Review: Riese & Müller Homage GT Rohloff

All your Riese & Muller e-bike questions answered

Review: Riese & Müller Homage GT Rohloff

The Homage is designed to do (pretty much) everything.

It’s a full suspension bike, so front and rear suspension, but probably the most special thing about this bike is the fact that it’s a step-through design – so still accessible. It’s available in two different colours; Pearl White and Deepsea Blue Metallic, and three different frame sizes. There’s also three configurations of gears you can have; Touring, Vario or a Rohloff spec and three different displays that you can go for as well; so the Intuvia, the Kiox or the Nyon display. There’s also an additional Smartphone Hub that can be added on, but be aware that it’s not compatible with the Rohloff option.

There are lots of other options you can go for – things like GX packs and other additional extras…but we’ll run through more of that later.

The model that we’re interested in today (and the one that appears in the video below) is the Homage GT Rohloff. The additional extras fitted on this particular bike are:

  • GX pack – e.g. the Johnny Watts tyres 
  • Additional front rack
  • Kiox cockpit & display

So starting at the front of the bike and making our way through…

TYRES:

As I mentioned, there’s a GX pack on this bike. This means you’ve got the slightly more ‘aggressive’, knobbly tyres (they are the Schwalbe Johnny Watts tyres). They are essentially a sports utility vehicle tyre –  the idea behind it is that they’re suitable for going off-road but can also cover the road miles as well. It’s a really popular tyre, the other option that comes as standard at the Schwalbe Moto X Tyres. They are definitely more road-based so not really suitable for going and sort of plugging through lots of mud. The GX option is an upgrade from the standard one but is proving to be really popular.

BRAKES:

The brakes on the Homage are called the Magura MT5. They are excellent quality brakes on their own, but you can also add the latest Bosch ABS anti-lock braking system on the front too. The ABS system measures the two wheels spinning, and if one of them starts spinning at a different speed then it will start to pulse the front brake to stop you wiping out on a corner! It’s quite a complicated system but is quite popular at the moment – unfortunately we don’t have it on the bike in the video as it’s not compatible with the Rohloff hub.

ACCESSORIES:

I add water bottles to all of the bikes that I have, purely just for the look (I think they look great!). The brand is called Fabric and they actually clip down onto the side of the bike. Riese & Müller don’t provide those as standard with the Homage,  but it’s a relatively simple change for us to get those bolts changed out and make the clip bottles go on there if that’s something you’d like to go for.

The mud guards that come on a Homage can look like flimsy plastic but they’re actually a composite aluminium plastic, which makes them a lot more hard-wearing. Handy for when you bang around on the bike and cake it with mud; the guards don’t just crack straight away!

Ergon grips come as standard – they are really comfortable and you can adjust the position of them to give a bit more support to your hand when you’re holding on. 

The light that’s on here is called a Supernova M99 Mini and it’s so good that it feels almost like a motorbike light.

Moving on to the other side of the handlebars we’ve got the control for the Bosch system so it’s got a plus and a minus button to change the assistance level. The lowest level of assistance (other than ‘off’!) is ‘eco’, which is around about 50% assistance, and then up through the levels to ‘turbo’ which is around 340% assistance.

KIOX DISPLAY

You’ll find this bike comes with the Intuvia display as standard. The Intuvia display is a good quality but basic offering from Bosch and it will just come with a fixed stem. It’s probably worth knowing that it’s only £140 to upgrade to the the Kiox display, which I think is worth every penny.

On your Kiox display there’s lots of other little screens that you can scroll through and they give you lots of other information; the range of your bike trip, the time, the total miles you’ve ridden, and all sorts of other useful information.

One of the nicest features they’ve added to it lets you turn the Kiox into a really basic SatNav system. You can link your phone with Bluetooth and can actually follow a route as you ride. One last feature that is worth picking up is the little button on the top called ‘Walk Assist’. When you press it, ‘walk assist’ comes up on the screen; if you press and hold the ‘plus’ button then the bike will actually walk alongside you – very snazzy! 

THE BATTERY:

The Homage in this specification has a 625Wh battery. It comes with a great four-amp charger but you can also upgrade to a fast charger if you’d like. The Homage with the two twin batteries (Dual Battery) comes with a six-amp fast charger as standard.

