In 2023, the Stromer ST7, the first Speed Pedelec from the Swiss e-bike manufacturer to be equipped with an electronic gearbox from the automotive industry, was awarded a Red Dot: Best of the Best for highest design quality. Just one year later, another Stromer model, the ST5 Pinion, was honoured with the competition’s highest award. While the architecture of the aluminium frame with its angular tubes and battery integration in the more voluminous down tube has essentially remained the same, the e-bike features a number of innovations. One new feature is the integrated sound system, which provides the user with acoustic feedback in the form of short, concise notification signals, for example as a warning, to accompany switching on and off or to indicate the battery charge status. The various signals were composed by sound designers especially for Stromer and customised for the ST5 Pinion. In addition, this model is equipped with a new, long fender made of a robust and recyclable, carbon-reinforced polyamide, which is manufactured in Germany using a new injection moulding process. Thanks to this technology, the CO₂ footprint in the production of the raw material has been reduced by half, compared to an aluminium fender. In combination with the 9-speed Pinion C 1.9i gearbox, which is operated via triggers on the handlebars and does not require shift cables, the electronic Pinion Smart.Shift gear system enables fast and precise shifting while riding and when stationary. Complemented by a low-maintenance carbon belt and the powerful rear wheel motor, the e-bike offers outstanding, dynamic yet at the same time smooth riding behaviour at speeds of up to 45 km/h. What particularly impressed the jury in the end, however, was the interplay of all the details: “This e-bike optimises all aspects of traditional city bikes – from the performance and range to the gears and the clear, integrated design, through to the fender and brakes. The ST5 Pinion thus achieves a quality that virtually establishes a new category of e-bikes that is moving more and more in the direction of a motorbike in terms of range, performance and riding experience.”
