BEGINNINGS

Riese & Müller GmbH was registered in 1993 but, as is so often the case, the story begins much earlier. The founders, Markus Riese and Heiko Müller, first crossed paths at the Technical University in Darmstadt where they were studying mechanical engineering. Contrary to most students’ dreams, neither aspired to seeking big-buck employment at one of the industry leaders.

It soon materialised they shared one common interest: bicycles. Not just for sport or recreation, but also as their everyday mode of transport—even today, Markus is reluctant to use a car for journeys less than 30 km.

Even if bikepacking probably wasn’t a term at the time, the two friends planned a tour together. As you might expect from enthusiastic young students, this journey wasn’t about to lead them along the banks of the Rhine or Mosel. Instead, they planned a four-week expedition through the Tunisian desert. Driven by passion for cycling and exploration (in terms of both geography and personal accomplishment), they packed frugally and survived on a diet of oats and water throughout the journey.

Riding through Tunisia was a bonding experience which forged their mutual interest in bicycles and marked the start of an even more incredible journey.

A CASE OF INNOVATION

Several weeks after their return, Markus turned up on Heiko’s doorstep carrying a large suitcase containing what would evolve into Riese & Müller’s first product: the Birdy. A collapsible bicycle with a unique folding mechanism.

Folding bicycles had established themselves as a favourite amongst commuters looking to bridge the gap between their place of work and either public transport or a car parked slightly beyond the borders of the metropole (or today, outside of the congestion zone). Consequently, portability was the characteristic manufacturers endeavoured to satisfy. However, most models shared a common trait: The central frame was a hinged two-piece construction. Whereas this design can allow for manageable dimensions, age-related degradation of the frame’s rigidity combined with alarming speed wobbles were not uncommon. Nevertheless, plans for improvement were neither apparent nor forthcoming.

Markus had developed a new collapsible concept which maintained the integrity of the frame and incorporated the folding mechanism into the rotational points of the front and rear suspension. In other words, his innovation now left what should be stiff stiff and facilitated compact portable dimensions by extending the operational radius of something designed to move under normal operational conditions.

After reading an article in the newspaper proclaiming an innovation prize to be awarded to start-ups by the State of Hessen, Heiko suggested entering Markus’ new design. An improved prototype was prepared and successfully presented to the committee whereupon the jury recognised not only the innovative resolve to an existing problem, but also a fresh new approach to portable mobility.

FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE

Winning the innovation award provided the necessary drive to establish manufacturing procedures aligned with volume production of a high-quality product. It was time to present Birdy to a broader audience and a booth was booked at the Eurobike—an exhibition with considerable international reach at a time when the internet had yet to play a significant role in marketing and commerce.

During the course of the show, the two entrepreneurs had a particularly fortuitous encounter with George Lin of Pacific Cycle who simply said, “I want to build this bicycle.” The introduction of this new concept was enough to demonstrate its true potential. Pacific Cycle is still a production partner today.

AN ICON IS BORN

Eurobike led to new relationships and considerable interest in Birdy. So much so, in fact, that Markus and Heiko established Riese & Müller GmbH in 1993—a company destined to build high-value, high-quality bicycles. A business model that, at the time, was considered rather risky.

As a comparison, conventional folding bicycles could, at the time, be purchased for between DM 800 and DM 900. The Birdy was set to cost more than twice that. Market researchers may well have avoided eye contact and buried faces in hands, but the two founders were convinced quality was more important than popular opinion. Success, according to Markus and Heiko, was dependent upon setting new manufacturing standards from the outset by using the best components sourced from market-leading suppliers to create a premium product.

Nearly three decades later, the same principles apply and not once in the history of their manufacture has there been any compromise in regard to components or final products. Neither have they at any point entertained the idea of cutting corners to achieve more competitive pricing and increased sales volume.

Premium stands for quality, safety and longevity, whilst representing a long-term investment.

BI-LATERAL RELATIONSHIPS

As previously mentioned, one of their suppliers joined the fold even before the company was founded and is still constituent to the business strategy. Riese & Müller do not pitch for new suppliers annually, but roll out their long-term plans with existing partners. This not only provides commercial security, but also offers potential customers a state-of-the-art product along with the peace of mind that his or her bicycle will remain serviceable for many years to come.

Long-term supplier relations are also key to future product development. Each party benefits from the other’s experience and engineering capabilities.

