Updated September 30, 2026 · CommuteCue Editorial Team
HITWAY vs KALKHOFF
HITWAY
KALKHOFF
Higher score in this comparison
Where HITWAY and KALKHOFF differ
| Compare | HITWAYReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | KALKHOFFReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Reference models | BK35S Folding Electric Bike, BK-U1 Mid-Drive Electric Bike, BK6S Plus Cargo Electric Bike, BK9S Electric Bike | IMAGE 3 MOVE, Endeavour 5+ Move, Entice 7+ Advance ABS |
| Motor position | Hub | Mid |
| Frame warranty | 2 years | 10 yearsHigher |
| Money-back period | 30 daysHigher | 14 days |
| Markets | AT, BE, BG, HR, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LI, LT, LU, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SK, SI, ES, SE, GBCovers more | DE |
| Price from | €499.99 | Not confirmed |
| Price up to | €2,399.99 | Not confirmed |
| Nominal motor power (W) | 250 | Not confirmed |
| Largest battery (Wh) | 1,296 | Not confirmed |
| Claimed range (km) | 180 | Not confirmed |
| Lightest model (kg) | 18.2 | Not confirmed |
| Maximum payload (kg) | 180 | Not confirmed |
| Battery warranty | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Assist class (EU 25), Belt drive (Yes), Sales model (Both), Service network (Partner), Finance (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- KALKHOFF scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.1.
- Frame warranty is higher at KALKHOFF: 10 years vs 2 years.
- Money-back period is higher at HITWAY: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Support channels: only HITWAY offers Chat.
- Support channels: only KALKHOFF offers Phone, Community.
- Founded is lower at KALKHOFF: 1919 vs 2020.
- HITWAY is available in 28 more countries.
- Bike types: only HITWAY offers Commuter, Folding, Fat tire.
- Motor brand: only HITWAY offers Bafang.
- Motor brand: only KALKHOFF offers Bosch.
Our verdict on each
HITWAY
HITWAY is a solid pick for riders who want a wide spread of e-bike types from a single seller, and it holds the lower end of the price field. Entry price is €499.99 against a site median of €876.09, which is where its value case is strongest.
KALKHOFF
Kalkhoff suits riders who buy and ride in Germany and want a dealer-backed service network. Every bike pairs a Bosch mid motor with a city, step-through or eMTB frame, and belt drive sits in the mix. Frame warranty and a 14 days money back window are what buyers check first.
Score breakdown
| Area | HITWAY | KALKHOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Entry price of €499.99 sits below the €876.09 site median, and the brand ranks 30 of 149. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.3commuter, city and hybrid spans commuter, folding, cargo and fat-tire, with tubeless tubeless and hydraulic disc and mechanical disc across the line. | 9.3Sales cover both routes, finance is on offer and belt drive is part of the range. |
| Trust | 8.2Warranty of 2 years on frame and 2 years on battery, 30 days money back, service via partner. | 9.8HigherA 14 days money back window, a named legal entity in DE and a partner service setup. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | HITWAY | KALKHOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Electric bikes | 93 of 185 | 62 of 185 |
| Commuter and city e-bikes | 71 of 143 | 39 of 143 |
| Electric mountain bikes | 35 of 73 | 20 of 73 |
| Belt-drive e-bikes | 13 of 35 | 7 of 35 |
Licences and countries
| Country | HITWAY | KALKHOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Poland | Germany |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for HITWAY: 28.
The numbers side by side
| Fact | HITWAY | KALKHOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Frame warranty | 2 years | 10 years |
| Money-back period | 30 days | 14 days |
What we checked
HITWAY
- hitway.eu: 25 facts, checked September 30, 2026
KALKHOFF
- kalkhoff-bikes.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | HITWAY | KALKHOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Bike types | Commuter, City, Hybrid, Step through, Folding, Fat tire, Cargo, EmtbCovers more | City, Hybrid, Step through, Emtb |
| Motor brand | Bafang | Bosch |
| Brakes | Hydraulic disc, Mechanical disc | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | INNOVATECH POLSKA SPÓŁKA Z OGRANICZONĄ ODPOWIEDZIALNOŚCIĄ | Kalkhoff Werke GmbH |
| Headquarters | Poland | Germany |
| Founded | 2020 | 1919Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community |
E-scooters
| Fact | HITWAY | KALKHOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle type | Kick scooter | Not confirmed |
| Top speed (km/h) | 45 to 60 | Not confirmed |
| Nominal motor power (W) | 1,000 | Not confirmed |
| Battery capacity (Wh) | 1,216.8 | Not confirmed |
| Weight (kg) | 29.3 | Not confirmed |
| Folding | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Tyres | Tubeless | Not confirmed |
| Suspension | Yes | Not confirmed |
| IP rating | IP54 | Not confirmed |
| Warranty | 24 months | Not confirmed |
| Spare parts shop | Yes | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | HITWAY | KALKHOFF | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | €499.99lowest quarter | Not confirmed | €1,199 |
| Price up to | €2,399.99below the median | Not confirmed | €2,578.50 |
| Nominal motor power (W) | 250below the median | Not confirmed | 425 |
| Largest battery (Wh) | 1,296highest quarter | Not confirmed | 800.8 |
| Claimed range (km) | 180highest quarter | Not confirmed | 138.5 |
| Lightest model (kg) | 18.2below the median | Not confirmed | 25.7 |
Median across 144 listed brands.
