Coboc Kallio RGD

With the Kallio RGD, Coboc has created an electric-assist town bike for those that don’t want to be seen to be riding an e-bike

For reasons that remain unclear, some people still attach a stigma to riding an e- bike. This shouldn’t be a concern for anyone, but Coboc has offered a compromise for those who want to ride an e- bike but don’t want to look like they are with its Kallio RGD.

Where other companies make a feature of a bike’s electric pedigree and showcase motors and batteries, Coboc has gone in the opposite direction. The only clue to the casual observer that the Kallio RGD is an e- bike is the five- LED display built into the frame’s down tube. That same part of the aluminium frame also houses the bike 380Wh battery, which has a charge time of just 2.5 hours but is said to be good for a range of 75km to 110km.

Despite housing the battery the frame doesn’t look oddly proportioned in the way some e- bikes do simply because the open, step-through design needs a larger tube profile to provide strength as part of its design. Once considered exclusive to women’s bikes, such styles are now considered to be unisex and make it much easier for a bike that is easy to get on and off without the need to be able to swing a leg over the top of the seat.

Tradition also dictates that chunky aluminium frames usually give a harsh ride. While putting a battery inside the frame won’t help this in any way, on the Kallio RGD the use of the generously profiled 50c Schwalbe Big Apple Performance tyres will go a long way to creating a comfortable ride. The large diameter of the wheels will also help the bike roll over the worst urban obstacles.

The inclusion of full-length mudguards over those wheels means the Kallio RGD can be used year-round and the built-in lights make it just as viable in the evenings and early morning as throughout the day as urban transport. It’s also worth noting that the mount for the rear mudguard has been designed to act as the support for an accessory rear rack if you want to carry panniers or other luggage.

► Approx £3,600 coboc.biz