Long-term test: Riese & Müller Supercharger GX Rohloff HS vs. Supercharger2 – our conclusion (2023)

Long-term test done, and (almost) nothing broke. After more than 4,500 km, we take stock of how the Riese & Müller Supercharger Rohloff HS 2019 and the Supercharger2 Rohloff HS 2020 have fared in everyday commuting and what you should look out for in an S-Pedelec.

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In our long-term test, we certainly didn't go easy on either Riese & Müller Supercharger. Two years of riding them rain and shine, we pushed the GX to the limit and the track conditions pushed both bikes to the limit. When stationary, they spent most of their time outdoors. We rarely cleaned them. Do the bikes mind? No. Not a bit.

After a total of more than 4,500 km and two years of continuous use, we draw our conclusions about the Riese & Müller Supercharger GX HS Rohloff and Supercharger2 HS Rohloff. Comparing the two bikes was easy as the test track stayed the same and the basic spec was identical: S-Pedelecs, Bosch Performance Speed ​​Line motors, 1000Wh DualBatteries and Rohloff E-14 Speedhub drives. Curtain up for the showdown of two commuter experts!

The components of the Riese & Müller Supercharger GX Rohloff HS

S-Pedelec stands for fast pedelec and offers electronic support up to 45 km/h. This is not only noticeable in the wind in your hair, but also brings other changes with it. On an S-Pedelec, for example, rear-view mirrors and a horn are mandatory, and the brakes must be linked to a rear light that indicates when you are braking. The S-Pedelecs in the Riese & Müller portfolio can always be recognized by the abbreviation "HS" in the model name, which stands for high speed. The "GX" in the model name of the Riese & Müller Supercharger GX Rohloff HS indicates a more off-road-oriented equipment. So the Supercharger GX is fitted with Schwalbe Rock Razor tires with aggressive shoulder lugs and a fast-rolling center tread. You also get 760 mm wide handlebars, bar ends and a front luggage rack. Additionally, our test model featured a removable lock and a fabric water bottle subtly attached to the head tube. Those who regularly encounter gravel roads and rough terrain on their daily commute or while riding will find the GX construction very valuable. We liked the idea, although it raised a few questions. The first inconsistency is the attachment of the side mirror to the handlebars, which in combination with the bar ends simply didn't want to hold up in our tests. As a result, when we hit a bump in the road, the mirror fell off and it broke. Of course, the GX construction looks great and offers extra security, especially in bad weather conditions and in winter. However, there is a big "but" in the legal situation.

The Supercharger GX Rohloff HS 2019 in detail

The Supercharger2 Rohloff HS 2020 in detail

The precarious legal situation of S-Pedelecs like the 2019 Riese & Müller Supercharger GX Rohloff HS

As in most other EU countries, the fun of S-Pedelecs in Germany ends where the roads end. If you think that you can legally ride your new 45 km/h S-Pedelec off-road, we have a bitter drop of bitterness for you: That is not possible. The German road traffic regulations stipulate that S-pedelecs can be driven on public roads, but not on cycle paths, farm tracks or in the forest, unless you have special permission.

There is no question: S-Pedelecs like the Riese & Müller Supercharger GX Rohloff HS are an ideal means of transport for commuters and would help to relieve the strain, especially in busy cities like Stuttgart. The legislator hinders the transformation of urban mobility. In our opinion, this is an immature regulation, as it reduces the attractiveness of speed pedelecs and prevents the switch to one instead of the car, which negates the ecological, economic and health benefits. Unfortunately, there is still no real S-Pedelec infrastructure in Germany either. So you end up stuck in rush hour traffic, crawling at the same pace as the cars around you and breathing in their exhaust fumes. If you're not stuck in a traffic jam, you'll be yelled at by uncomprehending drivers because you're driving at a maximum of 45 km/h. Swiss authorities see things differently and allow speed pedelecs on cycle paths.

