The Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring is an SUV ebike that claims to offer outstanding versatility, but that’s not the only feather in its cap. It also boasts an extensive configurator, rock-solid stability, and a comprehensive safety concept. Can the Riese & Müller ebike outperform its competitors?
Click here for an overview of our SUV ebike buyer’s guide: The best e-SUV 2024 – 10 ebikes in our group test.
30.8 kg in size L | € 7,629 | Manufacturer’s website
Riese & Müller have always been known for their premium SUV ebikes and innovative concepts. This also applies to the Delite, a model that’s been a long time favourite of the premium German brand from Darmstadt. Back in 2020, the Superdelite version with dual battery made quite an impression in our editorial “The era of eSUVs” with its wide range of uses and high build quality. For the 2024 model year, Riese & Müller have updated the Delite 4 GT Touring ebike with the new Bosch Smart System. The entry-level version starts at € 6,799 and is available in sizes 47, 51 and 56, corresponding to M, L and XL. No smaller frame size is available. In typical Riese & Müller fashion, the comprehensive configurator allows you to tailor the SUV ebike to your own needs and preferences. To simplify the configuration, Riese & Müller suggest various equipment packages, as you might be familiar with from configuring your car. To see what the Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring was capable of, we specced the ebike in the off-road version. Compared to the basic version, it has more travel, 140 mm instead of 120 mm. This means that it offers the most travel in our test field, just like the ROTWILD R.C1000. In addition to the suspension upgrade, Riese & Müller also fitted the GX version of the Delite with knobby tires and a dropper post. Unfortunately, our test bike didn’t have the dropper. All in all, our bike with the € 600 GX equipment and all the other extras ended up costing € 7,629.
What makes the Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring ebike so special?
What do the Mercedes G-Class and the Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring have in common? At first glance, not much. However, with its rugged look, the Delite is exactly what you’d expect from an SUV ebike. Much like a G-Class, it offers comfort in the city, but off-road it has more potential than you might initially give it credit for. Thanks to the comprehensive configurator, you can tailor the Delite to your own needs and optimise it for many different riding scenarios, making it, along with the Moustache J, the most versatile bike in our test. Comfort kit and street tires for the city, or the GX kit with FOX suspension and knobby tires for the occasional off-road ride? Whatever you choose, the character of the R&M Delite 4 GT Touring SUV ebike will always be the same. Comfort has been a key design consideration and is reflected across the range in frame geometries with comfortable sitting positions and soft rear suspension. Premium standards run like a thread through all of R&M’s bikes, like the red stitching on the AMG seats in the G-Class. The Riese & Müller ebike, however, is less concerned with delicate lines or polished welds, but rather puts durability and functionality at the top of its priority list. The frame is made up of voluminous, angular tubes that make it look very sturdy, and the matt grey paint finish completes the look. The focus on durability is also evident in the ebike’s weight. Size L tops the scales at 30.8 kg, placing the Delite in the top third of the test field in terms of weight.
What the large boot is to the G-Class, the luggage rack is to the Delite 4 GT Touring. It’s part of the sprung mass, which means that it has less of an effect on handling, and it’s also easier on your cargo – avoiding scrambled eggs at the end of your shopping trip. The maximum permissible weight is 150 kg, meaning that the permissible payload is around 119 kg, about average in our group test. For extra storage space, an additional front rack can be fitted. You will also find mounting points for a 250 Wh range extender, which can be added in the configurator for an extra € 450. It is probably unnecessary for most riders thanks to the large 750 Wh main battery. The mudguards on the Riese & Müller ebike keep dirt and spray away from clothing, and the designers have come up with their own solution for attaching them to the front, as the FOX 34 fork has no mounting points. The Supernova M99 Mini Pro front light with high beam ensures good visibility, while the Supernova M99 rear light is neatly integrated into the rear carrier. The Delite is the only bike to have an electrically controlled brake light through the MAGURA eSTOP brake – making it immediately visible to other road users when you hit the brakes.
Riese & Müller Delite4 GT touring
€ 7,629
Specifications
Motor Bosch Performance Line CX 85 Nm
Battery Bosch Powertube 750 Wh
Display KIOX 300
Fork FOX 34 Rhythm E-Bike 140 mm
Rear Shock FOX Float DPS 140 mm
Seatpost Alloy
Brakes Magura MT5/MT4 eStop 180 mm
Drivetrain Shimano Cues Linkglide 1x11
Stem Riese & Müller 90 mm
Handlebar Riese & Müller Alu 700 mm
Wheelset Rodi Tryp 35 27.5"
Tires Schwalbe Johnny Watts 2.35"
Technical Data
Size M L XL
Weight 30.8 kg
Perm. total weight 150 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 119 kg
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount yes
Specific Features
– Supernova lights with high beam
– RX-Chip and Abus Bordo folding lock
– Online configuratior with options for ABS, front rack and range extender
– adjustable stem
| Size | S | M | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top tube | 600 mm | 600 mm | 600 mm |
| Seat tube | 460 mm | 460 mm | 460 mm |
| Head tube | 180mm | 180mm | 180mm |
| Head angle | 66° | 66° | 66° |
| Seat angle | 69,6° | 69,6° | 69,6° |
| Chainstays | 515 mm | 515 mm | 515 mm |
| BB Drop | -20 mm | -20 mm | -20 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1.210 mm | 1.210 mm | 1.210 mm |
| Reach | 361 mm | 361 mm | 361 mm |
| Stack | 661 mm | 661 mm | 661 mm |
What is the Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring ebike capable of?
