Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX in review

With the classy Arthur VI/IX, Berlin bike manufacturer Schindelhauer have delivered the optical highlight of this group test. Can this ebike with its MAHLE Ebikemotion X35+ hub motor and Pinion gearbox only impress while posing in the showroom, or does it also convince out on the road? We found out for you.

Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best ebike of 2021 – The 19 most exciting concepts for everyday use

**Schindelhauer** Arthur VI/IX | Ebikemotion X35+/250 Wh
16.02 kg in size M | € 4,695 | Manufacturer’s website

Kreuzberg in Berlin isn’t just home to numerous students, artists and a lively nightlife. The boys and girls from Schindelhauer have also made themselves comfortable in this densely populated area of Berlin. Lift the pretty Arthur VI/IX off your wall in the morning, carry it down the steps and ride through Viktoriapark, Bergmannkiez and the Spree on your way into work – that’s what the first hour in the morning might look like for someone from the Schindelhauer team. The bike shines on your living room wall with a shapely frame and a perfect finish, so we found out in our test whether the Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX can also deliver the goods with a thought-through spec on the way to work.

Throw in a training block on the way home and control the motor depending on your heart rate? The Ebikemotion app makes it possible!

Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX spec in detail

The Arthur weighs 16 kg and is yours to own for € 4,695. Its unique feature in this group test is the 9-speed Pinion C1.9XR gearbox which, just like the GATES drive belt, is the result of German engineering and suits the Berliner bike brilliantly. The grip shift shifter lets you change gears at a standstill or under load and should allow maintenance-free operation for up to 10,000 km. The only part on the bike which will hanker after regular TLC is the leather Brooks saddle. Further highlights include the LightSKIN lights which are integrated into the bars and seat post. There can hardly be a prettier way to be seen on your bike in traffic. However, the front light isn’t bright enough to illuminate your way at night. With cables entering the head tube, the Arthur manages to maintain a clean cockpit and overall look and ends up as one of the neatest looking bikes in the test. If you tried to pack the aesthetic and flair of a suit-wearing gentleman of times gone past into a bike, the Schindelhauer VI/IX is exactly the bike that would come out!

**Instead of oil on the chain, you put grease on the saddle**
The combination of a Pinion gearbox and GATES belt drive is almost completely maintenance-free, but the leather Brooks saddle requires some looking after.

**More than enough range**
The Pinion gearbox convinces with a generous 568% range and is the only saviour on steep hills, as the Ebikemotion motor quickly gives up here.

**Not always natural**
The missing torque sensor results in a less natural ride feel and the motor keeps on pushing on the flats even if you’re not applying any pressure on the pedals and just letting your legs spin.

Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX

€ 4,695

Specifications

Motor Ebikemotion X35+ 40 Nm
Battery MAHLE Intube 250 Wh
Display -
Fork Alu
Seatpost LightSKIN
Brakes Shimano ALFINE 160/160 mm
Drivetrain GATES CDX/Pinion C-Line 9 1x9
Stem SATORI Stealth
Handlebar LightSKIN Wien
Wheelset Alexrims CXD26
Tires Continental GP Urban Classic 28 x 1.35"

Technical Data

Size S M L
Weight 16.02 kg

Specific Features

integrated LightSKIN lighting system
belt drive
gearbox technology

**Boss-level integration**
The LightSKIN lights and in the bars and seat post are perfectly integrated. It couldn’t look better!

**A treat for the eyes and shoes**
The pedals aren’t just a visual treat but also provide a grip tape covered surface to keep your feet in place.

**Classic meets modern**
The Schindelhauer bike unites the best of two worlds: the classic look of days gone by with modern technologies from today.

Size	S	M	L
Seat tube	530 mm	570 mm	610 mm
Top tube	600 mm	620 mm	640 mm
Head tube	165 mm	180 mm	200 mm
Head angle	72.5°	72.5°	72.5°
Seat angle	73.0°	73.0°	73.0°
Chainstays	449 mm	449 mm	449 mm
Wheelbase	1,081 mm	1,101 mm	1,121 mm
Reach	432 mm	449 mm	463 mm
Stack	576 mm	590 mm	609 mm

Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX and MAHLE Ebikemotion X35+ – A good team?

The Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX ebike is the only bike in the test to be fitted with the MAHLE Ebikemotion X35+ hub motor which has a maximum output of 40 Nm. The system is powered by a non-removable 252 Wh battery and can be expanded with a 208 Wh Range-Extender, which is fitted in the bottle cage in the frame triangle, to a total of 460 Wh. Price point: € 579. The MAHLE Ebikemotion system and LightSKIN lighting are controlled with the iWoc ONE button on the top tube, which displays the chosen assistance mode and the remaining charge of the battery in 25% steps via coloured LEDs. The Ebikemotion smartphone app, which can be connected with the motor system via Bluetooth, delivers a great experience. You can adjust the strength of the three assistance modes and look at your ride history. You can also connect the system with a heart rate monitor and use this to regulate the power of the motor. So, if you want to do your training on the way home from work, you have the perfect partner in the form of the Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX!

A detour cross-country? Forget about it…

Unfortunately, the Ebikemotion X35+ is lacking a torque sensor, with the hub motor modulating support based on the speed difference between the cassette and the rotation of the hub. That makes it possible to ride completely without pressure on the pedals on the flats – simply keeping your legs spinning is enough to be propelled forward gently. Natural ride feel? Not in these moments. However, the Schindelhauer bike shines at the 25 km/h limit and onward – here, only the Canyon Commuter:ON 7 and the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0 EQ can give it a run for its money. In comparison to the Bosch Performance Line CX, the Ebikemotion is significantly less powerful, feeling more like a tailwind than a shuttle and requiring a certain amount of effort from the rider. That said, this also means you don’t fall into a power hole as soon as the motor support disappears. Instead, you’ll find yourself hitting 30 km/h on the flats. Logically, steep climbs aren’t the preferred area for this bike from Berlin.

Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX on test

The Schindelhauer bike looks minimalistic. That doesn’t just go for the design, mounts and motor support. In terms of comfort, the Arthur VI/IX is also stingy and doesn’t make any secret about where it’s from. In the city and on asphalt roads, it feels at home but the Berliner is happy to leave rides away from surfaced roads to others. The combination of a stiff frameset and the narrowest tires in the test – 28 x 1.35″ Continental GP Urban Classic – leave you taking a wide berth around cobblestones.

Tuning tip: mount a stand and a luggage rack to expand everyday suitability.

The Schindelhauer responds sensitively to steering input and benefits from the relatively wide bars. On imperfect ground, it demands a guiding hand and tends to feel nervous. However, when the narrow tires feel asphalt under their feet, the Arthur VI/IX exhibits good stability. Overall, it definitely doesn’t belong to the bikes that shine with their intuitive handling and you have to be prepared to plan a few practice rides before you get used to the sensitive handling. That done, there’s nothing in the way of unrestrained riding fun, as long as your route to work takes in roads and cycle paths!

**Now we’ve got your attention!**
The Arthur VI/IX is undoubtedly one of the most elegant bikes in this group test. Or in the whole world?

Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX conclusion

The classy Schindelhauer Arthur VI/IX is a visual highlight and draws a lot of looks. As an ebike, it shines with its clean integration and the low-maintenance Pinion gearbox. The Ebikemotion app makes the Berliner bike the perfect training partner, though the limited comfort and missing motor power limit its application to asphalted roads and routes without too much climbing.

Tops

level of integration of the drivetrain, motor and LightSKIN lights
classy looks with attention to detail
great finishing
low-maintenance Pinion gearbox
Ebikemotion app as your training partner

Flops

lacking comfort
narrow range of application
no stand
limited transport options

Rider Type

The trans-urban mile muncher 1

The stylish city explorer 2

The Transporter 3

The short distance whizz 4

The passionate recreational cyclist 5

You can find out more about at schindelhauerbikes.com

The testfield