Mercedes Electric Bike Review: Pros And Cons

Mercedes-Benz E-Bikes: A Fusion of Luxury and Two-Wheeled Mobility

You hear the name Mercedes-Benz and you think luxury, engineering precision and performance. This is a brand with more than a century of providing smart mobility solutions. So then, when a German colossus like this stretches its brand ribbon across the burgeoning landscape of electric bikes, it forces a big question to the surface of the minds of those with a keen eye for quality and discerning cycling fans in general: Does the three-pointed star translate its elusive and astonishing quality and innovation from four wheels to two? That’s not going to happen in this review, which is intended to cut through the brand mystique and marketing and really give you a sense of what Mercedes e-bikes are all about — what they look and feel like, how they ride, and what they’ll bring to your city travel experience if they’re your pick.

Mercedes-Benz is, mainly thanks to a cooperation with n+ Bikes, presenting a selection of electric bikes under the luxury brand’s name. Each model is about a unique purpose and look, just like Bugatti's automotive divisions. The current lineup includes:

• n+ Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team eBike: Don’t let your Formula E fan struggles end at home with the race. Get the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E eBike.
• n+ Mercedes-Benz EQ City Racer eBike (Silberpfeil)
• n+ Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team High Performance eBike.

Hands-On Review: Performance vs. Style

Our hands-on covers the two most mainstream models that epitomize the theme of Mercedes e-bike: a performance-oriented Formula E Team eBike as well as the stylish City Racer. Right away, riding a Mercedes-branded electric bike feels different. The n+ Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team eBike rides like a machine designed for speed and efficiency. The ride position is aggressive and leans forward, urging you to work a bit harder. More impressive however, is the punchy mid-drive motor. So if you set it to level 4, it is incredibly natural and the help doesn’t come as a jerk as with most other e-bikes; it feels like just you becoming stronger, rather than you suddenly getting a big push. It launches off city streets with tons of authority but never feels sketchy. A standout is the Gates Carbon Drive belt: It’s whisper-quiet, clean and needs hardly any care, contributing to the air of smooth, low-fuss performance. You see the quality in the details: the battery that slips into the downtube and vanishes into the frame, the smooth welds on the aluminum frame, the carbon fiber fork that takes the edge off road chatter but doesn’t make the bike feel mushy. It’s a bike that not only rides great but also makes you feel as though you’re riding as part of the same DNA as Mercedes racing history.

Hopping onto the n+ Mercedes-Benz EQ City Racer eBike (or, more affectionately, the “Silver Arrows” edition), however, is a whole new premium story. This e-bike is designed for style and easy-going city cruising. The first thing you see is the beautiful liquid metal silver paint coloring, a clear reference to the legendary racing cars by Mercedes. The ride is more relaxed and upright, which is ideal for bustling streets without compromising comfort. Where the sportier model is powered by a front hub motor that tugs the bike forward with a taut and occasionally aggressive pull, the City Racer uses a rear hub motor that’s light to the touch and keeps the bike feeling as if it’s in gear all the time, as though you’re riding with a strong and steady tailwind. Fancy a whiff of the hops at the end of it? It is a simple bike (a single-speed one) but so are the best things in life. No gears to consider, just a smooth silent glide around the city. It’s a minimalist solution for modern commuters who value form over function. This bike is not so much about pure performance, but about getting there in style. It gets attention and it gets people talking, and it carries with it the luxury and forward-minded design you expect from the Mercedes brand. The overall feeling is of streamlined, minimal movement.

Beyond the Ride: The Mercedes Brand DNA

It isn't just the ride itself that prospective buyers are purchasing. When you buy a Mercedes electric bike, you are buying into a universe of design and brand meaning. What is more, it entirely complements the Mercedes-Benz universe in terms of looks. These aren’t just vanilla frames with a logo stuck on them; the design language, from the fork geometry to the paint finishes to the minimal branding, is carefully chosen to attract the current Mercedes customer or someone who wants to live at the level of design sophistication that means buying a Mercedes. One of the main strengths is the level of build quality and components to select from. Premium materials such as 6061 aluminium, carbon fibre forks and, especially on the performance models, the Gates Carbon Drive system, help place these bikes ahead of the competition. This belt drive is a massive boon, providing a clean, grease-free, silent and remarkably durable alternative to a normal chain - it all ties in perfectly with the luxury, low-maintenance vibe. The brand also benefits from being associated with successful Formula E and Formula 1 teams, which bring with them a considerable halo of high-performance credibility. It's not just a lifestyle product; it's wrapped up as a piece of performance technology, and is trickled down from the peak of motorsport. This is a massive asset to have: this story and this sense of belonging that very few other e-bike brands can provide. And of course that sleek, uncluttered profile wouldn't be possible without the integration of parts like the lighting and battery, which portrays a refined design which has been thought through.