THE BOSCH MOTOR:

The motor in this bike is called a Bosch Genforce CX Motor. It’s the most powerful motor that Bosch make; it’s 250 watts but, most importantly, the torque provides 85 newton metres. It’s absolutely superb and, like I mentioned above, you can easily control how much power you’re putting out by using the handlebar control settings. I really think the motor is absolutely brilliant; it came out at the end of 2020 and has really revolutionized to e-bike industry. 

GT ROHLOFF:

The bike in the video is a GT Rohloff, top-of-the-range bike, which means it’s got an electronic shifter with a 14-speed hub in the rear wheel to change the gears. You’ve got an up and a down button on the handlebars; press once to go up one gear, press and hold to go up three gears at a time. 

I guess one of the big benefits of a Rohloff hub, unlike a chain, is that you can change these gears completely from 1st gear all the way up to 14th gear whilst you are standing still, which you obviously can’t do with a chain cassette.

Without a chain you’re now using something called a belt drive instead. This belt is made by a company called Gates – it’s a Gates Carbon Belt Drive and the main benefits are that it doesn’t need oiling and it hardly needs any maintenance. On a bike with a chain, especially with an electric motor, you’ll find that you’ll put a lot of power through the chain, will start to stretch it and will end up going through chains a lot quicker.

With this belt drive you’ve got one sprocket at the front to one sprocket at the rear and it just runs the whole time, so you’re going to get thousands of miles out of it and will have the added bonus of no maintenance for it either. The only thing you want to keep an eye on is to make sure it doesn’t go too slack – the easiest way to do that is to use the Gates app. You literally hold it up against the belt and it will give you a reading as to the frequency. Frequency for these should be around about 50 Hertz.

SUMMARY: HOMAGE GT ROHLOFF REVIEW

The Homage GT Rohloff, or just a Homage in a general, is one of Riese & Müller’s ‘top of the range’ e-bikes (alongside the Superdelite) and for me it was surprisingly one of the nicest bikes I’ve ever ridden. I say ‘surprisingly’ because it’s a step-through, so I (like most people) immediately assume maybe it’s a bit more on the ‘easy’ or ‘leisurely’ side of cycling, but you really can take this bike off-road. It’s definitely capable of more than I’m capable of!

The Homage is almost the same bike as the Superdelite but it’s got the huge benefit of having a step-through, so if your concerns are getting on and off the bike but you still want a top of the range bike with all the ability to do everything a bike could possibly do (and more!), and then I would say the Homage is probably the right bike for you.

This version with the two 625 Wh batteries gives you a total of 1250Wh – that’s an absolutely huge range – well over 100 miles – so you can take it as far as you want. It’s got the most powerful Bosch motor, those 2 big batteries, a hub that needs no maintenance and the comfort of a bike with full suspension – the Homage GT Rohloff is the perfect bike for me and I think, pretty perfect for any adventure cyclist that I can think of!

