A compact e-bike of calibre

The Tinker is made by Riese & Müller at their factory in Weiterstadt, Germany. Our first test ride on this striking little e-bike put huge smiles on our faces, and so we knew straight away that we had to make it part of our range. The Tinker punches far above its weight in terms of power, comfort, and utility, and the longer wheelbase preserves the ride-quality of a larger frame. However, being a compact bike with 20” wheels and fat tyres, the Tinker is fantastically stable, even when loaded or when carrying a child on the rear rack. The powerful Bosch CX motor works seamlessly with the Gates Carbon Belt Drive and the Enviolo gears to accelerate the bike smoothly up any hill. Schwalbe Big Ben Plus tyres keep the bike glued to the road, and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes ensure that you always find the fasted route to a standstill.

• As with all Riese & Müller electric bikes, the Tinker is made to your specifications, so you can choose the colour, motor, drivetrain, and accessories that you want.
• Bikes with 20” wheels and fat tyres perform brilliantly in cities, and the Tinker’s frame is so compact that it can easily be taken on public transport.
• Thanks to the adjustable stem and saddle, the bike can be adapted to comfortably suit body heights from 1.50m to 2.00m.
• Riese & Müller aim exceptionally high, and so the Tinker is truly premium in terms of component and build quality.

We first saw the Riese & Müller Tinker at a cycle show about two years ago. It wasn’t long after the Bosch CX motor had been released, and up until that point we had only seen this high-torque motor on big cargo bikes. When we heard that some Germans had put this beast of a motor on a city bike with 20” wheels, we knew that they were either insane or onto something brilliant. Once we hit the test track, it took all of about 3 seconds for us to realise that the Tinker was a spark of concentrated genius. That’s because 3 seconds is about the time it takes to boost the Tinker from 0 to 27km/h, and this put a huge smile on our faces! The acceleration is uniquely spectacular, and it really needs to be experienced to be appreciated fully. The compact frame, fat tyres, front fork suspension, and low centre of gravity all add up to make the ride exceptionally stable. The Racktime rear rack is ideal for panniers, but it can also take a rack-mounting child seat for a young passenger. Because the frame is a step-through and the handlebars and saddle are adjustable, the Tinker is also ideal for sharing. Needless to say, we were convinced that Riese & Müller were onto something special with the Tinker, so we instantly introduced it to our range of electric bikes.

In terms of its specifications, the Tinker is truly premium. No expense is spared in terms of kitting the bike out with the best quality components on the market. From Supernova lights, to Schwalbe Big Ben Plus tyres, Tektro hydraulic brakes, Selle Royal saddles, Cane Creek suspension seatposts, Racktime rear racks, Bosch motors, Gates Carbon Belt Drives… there really isn’t much room for improvement when you’re already working with the best parts available! The results speak for themselves, and the Tinker is an astonishingly comfortable, practical, and durable city bike that has been condensed into a compact and lightweight package. It has a uniquely dynamic ride quality that just puts a smile on your face every time you spin the pedals. Given the calibre of the kit, the quality of the build, and the special fuzzy feeling that it gives you, we feel that the Tinker offers quite extraordinary value for money, especially when compared with similar bikes from other brands. It’s an all-round winner, and we’re exceptionally proud to stock it and to represent our friends in Germany who put this bike together with such care and attention to detail.