Riese & Müller Supercharger 2 review - There should be a law against this

[@orson347]

This was one of the most comprehensive and stylized reviews on KZbin. Of course, I cannot afford this bike, but I did enjoy the manner in which it was presented. Good Job!

[@aerin6303]

An affordable

[@onnohooijberg1165]

Finaly a compatriot who is able to deliver a content strong and beautiful edited video with the right amount of humor. The best however is your flawless, clear and smooth speaking style. Well done!!

[@merson812]

Over three years later, still a great review in terms of content and presentation. My 2023 Charger HS should be delivered from Germany to my dealer here in the UK around December 26th. Can’t wait. 👍

[@BelgianHikers]

That's quite the Christmas present! I bet you're going to enjoy it.

[@bruiser6479]

I have owned my Supercharger 2 for a few months now. I have the Rohloff version. I am very happy I got it. I use it as my commuter and in that role it excels. I do agree it gives you a workout. For me it works extremely well as my daily transport. It has been quite a few months that I have used a car or motorcycle as my work commuter. The racks work really well. The bike sits on the road beautifully and is a joy to use. They are expensive, but quite frankly I am worth it.

[@BelgianHikers]

Totally agree, it really is a perfect commuting machine!

[@nick99_]

What's the range on full batteries and what batteries u have on it?

[@tommyclarke2007]

Excellent review from someone who has looked and pedalled it - you’re getting my head straight 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️

[@subinct]

Better than the so called pros. You helped a lot of people. Thank you.

[@Vardraq]

Regarding the Charing port: I have a Superdelite HS - yes, got one this year :-) - and I can only recommend you take a look at bikeparts-jantos This guy offers nice 3D Printed parts for R&M, including a magnetic charging port cover. He also has a light raiser bar to get the Supernova light at the front a little higher, in case you do have the front rack and a bag on it; one may also have a look at the 2cm higher steering stem (just can’t remember the name of it. Kantons also has a cover for the display; which is nice to have for when you lock your pike outside and don’t want the contact to get dirty or wet.

[@BelgianHikers]

Great tips Joe, thanks!

[@Vardraq]

@@BelgianHikers found the stem riser. Search for “Satori Custom Stem Riese and Mueller”

[@moby4444]

You Sir, are a natural-born communicator! Your voice has just the right timber and inflection, consequently, I was glued to your every word! Effective use of humor. With the right material you might do stand-up but it wouldn't be the best use of your considerable skills. Never once detected you lost in your presentation or struggling for the right word(s). The Jason Statham of ebike tech.

[@BelgianHikers]

Wow, that sure is high praise! Honestly though, it’s a lot easier when you get to try it a hundred times and glue the good bits together. 😅

[@TonCKroon]

This review is fully consistent with my experiences. About the Rohloff gear: If you can afford it, buy it. If you can't afford it, find a way to do so anyway ...

[@BelgianHikers]

😆 I'll have to work that quote into a future review.

[@thedejectedape953]

What about the better range of gears with a derailleur system for people in hilly areas tho?

[@TonCKroon]

@@thedejectedape953 In flat terrain I start in sixth gear. I live in the ultra-flat NL. So I never use lower gears. I don't have the numbers ready (they can undoubtedly be found at R&M). My suspicion is that you can get along well with the Rholoff in the mountains. But testing and reading in is the only right way to test your taste. Apart from that, if you're going for performance and flexibility, an 'old-fashioned' derailleur gear is always better. Energy can be converted to other gears more efficiently and flexibly. The Rholoff's electric shifting mechanism isn't optimal for 'wild' off-road bikes in my opinion. I would definitely stick with an old fashioned chain with derailleur for that. But the Rohloff in combination with a carbon drivechain wins in terms of durability and maintenance. This makes the R&M a very comfortable, luxurious, reliable workhorse.

[@thedejectedape953]

@@TonCKroon I'm a noob to this so don't have much to say due to ignorance but I really appreciate the detailed comment it helps us newbies to learn :) R&M do some top class stuff and I'm hoping to buy a derailleur version of their multicharger because I want to try some light montain trails as well as having commuting and cargo carrying ability for shopping. The mountain trails are just plain cycling up and back down walking paths on a fairly steep hill, nothing crazy so should be ok IF it can handle a steep enough angle of attack at relatively low speeds. Think I'll go with the CX version for higher torque. I'm Irish, been to NL it's a great country... wish our government had more in common with yours.

[@TonCKroon]

@@thedejectedape953 Ireland? love it! I need to go there more often. What a beautiful country! With the derailleur you will certainly be able to handle that terrain. If it is disappointing, you can relatively easily replace gears (or have them replaced) and that will certainly work out. I wouldn't buy the Rohloff without testing it in the terrain where you plan to use the bike. And you also have to familiarize yourself with electric switching. The big advantage of the Rohloff is 'virtually no maintenance'. They are difficult decisions. It took me half a year with many test drives. Also on Stromer and other brands. And I'm pretty good at making decisions. Good luck with the decisions!

[@jowmarks]

Wow! This is not a review fitting of a sub 100 subscriber count! Excellent review. Best one i’ve seen on the supercharger 2. Looking forward to whats next

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks man, that's great to hear!

[@AyoHues]

Great review. Thank you. I have a (much lighter, Roadster style) eBike with the same enviolo trekking hub & Gates carbon belt and I too have Rohloff-envy. I sure there’s a German word for this. I don’t find the top end of the gear ratio high enough for going downhill etc. Apart from the much greater cost, which you highlight, the other issue is noise. The Rohloff has much more gear whine and clunks audibly when shifting. Still, the grass looks greener from here though…😆

[@BelgianHikers]

That DOES sound like the kind of thing the Germans would have a word for 😂. Didn't know about the noise, hadn't noticed that in my (fairly short) test of the Rohloff.

