Appreciated for their good value for money electric bikes, Decathlon and Intersport have recently had a new challenger named Lidl. The discounter offers its Crivit Urban bikes at an aggressive price, an opportunity for Cleanrider to see if the two sports brands are well positioned in relation to these new products.
Lidl Crivit Urban X
Lidl Crivit Urban Y
Will Lidl manage to find a place in the electric-assisted bicycle market with its Crivit brand? In any case, this is the bet made by the specialist discount brand which has already been able to impose itself on that of DIY or gardening in particular. Its first two Lidl electric bicycles take the name of Crivit Urban X (closed frame) and Crivit Urban Y (open frame) and are intended for urban use above all else. Launched at 1199 €, they could see their price readjusted upwards in a second step.
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Intersport Nakamura E Crossover S
Intersport Nakamura E-City 110
In the meantime, we wanted to see how they positioned themselves compared to the models sold by Decathlon and Intersport. For this article, we wanted to see what the two French sports brands offered in the same price zone or with similar services.
Elops 900 E
Elops LD 500 E
In the Decathlon range of electric bikes, you have to look at the Elops 900 sold for €1199 and the Elops LD 500 E offered at €1499 for some time. As for the electric bikes marketed by Intersport, there are the Nakamura E-City 110 at €1199.99 and the Nakamura E-Crossover S sold for €1099.99 and currently offered at €899.99 on promotion.
Engine: Intersport advantage
Of the six models in this selection, the Nakamura E-City 110 stands out. The Intersport bike has an in-house E-Power engine housed in the crankset delivering a high torque of 80 Nm and including a torque sensor for more natural pedaling. The other bikes offer motors housed in the rear hub. It is often a little natural precisely and the distribution of the masses is also less comfortable.
Battery: Decathlon advantage
In terms of endurance, Decathlon stands out on paper. The favorite brand of the French thus integrates a 504 Wh battery on the Elops LD 500 E and a 417 Wh unit on the Elops 900 E. What give rise to a respective autonomy of 115 km and 70 km in mode of lowest support. At Intersport, you have to deal with a 375 Wh module with undisclosed autonomy. It should nevertheless be close to the 70 km offered by the 360 Wh battery of Lidl’s Crivit.
Note, however, that the integration of the battery also varies from one model to another. The Lidl Crivit Urban have the good taste to house the removable element in the seat tube. Much more aesthetic than the module in the form of a large block inserted under the luggage rack of the Nakamura E-City 110 and Elops 900 E.
| Model | Battery capacity |
| Decathlon Elops LD 500 | 504 Wh |
| Decathlon Elops 900 E | 417 Wh |
| Nakamura E-City 110 | 375Wh |
| Nakamura E Crossover S | 375Wh |
| Lidl Crivit Urban X/Y | 360Wh |
Drive system: belt or derailleur, you have to choose
One of the amazing points of Crivit Urban bikes is its belt drive system. A system usually reserved for much more expensive bicycles and which has the enormous advantages of not derailing and requiring no particular maintenance. On the other hand, it is then necessary to deal with a single speed, which can prove to be a little restrictive in the strongest climbs if the electric assistance no longer follows.
Decathlon and Intersport have opted for a more classic chain drive. This makes it possible to integrate a derailleur and therefore to play on several speeds depending on the topography of the terrain.
Comfort: a significant detail
Not everyone has the chance to ride on pool-worthy bike paths. Worn flooring, potholes or even unpaved roads can be the daily life of some. For them, the lack of a sprung front fork can be a deal breaker. The Decathlon Elops 900 (with ergonomic handles by the way) and Nakamura S Crossover S stand out on this point.
Braking: Lidl opts for hydraulic controls
The advantage of an electric bike is that it can often be launched at 25 km/h. The downside is that at this speed and with a certain weight, you need an effective braking system to stay safe. On this point, the Nakamura E-City 110 is disappointing with its simple v-brake pads. The other models have disc brakes, which are much more efficient. And again, only the Crivit Urban, Crossover S and Elops LD 500 E have hydraulically operated models. A more efficient and progressive system than those with mechanical controls of the Elops 900 E.
Weight: the Crivit Urban champions of the featherweight category
If the electric assistance very quickly makes you forget the weight of the electric bikes, it is another story when it comes to moving them in a box, climbing them up a staircase or handling them in a cramped place. With their fairly thin chassis, the Crivit Urban only weigh 20 kg, which is surprising all the same. It takes 25.4 kg for the Elops 900 E and 23 kg for the Elops LD 500 E. At Intersport, the Nakamura E-City 110 is announced at 23 kg and the Crossover S at 22.5 kg.
Conclusion: the Lidl Crivit Urban X and Y will hurt
On paper, Lidl’s e-bikes are doing really well. Faced with competition from Decathlon and Intersport, they represent an interesting alternative to Elops and Nakamura for cyclists who evolve especially in urban areas. If we can regret the absence of gears, suspension fork or luggage rack, their low weight and the overall level of equipment make them excellent value for money. Because at 1199 €, the price positioning is really very aggressive, you will have understood it. If the tariff were to increase, the situation would change radically, however, as competition would then be fiercer.
