Malaguti Collina FW6.0 in our group test – The best full-suspension off-road step-through bike 2023

Malaguti want to revive the Italian flair of bygone days and deliver a full-suspension off-road step-through bike with an emphasis on design. We put the COLLINA FW6.0 with Bosch Performance Line CX motor under the microscope and tell you how it performed in the comparison test!

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best full-suspension off-road step-through bike 2023 – 4 ebikes in review

More than 90 years ago, the founder, Antonino Malaguti, was already experimenting with motorised bicycles with petrol motors. Later, the Malaguti brand was mainly known for scooters and motorbikes. Since 2018, it has been part of the Austrian KSR Group. The idea of a powered bike was then taken up again, but instead of petrol motors, electric motors are now being used. The Malaguti portfolio ranges from downhill-oriented enduro eMTBs to trekking ebikes. Our test bike is a minimalist off-road step-through bike named COLLINA FW6.0 with a strong focus on design. Retailing at € 4,600, it is the cheapest and, at 28.3 kg, also the lightest bike in the test.

The rear end of the Malaguti COLLINA FW6.0

The Malaguti COLLINA FW6.0 cruises along with a radically sporty look. Eye-catching colour accents placed on the matt grey paint coat hint at the Italian motorbike history and create a rather polarising appearance. The internal cable routing through the special Acros headset creates a tidy cockpit, however, making it more complicated to replace the cables and brakes. Compared to the other ebikes on test, the frame appears more bulky and elongated. The suspension is provided by SR Suntour, the XCR32 fork delivers 110 mm travel at the front and the EDGE-R shock 100 mm at the rear. Similar to the ZEMO, the shock is installed behind the seat tube, but on the Malaguti it was moved further towards the rear wheel, leaving plenty of room for a long seat tube and a long seat post. At first glance, the very complex rear triangle kinematics stand out with the one-piece rear triangle connected to the main frame via four joints. In general, this construction is a proven recipe for success, used by many big names in the MTB sector, and allows manufacturers a great deal of influence on the rear triangle performance setup. But the construction method also has its pitfalls.

In the first test – sitting with both feet on the ground – the rear triangle reacts smoothly when bouncing up and down in the saddle, and promises a lot of riding comfort. But as soon as you put tension on the chain by pedalling, the rear end firms up and can no longer swing freely. Once you stop pedalling, the rear end sags back into the suspension travel, which leads to an annoying bobbing when pedalling inconsistently. In order to get a grip on the unsteady rear end, the shock must be pumped up to a higher air pressure than usual, leading to a loss of comfort. Additionally, experimenting with the air pressure is a bit tedious because a vertical link of the rear blocks access to the shock, so you can only use a pump with a short or angled pump head.

The Malaguti COLLINA FW6.0 is equipped with the powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor with 85 Nm torque. The 625 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery provides enough energy for a day’s ride and can be easily removed from the frame via the large opening at the top. Those who want to go on long tours without recharging should rather opt for the ZEMO with the larger 750 Wh battery. The battery of the COLLINA can also be charged through a well-sealed charging port on the head tube whilst still in the bike. The outdated Bosch Purion display only shows the most basic information, such as battery status or speed. Practical additional functions, such as an immobiliser, smartphone connection and navigation, are not available. However, the successor with all the smart features is already waiting in the wings for the next season.

Trimmed for performance – the Malaguti COLLINA FW6.0 in the test

The low and wide step-through area makes mounting the COLLINA a child’s play while the 160 mm dropper post ensures plenty of flexibility. Sporty riders who like to travel over hills and valleys and don’t require maximum riding comfort will be pleased with the large freedom of movement and the active riding position. When turning onto dirt roads, the Schwalbe Johnny Watts tires with 2.35″ offer good grip. The wide handlebar and short stem originate from the MTB segment, which means that you have a lot of control over the front wheel and steering inputs are implemented directly. For the sake of performance, however, an adjustable stem was dispensed with, which leads to too much pressure on the hands when cruising on long tours. Besides that, the Tektro HD-M275 two-piston brakes with the 180 mm brake discs do not have enough power on long descents. This is especially noticeable for heavy riders and adventurers travelling with a lot of luggage. You also won’t find bosses for a bottle cage mount, which means that you have to carry your bottle in your backpack or pannier.

Should you get surprised by nightfall, the HERRMANS H-Black front light mounted high up on the handlebar provides sufficient illumination and the HERRMANS H-Cargo rear light is well visible even from the side. The rest of the equipment for everyday use includes plastic mudguards, which are, however, not sufficiently fixed to the front wheel and start to rattle on gravel roads. The COLLINA FW6.0 has trailer clearance, but the permissible total weight of 140 kg is not particularly high, so heavy riders should travel light. The rear luggage rack is equipped with the MIK standard and enables bags to be attached easily and quickly. Unfortunately, when heavily loaded at the rear on uneven roads, the handlebar starts to wobble as soon as you let go of it. If you have to lift the bike over an obstacle or carry it up a flight of stairs in the city, you will appreciate the comparatively low weight of 28.3 kg and the practical handle on the saddle.

Size	S	M	L
Top tube	605 mm	615 mm	630 mm
Seat tube	–	–	420 mm
Head tube	150 mm	150 mm	150 mm
Head angle	69°	69°	69°
Seat angle	74°	74°	74°
Chainstays	485 mm	485 mm	485 mm
Wheelbase	1,182 mm	1,194 mm	1,244 mm
Reach	429 mm	434 mm	444 mm
Stack	612 mm	631 mm	650 mm

Emotion takes precedence over rationality in the decision to buy the Malaguti because the COLLINA FW6.0 can’t keep up with the other step-through bikes in the test. It mainly scores with its chic design and minimalism. The poorly tuned rear triangle is not convincing in terms of functionality, but for those who like a stylish look or are prepared to make concessions when it comes to connectivity the COLLINA FW6.0 could still be a good match.

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For more information, visit malaguti-bicycles.com

The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best full-suspension off-road step-through bike 2023 – 4 ebikes in review

All bikes in test: CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 5.7 | Malaguti Collina FW6.0 | Victoria Parcours 5 | ZEMO SU-E FS11

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Words: Mike Hunger Photos: Mike Hunger, Julian Lemme