Schindelhauer ARTHUR VI X20 / mitternachtsblau L (61cm) | mitternachtsblau | Mahle X20 / 6-Gang Pinion

ARTHUR VI X20 – Pinion e-bike with 6 gears, 55 Nm and full integration

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Midnight blue is a colour that almost disappears in daylight and reveals everything at dusk. On this bike it dresses a frame that would pass for one without electric drive and does very well with it: visually it remains a Schindelhauer, technically it houses a fully integrated drive that only reveals itself in detail. The aero-shaped AL6061-T6 tubeset is triple butted and therefore stout where welds carry load, yet slim enough in the middle to save weight. Forged bottom bracket shell, forged dropouts with sliding tensioner and the patented belt port form the functional core; integrated motor connector, integrated seat clamp, smoothed seams and internal cable routing keep the surface free of visible detours. The hydroformed tapered aluminium fork with internal cable routing, post mount mount and 15 mm through-axle leads the assembly, closed at the top by an Acros ICR headset.

The drive is the most interesting part of this range: a Pinion C-Line gear unit, developed by former Porsche engineers, sits where a crankset would otherwise be. It allows gear jumps with calm precision – whether you are standing at a zebra crossing or riding at full speed –, because it does not work like a chain system but shifts via gearwheels that engage delayed or immediately depending on torque. In the six-speed version shown here, a 34-tooth sprocket sits at the rear while a 39-tooth front sprocket works ahead, connected by a 118T toothed belt from Gates Carbon Drive CDX. The alternative with nine gears uses a 28-tooth sprocket and a 115T belt. Its service life is the argument Schindelhauer itself emphasises: the belt lasts three to four times as many kilometres as a chain, works at the same efficiency, yet needs neither oil nor grease – clean trouser legs included.

The electric side comes from Mahle and carries the X20 designation. The hub drive sits in the rear wheel as a hub motor, delivers 250 W and 55 Nm of torque, connects to the wheel via a 12 mm through-axle and supports up to 25 km/h. The Intube battery of around 250 Wh rests in the down tube, and control sits as a head unit in the top tube – Bluetooth and ANT+ are built in so that ride data transfers without cables. Because all components are integrated into frame, fork, handlebar and seat post, only a single button remains visible from outside. Viewed the other way round, the Pinion chain including inner bearing and crankset comes from one manufacturer as a system, which avoids mismatches and explains the quiet running of the gear across all components.

Curana Dlite mudguards are fitted as standard and protect tyres and the underside of the down tube from water and road dirt – a difference cyclists feel daily when they ride in spring and autumn instead of only in dry weather. For lighting, Schindelhauer relies on the smallest StVZO-compliant light system in the range: the LightSKIN Riser handlebar brings the headlight, the LightSKIN seat post the rear light, both powered from the battery. Added to this are the Brooks B17 saddle with chromed frame, Schindelhauer ergo leather grips, the Satori Stealth aluminium stem and CNC-machined urban pedals. Schindelhauer StraightPull high-flange hubs at the front, the StraightPull hub motor of the X20, Kinlin TL23R rims and Sapim Race spokes laced 3-cross and 2-cross give wheel and drive shared stiffness; Shimano Alfine S7000 hydraulic disc brakes with 160 mm rotors ensure predictable deceleration in the wet, and Continental GP Urban Classic tyres in 35-622 roll quietly over asphalt. A rear rack mount, kickstand mount and points for bottle and lock holder are provided. Weight is 15.7 kg in size M, system weight 130 kg.

What the designation ARTHUR VI X20 means

The name is a combination of range, drive generation, gearing and suffix. ARTHUR designates the model family, internally the avant-gardist, whose basic idea is an electrically propelled bike that does not visibly reveal itself as an e-bike when the motor is silent. VI stands for the six-speed version of the Pinion C-Line, while IX carries the nine-gear variant; this number therefore belongs to the gear unit here, not to the motor. X20 stands for the electric system from Mahle – hub drive with 55 Nm, Intube battery and head unit in the top tube –, which gives this bike more thrust and modern control than the X35 generation. In dealer naming the colour midnight blue follows, and since the frame shape is not part of the name it remains descriptive. The sizes S, M and L cover the usual frame heights, while the colour world of the range is deliberately kept small.

Where this bike sits within the range

The comparison runs along three axes. Compared with the X35 generation at around 40 Nm, the single-speed concept without gear unit is retained, and 55 Nm does not represent the higher torque of the X20 successors; in return, the weight of the class drops from around 15.7 kg to 13.4 kg. Compared with the ARTHUR IX X20 with identical electrics, only the gear unit decides: six gears with 34-tooth sprocket and 118T belt against nine gears with 28 teeth and 115 teeth, that is narrower steps and more gears on the IX. Compared with the ARTHUR Cruiser in 47er tyres, riser handlebar and front basket, this configuration remains sporty-comfortable with 35er tyres. The Emil and Emilia range is also worth distinguishing, as it places greater emphasis on gear unit, upright position and urban appearance. In colour the range covers graphite black and garnet red for the singlespeed models as well as midnight blue and cream white for the geared versions.

What this bike is designed for in everyday life

Six gears in combination with mudguards and full integration extend the range of use considerably compared with a pure city commuter. Those who ride gradients, take a climb without chain noise or switch to a flat section after a long ride find the right gear without the belt demanding a replacement or soiling clothing. The mudguards make the bike suitable for everyday use even when rain is forecast, and the small diameter of the LightSKIN light system leaves the silhouette untouched. For tours, shopping trips and commutes this creates a combination of weather resistance, gear certainty and a weight that feels pleasant when carrying the bike into cellar or train. Against the models with nine-gear unit, this version is the simpler and more price-conscious choice without giving up full integration and protection.

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.