Nevo5 vs Charger5 Mixte: Which Step-Through Riese & Müller?

I line these two up for riders often. A rider wants a step-through Riese & Müller, they have found the Nevo5 and the Charger5 Mixte online, the spec sheets look nearly identical, and they want someone to tell them the difference. This is the answer I give, standing next to the bikes, written down.

A note on names, because Riese & Müller is precise about them: R&M itself calls the Nevo5 a low step-through, while the Mixte is named for its frame style (a mixte frame is the classic lowered top tube, not a full low step). And these two are not the only lowered frames in the range: the Homage5 is R&M's high-class low-step-through, the full-suspension sibling of the Delite5, and the one to look at if you want a low step and full suspension in the same bike. That is a different comparison for a different day.

Introduction

The Nevo5 is Riese & Müller's everyday low-step bike: the lowest standover in the range at 43.5 cm, four frame sizes down to a tiny 40 cm, and an upright, city-focused riding position. The Charger5 Mixte is the step-through version of the Charger5 touring all-rounder: a lowered top tube rather than a full low step, a bigger standard battery on the mid-range trims, and the feel of a traditional bike, stretched out and settled for long days. They share the same motors, the same gearing options and even the same carrying and towing ratings, so the choice comes down to the two things you feel in the first minute: how you get on, and how you sit.

What they share

Riese & Müller builds both bikes on the same specs, so whichever frame you pick, you choose your gearing the same way: Shimano Cues derailleur on the Touring, stepless Enviolo belt drive on the Vario, the self-shifting Enviolo Automatiq on the Automatic, then the Pinion gearbox and Rohloff E-14 at the top. If the gearing decision is the bit you are stuck on, our guide to which gears to choose for your Riese & Müller walks through it properly. And if you are wondering how the Charger family fits into the wider range, start with Charger5 vs Delite5 vs Superdelite5.

Side by side

How low is the step-through on each?

This is the difference you feel before you have turned a pedal. The Nevo5 is a true low step. The standover height is 43.5 cm across all sizes, which means you step through the frame rather than over it. If you ride in regular clothes, have a hip or knee that objects to swinging a leg, or simply want the easiest possible mount at a busy junction, nothing else in the Riese & Müller range comes close. It also comes in four sizes, and the 40 cm frame fits riders the rest of the range leaves out.

The Charger5 Mixte is a different kind of step-through. The top tube drops to a 71 to 72 cm standover, much lower than the diamond-frame Charger5 at 79 to 87 cm, but you still lift a foot through rather than stepping flat. Think of it as the Charger5 with an easier dismount, because that is exactly what it is. It comes in three sizes from 45 to 53 cm.

How they ride

This, along with the step-through itself, is the real difference between them, and it is the one you would describe to a friend afterwards. The Nevo5 sits you bolt upright, bars higher (stack) but no closer (reach), head up in traffic. It is city-bike posture in the best sense: compact, quick to manoeuvre, easy to put a foot down from, happiest threading through town and pottering along the lanes at a sociable pace.

The Charger5 Mixte feels like a traditional bike. The stack is lower and you carry a little more weight through your hands, and the whole bike settles into a line and holds it. It is the posture of someone going somewhere, and the difference grows with distance: with four panniers on and thirty miles still to ride, the Mixte's touring geometry is the one you want underneath you.

The comfort kit differs in the details too. The Nevo5's non-CORE trims fit the Cane Creek Thudbuster ST Evo-2, a parallel-linkage seatpost with a loyal following among riders who cover broken tarmac; the Mixte uses the By.Schulz G.2. Both run suspension forks, and at the top of the ladder the Nevo5 pulls a small extra card: its Pinion and Rohloff trims carry a Fox AWL 34 air fork, where every Mixte trim runs SR Suntour.

Neither bike is confined to tarmac, either. Both are happy on bridleways, towpaths and forest tracks, and both can be specced with R&M's off-road kit, which fits Schwalbe Johnny Watts tyres and opens up longer adventures into the countryside.

Can they carry luggage and pull a trailer?

Yes, both, and equally. This one causes confusion online, so here it is plainly: every 25 km/h trim of both bikes is rated for single-wheel trailers, two-wheel child trailers and tagalong bikes. The carrying numbers are identical too: a 27 kg rack rating, a 5 kg bar bag rating and a childseat-compatible carrier on each. We went through every variant on Riese & Müller's current spec data while writing this, because there is conflicting information out there. At 25 km/h trim level, both bikes tow everything.

