Good trekking bike with a low entry price of 799 euros: the Tourol J1 ST e-bike in the test

In times of high gasoline prices and traffic gridlock in major cities, e-bikes are an interesting option as a means of transportation in urban areas. For use in road traffic, the pedelec must meet certain requirements, such as having front and rear lights, a bell and reflectors. Mudguards and luggage racks are not required, but are very practical in everyday life. This is the only way to keep clothes reasonably clean, even if the road is wet, if not dry.

If the classic city bike or Dutch bike is not robust enough, the trekking bike comes into play. This style combines elements of a mountain bike with those of an urban bike. They include a suspension fork to reduce the impact of curbs and wide tires. Many trekking bikes have one problem: with a diamond frame they are not as comfortable to climb on.

That’s why it gets exciting when a trekking e-bike comes as a low-entry bike. The Tourol J1 ST falls in this category. With coupon code 6LzSA5fG is near A fight price of 759 euros On Geekmaxi (Limited discount of 5 percent). First impressions are promising in terms of features and workmanship. But how does it run? This test shows it.

As usual, the dealer delivers the partially assembled e-bike in an XL box. When unpacking, two things are positive: the components are well protected and foam is used instead of styrofoam. This saves the hassle of vacuuming after assembly.

Assembly is easy, all necessary tools are included, the instructions are quite concise, but explain all the necessary steps with instructions and pictures. We really liked the included multi-tool. After about 45 minutes, the e-bike is in front of you, all that remains is to tighten the screws and inflate the wheels. We show suitable tools for this in the top 10: Best electric air pump with battery for bikes and cars from 22 euros.

The workmanship leaves a good impression. All weld seams look cleanly made. As a low-entry bike, the Tourol J1 has only a massive main frame. This makes it easy to carry, even with skirts. The battery is completely built into the frame and can be removed or fixed with a key. There is a luggage rack at the back.

However, the J1 is quite heavy: the total weight is 26 kilograms, with the battery it is around 29 kilograms. Since the maximum payload is only around 120 kilograms, you have bad cards for people weighing more than 90 kilograms. That’s a shame, because as a person 185 centimeters tall you can ride the J1 comfortably. According to the manufacturer, the bike is suitable for heights of 160 to 200 centimeters.

The handlebars, which are slightly curved like those of an urban bike, are unusual for a trekking bike. The ergonomics of the handlebars is good with a width of 68 centimeters. The height inclination is adjustable. The handles feel pleasant and comfortable. The bell and gear lever are easily accessible.

The LCD on the left glows, making it easy to read in sunlight. In addition to the speed, it also shows the battery drain level and the kilometers traveled since the last time it was turned on. If desired, you can use the power button to switch to additional information such as total kilometers, average speed and maximum speed or driving time. The light is turned on with the plus button. Very pleasant: both the rear and front lights are connected to the battery circuit. In inexpensive e-bikes you often have to use battery-powered lights.

As usual for the price, the electric motor is located in the hub on the rear wheel. After about half a revolution of the pedals, depending on the selected support level, the motor additionally pushes the bike. Driving behavior is extremely pleasant. The wheel keeps the track stable and moves straight and promptly. Nothing rattles, everything feels very solid. The suspension fork absorbs curbs well. The saddle is also very comfortable. The Tourol J1 ST is in the tester’s possession; we will supplement the test report with long-term experiences when the opportunity arises.

The torque is not very high at 45 Nm, but it is suitable for the price range and the level of involvement in road traffic. However, the drive responds somewhat slowly as there is no torque sensor that reacts to the force of the pedal stroke. Five levels are available that limit the motor assistance to 12, 15, 18, 21 or a maximum of 25 km/h. The bike is less designed for off-road slopes, but you can easily climb hills on fairly solid ground.

Mechanical disc brakes are used at the front and rear. In our opinion, these could offer a little better grip, but the brakes still need some fine tuning.

Note: The included throttle lever allows driving with electric power only, but is not permitted for use as a pedelec for road traffic in Germany. We strongly recommend not installing this lever.

The battery integrated into the frame can be removed so you can charge it at home using the included charger; it takes about seven hours to fully charge. The capacity is quite generous at 561 watt hours (Wh). The manufacturer quotes a range of up to 100 kilometers. We think this is a bit exaggerated. However, ultimately it depends on several factors, such as the surface, the weight of the person driving and the topography or route. With a weight of 95 kg in the city, we think about 60 kilometers is more realistic. We are still keeping our long-term experiences.

The price is really reasonable. This is the price it costs when it is launched in the market Tourol J1 ST Only on Geekmaxi 799 euros. with code 6LzSA5fG TechStage readers get another exclusive feature About 40 euros discount. If you don’t want a lower entry, you’ll get it Tourol J1 with diamond frame For 749 euros.

with Tourol J1 ST Trekking Bike You’re not really doing anything wrong. The e-bike is reasonably priced and the workmanship is convincing. It rides comfortably and pleasantly in the city with ample engine support. The battery is also quite good for the price. The lighting works entirely through electrical circuits, and it meets all the regulations for city use. Thanks to the suspension fork, you can easily handle even bumpy surfaces or curbs.

Weaknesses include the e-bike’s somewhat heavy weight and not very high maximum payload. It is less suitable for people weighing more than 90 kg. The drive is somewhat slow or delayed in response, but this is not uncommon in rear-wheel drives without a torque sensor. The brakes could have been a little better.

We give you more information about pedelecs and e-scooters here:

As part of this test, we rode the e-bike in various scenarios in the city, such as paved bike paths, gravel dirt roads and uphill. This way, we cannot detect long-term problems that may arise after months or years of everyday use. If we find any flaws in the bike after our test report is published or readers tell us about something, we will update the test report.

Anyone who buys from a Chinese dealer usually pays significantly less. However, there may be obstacles in the event of a warranty or guarantee claim. In addition, claiming consumer rights (returns, guarantees) is more difficult or not possible at all because the providers are based outside the EU. We link to retailers with whom our experience has generally been good.