Schindelhauer ARTHUR IX X20 / sahneweiß S (53cm) | sahneweiß | Mahle X20 / 9-Gang Pinion

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

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Cream white and a frame design without visible compromises – this bike reads like a decision against understatement. The construction gives that stance technical substance: aero-shaped aluminium 6061-T6 tubeset, triple butted, smoothed welds, internal cable routing and integrated seat clamp create a surface that leaves nothing to correct. Forged bottom bracket shell and forged belt-compatible dropouts with sliding tensioner and patented belt port anchor the drive, with the motor connector disappearing into the frame. The diamond frame with lowered seat stay holds the sporty line without sacrificing elegance. At the front, a tapered aluminium fork works with internal cable routing, post mount disc brake mount and 15 mm through-axle; the Acros ICR headset of 1.5 inches closes the build at the top.

The Pinion C-Line gear unit in the nine-speed XR version sits in the bottom bracket shell and was developed by former Porsche engineers. Nine gears mean a ratio spread of 636 percent in this gear unit – a figure that covers routes from a stubborn climb to a flat sprint stretch without rebuilding the drive. Shifting happens via gearwheels that engage delayed or immediately depending on torque; a change therefore succeeds both standing still and under load. A 39-tooth front sprocket works on the drive side, a 28-tooth sprocket at the rear, and between them runs a 115T toothed belt from Gates Carbon Drive CDX. Inner bearing and crankset also come from Pinion and are therefore matched to the gear unit. Chain tension, shift cables and chain oil are completely absent from this build – and according to the manufacturer, the belt lasts three to four times as many kilometres as a chain, at the same efficiency and without any lubrication.

Mahle is responsible for the electric thrust with the X20 series. The quiet hub drive works as a hub motor in the rear wheel, delivers 250 W rated power and 55 Nm of torque and supports up to 25 km/h. The Intube battery of 250 Wh is fully integrated in the down tube; operation runs via the smart system with just one button on the top tube, and Bluetooth as well as ANT+ provide the connection to devices without cables. This arrangement is the reason the bike looks like a bicycle rather than an e-bike from outside: the battery is invisible, the motor unobtrusive, and only a discreet button reveals the electrification.

In detail, the maker's handwriting shows. The Brooks Swift saddle with chromed frame, the Schindelhauer ergo leather grips and the Satori stem form the classic appearance. The smallest StVZO-compliant light system in the range, the LightSKIN City, sits with the headlight in the handlebar and the rear light in the seat post, both supplied from the battery. Curana DLite mudguards are fitted as standard against water and road dirt; rack, kickstand as well as bottle and lock holder can be added. The wheels on 28 inches work with Schindelhauer StraightPull front hub, the StraightPull hub motor of the X20, Kinlin TL23R rims and Sapim Race spokes in 3-cross and 2-cross straight-pull pattern, fitted with Continental GP Urban Classic in 35-622. Shimano Alfine S7000 hydraulic disc brakes work with 160 mm rotors. Weight is 15.7 or 15.9 kg, permissible system weight 130 kg.

What lies behind the name ARTHUR IX X20

Schindelhauer assigns traditional European first names, and Arthur is an old German and English name that goes back to the Celtic roots artos for bear and roughly means the one strong as a bear. The suffix IX is the Roman notation of nine and is the clue to the gear level: the Pinion C-Line with nine gears. X20 designates the Mahle system consisting of a quiet rear hub motor with 250 W and 55 Nm as well as the integrated Intube battery with 250 Wh. Cream white is the colour designation that the dealer name adds, while the frame shape is not part of the name because the whole family is 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 size cover the usual body sizes.

Position within the range

Within the ARTHUR range, the IX X20 occupies an elevated middle position. Below it stands the ARTHUR X20 SSP, which manages without a gear unit as a singlespeed and is intended for riders on flat terrain, alongside the ARTHUR VI X20 with six gears and a narrower ratio spread. Above it, the ARTHUR IX ULTIMATE positions itself with finer components, while the models with Mahle X35 drive represent the older motor generation with around 40 Nm and correspondingly lower weight. Against these two neighbours, the IX X20 is the more comprehensive solution: the wide ratio spread of the nine-speed gear unit meets the higher torque of the X20 generation, and the equipment with lighting, mudguards and slim-line wheels sits at series level without copying the finer equipment of the ULTIMATE.

Purpose in everyday life

Urban riders are addressed who are looking for a nearly invisible e-bike with a high design standard and low maintenance effort. The diamond frame appeals to those who prefer a classic, sporty look. In practice, the ratio spread pays off on commutes with a changing elevation profile: a long flat stretch is ridden at a calm pace, and the following climb is mastered with the same machine and the right gear. Maintenance effort stays low because neither chain nor shift cables need servicing, and visibility in traffic stays low because battery, motor and control are integrated into frame, fork and seat post. For longer distances and daily routes, this is the machine that combines both: everyday usability without any compromise in appearance.

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.