A city e-bike with a fully recyclable plastic frame – sounds revolutionary, right? But how does the new Advanced Reco Urban ride in real life with its Bosch Performance Line SX motor and composite granulate frame? We tested it for you to see if this is what the future looks like.
Advanced are taking a radically different approach with their Reco Urban: instead of using conventional aluminium or carbon frames, the German manufacturer relies on 100% recyclable plastic. This sounds promising in terms of sustainability, but what does it mean in practice? The Reco Urban’s frame is manufactured using an injection moulding process, which is meant to lower the bike’s system weight weight savings. However, at 21.2 kg (one-size), the bike’s far from lightweight – and that’s despite the small 400 Wh battery. The one-size concept is intended to suit riders from 1.60 m to 1.85 m tall. The Advanced Reco Urban in the spec variant we tested retails at €3,999.
One look is all it takes – What makes the Advanced Reco Urban special?
Without a doubt, the most striking feature of the Advanced Reco Urban is its 100% recyclable frame. Manufactured in Germany using injection moulding, it reduces CO₂ emissions by around 50% compared to a conventional aluminium frame which is a massive advantage if you value sustainability. All details on Advanced’s injection moulding process can be found in our review of the Advanced Reco One.
The Advanced Reco Urban relies on an elegant, minimalist design language with clean lines. The Advanced branding is discretely integrated into the frame, giving the bike a high-quality finish. The understated, white “Cloud” colour is meant to bring brightness into a cloudy day.
The Reco relies on a 55 Nm Bosch Performance Line SX motor, which is discreetly integrated into the frame, rounding off the elegant design. We’ve already found out why urban cycling is better with a Bosch Performance Line SX drive. The motor draws its power from a 400 Wh Bosch CompactTube battery. In the future, the Advanced Reco will also be available with a 250 Wh range extender, which boosts the total battery capacity to 650 Wh. However, the battery of the Advanced Reco Urban is permanently integrated into the frame and can’t be removed from the down tube for external charging. Instead, you have to plug the cable into the charging port under the head tube, meaning that you’ll have to schlepp the bike into your house unless you have a garage or basement with a power point –– not ideal with a 21.2 kg bike! The cover of the charging port is held in place by a magnetic closure system, which doesn’t feel very high quality. The motor system is paired with a Bosch Purion 200 unit on the handlebars, which combines a display and remote control and therefore it fits in well with the bike’s minimalist design.
Turn your head for one second and it might be gone! The Reco Urbanonly relies on basic theft protection, so we recommend keeping an eye on it at all times, even if you pop into a shop for just a second., The only safety feature is the Bosch motor’s e-bike lock – what a shame!
The Reco comes equipped with an Enviolo URBAN hub gear, which relies on a low-maintenance belt rather than a chain. This setup minimises servicing and doesn’t require cleaning or lubricating. The drivetrain components also blend in nicely with the bike’s overall look. The Reco Urban comes standard with mudguards, keeping you dry during commutes in bad weather. There are side racks, a TRELOCK tail light and MicroRack integrated into the rear mudguard, although the pannier rack’s load capacity is just 8 kg. A bright Lezyne headlight ensures excellent visibility after sunset. If you’re not interested in the lighting system, the mudguards and pannier rack, Advanced also offers the cheaper Advanced Reco Urban model, which costs €300 less.
A 40 mm SR Suntour suspension fork ensures a comfortable ride at the front, while two-piston Shimano brakes with 180 mm rotor at the front and 160 mm disc at the rear do stopping duties. While the rear brake requires relatively strong hands, you’ll have to be careful with the front brake to avoid flying over the bars.
Minimalism rather than extravagance – The Advanced Reco Urban on test
Step-through? Not quite. Swinging your leg over the Reco Urban requires slightly more effort, but the sloping top tube makes it quite easy nevertheless. Adjusting the seat post requires tools, as there’s no quick-release lever on the collar. That’s a pity, because it requires more time to adjust the saddle if you share the bike with other family members.
However, the adjustable stem is very practical and can be adjusted with tools, allowing you to adapt the geometry of the bike to suit your needs and preferences. The stem also includes an SP-Connect mount that holds your smartphone for navigation in city traffic. Cool!
As soon as you swing your leg over the saddle, the Advanced Reco Urban feels super compact from the get go. The upright pedalling position makes it easy to read the traffic ahead. When pedalling, the Bosch Performance Line SX motor provides powerful assistance, while the smooth Continental Contact Urban tires quickly bring you to the 25 km/h limit.
The handling is intuitive and predictable, and the Reco responds to steering input precisely and directly. Together with the compact dimensions, this makes it easy to thread your way through dense city traffic and between stalls at the farmers market. However, given that the Advanced combines a rigid rear end and a rather conservative 40 mm fork, comfort isn’t that great. The soft saddle and slightly compliant plastic frame provide some relief, but riding over cobblestones through the market square will give you a good shake – just don’t buy eggs!
The Enviolo URBAN hub severely limits the overall performance of the Advanced Reco Urban. Although it allows you to shift gears when stationary – for example, when standing at a traffic light– the rather conservative 256% gear range quickly reaches its limits on steeper climbs in combination with the Bosch Performance Line SX motor. In a nutshell, the gear hub doesn’t harmonise well with the motor, which requires slightly higher cadence to deliver its power – impossible on climbs with a limited gear range. Even short uphill sections on tarmac require significantly more effort and result in a creaking noise from the hub gear. In hilly cities like San Francisco or Stuttgart, you’ll need to push your bike most of the time, unless you’ve got thighs like Chris Hoy. On the way back down, the Shimano brakes provide powerful, reliable deceleration.
Who should take a closer look at the Advanced Reco Urban and who shouldn’t?
The Advanced Reco Urban is a good match for style-conscious city dwellers who are looking for a stylish, eco-friendly bike for short distances. It’s also well-suited for daily commutes and quick rides to the tennis court 🙂 However, if you live in a hilly area or planning to embark on regular long rides, you’re better off looking for a bike with a wider gear range and bigger battery.
Conclusions about the Advanced Reco Urban
With the Reco Urban, Advanced present a sleek city bike that, thanks to the injection moulding technology, not only looks seamlessly elegant but also allows you to recycle the frame. However, despite scoring well on first impressions, our practical test revealed several weaknesses: the limited gear range and small battery capacity restrict the bike’s usability. For flat, urban routes, however, the Reco Urban is an attractive and eco-friendly option.
Tops
- Recyclable plastic frame
- Minimalist, chic design
- Good agility
Flops
- Low theft protection
- Limited gear range
- Lack of comfort
For more information, visit Advanced.tech
Words: Benedikt Schmidt Photos: Antonia Feder
