Total Weight:
62.8 lbs (28.48 kg)
Battery Weight:
6.4 lbs (2.9 kg)
(6.8lbs with Plastic Rubberized Lower Cover)Motor Weight:
6.39 lbs (2.89 kg)
Frame Material:
Hydroformed Aluminum Alloy
Frame Sizes:
18.50 in (46.99 cm)20.07 in (50.97 cm)22.04 in (55.98 cm)Geometry Measurements:
Medium 51cm Measurements: 19.75" Seat Tube Length, 23.25" Reach, 28" Stand Over Height, 34.75" Minimum Saddle Height, 28.5" Width, 48.75" Wheelbase, 77" Length
Frame Types:
High-Step
Frame Colors:
Chili Matt, Urban Grey Matt
Frame Fork Details:
Stock: SR Suntour Aion Coil Suspension, 100mm Travel, Compression Adjust with Lockout, Preload Adjust, 110mm Boost Hub Spacing, 5mm Thru-Axle with Quick Release, Optional: Fox Float 34 Performance Air Suspension, 100mm Travel, 34mm Stanchions with Black Anodized Coating, Compression Adjust with Lockout, Rebound Adjust, 110mm Boost Hub Spacing, 5mm Thru-Axle with Quick Release
Frame Rear Details:
Stock: SR Suntour RS-19, 100mm Travel, Compression Adjust, 135mm Hub Spacing, Rohloff Specific 9mm Axle with Quick Release, Optional: Fox Float DPS Performance 100mm Travel, Compression Adjust, 135mm Hub Spacing, Rohloff Specific 9mm Axle with Quick Release
Attachment Points:
Rear Rack Mount, Fender Mounts, Two Bottle Cage Bosses, Two Bottle Mounts for Fabric Water Bottle
Gearing Details:
14
Speed 1x14 Speed Rohloff E-14 Electronically Shifted Internally Geared Hub, 526° Overall Gear Range, 22 Tooth Gates Carbon Belt Drive CDX CogShifter Details:
Rohloff E-14 Electronic Shifter Button Pad on Right, Buttons: Up, Down, M
Cranks:
Riese & Müller Branded FSA, Aluminum Alloy, 170mm Length Crank Arms, 60 Tooth Gates Carbon Belt Drive CDX Chainring with Aluminum Alloy Guard and Pulley Wheel Lifting Cog
Pedals:
VP-183 or VP-538 Aluminum Alloy Platform with Rubber Tread
Headset:
Acros IntegrationX with BlockLock, Tapered 1-1/8" to 1-1/2"
Stem:
Humpert Ergotec Barracuda Evo (Custom for Bosch Kiox), Aluminum Alloy, 80mm Length, Adjustable Angle, 10mm Tapered Spacer, 25.4mm Clamp Diameter
Handlebar:
Humpert Ergotec Ergo XXL, Low-Rise, Aluminum Alloy, 720mm Length
Brake Details:
Magura MT5 and MT4 Hydraulic Disc with 180mm Magura Front Rotor and Rohloff Rear Rotor, Quad-Piston Caliper Front and Dual-Piston Caliper Rear, Magura Three FInger MT4e Levers with Brake Light Switches, Adjustable Reach, and Lights On-Off Button on Right
Grips:
Ergon GP1 Ergonomic, Rubber, Locking
Saddle:
Selle Royal New Lookin Moderate, 3D SKINGEL, Flexite System, Rear Light Clip
Seat Post:
Satori, Aluminum Alloy, 135kg Max Weight
Seat Post Length:
400 mm
Seat Post Diameter:
34.9 mm
Rims:
Rodi Tryp 35, Aluminum Alloy, Double Wall, 32 Hole Front, 36 Hole Rear, 35mm Inner Width, Reinforcement Eyelets
Spokes:
Stainless Steel, 14 Gauge, Black with Silver Nipples
Tire Brand:
Schwalbe Super Moto-X, 27.5" x 2.4" (62-584)
Wheel Sizes:
27.5 in (69.85cm)Tire Details:
30 to 55 PSI, 2.0 to 4.0 BAR, Performance GreenGuard, Reflective Sidewall Stripe
Tube Details:
Presta Valve
Accessories:
Flick Bell on Right, Secondary Lights On-Off Button (Built Into Brake Lever Clamp), ABUS Bordo Alarm 6000 Folding Lock (Keyed to Match Battery, 90cm Length, 3.2lbs), SKS B65 Plastic Fenders (65mm Width), Riese & Müller Custom Suspended Alloy Rear Rack with Bibia Adjustable Rubber Straps (Racktime Compatible, Child Seat Approved, 20kg 44lb Max Weight), Pletscher ESGE Adjustable Kickstand, Supernova M99 Mini Pro-25 Integrated Headlight (10 LEDs, 1,250 Lumens), Supernova M99 Integrated Tail Light (5 LEDs, Brake Light Activation), BETO Portable Shock Pump
Other:
Locking Removable Downtube-Integrated Battery Pack, 1.7lb 4 Amp Bosch Standard Charger, Maximum Cadence 120+ RPM Motor Support, ABUS Locking Core (Keyed-Alike Code Card), Maximum Weight Rating for Bike 140kg 308lbs
Mike