An Alternative: The Value-Packed ENGWE P275 SE

Whereas the Mercedes e-bikes appeal to a niche range of luxury consumers interested in design and brand heritage, many riders are looking for a mix of premium specifications, day-to-day usability and exceptional value. For such users, a brand such as ENGWE is doing wonders. As an example, the ENGWE P275 SE has been crafted to ensure a state-of-the-art driving experience and features technology that is geared to help improve and support the ride. It’s centered around an intelligent torque sensor that is usually reserved for high-end electric bikes that produces an amazingly smooth and responsive power output that reacts to your pedal stroke in just 50 milliseconds. This is by means of ENGWE's proprietary E-SATS system which guarantees that power delivery is progressively smooth yet immediate. This model marries this technology with incredible practicality, giving you an exceptional 100km maximum range from the large removable 36V 13Ah battery, ensuring range anxiety is a thing of the past even on your longest rides to and from the office. Ride with ease thanks to a Dutch-style upright riding position, ergonomic bike seat and handlebars, and an adjustable head for maximum comfort. Safety is not forgotten with powerful hydraulic disc brakes so you can stop with confidence in all conditions. With a dependable SHIMANO 7-Speed transmission, intelligent App data connectivity and all the added extras like fenders and a chain guard, the ENGWE P275 SE is an incredibly well-specced, technology-packed option for the city rider in the know.

Here are five frequently asked questions that buyers ask when they’re considering buying a Mercedes e-bike, and our detailed answers to help you make up your mind.

Who makes the Mercedes-Benz e-bikes in reality?

This is an important point of clarity. These bikes are not made by Mercedes-Benz in one of their factories. They come from a tactical licensing deal from a niche bike company, n+ Bikes. N+ Bikes took care of design, engineering, manufacturing and distribution for the e-bikes branded with the Mercedes-Benz EQ and Mercedes-AMG names. It’s a similar story for most luxury automakers’ forays into the e-bike space. The benefit is you have Mercedes’ design oversight and brand ethos combined with the single-minded manufacturing talent of a dedicated bike company.

Do these electric bikes justify the premium?

A Mercedes e-bike is more than just a package for the specifications. And yes, they are a little premium-priced, but there are definitely reasons behind that. What you are buying is the genuine brand licence and the design heritage that goes with the Mercedes-Benz name. Quality is top-notch, made up of top-of-the-line parts such as Gates Carbon Drives, hydraulic brakes and quality battery cells from Panasonic. The look is an obvious selling point; the bikes are meant to be slim, minimal and as visually in line with the premium car brand as possible. It’s expensive, sure, but if your number one concern is a one-of-a-kind design that comes with bragging rights and stuff that isn’t going to fail on you, then for many, the premium will be worth it.

How is the upkeep & servicing for these bikes?

This belt system is cleaner, less noisy, and far more durable than a traditional bike chain, reducing maintenance to virtually nothing. For basic service, such as brake adjustments or to swap tires, any reputable bicycle shop can do that work. For warranty claims or motor & battery systems directly, you would generally use n+ Bikes’ official channels or the store you purchased the bike from. The use of well-established components generally means that sourcing parts is easy.

Can you tour on them or do gnarly offroad riding?

No, the bikes are built for in-town use. Their design ethos is to deliver a city-cycling product for commuters, fitness riders, and urban explorers in the city. They don’t have the suspension, aggressive frame geometry, and wide-range gears it takes to conquer serious off-road trails. The Formula E Team model can handle longer all-day trips on roads and bike paths, but neither of them are built to be a long-distance touring machine that might need to carry heavy panniers or deal with mixed, rough terrain for days at a time.

What’s the main feel difference between the Formula E Team and City Racer models?

The real difference is the intended type of ride. One of the first to market is the Formula E Team eBike, a performance commuter. A mid-drive motor and torque sensor gives you a true feel for riding and a refined sense of your own skills on this e-bike, perfect for riders who want a little extra zip on an off-grid exploration. The City Racer (Silver Arrows) is a design-conscious cruiser for the city. Its rear hub motor impels a luscious, ultra-easy push, and its one-speed-easy simplicity makes it a no-muss, no-fuss “get on and go” machine that is ideal for casual rides and short commutes where the journey is as luxurious as the destination.

In the end, a Mercedes electric bike is a commitment to an elegant fusion of automotive opulence and stylish urban maneuverability.