Cycling in Germany is as old as the vehicle itself. Inventors hailing from the country are responsible for the innovations that, ultimately, shaped it to the popular mode of transport that it is now. Should it be a surprise, then, that some of the world’s premiere e-bike brands are from Germany?
German engineering has always been considered as the best in the world. This is why e-bike riders who want nothing less than excellent European quality models often choose German brands over others. Bosch, one of the top motors used in e-bikes, is proudly German-based, and brands that use them are often associated with high-quality, dynamic, and long-lasting motors.
That said, you should not be surprised if e-bikers in Germany have high standards when it comes to the brands they trust. By no means are all e-bike brands in Germany perfect. It’s only recently that e-biking is gaining traction in the country, after all.
Of course, with this heightened interest in the market, manufacturers both local and abroad are only bound to woo more riders. Below are but some of the ones that a lot of people already associate with quality and trustworthiness.
| Brand Name | Types of E-bikes | Models |
| CUBE | Hybrid, Mountain Hybrid, Road Hybrid, Road, City Hybrid, Road, Commuter Hybrid, Commuter Hybrid, Cruiser Hybrid, Cargo Hybrid, Gravel Hybrid, Kids | ELITE HYBRID CROSS HYBRID TOWN SPORT HYBRID KATHMANDU HYBRID TOWN HYBRID ELLA CRUISER HYBRID CARGO HYBRID NUROAD HYBRID REACTION ROOKIE HYBRID |
| Riese & Müller | Mountain Cargo City Commuter HybridRoad | Superdelite Delite Supercharger Charger Multicharger Load 60 Load 75 Packster 40 Packster 60 Nevo Culture Roadster Cruiser Tinker |
| BMW | Cruiser Hybrid | Cruise Active Hybrid |
| Focus | Mountain Road Hybrid | Thron Jam Focus Sam Raven Jafira Paralane Planet Aventura Whisper |
| Kalkhoff | City Road Commuter | Endeavor Endeavor Lite Entice Image Agattu Berleen |
| Haibike | Mountain Road Hybrid | XDuro SDuro |
| Gazelle | City Cruiser Hybrid Road | Ultimate T10 NL C8 Medeo T9/T10 CityZen EasyFlow Tour Populair Arroyo C8 |
| Specialized | Mountain Road Gravel | Levo Creo Vado Como Kenevo |
| Stromer | Commuter City | ST5 ST3 ST1 |
| Winora | City Road | Radius Tour Sima Sinus Yucatan |
| Corratec | Mountain City Gravel Road Kids City Hybrid | LifeS AP5 Life CX 6 Connect E-Power C29 E-Power RS 160 E-Power MTC E-Corones E-Allroad |
CUBE
As far as the European e-bike market goes, CUBE is pretty much a biggie. This only puts more clout on its humble beginnings in Germany. It’s also a bike brand that’s been around for quite a long time now, having been initially recognized for its mountain bikes.
Considering where the company stands now, we can safely say that it has since expanded that image by offering e-bikes for city riding, light trail riding, and various demographics as well.
CUBE e-bike models
If prolific can be used to describe e-bike manufacturers, CUBE definitely deserves that earmark. It boasts of an impressive catalog, with e-bike lines that come in plenty of types and variations. The brand sticks to its reputation for creating outstanding mountain bikes by offering different mountain and road e-bikes that fall under the Enduro, Trail, Tour, Sport, and All Mountain (hardtail and full suspension) categories.
As said above, it also offers a wide variety of models for urban settings and even has models for kids and the more recent gravel variety. It’s a complete e-bike catalog, in short, and what’s wonderful is that the brand continues to expand over the years.
Read also: Is CUBE a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.
CUBE quality and features
CUBE is a brand that sticks to the ready quality that most Bosch motors bring. Expect its models to pull no punches when delivering the highest torque available, and yes, this goes for pretty much both its e-MTBs and road as well as city, cruiser, gravel, and commuter models.
It’s an above-average brand as evidenced by the almost uniform integration of superb hydraulic brakes, lightweight frames, riding ranges that can reach 90 miles per full charge, and all the great bells and whistles you look for in a bike or e-bike.