The intimacy of these relationships has also led Riese & Müller to originate Control Technology which covers the most demanding specification of lighting, tyres and suspension to ensure the highest degree of safety and comfort. Riese & Müller suspension, as an example, must not only smooth the bumps and potholes but also absorb a head-on collision with a kerbstone at 25 or 40 kmh without causing the rider to wrench the handlebars and crash. Equally so, the tyres worn by the Load range of cargo e-bikes have dedicated tread patterns and compounds for improved grip.

CORPORATE MILESTONE

In 2008, the company launched first trials with motorised bicycles and a new range of hybrid bikes. As the product gained popularity over the following years, Riese & Müller was looking for new partners to further promote electromobility.

Bosch launched a new electric motor in 2011, and a stringent testing regime satisfied Riese & Müller’s expectations. On the one hand, Bosch is synonymous for quality and business ethics. On the other, they had invested considerable engineering and financial resources in creating a robust motor designed for longevity. This new partnership was to reshape Riese & Müller’s business strategy.

Heiko put forward a proposal to his partner and their 50 employees: From 2012, the Riese & Müller brand would only produce e-bikes. Focussing on the future of mobility, Heiko explained that e-bikes had a different dynamic compared to their manpowered predecessors—even with the ability to replace cars for commuting and travel.

This was a courageous step. Not only was the technology still in its infancy, but electrically powered bicycles were usually considered as typical for the more mature rider. The idea to approach younger generations and even attempt to corner part of the automobile market was indeed a bold decision. The ensuing marketing strategy was successfully implemented to sway customers away from the existing e-bike preconception and toward commuter vehicles and the opportunities of adventure and long-distance travel.

TWO ENGINEERS AND A VISIONARY

Ever since the company’s foundation, the seats at the head of the table had been occupied by Markus and Heiko, both engineers. Markus was primarily in charge of manufacture and development of existing and new products; Heiko had assumed responsibility for operations and day-to-day business. Each stretched to full capacity, their focus was more about the here and now than it was on long-term strategies.

In 2013, Markus put forward the proposal to invite Sandra Wolf to join the management team as brand builder and visionary. With more than 15 years experience running her own consultancy and design agency, Sandra was equipped to take the helm and steer the company into the future.

The combination of the company’s new focus on e-bikes from 2012 and Sandra’s enrolment one year later resulted in remarkable growth: Beginning with just over 5,000 bikes sold in 2012, production soared to a staggering 70,000 units in 2019 at a growth rate of between 40% and 50% per year. During the same period, the number of employees grew eleven-fold to 550 with further expansion planned. Currently, they are building another new production and administration building.

Whilst this is magnificent commercial performance, the real achievement has been attracting an appreciative audience capable of affording a premium-priced product.

Another goal is already in sight: Riese & Müller aims to become the most sustainable company in the e-bike sector by 2025.

SHAPING NEW MARKETS

The gift of going against the grain is etched into an innovators DNA and it’s more than just being broad-minded or thinking outside of the box. When Heiko first launched into the e-bike only era, he could already picture the potential a younger generation offered; travel destinations that were more achievable; more diverse recreational activities; improved commuter mobility; environmental benefits. Not wanting to stop there, Riese & Müller also considered the impact they could have on local businesses. There are several examples, but I have chosen to concentrate on just two for the moment.

Cargo E-bikes Who else could have conjured up the idea of infiltrating the market for small, local deliveries so efficiently? Especially when you consider that in 2012, when the series was first launched, sales were meagre to say the least and averaged less than one per month. Today, Riese & Müller cargo bikes are among the most popular products on the market.

Unlike Italy, where the tiny three-wheeled Vespa Ape has been an indispensable actor amidst urban and rural landscapes, similar vehicles have failed to become so prolific in other countries. Riese & Müller’s cargo e-bikes and effective marketing ploys have opened up cost-effective, environmentally responsible transportation for small businesses everywhere.

In Switzerland, carvelo2go (an initiative of the Swiss automobile club, TCS) has introduced eCargo-Bike Sharing with a fleet of 350 Packsters. Aimed at businesses and private use, the Packsters are equipped for deliveries, or with child seats, or even with a trailer and camping equipment. carvelo2go chose Riese & Müller solutions based upon their reliability.

Island Mobility In northern Germany, the Frisia Shipping Company has a fleet of around 400 Riese & Müller e-bikes for hire. This means that holiday makers and visitors to the islands in the North Sea can leave their cars in port, take the ferry to the island and use e-bikes as transport. Some islands have been car-free for some time and the trend is quickly spreading to others.

