Riese & Müller Multitinker2

The Riese & Müller Multitinker2 is a compact long-tail cargo e-bike: 20-inch wheels, a long rear carrier that takes up to two children with Riese & Müller's kits, and a Bosch drive on every trim. It does the school run, the weekly shop and the short trips a second car is usually kept for.

Put it beside what that second car costs to run and the question changes. Ride one with a load on at Dolomiti Electric Bikes in Ivanhoe and feel how steady it is: book a test ride, or ring 03 9982 1440.

Multitinker2: the compact long-tail for families

Best for

• Two children on the daily school run, a few kilometres each way
• The weekly shop and the errands, without starting the car
• A household whose second car is due for rego or replacement
• Two adults sharing one bike, anyone from 1.50 to 2.00 m tall

Made for children who sit up behind the rider.

Worth it against the second car

The school run, the weekly shop and the short trips are the jobs most second cars are kept for, and this bike takes them over. A UK trial led from Oxford found that 60% of household e-cargo journeys replaced a car trip, and a Berlin study found that 18% of cargo-share users sold a car or skipped buying one. Riese & Müller's own words: small wheels and a low centre of gravity make it the ideal car replacement. When fuel prices jump, the short trips are the first ones to move to the bike.

Both children on the back, past the queue at the gate

Riese & Müller supports up to two children on the rear with its optional Passenger, Family, Family Plus and Cargo kits, and the Family kit comes as standard on the FAMILY trim. The carrier takes a child seat. A spoke guard keeps small feet clear of the rear wheel, and the bipod stand holds the bike steady while the children climb on. The compact 20-inch wheels keep the whole load low, 188.7 cm long on a 130.5 cm wheelbase.

Will it suit your family?

When the seat or the trailer stops coping

A second child arrives, or the first one gets bigger, and the child seat or trailer on an ordinary bike runs out of room. Both children fit on one bike here. Riese & Müller also lists single-wheel trailers, two-wheel trailers and tag-along bikes as compatible, and asks you to check national legislation. Many families look for a family bike at Christmas and over the summer holidays.

You don't need to be a cyclist

There is one frame size, for riders from 1.50 to 2.00 m, and the stem adjusts in height and angle, so two adults of different heights can ride the same bike. Nerves about handling usually go after the first ride. Book a test ride in Ivanhoe, bring the children if you can, and try it with a load on.

When the walk to school turns into three kilometres

A move or a change of school can stretch a 300 metre walk into a trip of a little over 3 km overnight. That distance is a short ride with both children on the back. The range section below shows how far each trim goes.

Hills, loads and the ride to work

The hill on the way to school is the Bosch drive's job

Every Multitinker2 trim runs a Bosch smart-system drive: the Performance Line PX on the FAMILY trim, the Cargo Line on touring, vario and automatic. Bosch rates the PX at 250 W continuous and up to 90 Nm, and notes that delivered torque may be lower. Australian owners judge hill ability in Nm, so ask to take it up a hill of your own on the test ride.

The weekly shop, the school bags and a child on the back

Riese & Müller rates the rear rack to 70 kg, sideloaders to 20 kg each, the rider to 110 kg and the bike to 200 kg gross. The touring, vario and automatic trims add a cargo front carrier rated to 8 kg for school bags and shopping. It also takes the kit bags for sport, a camera case or a tool crate.

Drop the children off and ride on to work

With scarce or paid parking at work, the school drop-off and the ride to work happen in one trip, with no car park to find.

Range for each Multitinker2 trim

How far will it go?

These are Bosch's own Range Assistant estimates for the PowerTube 625 on a cargo bike, at 100 kg total weight, 18 km/h average, a mixed tour with some inclines, mostly good asphalt, light breezes, in summer.

• FAMILY trim: about 149 km in ECO, 107 km in TOUR, 85 km in CARGO, 84 km in TURBO
• Vario and automatic trims: about 121 km in ECO, 94 km in TOUR, 78 km in CARGO, 78 km in TURBO
• Touring trim: about 124 km in ECO, 97 km in TOUR, 80 km in CARGO, 79 km in TURBO

Bosch states these are estimates that vary with the type of use and outside influences. A heavier load shortens the range: in ECO at 150 kg, Bosch's tool gave about 125 to 127 km, against 149 km at 100 kg on the FAMILY build. Two children and the shopping weigh more than 100 kg, so plan on less, and on further in ECO than in TURBO. Ask which trim you are test riding.

Questions about the Multitinker2

Questions people ask

Is a Multitinker2 worth it against keeping a second car?

Put it beside what the second car costs to keep on the road. It does that car's school runs and shop runs, the Ivanhoe workshop services it, and your first service is included at 300 km.

Is it steady with children on the back?

Riese & Müller rates the rear for up to two children with its kits. The spoke guard keeps feet clear of the wheel, the stand holds the bike while they climb on, and the rear light includes a brake light. Many families start on the school route and build from there. Bring the children to the test ride.

How heavy is it, and can I manage it?

It weighs 34.8 kg for touring, 35.8 kg for FAMILY and vario, and 36.2 kg for automatic, on Riese & Müller's basis: smallest frame size, with battery, without pedals and lock chain, with pannier rack. It is made to be ridden from your door rather than lifted. The 20-inch wheels keep the load low and the stand holds it steady while you load. For a tow-bar car rack, check the rack's weight limit first.

Where would we keep it?

