Test KTM Macina Ultimate Pro: The powerful motorized electric bike, sold exclusively by Zweirad Stadler, combines many good features, including a long range and a sporty, wide-ranged derailleur gear system. Deciding on this electric bike is therefore easy - perhaps it is almost more difficult to choose between the three frame shapes.
Fast and comfortable on the road, on any terrain: you don't need anything more than a solid e-bike. But the offer is now unmanageably large - so what should you pay attention to? A bike that can serve as an excellent example of a successful e-bike is the KTM Macina Ultimate Pro, which is available as a special model Two-wheeler Stadler is expelled. The name sounds like top-class sport, but you shouldn't let that impress you: the Ultimate Pro may have a strong motor, but it's an extremely comfortable companion when it comes to sitting posture and handling.
Lots of propulsion with the Bosch CX
The first keyword is the engine. It is clearly at the heart of every e-bike, but you don't have to worry too much about it if the manufacturer can provide a well-known supplier - like KTM with the Bosch system. The engine, which has been perfected over many years, is exceptionally powerful in all its variants, and even those versions with a slightly lower torque push where it matters – especially on the mountain.
With the Bosch Performance Line CX you don't have to worry about the power. With a torque of 85 Nm, this is the supplier's strongest unit, developed for use on e-mountain bikes, where maximum motor support is required on steep sections. So much power is rarely needed on an e-trekking bike, but you can switch to a lower support mode and then enjoy a gentler, but still very powerful boost. And if you're traveling with heavy luggage, more torque is a good thing.
Days of driving fun with 625 watt hours
You don't have to worry about the range with the KTM Macina Ultimate Pro either. The power storage of e-bikes has gotten bigger and bigger over the years, and even the 625 watt hours on this bike have now been topped. You don't have to be afraid of an "empty tank" on the tour: 625 Wh are available for four to five hours in the saddle with medium to powerful motor support, and you have to ride that in one go. Even dedicated everyday drivers will not charge the battery more than once or twice a week; the question of the maximum number of charging cycles thus arises automatically. As usual, the battery can be charged in the bike; alternatively, they can be removed from the down tube – for example when the bike is parked in front of the house. Then it also pays off that the large and easy-to-read Bosch Intuvia display, which is mounted in the middle above the stem, can simply be removed and taken with you - without a battery and display, the electric bike is quite unattractive to bicycle thieves.
Broadly graded eleven-speed circuit
A typical feature of most mid-motors is that they are only compatible with one chainring. This is no longer a disadvantage, because an eleven-speed sprocket cassette like on the KTM is largely standard today. Here it is extremely wide with 11 to 51 teeth; you don't need more gears on an e-bike, nor do you need finer gear jumps. The powerful motor ensures that you can ride in a wider cadence range. An advantage of derailleur gears are fast gear changes and power shifting (but please don't overdo it!) and thus a plus in sporty driving fun. One must not forget, however, that the exposed chain strand requires a certain amount of care.
Typical for the all-round pedelec is a suspension fork, whose travel of 63 mm is easily enough to absorb shocks and smooth out vibrations. KTM relies on a steel spring that can be easily adjusted and requires little maintenance. With an air suspension fork, on the other hand, you have to check the air pressure regularly. The comfort provider at the front is supplemented by a spring seat post, which makes sense especially given the rather upright sitting position. With a slightly curved handlebar and additional grips, the posture of the arms and hands is comfortable and flexible, and the width of the handlebars means that the beefy bike is always under control.
Grip and comfort with wide tires
50 mm wide tires are not uncommon today, because they offer a lot of comfort and good traction with slightly reduced air pressure, especially on e-bikes. The Schwalbe Energizer installed on the KTM is a good choice, as it is designed for the higher weight loads on the e-bike. The yellow side walls are visually pleasing, and the reflective coating makes spoke reflectors superfluous. As far as the lighting is concerned, the sporty e-trekking bike is reliably equipped with a 50-lux spotlight and an LED rear light mounted well protected on the carrier. The carrier itself allows panniers to be hung up and objects to be attached using spring clips.
The subtly styled bike – the Austrian manufacturer’s house color is only found on the grips and the gear cable – is available in three frame shapes, whereby the “Wave” version with a low step-through has a practical feature: it has the battery compartment cover at the top on the down tube, which makes removing and inserting the battery a bit easier. Incidentally, there is no longer any need to distinguish between women's and men's bikes.
Stadler offers the KTM Macina Ultimate Pro for around 4.000 euros, which is typical for this class given the equipment. With zero percent financing over ten months, the price goes down much more easily; In any case, many e-bikes are now leased from employers, which of course is also possible at Stadler. The KTM special model is a good choice in any case - as a fast, comfortable e-bike that impresses on any terrain.
Website: shop.zweirad-stadler.de
