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Ruff Cycles Biggie
Photo: Stefan Weißenborn / DER SPIEGEL
The first impression:
is it still a bike or is it already a motorcycle?
In any case, this is difficult for Biggie.
This becomes clear when you fold the stand and hold the e-bike.
The manufacturer says:
Ruff Cycles has »its own DNA«, says founder and managing director Pero Desnica, 39. Sounds trite, but when you look at the bike from southern Germany, it makes sense: Like earlier Ruff Cycles models, the Biggie model makes extensive use of it Stylistic elements of motorcycles.
With its flat line, interrupted only by the crossbar handlebar, the e-bike is supposed to resemble scrambler motorcycles that appeared in the 1950s.
There are also wide tires, real leather seat, double bridge fork and twist grip.
"I think there are a lot of people out there who are into half-motorcycles."
The twist grip is not used to “accelerate”, but adjusts the continuously variable Enviolo rear hub gear.
The components on the model are high quality, but the manufacturer has dispensed with expensive suspension damping with exposed springs like on a scrambler bike.
"Then the Biggie would cost 1,000 to 1,500 euros more," says Desnica, who, according to his own words, comes from the custom scene, in which every bike is almost a one-off.
For Desnica, the Biggie complete bike conceptually ranks as “mainstream”.
As an accessory, there is little more than luggage racks for the front and rear.
They are important because the Biggie is intended as a commuter bike - at least that's what Desnica thought when designing it: "I needed something for work."
Desnica, who is in charge of the development of his bicycles, expects to sell twice as many e-bikes in the coming year as last: around 6,000 to 7,000 units are to be sold, hand-assembled in Regensburg, as since 2012. In March 2022 should the Biggie come on the market.
We noticed that
even when maneuvering - you have to call it that - you get that motorcycle feeling.
Lifting the 33-kilo e-bike with the steel frame hand-welded in Bosnia takes a lot of effort.
That's why it's better to sit on the trestle and push the bike backwards out of the parking space with the soles of your feet, like a heavy machine.
The Biggie appears strangely small on the way.
With the 26-inch wheels, it is made for people between 1.75 and 1.95 meters in height, according to the manufacturer.
Sitting at a good 1.80 meters, the soles of the feet can be placed completely on the floor.
That gives you a good grip when you stop at traffic lights, but overall you sit too low.
Keep your legs fairly bent as you step on the pedals.
That feels inefficient.
Anyone who is sensitive could develop knee problems in the long term.
In such cases, Desnica recommends sliding further back on the 60 centimeter long, non-height-adjustable bench.
But then you sit pretty crooked - but maybe that's part of the scrambler feeling too.
On the other hand, there is no more space for the pillion passenger.
It's a shame, because the trip for two is great fun.
The bike is ideal as a child taxi for children who have outgrown the child seat.
With a second adult on board, however, you quickly exceed the gross vehicle weight rating of 150 kilos.
You have to know that:
Bosch's most powerful e-bike motor Performance Line CX with 85 Newton meters has no problems with the heavy Ruff Cycle.
Unlike the person sitting on the bench when the engine remains switched off: Without pedal assistance from the mid-engine, the lifestyle e-bike can only be moved slowly.
So the Biggie works practically only as a pedelec, you are rarely faster than the maximum supported 25 km / h - too strenuous.
The large transmission range of the comfortable Enviolo remains unused in the upper range - except when driving downhill, when gravity helps.
The 500 watt hour battery can be removed for charging and carried to the socket.
This is important - moving the Biggie up or down a flight of stairs is difficult.
The bike also lacks the mudguards, which are so elementary in everyday use in wind and weather.
On longer journeys it is annoying that the thighs push the seat with every movement of the crank.
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But even its creator does not see the Biggie as a single-origin commuter bike. "Driving the Biggie is an event," says Desnica. Anyone who understands the driving culture in this way wants to attract attention and not primarily make the route. Motto: I'm hornier than you. Driving is actually more like cruising, suitable destinations are ice cream parlors or cafés. Sometimes, when he doesn't want people to stare at him like that, says the boss, he rides his folding bike into town. Customers should therefore price in the expressive external effect of the bike. "It has to match the character of the customer," says Desnica.
We'll keep that in mind:
The extroverted Biggie also conveys a message.
E-bikes, which were initially ridiculed as mobile for the infirm and unsportsmanlike, have matured into lifestyle objects - and are also conquering the most specific market niches.