PROOF OF CONCEPT

Adventure travel by bicycle, or bikepacking, is a popular pursuit. But, how does an e-bike really fair as a potential vehicle for extended expeditions? Riese & Müller entered a partnership with one of the most avid cycling couples: Tanja and Denis Katzer (linktr.ee/tanjadeniskatzer). Their expedition (currently interrupted due to COVID-19) began in 1991 and has covered more than 400,000 km to some of the remotest destinations our planet has to offer. They have written several books detailing their adventures, one of which, So weit der Akku reicht [As Far As The Battery Will Go], recounts their 338-day, 8,055 km inspirational journey through Mongolia and China on their e-bikes.

Tanja and Denis were looking for e-bikes that would reliably take them through hell and high water if the need arose. Riese & Müller were looking for a relationship which would provide otherwise difficult to attain real-life endurance test data to improve their own ongoing research and development.

During the expedition, the e-bikes which are fully laden with luggage and provisions also pull trailers, one of which acts as a carriage for Ajaci, the Katzer’s dog. Most recently, the couple spent time in Norway under very different climatic conditions to those they will experience when they return to Asia to pick up the trail where they left off.

CATERING FOR ALL TASTES

Anyone can ride an e-bike. With this in mind, Riese & Müller offer a range spanning 24 different models to choose from. The customer decides the style and colour depending on personal preference and suitability. A look at the website provides full specifications and a range of accessories.

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After your epic walk through the Australian desert with camels, Tanja and yourself turned to cycling as a way to further enhance your Big Journey. What encouraged you to consider e-bikes?

We need to roll back a few years so that you can have better idea of what we had set out to achieve: we started riding for Riese & Müller in 2005, and first embarked on a journey with conventional, muscle-powered bicycles, from our home just outside Nuremburg, Germany, to Mongolia. (You have to remember that, at the time, e-bikes had yet to evolve into anything more than a form of recreational transportation for short commutes, a bit of shopping, or brief excursions close to home.) This was a gargantuan trip, and the toll it took upon us would contribute significantly to our decision-making for the future.

Firstly, Tanja was signalling that she wanted to give up cycling altogether. Secondly, after several years in the saddle, we arrived in Ulaanbaatar and I was unable to walk down any stairs for three months. My knees were seriously inflamed.

I should point out that, even though our bikes were technically amongst the best in the world, they were extremely heavily laden. After all, we had prepared ourselves to cope with all seasons and temperatures as low a -20°C. This meant we had to carry full winter clothing and a suitable tent. Not to mention the camera and video equipment, spare parts, and our dog who weighs 35 kg.

It was impossible to ride up the mountain passes. We were forced to dismount and spent a lot of time pushing our bikes and trailer uphill. You can’t begin to imagine the physical effort it took, or the immense strain on our backs as a consequence of a bent posture, as we struggled to push onward and up.

We both knew we couldn’t keep doing this for much longer.

Ok, so you were at the end of your physical and mental resources. How far had you actually cycled, and in what amount of time?

Somewhere north of 25,000 km in the period between 2005 and 2015. Now, that may not sound like a lot if you break it down into kilometres per year, but you need to remember we were using the bikes as our mode of transport between expeditions, which were physically demanding challenges in their own right. In a bid to travel as sustainably as possible, we had sold our argument to Riese & Müller by explaining we would swap aeroplanes and other four-wheeled means of transport for bicycles in order to reach the starting points of our next adventures. This was a huge feat during the ten-year span.

You broached the idea of using e-bikes to Riese & Müller. How did they respond?

Our expeditions project was on the brink of failure, so I spoke to Heiko Müller and explained that e-bikes could be our saviour. This was in 2012. Heiko’s response was rather sobering: he was quite adamant when he said the electric motors and batteries at the time simply weren’t ready for the loads and long distances we had in mind.

I didn’t give up though. In 2014, I went back to Heiko and said we had a new tour planned and really wanted to give e-bikes a try. I must have been quite persuasive because he finally agreed. The next thing I knew, I was in the R&D department working together with the engineers to construct bikes for Tanja and myself exactly to our requirements. I can’t express how grateful I was for the opportunity. All of a sudden, I knew the bikes inside and out. At the same time, I could inject our own experience into the development to resolve issues we had previously encountered on our journeys.

