New Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring 2026 Review – An eGravel Bike for Everyday Use?

eGravel reimagined: while the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring borrows classic gravel bike design language, it clearly takes a step back when it comes to outright sportiness. Adventure with comfort? Commuting capability with drop bars? We’ll tell you whether this balancing act works, and just how much gravel DNA is hiding beneath the Kalkhoff’s practical exterior.

A Kalkhoff bike with drop bars? That hasn’t been a common sight since the 1970s! Today, drop bars return to the stable in Cloppenburg in the form of the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring. This time, however, it’s not a road bike, but a representative of a still relatively young bike category: eGravel. The Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring is based on the well-known Endeavour series, but uses the Bosch Performance Line SX motor, including a compact removable 400 Wh battery. It’s a striking departure from the rest of the Kalkhoff lineup, breaking new ground visually and conceptually. With an automatic drivetrain. We didn’t just put the rather hefty 21.52 kg eGravel bike on the scales; we tested it extensively to find out whether this €4,199 bike is worth a closer look.

What Detailed Solutions Does the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring Offer?

Bling, or brown? You won’t find any bling on the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring. The bike deliberately stays understated, although there is at least some room for individualisation with the colour options. Our test colour “Umber Brown” shines in the sun, with a classy bronze tone. If that’s too exciting for you, the bike is available in a slightly greenish grey, that fades into white towards the back of the frame. Ultimately, however, this bike isn’t trying to catch your eye with flashy paint finishes; after all, that’s always a matter of personal taste. According to Kalkhoff, the focus of the Endeavour L Touring eGravel bike is on pragmatism and everyday usability.

That starts with the frame, which is made entirely from aluminium – even the fork. Sure, carbon would shave off a bit of weight, but it would also be a little too delicate for the intended use case. For urban use, you’ll probably worry less about an aluminium frame, especially if you plan to take the Kalkhoff eGravel bike on the train from time to time. The finish quality is flawless, even if the welds are clearly visible. Despite housing the removable 400 Wh battery and key lock mechanism, the down tube doesn’t appear oversized. Nice! But back to practicality and everyday usability: the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring comes equipped with sturdy aluminium mudguards, a MIK-compatible rear rack, and a lighting system that also includes a brake light. So all you need to do is charge the bike battery before heading off to the shops, the gym, or work.

The rear rack is well suited for attaching panniers, and the lighting system is powered directly by the main battery. Top!

For those of you with a sense of adventure, the fork features additional mounting points for bikepacking bags. There are also mounts inside the frame triangle, on the seat tube and underneath the top tube, for a bottle cage and lock holder, so that’s another thing you won’t have to think about. A good lock is essential on Kalkhoff’s first eGravel bike too: unlike the Kalkhoff Entice 7, which we reviewed in our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE, the Endeavour doesn’t come with a Bosch ConnectModule for tracking. A shame.

Not exactly disappointing, but far from state of the art, is the implementation of the speed sensor. Instead of using a modern integrated solution, for example inside the brake rotor mount, Kalkhoff rely on an old-school spoke magnet and an exposed plastic sensor on the chainstay. It looks more like an aftermarket bike computer than part of a modern eBike system.

The Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring is available in sizes S to XL and is intended to cover rider heights from 150 to 196 cm. However, at 21.52 kg on our scales, it’s certainly no lightweight. With a maximum permitted system weight of 130 kg, that leaves around 108.5 kg for rider and luggage combined, including everything carried on the MIK rack. For taller riders, payload limits can quickly become an issue.

What Specification Highlights does the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring Offer?

The Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring eGravel bike comes equipped with sturdy aluminium components for the handlebar, stem, and wheels. Braking is handled by two-piston TRP hydraulic callipers, paired with a 180 mm rotor up front and a 160 mm rotor at the rear. The drivetrain also comes from TRP, more specifically their Electric E.A.S.I. A11 system. It offers 11 gears, and here’s the clever bit: it shifts automatically. It can also be ridden in semi-automatic or manual mode, depending on your preference.

The desired mode is activated via a small button on the right end of the drop bar. The display then shows M, M+, or A depending on whether you’re riding in manual, semi-automatic, or fully automatic mode.

What Can the Motor in the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring Do?

The 400 Wh battery powers a Bosch Performance Line SX motor, the German manufacturer’s light assist model. It delivers 60 Nm of torque and up to 600 W peak power, figures that perfectly suit an eGravel bike with this intended use. The Mini Remote used to select the assistance levels sits directly next to the stem. It’s somewhat exposed, but practical. Combined with the Purion 400 display mounted on the right side of the stem showing all key ride data, the result is a tidy and functional cockpit. Our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE already tested what the Bosch SX drive system can do, and what kind of range and climbing performance it delivers. One thing is certain: among lightweight motors weighing around 2 kg, the Bosch Performance Line SX is one of the most powerful available, so should provide ample assistance to Kalfhoff’s first eGravel bike, provided you maintain a reasonably high cadence.

