FAQs

Find all answers to your questions here.

Wooden Frame

Our wooden frames are crafted entirely in Upper Austria, with final assembly by experienced mechanics in Traun. Every bike is test-ridden before delivery.

We use slow-growing, locally available woods: lightweight birch core with ash and walnut exterior. All wood is PEFC-certified from sustainable forestry.

Wood absorbs vibrations naturally, delivering exceptional comfort while maintaining stiffness and high durability.

It is also a renewable material that is regionally available and naturally stores CO₂.

All Esel bikes are tested to ISO standards for a maximum rider weight of 120 kg, plus an additional 27 kg rack capacity.

uality and safety are very important to us. All our bicycles and e-bikes are developed and tested according to relevant international standards and guidelines.

Every frame is tested by the renowned EFBE testing institute (ISO-certified) to ensure durability, safety, and long-term reliability.

No, you don´t have to repaint your Esel.

Our 4-layer sealant does not need to be enhanced or repainted over the lifetime of the bike. Each layer has a specific purpose:


1. Water-based wood preservative: The active ingredient provides the protection required by ÖNORM B 3803 and DIN 68800-3 against blue stain (tested according to EN 152-1) and wood-destroying fungi (tested according to EN 113).

2. End grain sealing: A water-dilutable filler based on acrylate dispersion with excellent water resistance. It prevents capillary water absorption through end-grain areas. This protects the coating against blue stain and mold infestation.

3. Primer: In the third step, we use a water-based, colorless 2K primer coating. It offers excellent UV resistance and very good wet adhesion.

4. Top coat: The fourth layer is a water-based, non-yellowing, glazing 2K top coat system. It offers excellent weather and UV resistance, high scratch resistance, high block resistance, and high chemical resistance.

All Esel wooden frames are hollow inside (Hollow Tec) and optimized for lightweight construction.

In addition to Bowden cables and other cables, our eEsel has the battery integrated into the down tube.

Yes. The Esel frame is designed and built for outdoor use in all weather conditions.

Our frames are protected by a durable multi-layer coating that reliably shields the wood from rain, moisture, and UV exposure. Wood has proven its resilience for centuries and it performs exceptionally well in demanding outdoor environments.

Yes, we offer a 5-year warranty against frame breakage.

When riding, dirt is unavoidable.

You can clean your Esel like any other bicycle using cold water and standard bike-cleaning products.

Avoid using high-pressure cleaners, as the strong water pressure can damage sensitive components such as the chain, drivetrain, gears, and bearings.

A gentle wash with a sponge or soft brush is the best way to keep your Esel clean.

Esel Hub Drive

The following qualities were decisive for us when developing our rear hub drive:

• Our Esel hub drive is significantly lighter than a comparable mid-drive motor. This allows our e-bikes with hub drive to achieve a total weight of only around 15.8–23 kg while offering an excellent range.

• A hub drive has a much simpler mechanical design with fewer moving parts.

• The freewheel characteristics and overall efficiency are superior to those of many mid-drive systems.

• Our system allows the entire e-bike drive to be fully integrated and visually concealed.

• The Esel drive is extremely quiet and offers one of the most silent riding experiences on the market.

• At the same time, it delivers excellent riding dynamics with 42–60 Nm of torque directly at the rear hub.

Experience shows that our customers can travel around 70–120 kilometers on a full battery.

In addition to the battery capacity of each model (250–630 WH), the range also depends heavily on usage behavior, i.e., the pedaling power, weight of the rider, the selected assistance level, and the topography of the route.

The Esel rear hub motor uses a high-quality torque sensor in the bottom bracket to respond to your pedaling.

This creates a natural riding feel with simple control. The harder you pedal, the more power the motor delivers.

You can adjust motor power using 5 levels on the display via a toggle switch.

In most European countries, national law requires e-bikes with electric assistance above 25 km/h to be registered. In addition, such vehicles are no longer allowed to use bike paths.

All E-models have a charging port on the left side of the frame above the bottom bracket, where the supplied charger can be easily plugged in.