specification details

The electronic Rohloff E-14 powertrain on the Riese & Müller Supercharger Rohloff HS

Opinions differ on the Rohloff E-14 drive - in this case combined with a Gates carbon belt instead of a chain - especially with regard to the 900 € surcharge. Our biggest criticism is the switching speed. Anyone who is used to the precise and crisp shifting processes of Shimano groupsets will be disappointed by the electronic shifting of the Rohloff. The hub only shifts in bursts of three gears and then has to recover for about a second before shifting another three gears. As long as you only shift one gear at a time to maintain the perfect cadence, it's not a problem. However, if an unexpected climb rears up in front of you, you quickly come to a standstill, since the relatively slow shifting also means that the motor support is briefly suspended.

In addition, the translations do not seem to have been adapted to the purpose of the e-bike. When starting off on level ground, you have to start off in fifth gear and skip every second gear in order to reach cruising speed as quickly as possible, which is usually in 13th or 14th gear. The gear jumps in the middle are too small useful on flat terrain. Should an unexpected climb surprise you, one of the advantages of the Rohloff is that it can shift gears while stationary. While it may seem unnecessary at first, you get used to it so quickly that when you step on a bike with derailleur gears, you'll wonder how you ever managed to navigate city traffic without this feature. Another feature that you get used to very quickly is the automatic downshift to a preset gear when you stop. So you always have the right gear to start off. Probably the biggest benefit of a Rohloff drivetrain and a Gates belt is the lack of maintenance. After well over 4,000 km we didn't have to tighten the belts on either bike - a conventional chain would have had to be replaced or at least serviced and lubricated. The Rohloff Speedhub is an absolute workhorse drivetrain, but that doesn't mean it doesn't benefit from regular maintenance.

MAGURA MT4 Sport vs. MT5/MT4 Kombination

While opinions remain divided on the drivetrain, we can all agree that the MAGURA MT4 brakes and two-finger levers on the 2019 Supercharger are underpowered! If we weren't dealing with a heavy e-bike that can quickly accelerate to 35 km/h, the lack of power and reliability on long descents would be less of an issue. However, since your safety on public roads is at stake here and it is an S-Pedelec with a top speed of up to 45 km/h, we strongly recommend retrofitting the brakes. If you have long descents on your daily route, you should at least replace the front wheel brake with the 4-piston MT5 model from MAGURA. The brake pads only had to be replaced after 26,000 meters of descent and a total of 2,000 kilometers.

Here, Riese & Müller has improved significantly compared to the successor, because the Supercharger2 comes with the MAGURA MT5 at the front. While we're not entirely happy with the MT5 lever and would prefer a MAGURA HC-3 variant, the four-piston caliper is significantly more powerful and reliable on long descents. It would be great to have it on the back as well.

The lights on the Supercharger – Busch & Müller LUMOTEC/Supernova M99 vs. Supernova M99 MINI PRO-45

Basically, the Riese & Müller Supercharger HS is a set-and-forget bike. The same goes for the Busch & Müller and Supernova lights on the Supercharger GX. The lighting is sufficient for daily commuting in the city and even in the forest. However, if you're used to the performance of the Supernova M99 MINI PRO, you probably want an upgrade. Obviously, Riese & Müller noticed this themselves and equipped the Supercharger2 with Supernova's flagship headlight as standard. The Supernova M99 MINI PRO-45's high beam function is a real game changer for commuting through night traffic and on unlit trails. Neither snow nor the most stormy weather could dim the lights and we saw clearly until the end.

Tire choice - Schwalbe Rock Razor or Super Moto-X?

If we had to choose one tire for different terrain and weather conditions, it would be the Schwalbe Rock Razor ADDIX Soft. Its rolling and braking characteristics are good on asphalt roads, while it offers sufficient grip on gravel and damp forest roads. Thanks to the Rock Razor's pronounced shoulder lugs, you'll stay on course even in the wettest conditions. After a total of around 2,000 km we should have changed the rear tire for the first time. If you want to go all out, you can either opt for the Super Gravity version of the Rock Razor with an extra soft rubber compound and indestructible carcass, or swing in the other direction with Schwalbe's semi-slick Super Moto-X for maximum on-road performance.

