Lekkerbikes Amsterdam+ in the test: that’s what the city e-bike can do

The Lekkerbikes Amsterdam+ is a Dutch e-bike that, according to the manufacturer, is particularly suitable for the city. We tested the electric bike in everyday use.

E-bikes are one thing: some love them, others hate them. I’ve been a little undecided on the subject so far and when I got the chance to test the Lekkerbikes Amsterdam+ for a few days, I took it.

Especially in a big city like Berlin, that can have some advantages, right? Because with an e-bike you can easily drive to work without ending up sweaty in the office.

Lekker has also had a store in Berlin since September 2022. At first I had to smile a little at the address: “Prenzlauer Berg”. With prices starting at 2,000 euros, I could have guessed where the store could be located. Nevertheless, I packed my things and went there – still using public transport.

When I get there I am greeted warmly. “You want to rent the Amsterdam+?” Right. While an employee is making the electric bike roadworthy with reflectors, I had the opportunity to look around a little.

Everything seemed quite new, a little unfinished. Here a picture, there a plant. “Lekker” is written on white blocks. Exactly how a store of a relatively young brand (2014) looks like.

Lekkerbikes Amsterdam+ in the test: The pick-up process

I asked the saleswoman who the main target group was. After all, the pictures in the store show quite young people. The answer was something more general: Of course, the marketing is aimed at young people, but due to the deliberate lack of an app, the bikes can and are apparently also used by older people.

That seems quite logical to me, because I know very few young people who can “just” put 2,000 euros on the counter for a new bike. When asked who came by the store like this, it was said that it was different.

Some of those who are interested travel hours by car to look at the bicycles and e-bikes on site. Others come from the region. Mostly adults or students who would like to cycle to work or university.

Lekkerbikes Amsterdam+: The technology

After a short explanation of how to operate the bike, we were off. Helmet on, bike on and route planned. The bike has a small TFT display for this purpose, which shows information such as the support level, light or current range.

But that’s the only “smart” thing about the e-bike, because there is no app support. Considering the price, that’s a shame. Meanwhile, Lekker justifies this with “the accessibility of all age groups”. In other words, older people should also be able to use their bikes without having to rely on an app.

The bike also has five different support levels. Below: Another one to “boost” the e-bike when pushing the stairs. The Lekkerbike Amsterdam+ can be operated using three buttons on the display. There is an on/off button and a plus and minus button. These can be used to change the levels and switch the light on/off.

This is how the e-bike performs in everyday life

But how does the e-bike fare in everyday life? Really good – especially in the morning to get some fresh air before work without coming into the office sweaty. You have to get used to the big city traffic, because that’s not always the case in Berlin.

But the Lekkerbikes Amsterdam+ is definitely an alternative to the car or the crowded S-Bahn. I mostly rode in the third stage, so I had a little “boost” when starting and a little support when riding, but I still had to pedal a bit.

But sometimes I had the feeling that I only got the motor boost a little after pedaling. Driving was not always smooth, but the engine was very quiet. Meanwhile, the e-bike has no gears. This also has to do with the fact that it should be used mainly in the city.

If you are looking for an e-bike for excursions in the mountains, you should look around for another bike (such as the Amsterdam GT). In addition, there is no attached basket, but the possibility to have one attached. It can also be used to transport purchases or a backpack. However, the Jordaan from Lenker is intended for precisely this type of use, as the bike already has two built-in baskets.

The battery

The battery can be installed with either 375Wh or 500Wh. Depending on the manufacturer, a range of 40 to 100 kilometers is possible. But why the wide range of battery life? Lekker justifies this with a wide variety of conditions.

From the weather/temperature to the frequent stops at traffic lights in a city. During my test period, I couldn’t get the battery empty because there wasn’t enough time for that. However, I think that the battery in the basic version has to be recharged within a week, depending on the distance worked.

This can then be done using a supplied cable and takes six hours. Lekker also offers a “Supercharger” for a further 80 euros, with which charging only takes three hours.

Conclusion: The Lekkerbekjes Amsterdam+

With the Lekkerbikes Amsterdam+, Lekkerbikes offers a good overall package at a comparatively low price for an e-bike. But there is already very strong competition in this category.

With the S3, for example, Vanmoof offers a larger battery and an app connection for the same price. But if you are looking for a deliberately “not” smart e-bike with good workmanship and a simple design, you will have a lot of fun with the Amsterdam+ from Lekker.

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