Some people prefer bikes designed for casual riders who primarily use them for commuting or short trips. They look for features like fat tires for diverse terrains, foldable designs for easy storage, and spacious cargo compartments for everyday use, aiming to offer maximum versatility to consumers.
Last year, Spanish e-bike manufacturer Desiknio entered the North American market and introduced its latest model, the all-carbon gravel e-bike named X20 Gravel.
Desiknio is widely recognized in Europe for its Pinion gearbox and belt-driven models, catering to experienced riders who value sleek designs, lightweight builds, and top-quality components.
The X20 Gravel e-bike is a representation of Desiknio’s expertise applied directly to the rapidly growing gravel category.
After testing the X20 Gravel in various terrains, it proved to be durable, stylish, and technologically advanced. It delivers a powerful performance and excels in rough, uneven terrains.
In summary: The Desiknio X20 Gravel bike, with its focus on sleek design and lightweight construction, is an ideal e-bike for experienced gravel riders seeking an extra push. Its components and geometry create a comfortable and capable package that offers an enjoyable riding experience even without power. Priced at around $6,500 to $8,100, the high-quality components make it a reliable investment, especially with the Campagnolo-spec version.
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Frame material
Carbon -
Fork material
Carbon -
Motor
MAHLE ebikemotion X20, 55 Nm torque -
Battery
MAHLE ebikemotion Inner Battery / Panasonic 18650GA – 10S/2P -
Battery capacity
236 Wh + 500 Wh optional water bottle battery -
Claimed range
>100 Km on flat terrain under low power, <50 Km on hilly terrain under high power -
Drivetrain
Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed -
Wheels
DSK black aluminum -
Tires
Pirelli Black 45
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Indistinguishable from a standard gravel bike -
Very light for an e-bike -
Full carbon chassis -
Great gravel riding characteristics for an e-bike
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Assisted top speed is low for pure road riding -
Expensive compared to some other e-bikes
Desiknio X20 Gravel Specifications and Controls
The Desiknio X20 Gravel bike boasts a monocoque carbon fiber frame and fork with integrated electronic features. It is powered by the MAHLE ebikemotion X20 Hub Motor and inner battery, offering 55 Nm of torque, as well as the Campagnolo Ekar 13-speed gravel groupset.
The battery is housed in the downtube, with the option to add a water bottle-style battery pack to extend its range from up to 60 miles to over 100 miles, albeit with added weight. A full charge takes approximately 2-3 hours.
With a claimed weight of about 26.5 pounds (almost 28 pounds with stock flat pedals), it is exceptionally lightweight for an e-bike. Additionally, it features integrated head and tail lights, along with a power and system control button embedded in the top tube.
With a single-button system, riders can power the bike on or off, adjust between three levels of pedal assistance on the go, and control the integrated lights. Users can also connect to the MAHLE MySmartBike app to access additional data such as battery level, range, and routes.
Classified as a Class 1 e-bike, the Desiknio X20 Gravel does not have an on-bike display to monitor speed or other metrics. Instead, a control bar beneath the power button illuminates in different colors to indicate the pedal assist level and display the remaining battery life.
Desiknio X20 Gravel Initial Impressions
Sleek Appearance
The Desiknio X20 Gravel bike does not appear much like an e-bike. Apart from the integrated lights, the rear-hub motor, and a faint humming sound which is often drowned out by tire noise, most people would not recognize it as a motorized vehicle. The choice of components on the bike immediately stood out to me.