The one exception applies to both bikes equally: the speed-pedelec (HS) trims are not trailer-rated and carry a lower 140 kg gross vehicle weight rating instead of 160 kg. If a child trailer is in your plans, stick with the standard trims, regardless of which frame you choose.

So the carrying will not decide this one for you. The riding position above will.

Why is the Mixte more expensive on some trims?

Look closely at the mid-range and you will spot the prices part company. The Touring, Vario and Automatic trims cost £180 to £190 more on the Mixte. The reason is the battery: those Mixte trims ship with Bosch's 800 Wh PowerTube as standard, while the same Nevo5 trims ship with 600 Wh and offer the 800 Wh as a £233 upgrade. Spec the big battery on the Nevo5 and the two bikes land within £50 of each other, which tells you how deliberately R&M has matched them. If you are weighing up how much battery your riding needs, our range estimator will give you a realistic answer in a couple of minutes.

The CORE trims and the premium drivetrains are priced identically on both frames. The one rung the Mixte cannot answer is at the very bottom: the Nevo5 Silent CORE at £3,699 runs the quiet Bosch Performance Line motor, a 540 Wh battery and a five-speed belt-driven Nexus hub, and it is the least expensive way into a Riese & Müller, full stop. I compared it against its closest rival in Nevo5 vs Gazelle Avignon if you want the detail.

Pricing in full

All prices are the 25 km/h pedelec trims, verified against Riese & Müller's UK pricing this week.

Speed-pedelec (HS) versions of most trims exist; ask us if you have a specific need.

Both bikes are available on Cycle to Work (not HS) and 0% finance at no extra cost, and if you are thinking about the longer game, our 5-year cost of ownership breakdown covers servicing, batteries and resale.

Who should buy which?

The Nevo5 suits you if:

• You want the easiest possible mount and dismount, every single time
• You ride mostly around town, to the shops, to work, on relaxed weekend loops
• You need a smaller frame: the 40 cm size has no equivalent on the Mixte
• You value the most upright, compact riding position of the two
• You want the lowest entry price into a Riese & Müller (£3,699)

The Charger5 Mixte suits you if:

• You tour, or want to: long days, big miles, loaded panniers
• You want the 800 Wh battery as standard rather than as an upgrade
• You sit better in a longer, more stretched position over big miles
• You want step-through convenience without giving up the Charger5's road manners

The verdict

For most riders choosing between these two, the Nevo5 is the right bike. The full low step and the upright, head-up position are the reasons people want a bike like this in the first place, the four frame sizes fit more riders, and the Silent CORE at £3,699 is the value pick across both ranges.

The Charger5 Mixte earns its place the moment your rides outgrow your errands. If you prefer the feel of a traditional bike, stretched out with the miles ahead of you, the Mixte is a genuine touring machine with an easier dismount, and the bigger standard battery means it arrives ready for it. Buy the bike for the riding you will do, not the mounting you will practise.

Quick questions

Which is better for touring, the Nevo5 or the Charger5 Mixte?
The Charger5 Mixte. It carries an 800 Wh battery as standard on the CX trims and its longer touring geometry is built for loaded, all-day riding. The Nevo5 will tour, but the Mixte is designed for it.

What is the cheapest way into a step-through Riese & Müller?
The Nevo5 Silent CORE at £3,699. It runs a quiet Bosch Performance Line motor, a 540 Wh battery and a low-maintenance belt-driven hub gear, and there is no Mixte equivalent at that price.

Can either bike pull a child trailer?
Both can. Every 25 km/h trim of the Nevo5 and the Charger5 Mixte is rated for single-wheel trailers, two-wheel child trailers and tagalong bikes. The exception on both bikes is the speed-pedelec (HS) trims, which are not trailer-rated.

Do the two bikes cost the same?
Mostly. The CORE, Pinion and Rohloff trims are priced identically. The Touring, Vario and Automatic trims cost £180 to £190 more on the Mixte because the 800 Wh battery comes as standard.

Can I try both before deciding?
Yes. Test rides are by appointment at our Little Dartmouth showroom, on real coastal hills and a bridleway rather than a car park.

Try them both on real hills

Reading about standover heights is one thing; stepping over both bikes back to back settles it in about ninety seconds. We are ebikeist, the Riese & Müller and Moustache dealer in Dartmouth, Devon, and test rides here happen on the coastal hills the bikes were built for. Call us on 03330 151 979 to book, or if you would rather start online, our bike finder narrows the whole range to a shortlist in five minutes. Wherever you are, delivery is free with an expert handover across the South West, and free by specialist bike courier across the rest of England and Wales.