Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt Wave on test: Step-through with belt drive – the perfect combo?

Fully-equipped everyday bikes have long been an integral part of Kalkhoff’s portfolio. With the Entice 5+ Advance Belt, the German manufacturer is aiming to deliver a rugged, go-anywhere all-road e-bike. We tested the step-through version to see whether the combination of a Bosch motor and belt drive makes sense — and how the bike performs in day-to-day use.

Kalkhoff have stood for “Made in Germany” in the bike industry for over a century, earning their reputation above all in the city and trekking segments. And the origin label is far more than a marketing catchphrase for the German brand. It’s not just about final assembly taking place on German soil — Kalkhoff still manufacture most of their often high-end bikes at their original headquarters in Cloppenburg, where the brand was founded back in 1919.

Our current test bike, the Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt, falls into Kalkhoff’s all-road e-bike range. The drive system is the same Bosch Performance Line CX motor you’ll find on the higher-end Kalkhoff Entice 7 series (which took part in the big SUV e-bike comparison test from our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE). However, unlike the Entice 7 models, our test bike relies on a low-maintenance belt drive.

The motor currently delivers up to 85 Nm of torque, but it’s already configured for the upcoming software update, which boosts it to 90 Nm. You can install the update yourself easily using the Bosch Flow app. For a step-by-step guide, check out our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE.

We tested the Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt in the Wave step-through version, paired with Bosch’s big 800 Wh PowerTube battery. Kalkhoff also offer the bike with a classic diamond frame, as well as a trapeze frame with a sloping top tube. Our test bike in size M (48 cm) tips the scales at 32.72 kg – so no, it’s definitely not a featherweight. Kalkhoff sell this version at a retail price of € 5,699. If you’re happy with the smaller 600 Wh Bosch battery, you can save € 300.

ABS unfortunately isn’t available, not even as an upgrade – which is a shame, especially given the ideal Bosch platform. We’ve put the Kalkhoff through its paces in its natural environment to see how it really performs.

The Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt Wave SUV e-bike in detail: Belt drive and internal gears – the perfect recipe for a hassle-free ride?

Darksprings matt – that’s what Kalkhoff call the colour of our test bike. The dark green with a hint of petrol suits the overall design perfectly, complementing the chunky aluminium tubing and solid mudguards. The alternative colour option, Moonstonegrey matt, also has a premium look, though it always comes paired with tires featuring orange sidewalls – a bold and rather eye-catching choice.

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Step-through frames, once a rarity, have now become a familiar sight in urban settings, offering easy mounting and dismounting for everyday comfort. Kalkhoff refer to this frame style as “Wave” and manage to strike a balance between high comfort and a reasonably sporty look. If you’re after something sportier, you’ll want to take a closer look at the diamond or trapeze frame options. These also make the motor area appear less bulky than on the Entice 5+ Advance Belt Wave – though that chunkier look is simply part of the step-through design. After all, stability doesn’t come out of nowhere. Without a top tube, the lower section needs extra material to keep the frame stiff and secure.

The integrated lock mechanism is both practical and clever, protecting the battery from theft and making it easy to remove from the top with minimal fuss. Unfortunately, Kalkhoff don’t offer the option of a range extender for the Entice 5+, which would have been a welcome addition for longer commutes.

With its striking belt drive and integrated tensioner, the Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt exudes character from the very first glance. No chain? No derailleur? Exactly. These are the components of an e-bike most prone to wear and tear, needing regular cleaning, servicing and replacement. In contrast, the Gates Carbon Drive CDX belt fitted here only needs an occasional wipe with a damp cloth. It’s designed to last three to four times longer than a chain drive – 20,000 to 30,000 km is entirely realistic.

Not only does this save time and hassle, but also a fair bit of money over the long run. And it’s a real stress-saver too. Because, as Murphy’s Law would have it, a chain is guaranteed to snap at the worst possible moment.

On the Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt, shifting is taken care of by an internal gear hub. The Enviolo Trekking offers stepless shifting with a gear range of 380% that might be its only real drawback. Modern derailleur systems often have gear ranges well over 500%, offering both easier climbing gears and harder gears for high-speed pedalling that the Enviolo simply can’t match.

