Cargobike test: Gravelbike Plus - off on an adventure with the Sayle № pick-up MTB

From time to time, bicycle manufacturers, usually small manufacturers, deviate dramatically from the mainstream and try to go their own way. In the case of Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher, Tom Ritchey and Charlie Kelly worked pretty well - probably nobody would call the MTB a niche product today. Less so for Charles Mochet and his son Georges - recumbents have never really become cool and sexy, have they?

We have now picked up the Sayle Cycle № for testing, which is quite different with its design. The inventor and manufacturer, Marcel Sayle from Munich, places it somewhere between cargo bike, ATB, urban, commuter and bikepacking bike. Visually, it looks like an MTB that a resourceful welder has modified for camping holidays or bulk shopping. A 27.5-inch wheel at the front and a small 20-inch wheel at the rear. The loading area extends the rear frame triangle to an extreme extent, which tapers very sharply at the end. Curious appearance - but how is the handling of this 20-kilo all-rounder bike?

Construction and driving behaviour

The really low loading area in the driver's slipstream is intended to ensure a familiar, stable and agile driving behaviour, as Marcel Sayle describes it. In fact, the № with its classic steering and low centre of gravity is stable and takes little getting used to, even at low speeds. No comparison to the strange handling of some cargo bikes, which have one or even two front wheels that are positioned far forward.

The relatively low weight of 21.77 kg (incl. pedals, empty pannier, expander) also feels good when pedalling. Of course, you do notice the weight with a load. The Sayle № is not motorised! But it has a 3X3 hub gear. We already had this Swabian quality product in the test and find it very successful. The gear ratio is wide and offers a very easy first and second gear for starting off or going uphill. The riding position is slightly sporty and stretched, the Sayle is not intended to be a cosy cruiser.

Fast cornering in the city feels safe and natural on the Sayle, the bike's greater length of a good 2.20 metres is hardly noticeable, except perhaps when you want or need to turn a corner very sharply. At first, the setup reminded me of a trailer on test. Fortunately, the Sayle Cargobike behaves completely differently: no instability at higher speeds, no lurching at walking pace.

However, thanks to the forward-mounted centre of gravity and the short stem, the steering of the bike always remains very active. Almost a little too much. The Magura brake system with its 160 mm brake discs cuts a fine figure even when loaded and brings the bike to a snappy stop. However, according to Sayle's spec list, a Shimano Alfine brake system seems to be fitted as standard, which we were unable to test.

The cargo bed is also very versatile and fits the size of a beer crate pretty well. If an object is larger, it can be secured to the frame tubes of the cargo bed with expanders. The sturdy rear mudguard can also be used as a storage surface and fastening option. We found the loading area, which has its longer side in the direction of travel, to be very practical for the riding experience, for parking in the city and also for loading. Where the 710 mm handlebar goes through, the only 520 mm wide loading area also fits through or in. The low centre of gravity also means that the bike doesn't have an excessive urge to tip to one side.

Of course, the Sayle also has disadvantages, but they are relatively obvious. Without the E, you have to pedal hard with a load. For tight bends, you have to turn the front wheel unusually far. It takes some getting used to at first, but at least you can take really tight bends with the Sayle. Inventor Marcel has already adapted the steering geometry a little for a smoother ride. One thing is clear: the crossover concept means that the bike is neither a real space saver nor a lightweight sports bike. The compact loading area is primarily suitable for transporting compact loads. Bulky luggage needs to be stowed with a little more creativity than on a classic cargo bike. The Sayle is less suitable as a children's taxi, at least as things stand.

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About the production of the Sayle №

The name of this urban cargo adventure bike is derived from the combination of the numerus sign and the frame number: our test bike No_003. The third of its kind, which indicates the (still) very exclusive production. The steel tubes manufactured in Germany are welded in Marcel Sayle's workshop near Munich and powder-coated in the neighbouring town before being cavity-sealed. According to Sayle himself, he attaches great importance to regional production in order to guarantee high quality and to be able to respond flexibly to customer requests.