On older Esel models (E-Tour, E-Cross), the charging port is located on the underside of the frame near the bottom bracket.

No. In theory, the rear hub motor could work as a generator and feed energy back into the battery. In practice, this would brake the freewheel, so the Esel would be noticeably harder to pedal without assistance. It would also require additional components, which would add weight. Given the relatively low mass of a bike and rider, the amount of energy you could recover is quite small, so the downsides would outweigh the benefit.

A charge level of around 50% is reached in approximately 1–2 hours when the battery is nearly empty.

A full charge (100%) takes about 3–5 hours depending on the battery size, as the charging current is reduced once the battery reaches around 80% capacity in order to protect the individual battery cells.

Check that the battery is not empty and that the cable connections from the display and to the UPEA rear wheel hub drive are correctly connected (arrow-up-arrow to the cable). If the problem cannot be solved, please contact the contractual partner or specialist dealer from whom the Esel was purchased. As the manufacturer, we naturally support all sales partners in the rapid implementation of service and complaint requests.

Shimano Mid Drive

For riders who want maximum performance on steep climbs and off-road terrain, we developed our eMountain with a mid-drive motor. The slightly heavier motor, due to its internal gearbox, provides even more climbing support. The integrated battery can be removed for charging, or swapped for a second fully charged battery to extend range.

The Shimano mid-drive motor is activated via the torque sensor in the bottom bracket.

The harder you pedal, the more assistance the motor provides.

You can also select the support level on the display using the toggle switch: ECO, TOUR, SPORT, or BOOST.

In OFF mode, the motor electronically disengages the internal gearbox, giving you an excellent freewheel for riding without motor assistance.

e use the Shimano EP6 mid-drive motor. With up to 85 Nm of torque, it provides powerful and smooth assistance, especially on steep climbs and demanding terrain.

The EP6 drive unit is known for its reliability, natural riding feel, and efficient power delivery. Combined with Shimano’s integrated system architecture, it ensures precise control, quiet operation, and excellent overall performance for our eMountain models.

Battery

Experience shows that our customers can travel around 70–120 kilometers on a full battery.

In addition to the battery capacity of each model (250–630 WH), the range also depends heavily on usage behavior, i.e., the pedaling power, weight of the rider, the selected assistance level, and the topography of the route.

All E-models have a charging port on the left side of the frame above the bottom bracket, where the supplied charger can be easily plugged in.

On older Esel models (E-Tour, E-Cross), the charging port is located on the underside of the frame near the bottom bracket.

A charge level of around 50% is reached in approximately 1–2 hours when the battery is nearly empty.

A full charge (100%) takes about 3–5 hours depending on the battery size, as the charging current is reduced once the battery reaches around 80% capacity in order to protect the individual battery cells.

With proper handling (use, charging, storage), the batteries are specified with 500 charging cycles. Based on 50 kilometers per charge, this equals approximately 25,000 km of riding.

Only on the eMountain. For all other Esel bikes, we wanted to create a lighter bike that doesn't look like it has e-bike DNA. Opening flaps and opening mechanisms would have significantly weakened this claim.

Yes, the battery in the down tube can be removed via the bottom bracket for service purposes. However, this requires a special tool available from bicycle dealers. The opening mechanism is not designed for removing the battery for charging or quick replacement.

No. In theory, the rear hub motor could work as a generator and feed energy back into the battery. In practice, this would brake the freewheel, so the Esel would be noticeably harder to pedal without assistance. It would also require additional components, which would add weight. Given the relatively low mass of a bike and rider, the amount of energy you could recover is quite small, so the downsides would outweigh the benefit.

If you're storing your e-bike during winter, follow these tips:

  • Charge the battery to approximately 3/4 capacity before storage.
  • Check the charge level 1–2 times during extended storage.
  • Recharge briefly if the level drops below half.