It is 188.7 cm long on a one-size frame, so measure the hallway, shed or garage spot first. It suits a home with ground-level space. For a flat up stairs, ring 03 9982 1440 and talk it through.

Who fixes it if something goes wrong?

Dolomiti Electric Bikes services every bike it sells in its own workshop at 1075-1087 Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe, and your first service is included at 300 km.

Where do I lock it?

It comes with a Trelock frame lock and a 150 cm Trelock chain lock with a bag: the frame locks, and the chain goes round a post. For longer stops, add a second lock and insurance cover.

What are the e-bike rules in Victoria?

Bosch states that the assistance cuts out at 25 km/h and rates the FAMILY trim's drive at 250 W continuous. E-bike road rules are set by each state, and Victoria Police publishes Victoria's.

How is the battery charged?

It runs a Bosch PowerTube 625 battery, charged the way Bosch's instructions set out, and the shop goes through charging with you at handover.

How do I choose between a long-tail and a front-loader?

A long-tail has a smaller footprint than a box and seats children upright behind you, with the shopping on the rack. A front-loader carries a baby in a car seat. If that is your stage, ask us which front-loader suits.

Who are Riese & Müller?

A German maker started in 1993 in Darmstadt by two engineers, Markus Riese and Heiko Müller. They have made e-bikes since 2008, along with cargo bikes such as the Load and the Packster, and the Multitinker2 is their compact long-tail. The maker is Riese & Müller GmbH.

Will it get up our hill with the children on?

That is the Bosch drive's job, and the best test is a hill you know. Ask to ride one on your test ride.

Multitinker2 specifications by trim

Full specification by trim

Riese & Müller builds the Multitinker2 in four trims: FAMILY, touring, vario and automatic. Ask which one is on the floor for your test ride.

FAMILY

• Drive: Bosch Performance Line PX, 250 W continuous, up to 90 Nm, maximum power 700 W (Bosch figures), drive unit about 2.9 kg
• Gearing: Shimano Nexus Inter-5E 5-speed hub gear with grip shift, KMC e1 EPT chain, 52T chainring
• Seatpost: JD / Riese & Müller alloy, 34.9 x 430 mm
• Weight: 35.8 kg

touring

• Drive: Bosch Cargo Line smart system
• Gearing: Microshift ADVENT X 10-speed derailleur, cassette 11-42, KMC X10 chain, 52T chainring
• Cargo front carrier standard; By.Schulz G.2 ST suspension seatpost standard
• Weight: from 34.8 kg

vario

• Drive: Bosch Cargo Line smart system
• Gearing: Enviolo Utility V1 continuous hub gear with Enviolo Twist Display Pure grip shift; Gates CDX belt drive, 63T front, 24T rear
• Cargo front carrier standard; By.Schulz G.2 ST suspension seatpost standard
• Weight: 35.8 kg

automatic

• Drive: Bosch Cargo Line smart system
• Gearing: Enviolo Automatic 4.0 on an Enviolo Utility V1 rear hub; Gates CDX belt drive, 63T chain ring, 24T pinion
• Cargo front carrier standard; By.Schulz G.2 ST suspension seatpost standard
• Weight: 36.2 kg

On every trim

• Battery: Bosch PowerTube 625 Wh
• Display: Bosch Purion 200, with Bosch Kiox 300 as an option
• Assist cut-off: 25 km/h, as Bosch states it
• Brakes: Magura MT5 disc, with Magura MT C as an alternative on touring, vario and automatic
• Suspension fork: Suntour Mobie 34 CGO Boost, 20-inch, 80 mm travel
• Tyres: Schwalbe Motion Pick Up 60-406 Reflex, with Schwalbe Motion Smart Sam Cargo as an alternative on touring, vario and automatic; Schwalbe AV7 tubes
• Wheels: Mach1 Trucky30 20-inch rims, Sapim Leader 2.0 mm stainless spokes, Novatec Boost Cargo Disc 32H front hub
• Frame geometry: top tube 58.2 cm, reach 41.1 cm, stack 46.4 cm, head tube angle 72°, seat tube angle 72°, trail 91 mm, bottom bracket height 28.5 cm, chainstay 69.5 cm, head tube 140 mm
• Size: one frame size, for riders 1.50 to 2.00 m; adjustable stem and saddle height
• Length 188.7 cm, wheelbase 130.5 cm
• Loads: rack 70 kg, cargo front carrier 8 kg, front carrier 5 kg, handlebar bag or basket 5 kg, sideloaders 20 kg each, rider 110 kg, gross vehicle weight 200 kg
• Lights: Supernova mini 2 Pro front, Axa Juno Signal LED rear with brake light
• Mudguards: SKS A65R and A69R; bell: Widek 85 dB(A); kickstand: Riese & Müller bipod stand
• Cockpit and fit: Satori Horizon handlebar, 31.8 mm, 620 mm wide; Ergon grips; Ergon ST20 Gel saddle; VP R&M Custom pedals; JD 40.0 mm quick-release seat clamp; Cane Creek ViscoSet headset; FSA / Riese & Müller 165 mm crankset
• Carrier and frame bag: Riese & Müller luggage rack, child-seat compatible; visually integrated frame bag
• Lock: Trelock RS561 frame lock with 150 cm Trelock chain lock and bag
• Maker options include the Bosch Kiox 300 display, a Limotec dropper seatpost, a Comfort kit and a front bracket with MIK system and bag
• Frame colours: lava/black, olive/black, petrol/black, utility grey/black, utility grey/curry; availability may differ by country