The Riese & Müller Nevo5 Rohloff HS is one of the best commuter e-bikes you can put under a Wellington rider. Big Bosch support, a large 800 Wh battery, Rohloff internal gearing and a Gates belt drive make this a serious daily transport bike for people who ride far, ride often and would rather not spend their week thinking about lubricating their drivetrain after every ride.
This Icy Blue 55 cm variant is built for big commutes, steep hills, long headwinds and the sort of mixed riding that starts as a trip to work and somehow ends up on a backcountry gravel road. Very normal. Very Wellington.
Best for Long commutes, Wellington hills, Hutt Valley riders, wet-weather use and weekend exploring
Motor Bosch Performance Line PX, 90 Nm, assist up to 45 km/h
Battery Bosch 800 Wh
Display: Kiox 500 Smart System
Drivetrain Rohloff internal gear hub with Gates belt drive
Colour Icy Blue
Size 55 cm
Why we like it
This is the commuter e-bike for someone who wants the good gear doing the hard work quietly in the background. The Bosch Performance Line PX motor gives 90 Nm of torque, which is exactly the sort of support you want when Wellington decides your ride home should include a hill, a headwind and a personal test of character.
The 800 Wh battery gives you proper riding margin for longer commutes, higher assist use, hillier routes, carrying gear and windy days. Range still depends on rider, load, assist level, terrain, wind, tyre choice and tyre pressure, but a battery this size gives you room to ride the bike like transport, not like a maths problem.
The Rohloff hub and Gates belt drive are the other big reasons to choose this bike. The gears are sealed inside the hub, away from the worst of the road spray and grime, while the belt means no chain lube, no rusty chain and less black muck near your trouser leg. It still needs servicing, because every good bike does, but it is a much cleaner and more durable drivetrain setup than a regular chain and derailleur for heavy commuter use.
Best for
The Nevo5 Rohloff HS makes a lot of sense for Hutt-to-town commutes, western suburbs climbs, daily work gear, wet roads and riders who want one bike to cover both weekday transport and weekend detours.
It is especially well suited to riders who chew through drivetrains on standard e-bikes. Long kilometres, road grit, rain, hills and motor support all add up. A Rohloff and belt setup reduces drivetrain wear compared with a chain and derailleur, which makes it a very sensible choice if this bike is going to be ridden properly.
What makes it different
Most commuter e-bikes are built around a derailleur drivetrain. That works well, but it asks more from the rider over time: cleaning, lubrication, chain wear, cassette wear and the usual little adjustments that come with an exposed drivetrain.
The Nevo5 Rohloff HS takes the lower-fuss route. The Rohloff internal gear hub gives you a wide gear range inside a sealed unit, while the Gates belt is clean, quiet and resistant to the usual chain rust problem. For a daily e-bike, especially one doing big Wellington kilometres, that is a very tidy setup.
Add the Bosch motor system and the 800 Wh battery, and you get a bike that feels built for transport first. Not a toy. Not a sunny-Sunday-only e-bike. A proper get-to-work, get-home, get-out-of-town machine.
Good to know
The Rohloff hub is not maintenance-free. It needs periodic oil changes, and the rest of the bike still needs normal workshop care: brakes, tyres, wheels, belt, bearings and software checks all still matter.
The benefit is not that you never service it. The benefit is reduced drivetrain wear, cleaner day-to-day ownership and fewer drivetrain replacements over time compared with many standard chain and derailleur e-bike setups.
This is also a fully equipped, serious commuter e-bike, not a lightweight flat runabout. Choose it for comfort, battery margin, hill support and long-term serviceability. Choose something simpler if your riding is short, flat, occasional or you need to lift the bike often.
Setup options
For commuting, we would pair this with a good pannier setup and a proper high-security lock. If it is going to live at work, outside cafés or anywhere public for long stretches, do not skimp on the lock. A bike this good deserves more than a hopeful little cable pretending to be security.
If your weekend riding includes gravel roads, rough seal or loaded exploring, we can also talk tyres and carrying setup. The Nevo5 Rohloff HS has the bones for more than just the office run.
Our take
The Nevo5 Rohloff HS is best understood as a serious transport bike. It is the one you look at when the commute is long, the hills are rude, the weather is not always friendly and you want the drivetrain side of ownership to be as clean and durable as possible.
For a Hutt Valley commuter, a western suburbs climber or someone who wants one bike for workdays and gravel-flavoured weekends, this is right at the sharp end of what a commuter e-bike can be. Big battery. Big torque. Clean drivetrain. Proper daily usefulness.
E-Bike Shipping
E-bikes are shipped fully assembled, unless specified otherwise on the product page.
Shipping rates (calculated at checkout):
North Island – $450
Top of the South Island – $600
Canturbury – $700
Bottom of the South Island – $800
Shipping cost will be clearly specified at checkout before payment is completed.
If you’re unsure which South Island zone applies to you, get in touch and we’ll confirm before dispatch.
How to Choose the Right Electric Bike
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When you chat with us - whether in the shop or online - we’ll usually start by asking two simple questions:
Where do you want to ride? Do you tackle a big hill, cruise a long flat commute, or a bit of both?
Do you need to carry anything? Is it cargo, a kid, or a mix of everything?
Big hills usually mean more power and stronger brakes. Long commutes might call for a high-speed option with a larger battery. Carrying kids or heavier gear might mean looking at stability and the right accessories.
It can feel overwhelming with so many models out there, but that also means there’s a perfect match for your lifestyle. We’ll help you find it - and you can take a test ride to make sure it really fits into your day-to-day.
If you want to explore yourself on our website, go to our electric bike page and use the filters to narrow down your options based on how you answered the questions above.
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Non-electric bikes are fine for flat, short trips with lighter loads, or more recreational endeavors. But if you’ve got hills, longer distances, or a wriggly kid or gear on board, an electric bike will change your life. The motor takes the sting out of climbs, makes heavy loads manageable, and opens up bigger commutes sans sweat.
Worried you'll get lazy? Honestly, it doesn't happen. If anything you'll find yourself riding your bike more knowing you have that electric support - think those occasions when you need to do a small grocery shop or pop into town for a dinner. Easier to grab the bike than the car. Plus you can still push it just as hard! You'll just get places faster.
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Do I always need to fully charge my e-bike?
No! If you just need a top-up to cover your ride, charging to 50% is fine. A good rule of thumb for prolonging battery life is to avoid consistently running it flat. We suggest charging before it drops below 20%.Modern e-bike batteries are managed by a Battery Management System (BMS), which protects the cells against overcharging, deep discharge, and overheating - so you can charge with confidence.
In most cases, the battery can also be removed from the bike and charged indoors, which is convenient in winter or if you don’t have power access where you park your bike.
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Yes. Most electrics bikes - especially ones for commuting - come equipped with a rear rack. Pannier bags or child seats can easily be fitted in most cases.
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When riding an e-bike there is no need to be tucked down low into the wind as the motor simply pushes you through it, but if you’re an experienced rider you may find that a sporty riding position is more familiar and comfortable. If you’re new or newly returning to cycling you might prefer an upright step-thru bike, generally new riders feel safer riding upright. Perhaps you’d like a mix of both in which case a mid-step frame will typically give you that semi upright riding position. The riding position on most bikes can be customised somewhat with adjustable handlebars and seat positions. We can help you with this in-store. Use the frame style filters in our shop pages to choose your desired riding position.
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A good test ride is the most important factor when it comes to finding the right bike.
Available for Electric Bikes only and subject to availability.