5 years agoNice review. It comes off more objective than what I’ve seen from distributor websites. This review is also well timed for me as I’ve been considering an R&S bike for some time. I live in a very hilly area, often best suited for a full suspension bike given the poor condition of the roads as well. I currently own a Surface 604 Shred. Would you consider this a worthy and significant upgrade? I use my bike 90% of the time so you can consider this upgrade like a car for me. Thanks and keep up the great reviews!
ReplyCourt
5 years agoThank you so much, Mike! That means a lot… I see dealers making review videos that tend to only show the positives. I understand, there’s a conflict of interest (for me too with some advertisers), but our goal here at EBR is to be as objective and data driven as possible. Many of the “considerations” I list require insights and perspectives that I’ve gleaned from actual owners and many years covering all sorts of ebikes. It’s also why I don’t bash the super cheap basic bikes… they have their own pros and cons and can be a great fit for someone on a budget :)
Anyway, I’m glad the review is well timed for you! It sounds like you’ve already purchased a decent bike… the Shred offers great value and can be fairly comfortable because of the suspension fork and knobby tires, even more-so if you get a suspension seat post. The biggest differences between the Surface 604 and this R&M Delite is that you’ll feel less knee strain with a full suspension ebike, your gear will be treated better on a suspended rack, and you’ll probably get better range with a mid-drive. You will lose throttle support, however.
If I were to purchase one “do everything” ebike, the Riese & Müller Delite GT Touring HS (or standard Touring if you don’t care about the extra speed) would be at the very top of my list. If money was a big consideration or I wanted to keep the throttle support, I’d keep the Shred and check out a suspension seat post and stem from Redshift Sports (which can feel a little sloppy but does improve comfort on the wrists, arms, and shoulders). Bulls also has an amazing full suspension mid-drive called the ICONIC EVO TR 1 that’s worth checking out, but the rack isn’t suspended like the Delite. It uses the same Bosch PowerTube 500 battery but only comes with the Class 3 Bosch Performance Line Speed motor. Due to the different rack design, it weighs about 3.5lbs less and the MSRP is lower at ~$5.1k. I hope this helps! Thanks again for your comment :)
ReplyMike
5 years agoWow! Incredible response. Super helpful. I wasn’t aware of that Bulls option. It looks like it’s due for a refresh this year so I’ll keep an eye out.
Tom
5 years agoI suspect a 250W nominal euro-spec mid drive might feel a little underpowered relative to your Shred which has a 500W nominal rear hub. It depends. How well does your Shred do on hills? That is where a mid-drive might shine a little more. If you want full suspension and more power, look at the Frey CC. The rack is not suspended (similar to the Bulls that Court mentioned) but more than twice the power for $3K + shipping. Also check out Watt Wagons. They are pricey but @pushkar is very well regarded on the forums and offers a custom FS build.
Ravi is also looking to offer a FS bike with dual battery, sprung rack with Bosch speed motor that won’t cost a small fortune. You may find this post and thread interesting.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoAwesome, great reply and thanks for the forum link and mentions of Watt Wagons and Ravi here Tom!
Kirk
5 years agoI purchased the Superdelite GX Rohloff with Fox upgrade in March and am awaiting an early-June delivery. Comprehensive technical reviews such as yours did help me distinguish which bike would properly serve as my car replacement.
