With the Trekking 9, Haibike send a promising ebike into the commuter bike group test. What are the advantages of the unusual motor concept and can the bike convince away from tarmacked surfaces too? You can find out everything in our detailed test here!
Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best ebike of 2021 – The 19 most exciting concepts for everyday use
Similar to our tester Manne, the German ebike brand Haibike stand for two things: plush performance and radical looks. Both a Haibike and a Manne need to be identifiable as such from a distance and over the years, both have managed to establish themselves as a fixed part of the ebike market. The Haibike Trekking 9 doesn’t make any exceptions and stands out from the crowd with its unusual frame concept, voluminous tubes and iconic Skybeamer headlight. It might not be everyone’s thing, but it doesn’t have to be. If you ride a Haibike, you don’t want to disappear into the crowd on a run-of-the-mill bike. You want to be seen and, more importantly, recognised! Recognition is something that many manufacturers and men in their prime have worked on for years yet continue to fail with.
Haibike Trekking 9 spec in detail
Haibike have a broad E-trekking model range and offer this bike in a total of seven versions. The Trekking 4 provides entry to the range for € 2,699 while the top-end model responds to the name Trekking 10 and costs € 4,199. Our test bike is the Trekking 9 which, at € 3,899, is the second most expensive version in the range and knows how to impress with its tidy cable routing. The aggressive paint job with neon red accents also draws attention. Alongside the version we tested with the diamond frame, every bike in the Haibike trekking range is also offered as a version with a lower standover and even a step-through model. Great! In particular, step-through bikes have gained a significant fan base thanks to their ease of use. And as we’re talking about frames: the Haibike frame measures up decidedly large. Our test riders who usually feel happiest aboard a size L bike were just about big enough for the size M bike. If in doubt, you should always go for the smaller bike if you’re between two sizes. The most important components of the Haibike Trekking 9 include the Shimano DEORE 11–51 t cassette with its large range and the powerful, latest-generation Bosch Performance Line CX motor. You can find out how the motor concept works in practice later on.
Haibike Trekking 9
€ 3,899
Specifications
Motor Bosch Performance Line CX 85 Nm
Battery Bosch PowerTube 625 Wh
Display Bosch Intuvia
Fork SR Suntour MOBIE25 100 mm
Seatpost Haibike Components TheSeatpost ++ 34.9 mm
Brakes Shimano MT410 180/180 mm
Drivetrain Shimano DEORE M5100 1x11
Stem Haibike Components TheStem ++
Handlebar Haibike Components TheBar ++ 740 mm
Wheelset RODI TRYP 30
Tires Continental CONTACT Cruiser 27.5 x 2.4" ****
Technical Data
Size S M L XL
Weight 26.2 kg
Specific Features
Skybeamer front light
AXA Blueline rear light
StandWell rear rack w/ 25 kg max. load
Size | S | M | L | XL |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seat tube | 500 mm | 540 mm | 580 mm | 620 mm |
Top tube | 610 mm | 620 mm | 645 mm | 670 mm |
Head tube | 160 mm | 170 mm | 180 mm | 190 mm |
Head angle | 67.0° | 67.0° | 67.0° | 67.0° |
Seat angle | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° | 73.0° |
Chainstays | 470 mm | 470 mm | 470 mm | 470 mm |
BB Drop | 60 mm | 60 mm | 60 mm | 60 mm |
Wheelbase | 1,176 mm | 1,186 mm | 1,213 mm | 1,239 mm |
Reach | 410 mm | 417 mm | 439 mm | 462 mm |
Stack | 654 mm | 663 mm | 672 mm | 682 mm |
Typical Haibike – The motor concept with a twist
The Haibike development team has never been afraid of trying new things. How can we get the centre of gravity of this ebike even lower to achieve even better handling? On the search for the fitting answer, a lot of brainpower was expended and the results were worth it: like other bikes from the brand, the Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which produces 85 Nm torque, has been mounted upright to allow the 625 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery to be placed lower in the down tube than any other bike with a Bosch motor. Well done! The battery can either be removed in the direction of the front wheel or plugged in directly on the bike via the highly-placed port for charging.
Accelerating stood out of the saddle like a road bike and then carving through corners mountain bike style? The Haibike Trekking 9 wants to be there!
The motor support is controlled with a Bosch Intuvia display. Unfortunately, it has to be said that the ageing display is no longer up to date and in terms of functionality and operation, only covers the most rudimentary fundamentals. In this regard, the same-priced Kalkhoff Endeavour 5.B Excite+ shines with its world’s more capable Bosch Kiox display. During our testing, the Bosch Performance Line CX motor proves once more that currently, there is no way around it. Regardless of whether it’s about acceleration, torque, support on steeps or under full load, the Bosch motor never leaves you in the lurch and can’t be unsettled in any situation. Riding at the 25 km/h assistance limit is also a pleasure and becomes a regular occurrence aboard the sporty Haibike Trekking 9.
