Test / Urban E-Bike: With the Raleigh One, the traditional British manufacturer is venturing into radical new territory. Instead of conventional trekking bikes, there's now a futuristic design, app connectivity, and an almost invisible drive system. We tested whether the bike successfully bridges the gap between 1887 and 2025 and whether the one-size-fits-all concept truly suits everyone in city traffic.
Raleigh's portfolio currently represents a clash of two worlds. On the one hand, there's the history of one of the oldest bicycle brands in the world – founded in 1887 in Nottingham, known for its long cycling heritage and classic everyday bikes. On the other hand, there's the Raleigh One: an urban e-bike so hip and trendy that you almost have to read the brand name on the top tube twice.
Raleigh has undergone a comprehensive rebranding. A new image and, with the "One," a model that currently sets the standard as the only bike of this new era. The concept is clear: a smart, stylish e-bike for urban environments, designed to shake off the dust of history and bring a breath of fresh air to the city. But can a single model meet the needs of the masses?
Design and concept: Courage to embrace the gap
The Raleigh One makes no secret of its ambitions. It aims directly at the niche of design-oriented urban bikes that have conquered the cityscape in recent years. The frame is made of aluminum, as is the rigid fork. The reduction to the essentials is striking. There are no gears, no visible welds, and a fully integrated lighting system.
The lighting design is particularly striking: The rear light is integrated into the frame as a wraparound light strip, ensuring visibility from the rear and sides. The front headlight is mounted on the stem and features an automatic system that uses sensors to switch between daytime running lights and low beams. For example, when riding into an underpass during the day, the system switches instantly – a safety feature that is invaluable in hectic city traffic.
One technical detail that will please workshop enthusiasts: Raleigh has opted against the currently trendy practice of routing cables directly through the headset. Instead, the cables and hoses are routed classically into the frame just behind the head tube. While this may appear slightly less visually clean than a fully integrated design, it greatly simplifies maintenance tasks such as replacing headset bearings – a thumbs up for this service-friendly decision.
Drive and battery: Quiet sounds, smart solutions
At the heart of the e-bike, Raleigh relies on a Mivice hub motor in the rear wheel. With 35 Newton meters of torque, it's not a powerhouse for crossing the Alps, but rather an efficient and smooth-running companion for flat terrain. The motor is paired with a Gates Carbon Drive belt. This belt not only runs whisper-quietly but is also extremely low-maintenance: no lubrication, no rust, and no oil-stained trouser legs. The trade-off: the absence of gears. As a single-speed bike, the ONE is therefore as minimalist as possible and should be most at home where the climbs are neither particularly steep nor particularly long.
A key advantage over many competitors in the "lifestyle e-bike" segment is the battery. The 360-watt-hour battery is fully integrated into the downtube but can be removed for charging. Anyone living on the fourth floor without an elevator or without a power outlet in their bike storage room will appreciate this feature. The range should easily suffice for most commutes in urban environments, although Raleigh isn't making any miracle claims.
One Size Fits All? The framework concept
The name "One" is fitting for the Raleigh program, especially regarding frame size. The bike is only available in one size. The manufacturer promises that a special geometry will accommodate riders of varying builds. This is achieved through a slightly larger frame combined with a handlebar and stem unit that is ergonomically angled slightly backward. We'll find out in our test ride whether this "one-size" promise holds true in practice.
Raleigh is asking €2.699 for the One. Considering the technology offered and the fact that it's a specialist retailer with local support, this is a fair price. It weighs around 21,2 kilograms – not exactly lightweight, but still reasonable for a fully equipped e-bike (aluminum mudguards are standard).
Smart features and subscription models
As befits a modern urban bike, the Raleigh One is connected. A smartphone can be used as a display via an SP Connect mount on the stem. The accompanying app offers basic functions such as a dashboard and updates free of charge. Things get interesting with the paid subscription models "Core" (approx. €8/month) and "Icon" (approx. €15/month).
Starting with a Core membership, the integrated GPS tracker becomes active, allowing you to locate your bike. The Icon package even includes theft insurance, which in the event of theft will either recover or replace your bike – according to the terms and conditions, this is sometimes even possible without the bike necessarily being locked (although we would still always recommend locking it). A separate battery in the frame ensures that tracking continues even if the main battery is removed.
The Raleigh One in practice
Enough theory, let's get in the saddle. Even on the first few meters through Munich's city center, one thing is immediately noticeable: this bike is quiet. Very quiet. The interplay between the virtually inaudible Mivice motor and the belt drive ensures an almost noiseless glide. The assistance engages smoothly and feels very natural.
The riding position is surprisingly comfortable. Our tester (1,87 m) quickly found a good position despite the one-size-fits-all design. The slightly higher stem and swept-back handlebars provide good visibility in traffic. However, our suspicion about the one-size-fits-all design was confirmed: For people under 1,75 m, the frame might be a bit too long and high, while riders over 1,90 m might find the seatpost too long. A test ride at a dealer is definitely recommended.
Driving experience and comfort
The fact that the Raleigh One doesn't have a suspension fork is definitely noticeable on cobblestones. The stiff aluminum frame transmits shocks quite directly. However, a lot can be adjusted via tire pressure. The voluminous 2-inch Innova tires, at a pressure of approximately 1,8 to 2,0 bar, offer surprisingly good inherent damping without feeling spongy.
The handling itself is direct and agile, just right for quick changes of direction in the hustle and bustle of the city. The Tektro brakes bite reliably, but aren't aggressive anchors – they suit the bike's character well and remain pleasantly quiet.
Limitations of the concept
Where there's light, there's also shadow – or in this case: incline. The lack of gears and the moderate 35 Nm of motor torque mean the One reaches its limits on steep climbs. In flat cities like Munich, this isn't a problem; the assistance is perfectly adequate for cruising comfortably at 22-23 km/h. However, those living in Stuttgart or Wuppertal will find themselves working up a sweat on hills. The One is a cruiser, not a climber.
One minor drawback in everyday use is the handlebar remote. The rubberized buttons offer hardly any tactile feedback, making operation with gloves in winter a gamble. A unit with defined pressure points would have been preferable here.