In a nutshell, CUBE really is more about quality despite its apparent focus on quantity. Even though this is the case, it doesn’t go overboard with its prices. Yes, plenty of models fall under the high-end category, but it’s due more to the savvy combination of advanced components and smart design decisions that don’t balloon costs, unlike others that belong in the same grain.
Here is the link to visit the CUBE website.
Riese & Müller
The Riese & Müller brand is probably what definitively German e-bikes are all about. When people say “German-made”, it’s almost a guarantee of stellar performance, innovation, and overall quality. It’s safe to say that Riese & Müller lives up to that notion.
The brand was the brainchild of two engineers, Maruku Riese and Heiko Müller. It was officially founded in Hesse, Germany in 1993 and has, since its inception, focused on innovation. For this, it didn’t take long for it to become a regular recipient of many awards recognizing it for just that.
Indeed, Riese & Müller’s history is marked by plenty of developmental milestones. It probably would not have achieved that much and be regarded so highly among e-bike circles if it had not been for the company’s lively approach to manufacturing.
Riese & Müller e-bike models
For its dedication to continually improve its models, Riese & Müller immediately became known for its robust touring and city hybrid e-bikes, folding e-bikes, and recumbent cargo e-bikes. It’s hard to rival plenty of the hybrid e-bike it offers like the Delite 25 and the Supercharger GX Rohloff HS.
Both these e-bikes have been lauded for their top-notch designs and parts and represent what the Riese & Müller the difference is all about. The same can also be said for their standout cargo electric box e-bikes like the Load 75 Touring HS. Not a lot of brands have made waves in the said category before, and Riese & Müller has pretty much dominated it.
Read also: Is Riese & Müller a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.
Riese & Müller quality and features
A brand that is focused on innovation and actually gets things done is bound to earn a reputation for premium quality. When the Riese & Müller brand is mentioned, it’s often associated with words like “high-capacity”, “rugged and powerful”, and “versatile”. That said, you have to be prepared to meet most of their models’ steep price tags, though. But for the extensive experience in e-bike manufacturing that they have under their belt, it’s definitely worth it.
Here is the link to visit the Riese & Müller e-bikes website.
BMW
The Bavarian automobile giant made history when it became the first company in its industry to enter the e-bike market with its BMW Cruise e-bike back in 2013. The brand has long been known for sophistication and style and it certainly did not hold back in infusing their e-bike models with the same trademark.
BMW has gained such a solid reputation over the years that it did not take long for e-bike riders in Germany to love the models in its Performance Line. Its bikes show a ready dynamism that appeals to plenty of German consumers. State-of-the-art is also innately tied to the brand in general, and for most manufacturers, to create models that showcase this is a massive achievement enough as it is.
BMW e-bike models
BMW is another leader in innovation so that’s another aspect that allows it to instantly attract most German e-bike riders. Their models’ designs are noticeably sleek and often incorporate advanced features as much as possible. Button-triggered motor assists and incorporation of the motor into the frame are but some of the new features that they have introduced to the e-bike industry.
Most of them are geared toward longer rides so you can expect most BMW models to be hybrid e-bikes. However, they are also targeting Germany’s commuting public so expect high-class cruisers and city e-bikes from them, too.
Read also: Why fat tires are good news for electric bikes? And, How to select the best hybrid e-bike?
BMW quality and features
BMW never skimps on design and detail, so much so that they meticulously introduce unprecedented changes to their e-bike designs. What’s certain is that their models are as powerful as they are aesthetically pleasing. European quality e-bikes at their best. Their prices are fairly mid-range as well, allowing them to appeal to the most riding citizens of Germany.
Here is the link to visit the BMW e-bikes website.
Focus
Focus hails from Stuttgart, Germany where it was founded by Mike Kluge in 1993. The brand became known for its high-end performance bikes like road bikes and mountain bikes. When it comes to eMTBs, Focus occupies the top tier bracket because of their truly superior designs, which are very similar to the tried-and-tested rugged and powerful design of the mountain bike.