Alice A.
Alice A.
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I came across these guys as I couldn't find a stockist in Scotland who did the bike I was looking for. From the get go the staff were really helpful, I mostly dealt with Jen, they didn't bat an eyelid at my many requests and changes including delivery to central Scotland - working around my timescales. Brilliant service!
Neale B.
Neale B.
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Great service from choosing the correct model to delivery and tuition - all part of the service which is Platinum
Preston S.
Preston S.
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Lots of good advice, no pressure and plenty of opportunity to road test bikes. I was on a break in Glos and called in to EDEMO, having previously watched a number of their very useful you tube videos about Riese & Muller bikes. Two days later my chosen stock bike was prepared and paid for and a week later delivered to my address in Cumbria. Faultless. A pleasure dealing with them. The bike is great too!I would recommend.Thank you
Michael D.
Michael D.
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Excellent service. Dan guided me through all the choices, Jen organised the delivery and kept me updated, and AJ delivered the bike and got me set up and going. The team let me know I can come back to them anytime for any help or support I might need.
Mike R.
Mike R.
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I had a test ride booked and was pointed to a very steep hill to try the bike on and then a reasonably flat cycle-way to give me an idea of different riding scenarios. Enjoyable test ride. Got back to the shop and had a talk about the bikes and tried a different model. I got some very helpful advice, decided on the bike and purchased it. They delivered the bike to my home and spent some time running through all the features and adjustments I could make. Very happy with the bike and the service from Edemo.
Mike M.
Mike M.
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Nice shop, good selection and helpful staff, good place to buy a bike.
John H.
John H.
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It was such a pleasure to buy my bike from Edemo after years of dealing only with internet based suppliers. I used the Bristol based office/workshop and enjoyed the entirely personal service provided by AJ who also delivered my bike to me when it was ready and explained how to operate and maintain it. In particular I felt reassured that Edemo would continue to provide support during my ownership of the bike. Great service throughout!
Charlotte C.
Charlotte C.
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Dan and the team at EDEMO were super helpful in getting my new bike sorted. We found them really knowledgeable, and honest in how they helped me choose; finding something that would be exactly suited to what I needed, not just the most expensive option in the shop. The process of trying out bikes and chatting through everything was enjoyable. For me, the Riese & Muller range that they stock encompassed great options. Using only one supplier did make the process more straightforward than at other places as EDEMO could provide a wider range of options rather than just having lots of very similar bikes from different suppliers. Dan was helpful in organising what we needed so we could use the cycle-to-work scheme. The pick up process was thorough and thoughtful, making sure I had everything I needed and knew all the ins and outs of the bike.
Mark A.
Mark A.
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A top team! Really know their products, are willing to invest the time in helping you understand them as well. One of the best sales and service experiences I’ve ever gone through! Now bought two bikes from them! Just cannot fault any aspect of their service delivery.
Timm
Timm
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Another 5* review from me.If you were on the fence of spending the extra £££ on a R&M, visit the shop and test ride one of their bikes. They seem to have most, if not all their models in store.Very friendly service too :).
Ben R.
Ben R.
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Excellent purchase process with no pressure. Edemo were patient and happy that I wanted to try many different makes of cargo bike before deciding which one to purchase.. In my view, for my needs, the R and M Load 75 was superior in all respects. Since purchase the bike has exceeded my expectations
Isabel B.
Isabel B.
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We received absolutely brilliant customer service from Edemo. They all have really in depth knoweldge about the different bikes so could answer any question. We could test ride any bike we wanted which is so important. They were really accomodating with our Bike to Work scheme. When we bought the bike it was delivered with a really in depth handover, and after sales support is very helpful. Can't fault them!
m W
m W
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Very helpful staff in the Nailsworth shop (even though I came on the wrong day)Was able to try three different models and different setups which was invaluable and meant making the right choice of bike was easy.The R and M website is good but being able to try and chat about the various models and options made sense of it all. The Edemo website is also extremely helpful.Ordering was very easy and delivery happened when they said it would. When the bike was delivered it was all set up with a couple of small adjustments done on the spot.I would happily recommend Edemo to anyone.
Paul B.
Paul B.
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A really excellent service, especially from the workshop team who had no problem ordering extra parts from Germany and helping me make changes to the Multicharger I bought from them.I would highly recommend Edemo to anyone looking to purchase a Riese and Muller Ebike. With so many things in life the back-up and after sales service is key, especially with an investment such as one of these excellent bikes.
Katherine P.
Katherine P.
1671395084
Excellent all round service . Really knowledgeable about all things electric ! I can’t recommend enough .
Benjamin B.
Benjamin B.
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Amazing service from wonderful people who assisted me in purchasing an e-bike. Every request was fully explained, and nothing was too much trouble. Thank you very much, Team.
Julian B.
Julian B.
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Thanks to Dan, Jen and AJ. Great doing business with you and thank you for your ongoing support. The Tinker is an amazing eBike which is easily carrying me and my things around 70 miles each week as I commute across Bristol. Great to do business with you. Thank you!
Sayed H
Sayed H
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Really good experience, Johan was great, he let me test ride some amazing ebikes which helped me decide which models suited me best, a lovely showroom and location too.
Boo and M.
Boo and M.
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What a breath of fresh air it has been, talking with Dan about R&M bikes. His knowledge is vast, his patience and humour, to be praised, from the first initial enquiry, to the delivery of my fantastic bike. Thank you 😁
Liam P.
Liam P.
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Great crew providing excellent service! Have even taken the time to discuss things I would describe as outside their remit - ex. having the little one on the back, insurance etc
Gareth E.
Gareth E.
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Excellent service and advice. Test ride was greatly appreciated as was Dan looking after Walter (my dog) whilst I had the test ride!
Paul B.
Paul B.
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Tremendous knowledge and service. I’m so pleased we went with EDEMO for our bike purchase. I really can’t recommend enough!
Steve C.
Steve C.
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Bike is great everything I expected, typical excellent German quality of design and manufacture.The service received from Dan and his team was 1st Class, friendly, knowledgeable and professional.Thoroughly recommend both the product and EDEMO.
Peter M.
Peter M.
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All worked well and am happy with the bike as well as the support from Dan's team. There is quite a lot to learn because the bike is a step up from previous electric bike that I have had but the result is very good and I am still learning.
David S.
David S.
1665252882
Excellent all round buying experience. Dan was really helpful going through options no hard sell or pressure too buy. We visited his shop twice and test rode any of the bikes as many times as we liked. Nailsworth has good test ride conditions and good lunch stop for a nice day out. We bought 2 charger 4’s didn’t really want to spend that much money but they are already paying back as the car is parked up for many of our trips a 20 mile trip is quite easy now, we live rural with big hills. Bikes took about 3 months to come so if your thinking about it get your order in. They were delivered by AJ who gave us a good briefing. If you want a R &M get it here if your no sure go test ride one.
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DualBattery 1250

dual-battery-1250

DualBattery Technology perfected by Riese & Müller ensures twice the range or far higher climbs, fewer charging breaks and longer-lasting riding pleasure.

With the 1,250 Wh now available, completely new destinations can be reached and you no longer have to worry about the range in your daily routine.

DualBattery 1000

dual-battery-1000

DualBattery Technology perfected by Riese & Müller ensures twice the range or far higher climbs, fewer charging breaks and longer-lasting riding pleasure. With the 1,000 Wh available, completely new destinations can be reached and you no longer have to worry about the range in your daily routine.

Additional Chain Lock with Bag

Additional chain lock with bag

The sturdy Abus chain lock, in addition to the Abus Shield frame lock, provides twice the security for your E-Bike. The 130 cm long chain is latched onto the frame lock and you can quickly lock your bike to the nearest lamppost or lock it together with up to three other bikes. The chain thickness of 6 mm ensures a high level of anti-theft protection.

Especially practical: frame lock, chain lock and battery lock all use the same key. The bag is firmly attached to the saddle and allows quick and easy removal of the chain lock thanks to its ergonomic shape and Fidlock magnetic closure.

Please note: for smaller frame sizes the lowest saddle position may not be usable when the lock bag is fitted.

Smartphone Hub Cockpit

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The Bosch SmartphoneHub and free app turns your smartphone into an E-Bike display which combines smart navigation with live weather, fitness data and much more. Your smartphone’s standard functions are perfectly integrated and can be operated from the handlebar. The Bosch SmartphoneHub is just as perfectly integrated into the tidy minimalist cockpit with internal cabling and adjustable stem angle. And if you leave your smartphone at home, the permanently fixed display also shows the key riding data.

Please note: This option is not compatible with rohloff and HS models.

Bosch eBike ABS

With Riese & Müller Control Technology you are sporty, safe and comfortable on the road. In addition, the ABS option ensures optimum control even in the event of sudden braking. It prevents tires from slipping, the rear wheel lifting and the whole bike skidding out to the side. The proven technology from the world of cars and motorcycles is now also available for your E-Bike.

Please note: This option is not compatible with rohloff models.

GX option with Fox suspension

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Air suspension upgrade (Fox Float)

The Fox Float air suspension fork with 140 mm travel offers optimum riding conditions for discerning cyclists. The GRIP damping system reliably absorbs shocks from stones, sticks or roots lying on the way and effortlessly compensates for unevenness. With 15 finely adjustable rebound damping levels, this excellently manufactured air suspension fork can be tuned to any undertaking – whether uphill, downhill, field and forest tracks or asphalt.

