The bicycle is a product with many wonderfully colourful blossoms - yet on the streets and in the bike racks you can still see very similar models for the most part. Whether in terms of colour scheme, frame design, wheel geometry or equipment, an image has manifested itself. Exotic designs and original combinations of parts are sometimes not only an expression of individuality, but also have clear advantages over standard bikes in their specialised field. The fact that even folding bikes can be completely legitimate and fully-fledged city bikes was something that even the editorial team could not agree on or be sure of - before the test.
These are the city bikes from the test
Mixed test field of city bikes
The two representatives in this field belong to the latest generation of the genre, the Brompton "G Line" even had to be taken off the beaten track for the test drives, as there was still an embargo on publications at the time. The now 20-inch wheels made it possible to compare it on an equal footing with the Tern BYBwhich until then had been one of, if not THE benchmark in this segment. With the two "dwarves", one of three planned small duels was set. A second bike versus bike match was to take place in a more sporty setting.
In the search for models with city equipment, but with the geometry, lines and weight of a sports bike, the choice quickly became clear. The BMC 257 with its integrated light and great colour contrasts is a candidate rarely seen in this country; in its home country, Switzerland, it is probably seen more often. Its counterpart from Cube is not quite as eye-catching. The Hyde, on the other hand, seems almost bourgeoisIts combination of a sporty riding position, the ultra-thick, smooth-running tyres and the hub gears make it a wolf in sheep's clothing - super nimble on most terrain.
Exotic among the exotic bikes
The headline for our third pairing was difficult to formulate. Exotic among exotics, super bold superstructures, top technology meets top design - that was our working title. The aim was to present an extremely chic and clean bike based on a gravel bike frame. That or the Wilhelm von Schindelhauer comes in many variants, but in our eyes by far the most original, most beautiful and also most practical body variant was the indestructible commuter with Pinion gearbox, drop bar and the stylish front carrier for rucksack and co. Such a front carrier is also a core design element of the last candidate.
The ultra-modern steel bike called Hobo is a really bold step for a large series manufacturer like Rose, and the bike is also available in really bright colours and contrasts and, in addition to classic gears such as Deore and GRX, even with a radio-controlled Sram Rival drivetrain. This "wonderfully unreasonable" combination of super robust steel Flizer and cutting-edge technology obviously appealed not only to us, but also to the customers. Only the mechanical shifting version was available for testing. However, we were very interested in the bike in general, so let's have a look!
Without comparison in the city bike test
Despite the common working titles and the small pair duels within this story - this is not a standard comparison test, the six models are simply too different in terms of technology, price, range of use, equipment options and riding characteristics. In order not to "accidentally" compare apples with lettuce, we have also refrained from any grading or categorisation. If not, we would certainly have included a description of the eye-catching effect or the likeability ratings. Even in the out-of-the-way places where we tried out the brand new Brompton, it stood out, and not just because of its bright orange colour.
The fact that a bike that barely fits into hand luggage when folded can be so fully equipped and does not fall far behind 28-inch bikes in terms of riding performance was a source of much favourable amazement. The Hobo test bike polarised both test riders and onlookers. The massive front carrier distorts the proportions of the actually slim bike. Apart from the practical benefits of the sturdy carrier, two out of three of those involved got used to this "front-heaviness" within minutes. And both in fashion and in the automotive sector, designs that were initially ridiculed in a similar way later turned into design showpieces. How the bike rides is another matter, but whoever was the product manager of the Hobo, respect for so much courage!
City bikes: many routes through the city
When you think of city bikes, you quickly think of an upright riding position, hub gears, low entry, wire basket at the front, short gear ratios and not a lot of emotion. For a relaxed ride from the underground car park to the bakery, a trip to the park or a visit to friends three blocks away, that's just fine. But everyday life on a bike has changed so much. The journey to work often means time pressure, so you could do with a faster bike.
Many city dwellers have no fixed parking space and have to carry their bike up and down the stairs, five kilos of load capacity in a classic front basket are no longer enough to do without a car, longer journeys could be made easier by train and bus if the bike could be carried, and with or without a car, the bike is increasingly becoming a status symbol or perhaps better a product with which you can express your personality to a certain extent. And our city exotic bikes are perfect for all these not at all rare cases. In our opinion, the bikes are more progressive than exotic, more well thought-out than quirky, more super-practical than crazy.
Three different types of city bikes
City bikes: sporty, practical, stable type
In addition to the image issue, there is also a very practical reason why gravel bikes are often seen as commuters, even in cities. Whether with mudguards and lights or "naked", the combination of off-road athlete and suit wearer is not uncommon these days. If you don't want to buy a fast pedelec and lug it into the office or basement, you can save time and/or energy. In contrast to a classic city bike, a sporty bike adds half a minute per kilometre, which is a lot if you're running late again.
