Momentum Compakt E+: For Everything from Touring to Commuting

Giant has been present in Europe with its Momentum brand for just over a year. Two very different ebikes were launched at the beginning of 2023. With the Pakyak E+, a longtail cargo bike, the manufacturer is targeting families and businesses. The Voya E+, on the other hand, is a sporty urban model that scores points with its low weight and favourable prices. Now another Momentum is being added. And the new Compakt E+ sets a completely different tone.

Momentum’s credo is: We offer you an ebike that suits your lifestyle and allows you to leave your car in the garage as often as possible. If you follow this motto, everyone should now pay attention who likes cycling, but is not usually planning any marathon distances and wants to combine their bike as conveniently as possible with other transport options. The Compakt E+ is aimed at these people. As its name suggests, this ebike aims to win you over with its interpretation of the “small and handy” principle.

Momentum Compakt E+

A touring bike, but different

First and foremost, it wants to be a touring bike. Not so much in the sense of a trekking bike, which you like to use to rack up plenty of kilometres over several days. Rather, it wants to be a companion on your travels that offers you the opportunity to cycle when the time is right. The classic solution is, of course, to take the ebike with you on a longer trip in a motorhome, caravan or simply on the bike rack on your car. At the same time, its length of just 162 centimetres, together with the handy frame, makes it easier to take it on buses and trains. Especially those who change their means of transport when commuting will appreciate such features.

Plenty of potential

As a compact bike, the newcomer from Momentum comes with all the details you would expect from an ebike of this type. The geometry of the frame allows you to sit relatively upright on the Compakt E+. Thanks to the retractable seat post, the angle-adjustable stem and the height-adjustable handlebars, there are numerous settings for a comfortable riding position to suit your own preferences. According to Giant, the Momentum is suitable for people with a height of 155 centimetres to 195 centimetres for the Compakt E+ 1 and 145 centimetres to 190 centimetres for the Compakt E+ 2. Both are based on the identical frame. The difference lies in the suspension parallelogram seatpost of the Compakt E+ 1, which cannot be lowered as far into the seat tube, but is slightly higher.

The tubes of the aluminium frame are arranged in such a way that several triangles are formed, which provide the necessary stability. This results in a fairly high maximum permitted total weight of 180 kilograms. Some e-cargo bikes, such as the Loden One or other compact bikes like the Tern Quick Haul, do not reach this value. The short tube that connects the seat tube and down tube serves as a good handle if you want to lift the ebike, for example to carry it up stairs or lift it onto a bike rack. The position of the tube creates a low step-through, which makes it easier to get on and off the bike. The retractable handlebars, which can be rotated by 90 degrees using a quick-release, and the folding pedals are also an advantage in everyday use. This does not make the Compakt E+ a fully-fledged folding bike. However, with a height of 112 centimetres and a width of 29 centimetres, in its most compact state it takes up significantly less space than a conventional bike.

Small powerhouse

When it comes to the equipment, you can feel Momentum’s endeavour to give you as many options as possible for using the bike. This starts with the rear rack. You can load an impressive 27 kilograms onto it. This could be panniers for touring, baskets for shopping or a child seat for transporting the kids. Thanks to the MIK HD standard, the aforementioned accessories can be easily attached and swapped in virtually no time at all. The tail light integrated into the rear rack is a small but attractive side note.

The head tube features integrated mounting points for a front rack. If you wish, you can have a second rack fitted there and even choose between three different versions. Fortunately, Momentum has thought this step through to the end. The front headlight is mounted on the fork as standard. A front rack would conceal it. However, with the help of an adapter, the headlight can alternatively be attached to the front of the rear rack so that you can be optimally see and seen. Incidentally, all available front racks are approved for a maximum load of 15 kilograms and are MIK-compatible.

Is this still a compact bike?

The load concept of the Compakt E+ is rounded off by an M10 mount for a bike trailer. This would allow you to carry an additional 45 kilograms of load. This also shows why the high permitted total weight of 180 kilograms can be so crucial. We can’t think of a competitor that can keep up in this detail. A standard double kickstand ensures that the bike is always stable when fully loaded.

Even a bike trailer can be towed on the compact ebike.

Bucking the trend

Momentum relies on the SyncDrive Sport2 for the drive. The mid-mounted motor delivers the usual 250 watts in continuous operation and generates a torque of 75 Newton metres. As hardly anyone will load the Compakt E+ to the maximum on every journey, this choice seems appropriate. The integration of the battery in the down tube is special. The vast majority of competitors opt for a battery that is mounted on the outside of the frame. Visually, the solution with the integrated EnergyPak certainly appeals to us. In practical terms, there are also no disadvantages. You can remove the 500 watt-hour battery from the side. This means that charging does not necessarily have to be done on the ebike itself. Momentum also utilises the space freed up on the seat tube and places the lock cylinder for a folding lock there. In the top model, the Compakt E+ 1, a keyed alike Abus X Plus is almost logically part of the standard equipment.

SyncDrive Sport 2 motor generating 75 Newton metres

The ebike system can be operated using the RideControl Dash 2in1 from Giant. Its small colour display gives you a clear overview of all key riding data such as speed, distance, riding time, total kilometres, cadence, range and battery status. Another useful feature is the USB-C charging socket, which you can use to charge your mobile devices while riding.

Convenience has its price

It was already hinted at briefly in between: Momentum offers the Compakt E+ in two different versions. The biggest difference between the two is the built-in hub gear. An Enviolo Automatiq Trekking is used on the Compakt E+ 1. Thanks to its automatic and stepless shifting, it is noticeably superior to the Shimano Nexus Inter-5E used on the Compakt E+ 2 with its five mechanical gears in terms of riding comfort. The same applies to the gear ratio. Here, the Enviolo is 380 per cent compared to 263 per cent. We like the fact that Momentum combines both gears with a carbon belt. This means that you don’t have to worry about maintenance and wear in this respect. Together with the suspension seat post and the lock included in the price, the Compakt E+ 1 costs a total of € 4,999. The Compakt E+ 2 is available for exactly 1,000 euros less.

Momentum Compakt E+ at a glance

• Variants: Compakt E+ 1, Compakt E+ 2
• Frame: Aluminium
• Motor: SyncDrive Sport2, 75 Nm
• Battery: EnergyPak Smart Compakt 500 Wh
• Control unit: RideControl Dash 2in1
• Drivetrain: Enviolo Automatiq Trekking, Shimano Nexus Inter-5E
• Brakes: Tektro HD-M285
• Weight: 28.1 kg (Compakt E+ 1), 26.5 kg (Compakt E+ 2)
• Maximum permitted total weight: 180 kg
• Colours: Cold Night, Indigo, Mushroom, Shale Green
• Prices: from 3,999 euros

from left: Momenum Compakt E+ 2 in the colour Shale Green, Momenum Compakt E+ 2 in the colour Cold Night, Momenum Compakt E+ 1 in the colour Mushroom and Momenum Compakt E+ 1 in the colour Indigo

Pictures: Giant Germany GmbH