We tried all three tires and ended up sticking with the Schwalbe Rock Razor Evolution ADDIX Soft Super Gravity. Sure, the soft rubber compound wears out very quickly on asphalt. However, it saved us from having to spend at least one night outdoors, because thanks to the extremely robust carcass you can drive home with a flat tire without having to worry about the rims. The grippy rubber compound and the aggressive profile keep you on course even through snow and mud.

Suspension fork – SR Suntour AION

While adjusting the suspension on an e-mountain bike can be quite time-consuming, the Suntour AION on the supercharger is comparatively easy to adjust. We pumped the air pressure to about 80psi with a rider weight of 85kg and adjusted it slightly with a load on the front rack. We recommend setting the rebound relatively quickly (approx. 75% from slow to fast) so that the fork can react quickly to potholes and bumps. For the best possible response, we kept the compression damping completely open during the test.

Motor/Akku – Bosch Performance Line Speed ​​oder Performance Line Speed ​​Gen 4?

We don't have to think long to answer this question. However, the new generation updates haven't exactly rocked our world. Anyone who thinks that 1,000 Wh is enough to circumnavigate the world will be disappointed by the reality. But why travel the world when you only have to drive 20 km to the office? Practice has shown that our editor Valentin can usually cover around 70 km with 1,000 Wh – without making an effort. With the fourth generation Bosch Performance Line Speed ​​in the Supercharger2, its range increased by approximately 5–10 km. To put this in perspective, he was able to cycle to and from work about 3½ to 4 times without breaking a sweat on the highest assist level, covering 20km and about 300m of elevation gain each way.

Cold winter weather had a slight impact on range, and we used about 5-10% more battery on average. When you are driving on flat terrain with the Bosch Performance Line Speed, you can usually drive around 36 kilometers/hour without exerting yourself excessively. The fourth generation of the Performance Line Speed ​​​​is only marginally faster. That means it's more than fast enough. We rarely longed for 45 km/h last year, but if you make an effort, both Bosch motors willingly accelerate to top speed. The fun stops as soon as you drive up an incline and no matter how much power you muster, you will not be able to drive faster than 38 km/h with the Bosch Performance Speed ​​​​Line. Even the latest generation rarely went faster than 40 km/h uphill. None of the Bosch Line Speed ​​​​motors experienced any technical problems during the test period and simply performed as they did on day one. The Bosch logos on both models rubbed off after a few months.

The sprung seat post

We were very impressed with the added comfort that the suspension seatpost provided. The damper in the seat post is particularly useful on light bumps and even harder hits, as it is easy on your back and spine. However, we struggled to the very end to keep the seatpost at the desired height, at least as long as we stuck to the specified seatpost bolt torque. The seat post kept slipping down a few centimeters within a few kilometers. Unfortunately, we ran into this problem on both Supercharger models and were only able to fix it by over-tightening the bolt and using friction paste.

RX connection

A unique selling point of the Supercharger2 compared to its predecessor is the integrated RX Connect chip, which is supplied with all current Riese & Müller bikes. From €40 per year, the bike can be located via GPS in the event of theft and, depending on the package, Riese & Müller can also replace it for the same value. The chip can also send you a notification when it detects movement on the bike and you can retrieve your personal riding characteristics. Of course, these functions are available internationally with fully comprehensive insurance and 24/7 customer service.