Haibike Trekking 9 on test
On your marks, get set, go! The Haibike Trekking 9 waits for the starting gun before setting itself into motion with one of the sportiest accelerations of all the bikes in the test. With its sporty character and stiff frame, the ebike invites you to get out of the saddle to pedal. However, you should avoid long sections over poor roads or loose surfaces. A day of riding the Haibike Trekking 9 over rough gravel would be as comfortable as a cold night sleeping on a pile of bricks. The bike definitely feels most comfortable on perfect bike paths. The previously mentioned low centre of gravity combined with the high front results in a riding position that feels secure and integrated. Only the Riese & Müller Homage can stand up to the Haibike here. Together with the head angle, which is surprisingly slack for an ebike in this category, the 740 mm wide bar contributes to the masses of control and relaxed steering that the mountain bike sector is usually known for. From 0 to 25 km/h in seconds and relaxed carving through the next corner? The Haibike Trekking 9 is your bike!
Equipped for climbing hills and carrying shopping: the Haibike Trekking 9 is completely unimpressed when fully loaded thanks to the strong Bosch motor and stiff frame.
Tuning tips: suspension seat post for increased comfort at the rear | order the bike one size smaller than usual | tires with more pronounced tread for better off-road performance
On good surfaces, the Trekking 9 shines with stoically stable straight-line stability and generates a feeling of trust and safety as a result. As the ground under the wide Continental tires gets bumpier, the enjoyment and feeling of security suffer significantly. If you’re riding on loose surfaces a lot, you might want to take a closer look at the full-suspension Moustache Samedi 27 Xroad FS 7 instead. Of positive note is the loudness of the ebike: it moves without rattling or other noise and is almost as quiet as the stalking cat in the test, the Kalkhoff Endeavour 5.B Excite+.
Haibike Trekking 9 conclusion
The Haibike Trekking 9 convinces with its clever frame concept, a pleasantly integrated riding position and its straight-line stability. The brilliant Bosch Performance Line CX motor has enough power when fully loaded or up steep hills and propels the Trekking 9 up to speed in no time. Solely the limited comfort restricts the range of applications of the almost silent ebike to solid surfaces – but there, it really gets going!
Tops
- high stability on good surfaces
- good motor support in all situations
- integrated riding position
- clever frame concept results in low centre of gravity
- very quiet
Flops
- limited comfort at the rear
- ambiguous frame size recommendations
Rider Type
6You can find out more about at haibike.com
The testfield
Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best ebike of 2021 – The 19 most exciting concepts for everyday use
All Bikes in this group test: Ampler Stout (Click for review) | Brompton M6L Cloud Blue (Click for review) | Cannondale Topstone Neo Carbon Lefty LE (Click for review) | Canyon Commuter:ON 7 (Click for review) | Diamant Juna Deluxe+ (Click for review) | FEDDZ E-Moped (Click for review) | FLYER Upstreet6 7.10 HS (Click for review) | Haibike Trekking 9 | Kalkhoff Endeavour 5.B Excite+ (Click for review) | MERIDA eBIG.TOUR 700 EQ (Click for review) | MERIDA eONE SIXTY 10K (Click for review) | Moustache Samedi 27 Xroad FS 7 (Click for review) | Movea Modo 20” (Click for review) | Riese & Müller Homage GT Rohloff HS mit DualBattery (Click for review) | Riese & Müller Packster 70 Vario (Click for review) | Riese & Müller Roadster Touring (Click for review) | Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX (Click for review) | Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0 EQ (Click for review) | VanMoof X3 (Click for review)
… or the regular long-distance commuters. Your usual commuting distance is more than 15 km each way and you use your bike every day. Your ebike is used as a means of transport and is a real alternative to a second car or public transport. Practicality, reliability and utility win out over the ultimate bling factor because it’s primarily a functional machine↩
This type of ebike unites experts and early adopters from both the fashion and tech scenes. As hip trendsetters, they know exactly how to ride with style. Sci-fi, hi-fi, Wi-Fi – they know exactly what they’re talking about and can easily play the keyboard while half asleep. With a tendency to live out their passions eccentrically, emotional decisions come before rational ones.↩
Take the kids to kindergarten, head to the weekly market and later get a crate of beer – no problem for this type of ebike, even without a car. These riders love to combine things: rational and emotional motives go hand in hand because investments are made on the basis of knowing what they want and getting a suitable vehicle that suits their vision and mission.↩
You live in a 15-minute city like Paris. This means that all your daily needs are within a 15-minute radius by foot or ebike. For short distances of less than 2 km, you aren’t afraid to simply walk. For medium distances of up to 10 km, you get on your bike. Longer distances are easily covered with a mix of public transport and your bike. Short-distance bikers are active/sporty people who never want to commit to one thing, maintain a flexible lifestyle and like to be inspired by impulses. Due to limited space in the city, they often don’t have a car and if they do, it is mainly used for pleasure.↩
You have significant biking experience and enjoy riding sportily. This group encompasses mountain bikers and trail shredders, road bike fans and Strava heroes, as well as touring fans who enjoy (rural) excursions into the countryside outside the city. You change into sports gear for your daily commute before showering when you get there because you enjoy working on your fitness. Your bike is used for commuting during the week as well as for tours at the weekend and is a means of transport and sports equipment all in one.↩
Learn more about the different rider types in this article: Click here! ↩
Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf