Last year, Lidl launched an urban e-bike for the first time with its own brand Crivit, which not only caused a stir with its favourable price. The components used and the design of the bike were also very respectable. So it is all the more exciting that the discounter unveiled the second and further improved edition of the bike this year. Let’s find out whether the bike is worth it for its low price tag!

Design

A sleek frame, many integrated components and a smooth finish: if you didn’t already know it, you wouldn’t suspect that this bike comes from a discounter and is optimised for the lowest possible sales price! The Crivit Urban Bike X.2 has a pretty clean design, especially when you consider the extensive equipment.

A rear light is integrated elegantly into the rear mudguard, the handlebars and stem are one unit with an integrated smartphone holder and the bike’s drive unit is almost invisible. A compact hub motor is installed in the rear wheel, the minimalist controls on the top tube and handlebars are barely noticeable and there is no display — if you want, you can optionally use an app with your smartphone.

Another clever solution is the cable routing at the front, where the cables are routed tightly along the frame via a simple metal bracket. A simple and cost-effective design to give the bike a tidier look! Also noteworthy are the neatly polished weld seams on the frame, which leave a high-quality impression. Thanks to the uniform black look, the bike has an almost minimalist appearance, to which the relatively discreet logos also contribute.

The seat post, on the other hand, is less discreet and is noticeably thick. The reason for this is technical, as it conceals the e-bike’s battery. This rather unusual solution is not necessarily visually appealing, especially as the power cable is also routed externally — but it certainly offers practical advantages over a permanently installed battery.

Equipment

Besides the design, a look at the components used also causes a stir: instead of cheap no-name components, the bike largely uses parts from well-known brands. The brakes are from Shimano and the electric drive comes from MIVICE, a well-established manufacturer of high-quality hub motors. The M080 used here has a torque of 40 Nm and is even controlled by a torque sensor (we have already explained the advantages of this technology in detail in this article). As mentioned, the battery is integrated into the seat post and offers a capacity of 360 Wh — which is at the upper end of the range for this type of e-bike.

The power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a belt drive from leading manufacturer Gates. The advantages of this have become widely recognised: compared to the conventional chain drive, the belt drive is largely maintenance-free, clean and quiet. This makes it the ideal partner for single-speed bikes in particular. Yes, you won’t find any gears on this bike! This means that this bike only has one gear and is supported by the motor.

A full range of commuter equipment is installed to ensure a high level of everyday usability: starting with the mudguards, continuing with the sturdy pannier rack (with an AtranVelo click system and 20 kg load capacity) and ending with the lighting system. This consists of an 80 lux Sate-lite headlight, a Nano COB rear light from Büchel in the mudguard with brake light function and a second rear light, which is installed in the seat post. All lights are German road traffic licence approved and are powered by the e-bike’s battery. And yes, the bike stand and bell are also already fitted to the bike.

Operation

The operation of the electric drive system is as simple as the bike’s single-speed drive: it starts with a press on the controller on the top tube, where an LED ring displays the remaining battery level in four stages and the selected riding mode in different colours. The actual controls are then conveniently located on the handlebars with two thumb buttons — on the right you switch up one riding mode, on the left you switch back. And that’s it!

As the battery is integrated into the seatpost, it can be easily removed from the bike and charged at your favourite place. A handy feature, but one that could also encourage theft. But don’t worry — a lock on the seat clamp ensures that only the owner of the bike can remove the battery. To do this, the flexible spiral cable that supplies power to the bike’s electric drive must also be detached. If the battery is later reinserted into the bike, a guide helps to keep the saddle straight. There is also a printed scale that allows you to quickly set the correct saddle height.

However, if you can charge the bike directly nearby the charger, you don’t even need to remove the battery — simply disconnect the power plug and plug the charging cable into the socket.

Riding impressions

The first time you sit on the Urban Bike X.2, you notice that the frame is designed more for taller people. The rather long stem means that you sit in a surprisingly stretched position, although the handlebars are quite comfortably curved. Lidl recommends a height of 170 to 195 cm for the one-size-fits-all frame. At 185 cm, I’m roughly in the middle and, as expected, the bike fits well. If you are at the lower end of the size range, you might want to consider the sister model Urban Bike Y.2 with a step-through frame, which is supposed to be suitable from 160 cm tall.

We’ve already used the electric drive from MIVICE on other bikes and it also leaves an excellent impression on the X.2: thanks to the torque sensor, the assistance is very natural and sensitive, which comes very close to the feeling of riding a conventional bicycle. If you hardly pedal, the assistance is low, but when you pedal hard, the motor provides all the more power. The three available riding modes differ noticeably from one another, from weak to strong assistance.

In urban use – and that’s what the bike is designed for – you rarely miss a gear change. On flat terrain, you can manage perfectly well without it, only at high speeds above 25 km/h do you pedal quite quickly and would then shift up a gear. But even uphill climbs can be mastered surprisingly well thanks to the electric assistance, as long as you keep your speed in the double-digit range. This is because the basic characteristics of a hub motor also apply here: this type of drive reaches its limits earlier on hills than we know it from mid-drive motors. If you regularly have to tackle long and steep climbs on your route, you are better off with a different drive concept. However, if you are mainly travelling on flat terrain with few inclines anyway, you will quickly learn to appreciate the advantages of this system. Not having to change gear at every traffic light is just as relaxing as the very quiet and direct support of the motor!

Although the bike has no suspension, it can also be ridden with lower air pressure thanks to the 50 mm wide tyres – which can effectively reduce small bumps. Incidentally, a suspension seatpost cannot be retrofitted to this bike due to the special battery seatpost.

We weighed the test bike at 21.1 kg, which corresponds to the manufacturer’s specifications and is perfectly acceptable considering the price and features. Comparable models such as the Tenways CGO 600 Pro are lighter, but also slightly more expensive.

Conclusion

Who would have thought a few years ago that such a bike would be available from a discounter? The Crivit Urban Bike X.2 from Lidl is proof of how advanced even bikes from the entry-level segment can now be. High-quality components meet a pleasing design and equipment suitable for everyday use with a removable battery.

There are certainly other urban bikes that are more stylish, lighter or even more individual — but hardly at such a price! For its price tag of 1,599 euros, the Urban Bike X.2 is highly recommended! Nevertheless, you need to be aware of two basic points: firstly, the bike is only available in one frame size, which should match your body size. Secondly, the single-speed drive with hub motor has the advantages and disadvantages described above – this should also suit your own area of use.

In addition to the Urban Bike X.2 with a diamond frame, the bike is also available as an Urban Bike Y.2 with a comfort frame as a step-through model. All of these variants can be ordered directly here in the Lidl online shop and delivered to your home. Lidl also offers free returns within 30 days.