All frame variants come equipped with the SR Suntour Mobie34 suspension fork with120 mm of travel – a good match for the bike’s comfort-focused city credentials, especially when paired with the suspension seatpost. The seatpost is also dropper-compatible, making mounting and dismounting easier and boosting safety on steep descents by preventing that unnerving over-the-bars feeling. For added comfort and a custom fit, the angle-adjustable stem gives you even more room to fine-tune your riding position.

The hefty maximum permissible weight of 170 kg is a real statement. It pairs perfectly with the high load capacity of the MIK HD rear rack, which is also compatible with child seats. And with that generous weight limit and official approval for trailer use, there’s even room for a second child to come along for the ride. Got a travel-hungry dog instead? Then have a look at our big dog trailer group test!

With such a high load capacity, decent brakes are an absolute must. Kalkhoff have fitted a Tektro four-piston brake up front with a big 203 mm rotor, providing powerful, reliable deceleration. And unless you’re planning to enter the Downhill World Cup with a fully loaded setup, the 180 mm rotor at the rear should be more than enough.

Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt Wave SUV e-bike – well connected and well protected?

Unfortunately, a bike for all occasions is also a bike for all the wrong types of attention – especially from thieves. Unlike a sporty eMTB that rarely gets left unattended, an all-road e-bike is often used for commuting, shopping missions and quick trips to the pool or a restaurant. In other words, it’s more exposed than an eMTB, which calls for solid theft protection.

At least, Kalkhoff equipped the Entice 5+ with an integrated frame lock as standard, which feels reasonably robust and should be enough to deter casual thieves. Sure, it won’t stop a professional, but an opportunist might think twice and move on to an easier target.

If you’re after extra protection and smart features, you can retrofit the Bosch ConnectModule (around € 100 — tested by our sister magazine E-MOUNTAINBIKE) yourself or have your dealer install it. This adds electronic theft protection, though it does come with subscription costs. The good news: the Kalkhoff app includes 24 months of free service.

Easy, intuitive to use and clearly legible, the Bosch Kiox 300 display sits front and centre on the cockpit, offering range-based navigation when paired with the Bosch smartphone app. Kalkhoff also fitted the Bosch LED Remote on the handlebars – which, in our opinion, feels unnecessary. It’s bulkier than the more compact Mini Remote and the countless buttons can easily lead to misclicks. Plus, the added LED indicators are more or less redundant when you’ve already got the full-colour Kiox 300 display onboard.

The Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt Wave SUV e-bike in the everyday test – comfort comes first. But what about safety?

Thanks to the Wave frame, getting on and off the Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt is easy and comfortable, even for less athletic riders or those with limited mobility. The dropper seatpost adds another layer of convenience – and boosts safety at traffic lights, kerbs and in steep terrain. It’s also suspended, and at no point did we feel the absence of rear suspension.

The riding position is very upright, enhancing comfort and delivering a sense of control, especially in combination with the bike’s tall front end. While this SUV e-bike doesn’t exactly slice through corners with surgical precision, it always feels stable and composed – even when navigating tight spaces at walking pace. Despite its hefty weight of nearly 33 kg, the bike feels anything but sluggish. On the contrary, it’s intuitive to ride and — aside from the gearing — needs no time to get used to.

That’s certainly true when it comes to riding position and handling. But when we turn to the drivetrain, opinions start to diverge a little. The Bosch Performance Line CX motor delivers plenty of power in all situations, transferring it smoothly and predictably to the ground. The stepless Enviolo hub, however, can’t quite keep pace.

For starters, the twist shifter takes a bit of getting used to for most riders. The rotation range is so wide that you can’t cover the full gear spectrum in one go – which means if you’re dropping from a descent straight into a steep climb, you’ll find yourself twisting, regripping, twisting again. It’s not exactly ergonomic. And especially for those who’ve never ridden a stepless system before, it may take a fair bit of trial and error at first to find the right gear ratio.