At the same time, however, there is an ecological requirement to minimise the negative impact of production on the environment. Above all, the loading area integrated into the rear frame makes it possible to build a lightweight yet rigid frame. Steel is and remains the most sensible material for a bicycle frame: It is comfortable to ride, durable, almost infinitely recyclable and therefore environmentally friendly.

According to Sayle, the chrome-molybdenum steel used offers an excellent balance between durability, vibration damping and weight. The use of standardised bicycle parts and externally routed cables and lines make maintenance and repairs easy. The split and mixed drive consisting of chain and Gates belt is also unusual, but for Sayle, the industrial designer, it is the best compromise between durability, cost and benefit: A clean drive at the front and easy access at the rear for tensioning the chain.

Deviation of the pre-series wheel from the series

Our test bike № 003 is still a pre-production bike, which means that not everything on it corresponds to what will later be delivered to customers of the series models. Here is an overview from the manufacturer, which we are unable to verify.

• Drive: There is no longer a side change, it is only on the right. The centre reversal works via a 142 mm rear hub and no longer via a special hub.
• The new centre dropout provides 15 mm more ground clearance and can be bolted on and moved.
• The load floor has been moved 15 mm to the rear. This provides significantly more heel clearance, and the loading area has also become 20 mm longer, which means there is room for every drinks crate and medium-sized Eurobox.
• The badge on the top tube is completely milled, soldered on and painted.
• There has been a small adjustment to the steering geometry, which has made the steering behaviour even more neutral and familiar.

Deviation of the equipment from the № URBAN CLASSIC series

• The standard crank is a Sram EC90 in 160 mm length.
• Maxxis Maxload V+H tyres are fitted.
• Ergotec Bilbao grips

BIKE conclusion on the Sayle №

The most difficult thing remains the categorisation of this cool urban cargo ATB bikepacking bike and consequently its primary use. As a sporty MTB it is too bulky, as an elegant city bike it is too rustic, as a heavy-duty cargo bike it has too little storage space... It is probably an adventure bike in the best sense of the word. Gravel bike plus, so to speak. Even more off-road capable, much more space for bikepacking equipment and it still rides quickly and safely even on gravel.

Thanks to the narrow width of the cargo area, the bike also fits on narrow (cycle) paths and can be easily manoeuvred through the (urban) jungle. With a price starting at 3600 euros - our Urban Classic version including 3X3 hub gears comes in at 4550 euros - the bike is certainly worth considering for anyone who wants to take a more comfortable approach and is looking for Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat and a beach shell.

Sayle specifications №

• Wheel size: 27.5" / 20"
• Height: 155 - 195 cm
• Length: 2175 mm (BIKE measured value)
• Wheelbase: 1585 mm (BIKE measured value)
• Frame width (at the loading area): 520 mm (BIKE measured value)
• Handlebar width: 710 mm (BIKE measured value)
• Loading area: 460×400 mm (beverage crate)
• Max. Load capacity: 50 kg
• Frame material: 4130 CroMo steel
• Frame weight: 5.68 kg (manufacturer's specification)
• Total weight (test bike, without pedals): 20.37 kg (BIKE measured value)
• Permissible system weight: 168 kg
• body variants: Urban - Urban Classic - ATB - Custom (different lighting systems, gear hubs and colours available)
• Price: from 3600 euros
  Series № Urban Classic: 4550 Euro (incl. 3X3 hub gears / without lights)

Who are Sayle Cycle?

Sayle (pronounced "ropes", not English) Cycle is a new, small Munich-based bike brand specialising in urban, cargo and bikepacking bikes. Thanks to a versatile and flexible frame, it is possible to build a wide variety of bikes. An e-drive is also planned for the future. Thanks to in-house production and co-operation with the EFBE test laboratory, Sayle is able to produce a high-quality, sophisticated frame, tested in accordance with the cargo bike standard EN 17860-2.

Marcel Sayle is the developer and designer behind Sayle Cycle. He is a journeyman bicycle mechanic, health trainer for the Olympic Sports Confederation, mechanical engineer and industrial designer. The Sayle № is the result of his bachelor's thesis as an industrial designer.