With its new Culture, Riese & Müller is expanding their range of stylish urban bikes with a third model — after the Roadster and the newer UBN series (whose UBN Five we have already tested here). The most striking feature of the bike is its design with a kink in the top tube, in particular on its diamond frame — as the Coulture is also available with an comfort frame in a trapezoidal shape. Incidentally, this kink is intended to ensure a comfortable, upright riding position, as it also raises the headset.

For the drive, the company from Muehltal in Germany relies on the brand new SX motor from Bosch, which is designed to offer light weight and smooth running. With a torque of 55 Nm, it offers decent power and is therefore almost on the same level as Fazua’s Ride 60 motor, which is installed in the aforementioned UBN series.

In contrast to the Coulture, however, the 400 Wh battery is permanently installed in the frame and therefore cannot simply be removed for charging. Anyone speculating that this design is due to the lowest possible weight is likely to be disappointed: according to Riese & Müller, the bike should weigh at least 21.8 kg, which means that it cannot take advantage of the inherently lightweight drive system.

The drive system is controlled via the handlebar button from Bosch’s Smart System. Colored LEDs indicate the riding mode and battery capacity. There is no typical display in the basic configuration, but a smartphone can be attached to a bracket from SP Connect, allowing additional information to be displayed via an app. The new Purion 200 control unit is also available for an additional 70 euros: formally hardly any larger, but equipped with its own color display, this is certainly worth a recommendation!

Extensive configuration options are a trademark of the manufacturer, as can also be seen in the Culture: the bike is available in three versions:

• Culture touring with 10-speed derailleur gears from Shimano’s Cues series, from 3,999 euros
• Culture Silent with an 8-speed hub gear from Shimano’s Nexus series and belt drive, from 4,299 euros
• Culture Vario with continuously variable hub gears from Enviolo and belt drive, from 4,499 euros

In addition, each bike can be individually adapted to your own wishes: in addition to the Purion 200 display already mentioned, there is the option of Bosch’s Range Extender with an additional 250 Wh, a suspension kit consisting of suspension fork and suspension seat post, pannier rack and frame lock as well as Riese & Müller’s RX chip, among other things for locating the bike via smartphone.

A lighting system, mudguards and bike stand are fitted as standard on all models. This means that the bike is already well equipped for everyday rides in the city. It is also worth noting that 50 percent recycled aluminum is used in the frame of the Culture! And speaking of the frame: it is available in three sizes, as a diamond frame in the colors biscuit and denim, as a comfort frame in the colors blossom and denim. And with prices starting at 3,999 euros, the new Culture is the most affordable entry into the urban bike world of Riese & Müller.