[@OmmerSyssel]

Excellent presentation! I find an often overlooked issue are the huge difference between dragging 22kg extra compared to a high quality randonneuer or gravel bike, with all the advantages of less load, expenses, regulations and the risk of getting burdened/stuck with hard solved problems. Each to his own... See you out there, have fun and stay safe 🚵🌦️

[@BelgianHikers]

Absolutely. I think most of these are used as commuting bikes or car replacements for shorter everyday distances. Once you go off the beaten path, the issues you mention pop up, and range anxiety is a real factor. It's a lot of fun to ride, but I agree there are better options for bikepacking.

[@RonMTube]

Glad to see a totally honest review of an R&M. While these are bikes to drool over, it seems like reviewers always want to justify the price and only point out the good. Obviously they aren't perfect.

[@nvll-xzi]

Great review thanks. I have the older model with rohlof, and not high speed - illegal on roads here. I adore it, so well built, designed and robust. Most of my riding is commuting , 15k km in and no problems, plus carries lots of stuff. I drive a lot less, and get over 100km out of a charge. High cadence is definitely optimal as you say., as well as putting in a bit of effort. Belt drives are brilliant in winter. The commute is now the best part of my day, I just wish we could do hs here. Oh and yeah, I did get tax assistance to buy it :)

[@Harry_16710]

Probably the most objective (and entertaining) ebike review I've seen to date. Thanks for sharing your experience. 👍🏼

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks for the kind words Scott!

[@solar-e-bike-touring-europe]

Charger 2019 (normal 25 kmh) here (1 battery, one spare), trips from NL to Normandy (2019) and Schwarzwald (2020). Topeak trailer, 100W solar panel on trailer, 300 Wh extra battery for the solar system. Solar system gives 500 extra Wh on a sunny day. Also Enviolo hub, but I will change that to Rohloff next week (you can do it yourself). I hope Schwalbe comes with a better alternative for the Moto-X tires (3 sets 15000 km - reinforced with Tannus Armor now because of nasty punctures during my trips). And the rear rack did break down during the Schwarzwald trip. I strengthened it with steel, it can carry 60 kg easily now.

[@BelgianHikers]

Wow, impressive! The solar panel on trailer setup sounds super interesting for longer trips.

[@sustainablematje]

Where did you got the Rohloff hub? You got some more info on that?

[@johnboluski-zl1qn]

Glad you brought up the negatives you came across. Sick and tired of reviews that mostly hype up the positives. Thanks, buddy!

[@BelgianHikers]

Yeah, for some reason that's typical of ebike reviews. They always seem to be the 'best ever'.

[@Moodus55]

One of the better reviews on any bike type.

[@injuredtabletennisplayer1474]

Wonderful review and congratulations on your purchase. Was planning on e bikes my wife and I before my accident. Maybe one day.

[@clarkkent4608]

Great review and I agree 100% I have a Riese & Mueller Nevo Gt Vario HS class 3 e-bike and I thought that this bike would be a piece of cake to ride when it came to keeping it in full speed of 28 miles an hour and that is not the case at all you have to definitely work for it to be hitting the higher speeds and especially in windy days or going uphills you definitely have to work for it and you are right about the stromer e-bikes they definitely have more torque and are definitely quicker where you don't have to work hard to reach the 28 mile an hour speeds and a lot of times you watch the videos of different bike shops that sell these Reiss & Mueller e-bikes and they make it sound like it's a piece of cake and that you don't have to put any work into it and it definitely is misleading now the Reese and Mueller e-bikes are definitely the Rolls-Royce of e-bikes as far as quality components comfortable bikes to ride smooth riding and bikes that are very reliable so there needs to be more truth spoken on these bikes and on what kind of bike that the rider wants to have do they want to have a Rolls-Royce bike with all the great components but have to definitely put some hard work in to reach the higher speeds or do they want the bike like Stromer which is pretty much almost like the Rolls-Royce but you can reach these top speeds without putting much effort into them so it's all in what the rider wants and thank you for being honest in your video and it is definitely a video that everyone should watch before considering buying one of these bikes so that way they're not misled or misguided as to what they're buying and again thank you very much for your honest video.

[@jobalexandre1]

It's definitely the enviolo that's holding you back. I was considering the superdelite in HighSpeed and the seller told me that if i wanted the belt drive i should go for the rohloff otherwise my top speed would be 38km/h with enviolo and even less after a few years. It's simply not designed for HS but an awesome drivetrain for 25km/h especially the automatique version. There is even a note from Riese&Muller somewhere that states the enviolo will not allow you to fully exploit the speedbike. happy riding.

[@BelgianHikers]

You’re most probably right. But I feel I read every bit of info about the bike when I bought it, and I seem to have missed that nugget. Still a great bike though.

[@rickhildebrant1230]

I would echo what others have written. I have 1200 mi on my supercharger 2. Your assessment is spot on in terms of use case and experience however I would add that those interested in ebike touring should consider this bike as well as there are limited options that can realistically do 100 mi between charges. To that end, I would highly recommend the rolhoff for low maintenance and high efficiency. interestingly, my left grip does not have the same issues as yours in terms of reaching the cockpit controls but the horn is a bit far for me.

[@Mark-yo5ue]

Good review and fair points about the pros and cons. I have a charger 3 and use it for work commute. Almost 2,000 KM in less than a year. Love the bike. It’s not perfect, but gets the job done very well and very safely.

