American Classic’s new tubeless system, two electric mountain bikes, Niner’s assault on European soil - Eurobike 2011

Aug 31, 2011
by Richard Cunningham  
Pinkbike’s walk through Eurobike’s outdoor demo revealed some interesting items originating from North American as well as European soil. Here are some highlights from the first few kilometers of aisle walking near the outskirts of Germany's famous Friedrichschafen Zeppelin flughafen.

E-rider

Conway’s E-Rider Extreme cuts a menacing profile, although it carries a lot a weight high in the frame. Previous electric-powered MTB designs have suffered in the handling department from having a high center of gravity. The powerful motor drives a double-row chain on the left side, while the final drive uses a standard bicycle chain which turns the crankset (the final drive chain was curiously missing on this prototype).

E-Rider Extreme
Conway was busy demo’ing its E-Rider all-mountain bike. The E-Rider has a geared electric motor that drives a granny gear sprocket on the crankset. The battery is stashed in the split top tube frame, which is modeled to look like a motorcycle gas tank. The drivetrain uses SRAM rear shifting with a provision for a front derailleur, which seems unusual for a bike which can power anyone uphill. E-rider claims that its brushless motor drive can peak at 2000 watts can run continuously at 1000. That is far more than a Pro Tour athlete can produce intermittently and the E-rider is supposed to run at cruise power for over 50 miles. The 160-millimeter-travel suspension appears to be a derivative of Bionicon’s dual-crown fork and air-sprung shock. The E-Rider Extreme is slated to cost 6999.95 Euros, while the E-rider Performance will run 5499.95 Euros. www.e-rider.info



E-LOM
E-LOM is short for electric locomotion. The power for this dual-suspension MTB comes from an Austrian-designed MPF assistance-motor produced in Asia. The Motor is reported to produce 250 watts at full power and 50 Newton-meters of torque. The MPF system is a pedal-assist device that kicks in the power as the rider pedals the bike. Suspension is basic, but the design looks relatively promising.

E-lom electric bike

(Clockwise from top) The E-lom was among the few e-bikes that looked capable of any degree of off road use. The handlebar speed controller has three power assistance settings. Up close, the MPF gearbox and motor is well integrated into the chassis. The E-lom is slated for sale December 2011 for around 3000 Euros.www.e-lom.com



Jet-Nine RDO
Niner has been making inroads in the European market with its big-wheel bikes. The Jet-9 RDO is that company’s first full-carbon dual-suspension design and it is completely sold out for the summer season.

niner

Niner’s Jet-9 RDO is about as sweet as a carbon 29er gets. The CVA dual-link suspension received a patent this year. The wheel path is fine tuned for 29-inch wheels to optimize both bump sensitivity and frame clearance at full compression. www.ninerbikes.com



American Classic Tubeless Systems
American Classic had its tubeless tire conversion on display. The tape is a tough, single layer that seals a standard rim, and the valve stem is made air tight by a chubby O-ring. The valve is removable to add sealant without breaking the bead. We have used the American Classic system with excellent results. Tape for two wheels is $12.95 and the valve stem kit is also $12.95 (USD).

American classic tubeless

American Classic's new tubeless conversion kit is simple to install and has been working well on our personal rides.

Another secret coming down the pipe at American Classic is an all new wide-body tubeless rim. The 28-millimeter profile will add volume to any tire, which should allow a 2.125 tire to expand to the same volume as a conventional 2.4 inch tire on a 19-millimeter rim. The wide rim profile is the future of MTB riding as tires are heavier that rims, so the overall package promises to be lighter weight at comparable volumes. The added benefit is that the wide stance of the rim will bolster the sidewall stiffness in corners and make it harder for tubeless tires to burp air at low pressures. www.amclassic.com

american classic rim

American Classic's ultra-wide tubeless rim has a bead lock in each corner and features a non-perforated inner bridge so it will seal without tape.

American classic monster wheel bag

Finally, for fastidious 29er riders, American classic is launching a Zeppelin-sized wheel bag that can handle the widest tires—and the bags double as huge duffels for traveling.



Grippp Gloves
Grippp gloves come in full and half-finger styles in black only and are made from synthetic backs with Kangaro leather palms and fingers. The unusual leather makes for a long wearing and remarkably supple glove – but the real news is that the leather provides excellent grip in wet conditions. No more hassles with sweaty palms or rainy weather. www.hirzl.com

Grippp gloves

The folks at Grippp gloves are convinced that kangaroo leather has superior wet weather grip.


Much more to come in Pinkbike's 2011 Eurobike reports as we leave the outdoor demo and enter the great halls at Friedrichschafen today.

Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
974 articles

67 Comments
  • 96 0
 seriously just man up and hike a bike up the hill
  • 7 3
 Yeah, just buy a motorbike. lol
  • 15 1
 a local iraq vet took shrapnel through the knee and so he uses motor assist to make longer than two mile rides. I can see these being good for special cases.
  • 5 4
 wtf is that bike (if you can call it that) at the top? seriously, who would buy that? bet it's expensive too :/
  • 7 1
 Anyone that is trying to push and expand bike technology is alright with me. Who knows what may come from this. I see nothing yet that I would ever want, but I see no negatives to anyone trying new ideas with bikes.
  • 8 0
 Did anyone mention those bikes are ugly....
  • 2 2
 You're all wrong girls love electric bikes haha
  • 3 0
 might as well get a full on motocross race bike for 10000 dollars
  • 3 0
 These bikes aren't going to stick around they're just something to keep engineers busy.
  • 38 0
 the way i see it, not having an electrical bike has a few upsides:
1) You get in shape by actually going up the hill whether its riding or pushing
2) You get a sense of accomplishment when you get to the top
3) seriously, just grow a pair and hike up or something.
  • 1 4
 BLIPDH and airsoftesneeto, ditto.
  • 1 2
 yes but at the same time you ride down less = less training and less fun. For small local hills pushing may be ok but how many times are you going to push up a steep heel with a 4km track in scorching summer sun? I say 1. With that bike you can do MANY more runs.
  • 3 1
 there is also another point to these bikes as was pointed out by taletotell,which is that this kind of design/bike is very important for people such as our war heros that have say for instance missing leggs and although with prosthetic limbs they can peddle good on straights and downs they just cant get up too great and so wouldnt be able to ride trails or tracks they really want to,but with bikes like these its made possible and i for one know they deserve to ride which ever trail they like just as much as the next person and theres plenty of other people with disabilitys that its very usefull for, but imo if your into dh and your able bodied and you want one of these bikes anyway then your in the wrong kind of ridding but each to there own , although its not for me as so many of you have already said i really dont need one as i would just push up a hill but all said i can see them being very usefull to play a better part in many peoples day to day ridding....,, ....
  • 4 1
 A bunch of these people saying, "grow a pair" undoubtedly have and will ride a lift access trail.

Got to get up to get down, that's what P-Funk say.
  • 1 2
 dude you are british - try pushing up some of the higher alpine tracks. Can you push up a track that has 800m vertical drop/rise? I could bet you would only try it once. Seriously from a person who has been pushing bikes - for local spots it is ok but for bigger mountains it is not an option. You end up doing it once and are so tired it is dangerous to ride down.

minotoro - agree with you 100%. P-Funk is awesome btw Wink
  • 1 0
 @spaced your totaly taking what i said as i am against the e bikes and that we should just push it uphill, im not saying that at all, i totally agree with the concept of what this kinda bike can do for alot of people,and i only said i would probably push my ride uphill because on certain tracks i am able bodied to do so ,not because i want to, as minotro said ,all the guys that are saying you should man up and push it up hill will all no doubt do the opposite and use stair lifts,, at the end of the day im happy for all the peoples lives it will change for the better that cant usually ride certain track/trails because of this kinda bike...
  • 1 0
 sorry then. Misunderstood you. Yeah sometimes pushing is good though I prefer doing other sport for cross training and get all my bike time for riding down. Not that it makes me any faster Wink
  • 1 0
 no worries pal, and i totally agree that having to push your rig up a big mountain is seriously dangerous to your stamina and strength for the way down, not good for your health i wouldnt of thought...
  • 2 0
 @minotro Around where i live, you push to ride, and thats just the way it is.
  • 1 0
 Pedal or push to ride in my neck of the woods. Looks to be a good concept and idea, but why over-complicate something so simple as a bike?
  • 31 0
 when i want a bike with an engine, i buy a Motorbike ... in my opinion E-Mountainbikes are useless P.S. Those gloves are sick !
  • 17 0
 crist i hope biking isnt all electric in 10 years or so
  • 2 0
 Hahaha, that'll never happen.
  • 2 0
 In 10 years I hope I'm still capable of riding a bike. If I am in a wheel chair... hope it's electric or one of these ebikes!
  • 3 1
 in 10 years if im in a wheel chair, I will need it to have knobby 2.5 or wider tires. Wonder what Maxxis' all terrain advanced mobility line looks like.
  • 3 0
 ^ Just go with a 4 wheel mountain bike. in 10 years I'm sure they'll have enough lift access to wide enough trails for that.
  • 10 0
 well that defeats the purpose of an XC bike lol
  • 10 0
 That E-Rider is FUGLY !! The Niner is pure art !!
  • 2 4
 Doesn't the suspension system on the niner look like giant?
  • 1 0
 no. maestro's lower link is above the bb, not below it
  • 2 2
 Oh, similar but not the same. And why neg prop me, it does look a lot like the maestro.
  • 3 0
 Gloves look sweet, real leather is just better than the cheap synthetics we get, wondered why no one in mtb has been using kangaroo, when the best motorboke gloves have done forever! Can we have manta ray skin next please Big Grin that stuff is cool!
  • 1 0
 I could be way off as I've never tried kangaroo leather...er...anything. But they make shoes and i've seen motorbike gloves made out of them, and I always hear they are way to warm for everyday use. Anybody used em before for MTB?
  • 4 0
 everythings cool, apart from the e-bike, i think if i met someone with something like that i would smack them.
  • 1 0
 I gotta say, although i'd never buy one, i see the idea of a DH bike with a motor, since you can't bike up, but an Electric-All-Mountain, WTF is going on in the heads of the engineers?

