The first impression:
Shiny - as if the wheel had been dipped in black piano lacquer.
The manufacturer says:
Bianchi is actually known for racing bikes in the typical turquoise, this pedelec is a "hybrid bike".
The E-Omnia T-Type combines "off-road characteristics of an e-mountain bike with the functionality of a trekking bike," according to the technical office of the traditional manufacturer based in Treviglio in Lombardy.
The bike comes in the style of a chic city bike.
Attempting to blend together several popular bicycle genres, the Bianchi represents a bicycle fad: integration.
This is also reflected in the technical details, such as the chassis: the main frame and luggage rack form a unit as if cast from one piece.
Even the mudguards look like part of the welded aluminum construction, they are hardly noticeable.
The display is sunk into a socket, and the battery disappears into the down tube anyway.
As a key feature, Bianchi highlights the lighting.
As with a motorcycle, the front light is located in the head tube.
Two additional taillights are housed in the seatstays.
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Bianchi promises that you will still be visible to traffic behind you at a distance of 500 meters.
All of the lighting meets the legal requirements, adds lighting specialist Spanninga, the supplier.
This approval for integrated lighting is rare because such a system is difficult to construct and expensive.
Smart urban bikes often have their lights in the tube, but they usually do not meet the legal requirements.
Sometimes manufacturers supply additional lighting kits, such as the Belgian start-up Cowboy.
We noticed that:
the Italian multibike is fed up on the road.
As soon as you push it you notice that almost 30 kilos are being moved, ten kilos more than with some everyday e-bikes.
Advantage: It drives comfortably.
The suspension fork dives deep, the bike just glides over cobblestone streets.
Only the suspension seat post on the test bike didn't really want to give way.
The heavy hybrid bike is also down-to-earth on easy terrain, staying on course on gravel and forest paths.
The T-Type masters steeper off-road bumps thanks to the Bosch mid-engine developed for e-mountain bikes.
An "Extended Boost" function provides an extra boost when climbing over roots or curbs.
The bike is easy to control with the wide handlebars.
But the T-Type is not an e-mountain bike.
The tires, which are only slightly profiled, only offer limited lateral support when driving through dips and corners at high speed.
After rain they smear off on sodden paths.
The lighting conveys more security.
Bright
is not a term for the double rear light.
Rear fog light would be more appropriate.
Because the front light literally nestles around the head tube, it emits light to the side.
Bianchi even speaks of 360-degree visibility.
At 40 lux, however, the illuminance is a bit weak.
Also, the illuminated area remains fairly small on night-time roads.
And because of its position, it does not steer, unlike with conventional bicycle lamps.
You have to know that:
There is a lack of multifunctionality.
This has to do with the somewhat strange porter.
The way the bike is delivered, you can hardly use it, let alone load it with the promised 25 kilos.
Nothing can be clamped, nothing hung.
This shows that different types of bicycles cannot be sensibly merged in every detail: a mountain bike does not need a carrier at all, a trekking bike needs a much better one.
The manufacturer offers a solution that is not really satisfactory.
"If the customer would like to mount a commercially available set of panniers, he must purchase an adapter," says Bianchi.
The Swedish supplier Atranvelo lists it at less than 20 euros.
The fact that you hardly notice any luggage on the 4000 euro bike without these accessories is a faux pas.
Once retrofitted, the system adapter can accommodate baskets, platforms or boxes with a perfect fit.
The bike scores points when it comes to charging electricity: the built-in battery has a capacity of 625 watt hours (Wh) – ample.
Even more is possible if the second battery with 500 Wh is clamped on the down tube.
According to Bianchi, the range then increases to 195 kilometers – but the price also increases by around 500 euros.
The second battery can also be selected as the first battery - then the price drops by 560 euros.
Bianchi has created an entire family of bicycles around the frame platform.
The customer can also use a specially tailored e-omnia.
In addition to the T-Type hybrid concept, there is the C-Type, an urban bike, and the X-Type, an e-mountain bike.
We'll keep that in mind:
It doesn't have to be one of those rough-looking SUV bikes.
The T-Type drives up with a certain chic and yet has what it takes to be an all-purpose bike.
If only it weren't for the mistake with the luggage carrier adapter.
