Test: E-bike tuning is no longer a rare phenomenon. One sometimes has the impression that one belongs to the minority of e-bikers for whom 25 km/h is enough when one is on the cycle path. We have dealt with a tuning product. Specifically with the bikespeed RS. What are the pros and cons, how does it feel?
Sure, driving it around in public areas isn't legal, so we don't want to recommend it to anyone. However, we wanted to understand how something like this feels, how cycling is changing as a result and what motivates so many e-bikers to become tuners. When visibly untrained cyclists overtake you on inclines with heavy e-mountain bikes at an estimated speed of 40 km/h, then the power is no coincidence.
Attention: The legal situation should be pointed out explicitly. Tuning is not legal and not a trivial offense. It causes the loss of guarantee or warranty claims. The insurance protection is endangered, you can be legally prosecuted for it. We clearly advise against tuning in traffic! We only tested the tuning outside of the public and with the permission of the property owner. Specifically, these were specific MTB and E-MTB routes in the off-season.
Bike speed plus:
[testimonial cite=“Statement Bikespeed“]“We have not been able to conclusively determine whether operation with a built-in but deactivated bikespeed RS is permitted on public roads. Therefore, we expressly point out that the mere presence of the tuning can constitute an offense under the German Road Traffic Act (StVO) or driving without insurance, Section 6 of the Compulsory Insurance Act!”[/testimonial]Why bikespeed RS?
We deliberately chose the bikespeed-RS module because it promises an exact display of the speed, even when tuned. That's why "RS" stands for Real Speed. Knowing the speed was important for us to get a feeling for the thing. A key combination can be used to choose between “normal operation” and “open” software. We were therefore able to drive and compare sections in the various settings in quick succession.
General to the bikespeed-RS
The RS tuning is the middle price variant at bikespeed. The simplest tuning is the bikespeed key. This, which looks like an ordinary USB stick, halves the speed on the speedometer. You can drive up to 50 km/h. The tuning can be removed at any time, even while driving. A kind of top variant is offered with the bikespeed-RSc. As a special service for customers, the bikespeed-RSc is offered specially configured according to customer requirements. It is therefore possible to select an individual key combination and the behavior when the wheel is switched on.
At our request, bikespeed provided us with the bikespeed-RS for a test. The regular price of €149 is between the €99 key and the €179 variant bikespeed-RSc. The module comes nicely packaged and comes with easy-to-understand instructions for assembly. The manufacturer points out the legal situation both in the instructions and online.
Mounting on the bike
We decided to test a Bosch bike, also because this drive is more often than average on the market. The assembly is relatively simple, but we still advise against anyone who has "two left hands". A defective plug or a broken panel is unnecessary nerves and money. However, if you are reasonably skilled, you can easily manage the installation.
For safety reasons, you should first remove the battery from the bike, safety first. Then the crank screw is unscrewed on the left side and the crank is removed with the appropriate tool. The cover can now be removed. In our case, the crank could even remain on the bike, since the motor on our test bike is only covered in the upper half.
With a little finesse, two plugs are removed. At this point, the bikespeed module is sort of "interposed". Then you look for a place where you place the black box yourself, in which the technology is located. It wasn't easy for us because there isn't a complete plastic cover, otherwise it would have been very easy.
A pre-assembled double-sided adhesive tape makes assembly easier. It also makes sense to arrange the cables a little and fix them with cable ties if necessary. Then put the cover on, if you removed it beforehand, put the crank back on and put the battery in... done, ready to go.
Riding with bikespeed-RS
It is very easy to use and intuitive once you understand it. Four button presses are required to switch between "open" and 25Kmh". The buttons on the control lever for selecting the modes: down, up, down, up... done! There should be no more than 3 seconds between button presses.
If you drive with the open engine, you first notice... nothing at all! The bike rides as always. No acceleration like a rocket, no changed background noise. But it just doesn't stop pushing. The limit is only determined by how high the maximum cadence of the rider and how big the gear ratio is. With the bikespeed-RS it feels as fast uphill as it goes down towards the valley. You have to get used to it on the descent. Coming out of bends or when starting, eg before a jump, you get going much faster than you are used to with a pedelec. That created one or the other moment of shock, but once you get used to it, you can use the motor power for various driving maneuvers.
We can understand 25% that tuning like this is fun, but we still have to seriously advise against it for anyone who doesn't have a very, very extensive private property. At the very least, please keep your hands off speeds over XNUMXkmh on the road, as this harms all e-bikers in the long term, and if things go badly, oneself in particular. The bottom line is a consistently positive impression of the bikespeed-RS. Installation, price and function can only be rated with a thumbs up. The problem of the illegality of such an upgrade creates a bitter aftertaste.