Just waiting for roadbikes with a motor...
  • 1 0
 interesting but not for me,also did anyone else notice the red/white and the gold bikes in the background in the second electric bike photo??...imo they look very much the same as the iron horse 7 point series bikes, i would like a closer look at whatever they are ,they look mint!!!
  • 2 0
 i find the whole point of riding, of any kind, is to push not only you skill and control, but getting in better shape, and "PEDAL PEDAL PEDAL"ing your way to the podium, these would take away all my passion for the sport
  • 2 1
 I truley fail so see the trend/point/premis to these E-bikes. They are over-engineered heavy ugly, unfunctional, expensive pieces of junk... Yes theyre making technological leaps and bounds, but the basis of the bicycle being one of the best inventions in our world to date, was how simple it could be ... Why stray so drastically away from this now ? Because "we have the technology" ? clearly not. Ive seen supercycles done up with a lawnmower engine come through my shop that are not only lighter, but more esthetically pleasing as well. It is MY opinion, that Ebikes should not be used for extreme purposes whatso ever. If you are not capable of riding a bike up a track, or at least hiking it, you should not be able to ride down. If you need a 10,000 dollar piece of machinery underneath you to cruise the local track, our cycling world is taking a turn of which i will refrain. Motorcycles and dirtbikes were invented for a reason, stop trying to fill an already oversaturated market with more useless junk. and yes, im one hell of a hater.
  • 1 0
 and a dick
  • 1 1
 ^shut up he aint a dick he just said his opinion, your the dick mate
  • 1 0
 who tf asking you ya clampit!!!
  • 1 0
 typical just talking trash like an immature kid and being so sad to neg props, sort it out mate your acting like a complete state
  • 1 0
 wow your real hard at 12 years old and 7 stone wet eh. tit..
  • 1 0
 haha more trash talk, lol sort it out
  • 3 0
 These will be a classic example of "the doctor told me to loose weight, so i am going to buy an electric bike"
  • 3 0
 The nine'er bike looks mint!!!!! And them E bikes are some what sh!t'ly pointless!!!
  • 2 0
 Don't take it wrong, but that black bike in the first picture looks ready for Dakar rally.
  • 3 0
 In Gripp Gloves, try putting another "o" on Kangaroo!
  • 5 0
 I wonder If they make a deluxe edition glove out of a Roo's ballbag?
  • 1 0
 Hope nobody in California wants to buy those Grippppppppppppppppppppppppp gloves - it's illegal to sell Kangaroo products in CA. Stupid? Yes.
  • 1 0
 I find that funny. Here in Australia if you want a gun license all you have to do is show that you own a farm and say that you want to kill Kangaroos. I have a Kangaroo rug in the entrance to my house.
  • 1 0
 poor roos Big Grin
  • 3 0
 FUGLY!!!
  • 1 0
 Been riding those long finger grippps for 3 weeks now. Love em, like 5.10's for your hands.
  • 1 0
 Correct me if I may have read the title wrong, "electric bike". Should be called a bike for the fatty's.
  • 1 0
 why build electric mountain bike if you want an all terain with 2 wheels and a motor you just have to buy a motocross
  • 1 0
 goxbigxorxgoxhome you are definitely right,haha,bike is for pedal not for engine...
  • 2 0
 wtf is up with that "bike" on the first photo? it screams walmart.
  • 2 0
 Had to be in america... smh
  • 1 0
 American Classic tape is crap, looses adhesion at the slightest hint of moisture.
  • 1 0
 europeans r way better at engineering bikes than we lazy americans
  • 1 0
 i thought cycling is about pedaling not turning on a motor
  • 1 0
 Not keen on any of those designs...very nice but not for me.
  • 1 0
 Oh my, that Niner..... so astoundingly sexy. mmmmmmmmmmmm
  • 1 0
 tubeless system, two electric mountain bikes?...what for?
  • 1 0
 Electric bike it's like a Modern Honda vision moped Fail
  • 1 0
 That Jet-Nine RDO is one hell of a nice looking frame.







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