Desiknio’s ebikes use gearboxes and belt drives for hassle-free commuting

By Paul Norman

Published: Saturday, 05 November 2022 at 12:00 am

Desiknio’s premium electric bikes come with great features for a hassle-free ride, with a range of urban alloy ebike models and a new all-carbon electric gravel bike.

Desiknio is based in Spain, and has been selling its electric bikes throughout mainland Europe since 2017.

All of its bikes, including their frames, are fully manufactured and assembled in Europe.

The brand is now expanding into the UK and US, via a network of dealers and a link-up with speed pedelec brand Stromer.

Latest Mahle ebikemotion X20 motor system

""
Desiknio’s electric hybrid bikes are available with a Mahle X20 motor.
Desiknio

Desiknio’s newest model pairs the latest Mahle ebikemotion X20 electric motor system with a fully sealed gearbox from German brand Pinion and a Gates carbon belt drive.

Mahle’s ebikemotion rear-hub motors have proved very popular and can be found on a wide range of electric bikes.

They’re compact, unobtrusive and lightweight, with the motor and battery – which is fully enclosed in the bike’s down tube – weighing 3.2kg combined.

The new Mahle X20 motor is more compact than the more commonly used X35 model, with a higher torque output of 55Nm. This is designed to provide better support at lower speeds.

The motor system also includes a new torque sensor in the bottom bracket to enable it to match the rider’s pedalling input.

""
The bikes ship with Supernova lights fitted as standard.
Desiknio

The new Mahle iWOC One controller enables you to choose between three assist levels, check battery status as you ride and control the built-in Supernova lights.

It’s integrated into the front of the top tube, so that at first glance it’s difficult to see you’re riding an electric bike, but you still get plenty of information as you ride.

It provides Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, so you can pair your electric bike with a bike computer and Mahle’s phone app.

You can also use the ebikemotion app to track your rides and battery status, and change the motor’s performance characteristics to match your riding style.

There is loads of other functionality included to provide health and ride stats.

9-speed Pinion gearbox

""
The Pinion gearbox is controlled using a twist-grip style shifter.
Desiknio

Desiknio worked with Pinion to integrate the Mahle X20 motor system with Pinion’s bicycle gearbox, and has exclusive rights to market the combined system.

Pinion was founded by a team of engineers from Porsche and its bottom bracket gearbox uses automotive technology to provide compact, wholly enclosed, maintenance-free shifting, controlled by a bar-end twist shifter.

Desiknio offers a 9-speed Pinion gearbox on its Mahle X20-powered ebike, paired with a Gates carbon belt drive to provide a low-maintenance system.

The Pinion C1.9 has nine speeds and a 568 per cent gear range (the difference in ratios between the highest and lowest gears) to tackle the hilliest rides.

There’s a choice of a carbon or alloy fork, and the Mahle X20 ebike comes with wheels from Portuguese wheelmaker, Prototype.

""
The bikes feature a high-end build.
Deskinio

A Brooks C17 Carved saddle, Brooks handlebar grips, mudguards and wired-in lights from Supernova complete the premium spec.

New gravel bike

""
Desiknio’s new gravel bike is built around a Campagnolo Ekar groupset.

Desiknio’s second bike is a monocoque all-carbon electric gravel bike – its first carbon bike.

It uses the compact Mahle ebikemotion X20 motor. This is suitable for gravel riding due to its ample low-speed torque and integrated torque sensor, which ensures smooth, proportionate power delivery.

The launch model has a Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed drivetrain, carbon wheels from Prototype and Supernova wired-in lighting as standard.

Tyre clearance is up to 50mm and, to add versatility, there are rack and mudguard mounts.

Desiknio claims a weight of 12kg and a range of between 70 and 80km, which can be extended with Mahle’s external battery option.

The Desiknio Gravel will be available for pre-order in Europe, including the UK, in November 2022, priced at €7,500.

Mahle X35 urban bike range

""
Desiknio claims its bikes are almost as light as a standard non-assisted bike.
Desiknio

Alongside its new models, Desiknio will continue to offer its alloy Urban and Classic electric bikes powered by the Mahle ebikemotion X35 rear-hub motor with 40Nm torque and 250Wh internal down tube battery.

Desiknio says that its Urban ebike weighs just 13.5kg, so it’s lighter than many non-assisted commuter hybrid bikes.

""
The versatile gravel bike has clearance for tyres up to 50mm wide.
Deskinio

The Desiknio Urban ebike is available with either the Standard frame with a crossbar or the step-through Comfort frame.

It comes with black anodised components, a Brooks saddle and grips, mudguards and Supernova lighting.

""
Desiknio’s bikes are available with a range of different Pinion gearboxes.
Desiknio

There’s a choice of drivetrains, including the nine-speed Pinion C1.9 and six-speed Pinion C1.6 gearbox. The latter has a 295 per cent range and is Pinion’s lightest gearbox. They’re both paired with a Gates carbon belt drive.

Desiknio also offers a singlespeed ebike with Gates drive and a model with more traditional chain-driven 11-speed Shimano SLX derailleur gears.

The Classic urban bike range adds a more retro twist to Desiknio’s urban bikes, with silver anodised components and a classic Brooks leather saddle.

Desiknio bike range availability

Desiknio has partnered with Swiss speed pedelec brand Stromer to provide its range of electric bikes through Stromer’s dealer network Europe-wide and in the US.

They can also be found at Fully Charged stores across England.

You can find a dealer using the search function on Desiknio’s site, where there’s also loads more on Desiknio’s bike range and configuration options.