Super quick through woods and meadows: the innovative Magdeburg manufacturer Urwahn also offers gravel bikes and e-gravel bikes. The Urwahn Waldwiesel.E had to prove itself in the Velomotion test and, in addition to the unmistakable look, also shows harmonious driving characteristics.
Gravel bike is trend, e-bike is trend - what could be more obvious than to combine both? Not a completely new idea, as you can see from the various e-gravellers with bulky mid-motors – bikes that are strong uphill but can never really be ridden faster than 25 km/h (unless it’s going downhill). And which have little of the elegance of a slim driving machine, as embodied by gravel bikes and racing bikes.
Primal delusion Waldwiesel.E
Curtain up for the primal delusion Waldwiesel.E - the bike of a brand that already shines with an extravagant look and does so many things very differently than the competition. Urwahn Engineering GmbH in Magdeburg can call itself a real manufacturer with its own – and quite innovative – frame production. The unmistakable "loop frame" of the Urwahn is partly created using 3D metal printing - this is the state-of-the-art method used to manufacture the connecting pieces, which are then soldered to steel tubes to form the complete frame. The result is an organic-looking silhouette with smooth shapes and invisible tube transitions, which is particularly fascinating for a bike made of a metallic material - this is what only carbon frames normally look like.
Comfort and stiffness without a seat tube
Of course, the missing seat tube, which has an important static function in conventional bicycles, is particularly noticeable. Urwahn manages to ensure more than adequate frame rigidity even without this component; at the same time, the Magdeburgers tickle a good deal more comfort out of their frame. The bike is not a sedan chair, but you think you can feel a certain shock absorption.
Last but not least, the shape of the frame elegantly conceals the electrical components: the 250-watt-hour battery is hidden in the down tube, which is a bit more voluminous than on the non-motorized Waldwiesel; the Mahle rear motor disappears optically between the sprocket set and the brake disc. Which leads to the question of how the compact drive performs in forest and meadows - is it really as quick as a flash?
Harmonious extra boost
Of course, you shouldn't expect the power of a mid-engine from the hub motor. Mahle supplies numerous racing bike manufacturers who see the lightweight unit as a real additional drive that actively pushes uphill, but otherwise acts inconspicuously. And that also applies to the Waldwiesel: If you go uphill, the motor switches on unobtrusively and helps a lot, especially with higher pedaling frequencies. When starting, you shouldn't expect a "kick" à la Bosch CX, the 40 Nm torque is simply not enough for that. On the other hand, at speeds above 25 km/h the motor rolls along imperceptibly and offers no resistance, and so you can gravel very naturally without being constantly reminded of the motor. The only thing that is striking is that the hub motor shows noticeable resistance if you let it roll for longer - but this has nothing to do with the energy recovery of classic rear motors.
High-quality technology and additional equipment
Due to the selective support on the mountain, you can get quite far with the small battery, and if the power really runs out, you can also ride without support, as described. There is also an additional battery in drinking bottle format, which delivers another 200 watt hours. As far as the bike technology is concerned, the Urwahn Waldwiesel.E comes along like many other gravel bikes Shimano GRX 1×11 and Continental Terra Speed tires. As is typical for the genre, the handlebars are slightly flared at the ends; a saddle from the brand ensures a high level of comfort Ergon.
The base price of the electric Waldwiesel is included 5.499 Euros. On request, the bike comes with a Lauf suspension fork (+ €999) or with lighting (+ €400) instead of a rigid carbon fork, which is of course very practical in everyday use. There is also a mudguard set for just under 50 euros and a Tubus luggage rack for 80 euros. This is how the Waldwiesel.E becomes a city animal that proves its worth when commuting and in your free time - and always attracts curious looks.
Website: urwahnbikes.com
To the current gravel bike leaderboards:
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