Your experience, and the kilometres you have accumulated, have flowed into the development of Riese & Müller e-bikes. This knowledge has in turn assisted their component manufacturers as well. Please tell me about your current bikes, the configuration, and some of the factors that influenced your choices.

Today, Tanja and I ride identically configured Riese & Müller Superdelite e-bikes which have an aluminium frame and full suspension. The electric motor is a Bosch New Performance CX 25 kmh Gen4 12V/1Ah, powered by two 500 W batteries. The most recent version of the same model has one 500 W and one 625 W battery.

BATTERIES

We were the first to cross the Gobi desert on e-bikes. As you can probably guess, there aren’t many places to recharge the batteries. At the time, the batteries were 400 W each, and we thought we would be ok if we took along three extras each. A gross miscalculation on our part, which was nearly our demise. Riding in the desert meant taking along considerably more water than usual…more weight, more drain on the batteries. We barely ever saw any vehicles on the road we were travelling, and the ones we did see all drove past when we tried to flag them down. We quickly learned that six batteries per person would give us a realistic radius of around 150 km, which would vastly improve our chances of finding somewhere to recharge.

BRAKES

The brakes are from Magura but without ABS. This is our choice because we want to minimise the amount technology that could go wrong. Imagine the bike falls over, the sensor become damaged, and the brakes become redundant. Rather no ABS in favour of a durable braking system.

We had a close call in China on a downhill stretch in the mountains. The bike, trailer and load (including the dog) all add up to around 150 kg, without the rider. That’s a lot of gear and weight. The original brakes weren’t up to the job and ran so hot that the brake fluid turned to gas, rendering the brakes completely useless just as we were heading for a hairpin bend and a vertical drop over the precipice of more than several hundred metres. Our saving grace was a wall in a petrol station which brought us to an, albeit, abrupt halt, but a safe one.

We discussed our problem with Magura who explained that we were carrying too much weight for the standard brake disks. These were then exchanged for larger, 203 mm diameter versions. In extreme situations, we even resorted to cooling the system with water which, admittedly, isn’t the best option for the materials.

LIGHTS

The headlamp on the Superdelite is a Supernova M99 Pro which provides a broad beam of light for safe navigation at night, even under heavy braking when the forks compress. The Supernova M99 tail light is also exceptionally bright and has a brake-light function for improved safety.

Despite the efficiency of the Supernova, I have chosen to use a Lupine SLF at the front.

COCKPIT

On the business side of things, we have stuck with the Bosch Intuvia cockpit which comes as standard and offers some highlights including a gear-change prompt and the ability to charge a smartphone (for example, when it is used for navigation). Six different riding modi are available depending upon the amount of assistance you require: Eco, Tour, Sport, eMTB, and Turbo. The sixth option allows you to switch off the assistance completely. As you can anticipate, the higher the assistance you call upon from the battery and motor, the more limited the distance you can travel.

If you require more flexibility and functionality, the Intuvia display can be replaced by one of the optional alternatives: Kiox, SmartphoneHub, or the Nyon.

CHAIN OR BELT

The Superdelite can be equipped with a belt drive to improve serviceability in urban use. The benefits include minimised wear, they are easy to fit and do not require lubrication. However, for longevity and durability under off-road conditions, the standard chain configuration is probably the better choice. Tanja and I have used KMC chains on most of our journeys, and they have proven exceptionally reliable, achieving an average of 10,000 km before they have to be replaced along with the front and rear sprockets.

SUSPENSION

The Superdelite is a “fully” with a highly effective front and rear suspension designed to cope with almost anything put in its path. We have upgraded the front forks to the optional Fox Float 34 Performance 100 Boost with additional compression to cope with the load our bikes are subjected to every day.

SADDLE

In my eyes, the Brookes B17 Special Titanium can’t be beaten. This leather saddle has been made for over 100 years and has hardly changed at all over that time. In fact, the few changes between the different models are either aesthetic or weight related.

A leather saddle needs around 1,000 km before it is finally moulded to your bum. Trust me, that’s important. It may well be that those first thousand are the toughest, but thereafter, you will feel really comfortable. We haven’t had much success with gel saddles—if they don’t fit from the outset, they never will.

The Brookes B17 is a bit like a sofa. I can sit on it for eight or ten hours a day and feel really comfortable. Cycling 150 or 200 km in a day wouldn’t be possible on another saddle…well, it might be, but you certainly won’t want to get back on your bike the next day [laughs].

