Over the past three or four years, ebikes have made enormous strides forward. However, lightweight urban ebikes with a low-step frame that weigh well under 20 kilograms are still rarely to come by. One of the few current models is the Desiknio Oxytocin. A good year after its launch, we were able to test the model extensively over several weeks. During this time, the Oxytocin scored numerous points in our favour. However, there were some details we never got warmend with.
1. When the ebike speaks to you
2. Desiknio Oxytocin: A whisper rather than a ride
3. An urban ebike that’s easy to ride and easy to carry
4. Desiknio Oxytocin impresses during the test with its subtle handling
5. Slim and grippy
6. High-quality contact points for lasting riding comfort
7. Desiknio Oxytocin not a fully-fledged city ebike
8. Test reveals jerky gear changes
9. Drawbacks of an ‘off-the-shelf’ ebike
10. Test verdict: Bring on more low-step models like the Desiknio Oxytocin
1. When the ebike speaks to you
Generally speaking, the ebike – even in specialist shops – is regarded as a rather complex product. There is a lot to discover about it and therefore a lot to explain – from the motor and how to operate the system to modern smart features and using the app. At the same time, an ebike can be so simple that, even on your first ride, after just a few turns of the pedals, you get the feeling that you understand it. As if it were speaking to you. When just a few hundred metres are enough for it to convey: This is me. This is what I am capable of. This is what I was made for.
On the Desiknio Oxytocin, we experienced exactly such a moment. A first stretch of road. A first gentle incline. A turn and a further acceleration. A first encounter with smooth asphalt. After that, the character of the ebike lay laid bare before us. Why? It rode whisper-quiet, accelerated briskly, was remarkably easy to steer and made us forget incredibly quickly that we were riding a low-step bike.
2. Desiknio Oxytocin: A whisper rather than a ride
In fact, from our perspective, this urban ebike is a real auditory experience. You hear nothing from the bike itself. Instead, you’re perfectly aware of what’s happening around you. Hardly any other ebike is quite so unobtrusive. Clearly, Desiknio has done a superb job with the build quality and has integrated the Mahle rear-wheel hub drive excellently. Even under load at the highest of the three assistance levels – marked green, orange and purple – the motor, the Mahle X30, is barely audible. It also pays off here that the manufacturer has fitted a carbon belt instead of a traditional bicycle chain.
The belt connects the motor in the rear wheel to the gear hub in the bottom bracket. During our test, we didn’t even come close to exhausting the nine gears of the transmission with its gear ratio range of 568 per cent. To do that, you’d probably need to live in the mountains or set off on a trip there with the Oxytocin. In any case, you can combine the gears and electric drive in such a way that you can ride at any desired level of effort, ranging from child’s play to a proper workout.
3. An urban ebike that’s easy to ride and easy to carry
Speaking of light. We clearly noticed the Desiknio’s weight of around 16 kilograms whilst riding. Or rather, the absence of the extra kilograms that other urban ebikes bring to the scales. With a torque of 45 Newton-metres – which isn’t applied to the rear wheel but is intended as a benchmark for a mid-drive motor – the Mahle X30 doesn’t set the Thames on fire. Nevertheless, with the right gear ratio, you’ll sprint away from the traffic lights in no time. In our opinion, the combination of a lightweight ebike and moderate assistance works perfectly here.
The low weight also means that the model is easy to carry. Up to the flat, down to the bike shed – wherever you need to go. Whether it’s just for secure parking or simply to charge the battery, which is firmly built into the frame, the need to carry it arises quite quickly, especially in urban environments.
The manufacturer has taken this into account and integrated a small strut in the frame above the bottom bracket as a handle. We find this perfectly positioned. If you have paws rather than ordinary hands, you might find it a bit tricky to get them into the frame opening. We always managed it without any injuries. 😉 When carrying it, the Oxytocin is really well balanced. You can grip the centre of gravity in such a way that you don’t constantly have to correct for any excess weight at the front or rear. Both going up and down steps were easily manageable.
4. Desiknio Oxytocin impresses during the test with its subtle handling
With its clean lines and single-colour paintwork in refreshing Purple Love or the inevitable dark alternative Black Harmony, we find the Desiknio Oxytocin stylish in a pleasantly understated way. This simple appearance is reflected in an understated control concept. You won’t find a large display or anything similar here. The Mahle Duo Remote on the handlebars and the Mahle iWoc control unit in the down tube are entirely sufficient to enable the most important function of any ebike – riding. The Mahle iWoc also tells you which assistance level is currently selected and how much battery capacity remains. Its colour indicates the riding mode. And based on the length of the colour bar, you can estimate when it’s time to recharge.
You should definitely keep an eye on the length of the bar. After all, at 236 watt-hours, the battery isn’t one of the largest of its kind. However, on flatter terrain and covering a distance of 16 to 20 kilometres a day, we got through the working week without any problems on a single battery charge.
5. Slim and grippy
The changeable weather during the test period provided ideal conditions for getting a comprehensive picture of what Pirelli’s tyres are capable of. All in all, we were really impressed by their performance. At 35 millimetres, the Cinturato Gravel H tyres are on the narrow side. On many other urban ebikes, you’ll find tyre widths of 50 millimetres and upwards. Nevertheless, these tyres offer good grip. They also complement the Oxytocin’s sleek overall look. They made a surprisingly strong impression, particularly in the rain. Despite their narrow width, we could rely on them completely.
