Schindelhauer ARTHUR IX X20 / mitternachtsblau M (57cm) | mitternachtsblau | Mahle X20 / 9-Gang Pinion

ARTHUR IX X20 – Pinion e-bike with 9 gears, 55 Nm and carbon belt

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Midnight blue and nine gears – that is the combination which distinguishes this bike, and it suits a machine that should look as natural in commuter traffic as it does at the weekend. The frame follows the same construction line as the entire ARTHUR family: aero-shaped AL6061-T6 tubeset, triple butted, with stout wall thickness at the welds and a slim tube centre, smoothed seams, internal cable routing and integrated seat clamp. Forged bottom bracket shell and forged belt-compatible dropouts with sliding tensioner and patented belt port form the core; the motor connector also sits in the frame, so no connections are visible from outside. The lowered seat stay of the diamond frame combines a sporty line with an unobtrusive look. At the front, a tapered aluminium fork with internal cable routing, post mount mount and 15 mm through-axle works, guided by an Acros ICR headset.

Nine gears are the argument of this model. The Pinion C-Line gear unit in the nine-speed XR version, developed by former Porsche engineers, works with gearwheels that engage delayed or immediately depending on torque – a precise gear jump at a zebra crossing just as much as under load while pedalling. A 39-tooth front sprocket sits at the front, a 28-tooth sprocket at the rear, connected by a 115T toothed belt from Gates Carbon Drive CDX. Compared with the six-speed version using 34 teeth and a 118T belt, this creates a broader ratio spread with finer steps: steep climbs and fast flat stretches can both be served from a single bike. Pinion supplies inner bearing and crankset at the same time, so gear unit, bearing and crankset match each other. The belt remains the component with the least maintenance: according to Schindelhauer it lasts three to four times as many kilometres as a chain, and neither oil nor grease is involved with the drive or with clothing.

Electrically, this bike relies on the X20 series from Mahle. The hub drive works as a hub motor in the rear wheel, delivers 250 W at 55 Nm of torque and supports up to 25 km/h. The in-tube battery of 250 Wh sits completely inside the down tube, control runs via the smart system with a single button on the top tube, and Bluetooth as well as ANT+ transmit data without cables. The silhouette thus remains that of a bicycle; the power arrives without having to look for the component.

Equipment includes a Brooks Swift saddle with chromed frame, Schindelhauer ergo leather grips and a Satori stem. The LightSKIN lighting – the smallest StVZO-compliant light system in the range – sits in the handlebar as headlight and in the seat post as rear light, both supplied from the battery. Curana DLite mudguards fitted as standard protect against water and dirt; a rack is optionally available, kickstand mount as well as bottle and lock holder mounts are provided. The Schindelhauer StraightPull front hub with disc brake mount, the StraightPull hub motor of the X20, Kinlin TL23R rims and Sapim Race spokes in straight-pull pattern with 3-cross and 2-cross lacing result in a stiff, calm wheel on 28 inches with Continental GP Urban Classic tyres in 35-622. Shimano Alfine S7000 hydraulic disc brakes with 160 mm rotors provide predictable deceleration in any weather. Weight is 15.7 or 15.9 kg, permissible system weight 130 kg.

Breaking down the name ARTHUR IX X20

The name of this configuration consists of four parts. ARTHUR belongs to the classic European first names that Schindelhauer uses consistently across its model range; the decision gives the urban character a human, almost personal note and at the same time designates the diamond variant of the minimalist e-bike range with Mahle drive. IX stands for the gear level: the Pinion C-Line in the nine-speed XR version, a further development of the six-speed version VI with a broader ratio spread and finer steps for different gradients and cadences. X20 names the drive system from Mahle with rear hub motor, 250 watts, 55 Nm of torque and in-tube battery with 250 Wh. Midnight blue is the colour designation that follows the model in dealer naming; the frame shape is not carried along, because all bikes of this family are built on the same line. The sizes S at 53 cm, M at 57 cm and L at 61 cm as well as the 28-inch wheel result in the usual range for different body sizes.

Where this bike sits within the range

The ARTHUR family can be ordered by gear, motor generation and equipment level, and the IX X20 occupies a broadly diversified centre. Compared with the ARTHUR X20 SSP, which completely forgoes a gear unit and copes as a singlespeed with a single ratio on flat terrain, this version offers nine gears and thus also demanding routes. Compared with the ARTHUR VI X20 with identical Mahle X20 system, the gear unit remains the difference: six gears with 34 teeth and 118T belt face nine gears with 28 teeth and 115T belt, that is lower weight and narrower range against more gear steps. Compared with the ARTHUR X35 with the older Mahle system at around 40 Nm, the X20 brings more torque at nearly the same weight. Above all stands the ARTHUR IX ULTIMATE, which with higher-quality components and a correspondingly higher price forms the top of the hierarchy. In colour, midnight blue and cream white complement each other on the geared models, graphite black and garnet red on the singlespeed versions.

What this bike is designed for in everyday life

This bike is aimed at commuters, multi-riders and everyone looking for a nearly maintenance-free e-bike for daily use. Gates carbon belt, Pinion gear unit and Mahle X20 drive create a combination of belt, gear unit and battery in which neither chain nor shift cables nor an external battery disturb the clean look. For the daily route this means: less maintenance, less soiling, more attention for the road itself. Support up to 25 km/h makes the bike a complete means of transport for longer distances and more demanding commutes, as they could also be covered without a motor. Compared with the non-motorised Schindelhauer models such as Hektor or Wilhelm, full electric support is added, and compared with models featuring the more powerful Bosch drive such as the Heinrich, this bike relies on the lighter and more discreet Mahle system.

A female counterpart exists as well: the ANTONIA range carries the same VI and IX pairings of Pinion gear unit and Mahle drive, yet is built as a step-through with a lowered top tube and an additional XS frame. Anyone preferring an upright posture therefore chooses between two frame silhouettes – a diamond frame for a sporty-classic seat and a lowered entry for relaxed arrival – with identical technology at whichever level of specification is chosen.