With having sold around 23,000 ebikes worldwide, Ampler is one of the smaller manufacturers in the industry. As such, it has to pool its resources and think carefully about how and at what pace it develops its product range, for example. At the same time, these decisions are becoming more exciting. After all, they show where it may consider that it needs to catch up or where it hopes to find potential for future growth. Two years after introducing new models, Ampler is now revising its range once again. This step takes the company into uncharted territory.
When little ones make it big
Exactly eight years ago, a small team from Tallinn set out to bring their own idea of a contemporary ebike to the world. Yes, to the world. With a population of just 1.3 million, Estonia inevitably forced the three founders Ardo Kaurit, Hannes Laar and Rait Udumäe to think globally. The local bicycle market was simply too tiny to be able to operate in calm economic waters as a national brand alone. Especially as the start-up couldn’t score points with an existing brand awareness anyway. So if you have to build up a reputation anyway, it’s best to do it internationally.
Founders of Ampler Bikes: Ardo Kaurit, Hannes Laar und Rait Udumäe (from left)
In the meantime, Ampler has done just that. The bikes with the characteristic badge on the head tube always followed a simple, almost humble guideline. They didn’t want to be able to do everything and didn’t want to shine everywhere. It was always about making cycling in the city possible. Unagitated. With reliable components that can be replaced without major problems. On an ebike that is so light that you don’t have to worry about carrying it up to the third floor. And with as little electronics as possible and as much as necessary. The function determines the design. An ebike for Bauhaus fans, so to speak.
Weighing just over 14 kilograms, the urban ebike can easily be carried up a a flight of stairs.
Wherever the road leads
Until now, Ampler has focussed its approach exclusively on urban ebikes. This is changing with the models that celebrated their world premiere at Cyclingworld Europe in Düsseldorf a few days ago. Building on its lightest and sportiest model, the Ampler Curt, the manufacturer presented the new Ampler Curt Anyroad. You can quickly recognise from the name extension where the journey is literally going. Everywhere. At least anywhere a road or paved path leads.
Ampler Curt Anyroad
Ampler has specifically modified the bike to transform it from the Curt into the Curt Anyroad. Three measures stand out in particular: The bike rolls on wider tyres, has been given a powerful derailleur system and features more options for carrying luggage. This is the manufacturer’s response to what people did with the previous models, even though they weren’t designed for it. People grabbed the city ebikes and took them on bike tours. In some cases, they rode hundreds of kilometres in total for several days in a row. Ampler therefore considered itself almost compelled to offer something much better suited to this purpose.
Three steps to the goal
A simple but very effective measure is to choose different tyres. On the Curt Anyroad, you will find the Panaracer GravelKing SK Plus tyres. Designed for gravel bikes, smaller and larger lugs form its tread pattern. Between them are wider grooves in which water can run off or dirt can be collected. Compared to the Curt’s semi-slick tyres, the GravelKing SK offers significantly more grip on various surfaces – from tarmac roads to forest tracks. Especially as it is also slightly wider at 43 millimetres and thus generates additional traction.
Ampler has made an even clearer cut in terms of the gearing. The Curt is now only available as a single speed. In contrast, the manufacturer is equipping the Curt Anyroad with a derailleur system with ten gears. This comes from the Taiwanese company Microshift and therefore not from Shimano, Sram or Tektro. The ten gears of the cassette cover the range from 11 teeth to 48 teeth. With a comparable Deore CS-M4100 cassette from Shimano, the range extends from 11 teeth to 42 teeth. At the same time, the Microshift cassette weighs more than 200 grams less than its counterpart from the world market leader and costs five euros less. From the very beginning, lower prices were a means by which Ampler wanted to make it easier for more people to access high-quality ebikes. This decision therefore fits in perfectly with this concept.
The Curt Anyroad is the second model in the Ampler range to be equipped with derailleur gears.
Point three on the list of changes concerns a new fork, which is being fitted to the Curt Anyroad for the first time. In order to save some weight, the Curt has always had a black carbon fork. For the more versatile newcomer, the manufacturer prefers to use aluminium as the material. There are now three mounting points on each of the two fork legs. You can attach lowrider carriers to these, for example, to attach smaller panniers. Another option is to go for anycages, which can be used as bottle cages or as mounts for a wide range of accessories that can be secured using tension straps and the like.
The fork material has been changed from carbon to aluminium. Instead, it now features mounting points for rear carriers and other accessories.
Partly smooth transition to the rest of the range
Models with derailleur gears are nothing new per se in the Ampler range. Both the Stout with its diamond frame and the Stellar with its lower step-through frame had and still have this to offer. However, their focus is somewhat more on use in an urban environment. Their tyres focus on low rolling resistance and less on universal suitability. The fork has no mounts and the gearing, with nine gears and sprockets from 11 teeth to 42 teeth, is not quite as suitable for travelling as that of the Curt Anyroad.
In addition, the Curt Anyroad offers a little more choice when it comes to frame size. Divided into the three sizes S, M and L, the Anyroad with its diamond frame covers body sizes from 160 centimetres to 198 centimetres. With the Stout, you have to choose between M and L, which Ampler has designed for people with a body length of 170 centimetres to 200 centimetres. There are no major differences in the frame geometry and the resulting riding position.
