With its BTWIN LD920E Automatic LF, Decathlon offers an e-bike with innovative technology, features suitable for everyday use and a modern look. Particularly impressive: the self-developed Owuru motor with integrated continuously variable transmission—a feature that is currently only available exclusively from Decathlon. We take a closer look at the bike in our test.

Design

Decathlons BTWIN LD920E LF setzt auf einen attraktiven Rahmen in Trapezform, der vor allem für komfortorientierte Fahrerinnen und Fahrer gedacht ist – das HF-Modell mit hohem Oberrohr hatten wir bereits hier kurz im Test. Die Linienführung des Bikes wirkt harmonisch, das dicke Unterrohr und der voluminöse Mittelmotor fügen sich dabei überraschend gut in das Gesamtbild ein. Zwar sind die Dichtungen des entnehmbaren Akkus etwas auffällig, doch durch die dunkelbraun-metallic Lackierung tritt das kaum in Erscheinung.

Decathlon’s BTWIN LD920E LF has an attractive trapezoidal frame, which is primarily intended for comfort-oriented riders—we have already briefly tested the HF model with a high top tube here. The lines of the bike look harmonious, with the thick down tube and the voluminous mid-motor blending in surprisingly well with the overall picture. Although the seals of the removable battery are somewhat conspicuous, this is hardly noticeable thanks to the dark brown metallic paintwork.

A real eye-catcher is the neatly integrated suspension fork at the front, which is hidden inconspicuously in the head tube thanks to its Headshock design. The clean look of the bike is particularly successful anyway: only the two brake cables are visible, giving the bike a tidy look. The lighting system is also elegantly integrated—directly in the stem at the front, while the rear light is positioned flat on the rear mudguard. And the display flush-mounted in the stem also has a high-quality, modern look.

Equipment

The centrepiece of the LD920E is the Owuru mid-motor with integrated continuously variable transmission. This system combines two previously separate components: the powerful support of a mid-motor with the flexibility of a continuously variable transmission. The gearbox offers a range of 265%, which roughly corresponds to the gear ratio range of classic hub gears such as Shimano’s Nexus 5E or Nexus 7. The gear ratio is adjusted automatically and without any noticeable gear changes.

The motor itself offers a torque of 65 Nm, which is in the upper mid-range of current mid-engines. It is operated via a compact thumb switch on the handlebars and via the large colour display in the stem. Here you can also find a USB-C charging socket for connecting a smartphone, but there is no corresponding smartphone mount. Completing the electric drive is the battery, which offers a pleasingly large capacity of 694 Wh and can also be removed from the bike for easy charging.

On the front, the suspension fork offers 30 millimetres of travel, while the E-Randonneur tyres from Vittoria have a width of 38 mm. Hydraulic disc brakes with a diameter of 180 mm at the front and 160 mm at the rear ensure reliable deceleration. The extensive commuter equipment is rounded off by the integrated lighting system, mudguards, a rear kickstand and a pannier rack with a load capacity of up to 27 kg.

What is not visible from the outside is the bike’s connectivity: it has integrated modules for 4G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In conjunction with the appropriate smartphone app, the bike can be tracked, among other things.

Operation

Despite the advanced technology, handling the BTWIN LD920E LF is pleasingly uncomplicated. The compact but intuitive control element on the handlebars can be used to control all the main functions of the drive. Two buttons are used to select the support mode—‘Eco’, ‘Standard’ and ‘Turbo’ are available. The preferred cadence can then be set using the rocker switch in the centre: This can be continuously adjusted between 40 and 90 rpm to suit your own preferences. This allows you to individually determine how fast or hard you want to pedal. What’s practical is that once the frequency has been selected, it is saved permanently and is retained even after switching off.

