Riese & Müller UBN Five Commute on test – The Ultimate E-Gravel Bike Comparison Test 2025

Comfort, theft protection, and balance – the Riese & Müller UBN Five Commute promises to combine all these qualities. This e-gravel bike is designed to be comfortable, functional and versatile. But is it the ideal companion for commuters who prioritize safety and riding comfort? We put it to the test!

Riese & Müller are omnipresent in urban areas. With the UBN Five, the Darmstadt-based bike manufacturer aims to continue this success, backing it up with a bold slogan: “The ideal city bike, where you don’t have to compromise on that little extra.”

That little extra? Right off the bat, the FAZUA Ride 60 motor with 60 Nm of torque comes to mind, powered by a 430 Wh battery integrated into the down tube. But of course, there’s more to the UBN Five e-gravel bike – practically everything a city bike needs: sturdy aluminium mudguards, rack mounts for panniers, an integrated lighting system, and a 60 mm suspension fork that smooths out curbs with ease.

Particularly intriguing are the theft protection features, which are essential in cities with high bike theft rates – more on that later. Originally designed as a classic city bike, Riese & Müller later equipped it with drop bars to appeal to the sportier e-gravel bike crowd. The Riese & Müller UBN Five Commute hits the shelves at € 4,999. How does this 20.82 kg aluminium bike perform in our comparison test, and is the investment worth it? Find out here!

The Riese & Müller UBN Five Commute on Test – Safe and Sporty Through the City.

“You country folks! Let me tell you about real life in the city, my friends!” – Felix Lobrecht.

That’s exactly how it feels to ride through the city on the Riese & Müller UBN Five Commute. High-end features meet minimalist design, making it the perfect bike to roll up in style to your favorite hipster café, sip an oat milk cappuccino, and share stories from the metropolis with your best friend.

To ensure a worry-free experience, Riese & Müller has thought of everything. For € 50, you can add a frame lock in the configurator, but the real nightmare for bike thieves is the RX Connect chip, which comes pre-installed in the bike. RX Connect is top-tier digital theft protection: through the Riese & Müller RX Connect app, you can GPS-track the bike in case of theft. For an extra fee, you can choose partial or full insurance coverage. Altogether, it creates a fairly comprehensive security package, making the UBN Five a stress-free investment. Bikes like the ROSE BACKROAD Plus EQ or BMC URS AMP LT TWO could learn a thing or two from this setup.

Whether it’s the perfect Monstera plant from the florist or your daily commuting essentials, the sturdy rear rack rails make transportation effortless. Panniers attach easily, holding up to 7.5 kg per side – plenty for your everyday needs. But the UBN Five offers even more: thanks to trailer compatibility, you can haul groceries up to 50 kg, or even carry small passengers – kids or dogs. If you’re looking for the best pet trailers, check out our big comparison test.

“I belong in the city!” Just like a reliable estate car, the UBN Five Commute comes fully equipped: a sturdy kickstand, reflectors, and a cleverly hidden USB-C port under the integrated LED display on the top tube. Simply lift the display, and you can charge your smartphone on the go. The SP Connect mount on the stem keeps your phone securely in place – practical and well thought out.

Weighing 21 kg, it is slightly above the average in the test field; however, the UBN Five stands out as one of the few bikes with a removable battery. The advantage? You don’t have to carry the entire bike up three flights of stairs – just take the battery inside to charge.

Imagine a trusty companion, as practical and versatile as a Swiss Army knife. While the frame triangle is minimalist, it still includes mounting points for a bottle cage and a small bag under the top tube. The UBN Five is the Mercedes estate car of city bikes: not as thrilling as a sports car, but leading the pack in functionality.

Sweating at the office or gasping for air like you’ve just finished a Tour de France stage? Not with the Riese & Müller UBN Five Commute. The FAZUA Ride 60 motor delivers reliable assistance, making it a blessing in hilly cities like Stuttgart. The Shimano GRX drivetrain offers a wide gear range, making it easier to tackle steep inclines efficiently, while conserving battery power.

On paper, the FAZUA Ride 60 motor has more torque than the Canyon Grizl:ONfly CF Daily, but in reality, its power delivery feels less dynamic, especially compared to the ROSE BACKROAD Plus EQ. However, the FAZUA motor is whisper quiet, similar to the Specialized SL 1.2 motor.

One drawback is the control system: you’ll find two small buttons under the handlebar – one on the right to increase the assistance, and one on the left to turn it back down. Holding both buttons activates the lights. Unfortunately, the tactile feedback is so minimal that gloved hands in winter have no chance of knowing if the button has been pressed.

The right-hand button has a great extra feature: holding it down triggers a 12-second power boost, pushing the motor power up to 450 watts – ideal for steep climbs or quick overtakes. Warp drive, activated!

The Riese & Müller UBN Five Commute offers intuitive handling – just hop on and ride. The drop bars create a sporty, well-balanced riding position. While it lacks the stability of the ROSE BACKROAD Plus EQ or the lightness of the Specialized Turbo Creo 2, its ease of use makes it a reliable, stylish workhorse.

Fitted with 40 mm Schwalbe G-One Allround tires with minimal tread, the UBN Five is just capable enough to cut through the city park’s gravel paths on your daily commute. On actual trails, however, it struggles, lacking grip and stability. It’s best suited for paved roads and urban riding, where it performs excellently, if not particularly excitingly.

Heated seats and air conditioning? Nope.
What you do get is a high-end suspension fork and a long seatpost, making it a great fit for taller riders. However, rear-end comfort is limited: the rigid seatpost offers less cushioning than the Canyon Grizl:ONfly CF Daily, which benefits from a flexible seatpost for superior comfort.

Who is the Riese & Müller UBN Five Commute for?

For urbanites! 🙂 The Riese & Müller UBN Five feels right at home in urban environments, on commutes, and through city parks. It prefers asphalt, paved bike paths, or fine gravel tracks. Trails or rough gravel? Better not. Adventures beyond the comfort zone aren’t its strong suit. But for everyone who doesn’t like bringing their muddy ride into the apartment, the removable battery offers a convenient solution.

If you’re looking for more adventure, the BMC URS AMP LT TWO is worth a look – or you could compromise with the test winner, the Canyon GRIZL:ONfly CF Daily. For fast city rides, commuting, and grocery runs on the way back from your favorite café, the UBN Five is ideal. And at the weekend? Bike tours on paved paths or smooth gravel!

Conclusion on the Riese & Müller UBN Five Commute

Priced attractively and perfectly suited for urban commuting, the Riese & Müller UBN Five Commute stands out as a reliable everyday companion. Its removable battery, RX Connect system, trailer compatibility, and integrated lighting add to its practicality. The handlebar remotes are a slight drawback, offering minimal tactile feedback. It’s not built for adventure, but that was never its purpose – for those seeking a minimalist, practical city bike with a little extra, this is a great choice.

Find more information at R&M.com

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The Test Field

You can find an overview of this comparison test here: The Best E-Gravel Bike of 2025 – The most exciting models in a comprehensive comparison test

All bikes in the test: BMC URS AMP LT TWO, Canyon Commuter:ONfly 7, Canyon Grizl:ON Daily, Moustache Dimanche 29.4 EQ, Riese & Müller UBN Five commute, ROSE BACKROAD Plus EQ, Specialized Turbo Creo 2 Expert, Specialized Turbo Tero X 5.0, Ultima Mobility eGRAVEL YIN SPORT.

Words: Robin Ulbrich Photos: Jan Richter