Kalkhoff’s extensive line-up of new bikes with Bosch’s lightweight SX motor also includes the Image L Advance — an attractive city bike that is equipped with a maintenance-free belt drive and also scores with many practical features. How the e-bike performs in urban use can be seen here in our detailed test!

Design

In addition to the typical diamond frame shape with a high top tube, the Image L Advance from Kalkhoff is also available as a “Wave” step-through model, which arrived here for testing in the color Sagegreen matt. A distinctive feature of this bike is the linear design with its parallels between the down tube and rear triangle as well as between the seat tube and the straight rigid fork. Another characteristic is the horizontal brace above the motor, which increases the stability of the frame and also serves as a handle for lifting up the bike.

Thanks to the thin frame tubes, the bike looks pleasantly slim, although the down tube is naturally a little bulkier — after all, this is where Bosch’s CompactTube battery is located. The advantage of this is that it can be easily removed for charging. And thanks to the frame-colored cover, you don’t even have to compromise on looks!

The bike’s drive system also matches the tidy look: Bosch’s SX motor largely disappears behind the chainring, while the modern Gates belt drive leads the eye to the rear wheel where only the sprocket of the Shimano hub gears is visible. With a compact push-button display unit, the controls for the electric drive are also pleasantly discreetly integrated on the handlebars.

A special feature of Kalkhoff’s Image L Advance is the front carrier: thanks to its fixed connection to the frame, it fits the bike perfectly and is particularly practical for everyday use.

Equipment

For the Image L Advance, Kalkhoff also relies on the new Performance Line SX drive from Bosch. Despite its rather compact dimensions and light weight, it offers a considerable output of up to 600 watts and a torque of 55 Nm. The CompactTube battery with its 400 Wh can also be attested a decent capacity. Incidentally, only a few bikes with the lightweight SX system have the option of removing it for charging.

If you occasionally need more range, you can also connect the optional PowerMore additional battery with a further 250 Wh. All of the electric drive is controlled via the compact Purion 200 on the handlebars, which shows all of the important information on its color display.

For shifting, Kalkhoff has opted for the Shimano Nexus hub with 7 gears and the now tried and tested belt drive from Gates. A combination that is largely maintenance-free and therefore particularly suitable for such an everyday bike. A positive additional effect: in contrast to a conventional bicycle chain, you no longer have to worry about dirt from oil or grease with the belt drive!

Thanks to its extensive equipment, the Image L Advance is ideally well equipped for urban use. This includes mudguards, kickstand and lighting system as well as the rear carrier, which is compatible with the MIK system and can carry up to 25 kg. The front carrier can carry a further 10 kg. Smooth rolling is ensured by the 50 mm wide Schwalbe Marathon Efficiency Performance tires, while the height-adjustable stem with ergonomically curved handlebars completes the bike’s equipment.

Operation

A major advantage of the current Bosch Smart System is certainly its ease of use: the Purion 200 is an intuitive control unit with a nice pressure point on the left-hand side of the handlebar, which also features a compact color display. Essential information such as riding mode, battery status and speed are displayed here as well as more in-depth information such as cadence or power output in watts. Bosch’s free eBike Flow app offers further customization options. You can also select your preferred riding modes there, whereby we would once again like to praise the Auto mode — this leaves almost nothing to be desired and almost always offers the perfect level of assistance, meaning that you hardly ever have to switch back and forth between other modes in everyday life.

To remove the battery, simply remove the attached plastic cover and lift the battery upwards. If you prefer, you can of course also charge the battery directly in the bike. The charging socket is positioned above the motor and is securely closed by a rotating cover.

Shifting is done in the classic way with a standard twist grip on the right-hand side of the handlebar, which is easy to operate and has a gear indicator.

Carrying purchases is a particularly important issue for city bikes, which is why we’re going to take another look at the pannier racks here. Thanks to the MIK system, bags, boxes or baskets can be attached to the rear rack in no time at all with a click connection and removed just as easily. If you wish, you can of course also attach panniers to the sides. In addition, a spring flap is fitted. The front carrier is particularly practical if you want to transport smaller items with ease; however, it is also very useful for storing the bike lock while riding. Incidentally, Kalkhoff supplies the front carrier with a precisely fitting mesh to secure its contents.

When handling the bike in everyday life, we noticed two more things in this context: the kickstand is mounted in the middle of the bike, which gives the bike a more stable stand when loaded with the front rack — however, the pedals can also collide there when maneuvering. On the other hand, the front rack itself should not be loaded too high so that nothing gets caught on the handlebars when steering.

Riding impressions

Perfect for a city bike, sitting on the Image L Advance is very upright and comfortable, which is also achieved by the sweeping handlebars and the stem. Thanks to its adjustability, the height of the stem can be flexibly adjusted, allowing the cockpit to be ideally adapted to your own height and desired riding position.

The “Wave” frame really comes into its own in the city, as the low step-through frame makes getting on and off the bike effortless. The fact that the bike is also one of the lighter models of this type is not only evident when you look at the scales. We weighed the test bike at 23.5 kg, of which 1.2 kg is accounted for by the front carrier. The net weight is therefore around 22 kg, which is a very good weight for this configuration with hub gears and the removable battery.

More obvious is the “L” for “Lightweight” in the bike’s name, however, in its riding characteristics: the Image L Advance moves agilely through the streets and is effortless to control. Incidentally, the handling is stable and safe even when the front carrier is fully loaded. Thanks to its fixed frame connection, it does not steer with the front wheel, which leads to better weight balance when cornering. And what if a few steps interrupt your ride? No problem, the handle above the motor makes it easy to lift the bike over such obstacles.

The interaction between the gear hub and the Bosch SX motor works smoothly, although you should be aware of the basic characteristics of such a gear hub: Shifting under power usually takes place with a slight delay in order to protect the gears inside the hub. It is therefore advisable to take some pressure off the pedal when shifting. While such an interruption in pedaling is more of a nuisance on sporty bikes, it is much less of an issue on a city bike with a generally more relaxed riding style. On the other hand, the advantages of the hub gears in combination with the belt drive are evident: in addition to the aforementioned freedom from maintenance, the drive also impresses with its quiet operation and can even be shifted when stationary — particularly practical for frequent traffic light stops.

The quiet Bosch motor also contributes to the low noise level, which only becomes more audible under full load on steep climbs. Such climbs can certainly be managed with the bike, but its preferred terrain is more the flat terrain. Smaller bumps are well absorbed by the 50 mm wide tires, as they can be ridden with a rather low air pressure. If you want to increase comfort even further, you can consider retrofitting a suspension seat post.

Conclusion

Attractive design paired with everyday equipment and a comparatively low weight: with these characteristics, the Kalkhoff Image L Advance delivered a convincing performance in our test. The maintenance-free belt drive is ideal for such a city bike and is pleasantly quiet, while the removable battery is a real advantage. The same applies to the front carrier, which proves to be extremely practical in everyday use.

The recommended retail price for the Image L Advance is 3,899 euros. The frame sizes range from S to L, and the dark Diamondblack glossy is another color option to choose from. Further information on this and the other new lightweight models can be found directly on the Kalkhoff website.