Kalkhoff 2027: Which Electric Bike Is Right for You?
A gentle ride into Woodbridge, a day exploring Suffolk’s country lanes, or a detour along a forest track: the right electric bike makes it easier to say yes to all three.
Kalkhoff’s 2027 range offers plenty of choice, from straightforward town bikes to beautifully equipped touring models and comfortable all-road machines. The useful question is: which one will make the riding you enjoy feel easier?
Here is our guide to the three main families, the most interesting new arrivals and the upgrades worth considering.
Why choose Kalkhoff?
Kalkhoff has been making bicycles since 1919. Today, its e-bikes are developed and assembled in Emstek, northern Germany, with development, testing, painting and assembly brought together under one roof.
For the rider, the appeal is the attention to everyday details: a comfortable position, practical luggage carrying, accessible batteries and equipment that makes the bike useful throughout the week. Bosch assistance runs through the range, with different systems suited to different riding priorities.
Image, Endeavour or Entice?
| Family | Best starting point for | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Image | Town, shopping and relaxed leisure rides | Comfortable positioning, practical equipment and easy everyday use. |
| Endeavour | Country lanes, commuting and touring | A versatile trekking bike for local journeys and longer days out. |
| Entice | Roads, gravel and forest tracks | Grippier tyres and suspension suited to more varied surfaces. |
Kalkhoff Image: comfort for everyday life
If you picture yourself visiting friends, collecting shopping or enjoying an unhurried ride to a café, start with the Image family.
These are practical city and leisure bikes with a comfortable, upright character. Low-step Wave frames make getting on and off easier, while luggage carriers, lights and mudguards help turn a pleasant leisure bike into useful everyday transport.
Our Image 3 Advance is a sensible place to begin if you want Bosch mid-drive assistance and straightforward hub gears. Hub gearing is particularly convenient when you stop unexpectedly: you can select an easier gear before setting off again.
For greater refinement, the Image 5+ Advance brings together an 800Wh battery, Enviolo continuously variable gearing and a Gates belt drive. Turn the gear control until pedalling feels comfortable, without choosing between a set of numbered gears.
Choose Image if comfort, easy access and everyday practicality lead your wish list.
New for 2027: approachable bikes with Bosch Hub Line
The new Level 1 models introduce Bosch Hub Line, a compact motor built into the rear wheel. Kalkhoff’s technical team lists the motor at approximately 2.3kg with up to 45Nm of torque. That is the motor’s weight, rather than the weight of the complete bike.
This gives Kalkhoff another way to offer straightforward electric assistance for local riding, alongside its established mid-drive bikes.
The Image 1 Move, already listed in our collection, combines Hub Line with a low-step frame and single-speed Gates belt. There are no gears to select, making it appealing for riders who value simplicity on gentler routes. Battery options include 360Wh and 540Wh, depending on the version.
The wider 2027 range also introduces the Image 1 Advance, with a two-speed belt setup, and the Endeavour 1 Move, with nine-speed Shimano CUES gearing for more varied riding.
If steep hills or heavily loaded journeys are central to your plans, we would compare these with the mid-drive alternatives on a test ride. The simplest drivetrain is most useful when it suits your terrain.
Kalkhoff Endeavour: for the longer way home
Endeavour is the trekking family: a good starting point if your riding mixes town trips, country lanes, cycle paths and longer outings with panniers.
Suspension, practical carrying equipment and a choice of gearing and Bosch motors let you choose a bike around your distance, terrain and budget. Higher specifications can bring larger batteries, more adjustable suspension and upgraded brakes or displays.
Endeavour 3 Air: a welcome focus on weight
One of the most interesting 2027 models is the Endeavour 3 Air. Kalkhoff’s technical team gives an approximate weight of 25kg, alongside a Bosch Performance Line CX motor, 600Wh battery, air-suspension fork and 11-speed Shimano Deore XT gearing.
That combination deserves attention if you want strong assistance without automatically choosing the heaviest, biggest-battery option. A few kilograms can matter when manoeuvring a bike through a doorway, turning it in a shed or loading it for a trip.
