The new Motortengeneration in MTB and trekking bike

An engine specialist wheelchairs discovered the pedelec market and mixed these mentioned a Neodrives Rear Hub Motor on straight. However, this product acquisition is less well known, the engines of the company Alber run instead under the name Green Mover at Bulls and Xion at Derby Cycle (Kalkhoff, Ralleigh, Univega). In tests, they are enthusiastically celebrated, not without reason. Recently I have therefore here an estimate of the engine in a Lavida Bulls published: The beefy power delivery of the engine makes the heavyweight Lavida (26 kg!) A fleet-footed sprinter, in which the complete downward regulation can inevitably arise frustration from about 27km / h , excellent driving characteristics and brakes could be much higher speeds. But the law does not.

In the Lavida Description I have the new engine with the long dominant Panasonic mid-engine in a typical City Bike, which compared Kalkhoff Pro Connect Wave. The comparison showed, as expected, that each different concepts for specific bikes have advantages and disadvantages, the Panasonic motor is ideal for the City, the Alber-motor for a trekking bike.

Here I want to compare against the Alber-motor in two very different bikes, namely the Bulls Green Mover Lite Lavida and Univega MTB Alpina HT-50e, therefore a trekking bike with a mountain bike. Except for the common motor, the wheels do not have much in common: The Lavida weighs about 5 kg more, the Alpina is relatively easy for a pedelec 21 kg. The difference in weight is due to the StVO- and practicality, the compact MTB frames and the smaller, well-suited for a mountain bike battery (11Ah over 17Ah). Processing and built-up parts qualitatively differ not serious, almost 300 euro price difference is due to the more complete facilities and the larger battery of trekking gear. Both 2013 models are currently available at very reasonable prices Street. And they both are unquestionably worth the money.

Both have hydraulic brakes, the disc brakes of MTB can be reduced a little sentimental. In both cases, the brakes of the engine power are appropriate: One of the biggest differences with previous pedelec. The Schwalbe Citizen tires of Lavida run easily, but are a bit narrow and can not fully convince on trails, in particular loose gravel. The Schwalbe Racing Ralph on the other hand, are ingeniously designed Univega (narrow middle section, 2 deep channels, broad shoulders) and offer plenty of off-road safety. The comfort keeps both wheels from the factory within limits: The saddle of Univega looks more chic, the handles are not worth anything, both are the Lavida indeed better, but is good here, the spring support nothing. The most important exchange in both is the props, a Thudbuster changed driving for spine fundamentally. According converted both wheels are then quite comfortable.

Driving the Lavida I have already described praise: It constantly moves at the limit of speed regulation, it must be getting used to: This bike is for what it may too well and beyond the 27 km / h unfortunately too heavy. Here comes to frustration. That's when MTB naturally quite different, the speed regulation hardly disturbs, because the circuit is translated much shorter. However, the ride is on the street does not really fun, it's too slow. In area it is suddenly different: The lightweight wheel is very handy and challenges to test limits. And so that the motor comes into play, it's just incredible what the - at full power delivery - enables to slopes on forest paths. Here rather the limits of their own abilities are often achieved as the wheel!

The Alber engineers have obviously adapted the software to different fields of application of the wheels. The Lavida starts with stage three and then with which it achieved an extremely beefy beginning after a few meters the Abregelungsgeschwindigkeit. The Univega start you at level two and initially acts as innocuous as a normal pedelec: At Level 1, the wheel moves like a normal MTB, the motor compensates for the extra weight, nothing more. Stage two can ride pleasant, but the ride in the terrain is still sufficiently strenuous sporting ambitions. The powerful Alber feeling is here until level 3. But it's fascinating. For a mountain bike, a slight 11 ah battery makes sense. Just melt the extra capacity at level 5 in terrain like butter in the sun, then may be closing quickly after 30 kilometers. But the real fun, here there should be very little wheels that exceed the Univega therein.

The different interpretations of the software as the battery capacity so makes sense. In both cases, comes with this engine on joy. The Lavida is a nearly flawless touring, retrofitted correspondingly little better for cycling will currently be found. For the fun after work, however, is the Univega MTB with this engine at the time the unrivaled sports equipment.