And replace my car is precisely what this bike will do. I reside in an urban environment, so long distances for everyday travel are not an issue, even with the Delite version. The issue I was focused on was battery longevity. Having two batteries will ensure that neither is fully-depleted during regular use. And having maximum range built in, right from the start, increases utility for touring.
These bikes are, indeed, costly. But they are nowhere near as costly as the cheapest ‘city car’ on the market, which was twice the price of this fully-kitted-out $12,500 model (incl. tax). My thorough spreadsheat analysis comparing 10-year ownership costs, including taxes, license, full insurance, maintenance, occasional car rental or rideshare, and depreciation made it abundantly clear that switching to an ebike would save me $3,250 per year. Lesser ebikes would save money upfront, but would not perform nor wear as well, and certainly would be less comfortable.
Why would anyone give up the comforts that even the lowliest car has as standard unless they could approximate those functions in an ebike? The answer is: they wouldn’t. Nor should they.
The Riese & Müller Delite/Superdelite are not intended for casual weekend riders, though they are luxurious for that. They are purpose-built to replace your car and are the only bike on the market, configured with a Rohloff hub, that can do that in a manner that makes financial sense.
The Superdelite is not a toy. It is a vehicle that can readily replace your car. And it is the only bike on the market today that legitimately can make that claim.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Kirk! Thanks for the testimonial and tips about owning this bike. I hope it arrives soon and lasts a long long time for you. If you’re open to it, I’d love to either have a video chat about how you did the cost comparison to a car, or look at your spreadsheets because I’d love to make a video about why “expensive” ebikes can be worth it. You can reach me through the contact page or text me at 650.930.0342 thanks man!
ReplyTBR
5 years agoI got my SuperDelite HS Rohloff GX in mid-January and, even with me not being able to ride for 4 weeks (travel, illness…) I crossed the 4,000km mark yesterday (May 8th), did 100km today and likely will do another 30-40km or so as soon as the sun goes down (SuperNova Lights!). I am in a totally new level of riding intensity, the SuperDelite with the Rohloff E14 is the best money I ever spent on a bike. And this is my third “S-Pedelec” (class 3), I have been commuting with them since 2011. The predecessor was a R&M Charger with a NuVinci 360 and BeltDrive. The double battery setup is very important for me, I really enjoy the 115km+ range in “Tour” on the weekends, especially in these Covid times where it is difficult to impossible to recharge during a tour, e.g. at a restaurant or café. All in all I consider the 2020 R&M SuperDelite to have reached a new pinnacle in class 3 pedelecs with the confluence of the new gen4 Bosch Speed motor, the Rohloff E14, Gates Carbon Beltdrive, robust full suspension frame with in-tube batteries and suspended rack (important for commuting and shopping). I had been waiting for this “jump” (new motor generation and in-tube on the Delite) for the last two years and the wait was worth it. The SuperDelite/Delite is an allrounder though, if you want an offroad machine, i.e. an optimized E-MTB, I would recommend a Nicolai EBOXX E14, or for those wanting the most robust pedelec possible to cross the Andes or the Australian Outback (or just the most robust frame to carry a heavy rider and massive luggage @185kg total payload) I would recommend the Rennstahl 853 E-Reiserad Rohloff E-14. And then there are the cargo bikes…
Price is a matter of perspective. The most expensive bike is one you do not (or very rarely) ride, regardless of price. The 2020 SuperDelite/Delite with Rohloff E-14 and BeltDrive can be ridden without isssues and minimal (if any) maintenance for many more km/miles than any previous pedelec, and if you do so your cost per km/mile will quickly be lower than that of the overwhelming majority of customers who buy “cheap” pedelecs. And if the latter try to ride those cheaper bikes as intensely as a R&M (or Rennstahl) can be ridden their maintenance costs will go up and they will begin to effectively “use up” the cheaper components of those bikes to the point of costing them more than if they had gone with a R&M (or like quality) to begin with.