It is still an e-bike you should try lifting before buying for transport. The approximate figure can vary with size and specification, and your carrier’s individual bike limit matters too.
For a different take on lightness, the L models use the compact Bosch Performance Line SX system and a 400Wh battery. The broader range includes the drop-bar Endeavour L Touring, aimed at riders who enjoy a sportier position and longer adventures.
Choose Endeavour if roads, lanes and longer leisure rides form the heart of your cycling.
Kalkhoff Entice: when the tarmac ends
Want to link quiet lanes with gravel paths and forest tracks? Entice is Kalkhoff’s all-road family, combining everyday equipment with tyres and suspension better suited to uneven ground.
The Entice 3 Advance is an accessible route into this style of riding, with Bosch CX assistance and a 600Wh battery.
Move to the Entice 5+ Advance Belt and you gain the appeal of an 800Wh battery, Enviolo gearing and a Gates belt, alongside a more substantial all-road specification. It is a particularly attractive combination for regular riders who want capability with less drivetrain upkeep.
For more comfort on repeated bumps, the Entice 7+ Advance adds full suspension, including suspension at the rear. The 2027 specification also includes TRP automatic gearing. It is worth considering if rough-surface comfort matters more to you than minimum weight.
Choose Entice if exploring varied surfaces is part of the attraction of owning an e-bike.
What do the model names mean?
In Entice 5+ Advance Belt, “Entice” gives you the family, “5” identifies the platform, “+” indicates the higher-load Plus concept, “Advance” describes the equipment package and “Belt” identifies the drivetrain.
| Name | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Move | A practical starting specification within its family and platform. |
| Season | A value-focused equipment package; compare the actual components. |
| Advance / Excite | Alternative upgraded packages, with differences in gearing, comfort or equipment depending on the family. |
| Auto | Automatic gear changes, using the system specified for that model. |
| L | A platform designed around lighter Bosch SX assistance. |
| Air | On the Endeavour 3 Air, an air-suspension fork and a specification with a focus on weight. |
| + | Higher permissible total weight on the relevant platform. This includes the bike, rider and luggage. |
The labels help narrow the choice, but they are not a universal equipment ladder. For example, a 5 model without the “+” can have a different load limit from a 5+.
Which upgrades are worth paying for?
A belt drive is especially appealing if you dislike cleaning and oiling chains. It runs without conventional chain lubricant and keeps everyday upkeep simple. The bike still needs servicing, and the belt needs appropriate care.
Automatic gearing can make riding feel less busy. Selected 2027 Image and Endeavour models offer Enviolo or TRP automatic systems, choosing ratios as you ride. This is different from manually operated Enviolo gearing, so ask us to demonstrate both.
A stronger motor can provide welcome extra help on climbs or with luggage. Buying some spare capability may suit longer or hillier rides as your confidence grows. It works best with suitable gearing; torque alone does not tell the whole story.
A larger battery is useful for longer outings or less frequent charging. A smaller battery can be a better balance if your journeys are short and handling weight matters more. Actual range depends on terrain, assistance, load and conditions.
Better suspension and fit may make more difference to your enjoyment than a larger display. Try the riding position, ease of mounting and response over bumps before deciding where to spend.
Seen a Kalkhoff we do not currently carry?
Please get in touch—we can arrange to bring in the model you would like, subject to UK availability. Our website shows a selection of the range. If you have spotted a different model, colour, size or specification, we will check it with Kalkhoff and confirm the price and delivery time.
Call us on 01394 834485, message us through the website’s live chat, or WhatsApp us on 07795 517166. A model name, link or screenshot is a great starting point.
Visit Virtue Electric Bikes at 6A Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, and we will help you compare the most suitable options. The right fit and a test ride are the best way to turn a long list of specifications into a bike you look forward to riding.
Explore our Kalkhoff electric bike collection.
Model information is based on guidance from Kalkhoff’s technical team and our product listings. Images illustrate the relevant families and may show different colours or equipment. Specifications, weights and UK availability are subject to manufacturer change. We will confirm the exact bike, delivery timing and any accessory or load limits before you order.