Those who prefer to ride an ebike with a lower step-through and at the same time want to travel with derailleur gears can now choose the Curt Anyroad as a low-step version in addition to the familiar Stellar as well. Technically, this means making the same assessment as between the Stout and Curt Anyroad. Besides that, the look comes into play. Do you prefer the curved top tube of the Stellar or the straight top tube of the Curt Anyroad Low-Step? In both cases, the frame size is unfortunately limited to M and L, which are suitable for body lengths between 160 centimetres and 185 centimetres.
Amper Curt is looking for new fans
A touch more direct, lighter and sportier than Anyroad, the original Curt remains the perceived top model among the purely urban models. With the addition that Ampler is also introducing a second frame shape here. The Curt Low-Step also introduces a lower step-through. The manufacturer calls it a Low-Step. From our point of view, it is a conventional trapezoidal frame. Regardless of the wording, the innovation is clearly aimed at attracting a broader group to the city speedster. Some may well have been put off from buying by the diamond frame, which was previously the only frame on offer. For those, the decision-making process can perhaps be restarted.😉
Ampler Curt
Typical Ampler
At the beginning of the article, we talked about pooling forces. For Ampler, this goes hand in hand with, among other things, installing the ebike system almost untouched in the new models. The second generation of the e-drive was launched two years ago. It can be found throughout all bikes. Apparently, there is also no reason to make any improvements. Traditionally, the manufacturer relies on a rear hub motor with a torque of 45 Newton metres. Its torque sensor influences when and with what intensity the motor provides assistance. The two riding modes are unspectacularly named 1 and 2, which you can think of as Eco mode and Turbo mode. The first mode in particular comes very close to what is generally described as a natural riding experience. Basically, this means that the assistance is not overly present, but responds immediately as soon as you invest more energy by increasing your cadence and effort. This all happens extremely quietly, which is why the drive has its advantages, especially on longer distances.
When the motor is deactivated in Off mode, you won’t feel any pedalling resistance. Due to the weight of just over 14 kilograms for the Ampler Curt and around 17 kilograms for the Ampler Curt Anyroad, you can easily get around on these ebikes as soon as the battery is unexpectedly completely discharged. Its capacity is 336 watt hours. This is close to the iX350 of the Mahle X20 and significantly higher than the i250 of the Mahle X35. As with the Mahle system, the battery can be removed for servicing. Otherwise, however, it is permanently integrated into the down tube. Ampler states an average range of 60 kilometres. Depending on the weather, surface, choice of tyres, etc., it can go beyond this.
Simple, but not limited
Furthermore, how you have set the motor in the Ampler app also has an influence. For example, you can define the speed at which the motor stops providing assistance and the percentage of assistance it provides. The ebike system includes a GPS module and a GSM module. This enables updates or over-the-air, for example. You can also receive push notifications in the app if your ebike is moved even though you have locked it. You can also check where you have parked it and have Ampler lock the drive remotely if it has been stolen.
Control unit integrated in the top tube as a hallmark of Ampler.
Ampler has always relied on a simple TFT display integrated on the top of the top tube. This remains the case with the presentation of the Curt Anyroad models. It shows you the most important information in every riding mode:
- Selected support level
- Remaining range in kilometres
- Current charge status of the battery
- Trip
- Average speed
It is operated via the only button on the entire ebike. This is located at the height of the display on the underside of the top tube. With short and long button presses, you can control the system, switch it on and off, change the riding modes and activate the light. During the ride, the display goes into sleep mode, in which the display goes out. A short press of the button brings the information back.
As with all Ampler ebikes, the e-drives on the Curt and Curt Anyroad can be switched on and off using a button on the underside of the top tube.
An almost complete package
All models also come with mudguards, a kickstand and lighting compliant with the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) as standard. The latter includes the seat post with integrated LEDs from Lightskin. Extras such as the rear carrier approved for a payload of 15 kilograms add to the purchase price.
Prices for both the Curt Anyroad and the Curt start at 3,690 euros. You can already order the models via the Ampler website. However, depending on the equipment, frame shape, frame size and colour preference, delivery may be delayed until June 2024.
Ampler Curt Anyroad at a glance
- Frame: Aluminium 6061
- Frame sizes: S, M, L (diamond frame) / S, M (trapezoid frame)
- Fork: Aluminium 6061
- Motor: Ampler rear motor, 250 W rated power
- Battery: Integrated Ampler battery, 336 Wh
- Control unit: Integrated in the top tube
- Drivetrain: Microshift Advent X
- Brakes: Shimano M6100
- Weight: 16.9 kg
- Maximum permitted total weight: 120 kg
- Colours: black, silver, lavender
- Price: 3,690 euros
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- Ampler Curt Anyroad in the colour Lavender
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- Ampler Curt Anyroad in the colour Matte Black
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- Ampler Curt Anyroad in the colour Silver
Ampler Curt at a glance
- Frame: Aluminium 6061
- Frame sizes: S, M, L (diamond frame) / S, M (trapezoidal frame)
- Fork: Carbon
- Motor: Ampler rear motor, 250 W rated power
- Battery: Integrated Ampler battery, 336 Wh
- Control unit: Integrated in the top tube
- Drivetrain: Single speed
- Brakes: Shimano M6100
- Weight: 14.4 kg
- Maximum permitted total weight: 120 kg
- Colours: black, silver, lavender
- Price: 3,690 euros
Pictures: Ampler Bikes OÜ
