Moustache Rides the Hub Gear Wave with the J

The Moustache J was definitely one of the most highly regarded new ebike launches in 2023. Presented exclusively at the Eurobike in Frankfurt am Main, it immediately received the Gold Award at the world’s most important bicycle trade show. Others were also impressed by the sustainable manufacturing process, the innovative frame concept and the unconventional design. Further prestigious honours followed shortly afterwards with the iF Gold Award 2024, the award as winner of the German Design Award 2024 and the Design & Innovation Award 2024. Perhaps Moustache would like to ride this wave of success a little further, or perhaps it was planned that way from the outset? In any case, the manufacturer is expanding the award-winning series with three new models.

Low maintenance, quiet and reliable

With this expansion, one could almost speak of a small homage to the hub gear. It is precisely this aspect of the model range that Moustache is expanding in a very deliberate way. The J. on Automatiq and the J. all Automatiq ensure increased riding comfort. They feature the Enviolo Automatiq automatic stepless gear hub. In contrast, the J. on Nexus with its more basic Shimano Nexus Inter-5E provides a new, more affordable entry into the range.

In the corresponding press release, Moustache explains its idea with the advantages that a hub gear system providing for day-to-day cycling compared to derailleur gears. The associated maintenance costs are significantly lower. After all, you only have to worry about a chainring, a chain and a sprocket. The gears, which are completely encapsulated in the hub, require a check after 1,000 kilometres or more – possibly combined with an oil change. Moustache combines the Enviolo Automatiq on the J. on Automatiq and the J. all Automatiq with a carbon belt anyway. This also eliminates the need to check and maintain the chain. After a few days on muddy or extremely dusty field and forest tracks, a quick rinse with water is all that is needed. A modern hub gear is capable of shifting under load. In this respect, there are many arguments in favour of using this type of gear even on trekking and SUV ebikes.

Decision with pros and cons

In our view, the only real disadvantage is the narrower gear range. A conventional derailleur gear system with a chainring and eleven or twelve sprockets can offer a noticeably wider range. In terms of Moustache, for example, this means that the 380 per cent of the Enviolo Automatiq and the 263 per cent of the Shimano Nexus Inter-5E are offset by the 455 per cent of the Shimano Cues with eleven gears on the chain-driven J. off.

Enviolo Automatiq hub gears

In return, the new shifting variants score with their own special advantages. The Enviolo Automatiq offers stepless and virtually silent shifting performance. Not to mention the automatic gear change, which you can adapt to your desired cadence. If you also select Auto mode as your support level on the built-in Bosch drive, the automatic riding experience is complete. If anything, the Shimano Nexus Inter-5E ensures that the entry-level price for the Moustache J. on, which is designed more for city traffic, can drop to 5,199 euros. Previously, the price of the J. on was 5,999 euros for the version featuring Enviolo’s manual hub gears. Too bad the manufacturer didn’t opt for a belt instead of just a chain. The former would have better complemented the hassle-free approach of the extension with the hub gears.

The new Moustache J. on Automatiq and the Moustache J. all Automatiq both start at 6,599 euros. The Moustache J. on Nexus starts at just 5,199 euros. All three ebikes are now available in the familiar colours Olive Green, Silk Grey and Black.

Moustache J. all Auto at a glance

• Frame: Aluminium
• Size: S, M, L
• Suspension fork: SR Suntour XCR 34 Air, 120 mm
• Shock: Moustache Magic Grip Control, 115 mm
• Motor: Bosch Performance Line Smart System, 75 Nm
• Battery: Bosch PowerTube 625, optional Bosch PowerMore 250
• Display: Bosch Kiox 500
• Control unit: Bosch LED Remote
• Drivetrain: Enviolo Automatiq
• Brakes: Magura MTA2
• Maximum permitted total weight: 135 kg
• Weight: 30,6 kg
• Colours: Olive Green, Black, Silk Grey
• Price: from 6,599 Euro

Moustache J. all Auto in the colour Olive Green

Moustache J. on Auto at a glance

• Frame: Aluminium
• Size: S, M, L
• Suspension fork: SR Suntour Mobie 25 LOR, 100 mm
• Shock: Moustache Magic Grip Control, 115 mm
• Motor: Bosch Performance Line Smart System, 75 Nm
• Battery: Bosch PowerTube 500, Bosch PowerTube 625, optional Bosch PowerMore 250
• Display: Bosch Kiox 500
• Control unit: Bosch LED Remote
• Drivetrain: Enviolo Automatiq
• Brakes: Magura MTA2
• Maximum permitted total weight: 135 kg
• Weight: 30,6 kg
• Colours: Olive Green, Black, Silk Grey
• Price: from 6,599 Euro

Moustache J. on Auto in the colour Silk Grey

Moustache J. on Nexus at a glance

• Frame: Aluminium
• Size: S, M, L
• Suspension fork: SR Suntour Mobie 25 LOR, 100 mm
• Shock: Moustache Magic Grip Control, 115 mm
• Motor: Bosch Performance Line Smart System, 75 Nm
• Battery: Bosch PowerTube 500, Bosch PowerTube 625, optional Bosch PowerMore 250
• Display: Bosch Kiox 500
• Control unit: Bosch LED Remote
• Drivetrain: Shimano Nexus Inter-5E
• Brakes: Alhonga
• Maximum permitted total weight: 135 kg
• Weight: 30,6 kg
• Colours: Olive Green, Black, Silk Grey
• Price: from 5,199 Euro

Moustache J. on Nexus in the colour Black

Pictures: Moustache Bikes SAS Cycle Me