The Superchargers and their maximum weight

Even if the Supercharger gives the impression of a cruise ship, the maximum payload is more like that of a rowing boat. The calculation is simple: 140 kg permissible total weight minus the 30 kg of the bike's own weight and a rider's weight of 85 kg (like our tester Valentin) results in a maximum load of 25 kg. Since the luggage racks on the Supercharger models are limited to 27.5 kg anyway, it worked out perfectly for Valentine. However, if you are traveling heavier or want to load more than 25 kg, you will quickly reach your limits. However, we must emphasize that 25 kg is usually more than you need for a week's shopping or a multi-day trip. Only the look of the bike gives the impression of being able to tow much heavier loads.

2019 Riese & Müller Supercharger and 2020 Supercharger2 long-term

How does the Riese & Müller Supercharger GX Rohloff HS drive? Everyone in our team who has sat on the S-Pedelec over the years immediately felt comfortable. Even if the high weight of the bike feels a bit unusual at first, the wide handlebars and the upright seating position give the rider a sense of security. The rider's weight distribution between handlebars and saddle is well balanced and creates enough grip on the front wheel without feeling numb on long rides. When loaded, the handling of the Riese & Müller remains stable and comfortable – at least at lower speeds. In extreme situations and at high speeds, it is important to keep enough weight on the front wheel, otherwise wobbling can occur. As soon as the front wheel is slightly loaded, the handling of the bike stabilizes. In contrast, we tested the street version of the Supercharger2 and in one frame size smaller. Thanks to narrower handlebars and a revised frame, the handling of the new Supercharger2 is much more direct and agile. Due to the smaller frame, we always had enough weight on the front wheel even when sitting upright, which led to very stable handling.

In the city, the GX with wide handlebars and studded tires has to give way to its semi-slick colleague. Although the off-road oriented tires also work well on tarmac, the disadvantages of the smaller contact patch compared to a semi-slick tire are not up for debate. The wider handlebars can also make navigating city traffic a bit difficult at times. In general, the Supercharger GX is a roomy bike that's particularly comfortable on long rides and wide trails, although it takes an experienced rider to navigate narrow city streets. The Supercharger2 was much better in this regard. When fully loaded, the handling of both bikes becomes significantly more sluggish, which is to be expected with a 25 kg load. With heavy suitcases and a load on the front rack, the Supercharger GX remains safe to ride and easy to control, although handling is slower and you need to be a bit more careful.

The Supercharger GX is a capable and reliable climber on forest roads. It only reaches its limits on steep terrain with tight hairpin bends. In general, the Supercharger GX feels most comfortable on forest trails and is hard to beat in this terrain. Thanks to the non-slip tyres, the wide handlebars, the suspension fork and the suspension seat post, you can be on the road forever. However, cornering or steep descents quickly remind you of the bike's weight, especially since it doesn't switch off at 25 km/h like a normal e-bike. We recommend taking corners and descents calmly at first and gradually speeding up as you get used to the bike. Once you get used to it, the Supercharger proves capable and fun in corners and stable on steep descents. As previously mentioned, we would replace the brakes with more powerful models. The standard Supercharger2 spec didn't fare well off-road with the Schwalbe Moto-X tires. But it was also a lot of fun in gravel corners after switching to Rock Razor tires. If you are between two frame sizes, consider how you plan to use the bike. Because our Supercharger GX was primarily intended for long-distance riding, and we knew we didn't have to negotiate tight obstacles on our regular routes, we benefited significantly from the serenity the larger frame offered. If you're cruising around town and struggling through parked vehicles, we recommend the smaller frame size for more agile handling.

Diploma

For around €8,000, the Supercharger models from Riese & Müller offer a turnkey solution for commuters and mileage veterans. Thanks to wider handlebars, bar ends and the additional front rack, the GX version is the first choice for long-distance riders and forest road commuters. What the first generation of the Supercharger lacks is largely made up for by the latest model, which came along with the introduction of Bosch's new generation motors. The current Supercharger2 is a well-rounded and modern concept, the street version of which is sure to please the urban explorers among us, while the GX version is a faithful companion for full-time commuters and weekend warriors.

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Words:Valentin RuehlPhotos:Jonas Müssig, Philipp Schwab, and Valentin Rühl