When you saddle up on the Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring ebike, you’ll experience a comfortable riding position – neither too upright or too stretched out. The adjustable stem gives you the flexibility to further fine-tune your riding position. If the compact Delite SUV ebike is still too long for you, ask your Riese & Müller dealer for a demonstration of the Comfort kit with a curved back handlebar to see if that option better suits your needs. Similar to a G-Class, you sit elevated above the road, giving you excellent all-round visibility. This means that you can change lanes in town without twisting your body, and on longer journeys you can sit back and enjoy the scenery. Although, the rigid seat post on our test bike made it difficult for us to get our feet on the ground. As standard, the Delite Riese & Müller ebike in the GX option comes with an X-Fusion Manic dropper post with 100 mm travel, which should make stopping at traffic lights a lot easier. The Bosch Smart System Performance Line CX motor delivers a robust 85 Nm of torque to propel you quickly from a standstill at traffic lights or up steep hills. Paired with the wide range of the Shimano CUES LINKGLIDE drivetrain, you can tackle the most challenging climbs with confidence, even when carrying a heavy load. As standard, the Shimano DEORE XT LINKGLIDE groupset from the MTB segment will most likely be used in series production. The battery is also from the Bosch Smart System, and at 750 Wh, it has the largest capacity of any Bosch bike in the test, giving it a range advantage. But having to remove the battery downwards from the down tube is a little awkward. When it comes to connectivity, the Riese & Müller ebike provides a dual approach: in addition to the Bosch Smart System Connectivity package, you can also access the functions of R&M’s own RX Connect solution. This way, you benefit from good navigation with schematic directions on the Bosch Kiox 300 display.
In the event of theft, you are protected by two solutions. The first one is the Bosch eBike Lock feature, which disables the motor function, and the second one is the R&M RX tracking chip that allows the bike to be located and recovered by Riese & Müller. But both the Bosch or Riese & Müller anti-theft protection features require a subscription. With Bosch, the cost after the initial 12 free months is € 4.99 per month or € 39.99 per year. At Riese & Müller, you can choose from a range of services that cost between € 60 and € 160 per year. The RX chip must be selected in the configurator for a one-off fee of € 150, after which the Connect Ride Free service is included free of charge for the first year. For those who want tangible protection, an ABUS folding lock can also be ordered in the configurator.
The FOX suspension provides plenty of comfort whether you’re bouncing over curbs in the city or hitting roots and potholes in the woods. However, sporty riders may wish for a little more feedback from the ground.
The comprehensive configurator allows everyone to tailor the Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring to their specific needs
The Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring SUV ebike combines off-road and on-road characteristics. The FOX suspension provides plenty of comfort, whether you’re bouncing over curbs in the city or over roots and potholes in the woods. Profiled Schwalbe Johnny Watts tires, in combination with the soft chassis, offer good grip on gravel roads. However, sporty riders may miss the feedback from the ground. The ROTWILD R.C1000 and the Specialized Tero X 6.0 score here with their better, more defined chassis. They also come out on top in terms of agility and riding fun. The Delite’s strength lies in rolling comfortably through the terrain like a G-Class, rather than zipping through tight trails and corners like a lightweight motocross machine. The noise level is also an argument for a more leisurely pace, because the mudguards start to rattle off-road and the side kickstand doesn’t have enough power to hold itself up. The powerful MAGURA MT5 and MT4 eSTOP four-piston brakes are a good choice, but, unfortunately, they are combined with 180 mm brake discs that are too small and quickly reach their limits on the R&M ebike, especially when loaded and on long descents. If you are worried about skidding on slippery gravel, you can also opt for the new Bosch ABS system for an extra € 400.
Tuning tip:For greater safety during emergency braking, gravel bikers should choose the Bosch eBike ABS in the configurator.
Who is the Riese & Müller ebike for?
The Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring ebike is not the greatest all-rounder, but the configurator allows you to choose what you want to focus on. Sporty cyclists may be better off with the Specialized Tero X, but city and touring riders looking for a bike with a strong element of safety will find a compelling package in the Delite. Robustness and prestige are inherent qualities of the Riese & Müller.
Our conclusion on the Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring
The Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring pretty much sums up the idea of an SUV ebike, not just because of its looks. The comprehensive configurator allows everyone to tailor the bike to their specific needs, and regardless of the equipment, the Riese & Müller ebike offers a high level of comfort and riding safety. However, this comes at a premium price. The only thing that detracts from the prestigious impression is the somewhat noisy full equipment.
Tops
- comfortable rear triangle
- comprehensive configurator
- high level of connectivity
Flops
- noisy mudguards and kickstand
You can find out more about at r-m.de
The test field
Click here for an overview of our SUV ebike buyer’s guide: The best e-SUV 2024 – 10 ebikes in our group test.
All bikes in test:
ADVANCED Trekking Pro FS Wave | BULLS Vuca EVO FSX 1 | CENTURION Country R3000i LX | CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 7.7 | FLYER Goroc TR:X 8.63 | GIANT Stormguard E+ 1 | Moustache J. All | Riese & Müller Delite 4 GT Touring | ROTWILD R. C1000 TOUR | Specialized Turbo Tero X 6.0
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Words: Mike Hunger Photos: Jan Richter, Robin Schmitt
