Trek, Scott, BMC and Simplon. What have these four bicycle manufacturers got in common? Well, all of them currently have at least one ebike in their range that is based on the HPR50 from TQ, which was launched very recently last year. The drive caused quite a stir at the previous Eurobike. Consequently, every brand can expect some attention for its TQ models. Bergamont could also benefit from this. But the folks from St. Pauli don’t seem to want to. They are neither launching a big campaign for their new E-Vitess, nor does their name appear as one of the users on the TQ site.
Where this reticence comes from remains an open question. Perhaps the manufacturer is simply completely become one with the credo it has given the E-Vitess. In this case, hide-and-seek plays a central role. First and foremost, the drive is hidden in the urban ebike. For example, through its minimal volume. If you look at the bike from the drive side, you will almost not be able to recognise the motor. From the opposite side of the motor, you can of course still see the housing cover and two larger screws that secure the unit in the frame. However, if you don’t look specifically there, the motor almost kind of disappears.
Small, smaller, invisible
The battery is similarly inconspicuous. With a length of around six centimetres and a width of around five centimetres in cross-section, it is probably a delight for any design department that has had to skilfully accommodate much larger batteries in the frame tube. Of course, the 360 watt hours of capacity limit the operating distance noticeably compared to a PowerTube 750. At the same time, it weighs just over 1,800 grams, less than half the weight of Bosch’s top model. And since an HPR50 also clearly beats a Performance Line CX in terms of weight, this results in a range that should get many of you through an entire week without hesitation.
If it weren’t for the tiny remote on the handlebars and the two-inch display embedded in the top tube, the E-Vitess would be hard to distinguish from a non-motorised trekking bike or city bike. Even including these two components, the hearts of many people who have been waiting for an unpretentious ebike for everyday use, for which “ordinary” is considered the greatest compliment, may beat faster.
Classic ingredients for a commuter
For the essential part of a bike that cuts a reliable figure in road traffic in all weathers and on as many occasions as possible, Bergamont does a solid job as usual. Mudguards, rear rack and kickstand give a sound impression. The aluminium frame offers space for 28-inch wheels. These are fitted with 55 millimetre wide Marathon Efficiency wheels. This is Schwalbe’s fastest touring tyre. It combines the manufacturer’s experience from racing with a durable rubber compound and multiple puncture protection. The width seems appropriate, as Bergamont opted for a rigid carbon fork in favour of lower maintenance. Since the seatpost is an unsprung one as well, every additional millimetre of tyre width benefits riding comfort.
Depending on which model you choose for the E-Vitess, the sound of the bike is determined by the tyres and either a derailleur or a hub gear with a Gates belt. In the case of the “Elite” and “Sport” models, we are talking about a derailleur with eleven and ten gears respectively from the robust Shimano Linkglide range. Bergamont sends its “Expert” models on the road with a five-speed hub gear from Shimano. This has the remarkable side effect that for once an “Expert” is more expensive than an “Elite”. That doesn’t happen every day.
One of the quiet ones
But we were talking about the sound while riding. The motor noises are deliberately missing from the list. In fact, you will hardly hear a single murmur from TQ’s drive. What is there is lost in the cacophony of road traffic. If anyone should give you an irritated look, it’s more likely because of the vehemence with which you pull away at the traffic lights. The 50 Newton metres don’t sound like much, especially for a mid-motor. Due to the total weight of just under 20 kilograms for the bike, however, the performance is very sporty. Of course, you can change the dynamics at any time according to your preferences via the app.
In keeping with the overall understatement, Bergamont has dressed the E-Vitess in more discreet colours. Matte Khaki or Shiny Taupe Brown only have a limited youthful charm. But hey, you don’t necessarily have to hide behind the colour of your ebike.
Bergamont E-Vitess at a glance
- Variants: Bergamont E-Vitess Elite Gents, Bergamont E-Vitess Expert Gents, Bergamont E-Vitess Expert Lady, Bergamont E-Vitess Sport Gents, Bergamont E-Vitess Sport Lady
- Frame: Aluminium
- Fork: BGM carbon rigid fork
- Motor: TQ-HPR50
- Battery: TQ-HPR 360 Wh
- Display: TQ Display
- Drivetrain: Shimano Deore XT Linkglide, Shimano Nexus SG-C7000-5, Shimano Deore Linkglide
- Brakes: Tektro HD-EU 817
- Colours: Matt Rainbow Black, Matt Khaki Green, Shiny Cassis Red, Shiny Stellar Blue, Shiny Taupe Brown
- Weight: from 19.5 kg
- Maximum permitted total weight: 130 kg
- Prices: from 4,599
Bergamont E-Vitess Expert Gent
Bergamont E-Vitess Sport Gent
All further Bergamont novelties for the 2023 season
Pictures: Bergamont Fahrrad Vertrieb GmbH
