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About the Touring E-bike
The e-bike for the cross-country tour used in the "Only Lazy Americans E-bike" documentary is a German 2021 Riese & Muller Supercharger 2.
The one-person e-bike convoy featured in the "Only Lazy Americans E-bike" documentary.
This is a rugged touring e-bike built for long-distance journeys.
The cross-country touring e-bike is equipped with two integrated 625-watt batteries, giving it a range of more than 110 miles in “Eco” mode on relatively flat terrain.
For the tour, Gregory also carried an extra Bosch 625-watt battery pack, since pulling the trailer requires additional power.
The configuration of the Riese and Muller Supercharger e-bike used for the cross-country cycling route. Click on the image to enlarge.
The drivetrain features a Rohloff Rohloff E-14 gearbox with 14 gears, paired with a Gates carbon belt drive. Power comes from Bosch’s Gen4 250-watt motor—about half the output of a Tour de France rider—offering four modes of assistance (Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo) with up to 85 nm of torque in Turbo.
Combined with the gearbox, this creates 64 possible levels of assistance, a crucial advantage that enables Gregory to tackle steep climbs while hauling cargo and towing the Burley trailer.
And in the unlikely event of an electrical failure, the bike can still be pedaled without motor support.
The e-bike in Utah.
Gregory, weighing in at 195 pounds (with hopes of shedding some during the ride), towed about 77 pounds with the trailer, while carrying roughly 40 pounds on the rear rack and another 10 pounds on the front.
This careful distribution kept him within the weight limits of both the e-bike and the trailer. Altogether, the one-person convoy tipped the scales at 416 pounds because of the cinema camera and other film equipment.
You don't really need a highly sophisticated endurance touring e-bike to enjoy e-biking. Any e-bike is a good e-bike as long as it is reliable, affordable, and safe. Check out the independent guidelines for buying an e-bike developed by E-bike Lovers.
dr. gregory f. maassen
Founder ebikelovers.com
Gregory’s setup was equipped for both endurance and filmmaking. The panniers are made by Ortlieb, while the waterproof orange Pelican cases—chosen in the Dutch national color—held a Skydio 2 cinema drone and a Netflix-certified Canon C70 cinema camera.
Up front, a Rixen Kaul basket with the Clickfix system is mounted on the handlebars fitted with Ergon GA3 grips. A Brooks touring saddle provided long-distance comfort, and a Camelbak water bag kept hydration within reach.
Unlike throttle-based e-bikes, this touring e-bike had to be pedaled across the entire route. It’s a demanding physical and mental challenge, with Gregory burning as many as 4,000 calories on tough riding days to keep the bike moving. To prepare, he invested a full year in endurance and strength training to meet the rigors of the journey.
To reduce the risk of injury, the e-bike was fitted with a Kinekt suspension seat post and stem, designed to absorb shocks and vibrations. Comfort and control were further enhanced by an American-made Fox 32 Step-Cast suspension fork on the front.
For added durability, the bike rolled on Schwalbe Pickup e-bike cargo tires reinforced with Tannus puncture-resistant liners, minimizing the chances of flats along the route.
Gregory used Warmshowers hosts and KOA camping grounds along the route. See this article for a full list of camping gear selected for the e-bike tour across America.
The brands are not associated with the tour. The equipment is selected independently for safety, reliability, and quality.