6. High-quality contact points for lasting riding comfort
Quite different contact points have earned the same verdict. Namely, those that come into contact with your hands. We’re referring to both the ergonomic grips and the accompanying handlebars. The former are from Brooks. They belong to the Cambium product line of the iconic British brand and, as such, are colour-coordinated with the saddle, the Brooks Cambium C67. More crucial for everyday use, however, is their small, supportive contact surface for the palms. This feels very comfortable, provides the hands with extra stability and is a reason why you can also tackle longer distances with the Desiknio Oxytocin.
With its slightly rearward-curved tube, the handlebar ensures a relaxed riding experience. At times, it even reminded us of riding a beach cruiser. It may have been partly due to the fact that we tested the Desiknio Oxytocin in size M. The manufacturer recommends this size for people up to 170 centimetres tall. However, our lead tester was 184 centimetres tall. According to him, the height limit did not pose a significant issue whilst riding. Nevertheless, we would advise taller riders to opt for the L frame size. Desiknio recommends this for a maximum height of 180 centimetres.
In terms of minimum height, the size M frame seemed to reach the limit of what is reasonable for someone around 165 centimetres tall. This is largely down to the seat post, which cannot be fully retracted into the seat tube. Interestingly, the manufacturer estimates the range to be wider and sets its limit at 155 centimetres.
7. Desiknio Oxytocin not a fully-fledged city ebike
Alongside all these positives, however, a few annoying impressions have also stuck in our minds. The most serious is that this ebike remains unfinished. Manufacturer Desiknio considers it a model designed primarily for riding in an urban context. We fully agree with that. However, when out and about in the city, we often find ourselves in situations where we want to carry luggage – sports gear, a laptop for work, shopping, a musical instrument, etc. An urban ebike should therefore offer the option of transporting such items on a rack or using panniers. Unfortunately, a rear rack – just like a bell – is missing from the standard factory specification.
When it was launched in 2025, the Oxytocin came with a front rear rack. However, it already looked quite narrow in the photos at the time and was only approved for a load of three kilograms. Desiknio has since dispensed with this accessory entirely. If you wish to compensate for this shortcoming, you can at least fit your own rack. The frame features the necessary mounting points. After all, with the Tubus Fly, you can purchase a slim yet sturdy rear rack from authorised Desikonio dealers.
8. Test reveals jerky gear changes
There has already been much talk of the great riding experience with the Oxytocin. This is certainly true. However, it is marred by the rather stiff and imprecise twist shifter for the Pinion gearbox. At times, it requires quite a lot of force to change gears. Furthermore, it lacks clearly defined click stops. Often, you cannot feel how many gears you are shifting through, for example, or in which position you have actually engaged a gear. In defence of the Pinion system, it should be noted that the mechanical cables stretch over time, making the twist-grip shifter much easier to operate. Our test period was simply not long enough to observe this.
With a conventional gear lever, this would probably be different. Unfortunately, Pinion offers no alternative to the twist grip shifter. However, the bicycle manufacturer Toutterrain does. Their solution is, however, quite complex. The lever comes with a gearbox control unit, which would then also need to be replaced.
9. Drawbacks of an ‘off-the-shelf’ ebike
The final fly in the ointment is more of a personal one. The ebike’s saddle has secured its place in this review in a rather painful manner. It is the Brooks Cambium C67. Its seat surface is particularly wide. Brooks considers it to be its best solution for riding in a very upright position. For us, it felt extremely hard. There was no sign of the promised shock absorption. Yet the saddle is made of natural rubber and is supposed to be flexible enough to give way under appropriate loads.
The shape of the C67 didn’t suit either our lead tester’s bottom or the distance between his sit bones. It was simply too wide. However, this fate could befall you in exactly the same way with any other manufacturer where you cannot select the saddle in advance. We therefore do not hold this against Desiknio, but merely highlight it as a general annoyance. An annoyance that can quite easily be resolved by choosing a different saddle.
10. Test verdict: Bring on more low-step models like the Desiknio Oxytocin
Overall, riding the Desiknio Oxytocin was genuinely great fun. Given a price tag of around 4,800 euros, that’s exactly what we expected. It’s all the more pleasing when such a riding experience comes with such a light, elegant low-step bike. Anyone who thought this frame design was exclusively for older people might now be having a rethink. Its unobtrusive, quiet yet very sporty character really impressed us. It’s a shame that two or three weaknesses dampen our enthusiasm. Nevertheless, bike manufacturers, we’d love to see more of these.
Transparency notice
The company myStromer AG, responsible for the distribution of Desiknio in Germany, provided us with a test bike free of charge. It is also providing financial support for the publication of this blog post. However, the joint agreement with Stromer stipulates that editorial control over the content lies solely with the editorial team at Elektrofahrrad24. All opinions and assessments expressed here are therefore based exclusively on our impressions from testing.
Pictures: Desiknio Cycles SLU; Elektrofahrrad24 GmbH