yes I really was enjoying the bike too much! The new Ergon Grips and saddle provide incredible comfort, the headset bearings are improved, providing better weather resistance. You still get superb Supernova lights and you even now get a decent Knog Oi bell. Unfortunately, the pedals are still pretty basic, so I would recommend a decent set of pinned ones.
All Riese and Muller bikes are very low maintenance, but the Pinion MGU only requires an oil change once every 10,000kms. Combined with the Gates belt and relatively large rear sprocket (28T) and the redesigned jockey wheel & belt tensioner, this bike should be very low maintenance indeed. Meaning that the bike will spend more time out and about, as it should be and not stuck in the workshop.
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE RIESE AND MÜLLER Delite5 GT Pinion?
- We’re here to answer any questions, call us on 01453 834300 or email [email protected]
- Our test bike for the Delite5 GT Pinion is in stock and ready for you to ride it!