With now more than 4,000km there were no critical issues with the SuperDelite 2020, only minor quibbles. Brake pads needed replacement (of course!) and I had the Rock Razors switched for Super Moto’s because my profile is way more road than gravel and I wanted some more confidence in high-speed curves. Still enjoy the GX option’s drop post, pedals and longer suspension travel though. Only regret is going SunTour and not ordering FoxFloat. Had to learn to go with more pressure on the cylinders for high speeds on roads (or lock out) and I gather that adjustment could be done more situationally with the Fox Floats. The biggest design flaw in the 2020 SuperDelite and Delite is the charging cable connector position, that is in the review. All other issues are minor and the below (not really R&M issues) will probably be corrected by software updates:
In cold weather, with the forced cooling at high speeds against stiff cold winds, the Rohloff can sometimes act up a little (loosing calibration after 40+minutes at 40km/h+ in 5 degrees Celsius or less, leading to “lost” gears that are switched “over”) but that is easily ameliorated by doing a short stop and switching off and on again. Also in cold weather, but just once in more than 2,000km at less than 10 degrees Celsius, I had an operating voltage loss when the bike wanted to switch from one battery to the other (it does that automatically so that the two batteries are always at most at +/- 5% of charge relative to each other, usually you do not notice anything), I was at full speed (45km/h) with high beam on the lights and the switch was from the top battery (at 22%) to the lower/front one (at 27%). Guess the battery was just a little bit too cold to instantly provide the full voltage required at that power consumption level. It re-booted within 2-3 seconds, before I lost much speed. The loss of light for that time was a bit scary, I could have done a safe stop though. I consider this more of Bosch a software issue (i.e. a slight timing adjustment in the switching algorithm could fully avoid this) than anything, just as sometimes the Kiox not showing the current gear selection and needing to restart. As written above, I fully expect these issues to be corrected with an update.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoGreat review! Thanks for sharing your insights, I’m so happy you’re enjoying the bike. Yes, the most expensive products are indeed the ones we don’t actually use… possibly followed by the one we use a lot, but didn’t get the correct size or version of (think shoes that don’t fit right or let water soak in easily etc.) so it sounds like you made a very good choice.
I love your point about having two batteries during the COVID situation, since charging opportunities may be scarce. I also love your feedback about riding in the cold and how switching from one pack to the next caused a little delay that cut out your motor and lights. Glad you’re safe! Feel free to drop updates here anytime, especially as you get up to 10,000km and beyond!
ReplyTBR
5 years agoThat power loss during a battery switchover only happened once in all my riding on one of the coldest days I rode the bike when I was truly maxing power consumption with both batteries fairly low. I do not expect this to happen again, especially since I expect some future firmware update will take care of this issue before next winter truly hits.
At the intensity I am going 10000km will not take all that much time, I will be more than halfway there before the end of the month. If I can ride at all I am doing at least 40km on weekdays and more than 100km on Saturdays and Sundays. And for me COVID means there are fewer days I cannot ride as the job travel is almost non-existant ATM.
TBR
4 years agoMade it! Crossed the 10,000km mark today, the counter is now at 10,141km. Since May 8th, that means more than 6000km in 79 days, or more than 76km per day. That was yet another level of riding intensity. Only thing the bike needed was new brake pads. But for a minor quibble with the belt drive rear sprocket (The belt jumped to the “inner half track” twice between km’s 6,000 and 7,500. Happened when stopping, and I noticed upon starting again. The belt can be easily reseated, so no problem when it happened. When back at the shop for new brake pads, the lifting element was adjusted to the uppermost position by the mechanic. No repeats in the ca. 2500km since, which reminds me I need new brake pads in about two weeks.)
Will share some experiences and updates in the R&M forum when my account is approved.
TBR
5 years agoOh, and an addendum to the Rennstahl E14: Now also in Titanium (!) as the Falkenjagd Hoplit E14.
ReplyJohn Howard
5 years agoHi Court! I hope you see this soon because my wife and I plan to do one more test ride tomorrow and then make a final decision tomorrow about ordering *TWO* SuperDelites with Rohloff, HS motor, Fox suspension upgrade, front rack, and perhaps with the GX option. And I would like your input! I loved the reviews above! Man, you have great readers and contributors to your site!! I will be happy to do the same after these beasts arrive in 2 or 3 months.