HANDLEBARS

This is just as important as the saddle. When riding long distances, you need to be able to use different grips—otherwise your fingers and hands can quickly go numb.

The basic handlebars are the factory Humpert Ergo XXL in black, combined with a Humpert Ergotec Barracuda Evo 20° stem which sits in the Acros Block-Lock race. These harmonise with the bike perfectly.

The next step for us is being able to move around the handlebars for diversification of grip…and we have added Ergon GP30-L horns. These provide the control and freedom of movement we need.

TYRES

Despite our unconventional payload and the extreme distances we cover in all terrain, Schwalbe Marathon Plus MTBs are the best we have come across. I know that Riese & Müller work very closely with Schwalbe to develop tyres that are safe in all weathers and durable.

GEARS

We chose the Rohloff Speedhub with 14 gears. Most recently, we were in Norway and crossed Europe’s largest glacier. As usual, fully kitted and with trailers. In the past, the lowest gear was simply too low—cycling was a frenzy of feet and legs spinning blindingly fast. Now, the ratios have been reconfigured and they are just about as ideal as they can get.

When you’re riding through mountainous regions, you need to change gear continuously. The Speedhub is quick and accurate even under extreme situations.

There is an electronic gear changer, but we prefer to stick with a manual shift. Mechanically, I have never had any issues with the Rohloff hub, and they are absolutely service friendly—all they need is the occasional oil change.

LUGGAGE

At the front, we have the non-factory faiv (ArtMann) lowrider equipped with Ortlieb bags. We restrict the payload to 10 kg per side for better steering.

Instead of a normal handlebar bag, Riese & Müller have come up with a far better solution. Until now, having a loaded bag on the bars meant you had to take into account and control the extra ballast as well. Today, the rack, which accommodates the pouch, is attached to the bike’s frame leaving the handlebars unburdened. This adds a lot of comfort for the rider without reducing the amount we can stow.

At the rear, we use the factory rack which is very strong and can carry considerable weight. This is equipped with one bag on each side and one on top—all from Ortlieb.

TRAILER

I won’t go into too much detail about the trailer now because, even though we have always used them, they seem to be in a state of eternal evolution. I’m quite sure we are pretty much there, but I’d like to discuss the trailer, the braking system, and the coupling separately when I am completely satisfied with the configuration. I’m not sure how many people need to carry so much luggage, but if they do, then I want to be certain that what I am saying is correct.

The last really big tour took you through 17,000 km and a total elevation of 80,000 metres. I believe it is fair to say you have gathered more experience regarding your e-bikes than most people ever will. Is there any particular weakness that you have identified?

The only real issue we have encountered was the result of not having configured the trailer and hitch adequately. It is vitally important to spread the load in the trailer evenly, especially with e-bikes, because of the shear force that can develop. It took a while before we found the right balance and now we only tow trailers equipped with an overrun brake and heavy duty hitch.

But if we look at the setbacks over the distance we covered between 2015 and 2017, then the problems we incurred weren’t factory deficits, they were the result of us pushing the bikes to the limit every day and under conditions seldom encountered. As I said earlier, the rig has a total weight of around 150 kg without the rider. The frame, bearings, brakes, drive train, electric motor, batteries, and everything else have all been subjected to what some might term abuse.

Along the way, we had our moments, such as the failing brakes. But, after consulting the manufacturer, we were advised to upgrade to a larger diameter and the problem was solved. Let’s face it, the problem wasn’t the components the factory had chosen (and they really do only work with premium suppliers), the problem was us, the dog, and the equipment we had to carry. Kinetic energy…once set in motion, it takes quite something to stop it again. Problem identified, solution presented.

In all the time we have been travelling, we have, of course, run into small instances of wear and tear. Nothing I couldn’t solve at the time and nothing major. Not once did we have any problems with bearings or bushes. What I have observed though, is how Riese & Müller engineers translate our experience into improved mass-production e-bikes.

Don’t misinterpret me, but similarly to the influence the Formula 1 has on the car industry, that is what we have done for Riese & Müller. We push the boundaries and limitations day in, day out.

We are very fortunate to have found such an open-minded and innovative company, capable of providing the durable e-bikes we need to transport us and our equipment between the different expeditions.

Thank you for your time and sharing your impressions on the Riese & Müller Superdelite e-bike.

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