Update 4th March 2022
In the meantime, Hartje has even released a limited edition of the Qio Eins. It goes by the name Qio Eins AP-8R. According to the manufacturer, only 1,000 of these models will be produced.
At the start of sales last year, with the Qio Eins AP-8, an almost identical bike was launched. The only difference is the “R” in the model name. In this case, R means belt drive, which the special model has over its twin. The belt comes from the market leader Gates. Compared to a bicycle chain, it is usually more durable, does not need any additional lubricants thanks to its carbon structure and can be cleaned with an ordinary cloth and a little water. “The Qio Eins AP-8R is therefore even more ideally suited for extensive tours and daily city use,” says the manufacturer Hartje.
If you want to indulge in this form of luxury, you have to pay through your nose for it. At 3,499 euros, the Qio Eins AP-8R costs exactly 200 euros more than the Qio Eins AP-8.
Qio Eins AP-8R
Update 22nd September 2021
In the meantime, the Qio Eins has been on show at some trade fairs. Manufacturer Hartje not only presented the bike in its numerous colour and equipment variants, but also numerous accessories. These ranged from baskets to bags in various sizes and shapes for the rear and front carriers to various covers and a frame lock from Trelock.
The bags, the backpack and the basket can each be easily attached to the corresponding carrier. The front panniers have a Klickfix mount for this purpose. The backpack and the bag for the rear carrier are attached using a hook-on system. In the case of the basket, the MIK system allows it to snap onto the carrier.
Of course, the accessories presented also include the front rear carrier itself. By the way, you don’t have to order it immediately when you buy the bike. If you prefer, you can first see how you get along with the standard equipment. The front carrier can easily be added later as an option.
We present the most important components in brief.
Update 21st June 2021
As announced, Hartje has now taken the most spectacular step yet in regard to its new compact bike and shown the ebike in all its glory for the first time. During an online presentation, the manufacturer unveiled the entire model range. This means that clarity now prevails as far as the still open technical details are concerned.
Remarkable selection
The presentation did indeed come up with one or two surprises. The previously published videos had already hinted at a lot. For example, it was clear that the e-drive would come from Bosch. After all, in the very first video for the Qio, a Bosch Active Line Plus explicitly appeared in the picture. But this is only a third of the truth. If at all. Hartje is actually launching three motors from Bosch. In addition to the Active Line Plus, the Active Line and the Performance Line, its smaller and larger brother, so to speak. These motors form the basis for a total of five following models:
- Qio Eins P-R
- Qio Eins P-E
- Qio Eins P-5
- Qio Eins AP-8
- Qio Eins A-8
Based on the small list, surprise novelty number two immediately catches the eye: the model name. In the weeks and months before, Hartje had mainly talked about the brand. The first model of this brand has now been given a name – Eins (German for “one”). Maybe not super creative, but at least short and concise. And probably also a hint that more compact bicycles will appear under the brand in the future.
The main difference between the bikes is their drivetrains. Those who carefully followed the manufacturer’s insights in advance anticipated that the Qio would be equipped with hub gears. Comfort and low maintenance were often mentioned as requirements in previous statements. Now there will be four gears:
- Rohloff E-14
- Enviolo TR
- Shimano Nexus Inter-5E
- Shimano Nexus Inter-8
At least one Shimano gear system was to be expected. Some might have hoped for an automatic, continuously variable Enviolo. However, only a few had foreseen that it would even be a model with the 14-speed giant from Rohloff. Except for the entry-level model, the Qio Eins A-8, a Gates belt replaces the classic bicycle chain on every Qio.
In terms of performance, Hartje sets the bar pretty high, especially with the top model. After all, compact bikes are not necessarily designed for terrain that requires excessive power and finely graduated gear changes. It will be exciting to see how the target groups of campers, families and city dwellers accept this abundance of propulsion.