GX Option

If you like riding your E-Bike off-road, then simply equip it with a first-class off-road package. The Suntour Aion air suspension fork with 140 mm travel reliably absorbs shocks and effortlessly compensates for any unevenness on the terrain. The solid tire studs on the shoulders of the Schwalbe Johnny Watts tires guarantee outstanding grip, especially when cornering. The wide VP 538 flat pedals provide grip for your feet. The sporty saddle an the adjustable X-Fusion Manic seatpost simply make off-road riding an absolute joy.

AIR SUSPENSION UPGRADE

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Air suspension upgrade (Fox Float)

The Fox Float air suspension fork with 140 mm travel offers optimum riding conditions for discerning cyclists. The GRIP damping system reliably absorbs shocks from stones, sticks or roots lying on the way and effortlessly compensates for unevenness. With 15 finely adjustable rebound damping levels, this excellently manufactured air suspension fork can be tuned to any undertaking – whether uphill, downhill, field and forest tracks or asphalt.

REAR CARRIER

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Rear carrier for Riese & Muller bikes - as standard

Your cargo is co-sprung by attaching the carrier to the main frame and Control Technology. Vibrations and hard impacts, such as on cobblestones or pavement edges, are simply smoothed out, increasing riding safety even with a heavy load. The carrier is equipped with the Basil MIK system. Baskets and panniers can be fixed to it with a single click. This extraordinarily stable system lets you quickly swap bicycle accessories fitted with a MIK adapter plate. Accessories can be obtained from EDEMO Electric Bikes.

Pannier rack

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Pannier rack for Riese & Muller bikes

The minimalist pannier rack is ideal for fixing panniers weighing up to 5 kg each. The rear and brake lights are unobtrusively integrated into it. The “Form follows function” design principle has been exceptionally well executed with the pannier rack.

Front carrier rack with Bag

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Riese & Muller front carrier rack with bag

Keep on the move and still have everything with you. You can secure up to 5 kg of luggage on the front carrier, which is fixed to the frame and hence benefits from the bike’s full suspension, perfectly protecting your cargo from knocks and bumps. The bag offers space for a volume of up to 18 litres. Thanks to the zipper and roll closure, your transported goods are perfectly protected from dirt and rain. The bag can be removed quickly and easily and becomes a shoulder bag using the strap supplied. You can safely store smaller items in the two outer pockets equipped with waterproof zippers.

Front Carrier

Riese & Muller Front Carrier
Riese & Muller Front Carrier

Being sporty when out and about – and yet still having everything you need with you. You can secure up to 5 kg of luggage on the front carrier, fixed to the frame and hence co-sprung, perfectly protected from knocks and bumps. Bungee cords secure a sleeping bag, small sports bag or provisions in place in no time at all. And you’ll come to appreciate your front luggage carrier just as quickly.

Comfort Kit

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Comfort Kit on the Homage

The perfect option for anyone wanting to ride in greater comfort: the classically curved handlebars and wider saddle enable you to sit comfortably in an upright position.

The Kiox Display

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Kiox Display shown on the Riese-and Muller Charger3

The Kiox display is perfectly integrated into the cockpit: the internal cabling creates a tidy, minimalist appearance. The adjustable angle of the stem lets you choose from a sportier or more upright seating position. The Kiox display includes different training modes and is perfect to use with tactile pressure points on the control unit. Heart rate monitors can be linked by Bluetooth. The scratch-resistant Gorilla glass makes the small Kiox exceptionally robust. Map-free navigation (only in conjunction with a smartphone) completes the features of the Kiox.

No cockpit (Intuvia Display)

The E-Bike is equipped as standard with the Bosch Intuvia display, giving you full control and a perfect overview at all times. It provides information about battery status, range, daily mileage, total mileage, ride time, current motor power, time, speed and average speed – clearly legible in any level of sunlight. It is operated by a control unit conveniently mounted on the handlebar grip.

The Nyon Display

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Nyon display unit shown here on the Riese & Muller Multicharger

The Nyon display is perfectly integrated into the cockpit: the internal cabling creates a tidy, minimalist appearance. The adjustable angle of the stem lets you choose between a sportier or more upright seating position. The Nyon display ensures that you are fully connected and ideally equipped with navigation for every tour or day-to-day ride. The colour display, with its intuitive touch function, is very simple to use and, thanks to being robust and easy-to-read, is guaranteed to get you to your destination in any weather. The user interface can be customised to your needs.