Riese & Müller – widely considered the world’s premier e-bike manufacturer – custom build every e-bike to order at their factory in Mühltal, Germany, to your unique specifications… and what’s more, there are a staggering 12,000 combinations to choose from. Typically, this means that your bespoke electric bike has a certain lead time for delivery, but if you want the finest e-bike that money can buy, it’s well worth the wait!
This month, we delve into what lead time you can expect, and the various options to choose from, to ensure your new e-bike is perfect for you.
How long are delivery lead times?
Riese & Müller’s target is usually around 4-6 weeks for delivery, but in busier times of high demand (such as the March – June period), this can run a little longer – and can vary further between models.
At EDEMO, we know the most popular bikes, so we order in a stock of these early in the season. At the consultation with you, if we find out that we have a bike in stock already that fits your needs, we may be able to organise your bike to arrive quicker – but usually, we’ll be guiding you towards a factory-built bike so that it meets your exact requirements.
What are the different configuration options?
Options for colour, battery and drive train are all configurable for each bike model, and each bike is built to the industry’s most exacting standards, using strictly proven, best-in-class Bosch electric assist systems and precision German engineering. But what are the types of options you can expect to choose from?
We take a deeper dive into the various configurations and options below, but if this all makes you feel like the human version of the ‘exploding head’ emoji, at EDEMO, we have all the key Riese & Müller models available as demo bikes that you can ride – and we can then help you to pick, configure and order your perfect e-bike, hassle-free.
ABBREVIATIONS
There are a few abbreviations you might spot in the model names. GT, GX, GH – what do those all mean?
- G: The G in the model name designates Riese & Müller e-bikes with wide tires. (EDEMO’s Dan is originally from Somerset and likes to think it stands for ‘Gurt’ meaning large or big, but we’re not sure our German-speaking R&M colleagues would agree with him!)
- The letter after this means the following:
- T: The T stands for “tour” and comfortable e-bike cycling. All GT models are optimised for long rides on asphalt and light terrain. Whether it’s day-to-day, tours, or long distance.
- X: The X derives from “cross”. The GX models provide pure riding pleasure on light terrain with gravel, sand and dirt tracks. They are also suitable for all-round and road cycling.
- H: The “H” stands for “heavy load”, because in the GH models all components at the contact points are more stable and designed for a permissible total weight of 160 kg. And therefore for every situation and rider. (Maximum weight of cyclist: 125 kg)
BATTERY SIZE
Once you’ve selected your chosen model, the next step is to get the right battery, and this will depend on the distance you’ll be riding. Depending on the model, battery sizes are available in 500Wh, 625Wh, 1000Wh, 1125Wh and 1250Wh. It can be really tempting to go for the largest battery, so you never have to worry about running out, but the larger options are made up of two batteries – and that means you’ll be carrying an extra 3-4kgs with you.
To work out the best size, think about the distance of the most frequent rides you will do. A 500Wh battery is good for about 50miles, and a 1000Wh battery for 100miles.
Most of our customers work out the size they need but choose to upgrade one size. So, if their average ride is 30-40 miles, a 500Wh battery is ideal, but they go up one size to the 625Wh battery. However it’s worth remembering: if you’re going to ride mostly off-road, uphill and in turbo, you should think about bigger batteries.
All the bikes we had while growing up had chains, derailleurs and rear cassettes, but there have always been other options called hub gears. We remember Sturmey Archer, but it only had three speeds. So, why is it becoming such a big thing now? The short answer is maintenance, or more precisely, lack of it.
GET INTO GEAR
The most efficient, lightest and cheapest way of getting all that power from your motor through the rear wheel is still a well-maintained chain and cassette. Riese & Müller refer to these as a ‘touring’ spec. But not all of us are amateur cycle mechanics, and the thought of oiling, measuring chain stretch and tuning our derailleurs may not appeal. We just want to ride, right?
This is where internally geared hubs come in. The most common offered by Riese & Müller are the Vario and Rohloff options. Both are sealed hubs with a belt-drive, which means very little maintenance. The Vario option has a small amount of resistance/drag and a shorter range of gearing, but it’s considerably cheaper than the Rohloff. However, the Rohloff has a huge range of gears, is much more efficient and has an electronic shift.
So, which one? It’s simple. If you’re riding to the pub or cruising the country lanes during the summer, save some money and go for the Vario. If you’re going to ride off-road, up some steep hills or over a long distance, spend the money and go for the Rohloff. Leave the chain and cassette for the purists… One day they’ll work it out.
DISPLAYS
All Riese & Müller displays are made by Bosch and are a way of controlling your motor and providing you with important information like your remaining range. However, it’s worth noting that the display you choose makes no difference to the performance of your bike.
We always recommend going for one of the displays with the cockpit function. This is an adjustable stem to help you get the very best riding position and nothing to do with the display. 90% of the bikes we’ve sold in the last six months have been configured with the Nyon cockpit – a large touchscreen display with built-in Sat Nav – but if you’d rather have a smaller screen on your bike, then go for the Kiox cockpit option.
FRAME SIZE
Next up, it’s frame size. The options available will depend on which model you’re interested in, but most come with around 4 different frame sizes, based on your height. If in doubt, come for a test ride, and we can advise! If you would like help selecting the frame size over the phone, we are happy to choose this for you. And in the unlikely event that we have got it wrong on delivery, then we’ll take the bike back and re-order a replacement.
COLOUR
Ahh, now we’re talking! Each model has around 2-4 carefully selected colourways to pick from, so aesthetically, you can ensure your bike is spot-on for you. Curry Matt, Lunar Grey or Tundra Grey? EDEMO Dan’s favourite game is to try and match the name to the colour in the showroom, but maybe that’s because he doesn’t get out much!
Ready to order?
Let’s do it! You only need to put down a 20% deposit with EDEMO to get your custom electric bike ordered. The remainder is payable just before delivery, once your bespoke bike has arrived at our workshop.
And even better: you can rest assured that your purchase is risk-free, thanks to our 5 day/100-mile guarantee. That’s right, we take all the risk for your e-bike purchase, so if we unwrap it and you think it’s the wrong size or it doesn’t feel right, we’ll take it back and order another one, or give you your money back. So what are you waiting for! Get in touch to book your test ride today – and let’s get the wheels in motion.
Just at the start of your e-bike journey? Why not download our Buyer’s Guide covering everything you need to know about electric bikes.