One might overlook the Nevo in the Riese & Müller range, but to do so would be foolish. Sure, it doesn’t have the full-suspension aspect of the Culture or the Homage, and it doesn’t have the sporty appeal of the Charger or the Supercharger. However, when it comes to simplicity, considerations for comfort, and built-in safety features, the Nevo comes up trumps. To begin with, the Nevo is incredibly stable at both high and low speeds. The positioning of the battery on the front of the downtube makes the design redolent of a motorbike. In functional terms, this means a central arrangement of the centre of gravity, which produces neutral, safe handling in all riding situations. Borrowing again from motorcycle design, the fabulously fat Schwalbe Super Moto-X tyres provide pneumatic suspension and excellent traction. When the snows hit London last winter, it was the Nevo that I reached for when it came time to ride home, as only this bike had the right set-up for such demanding conditions. The Gates Carbon Belt Drive gave me the confidence that I would not need to be fiddling with an unreliable chain in sub-zero temperatures, and the brilliantly bright Supernova headlamp would not let me down when I needed it on unlit paths. The hydraulic disc brakes wouldn’t become contaminated like rim brakes, and the Enviolo gears could still be shifted even with thick gloves on. Whereas other bikes might experience frozen cables in such conditions, only Riese & Müller bikes are set up from day one to be ready for such demanding riding conditions.
Another safety aspect of the Nevo is undoubtedly the riding position. Whereas other models are geared towards a more sporty and forward-leaning position, the Nevo’s high handlebars puts the rider in a very comfortable, upright position. Given that the Nevo is primarily an electric bike, it makes sense that the rider does not need to be hunched over in order to optimise power transfer through their legs. The reliable Bosch motor is there to take the strain off, and so of course the rider can enjoy a more comfortable seating position without any loss of speed. Riding more upright is not only better for posture, but also makes a dramatic difference to visibility, helping the rider to both see and be seen by other road users. With less of the riders weight on their arms, and more weight on the saddle, comfort is taken care of by the Cane Creek Thudbuster ST suspension seatpost. Believe the hype about this seatpost, as it really does do a marvellous job of soaking up the bumps.
In the 4000km that I’ve ridden my Nevo, I have barely had to touch it from a maintenance point of view. The carbon belt drive got a slight adjustment around the 3,200km mark, but I’m still on my first set of brake pads, and the tyres aren’t showing any wear yet. The overall build-quality has kept things simple, by ruling out problems caused by second-rate components. The upfront cost of Riese & Müller electric bikes might seem high, but in truth, when weighed against the cost of repairs/maintenance on faulty or poor quality equipment, our experience here suggests that they actually offer fantastic value in the long run.