Is it any wonder then that German riders love them a lot? Who wouldn’t want to traverse the Alpine trails with a superb eMTB? As for how Focus was able to shape its models and earn its reputation, most of it again hinges on the brand’s dedication to innovation, performance, and perfection.
Focus e-bike models
Focus’s eMTBs have plenty of variations, and it’s evident that it’s the category that the brand is focusing (pun intended) most of its attention on. Models like Thron and Jam have received very positive feedback from reviewers. To see the variety in their full-suspension and hardtail eMTBs, you only need to look at their online store and browse through the numerous subcategories in the eMTB section.
Their road e-bikes and what they term as “e-all-round e-bikes” (which appear to be closest to hybrids) are all very notable, too simply because of their unique designs and componentry. At present, they offer 4 e-all-round e-bikes, with either one falling under the Urban, Touring, or Trekking subcategories. Their sole road e-bike is the Paralane, which has received generally good reviews.
Read also: Is Focus a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.
Focus quality and features
Focus delivers the qualities we all love to have in our eMTBs. They are durable, safe (especially their full-suspension options), equipped with world-class features, advanced tech, and very satisfactory riding ranges.
Here is the link to visit the Focus e-bikes website.
Kalkhoff
Kalkhoff has plenty of history behind it, with over 100 years of biking heritage to be proud of. During that entire span of time, the company experienced various turbulences in its operation but it did not stop it to introduce its own innovations in biking. As far as size goes, Kalkoff is considered as one of the largest e-bike companies in the world; in Germany, it’s widely regarded as more of a high-end manufacturer of e-bikes.
Presently, the brand is based in Cloppenburg, Germany. It has also preserved the robust productivity it exhibited over the years. E-bike production only began in 2007, though, but such a move ushered another chapter of success for the company. As a whole, Kalkhoff’s history, much like its other German counterparts, is replete with innovation – there is an obvious, innate desire to perfect their models and bring as much convenience to riders of their e-bikes.
Kalkhoff e-bike models
Most German-based brands are overshadowed by Kalkhoff when it comes to the sheer number of city e-bikes they offer. Indeed, if there’s ever an e-bike brand that rules the city and urban e-bike sphere, Kalkhoff could very well have a legitimate claim to the throne. Though they’re high-end, most of its models are fairly reasonably priced.
There’s no shortage of Kalkhoff city, cruiser, and commuter e-bikes you can choose from. Although they do introduce variety by offering trekking e-bikes, too.
Read also: Is Kalkhoff a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.
Kalkhoff quality and features
Their models readily exhibit a uniquely German touch in both design and compartments. Expect most of the e-bikes meant for urban riding to showcase unrivaled comfort, quiet operation, and a number of useful attachments like LED lights and tracking technology, to name a few.
Here is the link to visit the Kalkhoff e-bikes website.
Haibike
Haibike, although US-based, has a deeply German connection in that most of its models are designed and created in Germany. Its German roots also can’t be denied since it was founded in Schweinfurt in 1995, originally named Winora. In the course of time, it introduced developments in performance-based e-bikes that could not have been achieved without that exclusive German touch.
In fact, Haibike is known for being the progenitor of the modern eMTB so it should not be a surprise that many riders worldwide don’t fail to regard the brand with reverence. Its history is filled with many technological milestones that served to shape and continue to shape the e-bikes we are currently enjoying.
Haibike e-bike models
eMTB models like the Sduro and Xduro really fulfill the basic criterion of price-performance ratio. These Haibike models are proof that you don’t have to break the bank (at least, in e-bike price standards) to enjoy the best mountain electric biking experience. Such a quality allows it to compete against good local and international brands.
Haibike also offers a range of road, ladies’, and kids’ e-bikes, which illustrates the relative growth of the company in this specific industry. They also offer multiple options in frame size, shape, and wheel size.
Read also: Is Haibike a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.
Haibike quality and features
Haibike really performs best in their strength, which is obviously mountain electric bikes. The Sduro, for one, uses the best Bosch motors in the market, with outstanding assist, and tires designed to tackle any kind of terrain it rides in. The Xduro has almost similar features, which demonstrate what a solid eMTB should be like.
Here is the link to visit the Haibike e-bikes website.