[@tapiorautiainen6993]

Definitely the best review video of this e-bike! I have a similar bike and I actually agree on almost everything. I've been driving my bike 3000 km of mostly forest roads in northern Finland (Lapland) without a major problem. The bike is a high speed bike if you can pedal really fast. After adding the torque (10 Nm) brought by the engine upgrade, I haven’t used the bike yet, but I think it will significantly improve the usability of the bike.

[@neppbroek]

Well done! Good video....I have one myself just the e-bike, it is heaven too bike with on and off road. just over 10.000 km within 1 year. and yes it is a work-out not only a bike-bike! really a great bike! worth every penny!

[@mauort6870]

I like your style. The balance of what to cover and how much depth each subject called for was well done. It's so true that bikes in this segment are mostly reviewed by people with vested interest. The presentation is superb. While you have a relatively low number of KZbin videos I'd guess your day job prepared you well for this.

[@ZeroTailpipe]

Engaging review, thanks! I have a 1,250Wh HS on order. Enjoyed the Owen Wilson-esque vibe of your relaxed delivery too :) Looking forward to more videos from you about your ownership experience with the bike etc ...

[@vidibi3968]

Wouter spot on man! Owen wilson vibe hahahha beautiful!!

[@Mike-ql4sz]

Thx 4 the review. What's the max weight u can carry on the backrack?

[@BelgianHikers]

The rear rack is rated for 27,5kg.

[@Hulteke]

Sweet review! A lot of good humr, like the rant part and the “if you can stay off your phone, we kinda hate you”. Love that kind of humor. Ricard, Sweden (I’m going for a belt drive rolof super delight has commuting 65km 5days a week.

[@BelgianHikers]

Nice! That’s a great distance to do every day. Not to daunting, but great for your health.

[@markbeckett3317]

Love your style dude. Intonation check, pacing check, thoroughness check, subtle humor check, point of view check.....hey can you review the single battery Homage with Rohloff trans? Great Job

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks! I'd love to review the Homage as well as other bikes, but it's hard to get my hands on bikes for long enough to do a thorough review.

[@Fonzie2612]

Great review. I bought the R&M supercharger GT 2 Rohloff HS second handed. I haven't been riding it much yet but I will ;). I'm quickly going to checl if I have that lock you were talking about 😂

[@RichardHurd]

I have the same rack on my Supercharger 1. When I want the elastic out of the way, I push it underneath, between the rack and the mudguard, and then hook it back onto the cross brace furthest from the saddle. This works great. Just shorten it a little so you have to stretch it so it doesn't rattle against the rack or mudguard.

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks! I've managed to take it off.

[@TANDEMLausanneRiviera]

" (...) 1.3% of a Tesla battery. Ok, that doesn't sound like much, but it does mean that your kilometers will be a lot greener than the ones from those electric cars." (10:22) We love it! great review, keep up the good work and fun!

[@paulgovers8774]

Very nice and realistic review, much better than all the so-called ‘specialists’... Thank you soo much.

[@richwallach9881]

Thanks for the fine unbiased review from an SC2 owner. My only complaint is you barely mentioned the fine derailleur version which IMHO is the most engaging and fun even if you have to clean/oil the chain every once in awhile. It’s like driving a clutch vs an automatic. Total control and cheaper!

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks for chiming in Rich! The derailleur is the only version I didn't test myself, so I couldn't really comment on that. But it's definitely a great option as well, and maintenance one a bike you love is time well spent 👍🏻

[@dennisdownes9319]

Excellent video! Picture worth a thousand words.....the high beam shot of the bridge! Thanks!! DD

[@brianpedersen9813]

Thumps Up, finally a rewiew where All questions is answered, top pro....

[@motkit]

I have the SuperDelight Rohloff GT with the Fox Suspension and absolutely love the damn thing best bikes ever, did over 2000 miles through Europe last summer... worth every penny not cheap but quality products cost money...

[@JimAlwart]

I would loooove to see footage of yr Bike riding holiday, ours was my best holiday evaah 🤩😜😍

[@jomava]

Excellent review! Simple, to the point and informative! - I have the R&M Nevo3 GX HS Vario and I truly love it!

[@nanoulandia]

Very useful review, thanks. I need an eBike to make my ride easier, and it looks like this one does not fit the bill.

[@pt020]

The elastic bands for your luggage are removable .. I remove it every time on my R&M Tinker.. you just need to twist it through the holes.

[@snamrehegres]

Ik heb hem ook een half jaar en zou exact dezelfde punten naar voren brengen. Hele gave fiets en inderdaad daagt hij uit voor een workout. Dat had ik nooit verwacht maar is wel tof. En dat afdek rubber van de charging port... my god wat een K-ding. Goede review !

[@ruebensm]

Zalige review, echt van genoten :) Ga deze leasen via het werk, dan zal het mij niet zoveel kosten :) Kan je miss een long term review doen van deze fiets? Wat je bevindingen zijn na 1,5 jaar ofzo? Allesinds heel coole review!

[@BelgianHikers]

Dankjewel! Ik heb al aan een long-term review gedacht, maar het probleem is dat veel wat ik daarin te vertellen zou hebben te maken heeft met het feit dat ik het achterste tandwiel heb laten vervangen om een groter 'verzet' te krijgen. En da's natuurlijk niet voor iedereen interessant. Maar de grote punten op lange termijn zouden voor mij zijn: ga voor de Rohloff, zoek voor het onderhoud een vakman waar je vertrouwen in hebt en verwacht niet van de Supercharger dat hij een echte eMTB vervangt.

[@scb2scb2]

I don't get why they don't allow the vario automatic on the charger move to a no shifting at all options done that now for 3000km on a nevo and its great. Also move some of the controls its a little work but makes for a more personal feel on what you like. My controller is way closer and moved down so thumb can be on it while i still have 2 fingers on each break. Since i don't need to shift the other hand is always on the brake or if needed the bell (i am in the netherlands afterall) todo the needed thing thing at times.

[@vincentpeeters1157]

Good review, I have the bike too. What is your story in Belgium? Greetings from Dendermonde. In the beginning I was disappointed that I had to work a little harder to get up to speed, but now I also see it as a good thing. The best thing about this bike is how 'solid' it feels I think

[@BelgianHikers]

Story?

[@vincentpeeters1157]

@@BelgianHikers I was under the impression you are an expat due to your American accent, but I'm wrong?

[@BelgianHikers]

@@vincentpeeters1157Nope, born and raised in Belgium. But thanks for the compliment! 😆

[@emmanuelscerriyoutub]

You aced the review. Thanks for your many details presented in an infinitely more accessible format than the other folk. Hope the manufacturers can appreciate your valuable feedback. Keep up the good work dude. Emmanuel in Fribourg, Switzerland

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks for the kind words Emmanuel!

[@JeraCravoMyself]

Great review!!!!! Instantly subscribing! What kind of range do you get in Touring? Thanks

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks! On tour I get about a kilometer per % point (so about 100 in total). Depends on temperature, wind, etc. of course.

[@me109av8r]

Great, thorough, real-world review. Thanks!

[@84imreplica]

A honest review with a good dose of humour thrown in. Well done!

[@holyfox94]

Although I prefer the clean design of the Supercharger, I ordered the Superdelite GX Rohloff. With all bells and whistles. I’m getting into a age, where a certain amount of comfort is appreciated. Also can’t do without the rear rack. The groceries have to go somewhere. Preferably not on my back in form of a rucksack.

[@BelgianHikers]

Absolutely, I feel for everyone having to ride long distances with a rucksack (and a sweaty back 😅). Throw a couple of pannier bags on the Superdelite and the weird spoiler-y rear rack looks fine. Plus the Rohloff is a great system. Perhaps I should have sprung for one too.

[@holyfox94]

@@BelgianHikers That’s why I spent the huge amount. Fear of regret🤦🏼‍♀️

[@mray8519]

Thanks a lot bro. I just discovered something I can’t live without. I am crazy about well designed and made tools, especially the kind that take you places.

[@goossensnk]

Wat een heerlijke, heerlijke review! Dank u 🇹🇩 U sprak in uw review kort over Stromer dat quasi in dezelfde prijsklasse zit als R&M. Vindt u dat de Stromer ST2 met belt drive kwalitatief beter is dan deze R&M? Of hebt u een idee waarom potentiële kopers beter voor het merk Stromer zouden gaan dan voor R&M? Is de eerste zo beduidend sneller? Mvg.

[@BelgianHikers]

Dankjewel! Ik heb te weinig ervaring met Stromer om er een gefundeerde mening over te hebben, maar ik merk wel dat ze heel anders rijden: ik word met een zekere regelmaat voorbijgestoken door mensen op een Stromer die met schijnbaar gemak aan een relatief lage kadans fietsen, terwijl ik behoorlijk hard en vooral snel aan het trappen ben. Daarnaast had ik het onlangs met iemand over z'n nieuwe Stromer (ik weet niet welk model) en die gaf aan dat hij vooral aangenaam verrast was door het koppel en de snelheid van optrekken. Dat is niet echt mijn ervaring met de Bosch motoren. Maar: persoonlijk vind ik er dat ook wel leuk aan, ze laten je ervoor werken maar dan op een leuke manier. Als je twijfelt zou ik zeker aanraden om ze allebei eens uit te proberen.

[@mwj5368]

Hi Belgian Hikers! I liked and subscribed! Nice to get a review from someone who doesn't sell it! You are very thorough, and nice clips to support what you're saying. I'm retired, and hoping to pull a one wheeled trailer through 83 countries on my list! I will be years on my journey. An R&M guy told me at my weight of 265lbs I should get this model. I can't afford this, but might have to forfeit 20% of my health insurance coverage and somehow get someone to hire me so I can earn the $10,239 (with the Rolhoff hub) plus a Hildeberg tent and camping gear, and a solar charger for my bike, laptop, traveler style CPAP machine... wow! I could spend $14,000 or more! I can't really break down in the middle of nowhere. R&M won't cover warranty if you have a 2 wheeled trailer, that's if I recall correctly. Does anyone know why that is, one wheeled? Wow $9,239 dollars!!! That, I think is with the Enviolo hub, but, with a Rolhoff hub at $1,090 it is $10,329 total!!! Also if you want the 1250 watt hr batteries, the biggest, add how much? I would get the custom bag for the very front. What would be a good brand of one wheeled trailer? I need a very good quality bike as I will be in very remote areas, that's if the two mutated versions of CoVid19 don't start taking off and international travel is stopped even worse.

[@OmmerSyssel]

Might be irrelevant by now, but lots of issues.. How about loosing some of those extra kg? How should R&M know which sort of trailer you're using, and of course it'll pull that extra weight without any problems. Germans are simply obsessed with rules and control. That's what makes this product so reliable ... Some countries you're not allowed pulling a trailer with Speed Pedelec. Consider a normal bike and the whole travel will be way easier without the dominating issues following an extreme bike like this one.. You're most likely not the strongest to handle the complete setup, 22 kg extra bicycle is a lot!

[@Pipsicle330]

My dream eBike. R&M have lead the way in integrated dual batteries. Amazing how few competitors have an alternative. Only problem with it is a major one, eye watering cost.

[@BelgianHikers]

Exactly! I'm assuming most of these bikes are at least partially paid for by employers.

[@tdgdbs1]

If it can replace the car where you live; the cost is minimal compare to a car.

[@mariner7853]

A very good review. All I need now is 7.5k GBP. Dream on.............

[@MatthiasKremp]

Marvelous review which makes me even more confident that i made the right choice when i picked up my Supercharger 2 yesterday. ;)

[@BelgianHikers]

Congrats, I'm certain you'll love it! When I got mine I couldn't ride it right away because I had to wait for my license plate. Longest week ever 😂 How long did you have to wait between order and delivery?

[@MatthiasKremp]

@@BelgianHikers I only had to wait about 4 weeks as it was delivered about two weeks ahead of its original delivery date. It seems like R&M likes to have a buffer. Other than yout i didn't order the HS-Version for two reasons: 1: i wouldn't be allowed to ride on bike lanes in germany. 2: i go all in on range as i bought this one for a tour around the baltic sea which will be around 10.000 km on which i will not always have access to a power outlet.

[@BelgianHikers]

@@MatthiasKrempWow, 10.000km 😮 Sounds like an epic journey!

[@MatthiasKremp]

@@BelgianHikers It will be. Especially as my wife will join me with her Charger3 Mixte :)

[@maddox0110]

First , good intro music. And the con's of this bike, easely adapted. Position of control buttons, position of the front light. Things I do for fun. And yes. When ithe €€€ are possible, get a Rolhoff.

[@stillben]

this is a great review...hope to see more from this chap in the new year

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks man!

[@stillben]

@@BelgianHikers thank you, your humour is spot on.

[@philforde5871]

Great independent review. Professional graphics too

[@mikevandendaele2271]

Toffe review. En door wat je zegt over die continu snelheid aanhouden neig ik meer naar stromer dan. Zou voor woon-werk verkeer (55km enkel) zijn ...

[@BelgianHikers]

Amai, 55 enkel is inderdaad al een serieuze afstand! Dan hoop ik dat je lange stukken hebt waar je goed door kan rijden. Maar Stromer is in elk geval een goede keuze voor zo'n traject.

[@alehsnel]

That was funny. Best review I have seen of this thing. Tnx m8

[@TinkyDoy]

Any questions aye? Where did you get that t-shirt then? I want one :D Great review and quite insightful.

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks! That's a Cotton Bureau shirt: cottonbureau.com/products/linear-light?#/1632546/tee-men-standard-tee-vintage-navy-tri-blend-s

[@TinkyDoy]

@@BelgianHikers Cheers man! Oh and kudos on the lack of a discernible accent! Dat kan ik steeds waarderen!

[@petesig93]

That front rack and any bag to go on it? I love using a handlebar bag on tour and this light would definitely NOT work with that. Reisse & Muller really need to design a simple bracket to mount the headlight UNDERNEATH the front rack. Perhaps on the front suspension slider bridge, or on the front of the rack itself. Fork-crown height gives by far the best sort of lighting of the road ahead, to pick out the potholes without making them look like chasms. Handlebar height is not so great. Helmet lights are a disaster as they blow out all the details of the road surface.

[@philippeheyninck]

Wauw, net jullie kanaal ontdekt, topvideo’s en de ‘presentator’ is een natuurtalent! Laat de video’s maar komen!

[@Stijnemansstijnemans]

Thanks for the great review. I wonder: do you think the SC2 would be "good enough" to do some relatively easy MTB-trails in Holland with my 4 year old son on his small MTB? He's only going very slowly and is still learning, as am i. If this bike could get me 2-3 years of easy MTB-trails with my son, going slowly and just having fun, that would be great. I would not have to buy a separate MTB. Then, if he gets serious after a few years, i can always buy an extra dedicated MTB for myself. Looking forward to your reply!

[@BelgianHikers]

I've only done a proper MTB trail with the Supercharger once. It wasn't a particularly fun experience, but that was mostly due to the fact that the Schwalbe Moto X-tires that come standard weren't grippy enough for the trail. If you use the right tires, your main issue will likely be the weight. This is not a nimble bike at all. But simple forest trails at low speed? Sure. Go for a test drive and try it out!

[@EdwardNortonPhotographer]

I love your videos, very professional and great humour! What a bike . . . time to start saving, should only take a decade.

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks! Yeah, the sticker shock is real with these bikes 😅. I'm guessing a good number of them are paid by employers.

[@malachy9400]

Astonishing review of a superb bike, although i think i would prefer the derailleur gears. Dont be surprised if Riese and Muller offer you employment as head of public relations.

[@BelgianHikers]

Haha, I'm open to suggestions. Derailleur and Rohloff are definitely the two best options.

[@franco912]

I'm looking for a e-bike in order to do deliveries full time which one would you advice ?

[@BelgianHikers]

I think the Bosch CX gen 4 is still a solid choice, so any bike with that motor and solid hardware is worth a look. Best advice is probably to go and test some bikes out. Having a bike mechanic you trust nearby is also pretty important if you’re going fulltime: you’d be surprised how much wear you get on a bike if you use it every day.

[@che7082]

Goede review (met veel passie gemaakt)! - ik denk dat een Rolhoff versnelling de 'sweet spot' versnelling wel op het hoger niveau krikt .... Momenteel aan het twijfelen tussen een HS supercharger of een Simplon 625W/CX (25km/h)... weet je wat je gemiddelde snelheid is over al die ritten? En hoeveel km rijd je per dag? Ivm de claxon op je supercharger - het is me niet helemaal duidelijk - werkt die niet meer na 2000Km of heeft die nooit goed gewerkt ? Alvaste bedankt!

[@BelgianHikers]

Dankjewel! Je zou inderdaad denken dat de Rohloff dat probleem niet heeft, maar als de info op de website van R&M klopt is het grootste verzet daar net iets kleiner dan de Enviolo. Veel zal het in elk geval niet schelen. Je zou eventueel wel een groter tandwiel kunnen steken, al raden sommige fietsenmakers dat af. Ik rij bij woon-werkverkeer (40km enkel) ongeveer 28 km/h, maar dat is ook wel met veel stoppen en in de stad rijden bij. Op kruissnelheid zit ik gemiddeld rond de 32 à 35 km/h in stand Tour. Ik ben zeker geen coureur maar sta wel in het zweet als in aankom. De claxon heeft een tijdje niet goed gewerkt (ging nog maar heel stil), zat verstopt met modder denk ik. Na een tijdje ging het vanzelf over en nu dus weer ok. Ik heb ook wel niet geprobeerd om het uit te wassen of zo, maar ik vind het niet ok dat dat zomaar verstopt van een beetje modder. Simplon ken ik niet, maar het verschil tussen 25 en 35 km/h is naar mijn gevoel wel vrij groot. Misschien eens een testrit maken met een speedbike en daarna met een gewone, je gaat snel weten wat je het beste ligt.

[@che7082]

@@BelgianHikers bedankt voor de nuttige informatie. Waar heb je fiets gekocht? Ik weet dat fietslab in Leuven R&M verkoopt- heb je ervaring met hen?

[@BelgianHikers]

Ik hoor goeie dingen over Fietslab maar heb bij Trim Velo in Aarschot gekocht omdat ik daar betere voorwaarden kreeg.

[@che7082]

@@BelgianHikers ok, ik zal ze eens contacten. Met uw gemiddeld profiel - hoeveel km kan je rijden ?

[@BelgianHikers]

Zo'n 100 geloof ik.

[@doctbarr]

Nice review, thanks

[@V25GTR]

Superb review, and delivered in an amusing and interesting way.

[@kostyafedot551]

Agreed on design. It is important not to ride something ugly. This one looks like next to only one where two batteries are integrated.

[@LiarOfAngmar]

What a beast! Loving it 😎

[@martinlieber]

Great review! Question for you...can a droppler post be installed on a charger 2?

[@BelgianHikers]

I have no experience with dropper posts myself, but based on recent discussion in a FB forum I follow, my impression is that it's technically possible but may void R&M's warranty.

[@GregAKA1]

Fantastic presentation as always. You deserve more subs

[@brianbassett4379]

It's about a bike, not a presentation... Greg.

[@thomfrancis563]

Thank you for such a good informative review.

[@RikuLeppanen]

Great review! This could just be my next bike.

[@sagaravajra2965]

Thanks, great video - I'm wondering if your issues the high candence required for high speed riding are in part due to the Vario gears with their 1/380% gear range compared to the Rohloff 1/526 % range? Did you experience a difference when you pre tested both?

[@BelgianHikers]

It's true that the Rohloff has a broader gear range, but the difference lies entirely in the very low gears. Based on Riese & Mueller's own numbers (2,51m - 2,94m for the Enviolo, 1,74 - 9,30m for the Rohloff) the Enviolo should even have a slightly lower cadence on the highest gear. I didn't notice any difference when testing. Honestly the high cadence doesn't bother me when riding shorter distances with a 'sports mindset', like I did when testing. It's when you ride longer distances at high speeds to get somewhere comfortably that it can become an issue.

[@sagaravajra2965]

@@BelgianHikers thanks for that!

[@diantianhotmailcom]

@@BelgianHikers Great and complete review and completely in line with my experiences (approx 10.000 km on older version of supercharger with enviolo). But on the high cadence comparison I have a different experience : I had the chance to test both enviolo and Rohloff very recently and my experience is : huge difference in cadence between enviolo and rohloff. Enviolo in highest gear still > 90 cadence at approx 40 km/u, Rohloff in gear 14 rather 70-75, which is for me a huge difference (but still : not a Stromer) So my conclusion was : I will have to find a way to afford me a Rohloff :-) Some people change the rear ring of 24T with 22T on enviolo and that seems to help also.

[@BelgianHikers]

You’re absolutely right, and I think it’s a shame R&M isn’t more transparent about that difference in cadence. My bike is at the bike shop to change the rear ring as we speak. I’m hoping it will make a difference 🤞🏻

[@diantianhotmailcom]

@@BelgianHikersPlease share your experience with us. (and the upgrade price?) I think it will be better since I (also) tested a trek allant+ 9S, same bosch motor and same belt drive as the R&M supercharger 2 but a 55Tx22T instead of a 55Tx24T. And the feeling at higher speed was much better

[@PaulVoorberg]

Good review thanks. What's the range in touring mode? With one battery.

[@BelgianHikers]

Hey Paul, I'd guess about 60 kilometers.

[@PaulVoorberg]

@@BelgianHikers Ok thanks. I wish one battery could do 100km, then I'd get 2 and be set for a few days at a time. Maybe in a few more years. Want to travel by bike through Europe and still debating whether to go electric or not.

[@BelgianHikers]

I hope car charging stations will in time also allow fast charging for bike batteries. Because I think a bike like this is in many ways perfect for bike packing, but there just aren't enough places where you can easily charge your batteries.

[@PaulVoorberg]

@@BelgianHikers How about in campings. Can't you charge well there? I figured if I have enough range and can top up while staying at campings every 1-2 days I could make it work.

[@BelgianHikers]

You definitely can! But it does narrow your options in terms of going where ever you want to. You'd have to plan everything in advance or risk range anxiety.

[@GalinPanchev]

Great review!

[@prasadsawant4153]

Great video!

[@robertsegovia4663]

Excellent! I love the detail and you present it in a genuine way.

[@ropi4524]

Nice Video. Enjoy a Charger 3 since May 2020. does the swiss one not name Stromer?

[@Unitedflyier]

I have the low step Homage on order. 6 month waiting list. You got the HS I think? But what about the different laws? USA 20mph Europe 15.5mph. You say the sweet spot is 22mph. So I’m guessing you don’t think the restricted versions are as good?

[@BelgianHikers]

Hm, good question. I'm guessing many people don't really need the higher speeds of the HS version, and the added speed also increases the risk of injury if you should fall (trust me, I've been there 😅). Unless you live in the city, I personally think 15.5mph is too slow. 20mph is indeed near the sweet spot, and probably fine for many people that aren't really feeling the 'need for speed'. It all depends on your use case. I try to always take the bike for distances under 10 miles, and I find that I don't really lose that much time vs. using the car. That wouldn't be the case with the restricted version. For purely recreational use, 20mph is probably fine. Just don't try out the HS version first 😉

[@trxr4kds67]

@@BelgianHikers Is the bike in this review the High Speed (HS) version of the Supercharger 2?

[@BelgianHikers]

@@trxr4kds67 That's correct Eric!

[@lawrencejob]

Holy crap this video is great

[@DEA-vy4bh]

This is a Great review with capital G hands down! I've been watching this video now for the third time. I'm in the market to lease a speed pedelec by my employer and I'm looking at the ST5 however this is also a very interesting bike. Thank you for creating doubt in my head ;-). What is the range in the highest mode?

[@BelgianHikers]

Thanks! Just tested and the bike indicates a range of 70km. Might be a bit higher in warmer weather.

[@DEA-vy4bh]

@@BelgianHikers ThX 4 your answer. I have one more for now. You mentioned the cadence was very high to reach 45km/h. What is the topspeed with a acceptable cadence?

[@BelgianHikers]

Hm, that's probably a bit subjective but for me it's around 37-38 km/h. Either way, the difference with Stromer is huge: I got overtaken this morning by a guy on an ST5 doing 45km/h at a much lower cadence than me (doing 35 km/h).

[@stepheneurosailor1623]

The Stromer is an exhilarating ride. totally different from the RM. I have ST2.

[@michielh4124]

mine arrived yesterday. when i did a test ride, i had to do around 110 rotations to reach 45kmph. the bike store said they could change something in the gearing to lower the rotations. when I drove the bike home yesterday i did the whole track at 45kmph, doing 85 rotations a minute! what a difference with the test bike! there is also an option to change the gearing (bigger gear + larger belt) for around 100€.

[@paulcampbell9241]

Excellent review I appreciate the pros and cons Please continue

[@edwardgomez3633]

The Supercharger and the Super Delight aren’t the same bike?

[@BelgianHikers]

No, the Superdelite has front and rear suspension, the Supercharger only in the front. I rode it a few years ago and it was fun to drive, but it looks a bit weird and it costs (even) more.

[@DirectorLJ]

Great job! An excellent review that's also a good short film Well done. And thanks for the cue about getting insurance for a pricey electric bike. It costs as much as a motorcycle so good idea.

[@londer71]

Very informative review and a welcome take on a very expensive high end bike. Can you really forgive the designers of this really (really) expensive bike for any of the issues that you have raised (like the stupid charging plug cap or the horn issue, how small they may seem but how frequent an owner might be confronted with them) while keeping the pricepoint of this bike in mind?

[@BelgianHikers]

Good question! You would expect them to be very close to perfection at this price point. But e-bikes are still a young product category. I'm sure early Mercedes and BMW cars had issues that we wouldn't accept in an entry-level car today. Also, R&M do work on improving their stuff: when I brought my bike in for maintenance recently, they replaced the charging plug cap with a better version (at no extra, well, charge).

[@Assontwohorses]

You may have saved me $8k! I do not mind making an effort but I like having a "Lazy" button if needed.

[@BelgianHikers]

Haha, you’re welcome. It can do lazy, just not lazy and super fast at the same time 😁

[@JulianHutchings]

Hi, great review - thanks. My mate is after an e-bike. He would prefer a road bike - he rides a Time - but can't find one with a tall head-tube; he has a back problem. Does this bike offer a more upright position than a road bike?

[@BelgianHikers]

Well, it's still a mountain bike handlebar. So a good medium, but not quite upright. I chose the medium frame size even though I'm pushing the max height, just to have a more upright position.

[@stephenconley6891]

Did the Cafe lock come with yours? I have the same bike (except in grey) but it only came with the folding lock. I'd love to add the cafe lock - but not sure where it mounts.

[@BelgianHikers]

Both locks came with the bike. Same key for everything too, including the batteries. Weird that there would be regional differences for something like that. It mounts to pre-drilled holes on the rear rack. If you have those, it seems like it would be a fairly straightforward install.

[@chrisvanheverlee7213]

Really enjoyed the review! I have a question about sizing....I'm looking at getting a speed pedelec to share with my wife. Now, I'm 183cm and my wife is 170 which puts us right on the top and bottoms limits of the 49cm size. Other viable bikes including Stomer don't seem to have a size that fits and it might end up being too much of a compromise. What size do you ride and do you have any thoughts on sizing?