That said, it doesn’t take long to adapt. And once you do, the Enviolo Trekking hub comes into its own, especially when paired with the belt drive. You can shift while stationary and even under load – a real bonus. Being able to downshift at traffic lights, for example, adds noticeable comfort in stop-and-go traffic. And shifting under pressure on steep climbs is far smoother than you might expect. A nice touch is the gear indicator: a little cyclist graphic that appears to struggle more or less depending on your chosen ratio – simple, but clever.

Still, even these strong points can’t hide the hub gear’s biggest weakness: the limited gear range. At just 380%, it simply doesn’t have the low gearing needed for really steep ramps, even with the punchy Bosch motor helping out. In those moments, you’ll find yourself out of breath – or pushing. And on hill starts, the bike’s substantial weight adds another layer of difficulty. That’s where the limits of this otherwise comfortable and capable SUV e-bike become clear.

On flatter, urban terrain, the Kalkhoff Entice 5+ truly shines. The 120 mm suspension fork and suspension seatpost do a great job of smoothing out kerbs, cobblestones and tree roots. Compared to a fully suspended SUV e-bike, we observed virtually no reduction in comfort. Even over cobbles, the ride remains surprisingly calm – as long as you keep the pace relaxed.

At higher speeds, the suspension can struggle to absorb fast, consecutive hits, but for the intended use of a step-through all-road e-bike, that’s entirely acceptable. The same goes for the braking setup, which proves solid and reliable when it counts.

This bike really has to prove itself when fully loaded – and that’s no small task, especially considering that the Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt is rated for a whopping 170 kg total weight. This kind of payload is usually reserved for full-on cargo bikes. And yet, this SUV e-bike handles the extra weight with impressive confidence. Even when fully-packed, the Kalkhoff remains planted and stable, with handling that inspires trust. Within minutes, you forget you’ve got luggage on board at all.

Simply put, the Entice 5+ Advance Belt is easy to ride –if only it weren’t for the gearing. As much as we appreciate the benefits of a low-maintenance internal hub, this particular setup still leaves us wanting more. A wider gear range – and, if we’re allowed to dream, an automatic shifting function – would bring the bike remarkably close to perfection. Because aside from that, it really has no major flaws.

That goes for the lighting setup, too. At the front, a Supernova MINI 3 headlight delivers a powerful beam of 125 lux, lighting up the road brilliantly. Just as noteworthy: Kalkhoff back the bike with an impressive 5-year warranty. At the rear, a TRELOCK COB-Line light includes a handy brake light function. One small gripe: it’s mounted at the very back of the rear rack, which is good for visibility, but your bags might block the light. So when loading up, it’s worth double-checking that nothing’s in the way.

Tuning-Tip:
Planning long alpine descents? Fit a bigger rear brake rotor for extra stopping power!

Who should take a closer look at the Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt Wave all-road e-bike for?

Looking for a low-maintenance, everyday bike that puts comfort first? Need to carry luggage, kids – and maybe even adog? And don’t fancy dealing with drivetrain upkeep? Then the Kalkhoff Entice 5+ Advance Belt deserves a spot on your shortlist.

That is, as long as you’re not regularly tackling steep climbs or relying on a range extender. If those boxes don’t need ticking, what you’re getting here is a genuine car replacement for everyday use – from a long-established German brand. In urban settings, this all-road e-bike proves itself a true all-rounder.

Conclusions

Kalkhoff promise a versatile all-road e-bike – and with the Entice 5+ Advance Belt, that’s exactly what they’ve delivered. The German brand stayed true to its everyday bike concept and executed it with real attention to detail. The lack of rear suspension isn’t a drawback at all – in fact, it helps keep weight and cost down. The suspended seatpost provides almost the same level of comfort as a rear shock anyway. The belt drive turns this into a truly low-maintenance, hassle-free bike. Still, we’d love to see a wider gear range and the option of adding a range extender. Because that would make the Kalkhoff Entice 5+, with its intuitive and confidence-inspiring ride, a near-perfect SUV e-bike — one that could genuinely replace the car for many everyday trips.

For more information, visit kalkhoff-bikes.com

Words: Patrick Gruber Photos: Jan Fock