How Does the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring Ride on Gravel and in Everyday Use?

Comfort and control are the hallmarks of the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring. Race performance, on the other hand, clearly wasn’t high on the priority list. Accordingly, the riding position is pleasantly upright, allowing you to pedal comfortably, without putting much pressure on your hands. That works equally well on weekend rides through the vineyards as it does on longer commutes. The handlebars feel good in the hands and reinforce the relaxed ride feel, until you decide to sink into the drops and blast past the next road cyclist on a climb.

In terms of handling, the Kalkhoff strikes exactly the right balance: not nervous and twitchy, but not sluggish either. It’s more like a well-tuned estate car rather than a sports car. Predictable, stable, and exactly what you want for everyday riding and touring. On fast, sweeping descents, the bike remains calm and controllable, even when drain covers or rough patches of asphalt interrupt your line.

As soon as you leave the road and head onto gravel paths, the Endeavour L Touring really begins to show its versatility. The Schwalbe G-One Overland tires aren’t specialists, but dependable all-rounders. They work reliably across a wide range of surfaces, without constantly forcing you to think about their intended use case.

Throughout all this, the Bosch Performance Line SX motor remains pleasantly in the background. On flat sections, you quickly exceed the 25 km/h assistance limit, and the transition feels natural and smooth. The motor really shines on climbs, for example on the final hill home from the office. In Tour mode, it delivers smooth support, while Turbo mode helps you arrive without sweat patches. Keep the cadence high and the SX barely trails a full-power drive system like the Bosch Performance Line CX (without the Performance upgrade).

Even more defining than the motor, however, is the automatic shifting system. It takes a lot of work off your hands, and keeps your cadence consistent. The automatic mode reacts with a slight delay during rapid speed changes, but it remains reliable and suits the relaxed character of the bike perfectly. Unless you’re looking for a particularly sporty ride, we can wholeheartedly recommend the automatic mode.

We also really liked the lighting system. In the dark, it provides good visibility and reliable illumination. While it lacks a true high beam, the adjustable angle helps with fast descents, and the setup works simply and effectively in everyday use. As for cargo carrying, even with the rear rack fully loaded, the Kalkhoff remains stable and easy to control. The kickstand is also high quality and reliably does exactly what you expect it to do: hold up the bike.

The Kalkhoff isn’t exactly a sofa on two wheels. The Endeavour L Touring simply lacks suspension for a truly smooth ride off-road. Nevertheless, for an eGravel bike, it clearly sits on the more comfortable end of the spectrum. Bumps are noticeably filtered out without making the handling feel vague. The 50 mm wide tires really play to their strengths here, especially when run at lower pressures – that boosts both comfort and grip.

Who is the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring For?

The Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring is aimed at anyone looking for a versatile everyday bike, without giving up a sense of adventure. Commuters who don’t just ride on tarmac but also take in gravel roads, farm tracks, or detours along the river will find a reliable companion here.

Thanks to the comfortable riding position, stable handling characteristics, and thoughtful specification, the bike is particularly well suited to anyone regularly covering longer distances, whether commuting or touring. The automatic TRP drivetrain and discreet Bosch SX motor remove much of the stress from daily riding, resulting in a pleasantly uncomplicated experience.

The Kalkhoff is less suitable for riders seeking maximum sportiness or serious off-road capability. Anyone looking to ride aggressively, chase trails, or own the lightest possible performance bike won’t find what they’re after here.

Conclusion on the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring

The Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring shows just how practical an eGravel bike can be in everyday life. The comfortable riding position, stable handling, and automatic TRP drivetrain make it a relaxed companion for commuting and touring. Criticism is reserved for the high weight, the inelegant speed sensor, and the missing ConnectModule – details that don’t quite fit the otherwise modern overall concept. Nevertheless, the Kalkhoff Endeavour L Touring delivers a fresh interpretation of the eGravel concept with a clear focus on real-world usability: capable on gravel, strong in daily use, and a versatile all-rounder with genuine practicality and a clear direction.

Tuning Tip: Retrofit a bell for improved safety in traffic

Tops

• Comfortable, relaxed riding position
• Automatic shifting
• High everyday usability with lights, mudguards, and MIK rack
• Stable, controlled handling with luggage
• Removable 400 Wh battery
• Powerful, lightweight, and discreet motor

Flops

• Not a lightweight
• Speed sensor integration isn't particularly elegant
• No Bosch ConnectModule for tracking
• Capable enough on gravel, but not an off-road specialist

For more info, visit Kalkhoff.com

Words: Robin Ulbrich, Patrick Gruber Photos: Jan Fock