By the way, you know me as FLYSHACKER on YouTube!! Real name is John. Long story about the YouTube name, but I like it! Anyway, I love the ride of the new Specialized ebikes (Creo EVO was what I tested), but I also love the SuperDelite and I think the heavy duty SuperDelite fits my purpose. My wife test rode a HOMAGE and loved it. Tomorrow she tries the SuperDelite, and I hope it meets her expectations. Anyway, we are freshly retired (early), and we want to do some long-distance ebike touring with full paniers, and not camping but staying at accomodations. We have our eyes set on the Rails-to-Trails from Washington State to as far east as we are willing to go! Definitely taking the rail trail in sections, on multiple trips. I don’t want chain maintenance, and I definitely want the comfort of full suspension, and that rules out the Specialized models, as fantastic as they are! Crazy to love 2 bikes so different as the super light Creo EVO (or Vado) and the heavy duty SuperDelite!!
But my quandary is about getting the GX option, considering that we will be mainly ROAD riding and groomed trail riding. I love what TBR said above about “being in a whole new level of riding intensity” with his SuperDelite!!! I love that! That will be me, for sure. I can’t wait! So, maybe I would get the GX option but get more road-ready tires like TBR did, if R&M will do that, otherwise I’m sure the shop will swap for me. I like the flat pedals, horned handlebars, and wider suspension of the GX option. And dropper seat post. What do you think based on what I said?
Anyway, really excited! Tomorrow is our final test ride and decision day. Thanks a lot, Court, for really arming me with all the tremendous info you provide in your site and videos! Be well.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoOh hey John! Yeah, I recognize your YouTube username :D congrats on early retirement, I hope you and your wife get lots of fun rides in, and I’d love your feedback on the Superdelite once they arrive and you’ve ridden some! You’ve been a great contributor already ;)
The rails-to-trails ride sounds awesome! I agree that Specialized has created an amazing ebike product, but would probably decide on the Superdelite for myself, given the full suspension (as you mentioned). How awesome is this going to be!! I hope my comment isn’t too late here, but yeah, I feel that the GX could be a nice upgrade for the bar-ends and seat post dropper. The air suspension is very nice if you get Fox… tires can always be swapped for hybrid if you don’t like the noise of the knobs. I actually ride my mountain bike all over town with knobs, and don’t mind it at all. I like to cut across dirt trails and grass etc., so having the knobs on demand is worth the extra noise ;) I’m sure you’ll be happy with either option, and you can also go from slicks to knobs pretty easy, so no worries if you skip GX (you can even get the Ergon grips with bar-ends after-market).
ReplyJohn Howard
5 years agoThanks, Court! Well, we did it! Our bikes should arrive by mid-July, faster than usual because the store picked up expedited air delivery for us! We went with the full GX option, 1125 wH batteries for mine, 1000 wH for my wife because she got the smaller 47cm frame, and I guess the 625 wH battery doesn’t fit. Rohloff HS for both. Glad to hear you like your knobby tires for general use. We will see how that goes, and I will post about it. These will be our first ebikes, and I’m really looking forward to discovering all that they bring to our lifestyle.
We tried a lot of bikes that day. I tried a Delite with chain and derailleur, as you indicated you prefer in your video, and I can see why! Very responsive! But, I want the wide gear spread of the Rohloff and the low maintenance of the belt drive, which I didn’t find noisy at all by the way, even at 28 mph.
I just checked the R&M site, and it looks like the Kiox display is STANDARD equipment now. Just last Friday it was an option. Oh well, model/pricing changes are bound to happen all the time.
While we wait, I will enjoy the new posts by other (Super)Delite fans. I am excited to be joining their ranks soon.
Kevin B
4 years agoJust wanted to say thank you for the review. I very much appreciate all of your reviews and your hard work has made finding the right ebikes for me and my wife a lot easier.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoThanks so much Kevin! It’s great to hear that the site has helped you, thanks for taking the time to share. I hope you two enjoy the bikes that you get, and I welcome any comments once you’ve tested them out for a bit :D
ReplyBasil Pesto
4 years agoHi there, I was wondering if you or anyone else here had any insight on the R&M Delite MTB models?
Thanks,
ReplyBasil
Court
4 years agoHi Basil! Yeah, I love those bikes… I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing several of them over the years, but I haven’t covered a 2021 model yet. There’s a lot that is being carried forward. You can check my past reviews out here. In short, if you are willing to spend the high dollars to get one… they are incredible!
ReplyBasil Pesto
4 years agoThanks very much, Court. How would you say they compare to the Specialized Turbo Levos?