Full-suspension off-road step-throughs can expand the horizons for many people, offering significantly more comfort and safety. For 2023, the segment seems to be gaining momentum, turning into a serious and seriously fun trend. We present five of the latest trendsetters and tell you what makes these ebikes so appealing.

Nature calls, but it doesn’t yell. Many newcomers to the eMTB scene are looking for a relaxed riding experience that’s about enjoying the outdoors and satisfying their thirst for adventure. They’re not the kind of riders who are keen on the adrenaline rush of high-speed descents down steep and challenging terrain. In this case, off-road step-through ebikes are the answer. They combine comfort, off-road capability and safety like no other ebike category currently on the market. We already recognised their potential in 2020 and let 10 models go head to head in our off-road step-through group test. However, much has changed since then! While only 1 out of 10 bikes in our group test had rear suspension, the market now looks very different! We present to you the hottest off-road step-through ebikes of the 2022 Eurobike!

Malaguti Collina FW 6.0

Antonio Malaguti would probably have been amazed to find his name on the frame of an off-road step-through full-suspension ebike. However, the Malaguti Collina FW 6.0 certainly hasn’t lost any of that Bologna spirit as the step-through frame is adorned with the brand’s distinctive Italian flair. The striking rear suspension provides 100 mm travel and hides the SR Suntour Edge shock low in the seat tube. Together with the 110 mm travel SR Suntour XCR32 fork up front and the knobby Schwalbe Johnny Watts tires, it provides the necessary off-road capability. The Collina is powered by a powerful Bosch Performance Line CX motor and a 625 Wh battery, which can be removed out the top of the downtube. Although the motor isn’t from Bosch latest generation, the technical specs are almost identical to the new Bosch Smart System motor. One advantage of the predecessor is that it’s compatible with the Bosch Nyon display, offering a sophisticated offline navigation function. The Malaguti Collina FW 6.0 is available for € 4,600.

For more information visit malaguti-bicycles.com

Corratec E-Power MTC 100 Wave

The off-road E-Power MTC 100 Wave step-through from German brand Corratec looks confusingly similar to the Malaguti Collina. In fact, the rear ends are almost identical, and they probably come from the same supplier. What sets the Corratec apart, however, is the new Bosch Performance Line CX Smart System motor, the straight down tube and the wider step-through. As a result, you get new Bosch features such as the eBike Lock, which lets you use your smartphone as a key. The SR Suntour suspension delivers 120 mm travel up front and 100 mm at the rear. Thanks to the low step-through and dropper seat post, climbing aboard the bike is very comfortable without having to swing your leg over the saddle. Doing so poses a challenge to the older generation or people with disabilities, especially when the rear rack is fully loaded. Speaking of which, the rack conforms to the practical MIK standard, allowing you to attach bags, baskets and other accessories in no time at all. The Corratec E-Power MTC 100 Wave is priced at € 4,699.

For more information visit corratec.com

CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 5.7

The CONWAY CAIRON SUV FS 5.7 stands out amongst the other off-road step-throughs due to its elaborately designed rear linkage. The horizontally positioned FOX FLOAT DPS shock gets driven by an additional pair of seat stays and several linkages, which is strongly reminiscent of a certain World Cup downhill bike. Fun fact: the design is actually based on the legendary Specialized Demo, which also featured dual rear seat stays until the 2015 model. The rear end of the CAIRON provides 100 mm travel, paired with a 120 mm travel RockShox Recon fork at the front, which should allow the ebike to cut a fine figure even off the beaten track. The 2.35″ Schwalbe Johnny Watts tires provide additional cushioning and grip on dirt roads thanks to their high volume and relatively aggressive tread, and the Bosch Performance Line CX motor is powered by a 625 Wh battery. As Malaguti, CONWAY rely on the previous generation Bosch system paired with the Kiox display, though here the battery gets removed out of the bottom of the downtube. The CONWAY CAIRON is available in four sizes from S to XL and costs € 4,799.

For more information visit conway-bikes.de

Victoria Parcours 5

The new Victoria Parcours 5 is aimed at all those who want to explore the countryside and its people in a particularly stylish fashion. It offers 100 mm travel at the front and rear. The rear shock is almost completely integrated into the seat tube, keeping the silhouette looking nice and clean. There’s a small cut-out in the seat tube for the shock pump, allowing you to adjust the suspension to suit the rider’s weight. Assistance is provided by a Bosch Performance Line CX Smart System motor and 625 Wh battery, which can be removed out of the top of the downtube. The rear wheel gets driven via a low-maintenance GATES CARBON DRIVE belt and a continuously variable Enviolo HD hub. Unfortunately, the prices for the new step-through model weren’t yet available at the time of publication.

For more information visit victoria-bikes.com

ZEMO ZE FS and SU-E FS

With the new ZEMO step-through model, the intended use is for the customer to decide. For example, the ZEMO ZE FS12+ is outfitted for urban environments with its 28″ wheels and Schwalbe Marathon City tires. The city-oriented step-through model provides 80 mm travel at the front and rear. The ZEMO SU-E FS12+ is based on the same frame, though it offers a little more travel up front thanks to the 100 mm fork and comes specced with trekking-oriented components, including 2.5″ Schwalbe Johnny Watts tires. A stand-out feature of both ZEMO bikes is the integrated GPS module with which you can easily locate your ebike via the ZEMO app. Both variants are powered by the new Bosch Performance Line CX Smart System motor and a very large 750 Wh battery. The battery can be conveniently removed out of the side of the downtube, freeing up space for the standard ABUS Bordo folding lock placed on top. The standard equipment also includes a taillight with a brake light function and daytime running lights, while the flagship models even boast a high beam function. Sizes S, M and L of the ZEMO ZE FS12+ and SU-E FS 12+ are also available with a diamond shaped frame. In both variants, the stem has a quick release clamp to adjust the handlebar height without tools, making it easier for riders of different sizes to share the same bike. The off-road SU-E FS12+ is priced at € 5,999, while the city-oriented ZE FS12+ can be yours for € 6,399.

For more information visit zemo.com

Full-suspension off-road step-through ebikes are here to stay, making us want to get out and discover the outdoors in a leisurely way. This well thought-out ebike concept is much more than just a temporary trend, offering the highest level of comfort and safety. We’ll be sure to let you know how the above ebikes of the popular off-road step-through category perform as soon as we’ve put them through the wringer. In fact, we’ve already got our hands on the CONWAY CAIRON SUV.


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Words: Rudolf Fischer Photos: Mike Hunger, Peter Walker,

About the author

Rudolf Fischer

In his previous life Rudolf was a dab hand at promoting innovation, putting his brain behind big-ticket patent assessments that easily ran into six-or-seven-plus figures. These days, the self-confessed data nerd’s role as editor at DOWNTOWN and E-MOUNTAINBIKE is no less exciting. Given his specialism in connectivity, Rudolf’s often placed on the front line of future mobility conversations, but he’s also big into testing new bikes–both on the daily as a committed commuter and intensively for our group tests. The business economist graduate is as versatile as a Swiss penknife, and that’s no hyperbole. Away from two wheels, his background in parkour means he’s a master of front, side and backflips, plus he speaks German, English, French, Russian and a touch of Esperanto. Japanese remains woefully unmastered, despite his best home-learning attempts. Good to know: Rudolf’s sharp tongue has made him a figure of fear in the office, where he’s got a reputation for flexing a dry wittiness à la Ricky Gervais... interestingly, he's usually the one laughing hardest.