If you're riding your e-bike in winter, keep these tips in mind:

  • Don't let the battery run completely empty—freezing temperatures and deep discharge reduce battery lifespan.
  • Batteries deliver less performance in cold temperatures and accept less charge. Charge your battery at room temperature when possible.

Purchase

You can customise your Esel by selecting the frame size and choosing from a range of add-ons, such as a lighting system, the Street Add-On with mudguards, a kickstand, or a rear rack. In the cart, you can further personalise your Esel with additional accessories to perfectly match your needs.

The Road Esel goes one step further: it is fully tailored to you through a professional bike fitting and a custom-made frame built to your measurements.

Our wooden frames are crafted entirely in Upper Austria, with final assembly by experienced mechanics in Traun. Every bike is test-ridden before delivery.

Either during opening hours directly at our store in Traun or at our dealers and partners, who can be easily found using the store finder on the Esel website.

We are also happy to organize test drives for the desired Esel. There is a form for this directly on the models page of the website. Simply enter your details and we will organize the test drive.

We sell our Esel products through multiple channels. In addition to retailers and partners, we also sell them directly in our store, by phone/email, and through our online shop. The MSRP of our products is the same across all sales channels.

If the Esel is not picked up directly from us or a specialist dealer, it is delivered to the desired address by a shipping company in a special bicycle box. Since the Esel is test-ridden before shipping, it is ready to ride in just a few minutes with a few simple steps. When unpacking, it is best to ask a second person to help lift the bicycle out of the box, straighten the handlebars, screw in the pedals, and adjust the seat. A detailed description can be found in the quick start guide or the operating instructions included with the bicycle.

We currently offer the following accessories. Some are installed as standard depending on the model and equipment variant, and all can be configured at purchase or reordered in our online store:

  • Esel GPS tracker + app (E-Esel only)
  • Integrated Esel lighting system (E-Esel only)
  • Suspension seat post (eMountain only)
  • Mudguard set
  • Luggage rack
  • Luggage rack basket
  • Comfort stem
  • Comfort saddle
  • Side stand
  • Esel water bottle holder
  • Esel drinking bottle

For in-store purchases or orders by phone or email, payment is made by invoice and bank transfer. Optionally, you can pay 50% as a deposit and the remaining 50% before delivery.

Purchases can also be made via common employee leasing platforms.

For online purchases, we also accept credit card, bank transfer, and PayPal.

Yes. Branding is done with high-quality stickers. Esel does not offer branding irons or laser engraving because they do not meet the desired quality level.

There are two options:

  • Small branding: You specify the wording for the top tube.
  • Large branding: Logos and graphics can also be applied to the down tube.

Esel will create a rendering and start production after the customer approves it.

In Austria and Germany, delivery costs for private customers are included in the price.

For the rest of the EU, Switzerland, and worldwide shipping, a proportionate share of the additional delivery costs is charged.

Esel bikes use high-quality materials and components and can be serviced by any bicycle dealer. We recommend servicing every 500 kilometers or at least once a year.

We provide a 5-year warranty on frame breakage and a 2-year warranty on the installed components.

If your Esel was damaged during transport, please report it to us immediately, within 2 days of delivery. We will take care of the repair or return.

Tel: 0800 555 60 10

Mon-Thu 9am-5pm, Fri 9am-4pm

eMail: office@esel.com

If the wheel is not reinstalled in exactly the same position, the brake pads may rub against the brake disc. Remove the wheel and reinstall it, making sure the bike is level and the quick release is tightened to the correct tension. Alternatively, realign the brake caliper.

Because the handlebars must be removed for transport, the Bowden cables for the gears may have changed slightly in length or tension. In this case, the gears need to be adjusted. You can do this yourself if you have the relevant expertise, or you can take the bike to a specialist dealer.

Child seats cannot be mounted on Esel bikes because the frame shape is not compatible with standard mounting options. Mounting on the luggage rack is not permitted.

Bicycle trailers can be mounted, but this is not approved by Esel. An adapter usually needs to be attached to the rear wheel. The adapter may need to be adjusted to the axle diameter by drilling it to the required size.