Gazelle
Even though Gazelle is a Dutch brand, it’s still pretty much a mainstay in the German e-bike market. Known to last forever, Gazelle bikes know how to fulfill the casual cycling needs of the Dutch, which happens to have one of the well-established cycling cultures in Europe.
Gazelle is hard to top when it comes to the richness of its history. Founded in 1892, with its factory based in Dieren, the Netherlands, Gazelle has the same trajectory as other traditional biking brands. It also shares a similarity to most German brands’ adherence to continuous development. It goes without saying that that’s one of the secrets to its success.
Gazelle e-bike models
You’ll find most German riders opting for a Gazelle city, commuter, or cruiser e-bike. These are the categories where the brand surely stands out the most. The brand knows how to impart as much comfort in their models by integrating upright seating positions and low drop bars. Gazelle is the pinnacle of comfort, and the same goes even when we look at their hybrid and road all-rounders.
Most of Gazelle’s e-bikes use either Bosch or Shimano motors with up to 8 to 10 gears. They don’t deliver much in terms of power, but that should be a given considering the market they are targeting.
Read also: Is Gazelle a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.
Gazelle quality and features
Most Gazelles are made with superior parts and often have wonderful finishes that can turn any e-bike enthusiast’s eye. Most of their models’ durability is also without question. They may not be that great when it comes to their mechanical and technological components but Gazelle more than satisfies a lot of the criteria Germans look for in an e-bike.
One other obvious attraction lies in the fact that the brand does well in wooing regular commuters with their affordable, feature-packed city and commuter e-bikes. Gazelle also undoubtedly pulls a lot of riders with their lengthy 10-year frame warranties.
Here is the link to visit the Gazelle e-bikes website.
Specialized
The American brand, Specialized, is one of the leading e-bike brands at present. It is known for its high-end e-bikes that more than meet the quality standards of German e-bike riders. Plenty of German riders also have an affinity for advanced eMTBs, and Specialized is pretty much one of the best gauges of quality and innovation in this particular category.
Specialized started as a collaboration of passionate bike riders, and its conception officially happened in 1974. Throughout the course of its operation, it slowly became known as a maker of high-end mountain bikes. So the moment it started creating its own eMTBs, it has already mastered the art of creating e-bikes that can handle any kind of outdoor trail.
Specialized e-bike models
Specialized models are basically household names in the e-bike sphere. The Turbo Vado SL is a city/commuter hybrid that is coveted among commuters worldwide, Germany included. And if you are looking for the best full-suspension eMTB, do you really need to look further than the Turbo Levo SL Expert?
They may have only 12 e-bikes available, but most of them have been lauded by critics and users alike. Such a fact only makes Specialized deserving to be at the top of any serious road or eMTB rider’s list.
Read also: Is Specialized a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.
Specialized quality and features
Specialized is probably where American and German standards meet the most. Such a drive to continually improve their models and utilize the best technologies available to electric mountain bikes aligns the brand perfectly with German tastes in convenient offroad riding that they’ll never fail to enjoy.
The brand knows where to make improvements, too, because they are themselves riders. A lot of riders like, for example, the Turbo Levo SL because it only tops at a very lightweight of 38.8 pounds (17.6 kg), which is a monumental achievement for a mountain e-bike.
Here is the link to visit the Specialized e-bikes website.
Stromer
Being basically twins when the topic of quality enters the spotlight, Swiss and German tastes meet in Stromer e-bikes. Swiss engineering also aligns itself closely with new technologies, after all, and Stromer is the kind of brand that takes an uncompromising approach in living up to its standards.
It’s a relatively young company that was started in 2010, with the intention of designing e-bikes that will be faster than average. It immediately became one of the best brands in Switzerland, especially after it became part of BMC Switzerland AG. From then, its popularity surged across Europe and the US, and in 2017 it regained its independence and continues to enjoy a growing number of biking patrons in the said regions.
Incidentally, its main assembly plant is actually located in Riedstadt, Germany.
Stromer e-bike models
Stromer’s very first model, the Stromer V1, made waves when it was released because it set the bar higher for e-bike power, drive system, and riding range. It took risks and almost all of it paid off, as evidenced by the number of users growing to love their models.