Pros and cons
HITWAY
Pros
- Cargo and fat-tire lines in commuter, city and hybrid go past Kalkhoff's city, hybrid and step through, so a buyer carrying loads or riding fat tyres can stay with a single seller.
- Sales cover AT, BE and BG and the sales model is both, so the same catalogue is reachable direct or through a dealer.
- Claimed range is 180 km and the lightest model listed is 18.2 kg, so flat-city riders and small-storage commuters both have something that fits.
Cons
- Support contact runs on email, chat and help centre, while 67.2% of the brands on the site list phone support, so a fault that needs talking through means email or chat.
- Repairs go through a partner service network, so the work is done by third parties rather than brand workshops.
- The motor brand is listed as bafang, a single supplier across the range, so anyone set on a different drive brand has no alternative inside this catalogue.
KALKHOFF
Pros
- The frame warranty runs 10 years, which is the strongest single commitment attached to a Kalkhoff bike.
- Every bike uses a Bosch mid motor, the low central setup riders pick for hills and heavy loads rather than a hub motor.
- The same maker covers city, hybrid and step through, so a rider can move from a step-through city bike to an eMTB without changing brand.
Cons
- Sales are limited to DE, so anyone riding outside that market is shopping where the brand does not sell.
- Assist stops at the EU 25 class, so riders who shop by class label elsewhere need to read the limit before ordering.
- The type list ends at city, hybrid and step through, which leaves out the folding and cargo shapes in the Tern range.
Who each suits
HITWAY
Who it suits
- Riders on a tight budget who want a cargo or fat-tire bike without moving to a brand whose list in city, hybrid and step through stops at city, hybrid, step-through and e-mtb.
- Buyers who will keep the bike themselves: a spare parts shop is listed, belt drive is offered, and tubeless tubeless appear across the range.
- Anyone shopping in Austria, BE and BG who wants bikes and kick-scooters covered by a single entity, INNOVATECH POLSKA SPÓŁKA Z OGRANICZONĄ ODPOWIEDZIALNOŚCIĄ.
Who should look elsewhere
- Riders who want a pure city, hybrid, step-through or e-mtb catalogue and nothing more: Kalkhoff keeps to city, hybrid and step through.
- Buyers who prefer a brand focused on carrying and commuting, since Tern lists cargo, commuter and folding and stays in that lane rather than spreading wide.
- Scooter buyers after a slow city machine: the scooter line runs 45 to 60 km/h at the top end, where Kalkhoff and Tern cover city, hybrid and step through and cargo, commuter and folding instead.
KALKHOFF
Who it suits
- Riders commuting in Germany who want a mid motor and a dealer within reach for servicing.
- Anyone keeping a bike for years who values a 10 years frame warranty over a low entry price.
- Households that would rather spread the cost, since finance sits alongside direct and dealer buying.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers after a folding or cargo bike: Tern lists those shapes, and city, hybrid and step through does not reach them.
- Riders outside DE: iSinwheel lists commuter, folding, fat tire and eMTB shapes, while the Kalkhoff range stops at DE.
Country by country
| Country | HITWAY | KALKHOFF |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Bulgaria | Yes | No |
| Croatia | Yes | No |
| Czechia | Yes | No |
| Denmark | Yes | No |
| Estonia | Yes | No |
| Finland | Yes | No |
8 of 29 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
HITWAY
What does a HITWAY e-bike cost at the cheap end?+
The entry price is €499.99, and that is the figure that puts HITWAY near the front here: it ranks 30 of 149 brands on entry price, below the €876.09 median across the site. Finance is available, so the entry bike can be spread over instalments rather than paid upfront.
What does the most expensive HITWAY bike cost?+
Prices run €499.99 to €2,399.99. The ceiling ranks 76 of 145 brands, so the top of the range is far less competitive than the floor, where the brand sits at 30. Buyers with a budget above the middle of the field are better served elsewhere.
KALKHOFF
Where can I buy a Kalkhoff, and which market does it run in?+
Kalkhoff runs in Germany, and the sale terms come from that country's rules. Sales cover both routes, so a rider can order direct or go through a shop. Servicing happens through a partner service network, which means a local dealer does the mechanical work. Anyone reading this from another country should confirm the terms before booking a test ride.
What warranty and return terms come with the bike?+
The frame carries a 10 years warranty, and the money back window is 14 days. That gives a buyer room to ride the bike hard and live with it before deciding it does not suit the trip, rather than judging from a test ride around the block. A dealer can confirm both terms in writing before handover, and the frame warranty is the longer of the two.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
HITWAY
KALKHOFF