Riese & Müller Nevo Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs

The sporty and sturdy step thru Riese & Müller Nevo has arrived for testing & review!

This is a durable and well equipped commuter and touring style eBike that has some unique features. 

Some of the highlights of the Nevo are the sturdy step thru frame design with frame mounted battery, NuVinci continuously variable transmission, Gates Carbon Drive belt, and the Bosch mid drive system. 

There are 6 different models of the Riese & Müller Nevo available and they range in price from $4,649 to $5,549.

The Nevo GH NuVinci in this test is priced at $5,349. 

In this first part of the testing & review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications.

Part 2 of the Riese & Müller Nevo testing & review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this eBike.

Alright, let’s take a closer look at the Riese & Müller Nevo GH NuVinci!

The Riese & Müller Nevo is a sporty touring & commuter style eBike with an easy get on and ride step thru frame. 

There are 6 different model options available that include 3 speed pedelecs (HS designation) that provides pedal assist up to 28 mph (Class 3 eBike) and 3 pedelecs that provide assist up to 20 mph (Class 1 eBike).

Within those speed categories there are are 2 models with the NuVinci CVT and Gates Carbon Drive belt, and one model with a 10 speed Shimano Deore drivetrain.

 

The bike shown above is the Nevo Touring with a 10 speed Shimano Deore drivetrain in the Racing Red color.

Depending on the model there are 2 or 3 different size options available: 17″ (43 cm), 18.5″ (47 cm), 22″ (56 cm).

The bike tested in this review is the 18.5″ (47 cm) Nevo GH NuVinci in the Midnight Blue color. 

In addition to the Racing Red and Midnight Blue colors there is also this white color option. 

The Riese & Müller Nevo has a very large step thru area making it very easy to get on and off. The large aluminum rectangular tubes provide a very stout structure with a bold look. 

Here is a look at the frame in the sunlight. The Midnight Blue paint has a metallic look to it in the direct sun.

One of the unique design features is the battery located on the downtube of the frame near the headtube.

Most step thru eBikes place the battery in the rear rack and it is nice to see this innovative design where the battery is placed in a relatively central location.

The combination of the battery and motor being relatively central on the bike is good for balanced weight distribution and overall bike handling. 

The Bosch PowerPack 500 is a 36V 13.4ah lithium battery that has a 500 watt hour capacity. 

Pushing the button on the lower left side of the battery will show you the current battery level. There is also a battery level indicator on the Bosch Intuvia display on the handlebar. 

The charging port is located just below the battery and it is protected with a rubber cover. The PowerPack 500 can be charged on or off the bike. 

This is a look at the downtube with the battery removed. You can remove the battery by unlocking it with the supplied key (2 keys are supplied) and lifting it up and off the frame. 

When the battery has been removed the bike weighs 56.9 pounds which makes it a little easier to pick up and load onto a car rack.

Here is a look at the battery removed from the bike with the charger. The battery weights 5.75 pounds. The charger is about the size of a laptop charger and it takes 2.25 hours to charge 50% and 4.5 hours to charge 100%. 

On the left side of the Nevo is internal cable routing in the downtube for cable protection and a cleaner look. The rubber grommets offer some weather protection. 

The step thru area has a wide opening to make it easy to get on and off the Nevo. There is a plate that offers some protection of the frame from the battery location down to the seat tube interesection.  

The chain stays of the frame use very large rectangular tubing for solid rear wheel stability. 

Here’s another look at those large rectangular chain stays. The Nevo has a very sturdy look!

The Bosch Performance Line CX mid-drive motor provides pedal assist up to 20 mph for this model. This is a mid drive that uses a torque sensor, cadence sensor, and wheel speed sensor to provide the proportional assist based on your pedal power. 

This is a 250 watt mid-drive that provides pedal assist up to 300% of your pedal power with a maximum torque of 75 Nm. 

The other side of the Bosch Performance Line CX motor has a very clean look to it. 

The Riese & Müller Nevo  is a Class 1 electric bike which is pedal assist up to 20 mph, 750 watts max.

This is the Suntour XCR32 Air suspension fork with 2.75″ (70mm) of travel. The spring rate is adjusted with an air pump. The double reflectors are a nice touch for added visibility. 

On the right side of the fork is a lockout dial so that you can lock out the fork on smooth roads. This keeps the fork from bobbing up and down for a more efficient ride. 

The Nevo as an all around eBike for pavement and dirt roads. 

Now let’s take a look at the control center of the Nevo. 

The handlebar has about an inch of rise with a somewhat swept back angle. 

On the left side of the handlebar is the Ergon GP1 grip, the Bosch control pad, and the Magura MT4 front hydraulic disc brake lever.

The Ergon GP1 ergonomic grips provide a large “wing” for wrist support and they lock on to the handlebar with a bolted collar so that they won’t rotate. 

The Bosch control pad changes the pedal assist levels with the (+) and (-) buttons. The center (i) button cycles through the information on the center mounted Bosch Intuvia display. 

Here is a closer look at the front of the Magura MT4 hydraulic disc brake lever. The reach of the brake lever can be adjusted to fit your hand size. 

The Bosch Intuvia display is mounted in the center of the handlebar and it provides information on the battery level, speed, pedal assist mode, odometer, trip distance, max speed, average speed, estimated range remaining, and clock. 