Currently, they are targeting the commuting market with their 4 main models falling under the city and commuter e-bike categories. The ST1 continues to be updated over time and to represent what the brand is aiming for. It can easily achieve 28mph (45 km/h) top speed and has a range that can extend up to 111 miles (180 km). It also incorporates 3G technology, which is fairly uncommon among commuter e-bikes.
Read also: Is Stromer a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.
Stromer quality and features
True enough to Swiss manufacturing ideology, all of Stromer’s e-bikes are models of not only power and range but versatility and style, too. If you want to experience the best of Swiss e-bike manufacturing, Stromer is a fitting brand to start.
Here is the link to visit the Stromer e-bikes website.
Winora
Racer Engelbert Wiener founded Winora in 1914 in Schweinfurt, Germany with the goal of fulfilling the needs of all biking groups, regardless of social standing and sex. It has carried and honors this legacy up to the present, and the brand also continues to uphold the prestige tied to the label “Made in Germany”.
Winora also seeks to address the current shortcomings and issues of e-bike models. Such a goal has undoubtedly molded it into the highly adaptable e-bike company that it is now. For this, it maintains its status as a trusted provider of budget-friendly city and road e-bikes that can satisfy everyone’s e-biking needs. Also, Winora and Haibike are actually affiliated, so there’s no room to question their quality.
Winora e-bike models
Winora’s e-bike lineup is mostly composed of city and road (which they term as trekking) e-bikes. They’re remarkably prolific as they already have over 80 different models to offer in those two categories alone. Sticking to their philosophy, they also create numerous models catering to women, while they also offering unisex options.
The brand exhibits its adaptability by being active in updating its models. The latest Winora Radius Tour, for example, was recently made more compact to save more space and uses motors by Yamaha, which is a steadily rising influence in the e-bike sphere.
Read also: Is Winora a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.
Winora quality and features
Winora may not have breached the international scene yet, but it’s fairly popular in Germany and other European countries. Their models are adequately supplied with accessories helpful for the daily commute, built with high durability in mind, and offer overall great value for money.
Here is the link to visit the Winora e-bikes website.
Corratec
Started in 1990, Corratec continues to operate from Raubling in Bavaria, Germany. It promptly announces its dedication to cycling with its motto, “Passion of cycling”. Similar to most German-built e-bikes, Corratec models do not take durability lightly and also capitalizes on the latest technologies to achieve its goals.
And, true enough, the brand has received award after award in recent years in German e-biking circles. These achievements serve to cement its presence in the German e-bike market and worldwide. Furthermore, the company also has its own racing team, which has consistently won a lot of competitions over the years.
Corratec e-bike models
Performance-based models like road, mountain, and city e-bikes are where Corratec makes its mark. It has over 10 e-bikes that fall under those categories. Many of their options are sporty and are evidently built for competitive purposes. However, as mentioned before, they have also tapped into the urban riding category. A lot of their city e-bikes have actually gotten as many positive reviews as its offroad offerings.
Corratec quality and features
Corratec stands out in such a way that most of its e-bikes are not uniformly designed as much as possible. This approach makes the brand either hit or miss its target on most occasions. And it is only proven by the mixture of criticism and praise (as proven by its numerous awards) its models have acquired.
Plenty of their models are also conventionally designed in that they have a thicker frame than most e-bikes. Regardless of its shortcomings, Corratec still manages to remain a solid brand among Germans. Most of it could be attributed to the fluidity of the brand; it does its best to improve its models, in short.
Here is the link to visit the Corratec e-bikes website.
A few words in conclusion
These e-bike brands more than live up to German manufacturing standards, which remain widely acclaimed worldwide.
Read also: E-bike brands, manufacturers, models, countries: complete list (560+).
There’s also an obvious preference for innovation in both riders and manufacturers, and this encompasses essential aspects like e-bike components, design, and technology. It’s safe to say that most of these brands should be any e-bike rider’s go-to option if they want quality over anything else.
Do not miss this fun e-bike video featuring CUBE electric bikes:
