Verdict on the Clayton O2 Comfort test
Stylish and practical: the Clayton O2 is a fashion statement that also rides well - at least in an urban context. Operation is simple and suits the intended use well. The price is surprisingly fair.
Data and facts about the Clayton O2 Comfort
| Price | 2.499,00 € |
| Weight | 19.22 kg |
| Motor | Bafang H700 Dual Speed |
| Battery | Samsung Akku |
| Drivetrain | integrierte 2Gang-Schaltung |
The one bike for everything? The Clayton is definitely not that. And it doesn't want to be. Instead of following the SUV trend with fat tyres, a large battery and plenty of suspension travel for all eventualities, the Hamburg-based start-up Clayton prefers the opposite strategy. Less is more! Clayton was able to gain initial experience with the first O1 model. The successor Clayton O2 is now available with an even more elegant look at the first retailers from Hamburg to Cologne, Düsseldorf and Berlin. More are to follow. But can the bike do more than just look good? Time for a test!
Retro look: more to it?
Our test begins with carrying the bike from our test lab in the basement into the daylight. Weighing less than 20 kilos, the Clayton O2 makes the task easy and off we roll. The bike is switched on using the LED button on the top tube. A simple click changes the support level, a double click switches on the discreetly integrated lighting. The battery folds out to the side, secured with a key. So far, so simple.
The belt drive is barely audible, and even at medium speed the motor noise is drowned out by the wind and ambient noise. The Bafang rear motor provides striking support - here you're more likely to let your legs drop than actively pedal along. You could adjust the characteristics via the Bafang Go app. However, it doesn't work properly on our Android smartphone. A pity, but not an isolated case, as the reviews of the app in the Play Store show.
Not so bad for us. Fortunately, the bike also works without an app. The Clayton glides quietly forwards. The favourably priced Shimano stoppers brake reliably as usual. The mudguards keep unwanted dirt away from the rider. The Clayton is also available with a diamond frame and without mudguards. However, if you want to have fun in everyday life, you should treat yourself to some weather protection.
Bafang motor with two gears
A special feature of the Clayton: The rear motor from Bafang has two gears, which the drive shifts automatically during the ride. This makes it easy to start off even without changing gear. However, the motor switches to the second gear quite early on. The gear ratio is long overall. When commuting at 25 km/h, you only pedal at a good 60 revolutions per minute. The motor power smoothes out small climbs with ease. On steep climbs, however, the motor barely switches back to the lower gear ratio. The bike is therefore not a mountain goat but more at home on flat terrain.
More decisive is the criticism in the area of comfort. The Brooks saddle is high-quality, but not comfortable. The 37 millimetre tyres are a little narrow and the grip could also be better. 40 millimetre wide tyres are officially permitted. Tuning may be worthwhile here. Annoying little thing: The plug connection for the hub motor is too far forward on our test bike. In the event of a puncture, you would have to unclip a cable tie at the rear before you could remove the rear wheel.
The seating position, on the other hand, is good. The Clayton is not a long-distance marvel. However, it is well suited to trips of up to an hour in the city. There is also praise for the stylishly integrated yet bright lights. If you want, you can upgrade the Clayton ex works with accessories such as a GPS tracker or a pannier rack - for even more everyday use.
Strengths
- Chic look
- Uncomplicated driving characteristics
- Removable battery
- fair price
Weaknesses
- Narrow tyres
- Translation borderline long
Adrian Kaether
Editor