[@BelgianHikers]

I'm 185cm and I ride the 49cm frame - no complaints. I haven't tried out the larger size myself but based on the explanation they gave me at the bike shop, when you're near the size limit the choice mostly depends on how upright you prefer to sit: the larger the frame, the more hunched over you'll be when you ride it. My wife is 170cm as well, and she's able to ride the bike as well. She doesn't enjoy it as much as I do, but that's mostly due to the weight.

[@chrisvanheverlee7213]

@@BelgianHikers Thanks for the prompt answer! Sounds like it might well work so the next stop will be to head on down to the dealer and give it a try.

[@spoown007]

nice summary !

[@Vardraq]

Would have loved to know why you remarked the Superdelite with the rear rack as "unfortunate". Care to give more details?

[@BelgianHikers]

I'm sure it works quite well, but I don't think there's any bike manufacturer that's managed to make a full suspension bike with a rear rack that doesn't look weird. And the Superdelite is no exception imho. It's also the way it sticks out when you're not riding it I guess. Once you're on the bike, especially with pannier bags, it looks fine.

[@Vardraq]

@@BelgianHikers ah, so it is an extension to the earlier notion in the video that 'looks are in the eye of the beholder'. Thought you spotted something mechanically wrong with it. Looks fine to me, and I believe you can also remove the plastic bits to make it sleeker. The only problem I see with this rack is that you cannot remove it easily, if you don’t need it, as the rear light is integrated (which makes it even harder for the HS version, as - at least in Germany - you A) need a license plate attached and B) you cannot just change the configuration of the lights

[@dva71271]

I can fully confirm this review, based on my own experiences. But I have (you need) a rohloff hub and pedaling is very comfortable at 45km/h (70 to 80 rpm at 14, I ride 45 at gear 13.. which is indeed more workout style... 80 to 90 rpm). Very broad range. The front carrier bag alternative I have: B-SOUL 5 L Bike Panniers Bag (Light in the box: www.lightinthebox.com/en/p/b-soul-4-5-l-bike-rack-bag-portable-wearable-outdoor-bike-bag-terylene-bicycle-bag-cycle-bag-cycling-outdoor-exercise-bike-bicycle_p7124080.html?prm=1.5.1.2).

[@Holle4711]

Great review - thx for that! :)

[@kristofverschueren3141]

Best review online!!

[@wouterverckens443]

Mine is 2 years old now and I drove 21800 km with it. The gates belt is nice to have, but expensive to replace. I clean the bike almost every time when i drove in the rain and certainly weekly. Sand is killing its lifespan of the belt and toothwheels. Daily I drive to the port of antwerp and back, 70 km in total. Sometimes I am jealous, or I envy the stromer drivers because the speed they have. But it is like an american musclecar, in the corners I can catch up. Condition has become a lot better, when driving my race bike I feel the difference. It was expensive to buy, couldn't lease it on the job sadly. But it paid itself back luckily. Would i buy it again? Not sure, I must say. Sidenote, the belt was broken 2 weeks ago (10.000 km so not to bad I think) and I used my neighbours stromer. Sadly I fell with that bike for crying out loud. I think it was.due to bad weather and some kind of.slick tyre. Anyway I managed to get 2 bikes in 2 days ready for repair... the shop love to see me coming😅. If you want to replace a car or drive yout car far less, I recommend it.

[@BelgianHikers]

How did you like the Stromer, being used to the R&M? Totally agree that commuting by electric bike can be great practice for road cyclists.

[@wouterverckens443]

Albeit it is also a speedbike, the difference is fairly big. When i stopped pedaling the motor still gives a little push so you must anticipatie that. Breaking is also remarkable because i didn't like the stopping power, pushing the breaks didnt result in fast deceleration but then it seems like the motor was also stopping the bike. That was actually a nicer feeling than on the RM. The speed and ease to go fast is enjoyable. I was driving with a heavy backpack so i had to change position a few times for my back and was driving quite long with only 1 hand on the bar. A RM supercharger 2 like mine passed me and i let it get away for a distantie to see how fast i could come to to him. Effortless... But sadly because i was to careful and i took a bicyclelane i wasn't used to (where threerootes pushing up the surface, i should have known..) i must have had a moment of not paying attention et voila I kissed the earth's crust. For me its like mercedes VS bmw in the bikeworld if you could say. It's the same but different. I think I am a RM guy. They are both good, it depends on what you want and how much money you want to spend (ST7 omg how expensive, and it has parts RM has for more than years, so whats the fuzz? Ok the motor is very strong >900 W to 350 W of mine, but Come on almost 13000 €?)

[@toonappeltans]

@@wouterverckens443 Super interesting to read the comparison! Was it the ST7 you tested?

[@wouterverckens443]

@@toonappeltans nope, it was the st2, which is made to get the RM clients an alternative. These are the exact words from the shop. If you are in the running for a speedbike, there are 2 options: When speed is the most important thing for you than stromer is the one to have. If you pay extra the comfort can be bought. If you prefer a little more comfort, the RM is the one to go. Still want to test the st7 thou, must be a rocket on wheels. But the price.. Oh and btw, so many People are using the bike now, places where you can reach top speed are limited. 45 km/h on the road -> cardrivers dont like you. 34-36 km/h on the bikelane -> cyclists dont like you, even when you are carefull and adapt speed when passing by. If there are more questions or remarks, keep them coming. I do my best to answer them as soon and neutral as possible. Just giving my experience. Something i should have written first, i really liked the way the review is done. The part with the high beam in the park or garden, it really is that bright. ( but i have a 2nd flashlight so cardrivers see me coming faster, that made a huge difference in bringing back the near death experiences)