Test Ampler Curt: "Invisible" e-bikes are offered by the Estonian manufacturer Ampler. If you want to get through the city quickly, an e-bike like the Ampler Curt is a good choice, especially since the bikes have other strengths in addition to the discreet look.
More functions, more range, more weight - many e-bike providers are taking this route. They are aimed at garage-owners among cyclists who only have to comfortably push their touring bike down the driveway to set off on a leisurely round - of course with high motor support so that they can ride with a pleasantly low level of personal effort.
The species-appropriate habitat of the Ampler Curt is the metropolis
This pedelec ideal has little to do with everyday life in the city. Anyone who lives in an apartment building and decides not to drive or use public transport to get to work will quickly reach the limits of what is “tradable” with a 27-kilo electric bike. A light, manoeuvrable e-bike is needed; one that enables a consistently brisk pace when the headwind whistles through the urban canyons.
You won't find anything like this in the ranges of the big suppliers; you will find what you are looking for at Ampler. The small company from Tallinn in Estonia has specialized in minimalism, so to speak - on e-bikes like the Ampler Curt, whose electronic components are almost invisible. Small rear hub motor, battery in the slim down tube that can only be removed by a specialist, no controls on the handlebars: At first glance, not even a connoisseur will notice that the Curt model is an electric bike; All that is visible is the power button and the magnetic charging port on the seat tube, which reveals the pedelec. This is unusual at first, after all, large displays and extensive controls on e-bikes are now standard. Driving data can only be read with the smartphone app belonging to the drive system; the switch on the seat tube is also used to switch between the two modes "Normal" and "Boost" with 100 or 150% support. With the app you can influence other engine parameters.
Hard on the limit: the Ampler Curt also accelerates over 25 km/h
In the standard setting, the small hub motor of the Ampler Curt is not very torquey. Anyone who is used to starting out vigorously at traffic lights shouldn't let this irritate them, especially since the ten-speed derailleur on the test bike provides jump-start assistance. In addition, the hub motor quickly shows its strengths: It also supports well above 25 km/h, which allows a comparatively high constant speed. The Ampler Curt thus makes full use of the tolerance permitted by law, which is pleasant for sporty cyclists who are constantly on normal e-bikes in the area where the engine is switched off.
And anyone who moves through city traffic on the Ampler Curt can look forward to more than just the brisk pace: the bike is sporty and agile and, thanks to its extremely low weight of 16 kilos, can be moved just like a conventional urban bike. The sporty sitting position with a significant difference in height between saddle and handlebars is comfortable for ambitious riders; Thanks to the hub motor and down tube battery, the Ampler Curt's center of gravity is quite low, which further improves handling. By the way, the power storage is nominally relatively small with 336 watt hours. But it is precisely the low torque that ensures that the current lasts for long distances; at a medium-speed ride, 80 to 90 km should be possible, as suggested by the dyno tests that Velomotion carried out with the Ampler Stout model for the big Focus e-bike test at Velotech in the test laboratory. The Ampler Curt is well equipped for everyday use. If you are permanently in boost mode, you will of course not get as far.
With mudguards and a lighting system, our test bike is equipped for everyday use right from the start; The illuminated dots integrated in the seat post are very elegant. Visually, the cables routed along the down tube are the only drawback, but there's no room for them in the down tube. With a weatherproof Brooks saddle and smooth-running, robust Conti sports tires, high-quality parts are on board, although all the extras have their price - including the gears. That's right: The basic model of the Ampler Curt is a single-speed bike, and the low support factor is of course more noticeable without gears than with ten gears. Anyone who only rides on the flat and values a simple look as much as possible will of course also get along with the single wheel.
The Ampler Curt shown here costs 3.110 euros; the basic version is just under 2.500 euros. The Estonian company does not offer its e-bikes at a bargain price - why should it, since their product is highly individual and almost unrivalled. By the way, with the Ampler Stout and the Ampler Stellar there are two more casual models from Estonia (to the Velomotion article). If you want to try the Ampler e-bikes, you've got more Listnride Opportunity to do so in several German cities; Velomotion can only confirm that it is worthwhile.
