Canyon has announced the new Roadlite:ON CF, which is powered by Bosch’s first-ever hub motor.
The electric commuter bike is said to blend “a lightweight, sleek carbon frame and sporty handling with practical features”, while the Bosch motor packs 400 watts of power and 45Nm of torque.
Canyon says electric city bikes “don’t often, admittedly, set hearts aflame with dynamic handling and eye-catching design” but that the Roadliote:ON CF (€2,999) “is designed to do precisely that”.
“Quick commutes”
Canyon says its latest bike is “designed for quick commutes and moving efficiently through the city”.
To keep things simple, Canyon has made the bike singlespeed with a Gates belt-drive drivetrain, with the Bosch motor intended to make your ride easier. The belt drive is also said to minimise maintenance, and it won’t rust like a chain.
Canyon says it's “dedicated” to performance cycling, and that philosophy is something the brand has applied to the Roadlite:ON, too.
Canyon says the bike’s head tube borrows design elements from the Canyon Aeroad, while the kinked top-tube is inspired by the Canyon Inflite cyclocross bike.
The toptube on the Inflite is there to help cyclocross racers like Mathieu van der Poel lug the bike over obstacles, and Canyon says it will help commuters carry the Roadlite:ON up stairs or onto a train.
The weight of many of the best electric bikes would make cyclocross-style running near-impossible but, with a claimed weight of 13.9kg, the carbon fibre Roadlite:ON CF shouldn’t be too hard to handle.
Canyon adds that the Roadlite:ON’s handling is designed to be “nimble”.
“While some riders are looking for a bike that can carry as much cargo as a rented mule, there are plenty of riders who want to take to city streets on a bike that’s a bit more playful and fun to ride,” Canyon says.
Elsewhere, the bike has a kickstand and mounts for accessories such as a phone case, bottle cages, mudguards and a rear rack. It also has integrated bike lights with a brake sensor.
Bosch Hub Line motor
Probably the most intriguing feature on Canyon’s new lightweight e-city bike is the Bosch Hub Line motor.
Released on the same day as the Roadlite:ON, the Hub Line is Bosch’s first-ever rear hub motor. Previously, Bosch focused on mid-drive electric motors but its latest release appears to be a lightweight challenger to Mahle’s systems, which are popular on electric hybrid bikes and lightweight electric road bikes.
Alongside the 45NM torque and 400W peak power numbers, the Hub Line uses a 360Wh battery that provides up to 90km of range. It’s said to weigh 2.3kg and the compact housing means it sits neatly in a rear hub.
Claus Fleischer, CEO of Bosch eBike Systems, said: “With our new products centred around the Hub Line, we are ushering in a new era of urban ebikes. Not only are these lightweight, agile and inspiring, with their clear and modern design language, but they also revolutionise the urban riding experience.”