In the case of the battery, it was also clear in advance that you could expect the PowerPack from Bosch. The only question remaining was what capacity it would have. Presumably to the delight of most people, Hartje opted for the 500 watt-hour version almost across the board.
Qio at a glance
- Variants: Qio Eins P-R, Qio Eins P-E, Qio Eins P-5, Qio Eins AP-8, Qio Eins A-8
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line, Bosch Active Line Plus, Bosch Active Line
- Battery: Bosch PowerPack 500, Bosch PowerPack 400
- Display: Bosch Intuvia
- Drive: Rohloff E-14, Enviolo TR, Shimano Nexus Inter-5E, Shimano Nexus Inter-8
- Brakes: TRP HD-EU832, TRP HD-EU817
- Colours: Beryl Blue, Crystal White, Dark Violet, Ferrari Red, Ice Blue, Lead Metal, Light Olive, Soft Mint
- Weight: from 26,25 kg
- Maximum total weight: up to 140 kg
- Price: from 2,899 euros
Available colour options of the Qio
Update 31st May 2021
In our first report on the Qio, we already mentioned that Hartje wants to offer more than just an ebike with this compact bike. The manufacturer has now specified what is meant by this. There will also be a number of accessories for the launch of the ebike. As with the Qio itself, Hartje also has different target groups in mind here.
Off to shop
For example, a shopping bag was shown. It is supposed to be waterproof and have a smaller inner pocket. Unfortunately, it was not revealed what volume you can stow in it. However, it is clear that it can be attached to the front carrier via Klickfix, which was already shown in one of the pre-released videos. The Klickfix adapter is adjustable in height. So, you will have the option of attaching other compatible accessories such as baskets. You can load the front carrier with a maximum of twelve kilograms.
At the rear rack you can attach a backpack if you prefer to have your back free while riding. What exactly the backpack for the Qio will look like is also still unclear. It, too, has only been mentioned verbally. Suitable for commuting, it will have a classic laptop compartment. An additional LED is supposed to increase visibility against the direction of travel.
Families may be interested in the fact that a child seat can be mounted on the luggage carrier with MIK-HD system.
Clean and safe
In addition to transporting luggage, the topic of protection and safety plays a greater role in the accessories for the Qio. Hartje expects that future users will often take the bike with them on trips, whether on regular camping trips or on holiday. For this case, the manufacturer has included special covers for the motor and battery in the range. Made of neoprene, they protect your components from moisture, dirt and direct sunlight. This pays off, among other things, on the bicycle rack on the car.
To ensure that your Qio always remains your Qio, there is also a frame lock. Its shackle locks past the spokes at the opposite end. The lock cylinder is identical to that of the battery lock. So, you only need one key for both.
You can expect these items as soon as the Qio is actually available towards the end of 2021. Hartje has also planned further accessories:
- Lowrider carriers to accommodate luggage bags
- Helmets
- Rear-view mirrors
- Bottle cages and water bottles
- Tarpaulin to cover the bike
Original post 18th May 2021
Arranging parts intelligently to save space. Taking up little space. Appearing simple and comprehensible to the outside world. These characteristics are generally attributed to things that are considered compact. The bicycle manufacturer Hartje has set out to create its own definition of this term on its feet, or rather, on its wheels. The result is called Qio and will be launched as a compact ebike in a few weeks on the market.
Hartje has published first details about the bike and its genesis in three videos so far. Of course, the manufacturer is still keeping important facts secret before the actual launch. However, based on the available material, a clear concept of the newcomer is already emerging. We summarise for you what is known so far.
1. The trigger
2. The idea
3. The target groups
4. The technical details
5. The production
6. The competition
7. The further schedule
8. Background: More than 100 years of company history
1. The trigger
There is a very concrete reason why Hartje is launching a new compact ebike right now. Until now, the company covered this type of bike with its two partners Tern and i:SY. However, the latter has belonged to new owners since November 2020. And they are apparently pursuing new plans with the brand. In any case, the seven-year cooperation between i:SY and Hartje will expire at the end of 2021.