Their disadvantage: the riding position is sometimes too sporty, less for the rider and more for the clothing. If you're wearing a smart jacket or jacket, the fabric on the back can be a bit tight. In addition, the obligatory derailleur gears of a gravel bike are too high-maintenance for an everyday bike. That's where bikes like our "Stadtsportler" come into play. As an alternative to these two, we thought of the "Commuter 7" from Canyon or the Rose "Backroad" with the flat bar, but both were only tested by MYBIKE in the last few months.
The test field: BMC 257 and Cube Hyde
The principle behind the two models tested, the BMC "257" and the Cube "Hyde", is quickly explained: components with long maintenance intervals and high resistance to weather and dirt are used on framesets that are both significantly lighter than conventional city frames and allow a posture that is much more efficient to pedal and, thanks to more load on the front wheel, also allows faster corners with sufficient safety reserves. In the test, both models left the commuters sitting upright far behind at every traffic light.
You can either use this extra efficiency to save time, or you can ride just as fast but with less effort and sweat. With the large brake discs and fat tyres, we would even rate our "city sports bikes" as safer than the vast majority of city bikes. And, this also applies to the following models, it is a widespread misconception that sitting completely upright is healthier for the back. The opposite is the case. Impacts from the rear wheel, which are channelled vertically through the saddle into the rider, bypass the back, so to speak, when the upper body is slightly forward, whereas the forces are transferred to the spine when the rider is sitting completely upright. The support load for the hands is also not a problem for the type of urban athlete with straight handlebars.
City bikes: versatile, practical, compact type
Folding and folding bikes have long suffered from the image of not being exactly that, not the least bit sporty, hopelessly inferior to bikes with 26 or 28 inch rims in terms of efficiency and controllability, and they are also all too quickly denied stability. Models such as the ultra-compact 16-inch Brompton, the Birdy with suspension and, most recently, the lightweight Tern have countered this, but once sown, such "rumours" persist.
But why should you buy a bike for a relatively high price if its advantages lie in transport and not in riding? Commuters who combine public transport and cycling will sing the praises here. Packed in a bag, folding bikes don't cost an extra ticket, you don't get the hateful looks of your fellow passengers when you push a sprawling city bike into the carriage, and it's much easier to get through the hustle and bustle at the station with the little ones folded up into a trolley.
The test field: Tern BYB and Brompton G Line
They fit in every car boot when going on a trip, they can be stored safely and dry under the desk or wardrobe, while others have to worry about wet saddles, rusting chains and thieves. Folding bikes are super practical - and the latest generations are not even that much "less bike" than before. In addition to the brand duel, our two test Citybikes were intended to provide a comparison between the 20-inch wheels on the Tern and the 16-inch versions that have always been fitted as standard on Bromptons.
For a long time, they announced a major innovation, but that the "G Line" with the wide 20-inch tyres would then arrive here was something we would only have bet a few euros on, rather an eleven-speed hub gear or lightweight version. The fact that the traditional brand is leaving its traditional territory here is comparable to Ford switching to motorbike construction. After all, the new Brompton is not quite as record-breakingly small when folded, but the ratio of riding characteristics and "pack size", the yardstick for this bike class in our opinion, can be better assessed after a week with the bike than with the models with small wheels.
City bikes: different, practical, high-tech
If you're going to stand out with a flashy or lightning-fast folding bike, then even more so with an exotic bike that stands out from the crowd in terms of both its design and its features. And it is precisely these two components that our last two candidates offer. Both combine unique design elements with really practical components for the city, but they could hardly be more different - nor could the two companies from which they originate.
The test field: Rose Hobo and Schindelhauer Wilhelm
The "Hobo" comes from high-volume manufacturer Rose. This bold steel bike with its slim lines shows that they don't just build for the masses. Inspired by the old racing bike frames of the 80s, which were popular with bike couriers and young "intellectuals" in particular, the bike is very clean but with bright colours. The look is broken up by the massive front carrier, which is, however, an accessory and not standard.
The bike makes quite an impression at the traffic lights. Even more so when every gear change is accompanied by the quiet whirring of the gearchange motor, because: The "Hobo" is actually available with a radio-controlled, electronic gearstick. This has less tangible operating advantages, but is simply a statement to screw such a modern gear system onto a rather clean and simple bike. The Pinion gearbox on the competitor "Wilhelm" makes a lot of sense.
Certainly to be regarded as luxurious, it is currently the most robust shifting solution on the market, and together with the belt drive, the maintenance intervals are huge. The whole thing is built on a sporty frame, the "Wilhelm" is a customised structure that is also available as a gravel bike or single speed. The bike is nowhere near as eye-catching as the Rose, but insiders will immediately recognise this little gem in the high-quality aluminium frame. The smart front carrier emphasises that this is a practical bike and belongs in the city! Technology can be presented in very different ways, which is precisely why these two bikes are competing in the third duel of our test of practical exotic bikes for the city.