An additional button on the same control element triggers an electronic bell. Even though this is integrated inconspicuously, it is unfortunately not very convincing in everyday use. The sound it produces is very quiet and is often not recognised as a warning signal by other road users—a typical problem with many electronic bells …

Particularly user-friendly is the battery system. It can be removed in a few simple steps and easily reinserted. Thanks to the integrated carrying handle, the comparatively heavy battery, which weighs a good 4 kg, can also be easily transported to the charger. However, the bike itself unfortunately does not have a charging connection—so you are always forced to remove the battery. It is also a pity that the LD920E does not yet come with a system carrier. While many of Decathlon’s newer models are already equipped with a MIK-compatible system, this option is missing here. The use of accessories such as shopping baskets or child seats is of course also possible, but somewhat less convenient and may require additional adapters.

Riding impressions

The LD920E is as easy to use as it is to ride. As soon as you get on, you notice how easy the bike is to manoeuvre—especially if you have previously set the cadence to your personal comfort zone. It’s worth experimenting a little at the beginning. For example, if you want to pedal harder at lower frequencies or prefer to roll at a higher cadence, you can adjust this to suit your own taste. The system shows its strengths in city traffic in particular. When stopping frequently at traffic lights or starting uphill, the transmission automatically shifts to a lower gear ratio so that you can get going again without any effort.

Once you have found your preferred cadence, there is no need to think about shifting gears. The transmission works fully automatically and constantly adapts the gear ratio to your own riding behaviour. The adjustment is so subtle that gear changes are barely noticeable. Only in rare cases—such as abrupt pedalling changes or heavy loads—is a minimal delay or slightly uneven pedalling noticeable. However, these moments are the exception and hardly affect the riding experience in everyday life.

The motor power is powerful overall, but remains finely controllable. Even in the higher support levels, the drive never feels intrusive, but adapts smoothly to the pedal pressure. There are sufficient reserves for steeper sections, so that most everyday routes can be mastered without any problems from a seated position. However, if you regularly ride long and steep climbs, you should plan a test ride before buying, as both the maximum torque of the motor and the range of the continuously variable transmission have certain system-related limits.

Acoustically, the bike remains discreetly in the background. The motor runs pleasantly quietly, with only a slight rattling noise being constantly audible while riding. However, this noise is not only caused by the motor itself, but also by the specially designed, robust chain and the integrated chain tensioner. It is not annoying, but is constantly present—especially when the ambient noise is low.

The overall handling is pleasantly manoeuvrable. The relatively narrow 62 cm handlebars provide an agile steering feel without making the bike feel nervous. And the riding position is rather upright and therefore comfortable, which is ideal for use as a commuter and everyday bike. The weighed total weight of around 26.6 kilograms in size M is hardly noticeable when riding—at least when the battery is full. If the battery capacity drops below 20 %, the turbo mode is deactivated and only the eco mode is available when the battery is below 10 %. Here, the bike is actually rather sluggish to handle. It is therefore all the more pleasing that the total capacity of the battery is so high!

In terms of ride comfort, the bike has some minor weaknesses. Although the headshock suspension at the front offers a certain amount of damping, it responds quite roughly to smaller bumps. On the other hand, the system quickly reaches its limits on bigger bumps or potholes and cannot fully absorb hard impacts. The relatively narrow 38 mm tyres also make only a limited contribution to the suspension—compared to wider balloon tyres on similar urban bikes, comfort is noticeably lower. A combination of more voluminous tyres with lower air pressure and a suspension seat post could help here. After all, the latter can be retrofitted without any problems.

Another point to bear in mind is the comparatively high step-through. Despite the trapezoidal frame, the leg has to be lifted quite high when getting on and off – this can be a little awkward for people with limited mobility.

Conclusion

The Decathlon BTWIN LD920E LF impresses as an advanced e-bike for everyday urban use. The innovative drive ensures a pleasant riding experience, while the automatic gearstick minimises effort – so you can concentrate fully on riding. The equipment is well thought-out and comprehensive, the design modern and tidy. The only points of criticism are in the details: a little more riding comfort and a system luggage rack would be desirable.

But that’s complaining on a high level, because the price is also a real statement: Decathlon charges just 2,499 euros for this bike—which doesn’t make it cheap, but it is certainly good value.

Alternatively, you can also take a look at the all-road model Rockrider E-ACTV 900—this scores points for comfort, but does not offer the clean look of the LD920E. You can buy both models directly here in the Decathlon online shop, with home delivery or collection from a shop.