There are 4 levels of pedal assist with the % of assistance:

• Eco 50%
• Tour 120%
• Sport/eMTB 120% to 300%
• Turbo 300%

Stay tuned for part 2 with more info on the ride characteristics of these levels. 

The display has a backlight for good visibility day and night.  The lights are turned on with the button on the lower right side of the display. Both the front and rear light are powered by the eBike battery. 

The Bosch Intuvia display is easily removed by releasing the tab at top bottom and sliding the display up and off the mount. 

The right side of the handlebar features the Ergon GP1 grip, NuVinci N380 continuously variable grip shifter, Magura MT4 rear hydraulic brake lever, and Billy bell. 

Here is a closer look at the NuVinci N380 continuously variable grip shifter. The NuVinci N380 continuously variable rear hub (below) features a 380% gear ratio change from low to high and there are no specific indexed gears like a derailleur system.

This grip shifter acts like a volume dial on a radio so you can “dial in” the best gear for the terrain you are riding on.

It makes shifting very easy, intuitive, and it shifts well under power. Shifting can also happen when you are not pedaling which is helpful when you are getting into the best gear ratio for accelerating from a stop. The display cleverly changes from a hill profile to flat land as you shift through the gear range. 

The NuVinci N380 rear hub almost looks like a rear hub motor but inside is the continuous variable “transmission”. It is “practically maintenance-free, as they are made up of self-contained systems”.

The Gates Carbon Drive belt is another highlight in the overall drivetrain of the Nevo. Belt’s offer a lot of advantages over a typical chain: they don’t require maintenance (lubrication), they are clean, quiet, and smooth. Gates also claims that their belt last at least twice as long as a chain. 

Belts can’t be spliced together like a chain so the bike frame has to be designed to work with the belt. Riese & Müller used this elevated chainstay design for the belt and it also adds to the overall sporty style of the Nevo. 

The sturdy rear dropouts are horizontally adjustable to tension the belt. 

Magura MT4 hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors are spec’ed front and rear. These are durable mountain bike style hydraulic disc brakes. 

And here is a look at the Magura MT4 disc brake mounted to the NuVinci N380 CVT. You can also see the solid looking horizontal dropout that can be adjusted to tension the Gates Carbon Drive belt. 

The Schwalbe Super Moto-X 27.5″ x 2.4″ tires have a fairly smooth profile for an efficient ride and channeling to dissipate water. The volume of the tires also provides a bit of suspension effect to make the ride smoother. 

The VP-65B pedals are aluminum construction with a rubber grippy surface on both sides. 

The Selle Royale Nuvola saddle has a comfortable mid width profile. 

The Nevo GH NuVinci comes stock with the Cane Creek Thudbuster ST suspension seatpost to smooth out rough roads. It provides 1.3″ of travel. 

The Supernova E3 E-Bike headlight is mounted at the top of the fork and it is powered by the bike battery. It has a solid quality construction of aluminum outer casing. 

Much like the frame the Racktime rear rack has large rectangular tubing for solid stability and look. Riese & Müller provided clean and solid attachment points on the frame. 

There is a Busch & Müller Toplight Mini LED tail light that is attached to the rack and it runs off the Bosch PowerPack 500 battery. Front and rear full coverage SKS B65 fenders have a look that matches the Nevo well. 

The Racktime rear rack is rated for 44 pounds (20 kg) of load and it comes with a rubber top strap to secure cargo items. 

In addition to the full accessory group the Nevo also comes with the ABUS Shield Plus frame lock. 

When the lock is engaged a ring goes through the rear wheel to prevent someone from riding or easily walking away with the bike. 

The key for the frame lock also works for the Bosch battery lock! And if you want a more robust lock, ABUS can key one of their bigger bike locks to the same key. One key for all aspects of the bike. 

Riese & Müller Nevo GH NuVinci Electric Bike Specifications

Frame: Aluminum Step Thru with Elevated Chainstays for Gates Carbon Drive belt

Fork: Suntour XCR32 Air, tapered, 70mm, black

Motor: 250 watt Bosch Performance CX, 20 mph

Battery: Bosch PowerPack 500 Performance, 36 V, 13.4 Ah 500Wh. The battery weighs 5.75 pounds. 

Assist Options: 4 pedal assist levels: Eco, Tour, Sport/eMTB, Turbo

Speed: Pedal assist up to 20 mph which makes this a Class 1 eBike

Display: Bosch Intuvia display that provides information on the battery level, speed, pedal assist mode, odometer, trip distance, max speed, average speed, estimated range remaining, and clock. 

Drivetrain: NuVinci N380 continuously variable rear hub transmission. 380% gear range from low to high. Gates Carbon Drive belt. 

Brakeset: Magura MT4 hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors. 

Tires: Schwalbe Super Moto-X 27.5″ x 2.4″ 

Seat: Selle Royale Nuvola

Sizes: Depending on the model there are 2 or 3 different size options available: 17″ (43 cm), 18.5″ (47 cm), 22″ (56 cm).

Colors: Racing Red, Midnight Blue, White.  

Weight: 62.65 pounds. 56.9 pounds with the battery removed.

Price: There are 6 different models of the Riese & Müller Nevo available and they range in price from $4,649 to $5,549. The Nevo GH NuVinci in this test is priced at $5,349. 

Now checkout part 2 of the Riese & Müller Nevo review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts!

-Pete

Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you or not.

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