2. The idea
Within this long time, however, Hartje has gathered important know-how. Therefore, those responsible believed they could also develop something, in their own words, “fresh and modern” until it was ready for the market. No sooner said than done. New ebike. New brand. New communication strategy. However, the company was not left entirely on its own. In one of the videos, managing director Dirk Zwick speaks of support from external development offices.
As you can see, you can’t see anything. In the first picture of the Qio published by Hartje, hardly anything was visible.
3. The target groups
On the other hand, Hartje knows first-hand who is interested in such an ebike. Campers, young parents, people who want to take their bike with them on holiday, as well as people who like to move individually from A to B within cities, avoiding the car. It is just as clear for whom the Qio is probably not for – namely fans of mountain biking and quite sporty bikers.
4. The technical details
As mentioned, Hartje is still withholding pictures of the new bike or even technical specifications. Nevertheless, the videos allow some conclusions to be drawn, both on the soundtrack and visually. The following features stand out so far:
- frame made of aluminium in a one-size-fits-all design
- low-step frame, typical for a compact bike
- a smaller, horizontal tube slightly above the bottom bracket, which will presumably serve as a carrying handle
- 20 inch wheels
- mid-motor
- battery mounted on the back of the seat tube
- internal cable routing
- hub gears with belt drive
- integrated rear rack, especially designed for transporting children
- equipment including mudguards
When it comes to the choice of electric drive, everything actually points to Bosch. In one scene of the interview with Dirk Zwick, a Bosch Active Line Plus motor is explicitly shown. This would probably be accompanied by a Bosch PowerPack frame battery. It remains to be seen whether the battery will have a capacity of 400 or 500 watt-hours.
5. The production
Given the end of the cooperation with i:SY, Hartje was forced to take care of the frame, e-drive and all other components for the Qio on its own. With the e-factory in the north-eastern Czech Republic, which was only expanded this year, the manufacturer has a place to build wheels practically around the corner. The compact bike is painted and finally assembled at the company headquarters in Hoya.
We don’t know exactly where the frame comes from. What we do know is the process by which it is made. Initially, hydroforming was considered. In the end it turned out to be gravity die casting instead. In this process, molten metal runs directly from a spoon into a mould by gravity alone. Pressurised gases, an artificially created vacuum or centrifugal force are not used in the pure form of the process. The result is castings that are said to be particularly strong and rigid. According to its own information, Hartje decided on this process because it allows alternative tube profiles to be produced. In the pictures you can clearly see that the frame tubes are actually not round. In addition, welding seams become superfluous and shapes can merge smoothly into one another.
6. The competition
How the Qio will do among the compact bikes can be assessed a little better after the final presentation. It won’t be easy to compete with established models like the Flyer Upstreet 1, the i:SY Drive or the Cube Compact Hybrid. Especially since Qio has to be convincing in terms of quality and effectively communicate this to interested parties. After all, the brand is completely unknown so far. Hartje will therefore be really banging the drum.
7. The further schedule
So, excitement is definitely on the cards. This is what Qio’s next steps look like:
- 28th May 2021: Presentation of the accessories
- 18th June 2021: Market launch with live product presentation
- 21st June 2021: Start of orders for the specialised retailers
- 4th quarter 2021: First deliveries to the specialised retailers planned
8. Background: More than 100 years of company history
Hermann Hartje KG operates as a wholesale company in the bicycle, motorbike and motor vehicle retail trade. Founded in 1973, today’s company goes back to a trading company founded by Hermann Hartje Senior in 1895. Under the umbrella of the company, there are various brands – from bicycle manufacturers to accessories. In terms of bicycles, these are now almost exclusively own brands. After the departure of i:SY, Tern will be the only remaining partner brand that Hartje distributes exclusively in Germany.
Pictures: Hermann Hartje KG
