I commute daily from Cologne-Deutz to Deutz-Mülheim, so roughly 25km in total. I always arrived exhausted on my old Cube, and now I'm thinking about getting an e-bike. Which models are reliable and not too expensive? Good range and robust components are important to me.
For 25km daily, I'd look at a model with at least a 500-600Wh battery so you get there safely even in worse weather or if you want to ride faster. Brands like Decathlon (Stilus), Cube or Canyon have solid e-bikes in that price range - they deliver what they promise and aren't too high-maintenance. What matters is test riding one locally - how the pedal assist feels is very personal, and with a daily commute you don't want to make a mistake on that. Also try to find a local shop in Köln, that way you've just got better service in case something comes up.
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